Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	look_v	lord_n	soul_n	5,124	5	5.4191	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A74716	The last visitation: conflicts and death of Mr. Thomas Peacock batchellor of divinity, and fellow of Brasen-nose-Colledge in Oxford. Published by E B from the copie of that famous divine, Mr. Robert Bolton, late minister of Broughton in Northhampton-shire.	Bolton, Robert, 1572-1631.; Bagshaw, Edward, 1629-1671.	1660 (1660)	Wing B3514A; Thomason E2103_1; ESTC R210121	21,659	90

of God much more should you think so of the children of God that come to you I thank God saith he he hath begun to ease me He will in his good time God grant Thus he took his last farewell Although vve depart from our friends in the way yet vve shall meet at the end One told Master Dod that he had uttered such words Now the Lord hath made me a spectacle Whereupon he counselled one that attended on him to be sparing in admitting commers in or speakers lest his brain should be too much heated A friend of his comming to him asked him Dare you murmure and repine against God Why should I so God be blessed It is a signe of grace But I have no meanes You have had them offered But not given with effect They shall I doubt not God grant but I doe not feel it He received a letter from a friend very respective M. Bolton and much respected of them both wherein were written these very words I heard I know not hovv true that our dear Christian friend Mr Peacock is in great danger which hath much greived and afflicted my heart and vvrung from me very bitter teares If his extremities be such his tentations are very like to be sore Tell him from me as one vvho did ever with dearest intimatenes knovv and converse with him that I can assure him in the word of life and truth frō a most just and holy God whose Minister I am That he is undoubtedly one of his Saints designed for immortality and those endles joyes in another world When it was read to him at those words I can assure him c. he said Oh take heed take heed doe you think he vvould or durst assure you unles he knew on what grounds I did deceive my self now God hath revealed more Another time one requested him that he would make his friends partakers of the least comfort that the Lord bestovved upon him as they had been partakers of his grief If I had it I would willingly communicate it Search and take notice of the least How should I have any since God denyeth the means doe you think sense is a fruit of faith Yes at this season although the husbandman hath sown much yet he seeth nothing above ground Applications doe not prove hold your peace my heart is broken Then the promise is yours I would gladly ask you one thing Now you will ask twenty Doe you seek for grace in your heart I cannot How then can you know whether it be there or no It is dead The Lord in whose hand the disposing thereof is dispose it for your good and his glory I thank you What doe you think of that place Whose sins you remit they are remitted c. You know how farre they may goe Howsoever Sir the bargain is not now to be made between God and you Shortly after came one whom he much esteemed Oh I love said he your company for the graces in you and much more to the same purpose Suddainly he brake out into this ejaculation Oh God reconcile me unto thee that I may taste one dramme of thy grace by which my miserable soul may receive comfort One secretly willed that man to desire him to repeat it again Doe not trouble me with repetitions There being a sermon he bade them about him goe thither After he called one and asked him whether the preacher being acquainted with his course of preaching did use his accustomed divisions He told one Satan had borne him in hand and had deluded him to whō the other answered I hope that God will restore you as before to glorify him here No. No. Yea if you were weaker I would hope notwithstanding I desire nothing more God be thanked you have laboured carefully for his glory I would labour after another fashion In the night he prayed and repeated his belief And after resting a while he called those that watched with him Bear witnesse I said not I believe but in generall and as desiring that I might believe One comming to visit him asked him How is it with you My minde was grievously puZZled with sundry distractions this night but now I feel my burthen more light I thank God He was put in minde of that place Isa 54.8 11 12 c. Oh thou afflicted and tossed with tempests and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with faire colours and thy foundations with Saphyrs And I will make thy windowes of Agates and thy gates of Carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant stones c. For a little while I hid my self from thee but with everlasting kindnes will I have mercy on thee He lifted up his eyes thereupon being asked what the Lord did say to his soul that had long refused comfort Take heed be not to● bold look to the foundation And then prayed Lord grant m● the comfort of thy deliverance and forgive me my foolishnes that I may praise thy name Then he complained of his idle speeches Upon the Sabbath day one came to him willing him to put his hand to a note of certain debts This is not a day for that We will goe to Sermon God spee● you Now you cannot goe to Church to serve the Lord I pray him to come to you Amen He hardly suffered any to stay with him At evening one did read something to him in Master Downams warfare and asked him doe you think it to be true Yes Therefore you must not trust your sense What not such as mine are But I will not now dispute When they were helping him up and putting on his cloathes upon some occasion one said to him to this effect A childe will not much grieve at the laying aside of an old coat when he hath anew made Whē you shall put on that there shall be no longer nakednes the resurrection will amend all To those that die in the Lord. No doubt you will dye in him having lived in him I have answered you before But I would not believe you in that case The next day a friend of his being to goe forth of town asked him whether he would have any thing with him for he was to leave him and knew not whether ever he should see him again here Look to your calling that it be as well inward as outward He counselled another To be stirring for the glory of God To one standing by he said 〈◊〉 am thinking What On a for● to get grace Put your trust in God So I doe I omit how and tell you that with great patience he continually submitted himself to advise in any means fo● his good In putting his temporall estate in order he deal● mercifully with his poorest debtors yea with some which migh● well pay it His worthy patro● for so he often called him whom for honours sake I name Sir Robert Harley sent his man to him with some aurum potabile together with a book which a Doctour had made in the praise

his consolations is ●he cause of those bitter convulsion●its in the soul And assoon as e●er the comforts of grace shine upon ●t those former tremblings of heart for grief are presently changed in●o leapings for joy just as the same ●prinkles of the face which serve for ●rying when the heart is grieved ●erve for laughter when it is filled with joy This was the case 〈◊〉 Mr Peacock in this manner h● grieved in this manner he rejoyced and this happy issue God made of h● bitter afflictions So that amid● the numerous and various afflictions of Gods dear Saints and Children this conclusion of the Prophet David remaines sure and firm Mark the upright man and be hold the just for the end of tha● man is peace So I rest Thine in the Lord E. B Mr PEACOKS Visitation MAster Peacock the servant of God in the beginning of his visitation for the space of two weeks and foure dayes was full of most Heavenly consolations shewing by sweet meditations and gracious ejaculations the entertainment he found with his God in his sicknes with whom he so much desired to be acquainted in his health We are saith one comming to visit him miserable comforters Nay saith he Ye are good for this is the priviledge even of Gods children that their very presence affords comfort Sometimes h● craved pardon for his actions for the circumstances by them badly observed otherwhile h● desired to have some matter given him to meditate upon Finally he said his hope was firmly setled on the rock Christ Jesus He hoped that the Lord woul● give him a place though it wer● in the lowest room of his Saints And he thanked God he had n● trouble of conscience the Lor● did not suffer Satan to vex him In so much that some seeing hi● great comfort feared lest h● would be overtaken with sorrow before his death he much rejoyced that the Lord had so disposed of him that he had see● his friēds in the Countrey Her● first was his yeelding unto deat● suspected and his hoped reco●ery doubted Calling some of ●is friends aside I thought saith ●e I had been in a good estate but 〈◊〉 see it now farre otherwise For ●hese things my conscience layes a●ainst me First I brought up my ●cholars in Gluttony letting thē eat ●heir fill of meat when they mealed ●ith me This some endeavoured ●o pull out by putting into his minde 1. The preventing of ma●y inconveniencies 2. His well known moderation 3. The great care he took for good conference when they were at table with him But saith he while I was talking they did undoe themselves And further I did unadvisedly expound places of Scripture at the table many times and for these I feel now a Hell in my conscience Again I have procured my own death by often eating like a beast when I came justling up and dow● to my friends in the Countrey An● now I see before my face those dis●es of meat wherewith I clogged m● stomack Well saith one to him If all the things you accuse you self of were undone would yo● doe them again Nay why the● doubt not but a Reprobate woul● desire to be saved if a desire woul● serve the turne indeed he ma●●● have a desire but of bare willingnes not with an intent an● purpose in using of the means Another time a worthy friend o● his asking him how he did h● cryed out Sinne Sinne Sinne What doth any lye on your conscience Yea. What My unconsideratenes I did eat too much of suc● meat to breakfast such a morning 〈◊〉 my self being an eye-witnes o● his great abstinence could no● choose but admire the tenderne● ●f his self-accusing conscience Well said he God be thanked ●here is no greater As we must ●ot extenuate our sinnes so nei●her must we too much aggra●ate our sinne Let drunkards ●nd gluttons have those terrible ●orrours I thank God I never con●inued in any known sinne against my conscience He was willing that he should pray with him kneeling down he said he was ●hen uncapable of prayers Afterward he kneeled down of his ●own accord shortly after he ●roke out into such speeches A damnable wretched c. these are nor your words saith one you cannot deny but you have had good experience of Gods mercies I cannot Then be comforted for whom he loveth once he loveth to the end Yet Satan took such advantage of his infirmities that though he could finde some comfort yet no particular assurance You have lived profitably said one I have endeavoured You are now humbled and the Lord looks that you should ask mercy M. Dod was sent for who being come they were private awhile afterwards we comming in to them M. Dod put him in minde of Gods kindenes whereof he shewed to him foure parts 1. To take small things in good part 2. To passe by infirmities 3. To be easily intreated 4. To be intreated for the greatest Sir there is now in you the image of the old Adam sin and sorrow there shall be in you the image of the new holines and happinesse The life to come may be set out by three things 1. The estate of it self happines holines and glory 2. By the 〈◊〉 company every one shall ●●e you better then any one e●●n the best can love you here The place There are three differences be●●een the afflictions of the good ●●d of the bad 1. In the cause ●r they come to the good for ●ods love 2. In the measure 〈◊〉 farre as they need and are a●●●e to bear 3. In the end for ●●eir good Of those former doubts we ●●terwards heard not a word ●●om him Upon the Sabbath●●y he desired to be alone after ●●on he was fearfully troubled 〈◊〉 his countenance appeared evi●ent tokens of a sorrowfull ●inde born up with a weak ●ody his spirit was wounded ●●tan had foiled him Those his ●●rrible wrestlings with tentations gripes of conscience a●● restles terrours none can unde●stand much lesse expresse but he which felt them S●tan had winnowed him an● shewed him nothing but chaff● His tender conscience w● goared with the fiery dar● of the Devil pointed wit● the edge of sinne an● sense of Gods heavy wra●● As through a false glasse th● dazled eye of his astonished and amazed soul coul● see nothing but hideousl● appearing sinne and th● terrible image of death an● damnation He had drun● deeply of the cup of th● dreggs of Hell His adversary had represented unto him his once most gracious God now as a mos● severe Judge displeased angry and chiding with ●im yea yeelding him up ●nto his clawes that so by ●his deadly stratagem he ●ight take from him all ●ope of help that way and ●o not onely stop the sen●ible flowing of Gods grace ●nd cut the chains of Gods ●ove whereby he had tyed ●im and would draw him ●fter him but finally break ●is Christian heart Oh ●hat you had seen or that we that were present had had eyes to have seen

Reprobate He you may see the glory of G●● preferred before his own salv●tion rather willing to have t●● means of his salvation neglecte● then the Lord dishonoured Su●●er us to pray for our selves ●ook to it you would now shew your ●aculty in praying Can you say Amen No but in a certain ge●●all fashion One prayed and ●n the mean time he rested most ●uietly I pray you saith he ●hen prayer was ended Goe ●ence to bed doe not trouble your ●lves in vain Let not the Devil ●elude you abusing your minde ●nd tongue I know you speak ●ot these words I wonder that ●ntelligent Scholars should speak ●hus We are perswaded you ●re in as good estate as our selves Look how it is with your selves in ●ruth One that watched with him asked him Sir how can you discern this change by the ●bsence of God if you never en●oyed his presence I thought I ●ad it once but now I see it is farre ●therwise But God deals with you as he dealt with the Churc● Isa 54.7 He forsook it a whil● and hid his face from it but I returned to it again and so 〈◊〉 doubt the case stands with yo● Never add not affliction to the a●flicted Oh me wretch groani●● pitifully Hope no worse 〈◊〉 your self then we doe of yo● All of us have seen cleerly whi●● way your carriage was still sen● after the spirit and we are ass●red that you will come to t●● spirit howsoever you seem t● have lost your way To a● particulars he would answer desire grace generally I did go●● outwardly all hypocritically O● asked him Doe you love such a one his most dear and wo●thy to be dear friend Yes Why For his goodnes Why then you a Gods childe for by this w● know we are translated fro● death to life because we own ●e brethren Many like forcible ●oofs he would shift off with is former evasions and after●ards became more wary a●ainst himself either loth to ●rant any thing or granting it ●aggeringly or what then ●●aring lest he should be pres●ed he wished that some were ●ut in minde 1. Of their great care ●or building and too small care for ●cholars in them 2. Their giving so long leave of absence from ●he Colledge and desired amendment After noon came a worthy Governour of a Colledge in our University Dr Aye● Provost of Queens Colledge and requested him ●o be of good comfort and to pluck up his spirit I cannot Why can you not Because I have ●o grace no more then a Backstock Why doe you think so By this affliction Doe you des● grace I cannot He spake m● strongly I can as well leap ov● the Church But are you 〈◊〉 sorry that you cannot desire it I cannot Would you not be Heaven I would not O● standing by said The De● himself would if he could B● the way you shall have the ●pinion of a much resp●cted Minister apposite heret● which he gave in private 〈◊〉 proud man saith he w●● scorne to seek any good fro● his enemy so the Devils pri●● will not let him think himse● beholding to God for Heaven if he might get it You hav● said one the testimony of faith you love the Brethren I di● not Doe not you love us No * This conclusiō was fastēed on him before which now he stufts off The Devil now seeth he shoul● be cast into straits if yo● ●ould grant this what is it that ●oth most trouble you I un●rtook too much upon me foolishly had gotten a little Logick and ●reek and meanly instructed in ●e rules did set my self to read to ●holars and afterwards under●ok other busines which distracted ●y minde and body from them I ●ave destroyed a thousand souls ●ou may see the falsehood of ●m that suggesteth this unto ●ou you never had a thousand ●e puts a false glasse before you ●he good effects of your pains ●ppears in many of your Scho●rs Oh they were of themselves ●apable Name one in whom ●hey doe not There is one point●ng at a Master of Arts there pre●nt He justified his care of ●im and gave thanks to God ●hat ever he came to him It is ●ot so I did foolishly You confesse you did foolishly therefo● not of malice Again cōsider wh● would have become of many them if you had not taken the● Better farre better All in the C●ledge know the contrary Bu● feel it It is false believe n● the Devil It is too true Wh● vvill you make amends G● will give you your hearts desir● Never Are you sorry that 〈◊〉 vvill not No there is no grace my heart it is dead Such w● Davids case What doe you co●pare me with him Behold Chri● himself Nothing to me Go● can make his death availabl● He cannot He is omnipoten● In me he cannot because 〈◊〉 stands with his purpose Who● God loveth once he loveth t● the end But he did never love m● You have tasted of his love 〈◊〉 deceived my self in a certain vain ●lory I exposed my head to many ●hings outwardly all You could ●ay the Lords Prayer and there● call him Father Hypocriti●ally I was wont to enquire of Ma●ter Mason what was meant by ●bba-father rather in curiosity ●hen truly to be edified God will ●ive a good issue Never I ●ave no sense We will pray ●ith you Doe not dishonour ●od It is well that you will ●ot have God dishonoured ●ere he sticked saying I pray ●ouble me not with distinctions ●fter came one who with ve●ement action of body pres●d and urged him to trust in ●od I cannot said he I can●●t he will not have me saved ●s sentence is passed Doe ●ou desire to be saved ●o Do you desire to desire ●o Would you be damned No. Look at the sinnes of ot●● men as great as yours and 〈◊〉 they are saved They were good a godly they found grace here is 〈◊〉 difference my sinnes are horribl● he repeated that towards 〈◊〉 Scholars All of us know y●● took pains Outwardly y●● did your best No. I see no● what it is you strictly look ba● to your own actions as a Ju●●ciary who will none of Go● mercy and now he hath jus● met with you your judgem●● is just These words affec● him strangely another wil● him to look to it it seemed n● Popery Doe you hope to 〈◊〉 justified by your merits I f●● to be damned for my sinnes T● other asked whether he cou●● say Amen No. Have y●● no tongue What is that to 〈◊〉 purpose Name Jesus I can● 〈◊〉 I had your tongue in my hand 〈◊〉 would make you speak Turn●●g his speech to a friend present ●●h saith he if you did but feel my ●●eif but an houre you would have ●●mpassion The other reply●d If you were in the fire you ●ould wish to get out I had ra●●er be in the fire then here I will ●ay for you Sinne not Let ●e fault be mine Although my purpose was ●rely to relate the passages of ●is gracious mans visitation and 〈◊〉 referre to

thereof Comming to him and asking him how he did Oh said he if it would please God that I might live with him Anon after he ●aid to one I have been thinking of arguments by which I might pleade my cause with God and I ●ave found But what if dying thus 〈◊〉 should be judged an Apostata Man is not the Judge at whose Tribunall you must stand or fall There came in many of our cheif Fellowes One of them request●d him to make confession of his ●aith willingly But I would ●hink of it first Musing awhile ●e called them Truly my heart ●nd soul have been farre lead and deeply troubled with tentations and stings of conscience but I thank God they are eased in good measure Wherefore I desire that I be not branded with the note of a forlorne or Reprobate Such questions oppositions and all tending thereto I renounce Now help me and put me in minde What doe you think of your former doctrine Most true In it I have lived and will dye I have not dealt hypocritically in it Are you willing to die Truly I will tell you my Patron who of late sent me potable gold hath taken order that I might live with him contentedly in the Ministery but I submit my self to the will of God Doe you desire the glory of God and the salvation of your brethren Most Help my memory what more Doe you forgive all wrongs Yes and desire that mine may be And now I thank you Sir I remember a thing wantonly done towards you pointing at one present You sent me a knife for a new-years-gift and I tyed two verses to it and sent it back I pray pardon me if any thing For mine unconsiderate speeches in the time of my tentations I heartily and humbly ask forgivenes You did then saith one seem to rely somewhat upon inherent righteousnes as if you sought in your self whereby you should be saved Indeed we knew your conversation to be unreproveable No I dare not affirm it I trust in nothing but in the name of Jesus Have you any certainty in him I would not be pressed to a particular assurance in this grievous agony We desire you to inform them that shall come unto you of your estate My unability is great They then praied 1. Giving God thanks that whereas before they had craved his mercy for his servant he had heard them and manifested to his glory how he never forsaketh his And besought him because he knew the malice of the enemy to perfect his good work and not suffer him to be tempted above his strength Now Sir we tell yo● one thing to your comfort W● never heard you speak any thing against God or man thorow● out the time of your visitation● but wholly against your self● I have been bold thus to argue wit● God If he hath shewed mercy t● such and such why should not 〈◊〉 likewise have hope He complained once how while h● was visiting the sick In whic● work many poor souls foun● the ready mercifulnes of hi● heart and now feel a great want he lighted upon doubts which that he might more fully satisfy when the like migh● be moved he studyed too earnestly One brought him a note book which he had lent Alwayes willing to communicate what he had most private Here is a book said he of great pains c. To a stranger a worthy gentleman that came to visit him he said The Lord is mercifull to me and I have cause of rejoycing c. Afterwards a reverend Governour came to him Dr A●ery to whom he complained of his sinne and misery You look not said he for any thing in your self No for nothing You would amend if you had space Oh if I had Certainly Think on this As the Lord hath heard the ejaculations and grones of your spirit in your infirmity so he will now If he will be glorified by your life you shall live Submit your self to him let him choose for you My faith is weak All you know are here but in part you desire notwithstanding to runne to that which is perfect So you may see how low many have been brought some said he have been Idolatours was not Manasses such an one Yes And behold Gods servants from the beginning of the Bible to the end they have slipped Lot had shrewd slips but yet here the testimony of the Apostle of him he was just and righteous You have been wearied and heavy loaden Yes For such is the end of Christs comming your desire is a token of favour For by how much the neerer we come the more we thirst Think now on his loving kindnes he hath begun and he will finish whom you have served I did endeavour but vile imperfections c. It is our greatest perfection here to see our imperfections Shortly after came to him many young Gentlemen to whom he said Live in Gods fear that you may die in his favour Otherwise the Oxe and the Asse will condemn you I spent my time foolishly and prodigally You have said one remembred that sufficiently Remember also Christ That is true Christ is to be remembred and our sinnes to be remembred also The night following which was Wednesday night the Sun of Righteousnes spread gracious beams at his setting which were comfortable tokens of a glorious rising His last swan-like song as he uttered it was pen'd by some as he uttered it One comforting him by his bead-side some two houres or more before his death he brake out into these speeches Quid ●e salute mea sentiam expectatis ●t explicarem usque adeo indulget Deus ijs quos semel dilexerit ut eos nunquam deserat atque ideo me in coelos transiturum pro certo habeo Felicissima sunt ea vincula in quae me conjecit Deus benignissimus You all expect that I should declare what I thinke of my own salvation God is so indulgent to those whom he hath ever loved that he never forsakes them and therefore I am assured I shall goe to Heaven Most happy are those fetters into which I was cast by a most mercifull God One telling him You have fought a good fight c. he said Expetit expedit ut contendam ad coelum Tollite Tollite Eripite Eripite ut coelum adeam Deus indulget ingenuitati bonorum It is requisite it is requisite that I should contend for Heaven Take me up take me up carry me hence carry me hence that I may go to Heaven God doth cherish the ingenuity of the good Being put in minde of Gods mercy towards him he made answer Oh the sea is not so full of water nor the Sunne of light as God is of goodnes his mercy is ten thousand times more Being likewise remembred of Gods goodnes towards him in filling his heart with such comforts after so great tentations he said I doe God be praised feel such comfort from that What shall I call it Agony saith one Nay that is too little That had I five hundred worlds I could not not make satisfaction for such an issue Being moved to lift up his heart in token of thankfulnesse unto his God he uttered these words What shall I extoll the magnificence of God which is unspeakeable and more then any heart can conceive Nay rather let us with humble reverence acknowledge his great mercy What great cause have I to magnify the great goodnes of God that hath humbled nay rather exalted such a wretched miscreant of so base condition to an estate so glorious and stately The Lord hath honour'd me with his goodnes I am sure he hath provided a glorious Kingdom for me The joy that I feel in my heart is uncredible He made likewise protestation of that which he alwayes before taught against justification by inherent righteousnes and appealing to the knowledge of some there present what he continually maintained in that saith he I still remain a Protestant After three chapters read to him Revel 19. Revel 21. Rom. 8. Oh saith he They be glorious comforts Will you have any more read Yea a Psalm if you please and named the 23. One beginning to read it he desired that it might be sung One asking him Will you sing Yea said he as well as I can The Psalm being sung afterwards the 17. of John was read unto him One comforting him by applying to him that in particular which Christ in generall performed for the good of the faithfull he said Blessed be God very often I am a thousand times happy to have such felicity thrown upon me a poor wretched miscreant After a little rest Lord Jesus said he unto thy hands Lord receive my soul Lord lift thou up ●he light of thy countenance upon me and be mercifull unto me Then very weak he repeated the Lords prayer twice and his Belief once very plainly and distinctly with a strong voice to the great admiration of the hearers so he slept in the Lord. December 4. Anno 1611. The Post-script to the READER THis copy of M. Boltons and intended by him for the presse was by M. Edward Bagshaw overseer of M. Boltons Will and specially intrusted for the printing of it delivered about nine years since to M. George Miller Printer of M. Boltons works to be by him printed as he had done his other books M. Miller carried it to the Licenser who kept it long in his hands and at last refused it as too precise for those times while it was in the Licensers hands one M. Milburne of intimate acquaintance with him got a copy of it and printed it about five years since but upon examination the transcribed copy was found imperfect and by that means the book proved unsaleable When this present copy was almost printed M. Miller had notice of such a book and not before This is thought fit to be made known that the Reader might understand that this present copy is the onely true approved copy and Licensed by an eminent Divine of the Assembly as a fit and usefull book for these present times FINIS Imprimatur Edm. Calamy