the godly and the miserable condition of the wicked in their death and so for ever unto all eternity it pleased the Lord so much to affect my heart with it as from that time my heart was wrought over to a desire to walk in the wayes of God But at that time I fear I did not go upon a right principle for I then did not eye the glory of God in it but only my own safety that it might be well with me for ever But quickly after that I had but begun to set my face towards Sion I was set upon with many temptations and perplexities in my thoughts which were very troublesome to me at all times but especially when I was alone the consideration whereof brought such an horrour upon my conscience insomuch as I did not know what to do That little I had whether from education or from the light of Nature caused a striving in me continually against those thoughts of Atheisme which were most terrible unto me I was sensible that it was a fearfull sin to have any such thoughts to lodge within my brest but I desired from my soul to be freed from them and had continuall reasonings within me against them and yet still for a long time I was troubled but could not acquaint any with my condition I did not think that it was so with any other as it was with me In this strait when I knew not which way to turn me even there did the Lord extend his compassion towards me in my greatest extremity in directing me to read Calvins Institutions and especially that part that treats of the Creation Whereupon the Lord was pleased to give in such satisfaction to my soul concerning those things about which I was troubled as that from that time forwards I was not violently assaulted in that kind But no sooner was I freed from that trouble but new ones sprang up For the very remembrance of that horrid sin of Atheisme left such a terrour upon my spirit as made me fear that I had committed that sin against the Holy Ghost and so my condition seemed to be not only for the present but in my apprehension then for ever most miserable All other sins though never so great I knew upon true repentance were pardonable but this sin that I lay under the fear of I knew out of the Word of God should never be pardoned which caused many sad fears upon my spirit known to God alone For the removall of these fears the Lord in mercy directed me to the reading of Mr. Scudders Works where are laid down the marks of that sin Upon perusall whereof the Lord was pleased to satisfie my misgiving heart by a clear manifestation to my soul that I had not committed that sin and so assured me that though my sins were great yet were they pardonable which put me more chearfully upon the use of such means as the Lord had directed me unto And having satisfaction given in concerning this particular there was a great burden taken off from my spirit Although I found no grace in my heart nor discovery of the love of God unto my soul yet in that there was but a possibility there was a ground of comfort administred to my heart which I formerly feared that I should be shut out from But still my fears remained that I was not one of those in particular for whom Christ died The more I looked into mine own heart the more I saw of sin and Satan discouraging me from having any hope that the Lord should accept of such a vile sinfull wretch as I was who had entertained such sinfull thoughts I likewise thought how small the number was of those that should be saved in comparison of others and my repentance I feared came short of that which was required in the Gospel As for faith I could not find the least measure of it in my soul with many other sad discouraging thoughts But when I was most perplexed with fears and doubts even then did the Lord graciously dart in some beams of his reconciled countenance as I was reading something in Mr. Scudders Christian daily Walk c. which the Lord set home upon my soul and brought into my soul so much joy and comfort at the present as neither my tongue nor Pen can express But this joy remained not long for I quickly lost the sense of it yet the remembrance of it was sweet unto me at all times But after this all my former fears returned afresh again upon my heart only I had a door of hope opened that when God saw it best for me he would return and renew his reconciled countenance unto my soul in the clear light and apprehension thereof and this was when I was about sixteen years of age After which time the Lord did exercise me with various dispensations For for two years space I was by providence cast upon a place where I heard very little powerfull preaching small helps for the good of my soul but what the Lord was pleased to give in by the use of private means But his power and abundant mercy was much seen in that time that though I had not much comfort yet the Lord was pleased to keep up my spirit in a way of depending upon him and my fears were less at that time than formerly when I had more helps So gracious was tâ—â— Lord unto me in keeping me alive in a time of famine After this through Gods goodness I was sometimes under the preaching of a powerfull Minister Mr. Bateman of Ockingam who was Crowned with the conversion strengthening and building up of many souls unto whose preaching the Lord gave me such a blessing as I seldome if ever went away from hearing him without comfort Though I came to hear him with many doubts upon my spirit yet the Lord so ruled and directed him as if his Sermons had been only concerning my particular and he fully acquainted with the whole condition of my soul. Sometimes the Lord directed me to some supporting Promises upon which I relied But those Promises which were made to Believers though I highly prized them yet I durst not apply them to my self fearing that I had no interest in them But that Promise Prov. 28. 13. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy And that 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confess our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And the Promise is 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole world and the Invitation Isa. 55. 1. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price together with
into that better world which she so much longed after often professing that there was nothing that could tempt her to wish for life but the breeding up of her little ones which yet now she was the less solicitous about because she could leave them in the hands of their tender and careful Father not doubting as old dying Jacob said when he was blessing the two Sons of Joseph Gen. 48. 15. 16. That that God which had fed her all her life long untill that day and the Angel which had redeemed her from all evil would bless them And now finding her self arrested by the messenger of Death and her body like the house of Saul growing weaker and weaker but her soul like the house of David waxed stronger and stronger took higher flights and made nearer approaches to God that gave it When her Husband came to her as he did frequently he continually admonished and minded her of the gracious Promises of mercy in Christ and of faith in him and desired her to be strengthened and comforted in them Her answer was she was comforted in them she found the comfort of Gods Spirit in her and verily believed she should see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living Psal. 45. 13. Ever and anon saying I am comforted Gods Spirit is in me which makes me endure my sickness and more pains than you can think of so comfortably as I do When she knew of none by her usual prayer was Lord look down upon me in thy mercy Lord forgive me my sins Lord assist me with thy holy Spirit Lord thou hast assured me of the forgiveness of my sins Lord assist me still with thy holy Spirit And many times passing the whole night without sleep she spent that time in these and the like heavenly prayers and ejaculations in which her Husband and those which attend her continually still found her when they came to her Never man had a more faithfull dear and loving Wife or more carefull of what concerned him than himself and more tender of any thing said or done against him than if it had been said or done against her self And when he seemed to lament the loss he should have if God took her from him She meekly answered We came not into the world together and therefore may not look to go out together When he replied that it would be much better for their children if he went first as by the course of nature was most likely she said that he could do much better for the children than she could and thanked God for that she could now leave them with him For the space of three weeks she kept her bed and about a fortnight before her death being surprized with a fainting fit in which she was like to depart and thereby perceiving that earth would suddenly return to the earth whence it came that her soul might be the better winged and prepared for a return to God that gave it she deâ—ired that all the Family might be called up and joyn in prayers with and for her At which time observing the grief and passion of her Husband and those that were present expressed plentifully by tears from their eyes she besought him and them not to grieve and lament for her happiness About that time a Reverend person coming to visit her Husband he solicited him to enlarge that great act of favour unto him by a greater act of charity to his wife by visiting her also whom God now visited with sickness as also to pray with and administer some comfort unto her which he most willingly condescended unto and having taken a strict account of her faith in Christ and hopes of a better life he left her with his Fatherly benediction top full of comfort and when she was afterwards told that he came out of respect and kindness to visit her Husband she said No but God had sent him for her comfort often acknowledging the consolations which she had found by him When any came to visit her in the time of her sickness at the parting she desired them to pray for her and often sent Messengers and caused Letters to be directed to her friends in London to pray for her for that she was now preparing for another world When she was sometimes desired for her childrens sake to chear up her self her answer was that to leave them did not trouble her because she was assured that God would provide for them adding that she would willingly leave Husband Children and all to go to Christ which was just the minde of that blessed Martyr Ignatius Befall me said he what will or can so I may enjoy Jesus Christ my Love my Life that was crucified for me or rather St. Pauls case expressed in that most elegant Barbarisme Phil. 1. 23. Desiring to be with Christ which is multo magis melius much more better And now finding the day of her life wasted to the evening and ready to dye into night on the Lords day before her death she desired the prayers of the Congregation in the Parish where she lived being well assured as she said that many good people would pray heartily for her After which some coming to visit her and exhorting her to patience and to remember the afflictions of Job she answered that she had had her part in his afflictions God having given her Luctuosam foecunditatem as St. Jerom said of Laeta a sad and sorrowfull fruitfulness taking away seven of her children in their minority so that she as Hanna spake in her song 1 Sam. 2. 5. that had born seven waxed feeble yet she comforted her self with this hope that they were in Heaven before her and hoped that they would be Lamps to lead her to heaven for she assured her self that they followed the Lamb whithersoever he goeth and for those two which were yet alive she thanked God for that she saw no ill qualities in them Besides she said that God had taken away her goods from her but had given her patience which to her was of more value and she esteemed it above them all knowing that God was able to restore all when he pleased She often acknowledged Gods goodness to her in sending her a milde sickness and not taking her away with some sudden stroke as he did the wife of Ezekiel Chap. 24. 16. or by some tormenting disease as he is pleased to visit some of his dear ones acknowledging the wonderful mercy of God to her therein A week before her death she called her eldest Daughter to her being to go from her to School at Putney and putting her hand on her shoulder she said to her I give you that blessing which my Mother gave me at her death The God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob bless you and then added the blessing which Aaron by Gods own appointment was to give the children of Israel The Lord bless thee and keep thee
the Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace And bid her serve God and pray duly to him both morning and evening and fear his Name and then said she I doubt not but God will bless you as he hath blessed me In the evening of the same day she commanded her younger Daughter to be brought her and to be put upon the bed in a kneeling posture and then putting her hand on her shoulder she gave her also the same blessing as she had given to her sister Four dayes before her death she grew a little better which put her Friends in some hope of her recovery but the day following her sickness seized on her again and so continued upon her that she slept no more till she slept the sleep of death and together with her sickness her Piety Devotions and comforts encreased in her In the last night of her life presently after midnight feeling death now approaching she sent for her Husband and Family out of their beds and told him when he came to her that she was now leaving the world and him and expressed in many words her great devotion faith and assurance of that everlasting life which she now was shortly to enjoy and desired that they might now all pray together which they did she still expressing much devotion and comfort and after an hour spent in those passages she desired that the Bell might be tolled for her and some Gentlewomen of her neighbours coming to her before them she expressed her comforts and assurances of everlasting life as before and with increase and therein and in prayers they continued till near the rising of the Sun After this she seemed for a wh'le willing to slumber and closed her eyes and so lay for a little while but then turned her head to the other side of the Pillow and after a few restless turnings she said what the Prophet Micha had said before her Mich. 2. 10. There is no rest in this world and then opening her eyes after some expressions of the comfort which she felt distinctly knowing all that were present and speaking to them all she seemed to slumber again and after a little time spake these words Come let us go let us go repeating those words several times which she spake not in a slumber but being awake and as perfect in her understanding and memory as at any time in her life And it is a comforttable opinion that Divines teach from Luke 16. 22. that the Angels do attend on Gods children especially at the time of their dissolution to conduct their souls from earth to heaven which opinion she sometimes in her sickness related to her Husband and added that she had heard it from the Pulpit and had read it in some Books and she believed it to be true and comforted her self with it After a little time she called for some drink and having taken it it began to alter her as it seems she felt in her self for she presently laid her self back on her Pillow and lifting up her eyes towards Heaven she said Lord have mercy upon me Lord Jesus receive my soul and so continued moving her lips and her tongue but her words were not heard and then held up one hand and then joyned both her hands together holding them up with her eyes still heaven-ward till her strength failing her she laid down her hands by her and stretched her self in the bed without any help and sweetly fell asleep about seven a clock in the morning August the 15. Anno Christi 1646. And August the 24. she was decently and solemnly laid in her bed of rest the house as Job saith appointed for all the living Job 30. 23. where the weary are at rest where the wicked cease from troubling and hear not the voyce of the oppressor Job 3. 17 18. The Life and Death of Mrs. Margaret Corbet who dyed Anno Christi 1656. IF we enquire into the Relations of this Gentlewoman either by Affinity or Consanguinity or both sides the Families are ancient of renown and good reputation Concerning the Family from whence she was descended her Father was Sir Nathaniel Brent late Warden of Merton College a learned Knight whose great pains and dangerous adventures to procure the History of the Councel of Trent which he translated into English are to be remembred with an honourable mention and for his faithful discovery of Jesuitical juglings his name will be had in honour when the names of the Popish party will rot Her Mother the Lady Martha Brent was a Lady of a Gracious spirit abounding in love meekness humility love to Gods Ordinances and Gods Children Her delight with David was in the society of Saints She imitated her worthy Father in the sweetness of disposition who was Dr. Robert Abbot that learned and godly Bishop of Sarum who was Malleus Baptismi Armianismi the Hammer of Popery and Arminianisme His excellent Works or Monuments of his Honourable memory To be born of a godly Family and to be well descended is a mercy not to be neglected Mr. Philpot a zealous Martyr being a Kings Son and an Archdeacon told his adversaries that he was a Gentleman Anabapâ—istical parity and Levelling designs are worthily to be abhorred and looked upon as a ready way to confusion rapine and violence So then we see that she was a Gentlewoman every way well descended Her Ancestors were persons of Honour and from them she had the benefit of an ingenuous and liberal Education This is much but it s more when I say that she came of a godly stock and of praying Relations and indeed this is that which ennobles Nobility it self God in mercy began with this Gentlewoman betimes even about the fourteenth year of her age Then God gave her a willing minde and purpose of heart to serve him in the dayes of her youth Insomuch as she was swift to hear the word of God she waited diligently at the posts of Wisdomes Gate She wrote the Sermons which she heard a practice used by King Edward the sixth that rare English Josiah and she left many volumes of Sermons of her own hand-writing taken with great dexterity and these are as so many choise Monuments of her Industry She was much conversant in reading of the holy Scriptures which can make us wise unto salvation and she joyned with her reading prayer and meditation Her delight was in the word of God It was as with Jeremy the joy and rejoycing of her soul and with the reading of Scriptures she searched Expositors and Practical Divines and attained thereby to such a measure of Divine knowledge as enabled her to state some Questions of controversie for her better use and help of her memory and to discourse very soundly upon the most material points of Religion and even above her age and sexe to maintain the truth as occasion
the rest of the Chapter all those places the Lord often made a stay unto my soul And afterwards the Lord so blessed one means or other unto me insomuch as I was kept from sinking and falling into such horrour as many of the people of God sometimes fell into But yet my fears and doubts were so many as that my comfort never lasted long If the Lord did but hide his face I was troubled No longer could I beleeve then I found new strength given in that the Lord would ever have mercy upon my soul. The sense of Original sin and Actual transgressions in their filthiness and guiltiness caused my fears yet to remain upon my spirit my faith then seemed very small if I had any which I much questioned I durst not then say Lord encrease my faith but I could cry earnestly Lord work faith in me I found much dulness and deadness manifold distractions in duties so that God might justly have withdrawn himself from me for ever yet notwithstanding all my uneven walking with God he was graciously pleased to manifest his mercy unto my soul. When I was stricken with such weaknesses as I apprehended might quickly have ended my life I fell into a great fear At the first finding my heart to sink the Lord was pleased to gâ—ive me so much respite as to pour out my soul before him desiring strength and support from him to keep up my spirit and to make me willing to submit to his dispensations and the Lord graciously answered my prayers in that he removed all my former doubtings and fears all the time of that sickness which was long and so dangerous that neither I nor others expected my life The Lord then cleared up my evidences for Heaven and gave me in so much comfort against the apprehension of death as I never had in all my life before Other like trials of the Lords love I found still when I was in the greatest extremity and stood most in need of help from him insomuch as at such times I have hoped that I should never again have questioned the love of God to my soul But I have found it otherwise by sad experience For when these impressions were worn of I have been ready to call all in question again concerning my poor soul. It made me oft to think of that which was laid to Solomons charge that he forgat the Lord that had appeared to him twice I found it the hardest thing to believe that ever I went about But this wavering condition could not satisfie my soul for the Lord giving me sometimes a glimpse of his love made me long after fuller enjoyments of it so that I was carried out with a restless impatience to beg that the Lord would take away the heart of unbelief from me which did both dishonour him and hinder me from that peace which the Lord was willing that his people should enjoy My heart then being brought unto that frame I was more willing than ever I was before to impart my condition unto some spiritual Friends whom I desired to deal impartially with me acquainting them with the whole condition of my soul how far the Lord had carried me on and at what I stuck and still as new objections did arise I laboured to get satisfaction Being convinced that I had too much prejudiced my self in that I had not sooner made my condition known to some who were able to give me advice This way of communicating my condition I found the Lord blessed unto my soul insomuch that my hopes were more confirmed my fears more removed my faith more strengthned and by the hearing of such Sermons and reading such Books as came closest unto the conscience and were most for trial of ones spiritual condition I found the greatest benefit by and received the most comfort from them Formerly I had many fears that I was not one of them who had an interest in the Election of Grace But the Lord afterwards put into my heart to enquire whether I had those Graces of his Spirit wrought in me which none but his own elect people could have Upon the strictest searching into mine own heart the Lord was pleased after many years of fear at last to evidence unto my soul that there was a change wrought in my heart will and affections notwithstanding the remainders of sin and corruption which still encompassed me about being confident that he that had begun this good work would not leave it unfinished unto the day of Jesus Christ and the Lord was pleased to set home divers Promises for the strengthning of my faith to wit those which set down the Everlasting Covenant 2 Sam. 23. 5. The Everlasting love of God Jer. 31. 3. Joh. 11. 13. The certainty of the Foundation 2 Tim. 2. 19. The certainty of the Promises 2 Cor. 1. 20. They are all in Christ Yea and Amen and that the children of God have eternal life promised unto them and that none shall be ever able to pluck them out of Christs hands Joh. 10. 28. Then for divers years the Lord was pleased to stay me to lead and guide me till he had set my feet upon that Rock which is higher than I from whence I trust that I shall never be removed And now my hearts desire is to ascribe that measure of hope and comfort which the Lord hath given me at any time onely unto the praise of the glory of his Grace who hath made me accepted in his Beloved which is so great a mercy as I can never be thankfull enough for nor walk answerable thereunto I know when I look into my heart there is matter of fear that the Lord will withdraw the influences of his comforts from me But that which I rest upon is the free mercy of God in Christ expecting performance of his Promises made Rom. 6. 16. Sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace And Ezek. 36. 25. that he will sprinkle clean water upon me and that he will give me a new heart and put a new spirit within me that he will take away my stony heart and give me an heart of flesh being perswaded that the Lord will keep me by his own Power through faith unto salvation And now that I may have all the Graces of the Spirit strengthened and encreased in me which I finde that I stand in continual need of It is the desire of my soul to be a partaker of the Lords Supper which through the blood of Christ onely I have right unto This is the particular account of Gods gracious dealing with this godly Gentlewoman considering there was no administration of the Sacrament in that Parochial Congregation where she lived and used formerly to receive it nor any Pastor at all to officiate there she being desirous to enjoy that great Ordinance and that after a pure way of administration sent this aforementioned Narrative
argues a good man For goodness is communicative And such was his Academical dexterity that he could impart as Scaliger speaks the felicities of wit to his hearers so accomodating and insinuating the matter in hand as that his Pupils might both perceive their profiting and taste the sweetness of that wherein they profited Thus by his School-stratagems he won the hearts of his Pupils both to himself and to a desire of Learning they were each to other as the Prophets and the sons of the Prophets his Pupils were honourers and lovers of him and he was a Tutor a Friend and a Father unto them The manner of his Conversion according to his own relation was thus During his residence in the University God began to work upon him by the Ministery of Mr. William Perkins of blessed memory But the motions and stirrings of his heart which then were he suppressed thinking that if he should trouble himself with matters of Religion according to the light he had then received it would be an hinderance to him in his Studies which then he had much addicteâ— himself unto Therefore he was willing to silence those suggestions and inward Callings which he had from Gods Spirit and did wittingly defer the prosecution of that work until afterwards At length as he was walking in the fields he heard the Bell tolling for Mr. Perkins who lay a dying whereupon he was secretly glad in his heart that he should now be rid of him who had as he said laid siege to and beleagured his heart This became matter of much affliction to him afterwards God keeping it upon his Spirit with the aggravation of it and making it an effectual means of convincing and humbling him in the sight and sense of the natural enmity that is in mans nature against God Afterward hearing Dr. Sibs then Mr. Sibs preaching a Sermon about Regeneration wherein he shewed First what Regeneration was not and so opening the state of a meer Civil man Mr. Cotton saw his own condition fully discovered which through Gods mercy did drive him to a stand as plainly seeing himself destitute of true Grace all his false hopes and grounds now failing him and so he lay for a long time in an uncomfortable despairing way and of all other things this was his heaviest burden that he had wittingly withstood the means and offers of Grace and mercy which he found had been tendered to him thus he continued till it pleased God to let in a word of Faith into his heart and to cause him to look unto Christ for his healing which word also was dispensed unto him by the same Doctor Sibs which begat in him a singular and constant love to the said Doctor of whom he was also answerably beloved That which frist made him famous in Cambridge was his Funeral Oration for Doctor Some Master of Peter House which was so accurately performed in respect of Invention Elegancy Purity of Stile Ornaments of Rhetorick Elocution and Oratorious beauty of the whole as that he was thenceforth looked at as another Xenophon or Musa Attica throughout the University Some space of time intervening he was called to preach at St. Maries where he preached a University Sermon with high Applause from the Academical Wits insomuch as the fame of his Learning grew greater and greater And afterwards being again called to preach in the same place as one Oration of Pericles left his hearers with an Appetite after another so the memory of his former accurate Exercises filled the Colleges especially the young Students with a fresh expectation of such Elegancies of Learning as made them flock to the Sermon with an Athenian Itch after some new thing as to the ornaments of Rhetorick and abstruser notions of Philosophy But his spirit now savouring of the Cross of Christ more than of humane Literature and being taught of God to distinguish between the Word of Wisdom and the Wisdom of Words his speech and preaching was not now with the enticing words of mans wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power The disappointed expectation of the Auditory soon appeared in their countenances and the discouragement of their non-acceptance returned him unto his Chamber not without some sad thoughts of heart Where yet he had not been long but lo Dr. Preston then Mr. Preston knocks at his Chamber door and coming in acquainted him with his spiritual condition and tells him how it had pleased God to work effectually upon his heart by that Sermon After which Dr. Preston ever highly prized him and both fully and strongly closed with him which real Seal of God unto his Ministery much comforted his soul far above what the present less acceptance of the Auditory had dejected him or their former acceptance had encouraged him His Concio ad Clerum or Latine Sermon which he preached when he proceeded Bachelor of Divinity which was after he had been at Boston about half a year was very much admired and commended His Text was Mat. 5. 13. Vos estis sal terrae quod si sal infatuatus fuerit quo salietur Ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt hath lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted In handling of which Text both the weight of the matter the elegancy of Phrase Rhetorical strains grave sweet and spiritual pronunciation rendred him yet more famous The like did his answering of the Divinity Act in the Schools having a very acute Opponent Mr. William Chappel to dispute with him So that in Cambridge the name of Mr. Cotton was much set by Unto this earthen vessel thus filled with Heavenly Treasure the Inhabitants of Boston in Lincolnshire made their address saying Come and help us And in that Candlestick the Father of Lights placed this burning and shining Light To whom he removed from Cambridge about the twenty eight year of his Age. At his first coming he met with some obstructions from the Diocesan then Bishop Barlo who told him that he was a young man and therefore unfit to be set over such a divided people Mr. Cotton being ingenious and undervaluing himself thought so too and purposed to return to the College again But some of his Boston Friends understanding that one Simon Biby was to be spoken with who was neer to the Bishop they presently charmed him and so the business proceeded without any further trouble and Mr. Cotton was admitted into the place after their manner in those days Two things are here not unworthy our observation which Mr. Cotton would sometimes speak of to his Friends First That in the beginning of his Ministery he was exercised with some inward troubles which much dejected him And indeed good spirits are much bettered by their conflicts with the worst of spirits Spiritual Preachers are often trained up in the School of temptation So true is that Theological maxime Meditation Prayer and Temptation make a Divine This Dispensation of the All-wise
God he afterwards found not only to be beneficiall unto him in preparing his heart for his work but also that it became an effectual means of his more peaceable and comfortable settlement in that place where the people were divided amongst themselves by reason of a potent man in the Town who adhered to another Cambridge man whom he would faign have brought in But when he saw Mr. Cotton wholly taken up with his own exercises of spirit he was free from all suspition of his being Pragmatical or addicted to siding with this or that party and so both he and his party began to close more fully with him Secondly Whereas there was an Arminian party in that Town some of whom were witty and troubled others with Disputes about those points by Gods blessing upon his Labours in holding forth positively such truths as undermined the foundations of Arminianism those Disputes ceased and the Tenets of Arminianism were no more pleaded for Thus God disposeth of the hearts of hearers as that generally they are all open and loving to their Preachers at their first entrance For three or four years he lived and preached amongst them without opposition They accounted themselves happy as well they might in the enjoyment of him both the Town and Country thereabouts being much bettered and reformed by his Labours But after he was not able to bear the Ceremonies imposed his Non-Conformity occasioned his trouble in the Bishops Court at Lincoln from whence he was advised to appeal to an higher Court and imploying Mr. Leveret who afterwards was one of the Ruling Elders of the Church of Boston in New England to deal in that business and he like Jacob being a plain man yet piously subtile to get such a spiritual blessing so far insinuated himself into one of the Proctors of that high-Court that Mr. Cotton was treated by them as if he were a Conformable man and so was restored unto Boston After this time he was blessed with a successfull Ministry unto the end of twenty years In which space he on the Lords Dayes in the afternoons went over the whole Body of Divinity in a Catechistical way thrice and gave the heads of his Discourse to those that were yong Scholars others in the Town to answer his questions in publick in that great congregation and after their Answers he opened those heads of Divinity and finally applied all to the edification of his people and of such strangers as came to hear him In the morning of the Lords Dayes he preached over the first six Chapters of the Gospel of St. John the whole Book of Ecclesiastes the Prophesie of Zachariah and many other Scriptures and when the Lords Supper was administred which was usual every monâ—th he preached upon 1 Corinth 11. 2 Chron. 30. the whole Chapter besides some other Scriptures concerning that subject On his Lecture days he preached through the whole first and second Epistles of John the whole Book of Solomons Song the Parables of our Saviour set forth in Matthews Gospel to the end of Chapter the 16th comparing them with Mark and Luke He took much pains in private and read to sundry young Scholars that were in his House and to some that came out of Germany and had his house full of Auditors Afterwards seeing some inconvenience in the Peoples flocking to his House besides his ordinary Lecture on the Thursdays he preached thrice more in publick on the week days viz. on Wednesdays and Thursdays early in the morning and on Saturdays at three a clock in the afternoon Only these three last Lectures were performed by him but some few years before he had another famous Colleague He was frequent in Duties of Humiliation and Thanksgiving Sometimes he continued five or six hours in Prayer and opening the Word So indefatigable was he in the Lords Work so willing to spend and be spent therein Besides he answered many Letters that were sent him far and near wherein were handled many difficult Cases of Conscience and many doubts cleared to great satisfaction He was a man exceedingly beloved and admired of the best and reverenced of the worst of his Hearers He was in great favour with Dr. Williams the then Bishop of Lincoln who much esteemed him for his Learning and when he was Lord Keeper of the Great Seal he went to King James and speaking of Mr. Cottons great Learning and worth the King was willing notwithstanding his Non-conformity to give way that he should have his Liberty in his Ministry without interruption which was the more remarkable considering how that Kings Spirit was carried out against such wayes Also the Earl of Dorchester being at Old Boston and hearing Mr. Cotton preaching about Civil Government he was so affected with the wisdom of his words and spirit that he did ever after highly account of him and put himself forth what he could in the time of Mr. Cottons troubles to deliver him out of them that so his Boston might still enjoy him as formerly but his desires were too strongly opposed to be accomplished About this time he married his second Wife Mistriss Sarah Story then a Widow He was blessed above many in his Marriages both his Wives being pious Matâ—ons grave sober and faithfull By the first he had no children the last God made a fruitfull Vine unto him His first-born was brought forth far off upon the Sea in his passage to New England So that he being childless when he left Europe arrived a joyfull Father in America In memorial whereof he called his name Sea-born to keep alive said he in me and to teach my Son if he live a remembrance of sea-Sea-mercies from the hand of a gracious God He is yet living and entred into the Work of the Ministry A Son of many Prayers and of great expectation The corruption of the times being now such that he could not continue in the exercise of his Ministery without sin and the envy of his maligners having now procured Letters Missive to convent him before the High Commission Court which Letters a debauched Inhabitant of that Town undertook to serve upon him who shortly after died of the Plague Mr. Cotton having intelligence thereof and well-knowing that nothing but scorns and imprisonment were to be expected from them according to the advice of many able heads and upright hearts amongst whom that holy man of God Mr. Dod of blessed memory had a singular influence he kept himself close for a time in and about London as Luther sometime did at Wittenberg and Paraeus since at Anvilla Yet was not that season of his recess unprofitable For addresses during that time were made unto him privately by divers persons of worth and piety who received satisfaction from him in their Cases of Conscience of greatest concernment And when he went into New England it was not a flight from duty but from evident danger and unto duty Not from the
Learning or Industry so was he most carefull not to trust in them but to fix his dependance wholly upon God Herein he was not unlike to blessed Bradford who studied kneeling Another Synesius who was wont to divide his life between Prayer and his Book Like unto Paul Not sufficient of himself to think any thing as of himself and professing all his sufficiency to be of God But we will give our selves say the Apostles continually unto Prayer and to the Ministry of the Word Men of labour they were and men of Prayer As any weighty cause presented it self either in the Church Commonwealth or his Family he used to set dayes apart to seek the face of God in secret Such were the bowels of this spirituall Father the Horsmen and Chariots of this Israel He might say with Paul He was in fastings often His conversation upon earth was a trading in Heaven A demonstration of the praises of him who hath called him A temperature of that holiness sweetness and love which continually gained upon the hearts of many spectators The habituall gracious scope of his heart in his whole Ministry is not illegible in that usuall subscription of his at the end of all his Sermons Tibi Domine Unto thy honour O Lord. A tast of the divine Soliloquies between God and his soul you may please to take notice of from these two transcribed Poems left behind him in his Study written with his own hand A thankfull acknowledgement of Gods providence In Mothers womb thy fingers did me make And from the womb thou did'st me safely take From breast thou hast me nurst my life throughout That I may say I never wanted ought In all my meales my Table thou hast spread In all my lodgings thou hast made my bed Thou hast me clad with changes of array And chang'd my house for better far away In youthfull wandrings thou didst stay my slide In all my journeys thou hast been my guide Thou hast me sav'd from many an unknown danger And shew'd me favour even where I was a stranger In both my Callings thou hast heard my voice In both my matches thou hast made my choise Thou gav'st me sons and daughters them to peer And giv'st me hope thou l't learn them thee to fear Oft have I seen thee look with mercies face And through thy Christ have felt thy saving grace This is the Heav'n on earth if any be For this and all my soul doth worship thee Another made by him as it seems upon his remove from Boston into that wilderness of N. Engl. I now may expect some changes of miseries Since God hath made me sure That himself by them all will purge mine iniquities As fire makes silver pure Then what though I find the deep deceitfulness Of a distrustfull heart Yet I know with the Lord is abundant faithfulness He will not lose his part When I think of the sweet and gracious company That at Boston once I had And of the long peace of a fruitfull Ministry For twenty years enjoy'd The joy that I found in all that happiness Doth still so much refresh me That the grief to be cast out into a wilderness Doth not so much distress me For when God saw his people his own at our Town That together they could not hit it But that they had learned the language of Askelon And one with another could chip it He then saw it time to send in a busie Elf A Joyner to take them asunder That so they might learn each one to deny himself And so to piece together When the breach of their Bridges and all their Banks And of him that School teaches When the breach of the Plague and of their Trade also arow Could not learn them to see their breaches Then God saw it time to break out on their Ministers By loss of health and peace Yea withall to break in upon their Magistrates That so their pride might cease A Disputation is well called the Sieve of truth So in his Polemical labors he was a seeker thereof in love His scope was the Glory of God Unity of the Church and the edification of men not the ostentation of wit It was his holy ambition not to seem to be learned but indeed to be bettered A sincere seeker of light not of victory Witness his Brotherly acceptance of Dr. Twiss his Examination of Mr. Cottons Treatise of Predestination from whom he acknowledged that he received light thereby and was ready to attest the great abilities of the Doctor that Star if any in this age of the first magnitude It is true Mr. Cottons mind was then exercised about the point of Reprobation Touching the point of Election it is sufficiently known that he was not only Orthodox but also cleer As there were of old that pretended the Predestinarian Heresie to have had it's rise from St. Austin and Grevinchovius of late blushed not to say of famous Dr. Ames who was Arminianorum malleus Amesius Pelagianizat Dr. Ames playes the Pelagian So the wonder is less if this sound and judicious Divine hath not escaped the imputation of Arminianism from some notwithstanding the redundant Testimony of his Doctrine and generally of all that knew him to the contrary yea that occasionally he hath been heard to say by Testimony yet alive and above exception that he looked at Arminianism as another Gospel and directly contrary to the Covenant of Grace What Melancthon sometimes said to Eccius may be here truly applied to him Mr. Cotton in his Disputations sought not his own Glory but Gods Truth So able an Opponent was rare so candid an Opponent was more rare He that fell into his hands was likely to fall soft enough ordinarily except through his own default not likely to lose any thing save his error A mans wisdom makes his face to shine He had an happy a quick comprehensive and benign understanding as having received the manifestation of the Spirit for the service and profit of others To discover the mind of God and therewith the sentence of Judgment in matters too hard for inferiour Judges was no small part both of the worth and usefulness of him that was to minister before the Lord. So it seemed good to the Father of Lights to make this happy Instrument not only to excel his Brethren but in many respects upon this account to excel himself A Grace so far acknowledged in him as that all sorts both the Magistrates and private Persons whether learned or unlearned exercised with their respective Cases of conscience waited under God in a special manner upon his lips for knowledge and sought the Law at his mouth So equal a contention between learning and meekness is seldom visible in any one person â—he consciences of those that knew him being appealed to he will be acknowledged amongst the meekest on Earth in his dayes So conspicuous was this Grace in him that multitudes beheld it not without making extraordinary mention
Cambridge and proved a prudent and learned man He was afterwards Arch-Deacon of Dublin at which time he was first sent over into England to Queen Elizabeth and the Council with a Petition for preserving the Cathedral of St. Patricks Dublin from being dissolved wherein he prevailed the fruits whereof this his Nephew reaped afterwards being made Chancellor of it and receiving his subsistence from it for many years The second time he was sent over by the Council of Ireland to Queen Elizabeth to procure her Patent for the founding of a College and University in Dublin wherein he prevailed also So that the College of which this worthy person was the first fruits had its being from his Grandfathers motion and his Uncles industry He had a brother named Ambrose Usher who though he dyed young yet was a man of excellent parts very skilful in the Oriental Languages who had translated the Old Testament from the beginning to the Book of Job out of the Hebrew into English which is still preserved under his own hand but upon the coming forth of the New Translation in King James his time he desisted from making any further progress therein Our James was taught first to read by two of his Aunts who were blinde from their Cradles and so never saw letters yet were they admirably versed in the sacred Scriptures being able suddenly to have given a good account of any part of the Bible At eight years old he was sent to the Grammar School where he had the happiness to meet with two excellent Schoolmasters Sir James Fullerton afterwards Leger Ambassador in France and Sir James Hamilton afterwards Lord Viscount Clandeboise who was Usher of the School These two learned men were sent over by King James out of Scotland upon an other design though they were disguised in this imployment And indeed they came very opportunely by the good hand of Gods Providence for this youths founding in learning at such a time when there was a great defect of learned Schoolmasters which he often acknowledged as a special mercy of God to him therein At ten years old was the first time that he could remember to have found in himself any evidences of his saving conversion unto God which was instrumentally wrought by a Sermon which he heard preached upon Rom. 12. 1. I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God c. About the same time also meeting with some notes taken from famous Mr. Perkins his Works being not then printed concerning the sanctification of the Lords day proved through Gods blessing so effectual with him that ever after he was the more strict in the observing of it About the same time also he read over St. Augustines Meditations which so affected him that he wept often in the reading of them This young yet hopeful plant thus inuring and accustoming himself to secret duties in his tender years the Devil that grand enemy of our salvation thinking to nip him in the bud assaulted him with divers terrours and affrightments both sleeping and waking hoping thereby to discourage and take him off from the same But he with St. Paul betook himself to prayer with earnestness to be delivered from these Satanical delusions and assaults and at last was heard in that which he feared by being freed from them and strengthened against them with more than ordinary courage and comfort which made such an impression in him as that he could not forget it to his old age The Devil now finding that he could not be affrighted out of his course of godliness made use of another engine which was to allure him with the bait of pleasure some of his friends teaching him to play at Cards wherewith he was so much delighted that it began to prevail over his love to his book yea it came in competition with his love to God and care to serve him which being seasonably by Gods Spirit discovered to him he presently gave it over and never played afterwards At twelve years old he was so affected with the study of Chronology and Antiquity that reading over Sleidans Book of the four Empires and some other Authors he drew forth an exact Series of the times wherein each eminent person lived and during the time of his abode at School which was five years he was throughly instructed in Grammar Rhetorick and Poetry wherein he so excelled and with which he was so delighted that he was fain to take himself off lest it should have hindred him from more serious studies At thirteen years of age he was admitted into the College of Dublin being the first Student that was initiated into it and as it seems it was so ordered upon design by the Governours thereof upon their observation of his pregnancy and rare parts that it might be a future honour to the College to have his name recorded in the Frontispiece of their Admission Book and so accordingly he was the first Graduate the first Fellow the first Proctor c. At the same time Sir James Hamilton hitherto Usher of the School was chosen Fellow of the College and thereby became his Tutor who oft-times admired his accuteness and proficiency whereby in a short time he equalized his Instructers Here he first began to study the Greek and Hebrew Languages in both which he afterwards excelled and made himself in a little time Master of the Arts most of which he modelled in a method of his own especially that of Musick At this time the education and helps which that College afforded were very eminent For though at first there were but four Fellows yet the Tongues and Arts were very exactly taught to all the Students who were divided into several Classes Each Tutor read Aristotles Text in Greek to his Pupils yea each Fellow read three Lectures a day at each of which there was a Disputation maintained either upon the present or the precedent Lecture and sometimes they were ordered to dispute More Socratico On Saturdayes in the afternoon each Tutor read a Divinity Lecture in Latine to his Pupils dictating it as they did all other their Lectures so deliberately that they might easily write after them to their great benefit and advantage At fourteen years old he was judged fit and admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and his usual custome was the afternoon before to retire himself in private and to spend it in a strict self-examination and deep humiliation for all his sins wherein he had such enlargements of heart that a stream of tears flowed from his eyes which afterwards he oft recalled to minde both as a provocation and censure of himself When he was of elder years there was a certain plâ—ce by a water side whither he oft resorted sorrowfully to survey his sins and with floods of tears to confess and bewail them wherein he found so much sweetness and communion with God that he thirsted for such comfortable
his death besides very considerable summes extraordinary All that knew him found him very communicative not onely of his studies for the advantage of their mindes but of part of his stipend for the relief of their bodies and indeed in works of charity he more needed a bridle than a spur He was not so severe in his judgement about Episcopacy as to disown other Reformed Churches but declared that he loved and honoured them as true members of the Church universal and was ready for the Ministers of Holland France â— to testifie his Communion with them He was a man of a most exemplary moderation meekness humility and ingenuity Anno 1641 he drew up an Expedient to accommodate some of our differences in Ecclesiastical Affairs which some moderate men of both parties were ready to subscribe But in matters of Doctrine for the substantials it was often his charge that Ministers should not preach any thing as to please men but God who hath put them in trust 1 Thess. 2. 4. For such as seek to please men are not the servants of Christ Gal. 1. 10. And in defence of those truths no man was more resolute and constant than he not giving place by way of subjection no not for an hour Gal. 2. 5. but in circumstantials he thought it to be our duty with St. Paul to please all men and not our in all such things 1 Cor. 10. 31. to edification and concord He was in these things alwayes the same holding fast the form of sound words in Doctrine and practice to the last The night before he left London Oh! the humble expressions he used of his own unworthiness demeaning himself as if he had been the least of Saints which he uttered with many tears He wished those about him to prepare for afflictions and trials which he was perswaded were not far from them Having abode at London one and fifty dayes for so it was punctually noted by himself in a Book it being his custome with David so to number his dayes both for the place where and the manner how he spent them he returned to Rygate Feb. 13. 1655 to the Countess of Peterboroughs March the 20 following was the first day of his sickness upon which day as every day he had been well busied Most part of it as long as he had light he had spent at his study proceeding in his Chronologia sacra clearing all the doubts in his Annals of the Bible in which he had gone as far as to the Book of Judges where the last words he wrote were these Hic praeterea notandum but returned not to make any further progress From his study he went to visit a sick Gentlewoman in that Family and prescribed to her most excellent preparatives for death with other most holy advice in practical matters in which he spent three quarters of an hour but in such an heavenly manner as if like Moses upon Mount Nebo his eyes had been strengthened to take a prospect of the heavenly Canaan That night about eight a clock he first complained of his hip judging it to be a spice of the Sciatica which he had been troubled with about five and thirty years before contracted by sitting up late in the College Library at Dublin but by the application of an ointment he was presently eased of that pain so that he took some rest that night In the morning he complained of a great pain in his side whereupon a Physitian was sent for who used such means as he judged fit for him but the pain continuing and his spirits decaying he wholly addicted himself to prayer only upon the abating of the torment he advised those about him in health to prepare for sickness and death that then they might have nothing else to do but to dye and after a short settlement of the things of this world he took great content in his approaching death A Minister there present assisted him with his prayers but afterwards he desired to be left to his own private The last words he was heard to utter which was about one a clock in the afternoon and a little before his death were these praying for the forgiveness of his sins he added But Lord in special forgive my sins of Omission Herein he had his wish which he often used that he might dye as holy Mr. Perkins did which expired with crying for mercy and forgiveness But did he pray for pardon of his sins of Omission and yet he was a person that was never known to omit an hour but was alwayes imployed in his Masters business either in preaching reading writing or hearing others as of late to read to him either resolving doubts or exhorting instructing and counselling such as came to visit him yet did he dye with this humble expression Lord forgive my sins of Omission A speech that may give us all matter of solemn meditation and imitation March the 21. Anno Christi 1655 this glorious Sun set and from earth was translated to Heaven having been Primate of Ireland just one and thirty years and a Preacher five and fifty years and having lived about seventy five years What he had to leave was only his Library and divers imperfect Copies of his intended Works which death prevented his finishing of The Lord Protector as he was then called gave him an honourable burial at the publick charge in the Chappel of Henry the seventh at Westminster and extended to his what was before intended for himself in the grant of some of the Lands belonging to the Primacy of Armagh for the terme of one and twenty years He was highly admired and much honoured by all the famous Lights of his time through the Christian world Spanhemius Divinity-Professor at Geneva Anno Christi 1639 in his Epistle Dedicatory to him before his third Part Dubiorum Evangelicorum spends above two leaves in extolling him Some of his expressions are Your very great parts Most excellent Usher are known not onely within your own Country but in ours and wheresoever else there is honour given to Piety or price set upon learning c. He speaks much of his Charity to strangers his Humility Piety Works his Library of which he made such use for the publick good that it was not so much his own as the Library of all learned men In a word saith he the name of Usher with us is a name of Piety and Vertue it is of great Renowne at our Geneva c. Gerard Vossius frequently admires him as a man of vast learning worthy of an everlasting Monument The high merits saith he of this most excellent and throughout most learned man both of the Church and of the whole Commonwealth of Learning deserve an everlasting grateful memory A man so excelling in the knowledge both of Humane and Divine things that I cannot speak any thing so high of him but his worth doth surpass it Bochartus and Simplicius call
of the world how she may please her Husband 2. She had so chosen God for her portion and set up her rest in the riches of his love that she had but little minde of the worlds riches She knew that riches may be had and well used of the Religious and that poverty alone commends no man unto God as St. Jerom speaks yet did she not dote upon them but though she was competently careful and frugal as Christ prescribeth Joh. 6. 12. Gather up the broken meat that nothing be lost and though she was provident as the Apostle requires 1 Tim. 5. 8. If any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own hosue he hath denyed the faith and is worse than an Infidel yet withall beleeving that of the Prophet David Psal. 37. 16. A little that the righteous hath is better than the riches of many wicked and as conforming her self to that of St. John Love not the world nor the things of the world 1 Joh. 2. 15. She often besought of Almighty God rather to make and keep her poor than to suffer her heart in any sort to sink down from her Maker to dote upon Mammon She was one that could very well finde in her heart to honour God with her substance as Prov. 3. 9. She was as cheerful in her layings out for him as any Miser could be in his layings up for himself and when she heard of the irreligious Parsimony of some towards the maintenanance of the publick Ministry in that City of Chester she hath professed that she had rather be at all the charge of all the common contributions her self if her estate would bear it than that God should be grumbled at or his service poorly prized or the wages of his work unwillingly paid Another undoubted testimony of her true love to God was in that she so much desired to dye out of a fervent affection to him insomuch that she feared a long life would keep her too long from the enjoyment of him being therein like unto David in those ardent aspirations of his As the Hart panteth after the water Brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before him Psal 42. 1 2. That which worldlings are most afraid of that she so much wished for that her friends were fain to plead with her to be pleased with life though she not being contented with their Arguments contended against them by contrary reason shewing first why she did desire to dye Secondly why she was not afraid of Death and hoping that it would not tarry long she had in readiness some special matters to be remembred at her Death which she left in writing under her own hand and are as followeth First Why I desire to dye I desire to dye because I want while I live here the glorious presence of God which I love and long for and that sweet fellowship of the Angels and Saints who would be glad of me as I am of them and would entertaine me with unwearied delight I desire to dye because while I live I shall want the perfection of my nature and be as an estranged and banished person from my Fathers house I desire to dye because I would not live to offend so good a God nor to grieve his holy Spirit For his loving kindness is better than life it self And he is abundant in mercy to me and it doth lye as an heavy load upon my heart many times to think of dipleasing him I desire to dye because this world is generally infected with the plague of sin and some have this Plague-sore running upon them and I my self â—m tainted with the same disease so as whilst I live here I can be in no place nor in any company but I am still in danger of being infected or to infect others and if this world doth hate me because I endeavour to follow goodness how will it rejoyce if my foot do but slip Therefore how woful would my life be unto me if I should give occasion to the world to triumph or blaspheme in respect of me I cannot choose but desire to dye when I consider that sin like a leprosie hath so corrupted me that there is no soundness in me my minde my memory my will and affections yea my very conscience is still impure in every faculty of my soul there is a miserable mixture of vile infection which makes me aweary of my life and all this is the worse because it is incurable and inseparable companion of my life so that I can go no whither to avoid it there is no business that I can dispatch that concerns my happiness without a muteny in mine heart though Gods works be all fair works yet there are in my nature many defects insufficiencies mistakings and transgressions so that I may say with David Innumerable evils have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold on me so that I am not able to look up Psal. 40. 12. I therefore desire Heaven for holiness rather than for happiness that I might sin no more I desire that condition wherein I may most glorifie God I desire to dye because of the Devils malignant and uncessant assaults I can stand no where before the Lord on earth but one Devil or other is at my right hand and must of necessity enter into conflict with them and their temptations and be buffeted and gored by them which is a thousand fold worse than Death More easie it is to wrestle with Flesh and Blood than with those Principalities and Powers and spiritual wickednesses and great Rulers of the world For they are subtle and cruel and and like roaring Lions they go about seeking whom they may devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. I desire to dye because by Death I shall rest from the hard labours of this life I desire to dye because nothing in this world can give me solid and durable contentment I am less in liking of life and have more desire of death when I consider the misery that may come both on my body and estate and fearful alterations may come and wars may come and all the desolations and terrours which accompany them and I may be left in the hands of the sons of violence Besides I daily suffer the loss of my friends who were the companions of my life and means of much contentment unto me and those whom I lose by my life I shall finde by my death and enjoy in another world unto all eternity And for my children it doth not trouble me for that God which hath given life and breath and all they have while I am living can without me provide for them when I am dead my God will be their God if they be his if they be not what comfort would it be for me to live my life would be exceeding bitter unto me if I should see them dishonour God whom
zeal as a Christian against prophane swearing and for the strict observation of the Sabhath wherein there is a remarkable instance of both at once and it was this Mr. Jurdaine returning from the Parliament in the company of a person of Honour he was invited by him to stay at his house that night being Saturday and the Sabbath following he having observed that Noble personage to swear as they travelled together told him that he would not go into his house for that he was a Swearer and he feared that the house would fall upon his head Answer was returned that he need not fear that for the house was newly built a fair and strong house To this he replied yea but the flying Rowl of Curses shall enter into the house of Swearers and shall consume the timber and stones of it But to obtain his company the Lord pressed the inconveniencies of his lodging in an Inne on the Sabbath day Mr. Jurdaine replied But I will never go into your house unless you will engage your self that no Oath shall be sworn â—nor cursing uttered by yourâ— your Lady nor none of your servants or Family This was faithfully promised Yea but then said Mr. Jurdaine how shall the Sabbath be kept the answer was That he should have an honest Sermon in the forenoon And what in the afternoon said he Except we shall have a good Sermon in the afternoon also I will not go in That likewise was granted and as it is said all was faithfully performed He was not for judgement only but for mercy also and he shewed mercy to the souls of them that were brought before him as transgressors of the Law and to be punished according to their demerits For he would labour to convince them of the hainousness of their offences that so he might bring them to a sight of their sins and to repentance for the same He did much encourage the Officers under him to a diligent and faithfull discharge of their duty and indeed they stood in much need of it meeting with many discouragements from some others and when he found them somewhat backward through timerousness or other by-respects to execute his Warrants upon persons of high place he would exhort them to be active and forward in doing their duty telling them In good earnest for that was his usuall word that if he had as good a Warrant from God as they had from him to apprehend offenders if he were required to apprehend the Devil himself he would not be backward to put it in execution His zeal was not only in distributive justice as a Magistrate but he was conscienciously carefull as a Christian in commutative justice in his commerce and dealings with men wherein he made the Word the rule of his practice and if he found at any time that he had swerved from that rule he would retract it that so neither his own conscience nor other men might reproach him for walking disorderly and besides the rule and that appeared not only by his avoiding all usurious Contracts but also in making restitution of all that had been gotten thereby He had sometimes taken usury for Money lent to a person about Lime which he had received for divers years for at that time he held it lawfull by reason of the practice which he had observed in some forreign States and the concurrent judgements of some Divines of note who spake in favour thereof but upon his perusall of the Writings of other godly Divines of our Nation and by conference with some worthy Ministers of his acquaintance he was so convinced of the unlawfullness of usury that he did not only forbear the practice of it for the future but restored the interest formerly taken and took no more for the loan of Money than the party borrowing would voluntarily give him He did much bewail the common course of too many who sin against God both in getting and spending their worldly estates For said he as they get it unjustly and by indirect means so for the most part they spend it leudly and lavishly in satisfying their sinfull lusts Neither was he more famous for justice than he was for charity and that both in his life and at his death In his life-time he was a free-hearted man and open-handed He was a great patron of the poor Another Job in that respect He could truly say with him as Job 30. 25. Was not my soul grieved for the poor No doubt it was and the bowels of his compassion did yearn towards them He was an Advocate and did earnestly plead for them and especially for Gods poor honest poor persons whose hearts and faces were set Godward and Heavenward and his hands were very open to relieve them He did that for them which many of far greater estates had not hearts to do He would often say that he wondered what rich men meant that they gave so little to the poor and raked so much together for their children Do you not see quoth he what becomes of it and would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their children and they within a short time had scattered and consumed all and on the other side he often spake of such as had small beginnings and afterwards became rich or of a competent estate giving a particular instance in himself I came said he but with a groat or six pence in my purse to this City had I had a shilling in my purse I had never been Mayor of Exeter And therefore leave children but a little and they by Gods blessing on their labour and industry may become rich But leave them a great deal and they are in danger to be beggars His care for the poor was most remarkeable in the time of the great Plague in that City which was anno Christi 1625. For in the Maiors absence he was chosen his Lieutenant or Deputy and he seeing the deplorable condition of the City accepted of it and then he wrote divers Letters to many Towns in Devonshire and to some in Dorset and Sommersetshire by which meanes he procured severall summes of Moneys for the suppliall of the wants of the many hundreds of poor that at that time were in a very distressed estate One that was an eye-witness related that he had seen morning after morning coming to his door sometimes thirty sometimes forty yea fifty or sixty or more wringing their hands some crying that their husbands were dead Others that their wives were dead Others that their children were dead and that they had not any thing wherewithall to bury them Some again cried that their Families were sick and they had not wherewithall to relieve them Others that they had divers children but they neither had bread nor Money to buy it for them Some cried for bread Some for Physick Others for Shroudes for their dead and he not only heard them patiently but his bowels yearned towards them and his hands were
to the Reverend Dr. Harris living then in the University who admitted her to the participation of the Lords Supper in that publick Assembly where he administred it Now let us see also a Letter written by Dr. Harris concerning this godly Gentlewoman whom he highly honoured upon the occasion of his communicating the aforesaid Letter of hers to a friend Do not saith he think it lost time to read over this Narrative It was penned by this gracious woman upon a serious occasion what time she was to give an account of her self at her admission to the Lords Supper The discourse is plain but pregnant of instruction I alter nothing in the thing I onely take notice of the persons therein mentioned As 1. God 2. Satan 3. The parties self All which offer matter worthy thy thoughts First in Satan thou seest his most ordinary way and method in tempting His first attempt is to blow out all light left in the soul and to quell all thoughts of a Deity if possibly he can that so no room at all may be left for God If that cannot be but the conscience will be sometimes talking then his next work is to question and argue the case whether indeed there be such a person as God such a thing as the soul such a book as the Bible such a place as an Heaven or Hell and if he cannot gain such a conclusion from the soul then in the third place the Question is What manner a one this supposed God is And first whilst thou art in thy natural state he represents God made all of mercy and when thou art under mercy all of vengeance and fury there was no place for fear and here none for hope There sin was an inconsiderable thing and beneath Gods cognisance here sin is unpardonable and beyond Gods mercy In both estates he labours the destruction of Faith now in the threats then in the Promises In the first estate you must never yeeld to self-despair no spit in his face that shall once question thy belief in God without the least doubting What not believe my Maker with all my soul What once doubt or suspect him I defie him and the foul fiend that shall say so On the other side when once converted what hast thou to do with the Covenant of Grace and Peace That is bread for Children not for Dogs Hypocrites for such as have sinned against the Holy Ghost as thou hast done and at this bay he holds the soul for some space and eftsoon recruits his forces and renews his Interrogatories thus Thou within the Promise Thou a believer Canst thou say darest thou say that thou hast faith It may be thou darest not deny it but what is that to the point Thou darest not affirm it though partial enough to thy self Be advised by me who loves plain dealing and let not thy false heart and these fawning Preachers befool thee unto destruction Thus the Devil up and down first and last thus he proceeded with man at the first and though sometimes he shifts hands and findes out new wayes yet here lyes his road for the most part and this is the first party here named Now in the second place what doth God It must be granted that he permitteth these Hellish Scullions to scour his Plate and to fit the vessels of honour for their Masters use and they as glad of the office bestir themselves they dawb their vessels and render them as foul and ugly as they can but when they have done their work God takes his Plate out of their hand to their no small grief and in the mean while God goes along with the temptations and in them all supports his poor servants now more immediately by his own hand prompting their Petitions darting into their souls some glimpses of comfort minding them of some Promise to be sure yeelding them some secret hope something or other which draws them along still more or less 2. Now more immediately by men and other means sometimes he directs them to some special Book or Treatise which fits their case and holds soul and life together at present sometimes he sends an Interpreter one of a thousand that shall rip up their misery and shew them their misery and shew them their remedy and at last fetches off his Captives even then when Satan began to crow and cry victory that extremity being Gods opportunity and this is usually though not ever Gods way Now look upon the third concerned the party tempted what doth he He sticks often in the birth fool as he is his first work is to keep the Devils counsel confess and be shamed for ever the Devil is true to him and he will be as true and never peach he travels with a wofull burden of sin guilt horrour but if thou lovest thy self saith the Devil keep thy own counsel trust not God nor man But if the Preacher doth force him to a confession and he can hold no longer then he makes forth but fair and softly First he makes many offers goes and comes and something he would say but is loath he begins afar off and then stops begins again and then stops again takes another day and then comes again with a purpose of uttering all and when he comes to his friend either all is quiet for the present and the pang over or else if he hangs still on the rack then he drops out somewhat but reserves the worst and so is little the better because he comes not to the bottome quickly or if he speaks out all yet there is another rub in the way how can I tell whether this parties testimony be true or no his judgement and affection being right He shews me promises but knows he or I whether those promises do belong to me He speaks of a Christ but what is that to me if he be none of mine He talks of believing seeing is believing It is a senseless thing to trust to anothers goodness when I have nothing of mine own to believe mercy whâ—n I feel wrath shall I not believe mine own eyes And thus after a world of Sermons Sacraments Conferences the poor soul hovers and findes no rest or satisfaction till God be pleased to work him to these things 1. To a resolution of imparting himself to some godly friend and of speaking his whole heart to some one or other 2. Of resting in Gods bare word without the assurance of sense 3. Of accepting of Jesus Christ without any Ifs and And 's notwithstanding his own unworthiness 4. Of waiting upon God and hearkning when he will speak peace and when he is brought thus far that he will be beholden to a Commuinon of Saints and will take Gods word without any farther surety and owe all to Christ though he can contribute nothing and in despight of all suggestions and discouragements will stick to the peace of Christ and look for all his peace in that way saying Though he kill me