continued labouring in that imployment through many pains till Tuesday the 6. of December Anno Christi 1653. About which time as his natural strength was exceedingly decayed so now also his Intellectuals began to fail and for the following three dayes a drousiness seized upon him insomuch that he could not hold up his head to look into a Book but slumbered away his time in a Chair and upon Friday being the third day after he had given over his studies enquiring what day it was he cried out Alas I have lost three dayes The day following being Saturday he had no desire to arise out of his bed neither indeed could he in regard of his weakness which was such and he was so sensible of it that he said Now I have not long to live in this world the time of my departure is at hand I am going to my desired Haven the apprehension whereof was no little joy unto him for he had often said to such of his friends as came to visit him in his sickness I am willing to dye having I bless God nothing to do but to dye Indeed sometimes he seemed to be in the same strait with St. Paul between Life and Death having a desire to depart that he might be with Christ which was best of all but yet very desirous he was to finish his Commentary upon the Epistle to the Hebrews which he knew would be very useful to the Church of God and in that respect he was willing to live and God so far answered his desire in that particular that he lived to finish it within half a Chapter But when he perceived that his time in this world could not be long O! how sweet and joyful was the apprehension of Death unto him which he often termed his best friend next to Jesus Christ. So that he came willingly he was not plucked and dragged to Death Death was his familiar acquaintance it was his priviledge as well as his task When his good sister said to him in his sickness Brother I am afraid to leave you alone Why Sister said he I shall I am sure be with Iesus Christ when I dye The meditation of Death was not more frequent than sweet unto him His soul was upon the wing and was bent Heaven-ward even whilst it was in the cage of his decrepit body Upon Saturday though he kept his bed through weakness yet was he more wakeful and his spirit more lively and cheerful than for several dayes before which questionless was from his joyful apprehension of his approaching departure His speeches that day were more than ordinary Heavenly He spake much in the admiration of Gods Free grace and riches of his Mercy in Jesus Christ. As while he lived he led a heavenly life so about the time of his death by those comforts and joyes that he found in his soul he seemed to be in Heaven even while he was upon the earth and so he continued full of sweet and divine comfort and heavenly expressions to the last of his understanding and speech which continued to Munday morning when both of them failed him from which time he lay breathing yet shorter and shorter till eight of the clock at night about which time in the presence of all his Children and divers of his Friends he quietly slept in the Lord making an happy change from earth to Heaven which was Decem. 12. Anno Christi 1653 being 79 years old after he had served God faithfully and painfully in his Generation A Catalogue of the Books published by him Of Domestical Duties on Eph. 5. and 6. The whole Armour of God on Eph. 6. Of the sin against the Holy Ghost on Matth. 12. 31 32. Mar. 3. 28 29. Upon the Lords Prayer called A Guide to go to God Gods three Arrows Plague Famine and Sword on Num. 16. 44 c. 2 Sam. 21. 1. Exod. 17. 8. The extent of Gods Providence Nov. 5. on Matth. 10. 29 30 31. The Dignity of Chivalry on 2 Chron 8 9. The Saints Sacrifice or a Comment on Psal. 116. Two Treatises 1. The Sabbaths Sanctification 2. A Treatise of Apostacy on Luke 15. 31. The Saints Support A Sermon before the Commons in Parliament on Nehem. 5. 19. Mercies Memorial Nov. 17. on Exod. 13. 3. The Progress of Divine Providence A Sermon before the House of Lords on Ezek. 36. 11. A Funeral Sermon on Ezek. 24. 16. The Right way A Sermon before the Lords on Ezra 8. 21. Two Catechismes A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews My Reverend Friend Mr. Tho. Gouge eldest Son to this famous Doctor desired me to insert this Life amongst these other Worthies contained in this Volume The Life and Death of Mr. Thomas Gataker who dyed Anno Christi 1654. MR. Thomas Gataker or Gatacre for so he wrote himself till of later years to prevent miscalling occasioned frequently by the view of the Letters he changed it into Gataker was a branch of a very ancient Family so firmly by Gods Providence planted in Shropshire that the Stock hath continued in the same House carrying the Name of its owner and known by the Title of Gatacre-Hall by an un-interrupted succession from the time of King Edward the Confessor His Father Mr. Thomas Gatacre being a younger Son of William Gatacre was designed by his Parents to the study of the Law in order whereunto he was admitted a Student in the Temple And during his abode there he occasionally went to visit some of his Kindred who were then high in place and power whereby he was often present at the examination of some Christian Confessors of the Gospel in those bloody times wherein Satan armed all his Forces to suppress that dawning light which threatned ruine to his Kingdome of darkness The harshness and cruelty of those proceedings together with the constancy of those weak yet sincere Christians who with evidence of truth and resolution of minde maintained faith and a good conscience were very prevalent with him to facilitate his entertainment of that purer Doctrine of the Gospel which began to shine into his soul. This being apprehended by his Parents fearing his change in Religion they sent him over to Lovaine in Flanders and to win him to a compliance with them in Religion they setled upon him an estate in a Lease of an hundred pounds per annum in old Rents but like St. Paul Phil. 3. 8. He counted all outward advantages as nothing in comparison of the knowledge of Iesus Christ. His Father therefore perceiving how fixt and unmoveable he was in his choice of Religion in which yet he had nothing to except against but only the novelty of it he recalled him into England and in great displeasure revoked his former Grant of 100 â— per annum which yet could not be effected without his Sons consent But this young Disciple had already learned the hard lesson of self-denial and of forsaking all to follow Christ and therefore to preserve his
many places Read the Proverbs and remember him in this 1. Forsake not an old Friend 2. Be friendly and faithful to your Friends 3. Never trouble or trust Friends unless there be a necessity 4. Lastly be long in closing with Friends and loath to lose them upon experience of them For your Marriages In Marriage you lay the foundation of your present woe or weal therefore here be not rash go not alone yet remember Paul 1 Cor. 7. 2. First study whether you have a calling to Marry yea or no and advise well of that If none forbear if so advise with friends before your affections be engaged In your choice 1. Aim at Grace 2. Good nature and education the best woman is not ever the best wife 3. Good parts of understanding Huswifery c. As for Portion be it more or less be upon certainties and trust not words and for Parentage let not the distance be too great lest you despise or be despised However be sure that the person likes not your fancy but your judgement For your Children Make it your chiefest work to make them 1. Godly 2. Useful Bestow most of their Portions in good Education and if Grace make no difference do you make none in your affections countenances portions partiality this way ends in nothing else but envy strangeness c. For your selves within your selves My desire hath been to carry an even hand over you all and have laboured to reduce you as near as I could all circumstances considered to an equality and therefore my last request and charge is that you will live together in an undivided bond of love you are many of you and if you joyn together as one man you need not want any thing what counsel what comfort what money what friends may you not help your selves unto if you will contribute your aides wherefore my dear children I pray beseech command adjure you by all the Relations and dearness that hath ever been betwixt us that you know one another visite as you may each other comfort counsel relieve succour help admonish one another Whilst your Mother lives meet there if possible yearly When she is dead pitch upon some other place if it may be your eldest Brothers house or if you cannot meet yet send to and hear from one another yearly And when you have neither Father nor Mother be so many Fathers and Mothers each to other so you shall understand the blessing mentioned Psal. 133. For your Estates Be not troubled that you are below your kindred get more wisdome humility goodness and you are above them onely this do 1. Study work more than wages 2. Deal with your hearts to make them less 3. Begin below 4. Joyn together to help one another 5. Rest upon the Promises which are many and precious this way 6. Sow mercy Take of your Mother to this end a piece give that in works of mercy and if all other means fail you that shall maintain you I know I know I say and I am confident in it that if ye will be humbled for my barrenness and will trust God in his own way he will make comfortable provision for you Object no more but trust him For the Publick Bless God that you are born English men and bear your selves dutifully and conscionably towards Authority See God in the Magistrate and hold Order a precious things And for the Church neither set her above her Husband Christ nor below her Children give her that honour obedience and respect that is her due and if you will be my Children and heirs of my comfort in my dying age be neither Authors nor Fautors of any either faction or novelty It s true this is not a rising way but it is a free fair comfortable way for a man to follow his own judgement without warping to either hand Perhaps you may hear variety of judgements touching my walk when I sleep in silence some taxing me for too much some for too little Conformity but be not ye troubled I did what in my circumstances seemed best to me for the present howsoever the event hath not in some points answered expectation yet I have learned to measure things by another rule than events and satisfie my self in this that I did all for the best as I thought Sure I am my Saviour Christ is perfect and never failed so much as in circumstance To him I commit your Souls Bodies Estates Names Lifes Deaths All and my self waiting when he shall change my vile body and make it glorious like unto his own Amen Even so come Lord Jesus Amen On the Memory of that Famous and Godly Minister Dr. Robert Haris my late worthy Friend As once Elias in John Baptist came Back to the Jews in that Triumphant flame Of Light and Zeal wherein he did before Without Deaths help up into Glory soar And by this Transmigration of his Grace Prepared paths before his Masters face Even so in thee blest soul did breathe anew Great Chrysostom yea great Apollos too To thee those mighty Orators did give Their Tongues to speak to thee their life to live Nay thou thy self didst in thy self renew Thy Fort'ys vigour in Fourscore we knew When all thy strength decayd thy Gifts did thrive The man is dead the Preacher still alive Alive in his own Sermons in our love His Name alive below his Soul above And may the younger Prophets still inherit A double portion of their Fathers spirit That by a sacred Metempsychosis The gifts may now be theirs which once were his That every Sermon which we hear may be Rare Preacher a true Pourtracture of thee Yea may it of each following age be true The former are exceeded by the new Visions of young surpass old Prophets dreams The Fathers Light 's outshin'd by Childrens beams That in their measures we may more and more Th'unmeasur'd fulness of our Lord adore E. REYNER The Second Part Containing the LIVES OF GVSTAVUS ERICSON King of Sueden who was the first Reformer of RELIGION in that KINGDOM AS ALSO Of divers other Christians who were eminent for Prudence and Piety We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the promises Heb. 6. 11 12. LONDON Printed for Will. Miller at the Gilded Acron near the Little North-door in St. Pauls Church-yard 1661. The Life of Gustavus Ericson King of Sueden who dyed Anno Christi 1562. IN the dayes of Christian the Second King of Denmark who also laid claim to the Crown of Sueden after the decease of Swanto the Lords of Sueden chose Steno Stur to be their Governor against whom Gustavus Archbishop of Upsal opposed himself loving his place more than his Country and being crossed in his expectation he promotes the interest of Christian of Denmark who to set forward his claim to the Crown of Sueden spent
forget to acknowledge Gods goodness in bestowing any of these outward things upon him He found by experience that they were but uncertain riches 1 Tim. 6. 17. And that they had wings and would fly away Prov. 23. 5. But he did not run crying after them as they use to do who set their hearts upon them whereas he saw and acknowledged Gods hand as well in taking away as in giving as Job did Job 1. 21. and therefore was quiet and content having experimentally learned in some good measure that excellent lesson with St Paul I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content Phil. 4. 11. By vicissitudes and changes of estates God did exercise his faith patience and contentation Having passed through the severall inferior Offices he at last ascended to the highest place of honour in the City to be Mayor there wherein as hath been shewed he demeaned himself as became a Christian Magistrate and his ambition therein was highly to honour God who had thus honoured him And afterwards he was twice chosen to be a Burgess of Parliament wherein his zeal for God and against the corruptions of the times was abundantly manifested He was a great stickler to have the Bill passed for the punishment of Adultery with death but those times would not bear it Surely some of the Lawmakers knew some speciall reason for it When he made a motion for the passing of that Bill one or more of the Members in the House cried out Commit it Mr. Jurdain commit it upon which a great laughter was occasioned whereupon he presently said unto them in a zealous manner like himself Do you laugh when a man speaks for Gods honour and glory Upon which there was a more than ordinary silence in the House The Bill was at that time laid aside but in a following Parliament it was called upon by the name of Mr. Jurdains Bill He was also as it 's said the first man that promoted the Bills for the more strict sanctification of the Sabbaths and against Swearing Yea God did not only advance him to places of honour and dignity in the eye of the world but gave him an high place also in the hearts of his people and therein God made good his promise 1 Sam. 2. 30. Such as honour me I will honour His name was very precious in the esteem of those that knew his worth both whilest he lived and since his death Indeed it is confessed that he was a by-word unto many and that his name was taken up by way of reproach but it was by such as were upbraided and reproved by his holy and gracious conversation And he valued not their reproaches knowing that his Lord and Master did suffer much more in this kind and that this was but a Chip of that Cross which as he was commanded he was willing to bear Yea he was well content to drink of this bitter Cup after his Master and with him he despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. which the men of the world cast upon him Nay he accounted it his honour to suffer shame for the Name of Christ as the Apostles did Act. 5. 4. But some there were that brought shame upon themselves whilest they thought to cast contempt and scorn upon him Amongst other instances this one was remarkeable That being chosen Burgess for the Parliament not without much opposition and going up to London to clear the Election at which time there was an accusation sent up against him by a man of no mean place and power That he was the Host of the Schismaticks Whereupon some presumed that he would have been sent back with disgrace and accordingly there was a Sermon prepared by one to jeer him at his return this being his Text Psal. 114. 5. What ailed thee thou Jordan that thou wast driven back Thus men of prophane spirits will dare to make the sacred Word of God to serve their own base lusts and ends But Mr. Jurdaine instead of being driven back was confirmed in the place to which he was chosen and so shame was cast into the face of this wicked scorner and his Sermon or Invective rather proved abortive And as Mr. Jurdaine stood up boldly for God so did God stand by and for him and assisted him and carried him through many troubles and dangers that did threaten and even compass him about One act of Gods providence amongst many others was most notable in delivering him out of trouble He having done an act of justice as was hinted before in punishing an unclean person whose offence was aggravated by some hainous circumstances being moved with an holy indignation against the offence he went as it seems besides the letter of the Law in some circumstance Whereupon some friends of the person punished being stirred up with fury for the disgrace that reflected upon them without weighing the dishonour that was done to God and the foul blot that was cast upon Religion resolved to prosecute him to the uttermost for it wherein they put him to great charge and trouble by prosecuting him in the Star-Chamber and when the cause was to come to a finall determination it was much feared by many of his friends and through the boastings of his adversaries that some heavy censure would have passed upon him to his crushing if not to his utter undoing But when his friends on earth failed he flees to Heaven for succour and defence and cried unto God in Davids words Psal. 22. 11 19. Be not far from me O Lord for trouble is near for there is none to help O my strength hast thou to help me And he set apart the evening and a great part of the night by fasting and Prayer to engage God of his side who hath the hearts of all men even of the greatest in his hands to turn them as he pleaseth Prov. 21. 1. And behold the next morning he received a reall and gracious answer from Heaven being not only acquitted but commended by the Lord Keeper God stirring up the hearts of divers in that high and arbitrary Court to speak for him Thus the Lord was a very present help to him in the time of trouble Psalme 46. 1. After he was thus through Gods mercy freed and returned to his house he piled up the Books and Papers of all the proceedings in that troublesome and vexatious business under his Cupboard in his Parlour which was the place to which he did often resort and where he had that daily sweet and heavenly communion with God aforementioned and being asked the reason why he left so many Books and Papers to lie in that manner His answer was These I keep in my sight as memorials and monuments of Gods mercy in freeing me from my troubles Many other particulars might be instanced in but by that little which hath been said you may guess at the great worth of this holy man Only give me leave to adde the observations and testimony
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
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
blood which extinguisheth the fire of thine anger O that it might allay my burning pains I am in a fiery Furnace Lord be with me as thou wast with the tâ—ree Children and bring me out refined from sin when I have sailed through the Ocean of these pains and look back I see that none of them can be wanting I flye unto thee O God hide me under the shadow of thy wings till these terrible storms be overpast 5. God added Humility as a Crown to all his other Graces which yet shone bright in the eyes of all that were acquainted with him Indeed he was cloathed with Humility And hence it was that he would converse so familiarly with the poorest Christians and with them who were of the lowest parts for knowledge even with babes in Christ. This his ordinary expression of himself before God did clearly demonstrate his great humility Poor worm Sinful wretch O pardon my transgressions for they are very great Hereupon he would weep much when he was told how much he was prayed for wondring at Gods goodness that so sinful a wretch and worthless a creature should have so much interest in the hearts and prayers of the people of God And his language in his Will speaks how little he was in his own eyes the words are these I desire that at my Funeral there may be no pomp but that so poor a worthless wretch may be privately laid in the ground And as his Graces were many so were his Comforts many and great which God vouchsafed as singular manifestations of his love to this his dear Servant and Childe O what Kisses of Christs Mouth and what imbraces from the Arms of his Love were bestowed upon this Saint of the most High He enjoyed all along his afflicted condition an uninterrupted assurance of Gods Fatherly love in Christ. In his addresses unto God he constantly claimed propriety in God calling him my God and my Father His inward peace and joy were the support of his heart under all his grievous and grinding pains he was confident of mercies mixtures with all his greatest distempers not at all doubting of the sanctification of them to him through Grace Thus he spake many times in his applications unto God Consider and save me for I am thine How long how long Lord shall I not be remembred yea I am remembred blessed be thy Name This is a fiery Chariot but it will carry me to Heaven Blessed be God that hath supported me hitherto and he that hath delivered will yet deliver Thou Lord never forgettest them that put their trust in thee Alwayes when the extremity of pain was over he would with smiles speak of Gods mercies Though trembling took hold upon him when his violent pains began yet would he with confidence say Now in the strength of the mighty God I will undergo these pains O my God put under thine everlasting Arms and strengthen me Many times he told a bosome friend of his that notwithstanding all his rentings and roarings from which he expected no deliverance but by death he would not for a thousand worlds change estates with the greatest man on earth whom he looked upon as in a way of sin and enthraled thereto And this much bespeaks Gods Fatherly indulgence towards him that Satan could never shake his confidence nor assault his hopes all the time of his irksome irksome distemper And this was further very remarkable that he counted all these inward cheerings the fruits of Prayers that were made for him though God saw cause to deny that ease and recovery to his body which was so much begged and withall he valued those spiritual cordials and refreshings far beyond deliverance from the Gout and the Stone yea and Death it self These things are the rather mentioned to prevent that discouragement or offence which some may be too apt to take at the violence and continuance of his wasting and tormenting pains notwithstanding his own godliness and the uncessant prayers both ordinary and extraordinary which were made unto God in his behalf for he found the sweet fruits of them in his own bosome even when he felt the continuance and increase of his bodily grief Another thing very remarkable in holy Mr. Whitaker was his love to his fellow Christians he was a man made up as it were of love His delight was in the Saints upon earth whom he esteemed most excellent and their society was a constant cordial to his spirit His frequent visits of them that were in trouble and his stirring up of others to the like practice were testimonies of this his cordial love which indeed was not verbal but real He was also abundant in works of charity few men of his estate did equalize him therein He would often say It is a brave thing when a man together with a full estate hath a charitable heart Sometimes upon special occasions he hath given away all the money that he had in the house It was not unusual with him to give twenty shillings to a poor Saint and he had many experiencences of Gods gracious returns in such cases By his last Will he gave twenty pounds to the godly poor of his own Parish There were two Cases wherein his loves were most enlarged to the people of God whereof you may take these two Instances The one when the sufferings were publick He often told an intimate friend of his that Englands late breach with Scotland and the blood that was shed together with other sad consequences thereof had taken such impression upon his heart that the sorrow would never be removed till his death and the sufferings both in Holland and in England in our late Sea-sights were an heavy burden upon his spirit The other Case was in respect to the inward perplexity of such as were afflicted in minde having moved a special friend of his the week before his death to bestow a visit upon one in that condition the very morning before his death when speech was grievous to him in respect of his great weakness he asked him whether he had remembred the party that was troubled in spirit which was a remarkable evidence of his strong love to such And besides what hath already been mentioned I might here set down his many wrestlings with God to prevent the flood or troubles which he apprehended the Protestant Churches were now in danger to be overflowed withall as also his compassionate respect to Congregations in the Country which were like sheep wandring upon the barren mountains without a Shepherd And as his love sâ—owed forth to the Saints so was theirs no less towards him Not to speak of the many frequent and friendly visits of godly men and women in the Neighbourhood round about him there was scarce ever heard of any man that was so much prayed for both in publick and in private both upon ordinary and extraordinary occasions as he was There was no particular case so frequently so
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