thy poore children do humbly beseech thee graciously to assist us by thy holy Spirit in this our morning exercise that we may faithfully perform the same to thy praise and our comfort and that for Christ his sake our onely Saviour and Redeemer Amen This set forme of his short prayer before his Morning and evening exercise In a set forme I doe the more willingly set downe that they may see how farre they were deceived and what wrong they did him who held him to bee an utter adversary to all set formes of prayer who might also have received their answer and beene evidently refuted to their faces if they had but observed his ordinary practice every Lords day in the publike assembly where he did reverently accommodate himself to the publike prayers of the Church and religiously joyne together with Minister and people in the celebration of Gods service Certainly hee was not ignorant A set form of prayer justified that when our Saviour Christ taught his Disciples to pray hee gave them liberty to call upon the name of God their Father even in that set forme of prayer which he prescribed and in the same words when you pray say Our Father c. And yet for all that he knew well enough that he gave the Spirit of prayer also unto them and unto all believers children of the same Father that they might enlarge themselves according to those grounds and frame all their sutes after that forme and therefore hee gave this direction unto them After this manner pray ye By our Saviours institution of the Lords prayer and By his owne practice Mat. 26.44 Our Father c. yea Christ hath left us his owne blessed example for the warrant of both when in his Agonyhe praied three times using as the text saith the same words and when after his farewell sermon to his Disciples hee prayed for himselfe his Disciples and all true believers unto the worlds end in great variety of words and for many gifts and graces in particular which yet are not all mentioned but are all for substance contained in that patterne of true prayer None precisely bound to the letter of the Lords prayer but to the matter al. Peter Martyr hath made a collection of holy prayers out of Davids Psalmes and M. Perkins hath gathered together S. Paubs prayers out of his Epistles in both which there is great variety both of matter and words much exceeding the letter of the Lords prayer yet is there no Petition or thanksgiving in either of them which may not fitly be reduced to some parts and heads of the Lords Prayer For my part I shall never blame him that seeketh to help his understanding memory Set prayer a help and affection by such meanes if he bring new affections to renewed petitions and set his heart a worke to seeke more seriously for the best things such as the godly labours of good men have in print set before him But if any man will rest in his booke prayers and never strive to speake unto God out of his owne heart by his owne Spirit which teacheth every true child of God to cry Abba Father Heart prayer best of all Rom. 8. and helpeth our infirmities that wee may stand before him as his children Such a man in my opinion comes farre short of the power and practice comfort and fruit of true prayer and is not much unlike to an impotent and weake man that being lame of his limbes and having meanes of helpe and recovery tendred unto him had yet still rather use a paire of crutches borrowed of his neighbour to goe withall as he can than betake himselfe to his owne legges and feet to walke in his way which the Lord hath appointed for him as he might and ought to doe CHAP. XXIII AFter this short prayer because wee are all commanded to sing Psalmes unto God 2 His singing of Psalmes to testifie our rejoycing in him to instruct our selves in his mercies and judgements words and works and to make melody in our hearts before him as also to quicken our soules to praise and thanksgiving hee therefore did usually call the whole family to sing some of the Psalmes such as hee named unto them with grace in their hearts unto the Lord which they ordinarily performed with such melodious and sweet voices and affections himselfe beginning the tune and the rest in a sweet accord and harmony joyning with him as if they had desired to sing Davids Psalmes His delight in singing of Psalms not onely with Davids Harpe but even with Davids heart also With this exercise of singing of Psalmes hee was much delighted and oftentimes so ravished in his spirit with holy and heavenly joy in singing and sounding forth Gods praises that his heart would even spring and leape in his body as John Baptist did for the joy of Christ in his mothers belly Hieron in Epitaphio Fabiolae yea he was so much affected with the praising of God in this kinde that hee tooke the word Halelu-jah which is the title of nine Psalmes and the song of the Quire of Angles for his Poesie and usually writ it in the first leafe of all his bookes with his owne hand to provoke and draw on others into the fellowship of Gods praises with him and to set it forth as an impresse or character of his chiefe desire and delight Amalaris de officio mâ—ssâ—c 13. to have the praises of the Lord in his heart or in his mouth in his care or in his eye continually When the Psalm was ended 3 His reading of the Scriptures he read a Chapter himselfe out of the Bible keeping an orderly and constant course in his reading to make his family better acquainted with the order and matter of the Scriptures and to season their hearts with some portion of Gods Word in the morning as a preservative against all unfavoury thoughts noysome lusts rotten speeches and ungodly workes all the day after This hee knew was Gods holy Ordinance from which neither Kings in peace nor Commanders in warre were exempted wherewith all Governours of families are expresly charged Deut. 6.6 7 8. Deut. 17.18 19. Ios 1.7.8 Deut. â—1 18 19 20 2 Tim. 3.14 15. Ioh. 5.39 wherein both elder and yonger have beene exercised and whereunto all sorts are by our blessed Saviour exhorted Search the Scriptures c. And this hee duly performed with such reverence and conscience as might to his power best become the solemnity of the action which they had in hand and the majestie of his presence before whom they stood Now because he knew that all planting and watering was in vain unlesse God himself gave the blessing of increase and that the Prayer of faith availeth much for that end if it bee fervent hee therefore with all his family bowing the knees of their hearts as well as the knees of their bodies before the throne of grace did in
and for our pleasure in these exercises which were intended especially for the refreshing of mens mindes and renewing of their strength after honest studies and labours to overtoyle and tire out our selves as did Esau in his hunting even untill he was almost dead for hunger Inordinate affections to these games and immoderate passions in the crosse occurrents of them doe not onely marre all the sport but deprive us of all lawfull use and fruit of them Eighthly It is unlawfull by hunting or hawking to overcharge our state or endammage our neighbours by Horses and Hounds costly at home and cumbersome abroad so as we are made lesse able to doe good to them that need or to our owne families and more offensive in doing hurt to them that might looke for better things from us Lastly the exercise of hunting hath beene held in it selfe not onely lawfull but commendable amongst the ancient Romans and by the judgement of the wisest States-men Athen. Dipno lib. 1. cap. 20. and Moralists of the world both for increase of health and strength in the time of peace and for fitting and framing of the body to a nimble activity and agility for sundry feats and exploits in the time of warre Sertorius a Romane Captaine and Commander Plutarch in Sertorio by his travell and paines which he took in hunting had so accustomed himselfe to hard adventures and dangerous and difficult passages that by the nimblenesse and agility of his body he was so able either to assaile his enemies or to winde himselfe out of their hands also with so great facility if he were in danger or distresse that he overcame them oftentimes as Plutarch reporteth of him rather by light skirmishes than by open encounter and publike fight Xenophon Plato Aristotle Plinius Secundus and others Xeno in lib. de venat Galen lib. de sanitate tuend lib. de Indo parvae pile have allowed and approved of hunting both for the execise of the body unto health and strength and for inuring and training up of youth in the feats of Armes and exploits of war Xenoph. in Cyropaedia Plat. lib. 7. de Legib. Aristot lib. 1. Polit. Plin. Sec. Lib. 5. Epist. in Panegyric And Julius Capitolinus recordeth that the Romane Legions were oftentimes exercised in hunting Jul. Capitol in Maxim p. 10 15. under Maxinūnus the Emperour that so they might be better fitted for warlike service and imployment Viget dere milit lib. 1. cap. 7.9.10 as occasion should require So likewise Vigetius reckons of those that have beene well exercised in hunting running leaping swimming to be fittest for trained souldiers and such as are to be chosen before others for warlike affaires And albeit many of our Gentlemen which are most addicted to this exercise of hunting do not alwayes prove the best souldiers neither have it ever in their minde so hotly to pursue their enemies as they doe their game or to make the dangers of warre the end and aime of their sports in peace Galen de lud parvae pilae Yet seeing in the judgement of Galen that renowned Philosopher and Physician hunting is one of those exercises which is both healthfull for the body and delightfull for the minde also we will so farre rest in his judgement and allow them hunting for an honest recreation if so be they will admit of Galens counsell and limitation therewithall Galen ibid. Nimium quod est reprehendo semper c. I alwayes blame that which is too much and would have every art that we use Lusus habet laudem si moderatus erit Promptuar Damhouderii pa. 229 Etlucta cursu saltu certare palaestra Haec bene conveniunt sed moderata viris Promptu Damhouderii pa. 230. Est modus in rebus c. Hor. used in moderation Quae si modum excedat jam bona esse desinit Which so soone as it begins to exceed measure it presently ceaseth to be good any more Ludendi est quidam modus Cic. lib I. Off. Thus by occasion of this young Gentleman his hunting keeping his Dogges and following hi◠Hounds with so great care and cost so eager desire and delight we have for a while held hunting it selfe in chase and so followed the sent that we might finde out the game in the nature end and use of it how it may serve for profit and how for pleasure how we ought to follow it for the manner and measure that it may do us good and not to exceed therein lest it do us hurt CHAP. XIII His more effectuall conversion and the fruits of it Cap. 14 HAving now spent some few yeares of his youth in the pursuit of these vanities lest he should trifle out his precious time in such carnall pleasures any longer The Lord began to awaken him to some better sight and sense of his errour and offence in this course and to prepare him now as a vessell of honour for better service and imployment both in his owne and in his masters house Vpon his fathers death In the yeere 1587. It pleased tho Lord to call unto his mercy his worthy Father upon whose decease he being much perplexed both in minde and state some sorrowes and feares thoughts and cares began to stirre and work within him and the Lord who best knoweth the fittest times and seasons for his own work began to work also for his more effectuall calling and reformation therewithall And this he did by the rebukes of his Word and checkes of his Spirit convincing his judgement and changing his minde and heart By Gods good meanes from the love of baser to a delight in better things For now he began to search his heart and try his wayes and to call himselfe to an account for his former courses and measuring all those things by the line of the Word and in the ballance of the Sanctuary which he had found or felt before in the pleasures of this life he saw there was nothing at all in them all but vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit Not very violent And albeit the pangs of his conversion and paines of his new birth were not so violent as others of Gods childrens have beene or as Pauls Constantines and Luthers were yet were his passions and affections at this time not much unlike unto S. Austins upon the point of his conversion who being now weary of the wayes of vanity and tyred out with the weight of his owne sinne in a holy desire to cast off the burden that did presse him downe and to shake off the pleasing sins that did intangle him so fast powred out his heart in prayers and teares before the Lord after this manner Vsquequo Domine irasceris in finem Ne memor fueris iniquitatum mearum antiquarum How long Lord wilt thou be angry for ever Like unto S. Austins Be not mindfull of my old sins Quamdiu quamdius cras cras Quare non
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
right and the just shall walke in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Thus much of his first dayly duty namely his holy and religious Meditation CHAP. XLVI THe second followeth which was his diligent His observation of Gods works Psa 64.7 8 9 10. Psa 66.3.5 and carefull observation of the ways works mercies and judgments of the Lord. It was the antient profession and practise of the people of God to waite upon the Lord and to observe his dealing with the just and with the wicked in the world The way of the Just is uprightnesse thou most upright doest weigh the path of the just Is 26.7 8. Yea in the way of thy judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our soule is to thy Name Ver. 9. and to the remembrance of thee With my soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me wil I seek thee early for when thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learne righteousnesse Let favour be shewed to the wicked Ver. 10. yet will he not learne righteousnes in the land of uprightnesse will hee deale unjustly and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. See the memorable judgment of God against Vigetius Saâ—â—…niâ—us Claud. Herminianus observed by Tertullians Scapul A book of Rememb lob 35.24 25. Much after this manner did this faithfull Servant of Christ raise up his thoughts and quicken his soule to a diligent and due observation of the ways and works of God both in his mercies towards the godly and in his judgements against the wicked To which end and purpose he hath observed and recorded divers and sundry of the workes of the Lord which he calleth a declaration of some of the works of the Lord to the praise of his glorious Name power and mercy adding and annexing that admonition and exhortation out of Iob Remember that thou magnifie his works which men behòld Every man may see it man may behold in a far off To set down all such works of God as he hath observed See some examp of Gods mercies to Christians observed by Tertull. ad Sca c. 4. Some mercies of God observed I now cannot to passe over all in silence I may not I meane not And therefore to give a taste of some for the clearing of this point and the farther satisfaction of such as delight therein I think it very meet and convenient at this present To observe Gods mercies faith he with all humble praise and thanksgiving to God only Some few yeares before my brother Hardware dyed he had R.K. to his servant who is now an In-holder in Chester The said R. was as many thought bewitched and waxed weaker and weaker So as my Brother Hardware sent unto mee and my family to spend a day with him in prayer and fasting At that time I had good M. Wats the Preacher with me To R. K. his sick neighbourâ— whom I brought with me and others of my family to the Peele and there we found the said R.K. exceeding sick and weake and like an Anatomy of death nothing to look to but skin and bones and not likely to live a day all hope of life being gone He was brought and laid in a bed in the chamber where we prayed And in the same evening hee began to amend and the next morning did walke abroad and the third day began to be so strong that he fel to his work and labour with much rejoycing to the Family All laud and praise to God therefore To his Setvant Anno Domini 1601 and in the Summer time John Robinson my servant going with his teame the cart loaden and he falling by some occasion the wheele went over his legge being iron bound yet hurt him not any thing at all Laus Deo Anno Domini 1602 and in Iuly my son Iohn To his Son in danger being in Peaksmoore took up a seith to see how he could mow and the scith entered in at his stocking upon the shin bone and followed his leg shaving the haire and came out at the backside of his leg and toucht no flesh nor skinne Laus Deo The same Month and in the same Medow To a Labourer One casting a pikell up and down before him and behind him one being behind him the two greins of the pikell ran on both sides of his leg and hurt him not Hallelujah Memorand in Anno 1613 and in the Hey-Harvest One Richard Rogers Some Iudgments of Godremarkable that dwelt in my farme at Wimble Strafford under Master Thomas Puleston my tenant there seeing two godly persons going in the way said to one with him Now will I dance and swagger and sweare to anger and make mad yonder two Puritans Nö sint inulta esse diu DivinuÌ„ Numen scelera vid Herb. departioda popelo à mâ—ribus devorato Hist Pol. lib. 1 cap. 11. Vide simile de Hatto E. Mog apud O. a mag lib. 17. c 21. And did so to the great grievance of those two godly persons And presently the revenging hand of God was upon him so that this wicked fellow fell so sick that he was carried home in a Cart and within three dayes died most fearefully All glory to God These are some of those Memorable mercies and Iudgments of the Lord which he hath carefully observed and recorded I will let all the rest alone saving one which being the most remarkable of all other hee hath taken greatest paines to observe and set down in all the parts and passages of it The hand of God upon the Boy at Northwich This was concerning the boy of Northwich his name Thomas Harrison about 11 or 12 yeares old who was so strangely and wonderfully afflicted and tormented that many held him to bee really possessed with a Devill Others thought he was bewitched Some ascribed all to naturall causes few did endevour to see and acknowledge as this Gentleman did that though Satan might have a finger Satans Malice Gods Mercy yet the Lord had a chiefe hand in this Iudgment and that where Satan would shew himselfe cruell and malicious to vex and destroy a poore child there the Lord was pleased to manifest and declare himselfe to be mercifull and gracious in susteining and preserving of him CHAP. XLVII IT would be too tedious to set down one quarter of that which he hath written of this child partly from that which he himselfe saw and partly from that which he heard and received under sufficient and faithfull witnesses having spent above 14 leaves in 4 0 in recording of these things All that he hath observed of him may be drawn to these 3 heads 1 0 his violent and wonderfull fits and passions 2 0 his strange and horrible gestures and actions 3 0 his admirable and almost incredible sayings and speeches and all these without any naturall understanding sense or feeling for the most
this life such fruits of faith and love and such vertues of Christ in this Gentleman Many vertues of his to be observed as are well worthy both the observation and imitation of every true Christian 1. His compassion on the multitude being as sheep without shepheard when hee saw them erring from the wayes of God and like to perish for want of pasture expressing herein in some measure the holy affection of Christ Iesus And imitated 2 Secondly his free will offering unto the Lord of his owne substance and cost to provide his people of spirituall food and that with a cheerfull and free heart and hand like unto David who bought the threshing floore of Areunah at a price because he would not offer burnt offerings to the Lord of that which cost him nothing 3. Thirdly 1 Kin. 18.3.4 2 Chr. 35.2,3 4 his entertaining and maintaining Gods Ministers as Obadiah did the Lords Prophets besides his countenancing and encouraging of them as Iosiah did the Levites in the Lords service 4 Fourthly the exceeding joy and comfort that he took in setting forwards the Lords worke for the foundation and building up the shouse of God by his good example godly presence and holy practice in publike places and religious duties endeavouring to bring forth the head stone Zach. 4. â—7 as Zâ—rubbabell did with shootings crying Grace grace unto it 5 Fifthy his courage and constantâ—y in maintaining all good exercises of Religion against all oppositions of popish and profane persons Nehem 4 as did good Nehemiah in going on with the in building of the was of Jerusalem notwithstanding al the attempts and assaults of secret treacholy 〈◊〉 open hostility made against him 6 Sixthly his uprightnesse and suâ—oirity doing all that he did with an honest and good heart not to bee seene of men but to approve himself unto God in all things This worthy example thus decked and adorned with these jewels of grace For Gentlement to be rich in good workes I desire also to commend unto the due and serious consideration of such Gentlement and others as being rich in this world are yet poore and very poore in such good workes and had rather bestow an hundred pounds in building and beautifying their owne houses than an hundred pence towards the laying of the foundation or building up the walles or windowes of Gods house amongst them For patrons not to spoile the Chur. being bound to provide for it And to such also as being entrusted with the lands and livings of the Church for the maintenance of the Ministery and spirituall provision of Gods people doe notwithstanding turne their patronage into pillage and their devotion into sacriledge cutting short the Minister of his meanes and the people of their provision taking the wheat unto themselves and leaving the straw and chaffe unto them for their portion onely For prosane Gent. bestowing much upon their lusts nothing upon Gods service Neither would I have them to passe without gentle admonition also who had much rather spend much of their estate in maintaining idle and base persons to serve their owne lusts and satisfies the humour of a rude and profane people as many do their Horf-riders Faulkeners Huntsmen Lords of misrule Pipers and Minstrels rather to lead them and their followers both in their publikâ— assemblies and private families a dance about the Calfe than such a dance as David danced before the Arke with spirituall rejoycing in Gods mercies and inlarging of his owne and the people hearts in Gods praises Neither maintaining any Leyite at home And being utterly destitute of all meanes of grace both in assembly and family and nothing sensible of the spirituall famine that hath brought a loathsome leannesse into their soules they neither make any conscience nor will beat any cost Nor seeking after the word abroad to call on the Levites to bring in the Arke of God amongst them nor will seeke themselves nor suffer others that much desire to enter into the Kingdome of God to frequent those places and exercises of religion where the heavenly Manna the bread of life may be broken unto them CHAP. XXVIII ABout the yeare 1590. when he saw Mr. I. D. that having provided for the publike congregation a worthy Preacher whom they seemed much to admire for his gifts yet would not so much as thanke him for his pains the Preacher grew somewhat unwilling to bestow his labour any longer amongst them Hee in Christian policy Vpon their neglect of the publike Ministery began to withdraw the Preacher of the Word from the assembly to his owne family to make them more sensible of the want of it more carefull to seek it where they might finde it and more thankfull to God and his servants by whose meanes they did enjoy it and reape some fruit by it To which end and purpose he built him a Pulpit in a Chappel in his owne house and for a season maintained the Preacher there so that as hee saith himselfe hee had good company every Sabbath day He maintained the Preacher in his own family This company as I doubt not but it was much to his comfort so could it not bee but much to his cost also when amongst a multitude though some might come to the Chappell with good mindes to feed their soules yet others would bee as willing and ready to presse into the Hall to fill their bellies And yet was he well contented to be at this charge also for the increase of Religion and further of the Gospel But he could not long make such an inclosure of the Word nor so confine it to his private family for partly the publike necessity and partly the importunity of some Christian friends But after a while restored him to the publike assembly did worke so effectually upon him and prevaile so farre with him that hee yeelded up the Preacher to the publike assembly againe and so continued to maintaine him and other Preachers after him untill upon the death of the Incumbent God established a faithfull Pastor amongst them Let him if you please tell you thus much and the occasion thereof in his owne words The same Preacher being invited to a wedding at Peile The cause and occasion thereof preached there in the parlour for which Sermon he was much admired And then It was objected against me that I had committed a great sinne to keep such a worthy Preacher from the great congregation But I said none requested it nor gave him thankes when I brought him And so continued to maintaine the Minister And therefore he was unwilling to come amongst them But I was glad then to bring the Word of God againe unto them and so have continued till now that God hath planted M. Clark amongst us And here I thinke it not amisse seeing hee thus toucheth upon M. Clark in this businesse of providing the Parish of a faithfull and sufficient Ministery
cause the light of his countenance to shine upon leaders and followers comming into his Sanctuary Holy exercises acceptable to God And how doe you thinke doth hee looke upon them that forsaking the fountaine of Living Waters digge unto themselves such broken Ciâ—ernes as these are which can hold no water What is there in those exercises but that which is warrantable commendable profitable and comfortable And what in these that hath any sent or savour of such things Profitable to men If these men were truly changed themselves they would bee easily induced to make an exchange also of baser company Yet will none make an exchange but such as are changed themselves for a better society of fading and false joyes for durable and true comforts of worldly profits and filthy lucre for spirituall gaine and the true treasure and of the vaine applause and praise of men for the true honour and praise which comes from God only CHAP. XXXIV IN the middst of these sweet comforts and refreshings He was otherwise exercised also â—y affliction which hee thus received and enjoyed by these publike exercises of Religion It pleased the Lord otherwise also to exercise his servant with a grievous affliction in the taking away with a stroke his deare wife the desire of his eyes and faithfull Yoke-fellow In the death of his wife who being well in the morning began to bee ill and sicke at Supper and departed this life the same evening Sudden death a fearefull judgment to some Suddaine death is held to bee a fearefull judgement as though it were a testimony of the wrath of God And so indeed it hath beene and may bee to some who being wicked persons and continuing in their sinnes without any feare of God any repentâ—nce or faith in Christ are suddenly arrested by the LOrds hand and cut off by death in his sore displeasure So it was to Err and Onan the sonnes of Judah to Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron Gen. 38 7 10. to Corah a Levite and Dathan and Abiram Lev. 10.1 2. two of the Princes of the Assembly And so it is likely it was also to Nabal that churlish foole Num. 16.1 2 30 31 32. of whom it is said that after ten dayes the Lord smote him that hee dyed The Scripture also seemeth to make it the ordinary portion and condition of the wicked that God will shoote at them with his arrow Psal 64.7 and suddenly shall they be wounded that spending their dayes in wealth Iob 21.13 in a moment they goe downe into the grave and that flourishing for a wile they fuddenly perish and come to a fearefull end Ps 73.19 Sudden Death upon a wicked lif fearfull True it is that a sudden death attending upon and following a wicked life is a fearefull judgement and a dreadfull signe so far as we can judge of the wrath of God and yet we will not limit nor confine the Lords mercies for inter Pontem Fontem ferrum jugulum Dei misericordia Betwixt the Bridge and the Brook the Knife and the Throat the mercy of God may appeare But as all that live wickedly do not dye suddenly Yet all that dye suddenly do not dye fearefully so neither all that dye suddenly are to bee thought to dye fearefully as though they were deprived of Gods favour and fallen under his heavy wrath and displeasure for ever more No we may not censure so severely nor judge so rashly neither of our Brethren nor of the wayes and works of God 1 Sam. 4.18 Old Ely dyed suddenly when hee fell backwards from his chaire and brake his neck and yet I dare not say but that as he lived so he dyed the servant of the Lord. Josiah was suddenly slaine with an arrow going against Pharaoh Necho in the field 2 Chro 35 33. and yet I dare not say but that as he lived so hee dyed the servant of the Lord. Gen. 35.19 Jacob had his wife Rachel to dye suddenly in his journey on his hand and so dyed the wife of Phineas 1 Sam. 4.19 20. when she heard that the Arke of God was taken and yet wee may not otherwise conceive but that as they lived so they dyed the servants of the Lord. And so we are to judge of this Gentlemans wife being a gracious and holy woman As this Gentlewoman very hope-fully that albeit the Messenger that was sent for her seemed to be angry and too hasty to take away her life yet hee brought her no worse news than of a joyfull and a blessed death which was indeed a passage to a better life Possid in invit Aug. It was the saying of S. Ambrose upon his death bed which might have been hers also I have not so lived that I am ashamed to live any longer or affraid to dye if it had been sooner The life of the righteous findes never any worse end than the death of the righteous Num. 33.10 Rev. 14.13 2 Con 5 6 7 8 9. Rom. 14.8 and they that have the grace to live unto the Lord shall never fayle of this mercy to dye in the Lord and so they enjoy a double blessing whether they live or dye they are the Lords Besides all this No Death suddeine to a sound Christian Iob 14.14 the reckoning and account of a true Professor and sound Christian is not to seeke nor to make at the houre of their death All the dayes of their appointed time they wayte when their change shall come Their wholle life a Meditation of death and a preparation for it Every day they stand in readinesse Eph. 6.14 Mat. 25.4 10. Gen. 5.2 2. Mic 6.8 Psa 4.8 having oyle in their lamps and their lights burning wayting for the Bridgroome and their Masters comming In the morning they awake with God all the day long they walke with him and before him and in the evening and night season they lye down in peace Ma. 24.44 Heb. 13.5 and rest with him So that what time or houresoever their Master shall come and call upon them they shall not through his mercy and grace Mat. 7.4 44 45 45. who will never take them at the worst bee unprovided or unprepared for their meeting of him And albeit this were a suddeine stroke unto her worthy husband Ezek 24.16 18. as that was to Ezekiell when his wife the desire of his eyes being well in the morning dyed in the evening Thi Affliction sanctified yet did the Lord in mercy so sanctifie this affliction unto his servant that by the power of grace and Christian wisdome hee did moderate his affections and subdue his passions mourning for her death as sensible of his own losse And passions moderated As Abrah did for Sarah Gen. 23.2 1 Thes 4.13 yet neither wayling nor weeping as a man without hope For Grandis in suos pietas impiet as in Deum est
the poore and entertaining of good people yet his estate was not impaired but increased the blessing of God inlarging his substance and his store according as it is written Godlinesse is profitable for all things having the promise both of this life and of that which is to come 7 Seventhly that in all blessings and comforts whether corporall or spirituall upon himselfe or upon others by his meanes his heart tasting and relishing the love of God in them was marvelously enlarged in rendering and returning all thanks and praise unto God alone even for the least of them Thus farre hath this worthy Gentleman holpen us to spin out the thread of his owne life with his owne fingers and to make up as it were the web thereof with his owne hands But as the cunning and curious workmanship of a cloth of Arras is but little seene and discerned while it is in the Loomes or when it lyeth folded and rolled up together but when it is opened in a faire light displayed at large and exposed to the view of the beholders then the art and skill of the work man doth more evidently appeare in great beauty and variety of knots and flowers Pomegranets and Lillies pictures and pourtraitures of princes and great personages and the like Even so the story of this Gentlemans life thus woven and wrapped up together though it containe many excellent things of great value and worth in it yet cannot the beautie and glory of his particular gifts and graces duties and services bee so well discerned and observed unlesse it be yet a little farther opened and unfolded and set forth to the view of such men as desire and delight to look into such things CHAP. LXIV IT will be therefore very requisite and no lesse pertinent to the present businesse wee have in hand to take a more strict view of some speciall parts and passages of his life wherein the gifts of Gods grace the vertues of Christ and the fruits of the spirit did more evidently and eminently appear to the farther beautifying and adorning of his person and profession of the Gospel of Christ Jesus Now to this end for our better and more orderly proceeding herein All to bee said drawn to 3. heads we will draw into a narrow compasse and reduce unto three generall heads all such specialties or particulars as may be worthy our observation in the same 1. As first His Conversing with God 1 His conversing with God 2. His Conversation in the World 2 His conversation in the world 3. His Deputure out of the World 3 His departure out of the world Exod 31.1 2.3 4 5. When the Lord called Bezaliel by name to worke in the building of the Tabernacle it is recorded that he filled him with the Spirit of God in wisedome and in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship to work in gold and in silver and in brasse in cutting and setting of stones and carving of timber c. It was even so or not much otherwise with this worthy Gentleman when the Lord did as it were call him out by name to worke for the building of a spirituall tabernacle in himselfe and in others He filled him in good measure with the Spirit of grace in spirituall wisedome holy understanding and heavenly knowledge God gave him wisedome and Vnderstanding 1 Tim. 12 14 1 Cor. 15.10 Ier. 23.22.28 Also courage and strength Eph. 6.10 11 12 13 14. to worke cunning and curious workes by faith in love whether it were in Christians of better rancke as in gold and silver or in such as were of meaner place as in brasse and timber So doth the Lord ever furnish those whom he will set a worke and imploy in his service with all sufficient gifts and graces for the accomplishing of the worke whereunto he sets or sends them And as he gave him wisdome and knowledge so did he also courage and strength to mannage a Christian life and to fight valiantly the battels of the Lord against all the assaults of Satan and of sinfull men of the flesh and of the world and to breake through all difficulties and dangers that might stand or rise up against him in his way The Lord dealing herein as mercifully with him as hee did with Ioshua Iosh 1.5.6 9. As he did to Ioshua when he sent him to fight against the Canaanites and to put his people in possession of the holy land speaking unto him in these words of comfort and encouragement Have not I commanded thee be strong and of a good courage be not affraid neither be thou dismaied for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest I will not faile thee nor forsake thee And now having found this acceptance Ro 5.1 2.1 Pet. 2.3 1 His conversing with God Gen. 5.22 Num 12.8 1 loh. 1.3 and acquaintance with God and tasted how sweete and gracious the Lord was in all his mercies It was the desire and delight of his soule to walke with God and to converse with him more frequently and as it were more familiarly that so he might the better nourish and maintaine that holy and heavenly communion whereunto hee had called him in his son Christ Jesus And this hee did most carefully and diligently endeavour In 4 speciall duties and labour to effect by the conscionable performance of foure spirituall and speciall duties every day and his more abundant offering of these and other his holy services and sacrifices unto the Lord upon the Lords day His daily duties were these 1. Meditation First Meditation for increase of knowledge and good affections towards God and good things 2. Observation Secondly Observation of Gods wayes and workes his mercies and judgements to gather and gaine experience for himselfe and others 3. Invocation of his mercifull and rightetous dealing with us The third invocation of Gods name in prayer and praise for continuance and increase of mercy and grace and this for his constant perseverance in the profession of the Gospel in uprightnesse and sincerity The fourth 4 Imitation imitation of his heavenly father because we are commanded to be followers of God as deare children and this to renew his obedience by his conformity to Gods image and to his Fathers will Now for the first CHAP. LXV IT hath ever beene the practice of godly and good men Gen 5.22 Gen. 6.9 Gen. 17.1 Gen. 24.63 His meditation to exercise themselves unto godlinesse by holy and heavenly meditation So did Enoch and Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob David and Hezekiah Paul and many others ever walke with God keepe their hearts in Gods presence seeke his face and the light of his countenance study his word and consider his workes And so did this Gentleman set his head and heart a worke every day more or lesse by serious Meditation to draw nearer unto God so to grow in knowledge and in grace and to increase
He was one of the Trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord whose leafe was ever greene whose fruit did never faile ever bearing his owne fruit good fruit much fruit and even in his age more and more fruit being ever full and flourishing in the courts of our God Full of good fruits towards all He was full of Mercy and of good fruits towards sinners and towards saints towards neighbours and towards strangers towards friends and towards foes towards the poore and towards the rich towards all sorts and conditions of men as he had opportunity and ability so to declare himselfe unto them Now because the good Tree is knowne by his Fruit and the true Uine by her sweete Grapes Mat. 12.33 we will take a view of some of his fruits of Mercy and try what their taste and relish is that so finding them to be wholesome and savoury as no doubt we shall wee may judge aright of the tree that did beare them and of the branch that brought them to our hands Some of the fruits of Mercy which hee shewed forth in his holy conversation He did mourne for sinners were directed unto such as were yet in their sins blind ignerant popish or prophane Such as were without meanes of grace being without God and without Christ how would his bowels of compassion yern within him Mat. 9.36 Exod. 32. Mar. 3.5 Hee did contemne contemners 2 Tim. 3.3 Mat. 7.6.2 Tim. 3.5 2. Ioh. 10. Esay 36.21 and be moved for the misery that was upon them How often as he hath by occasion seene them in the midst of their Heathenish sports and Idolatrous feasts either kissing the Calves or dancing about them hath be looked angerly upon them and spoken roughly unto them yet mourning for the hardnesse of their hearts which was upon them and as it were bleeding inwardly for the wickednesse committed by them If he by occasion did meet with such persons as were mockers contemners of God and despisers of good things hee would not cast Pearles before Swine nor holy things before Dogs but turne away his face from them and not so much as salute them nor speak one word unto them But if he found any poore soules erring from the right way yet desiring a guide as the Eunch did to bee directed unto it Act. 8.31 Prov. 2.1 2 3 4. Pro. 4.1 2 and to walke in it how carefull would he bee of their good how joyfull to doe them good He would deal so choisely and tenderly so mercifully and wifely with them by his wholesome instructions loving admonitions godly exhortations and good directions that hee did nourish and cherish them in religion as the tender Babes 1 Thes 2. â— 1. 1 Thes 2.7 Plants and Lambes of Christ Jesus and so brought them to a better liking of the truth and a greater love unto it for their farther growth in knowledge and in grace by it Yea such was his bounty and liberality to such persons 1 Pet. 2.1 2 Pet. 3.18 to encourage them and draw them on in the true profession of religion that he would if they were poor and needy give to some money out of his purse His bounty to poor Christians corne out of his Garner to others Bibles Catechismes and other good bookes which of his owne cost hee had provided to that end and laid up in store in his Study by him If hee had seene a professor of religion in some decay and want for outward things he would endeavour to relieve him by his own and other good means For supply of their wants according to his present occasions and necessities I know those that have seen him take off a good sute of apparell from his owne body as it might be this day to bestow it the next upon an honest godly man that wanted seemely raiment to fit him for some better service and imployment And when he had thus done to give him a good summe of money in his purse to set him out in some good fashion and to beare his charges untill hee might come to the place where hee might better provide for himselfe These are some of the fruits of mercy which this mercifull Gentleman shewed forth in his godly conversation both towards sinners and to wards saints partly to their soules and partly to their bodies CHAP. LVI THese are some but let us attend unto more They that are rich in this world He was rich in good workes 1 Tim. 6 18. are charged to be rich in good workes to distribute unto the necessities of the saints to give themselvs to hospitality and not to forget to entertain strangers for therby some have entertained Angels unawares This Gentleman was ever ready according to his portion and proportion to be rich in good workes and full of good fruits and so gave himself to great hospitality to entertain strangers and to refresh the bowels of the saints His house was as the common Inne His Hospitality or constant harbour of the Church and of Gods children and himselfe as Gaius a godly and good Hoste to give them liberall and cheer full entertainment as they came unto him None so welcome to eate of his morsels or to drinke of his cup as such strangers as were no strangers in Israell For Gods children nor strangers from the Covenant of promise but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Such there were Many passengers from London to Ireland and from Ireland into England many travellers horsemen and others out of Lancashire and the farthest parts of Cheshire who would as they had occasion to come to the Courts or Faires of Chester take up his house for their lodging place not so much I conceive for the ease and refreshing of their bodies as for the comfort and rejoycing of their hearts in seeing his face in hearing his voice in conferring and advising with him in having a portion in his prayers and a part in his praises unto God with him His provision for his Table in plenty and varietie Now for his ordinary Table which hee kept for his hospitality it was bountifull and plentifull not unto excesse and superfluity but unto a very competent sufficiency and that with great variety of Gods good creatures ever ready to his hand His flight of Pidgeons the best in the Countrey his Warrens of Conyes not inferiour to many his delicate Fish-ponds surpassing all about him which were the better for his owne skill care and paines which he took himself with them all these being blest of God unto him might well furnish his table together with other ordinary provision in and about his house for the comfort and contentment of any such strangers as would come unto him Hee could not endure any riot or excosse In all this great plenty and abundance he would never suffer any wilfull waste nor could hee endure any wanton or wicked abuse of Gods good creatures his
him that prayed could not containe himselfe but oftentimes with a cheerefull consent said Amen Amen unto the requests and supplications that were made for his good and comfort in Christ Jesus After this M. L. spake a word unto him to comfort him in the midst of all his sorrowes that hee knew that shortly hee should bee released and freed from all sinne and sorrow from Satan and this present evill world wherunto he answered most cheerfully and graciously I know I shall and bee with Christ which is best of all And now the messenger of death is upon me which he spoke of the hickock which had taken hold of him M. L. replyed I hope Sir that death is no scare nor terror unto you No indeed it is not I thanke God saith he for it is my way to life and I am now called of God unto it And thus he continued in great paine of body but yet in great peace of mind increasing still in consolations and enduring all his sicknesse with admirable patience not shewing any distemper nor discontent neither in word nor deed all the while in the troubles and sorrow of the same His care for prayer in the Family After this the same night he put it upon me to call his Family to Prayer and to performe the evening Sacrifice in the great parlour commading them to set open his little parlour doore adjoyning to it that he might heare us and joyne with us and partake of such mercies and meanes as the Lord should be pleased either to offer unto us or to accept at our hands The next morning though he did weare a way very much yet he called upon M. L. to pray with him Mindfull of M. L. being up very early to go a long journey to preach his ordinary Tewsday Lecture Of whom he was so very carefull that he caused some provision to be made for him especially a Posset that hee himselfe at their parting might drinke with him The same day I staid with him untill the afternoone A heavy Parting ministring such help and comfort as I could unto him And then mine owne occasions calling me home my wife being his former wives own sister and my selfe came to take leave with him which when hee heard and saw his very soule seemed to melt within him for both his and our hearts were full of griefe and our eyes full of teares and so mingling our sorrowes our teares and our prayers together be commended us to the grace and blessing of God as wee also did him And then falling upon his face and kissing his cheek we tooke our long leave with him leaving him yet in the hands of his heavenly Father that would never leave him CHAP. LXVIII Some ever ready to pray with him THe same afternoone he called for M. Lan. and M. Clerk his own Pastor to pray with him and was never at quiet unlesse hee were either Meditating and Praying himselfe or had some godly man or good Minister to pray with him and for him Divers desire a blessing from him Vpon Wednesday morning divers of those that were with him suspecting his death and dissolution to be neare tooke leave with him desiring at their parting a blessing from him Which he did willingly expresse by lifting up his hands and his heart unto Heaven for them Vttering also some words which they could not so well understand In the afternoone he overheard some making motion of blacks I wil have no blacks saith he I love not any proud or pompous Funerals neither is there any cause of mourning but of rejoycing rather in my particular After this he entreated a good Christian to pray with him which he did very willingly again and again to his good contentment And while they were in prayer in the Family they that were with him did imagine that he prayed himself silently and secretly He prayeth secretly himselfe by the pulling of his armes out of the bed and lifting up his hands and his eyes towards Heaven whence only he did looke for hearing and helping at Gods hands And now growing so weak that he was scarce able to speak a word those gracious people that were about him prayed him to lift up his hand if he understood them and would have them to pray for him Other gracious people pray with him which he did very willingly and readily and so he joyned with them and was heard to say Amen to the prayers that they made for him Afterward they perceived that he prayed himselfe again lifting up his hands and uttering these words with many other to the like effect The Lord is my portion His last Prayer my help and my trust his blessed son Jesus is my Saviour and Redeemer Amen Even so saith the Spirit unto my spirit Therefore come Lord Jesus and kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth and embrace me with the armes of thy love Into thy hands do I commend my spirit O come now and take me to thine own selfe O come Lord Jesus come quickly O come O come O come And so his spirit fainting His last end and his speech failing he lay quiet and still for a little season And then he meekly and graciously yeelded up his pretious soule into the hands of God his Father that gave it and into the armes of his Saviour that had bought it and redeemed it with his pretious bloud And thus having finished his course and run out his race the night of his death shutting up the dayes of his life Snaviter in Domino obdormivit He sweetly slept in the Lord. All Glory Thanksgiving and Praise bee unto our gracious God in and through his Son Christ lesus for ever and ever Amen Vae etiam laudabili vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. Conf. lib. 9. c. 19. Aug. Quisguis tibi enumerat vera merita sua Aug ibid. cap. 13. Quid tibi enumerat nisi muneratua FINIS Imprimatur JOH HANSLEY Jan. 16. 1640.