all his former Degrees Such respect was generally shewed to him as that in sundry publick Imployments he was chosen a Trustee or Feoffee As in the year 1626 he was chosen one of the Trustees for Mr. Whetenhalls three Lectures Also in the year 1616. he was chosen one of the Trustees for buying in of Impropriations and for many other pious and charitable uses wherein indeed he alwayes approved himself a carefull and faithfull Trustee and in some cases by his great pains and cost he procured to be setled for ever such pious Donations as would otherwise have been wrested away and alienated from their intended use The business about the buying in of Impropriations was this There was a select society of thirteen persons joyned themselves together as Trustees to stir up and encourage such as were piously affected to contribute towards the buying in of Impropriations and giving them freely towards the maintenance of godly and able Ministers And these were so faithful to their trust as albeit they met very frequently and spent much time and pains in consultation about that business yet did they never spend one penny out of the publick stock for the refreshing of themselves yea though they had sundry Agents and Messengers whom they imployed about that business and that both far and near yet did they never diminish that stock wherewithall they were intrusted to the value of a penny but themselves at least most of them contributed out of their own purses for the discharge of all by-expences And when they had the opportunity of buying in any great Impropriation and wanted money in stock to go through with it they did amongst themselves give or lend so much as might effect it and amongst others our Dr. Gouge at one time lent 300 l. gratis for that use besides the monthly contribution which he gave By this means in a few years space thirteen Impropriations were bought in which cost betwixt five and six thousand pounds into which their care was to put godly able and orthodox Ministers and their design was to plant a learned and powerful Ministry especally in Cities and Market Towns in several parts of the Kingdome where there was the greatest need for the better propagation of the Gospel in those parts Indeed this was it that raised up so much envy against them and made Dr. Laud the then Bishop of London to consult with Mr. Noy the Kings Atturney General about dissolving this Society and hereupon Mr. Noy brought them all into the Court of Exchequer picking this quarrel against them for that they had made themselves a body Incorporate without any Grant from the King When the Case had been debated by Learned Councel on both sides the result was that the Court adjudged their proceedings to be illegal that their Trust should be taken from them and that what Impropriations they had thus purchased should be made over to the King and that the King should appoint such as he thought meet to dispose of those Impropriations which they had bought in The aforesaid Atturney that strictly examined all their Receipts and Disbursments found that they had laid out of their own money at the time when they were questioned a thousand pounds more than they had received and thereupon obtained an Order of the Court that those debts should be first discharged out of the Revenues of the Impropriations before they should be disposed to particular uses Thus was their Trust quite wrested out of their hands and that excellent work fell to the ground Anno Christi 1653 Dr. Gouge was by the Authority of Parliament called to be a member of the Assembly of Divines wherein his attendance was assiduous not being observed during the whole time of that Session to be one day absent unless it were in case of more than ordinary weakness ever preferring that publick imployment before any private business whatsoever and therein he was not one to make up the number onely but a chief and useful member For he was chosen and sate as one of the Assessors and very often filled the Chair in the Moderators absence and such was his constant care and conscientiousness in the expence of time and improving it to the best advantage that in case of intermission in the Assembly affairs he used to apply himself to his private studies For which end it was his constant practice to carry his Bible and some other Books in his pocket which upon every advantage he drew forth and read in them as was observed by many Episcopacy also being voted down by both Houses of Parliament and so no ordinary way being left for the Ordination of Ministers the Parliament thought fit to set up an extraordinary way by Three and twenty Ministers who for the space of a year were to Ordain such as tendred themselves according to the Rules prescribed by them with the humble advice of the Assembly of which number Dr. Gouge was one and acted with his Brethen therein at which time I observed his strictness in keeping of Fasts For on an Ordination day which was alwayes accompanied with Fasting and Prayer in the afternoon one proffered him a peece of a candied Orange Pill which though he was then very ancient he refused to accept of till the work of the day was finished He was likewise chosen by a Committee of Parliament amongst others to write large Annotations upon the Bible being well known to be a judicious Interpreter of Scripture and how well he performed that Task is and may be evident to all that read his part which was from the beginning of the first Book of the King to Job In which the Intelligent Reader may observe such skill in the Original such acquaintance with the sacred Story such judgement in giving the genuine sence of the Text and such accuteness in raising pertinent Observations that without the help of any other Commentators a man may accommodate himself with the sense Doctrines and uses of most of those Scriptures that came under his hand in those brief Annotations Before this when the Book allowing Sports and Recreations on the Lords Dayes was by publick Authority injoyned to be read in all Churches throughout the Kingdome he as sundry others godly and faithful Ministers refused to read the same resolving rather to suffer the uttermost than to manifest the least approbation of so wicked and licentious a practice it being so contrary to the express letter of the Scripture By reason of his ability and dexterity in resolving Cases of Conscience he was much sought unto for his judgement in doubtful cases and scruples of Conscience and that not only by ordinary Christians but by divers Ministers also both in the City and Country sometimes by word of mouth and other sometimes by writing And indeed he was accounted the Father of the London Divines and the Oracle of his time He was likewise a sweet comforter of troubled Consciences wherein he
p. 157. l. 11. r. dayes for life p. 233. l. 31. r. knowing for know p. 312. l. 4. r. wrote for wroughâ— p. 318. l. 25. r. jure humanâ— juris humanâ— p. 342. l. 17. r. bury for bâ—y l. the last r other for to her p. 315. l. 8. r the restless for restless the p. 369. l. 17. r. Sabboth for Sabbath l. 27. r. Lubeckers for Lubecks p 435. l. 21. r. the soâ—l for the sould p. 439. l. 7. r. Mâ—t. 6. 3. for Mâ—t. 3. 6. p. 443. l. 11. r. which for when p. 451. l. 15. put in by that l. 24 pâ—t in he p. 452 l. 13. pâ—t out used and put in to p. 457. l. 3. put in of p. 468. l. 29. r. you for yours l. 529. l. 11 r. breeding for being Mr. JOHN CARTER The LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. JOHN CARTER Who died Anno Christi 1634. MAster John Carter was born at Wickham in Kent near Canterburie about the year of our Lord 1554. He was descended but of mean Parents yet were they Religious and of good report who not being able to maintain him at the University wholly upon their own charge there was one Mr. Rose a rich man in Canterbury who taking notice of his Piety in those his tender years of his ingenuity studiousness and proficiency in all School-learning even beyond the pitch of a Grammer Scholar and finding him hopefull and likely to prove a precious instrument in the Church of Christ he took him into his care sent him to Cambridge and contributed such sums of money to him from time to time as were needfull He was admitted into Clare-Hall and was Pupil to Dr. Bing a famous Civilian and Master of that House Presently after his first admission into that House he was taken notice of as one of singular Learning and ripeness for his years Amongst the rest that were of his year he had a Theam given him to make upon this Subject Frugalitas virtutum maxima and when the young Students brought in their Theams the Lecturer took and read them and when he came to Carters Theam he stood and paused awhile and at last said before them all Here is the best Theam that ever I read and gave him some money for his encouragement and highly commended his Industry and always after cast a favourable eye upon him and sought opportunities to do him good When Mr. Carter had taken his degrees of Batchelor and Mr. of Arts his Tutor Dr. Bing out of his singular love to him for his Piety and Learning gave him a Chamber in his own Lodgings where he continued a year or two which conduced much to the compleating of him for the work of the Ministry and all the while that he continued a gremial in the lap and bosom of his Mother the University he held constant Meetings with divers of his famous Contemporaries and that every week as with Dr. Chaderton Dr. Andrews afterwards Bishop of Ely Mr. Culverwell Mr. Kewstubs and divers others whom God raised up and fitted to send forth into his Harvest to gather his Corn then ripe for the Sickle into his Barn At their meetings they had constant Exercises first They began with prayer then applied themselvs to the Study of the Scriptures one was for the Original Languages anothers task was for the Grammatical Interpretation anothers for the Logical Analysis anothers for the true sense and meaning of the Text another gathered the Doctrines and thus they carried on their several imployments till at last they went out like Apollos eloquent men and mighty in the Scriptures and the Lord was with them so that they brought in a very great Harvest into Gods Barn Mr. Carter would not run before he was sent though he was so excellently qualified for the work he durst not venter upon the exercise of the holy work of the Ministry till he had not only an inward but an outward call also viz. an assignation approbation and solemn admission by the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie When he was ordained the Bishop who in those days was primus Presbyter or Praeses seeking to oppose him asked him this Question Have you read the Bible through Yes said he I have read the Old Testament twice through in the Hebrew and the New Testament often through in the Greek and if you please to examine me in any particular place I shall endeavour to give you an account of it Nay said the Bishop if it be so I shall need to say no more to you only some words of Commendation and encouragement he gave him and so with other assistants he Ordained him Anno Christi 1583. the Vicaridge of Bramford in Suffolk near Ipswich fell void and Mr. Rose of Canterbury beforementioned procured the Presentation thereof for Mr. Carter of the Dean and Chapter of Canterburie in whose Gift it was The Salary at first was only twenty Marks per annum but afterwards the Church raised it to twenty pound per annum and that was the most that ever he had there yet he accepted of it and being setled in it he set himself to do the work of Christ faithfully with all his might as a workman that needed not to be ashamed Every Lords day he preached twice very powerfully and Chatechised the younger sort He also preached a Lecture every Thursday to which multitudes from Ipswich and other adjacent places did resort And God gave such success to his Ministry that by his labours many sons and daughters were from time to time begotten unto God Many precious Christians that remain unto this day acknowledge that their Conversion was by Mr. Carters Ministry Before his Sermons he made but a short Prayer and that always in the same words After Sermon he used to be large and full and expressed himself with great variety of phrases and with much fervency and always he concluded with the Lords Prayer He was very diligent in visiting the sick especially the poorer sort and he never went to the house of any poor creature but he left a Purse-Alms as well as a Spiritual-Alms of good and heavenly advice and prayer No poor body ever came to his door that went away empty his wife also looking to that as carefully as himself Every Saturday throughout the whole year he gave the Milk of his Cows to the poor of the Town and indeed he gave more to the Poor every year then the Revenue of his slender Vicaridge came to in the whole yet God so blessed him that whilst he was in Bramford he quickly paid Mr. Rose of Canterbury all the money that he had disbursed toward his Education in the Uuniversity and before he left Bramford he purchased about twenty pound per annum Gods blessing only makes rich He had but two sons and he brought them both up in Learning and maintained them in the University in good fashion He
leave a sweet savour and relish upon their spirits and whole converse To give you a true and full Character of his whole deportment in few words He was a good and a faithfull Steward in his Masters house alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord a Pillar in the house of his God never weary of his Lords work but best pleased when he had done most service His conversation was immaculate and unblameable His behaviour uniform and universally pious He was grave without austerity pleasant without levity Courteous without dissembling Free in discourse where he might profit yet reserved where he saw cause He was seldom the first speaker although he was best able to speak He loved usefull discourse but abhorred froth and babling He was witty without vanity facetious without girding or grieving of others He knew his place yet was not insolent Resolute he was but not wilfull He maintained his authority but was not haughty A great Master he was of his own Passions and Affections and thereby abundantly furnished with the more abilities and embellishments that most attract and maintain the dearest love the deepest reverence and highest respect He was a great admirer of Learning and Piety in others though they were far below himself in both His affections were above though he were below He conversed more with Heaven than with earth while he remained on it and is now a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a Royall Diadem in the hand of his God as being an ornament unto Heaven it self He lived in the world seventy five years within one moneth in which long race he saw many sad changes and sore storms beating hard upon the Church tossed with tempests and not yet at Anchor But never was David more distressed for his dearest Jonathan than this man of Bowels was for the calamities of the dear Spouse of Christ. He was most incessantly inquisitive after the Churches estate in all Countries A sad lamenter of all her afflictions A daily Orator and mighty Advocate for her at the Throne of Grace and never enjoyed himself but when he descried her under sail towards some Creek or Haven wherein she might find comfort and rest being much in Prayer and Fasting for her full reformation and perfect deliverance Some good hopes whereof he conceived in the prosperous atchievements of the Great Gustavus Adolphus late King of Sweden semper Augustus But when he by the sad and unsearchable providence of the only wise God suddenly and untimely fell in the full carier of his victories and of the Churches hopes and that the Christian world was by his fall hurled from the height of so great expectation he continually mourned over the unhappy setting of that glorious Northern Starre as a sad presage of all the inundations of miseries since befallen and that still are rising higher and higher upon the Church of Christ the quick and deep sence whereof lay close upon his heart to his dying day Neither was he without his sufferings and dangers in our uncivil Civil Wars He was affronted by rude Ruffians and bloody minded Souldiers who tyranized over him in his own house not permitting him quietly to enjoy himself and his God in his private study to which he often retired not only from their insolencies but from their Blasphemies Even thither would they pursue him with drawn swords vowing his instant Death for not complying with them in their bloody engagements Yet it pleased that gracious God whom he had so faithfully served to preserve him for further service and to make that an hiding place for his preservation which they intended for his slaughter house and after all to bring him to his end in peace When he had faithfully served his Generation by the will of God in the Gospel of his Son for above forty seven years he was gathered to his Fathers in a good old Age full of Days and Honour by a blessed and happy Death the certain result of an holy life Decemb. 25. Anno Christi 1649. the day formerly used for celebrating the Nativity of his great Lord and Master the Lord Jesus Christ. The last Testimony of the Peoples great love to him must not be forgotten by any that desire to preserve his precious memory in their hearts with honour This amply appeared by their great lamentation and mourning for him in his sickness and at his Death and sad Exequies His Funeral was extraordinarily celebrated not only by the voluntary confluence of the greatest number of people that ever crouded into the spacious Fabrick of that Church and by many hundreds more there assembled about the door which were unable to get in But by multitudes of Gentlemen and Ministers all striving to out-mourn each other standing about his Hearse with tears recounting his excellent Labors his fruitfull Life their great profiting by him as sometimes the widows about Peter weeping and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them every one aggravating their griefs and losses in his gain and striving who should honour him most in bearing his Body to the bed of Rest. The Testimony given him at his Interment by him who performed that last office of love with many tears and which he knowingly spake from his long and intimate acquaintance and conversing with him almost forty years together take with you for a close in that Ministers own words out of the Pulpit Although said he Funeral Orations are commonly either the vain flourishes of mercinary tongues or the weak supports of an emendicated fame and since good mens works shall praise them in the gates it is but to light a candle to the Sun and since bad mens works cannot be covered with so thin a daub It is but to paint arotten Post. Yet some Testimony is due to such as having obtained a more eminent place in Christs mystical Body the Church have also been instruments of more than ordinary good to his Members Samuel died a Judge a Prophet a Great man a Good man in Israel and all the Israelites were gathered together to honour his Obsequies and lamented him and buried him 1 Sam. 25. 1. To say nothing then of so rich a Cargazoon so full a Magazine so rare a subject of all commendable qualities and admirable endowments were a frustrating of your eager expectations To say little were a wrong to him that deserved so much to say much were both a derogation from his merits that may challenge and an imputation upon your Judgements and affections that will acknowledg more due than I can now deliver Nevertheless since the memorial of the Just is a sweet perfume give me leave to strew a few of his own flowers upon his Herse and I will discharge your Patience His holy Life and consciencious courses his constant Labors thrice a week in the Ministery of the Gospel unless in times of sickness or necessitated restraint for the space of
Prophesies of Isaiah Jeremiah and the Lamentations and we should have gained more by his later industry if the malicious slanders of the enemies of the truth had not diverted his time and studies to some necessary Apologies Neither did he when he was by the hand of God disabled to preach betray his Flock into the hands of Wolves that would make a prey of precious souls nor desert it For being troubled lest the foundation that he had laid after the example of the wise Master-builder St. Paul should either not be built upon or destroyed he retained the title of Rector with a charge beyond the Revenue as it was sometimes proved till provision might be made of a faithfull and Orthodox Minister to whom he might comfortably devolve both the burden and the benefit To his care of feeding his Flock in publick very agreeable was his diligence in instructing his Family in private for on Friday nights weekly after supper he used to expound that short Catechisme which he had published for the use of his Parishioners in which course he so laid forth the Nature and Attributes of God the state of man both intire and corrupt the means of his Fall and Recovery the nature of Faith and Repentance with the Doctrine of the Sacraments that his Parlour was one of the best Schooles for a young Student to learn Divinity in and indeed his house was a private Seminary for divers young Gentlemen of this Nation and far more Forreigners who did resort to and sojourn with him to receive from him direction and advancement in their studies and many who afterwards were eminent in the Churches both here and abroad were brought up under his eye at least as Paul was at the feet of Gamaliel Persons of note that had been his assistants were Mr. Young Mr. Goodal Mr. Symonds of whom yet in these later times of Division Mr. Gataker hath been heard to say It was pity that our Church had lost him intimating his turning aside to wayes of separation Mr. Grayle and others who are yet living labourers in Gods Vineyard Of Forreigners that sojourned with him and were as ambitious of being entertained by him as if they had been admitted into a University these were some Mr. Thylein who was afterwards a Reverend Pastor of the Dutch Church in London whose son was brought by his mother but a fortnight before Mr. Gatakers decease intreating the same good office in the behalf of him which the Father had with much comfort enjoyed Mr. Peters Mr. And. Demetrius Mr. Hornbeck Mr. Rich Mr. Swerd Mr. Wittefrangel Mr. Severinuâ— Benzon Mr. Georg de Mey Dr. Treschovius c. The strength of Mr. Gatakers memory was extraordinary as may appear by this that though he used no Common-place book yet had he in readiness whatsoever he had read as is manifested by his manifold Quotations in all his works His Gifts for edification may be conjectured by his works which are extant in which he hath shewed himself like the ingenuous and industrious Bee for his rare extraction of all manner of knowledge from almost all Authors and the solid digestion of it first and then storing it up for the publick good His Polite Literature was admired by the great Lights of Learning abroad as the excellent Salmasius and others with whom he held correspondence And the exercise of it with condescention to children hath been enjoyed with wonder and pleasure at his Visitation at Tunbridge School with the Right Worshipful Company of Skinners the worthy Patrons thereof and that which made all his knowledge both usefull and gratefull was that he was neither vain in ostentation nor morose or illiberal in reservation of it But beyond all he sacrificed his Talents to God while he made Hagar serve Sarah and contributed the Egyptian spoyls all his forreign learning towards the building of the Tabernacle For with a strange felicity he made his Humane Literature both his Moral and Critical studies to become subservient to Religion and instrumental to the explication of heavenly Truths His Graces of sanctification were very eminent in every condition to all purposes and towards all his Relations In the private course of his life his Piety Humility and Charity were very remarkable His Piety appeared not only by his diligence in preaching but also by his own frequenting Gods Ordinances dispensed by others in order whereunto he did once a week at least repair to some Lecture in London so long as he had liberty to look beyond the bounds of his own Parish He manifested his Piety also by his strict careful and conscientious observation of the Lords dayes which he wholly consecrated except the seasons of repast unto holy duties and imployments and besides he was free in his Contributions upon divers occasions to the maintaing of the Lords house of Prayer And because there is a connexion between sacred persons and things his love to godly and faithfull Ministers may be looked upon as an act of Piety as well as of Charity Another evident instance of his Zeal for Gods Glory was his constant consideration of the state of Gods Churches abroad with a diligent enquiry how it fared with them and a tender sense of their affliction which begat his meditation on Amos 6. 6. entituled Sorrow for Sion As also his earnest desire of a Reformation of things amiss amongst our selves was doubtless acceptable unto God though this sinful Nation is yet unworthy to have it accomplshed One special effect and property of his Piety was that holiness of life expressed in a constant tenor of good duties with the abridgement of his liberty in things indifferent especially of Recreations for he understood no Recreations besides study and made the pleasanter part of his study the sawce to the more severe that he might give no scandal to the good nor encouragement to the bad alledging often those two golden Rules of St Paul All things are lawfull but all things are not convenient or expedient and all things are lawfull but all things edifie not 1 Cor. 9. 6. 10. 23. His Humility appeared 1. In that low esteem he had of his own gifts which yet all others that knew him admired He was a true Moses that took not any notice of that shining lustre of his own countenance Like a fair ear of Corn loaden with grain he bended his head downwards For he had nothing of the Pharisaical temper either to advance himself or to vilifie his Brethren of meaner gifts 2. In his freedome from ambition of outward advantages For he declined not only large means in the Country but also both Ecclesiastical Dignities and Courtly preferments For he studiously waved the counsel of some who had given notice of him to that hopeful Prince Henry whom God only shewed to this Land and then snatched him away to himself and had it in their design to make way for his being admitted Chaplain to his
Parliament Anno Christi 1639 he preached before the same Auditory on Deut. 33. 4 5. And Moses commanded us a Law even the Inheritance of the Congregation of Jacob and he was a King in Jesurun when the heads of the people and the Tribes of Israel were gathered together Both which Texts as they were pertiment so were they handled with rare Judgement and eminent Learning The Lord was pleased to make his Labours very successfull some few instances whereof I shall here set down some of which I had from my Reverend Friend Mr. Stanly Gower the last from my own knowledge A Lords eldest son who from his cradle had been trained up in Popery but was of excellent parts and learning was at last prevailed with by his Father to sojourn for a while with this learned Prelate in Drogheda The prudent Prelate studied nothing more than how he might take him by craft as the Apostle did the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. 16. and therefore did not presently fall into discourse with him about his Religion but recreated himself for a time in discoursing with him about some Philosophical questions and Schol-points in which studies he perceived the Gentleman was well versed and took much delight in them This he continued till at last he gained so far upon his affections that of his own accord he moved some discourse about matters of Religion and then finding him studious he did not presently go about to instruct him in the Truth but sought to puzzle him with doubts about his own Religion By this means the Gentlemans conscience began to be awakened nor were his scruples removed though he had recourse to a Monastery hard by where they were debated so that at last he came with tears to the Learned Primate for satisfaction and he promised to deal faithfully with him but saith he those whom you trust do not so for they will not suffer you to see with your own eyes nor to understand the Scripture but according to their Churches Commentaries Then did he advise him to go amongst them and to ask them whether he that understood the Originals might examine their Interpretations and to bring him word what they said Accordingly he did so and brought him word that they were divided in their judgements Then did the learned Prelate wish him no longer to trust to their implicit Faith and he would demonstrate to him how much they perverted the sense of the Scriptures and abused the writings of the Antient Fathers whilst they sought to make the world believe that the Fathers and Councils were wholly for them and against us And if saith he you distrust your own learâ—ing and reading and will make choice of anyother who you think can say more I will make this good which I have said before the best of them all This was an introduction to much confidence which the Gentleman had in him and it pleased God after much temptation which he had to the contrary as he confessed to direct him to betake himself to prayer after which time he acknowledged that he understood more of the way of truth both when he conferred with the Primate and when he meditated apart than ever he could attain to before and the issue was that he came into the Church unlooked for of the Primate and after Sermon made a confession of his Faith offering to seal the truth of it if they pleased to admit him by receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which was then to be administred The Papists especially the Priests were so enraged hereat for losing such an one of whom they conceived so great hopes that they made much disturbance insomuch as the Gentleman for safety was sent over into England to Oxford that he might decline their fury and the forces of the City were raised to prevent the present danger and the Lord Deputy hearing of it sent a Troop of Horse and as it was said thereupon dissolved one of their Monasteries Another was this The Lady Falkland about the time of the late Queens coming out of France to be married to King Charles turned Recusant and on a time was gotten into the company of Father Fisher Father Sweet and Father Swetnam in Drury Lane and by some means or other Dr. Featly and Mr. Gataker were procured to meet them there the Lord Savil brother to this Lady as he also was going that way accidentally met with Dr. Usher and intreated him to go along with him to this meeting the Bishop consented and by the way requested the Lord Savil at their first entrance privately to give notice to his Sister the Lady Falkland that she should take no notice of him and saith he I will do the like to the Ministers and as for the Jesuits I beleeve they know me not at all At their first entrance they found them engaged about Image-worship the Jesuits denied that they gave them Divine worship the Ministers were proving that they were no fit mediums to worship God by After they had tugged at it and were wearied and ready to give over that Question Bishop Usher said But Gentlemen pray you tell me do not you give them Divine worship they answered no How then said he will you be tryed they answered By the Council of Trent Indeed said the Bishop that Council doth require the giving of worship to them but who shall expound what that honour and worship is and assure us that it is not Divine Will you be determined by Thomas Aquinas they said Yes Then was the Book sent for and he turned presently to that place where he concludes that the same reverence is to be given to the Image of Christ as to Christ himself and by consequence seeing Christ is adored with the worship of Latria his Image also is to be adored with the same worship Now said the Bishop have you any higher worship than the Latria that you give to God Upon this one of the Jesuits whispered to the Lady Falkland to know his name that thus disputed she answered that he was a Country Minister No quoth the Jesuit there is more in him than in both the other Try him said she further That Question being laid aside that of Free-will was taken up the Bishop sate silent as before whilst the state of the Question was canvassed between the Ministers and Jesuits and much ado there was about it so that they had like to have broken off without coming to any issue the Bishop seeing that said Gentlemen if you will give me leave I will bring you to the point in difference presently by this similitude If you make Free-will to be the Horse I will make Grace to be his Rider Now true it is my Horse can go of himself but he knows not whither I intend to go Besides he is dull and tyred and I spur him on my spur doth not properly go but it makes my Horse to go You may easily apply it But the Jesuits had enough
and listed not to encounter him any farther pretending a necessity to be gone and so left the place So mightily it pleased God by him to convince them Another was this A Protestant Knight in Ireland had prevailed so far with his Lady who was then a Papist as to admit of a Parley about their Religion and she made choice of one for her that was called amongst them the Rock of Learning The Knight made choice of this our Primate to encounter him and upon the day appointed many persons of note were there assembled the learned and prudent Primate before the Disputation began spake thus to the Lady Madam said he let us know the end of our meeting Is it that this Gentleman and I should try our strength before you If so then it is like that we can speak Languages and quote Authors which you do not understand how then will you know who gets the better Therefore this is not our end If this Gentleman desires to shew his learning and reading that way if he please to come to the College of Dublin where there are men that will understand us both and can judge between us I shall willingly deal with him at those weapons but now our business is something else It is supposed that we two whom your Husband and you have chosen can speak more for the defence of our Religion than you that chose us and your desire is to know by hearing our discourse in your own Language how to rectifie your judgements Now therefore I will give you a rule which if you please to remember you shall be able to discern which of us two have the truth on our side and it is this The Points we will discourse of shall be such without some knowledge whereof no man may in an ordinary way attain to the end of his Faith the salvation of his soul. In these you may easily lose your selves not onely by Heresie which is a flat denying of them but by Ignorance also by a bare not know of them The word of truth contained in the Scriptures is the rule both of Faith and Life common to small and great concerning these things Now whilst we keep to the true sense of the Scriptures in these points you may understand us both but when we shall fly to subtle distinctions to evade plain Texts or flye from the Scriptures to take sanctuary in Authors which you know not assure your selves that we are at a loss and seek victory rather than truth Keep this Rule Madam in you minde for this Gentleman dares not deny it to be a true one and then you will be the better for our meeting And now Sir said he to the Jesuit her Champion I am ready to engage with you in any such points The Dispute was begun and after a short encounter the Jesuit was driven to those shifts whereupon the Primate said Madam do you understand my Argument that I propounded to this Gentleman She answered Yes and do you said he understand this Gentlemans answer She answered No indeed It is too high for me But said the Primate I do and can answer him in his own way but then you would not understand me neither Therefore Sir said he to the Jesuit I pray you help the Lady to understand your answer as she doth my Argument then I will further reply But it pleased God within a while so to disable the Jesuit from proceeding that he left the place with shame and the Lady by this and some further endeavours became not only a good Protestant but a very gracious woman The last instance I shall give of the successfulness of his labors is this About twelve or thirteen years ago we had an Ordination of Ministers in our seventh Classis at which time according to our custome we called in the young men that were to be Ordained one after an other and examining of them about the work of Gods Grace in their hearts three of them acknowledged that they were converted by Gods blessing upon the labours of this our Lord Primate whilst he preached at Oxford where they then were Students about the beginning of the long Parliament Anno Christi 1640 He came out of Ireland into England being invited thereto by some eminent persons wherein the special providence of God did manifest it self for his preservation it being the year before the Rebellion brake out in Ireland as if according to the Angels speech to Lot nothing could be done there till he was come hither and escaped to this his Zoar. His Library which was very great in the first year of the Rebellion viz. 1641 was in Drogheda which place was besieged four moneths by the Irish Rebels and they made no question of taking it and some of their Priests and Friers talked much what a prize they should gain by that Library but the barbarous multitude spake of burning it But it pleased God to hear the Fastings and Prayers of his people within and in a wonderful manner to deliver them and so all his Books and Manuscripts were sent him that Summer to Chester and from thence were brought safe to London The sufferings he now lay under were many and great All his personal estate was lost and that which belonged to his Primacy in Ireland was destroyed only for the present he was preacher in Covent Garden Anno Christi 1641 The great business of the Earle of Strafford came in agitation upon which a scandal was raised of him by a rash if not a malicious Pen in his Vocal Forrest as if he had made use of a pretended distinction of a personal and Political conscience to satisfie the late King that he might consent to the beheading of the said Earle telling him that though the first resisted yet he might do it by the second but to clear him of this a person of quality affirmed under his hand that some years agone a rumour being spread of the death of this Reverend Prelate whose loss was much lamented at Oxford when this concerning the Earle was then by one objected against him the late King answered that person in very great passion and with an oath Protested his innocency therein Besides he left under his owne hand a relation of that whole business a true Copy whereof followeth That Sunday morning wherein the King consulted with the four Bishops viz. of London Durham Lincoln and Carlisle the Archbishop of Armagh was not present being then preaching as he then accustomed to do every Sabbath in the Church of Covent Garden where a message coming to him from his Majesty he descended from the Pulpit and told the Messenger that he was then as he saw imployed in Gods business which as soon as he had done he would attend upon the King to understand his pleasure But the King spending the whole afternoon in the serious debate of the Lord Straffords Case with the Lords of his Council and the Judges