mercies A Booke of remembrance Cap. 47. The hand of God upon the Boy of the Northwich Satans malice Gods mercy First his fits and passions Secondly his gestures and actions he was brought unto the Bishops The Bishops Licence for a private fast for his release Thirdly his Speeches Cap. 48. his private Invocation Not confined to one place his time for Private prayers Seven times in a day Powerfull in prayer his private fasting Tender prayers and hard knee The matter of his private prayers Sinnes of Sion Sinnes of the time Praise and thanksgiving Cap. 49 his imitation of his heavenly Father every day Cap. 50. his conversation in the world First A resolution against the world Secondly Gods presence Thirdly Striving against sinne Fourthly Desiring to doe good Fiftly lust dealing Sixthly Take all to the best Seventhly watchfulnesse Eightly To be sparing in speech Ninthly Renouncing all worldly fashions and humours Tenthly Peaceable Eleventhly Contentednesse Twelfthly To keepe our peace with God Cap. 51. First he endeavoured to be pure First pure in heart Secondly Pure in hand Thirdly Pure in tongue Cap. 52. Secondly peaceable A Peacemaker Cap. 53. Thirdly Gentle not by nature but by grace Many of the Fathers very Passionate Yet well accepted of God and good men his bearing and forbearing In meeknesse like Moses In mildnesse like his Master Christ Many of a cruell and bloudy disposition Cap. 54. Fourthly Easie to be intreated Iudge W his testimony of Master Bruen We easily intreated to his Cost But some so hard they will give nothing no nor pay their own duties Cap. 55 A Branch of the crue vine A Tree of Righteousnesse full of good fruites towards all he did mourne for sinners he did contemne contemners his bounty to poore Christians for supply of their wants Cap. 56. he was rich in good workes his hospitality for Gods Children his Provision for his table in plenty and variety Hee would not endure any ryot or excesse No quaffing no drunkennesse nor healthing in his house His charity to his poore neighbours First for their bellies His Dole dayes twice a weeks In the time of dearth almost every day his bounty in giving and lending mony or Corne Secondly mercyfull to the poore in cloathing their bodies also Thirdly provision he provides for them out of his owne Purse yearely Fourthly Protection hee pratects and defends them Fifthly Advice and as he is able doth plead for them Cap 57. His fruits of faith and love to others also In his harmony in judgement with the best In his sympathy with the godly in every condition Heavie newes of the Church did 〈◊〉 affect him and afflict him also In his compassion in visiting the sick His antipathy against profanenesse In garish fashions In profane customes as in drinking of healths The Policy and power of Satan in healthing Cap 58. It is Antipathy against profane Customes and corruptions of great houses He offereth a remedy His godly letter for Christian Admonition and reformation His good opinion and estimony of Tho-Wilbraham Esâ—… his indignation against sin His love and care to reclaime the sinners His joy in such as were converted Cap. 59. Fruits of mercy towards his Tenants He was a mercifull Land-lord Cap. 60. He departeth out of this world 1. Preparation 2. Resolution 3. Confidence 4. Constancy 1. His preparation for death His more speciall preparation in ten speciall duties 2. His resolution to beare the sharpe occurrents of it Cap. 61. His graces much encreased in his old age His last dayes his best dayes His resolution and courage against all assaults His hope and expectation Cap. 62. His first sicknesse and visitation 3. His confidence of an happy exchange 1. His evidence 2. His assurance for it His confidence cause of his comfort Cap. 63. His diligence and conscience in frequenting Gods house His chearefull going to Church Singing of Psalmes by the way Some much delighted and some much bettered by this melody His early comming to Church His reverend and holy carriage in it His dinner time he bestowed wel in the Church The evening sacrifice he performed in like manner Their returne home-wards and mutuall care to doe good Cap. 64. His private evening exercise full of life The great joy hee had in the Sabbath and fasts His thankfulnes for one Sabbath more Weary of the world He makes his Will So he was more free and more fit for heavenly things Cap 65. He had Milke for Babes that came to visit him and stronger meat for strong men His godly admonitions to both he commends unto them his owne experience and example Cap. 66. Fourth Head His constancy in Religion even unto the end Great strength in great weaknes His comfortable and savory speeches His consolations exceeding his afflictions S. H. B. came to visit him His gracious words and exhortations unto him His sonne and heyre came unto him His good counsell unto him His desire to have his heyres follow his steps That being dead hee might as it were live in them againe And that Religion might never dy not decay in that Family Cap 67. Mr. L. And my selfe came to visit him Ianuary 16. 1625. His patient waiting for release His consolations still abound without all trouble of minde or conscience We rejoyced in his joy prayed with him and for him His care for prayer in the Family Mindfull of M. L. A heavie parting Cap. 68. Some ever ready to pray with him Diverse desire a blessing from him Hee prayeth secretly himselfe other gracious people pray with him His last prayer His last end A FAITHFULL Remonstrance of the holy Life and happy Death of JOHN BRUEN of BRUEN-STAPLEFORD in the County of Chester Esquire CHAP. 1. JOHN BRUEN of Bruen-Stapleford in the County Palatin of Chester Esquire was either by consanguinity or affinity linked and allyed to many of the most ancient and worshipfull Houses and Families of that Countrey His Father a worthy Gentleman of his time descended of many worthy Ancestors The Lord having continued their Race His birth and blood from father and established that Family in their own Ancient Name Place House and State for many Generations A blessing I confesse of no extraordinary note yet the more remarkable because even in these parts many Families that have flourished in great pomp and pride for a season and have thought that their houses should continue for ever Psal 49.11 12 13. and their dwelling places to all Generations and for this end called their Lands by their own names have yet been cut short of their hopes and their lives both together had their posterity swept away as dung and their names overwhelmed with the ruines of their houses their root being rottennesse and their blossome vanishing into dust Isal 5.24 as the Prophet speaketh to the same purpose This Gentlemans father was first married to a sister of Sir John Dones of the house of Vtkinton from whom the Lord with-held the fruit of the womb His
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
Hieron ad Pam. being well perswaded of her gaine and that what he had lost the Lord had found as Hierome speaketh to her everlasting comfort and the praise of his mercy and grace in Christ Jesus CHAP. XXXV AFter these things Standing in need of Marriage He sought and found a prudent wife By good opportunity Etiam caslae aaeimae in turpe labuntur assensu quaesi imputaret Altissinus quis viveret castus Aug. con Iulian. lib. 4 cap. 2. And by good meanes finding himselfe to stand in need of marriage and that both for the comfort of his life and necessity of his Family it was not good for him to be alone He sought the blessing of another helper and a prudent wife by prayer from the Lord. And as he sought so he found the Lord in his providence ordering and disposing of the occasion motion match and marriage after this manner As he was in Mancester upon occasion of the holy exercise of Religion kept and continued in that place he cast his eye upon a very amiable and beautifull young Gentlewoman which diligently frequented that assembly upon the sight of whom he confesseth that he had this thought arising in his heart loe this is the woman that the Lord hath provided for my wife And so that he might not only please his eye and follow his affection in his choice but might deale wisely and advisedly for his better satisfaction touching her vertues and graces which he much desired were answerable to her outward parts He acquainted one of his most trusty religious servants as Abraham did Eliezer in a like businesse with his thoughts and purpose Gen. 24. Of his trusty servant and set him presently a work to inquire after her Who being borne in that Country and well acquainted in those parts was well able to answer his desires and demands concerning this matter Declaring unto him her Parents And so he told him thus much in effect and after this manner This young Gentlewoman her name is Mistris Anne Foxe Sister to Master Foxe of the Rhodes some 4 or 5 miles from Manchester Her father well descended both by father and mother Her father a Gentleman of good estimation and account whiles hee lived with that honorable Personage Henry Earle of Darby Stow. Chro. 1585. Ian. 20. being Controller of his house and one of his Counsell and one of those speciall Gentlemen that attended upon his honour when he was sent by Queene Elizabeth Ambassadour into France Her mother yet living Her mother yet living a very godly and gracious Matrone descended of the antient and worshipfull Families of the Addertons and Lelands in Lancashire Her selfe a Vertuous Prov. 31. Her parts worthy due commendatioÌ„ and Religious young woman beautifull by Grace within as well as by Nature without one that was well reported of in the Church of God and well esteemed and accepted of the people of God And such a one as in his opinion might be a comfortable match and marriage for him Upon this relation of his servant and good testimony which he gave her answering so well to his desires he neglected no time but tooke his best oportunity to make a motion to her mother and her friends for a marriage which being well accepted and enterteined by them he became a Suter unto her So hee made a motion for marriage Prevayled in it and tooke her to wife and winning her affections by his gracious speaches and godly carriage he prevayled in his Sute and so by mutuall and chearefull consent of her friends he took her to wife with much joy and comfort to both their hearts in their so holy meeting and matching together in the feare of God The first yeare of their marriage his Mother in law gave them and theirs their Table during which time he was as careful to do good unto that Family as if it had been his own house And therefore he began to quicken himselfe Hee set up renewed the exeâ—cises of Religion in that Family and to awaken them unto all religious duties of Prayer and Praise reading of the Scriptures singing of Psalmes godly Conference Catechising of the ignorant c. Which albeit for the most part they were performed before in the Family yet he now being called and intreated by M. Foxe and his mother to discharge these duties did more powerfully stirre up the gifts and graces of God that were in him and so set himselfe a worke more effectually to seeke their Conversion and edification in the knowledg of God and Faith in Christ Jesus All which his holy labours in private being seconded and strengthened by the publique paines of their Pastour old M. Langley that holy man of God and faithfull servant of Christ in the House of God were so effectually blessed and prospered by the good hand of God upon him that in the remembrance of that yeare and the sweet comforts and contentments which he found therein The good successe thereof He hath been often both in his life and was also at his death as it were ravished with joy and rejoycing in the Lord enlarging his heart in thanksgiving unto him for his mercies to himselfe By his own testimony and to others by his meanes Hereof he hath left an evident testimony under his owne hand which I will not spare to record let others read consider and give righteous judgement My Mother in law saith he then giving mee Table for a yeare there and then we set up the Exercise of Religion morning and evening In which time I trust through Gods grace my Mother in law there got true saving grace and my sister in law now Mistris Hinde and another half sister of hers and their brothers Master William and Master Thomas Foxe and a servant or two and some neighbours which joyned with us in the evening Blessed be God that is pleased by weake meanes to expresse his great power and mercy towards us CHAP. XXXVI THus were the mercies of God renewed upon his Servant and his comforts encreased much in a strange Family for the time that he did sojourn thus amongst them His return home to Stapleford Which when it was expired in much contentment and peace He began to look homewards towards Cheshire and to addresse himselfe for his journey to his own house And so taking his beloved Wife along with him Bringing his wife along with him hee brought her with much joy and comfort home to Staplefoord where they mutually enjoyed one another in great peace and love for their owne good and for the benefit of their whole Family And so it pleased God to repaire and make up the breach formerly made in his house by the death of his former wife by bringing in another daughter of Abraham of gracious and good parts to take her place and to supply what was wanting in that behalfe Now after a while when the Lord had well setled and
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
every company either to do good unto others or to receive good from others 5 The fifth Iust dealing A good intention to deale justly honestly and uprightly with all men doing no otherwise unto them than we would have them to do unto us 6 The sixth Take all to the best An honest disposition to take doubtfull things in the best sense and best part so farre as well we may without wound of conscience in our selves or offence giving unto others 7 The seventh A carefull watchfulnesse over our heart and tongue spirit and speech that our words being powdered with salt Watchfulnesse may minister grace not griefe unto the hearers 8 The eight To bee sparing in speech A great willingnesse to be slow to speake and swift to heare yea sometimes to heare and see much and to say little unlesse we have a good calling thereunto 9 The ninth Renouncing all worldly fashions and humours An utter renouncing of all the vaine conformities of the world neither following the fashions nor serving the humours of vaine or vile persons nor staying longer than needs wee must amongst them if by occasion we be in company with them 10 The tenth Peaceable A good inclination to seeke and follow peace with all men so farre as in us lieth and so farre as it may be had and held with holinesse cutting off all occasions and provocations to strife and variance with all speed that may be 11 The eleventh Contentednesse in every estate A contented minde and good courage in every estate and condition of life entertaining all crosses with patience and turning them to their best use and embracing all comforts with thanksgiving bearing and bringing forth the right and proper fruit of them 12 The twelfth and last To keep our peace with God An unfained desire and endeavour to nourish our peace with God walking as Abraham did humbly and uprightly before him and referring all that ever we think speak or do to the furtherance of our own reckoning and to his farther praise and glory According to these and other the like rules of righteousnesse and holinesse he was taught of God to order his conversation aright in the feare of God Iam. 3.13 And thus he attained unto some measure and degree of that wisdome and grace which S. Iames commendeth so well and worthily in a found Christian Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge among you Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meeknesse of wisedome For so did this Gentleman work and walk even according to that wisdome which is from above the properties whereof are very precious For it is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and without hypocrisie CHAP. LI. AND here I thinke it will bee well worthy our labour and paines if for the better confirmation hereof we measure this Gentlemans life by this line of heavenly wisdome and take a speciall view of these jewels of grace which being attendants upon it in his person did much beautifie and adorne that which now we speak of his holy and religious conversation He endeavoured to be pure First therfore according to this wisdome which God had given him from above he endeavoured to make his conversation pure and holy answerable to that religion which he did professe which by the testimony of the Holy Ghost is pure and undefiled before God and the Father and as here it is said it is first pure He was no doubt well atquainted with his naturall corruptions Psal 51.5 Rom. 7.20 23 24 Act. 1â— 15 passions and pollutions of sinne both originall and actuall inward and outward spirituall and corporall and knew that though hee should wash himselfe with snow water yet could he not say My heart is clean 2 Cor. 7. 1 Job 9.30.31 Zac. 13. 1. Ezek. 36. 26. Rev. 1.6 Rev. 7.14 1. Cor. 6.11 1 Pet. 1.15 I am cleansed from all my filthinesse so long as he did bear about with him a body of sin and of death And yet he knew as well also that the Lord having opened the fountaine of Grace unto him and powred cleane water upon him and washed him in the blood of Christ both for the remission of his sinnes and for purging away the pollution of them He was no longer to be held polluted and uncleane but holy and pure in his person through Christ and so ought to strive to be more and more in all manner of holy conversation And therefore hereunto Act 24.16 hee did ever most carefully and conscionably endeavour himselfe that being espoused to one husband 2 Cor. 11.12 hee might preserve and present himselfe as a chaste virgin unto Christ Jesus 1 Pure in heart Mat. 5.8 2 Cor. 7.1 Eph. 4.28 To which end he laboured to bee first Pure in heart knowing that Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God And this he did by faith and repentance and the helpe of Gods spirit every day purging out old sins and renewing the beauty of former graces 2 To be pure in hand free from all iniquity and injury and so washing his hands in purity 2 Pure in hand 1 Tim. 2.8 and innocency he was ever ready in every place to lift up pure hands unto God and to compasse his Altar 3 Pure in tongue Eph. 4.29 Esa 19.18 Psal 37.30 3 To be pure in lips and tongue never suffering any rotten speech or unseemely word to fall from him but having his language as pure as the language of Canaan his tongue did oftentimes speake of judgement and his speeches were sometimes as the very Oracles of God 4 To be pure in his senses 1 Pet. 4 11 Aug. Conf. lib. 10. Cap. 34. Iob. 31. 1. Psal 119.37 his eyes hee made a covenant withall to restraine them from wanton lookes and to shut up those windowes against all spectacles of vanity And then only or especially to open them when they might serve as necessary lights unto the body or to behold the workes of the Lord that so he might be the better by them His cares were circumcised Aug. Conf l. 10. c. 33. Rev. 2.7 Hos 14.8 1 Thes 4.4 nailed to the posts of Gods house bored by the spirit of grace for audience and obedience to heare what the spirit speakes unto the Churches What have I to doe any more with idols I have heard him I have observed him 5 To be pure in his whole body Iude v. 23. 2 Cor. 7.1 2 Tim. 2.21 ever preserving and possessing his vessell in holinesse and in honor and hating the very garment spotted by the flesh 6 To be pure in the whole man both soule and body which he performed very effectually when clensing himselfe from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit Amaremte Juelle si noÌ„ esses Zuinglianus â—e eticus fide vitâ certè videris angelus
frowardnesse and fiercenesse with words of meeknesse and gentlenesse imitating herein the meeknesse of Moses against the bitter and insolent speeches of Aaron and Miriam when they rose up against him Iud. 8.1 2. And following the good example of Gideon who when the Ephraemites were very angry with him and did chide him most sharply did answer them againe with meeke and gentle words most courteously and wisely and so mitigated and asswaged the rage of their passions presently In mildnesse like his Master Christ Iohn 18 2â— 23. But above all remembring and expressing the mildnesse and meeknesse of his Master Christ who being checked and smitten on the face by an officer of the High Priest as having answered him otherwise than was meet never revenged the wrong but answered the party in great meeknesse of spirit and mildnesse of speech If I have spoken evill heare witnesse of the evill but if well why smitest thou me Many of a cruell and bloody dispostion O how farre short are all they of this his sweet behaviour and gentle carriage and conversation which usually carry with them and about them warre in their hearts strife in their tongues swords in their lips and blood in their hands 1 Ioh. 3.12 Gen. 4.23 24. Gen 49.7 Pro. 15.1 2 being as cruell as Cain as proud and fierce as Lamech as violent and raging as Simeon and Levi as churlish and foolish as Nabal who was so wicked that a man could not speak unto him 1 Sam. 25.17 A soft answer saith Solomon turneth away wrath but grievous words stirre up anger The tongue of the wise c. useth knowledge aright but the mouth of fooles powreth out foolishnesse CHAP. LIV. HE was also being taught and seasoned with the same wisedome which is from above 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 easie to be intreated of an ingenuous facility Iam. 3 1â— 4 Easie to be intreated either to be perswaded to any thing that was good or to be disswaded from any thing that was evill He needed not many reasons to presse him to that which was reason nor many retractives to draw him backe from that which he saw was otherwise An honourable Judge in open Court Iudge W. his testimony of M. Bruen when complaint was made of some wrong which he did to a neighbour-Gentleman by a water-course about his Mills out of that good opinion which he had and held of him gave him this worthy testimony I cannot thinke but that you wrong M. Bruen I will undertake for him make him but sensible of any errour or wrong which he hath done you and he shall both willingly of himselfe acknowledge it and make you double amends for it Iob 31.13 14. He durst not despise the judgement of his man-servant nor the cause of his maidservant when they contended with him For what then should he doe when God riseth up and when he visiteth what shall he auswer him Nay that which is more for such of his servants as were religious and wise he would give them good leave and liberty to advise with him as Abraham dealt with Eliezer and Cornelius with his servants to produce their reasons to perswade or disswade as occasion did require and. if there were cause would he rather follow their opinion than his owne and so suffer them easily to prevaile with him So did Naaman the Assyrian hearken willingly to the advice of his servants 2 King 5.12 perswading him with so reverent termes of honour and respect and upon so good reason to go and wash himselfe seven times in Iordan that he might be healed So did good David yeeld himselfe overcome by the seasonable and wholesome counsell of Abigail 1 Sam. 25 32 33. diffwading him by found reasons from shedding of blood so rashly without any great cause in so great a rage and passion against Naball who by his churlish answer and behaviour had provoked him to wrath against him And thus might this Gentlemans neighbours tenants friends adversaries finde him ensie to be intreated and so they did ingiving and forgiving bearing and forbearing borrowing and lending in doing any good or restraining any evill as they had occasion to make triall of him A good proofe hereof may be had in this one instance following There was a Portion of money a matter of forty shillings given to the use of the Parish and so put into the hands of some honest men to that end but through some neglect as the men failed the money melted away by little and little and was at last quite wasted and gone He easily intreated to his cost For redresse and repaire hereof M. Bruen was intreated to doe something by his owne or by some other means even as he thought good And here he shewed himself easie to be intreated for he made answer presently I meane not to presse upon any mans purse for this matter and so tooke to his owne purse and gave them forty shillings for supply of this want But some so hard they will give nothing A matter I confesse of no great moment yet such as if many of our Gentlemen of farre greater meanes were intreated unto A man might sooher wring forty pottles of water out of a flint or marble stone or draw forty pints of wine out of a Church-wall than get I say not forty shillings but forty pence from any of their hands for any Parish profit or Church uses Yea they are so stiffe and obstinate No nor pay their ovâ—ne 〈◊〉 tiâ—â— 2. that they will not be intreated to pay their owne layes and duties whereof they are convinced to their faces that they wrong the parish in detaining of them CHAP. LV. BUt now to proceed to some other graces and vertues of this worthy Gentleman which according to the properties of that wisedome from above which the Lord had given him hee expressed by his workes in a godly conversation Hee was as we have heard already first pure then peacable thirdly gentle fourthly easie to be intreated and fifthly as it now followeth full of mercy and of good fruits Full of Mercy and of good Fruits Iam. 3.17 Mat. 5.45 Luk. 6.36 He had learned this of his Heavenly Father to bee mercifull as he is mercifull and that not only in Affectu but in Effectu not only in Affection but in Action also A branch of the true vine Ioh. 15.1 2. Phil. 1.10.11 Num. 13.23 A tree of righte ousnesse Esay 61.3 Ier. 17.8 Psal 1 3. Ioh. 15.2.5.8 Psa 92.13 14. He was a Branch of that noble Uine Christ Jesus from whom he drew such sap of grace and vertue by the power of faith that hee was filled with the fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse to the praise and glory of God A Branch clogged with fruit like that which was cut downe at the Brooke Eshcol which was so loaden with one cluster of Grapes that it was enough for two men to bear it on a staffe betweene them
is offended and I burne not This fruit of his compassion and tender affection to Gods children did more especially appeare when he heard of heavy newes out of Bohemia Hungary Germany the Palatinate c. He was then so affected therewithall as good Nehemiah was when he heard by Hanani one of his brethren that the remnant of the Iewes were in great affliction that the wall of Ierusalem was broken downe And afflict him also and the gates thereof were burnt with fire For then he sate downe and wept and mourned certaine dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven 3 It did also no lesse evidently appeare His compassion in visiting the sick by his diligent and carefull visiting of the sicke and such persons and families as had some more heavie and extraordinary hand of God upon them He was held and reputed one of the best spirituall Physitians in all the countrey If any were troubled in conscience afflicted in soule for sin molested by Satan terrified by Gods judgements Happy then was he that could get M. Bruen to come unto him his very presence was some ease and refreshing unto them as to that godly and worthy Preacher M. Dickons on his death-bed His godly exhortations wholesome admonitions divine instructions sweet words of comfort but especially his faithfull and fervent prayers were many times as so many gracious remedies against their grievous miseries and maladies And to speak as the truth is as his gifts were rare and paines great in the performance of these duties so was the issue and successe thereof through the blessing of God many times answerable and effectuall either for some full release or some reliefe in due season Hereof he hath witnesses enow over all the countrey and many he hath written downe of such and such mercies obtained of God by his good meanes for such and such persons the glory where of he doth ever in great humility ascribe unto the Lord giving him all hearty thankes and praise that would manifest his great mercy grace power and goodnesse to so weake creatures by so weak meanes His antipathy against profanenesse Now as he held a holy Sympathy with the godly so had he a great antipathy against the profane both persons and fashions customes and courses of the world He knew well that the fashion of this world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever He knew well also that not onely he himselfe but all true Christians are forbid by the holy Apostle In garish fashions to fashion or conforme themselves to this world and injoyned to be transformed in the spirit of their minde that they may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God And therefore he could never be brought into any love or liking of the garish foolish vaine and new-fangle fashions of the world in attire or other ridiculous gestures and formall complements of the profane of this world but did in his heart abhorre them and in his life utterly shun and avoid them Being once at an high Sheriffes feast where there were some Lords Spirituall and Temporall as they are called and many other Knights and gentlemen of great place there was an health begun by one of the Lords In profane customes as in drinking of healths to the Prince which after the manner was entertained and maintained with a great deale of ceremoniall solemnity As it went along and drew neare unto him many observing what he would say or doe he cast out in a moderate manner some words of dislike to this effect Here is a solemne service to the Prince yet did he never require it nor will ever give you any thankes for it And when one pressed him to pledge and drinke to the Princes health he made this milde and gentle answer onely You may drinke to his health and I will pray for his health and drink for mine owne Nos cramus pro salute imperatoris c Tertull ad Scapul c 2. and so I wish you may doe for yours And so he put it off and passed it over never sorting with them nor yeelding to any one of their solemne ceremonies in that act He did beare a more generous minde than to be brought in subjection unto every idle fancy and foolery or to conforme himselfe unto the humours and customes of profane men The policy and power of Satan in healthing Certainly in this drinking of healths as now it is practised at our gentlemens tables there is the very power and policy of Satan set a work in them as to take up the time of their repast with such vanities and provocations to sin and to draw them to delight themselves in such base works of the flesh after the humour and pleasure of carnall men that all memory and mention of God or goodnesse may bee kept out and that no speech of the word or works of God at all may be had amongst them M. Bolton his Directions to wilke with God pag. 200 201 202 203 c. Had I not beene well prevented by the godly labours of a reverent and worthy Divine and my ancient and faithfull friend M. Bolton who hath spoken much both out of the Fathers and other good Authors against this drinking of healths and that to so very good effect and purpose I had taken a little more pains at this time to provide some rods of rebuke for this sinne purposing to whip it and scourge it round about the table in the sight of our bowzing gentleman that take such and so much pleasure in it But now I forbeare and referre them to his Booke praying them to read advisedly what he hath written learnedly of this matter CHAP. LVIII NOw to proceed As this godly Gentleman had and held an antipathy against all vaine and foolish fashions and humours of the profane men of the world so did he especially against the profane customes and corruptions usually maintained in great houses His antipathy against the profane customes and corruptions of great houses He offereth a remedy so as he had an holy indignation against them and would not spare where he had any hope to speed to admonish his friends by word or writing for the reformation of the same He knew it was written Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sinne upon him An evident proofe of his carefulnesse and faithfulnesse in this kinde he hath left us under his own hand in a portion and part of a letter directed to a Gent. one of his neare cosens His words be these The comparison I used was with M. Wilbraham of Woodhey to whom God gave repentance two or three yeares before his death by the Ministery of my B. H. His godly Letter for Christian admonition and reformation I have often compared you Cosen to Thomas Wilbraham whom the people of
charme he never so wisely Thus have we made it manifest that this gracious and Godly Gentleman was in his holy conversation full of mercy and full of good fruits All of which do taste and relish so much the better because they were seasoned with two other gracious qualities of that wisedome which is from above namely Equity and Syncerity for hee was without partiality and without hypocrisie According to that of the Prophet Micha He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to doe justlie and to love mercy and to walk humbly and uprightly with thy God And thus have we according to our purpose and promise taken a more speciall view of some parts and passages of this Gentlemans life wherein the gifts of Gods grace the vertues of Christ and the fruits of the Spirit did more eminently appear As first in his conversing with God and secondly in his conversation in the world And so wee come from the course of his life in the world and draw towards the end of his life namely his departure out of the world which was the third and last of those 3. generall heads which were proposed to be handled CHAP. LX. COncerning his departure out of this world 3. General Head His departure out of the world 1. Prepar 2. His Resol 3 His confidence 4. His const Psa 90.12 we propole divers things to be considered and observed First his preparation for it Secondly his patient resolution to Beare all the sharpe occurrents of it Thirdly his gracious confidence of a blessed and happy exchange after it Fourthly his happy constancy in the faith of Christ unto the end and in the end untill hee was put in possession of it and so obtained the end of his faith the salvation of his lonle in Christ Jesus Now for the first as his whole life was a meditation of death so was it also a continuall preparation for it For the Lord had taught him so to number his dayes that he did apply his heart unto wisdome I say both to be wise unto salvation and so wise also as to consider Wisedom Deut. 32.29 Iob. 14.14 and often think too upon his latter end So that all the dayes of his appointed time he did wait as Iob did till his change should come Al his studies and labours all his holy duties and services all his prayers and tears all his watchings and fastings all his desires and endeavors were especially bent and directed unto this end next unto Gods glory that he might so run that he might obtaine and so fight His preparation for death that he might overcome and in the end be more than a conquerour in him that loved him that is in Christ Jesus It was therefore his care and confidence ever so to live that he might never be affraid to dye yea so to live that he might desire to dye and to bee with Christ which is best of all even where he is and as he is for over Phil 1.23 Paulm in vita Amb. Possidon in vita Aug. As Paulinus hath recorded of Ambrose that being ready to dye he uttered these comfortable words unto his friends about him Non sic vivi ut pude no me inter vos vivere nec mori timeo quiu bonum habemus Dominum I have not so lived that I am ashamed to live amongst you neither am I affraid to dye because we have a good Lord. His more especiall preparation for his latter end His more speciall preparation in ten speciall duties consisted in these holy duties and heavenly exercises 1. To deny himself his wit his will his reason and affection 2. To renounee the world and to we are himselfe from the love of it and from all the pleasures profits honours and favours of the fame 3. To set and settle his affections on the things which are above placing his heart where his head Christ is 4. To take all his decayes of nature his bodily infirmities want of vigour and strength abatement of naturall heate and moisture to be certeyne Impressions of his mortality and evident Summons to a dissolution 5. To make all his spirituall rejoycings and refreshings in the estate of grace to bee pledges and earnests as it were of heavenly and everlasting joy and happinesse in the estate of glory 6. To consider that unto the godly death is but a passage unto life a dissolution of soule and body for a season which afterwards shall bee restored again in greater beauty and glory at the resurrection 7. To observe that death puts an end to all sins and sorrows to all temptations and afflictions and brings us into the possession of an heavenly inheritance where the true treasure is in abundance where also there are rivers of pleasures and fulnesse of joy for ever more 8. To meditate that here we are but strangers and pilgrims having here no continuing city but seeking one to come that heaven is our home and that whiles we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord and that Ierusalem which is above is the city of the Saints and mother of us all 9. To conferre and talke with his godly friends of the day of death and time of his departure out of this world even in the middest of all other comforts as Christ himself did with Moses and Elias in the holy Mount of his departure that is of his death at Ierusalem and as Austin had much holy and heavenly communication with his mother Monica Aug Cons l. 9. t. 10. and shee with him to the like purpose 10. Lastly to watch and pray with oyle in our Lamps and our lights burning taking every day for our last day Mat. 25.4 2 Tim. 2.21 Mat. 25.23 and so bee ready and prepared for our Masters worke for our Masters comming and for our owne reckoning Thus much of the means which he used and duties which he performed to prepare himself for his departure out of this world Now for his patient resolution to beare all the sharp occurrents of it As hee had obtained mercy of the Lord to bee faithfull in doing his will So had he also to be patient and resolute in suffering and abiding his good pleasure both in life and death To which end the Lord had given him a great measure of spirituall strength Phil. 4.13 Eph. 6.13 that he was able to doe in a manner all things in Christ which strengthened him and hee had furnished him also with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole armour of God whereby he might be able to stand fast in the evill day whether of tentation or affliction against all adverse power that might assaile him We read of that faithfull servant of Christ Chrysostome when hee was grievously persecuted by Eudoxia the Empresse that the Lord did give him such courage and resolution that he feared nothing which she could doe unto him though shee did threaten never
he would not confesse but onely told them in generall with great tendernesse of heart 2 Cor. 11 14. and many teares in his eyes teares of joy and teares of sorrow Pati timetis exire non vultis quid facium vobis Possid de vita Aug. c. 37. For now he had a strong perswasion that he should not live long and that within a while he should make a glorious change of this life with a better of earth for heaven of this world for another and of an estate of misery for an estate of glory And hereunto hee did very carefully addresse himselfe 3. Head His confidence of a happy exchange labouring for a gracious confidence of this blessed and happy exchange whensoever he should come unto it And this hee did by clearing his evidence and confirming his assurance of it His evidence he cleared by informing his judgment aright in the all-sufficiency and perpetuity of that blessed estate His evidence of it His assurance he confirmed by such faithfull records covenants grants gifts pledges earnests witnesses signes oaths seales His assurance for it fruits and marks of his interest unto that estate that neither sinne nor Satan law nor conscience death nor hell could infringe it nor finde any flaw therein to give either them any just occasion to except against it or him any cause once to doubt of it This his confidence was his comfort in all his sicknesse His confidence cause of his comfort which drew many comfortable and heavenly speeches from him Such as these and the like O how great is thy goodnes O Lord which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men O how precious are thy thoughts unto me Psal 31.19 O God! O how great is the summe of them Psal 139.17 18. If I should count them they are moe in number than the sand when I awake I am ever with thee I trusted in the Lord Psal 31. I said thou art my god My times are in thy hand I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell Psal 31.23 24 25 26 and afterwards receive me to glory Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever I know whom I have beleeved and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I have committed unto him against that day Psal 31. O love the Lord all yee his Saints for the Lord preserveth the faithfull and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God for the living god O when shall I come and appeare before God O let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth Cant. 1.1 2. for thy love is better than wine Because of the savour of thy good ointment Thy name is as an oyntment powred forth therefore do the virgins love thee Draw me and I will run after thee God is not unrighteous Heb. 6.10 to forget our worke and labour of love which we have shewed unto his name Faithfull is he that promiseth and calleth us 1 Thes 5.24 Neh. 5.15 and 13. v. 14.22 who will also do it Remember me O my God for good according to all that I have done for thy people and wipe not out my kindnesse that I have done for the house of my God for the Offices thereof Remember me O my God and spare me according to the greatnes of thy mercy Some of these holy and heavenly Speeches hee uttered at his first awaking in the morning some in Prayer with his Family some in his short Ejaculations some as the issue of his secret and silent Meditations some in conference and speech with such of his Christian friends as did come to visit him and to minister either other counsell or comfort unto him Yea and many hundred more than these which would be a matter of great difficulty if not of impossibility to call to mind and to record them His heart was as a fountaine full of the waters of life Iohn 4.141 full of the heavenly knowledge of the holy Scriptures and now being as it were broken open by affliction the riverets of grace and truth did issue out amayne He was full of matter like Elihu Iob 32. â—9 and the Spirit within him did constraine him Behold his belly was as new wine which hath no vent It is ready to burst like new bottles Psa 45.15 His heart was ever inditing some good matter and his tongue became the pen of a ready writer CHAP. LXIII His diligence and conscience in frequenting Gods house NOw although his bodily infirmities did increase and grow upon him yet would he not by any meanes bee kept from the house of God on the Lords day so long as either he could go or ride which was some eight or nine weekes before his death and departure out of this world His house was distant about a myle from the Church His cheerfull going to Church the way faire and large so that hee usually went afoot calling all his family about him leaving neither Cooke nor Butler behinde him nor any of his servants but two or three to make the doores and tend the house untill their returne Psal 122. 1 2. And then taking his Tenants and neighbours as they lay in the way along with him hee marched on with a joyfull and cheerefull heart as a leaden of the Lords host towards the house of God according to that of the Psalmist Psal 42.3 I went with the multitude to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with a multitude that kept Holy-day And so it was indeed his ordinary manner to call his company neare about him Singing of Psalms by the way and to joyne together with one heart and voice to sing Psalmes as they went along and that Psalme especially How pleasant is thy dwelling place Psal 84. which they performed with such a melodious harmony that the like may be said of them as was of the Jewes God made them to rejoyce with great joy the wives also and the children rejoyced so that the joy of Ierusalem was heard even afarre off Neh. 12.43 For although I cannot say as Augustine did that by such sweet singing of Psalmes divers were converted to the faith of Christ that were strangers to it Yet am I well assured by that which I have heard that many that heard but afarre off Some much delighted and some much bettered by this melody the pleasant sound onely of their delicate and sweet voices according so well together in Gods praises were much refreshed and delighted therewit hall and