a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sinnes So Abigail may draw David by her wisedome and wholesome counsell from his bloody passion and intended cruelty and cause him to repent and refraine yea to blesse the Lord for her comming and counsell too So was Monica Augustines mother humbled and reclaimed by her maide So Monica vid. Aug lib. Conf. l. 9. cap. 8. calling her Meribibulam So did Augustine in a Rhetorick Lecture convert Alipius by a similitude taken from the vaine games wherein hee immoderately delighted Alipius thinking that Augustine aimed at him whereas Augustine then did not so much as thinke of him which made Augustine to admire the wisdome and goodnesse of God who was working graciously though secretly for Alipius his correction and reformation when neither of them had any thought of it August confes l. 6. cap. 7. Vt apertè tibi Domine tribueretur ejus correctio per me quidem illam sed nescientem operatus es That his conversion or reformation might evidently be ascribed unto thee O Lord Thou didst worke it indeed by me but by me not knowing what I did at that time either for him or from thee To which purpose hee addeth this also a little after Vtens tu Domine scientibus c nescientibus Possidon in viâ—â—… Aug. cap. 15. ordine quo nosti ille ordo justus est de corde lingua mea carbones ardentes operatus es quibus mentem spei bonae adduceres tabescentem sanares Thou O Lord using men both witting and unwitting in what order thou knowest and that order is just didst raise up out of my heart and my tongue burning coales wherein thou mightest so scorch the minde of good hope that thou mightest heale it And so did the Lord inflame the heart of this young Gentleman with burning coales of his Word and Spirit which he raised and reached out unto him from the heart and mouth of his companion and friend that the drosse of Popish errors was consumed and his soule so healed that the treasure of Gods Word was ever after better esteemed and entertained by him And here I could wish with all my heart A worthy example for young Gentlemen that our young Gentlemen following the good example of these two both in the University and Countrey would have more care and make more conscience of their company and so frame their studies and courses that either by doing good upon their fellow students and companions or receiving good from them by converting some from their errors and confirming others in the truth See Aschams Schoolemaster p. 21. by causing some to returne from their wicked way and others to turne unto God and walke in his wayes they might shew forth better fruits of love one to another and reape sweeter comforts in their happy fellowship and society one with another Examp. sir Iohn Cheke D. Redman But I will turn my wishes into prayers unto God for them and for their Tutors and Governours that have charge and should have care to looke unto them and this is all the good that I can do them Aug. ad Festum Ep. 167. Nam phrenetici nolunt ligari lethargici nolunt excitari Sed perseveret c. CHAP. VI. He was much like Galeacius cap. 7. His proficiency at Oxford but small WHat and how great his proficiency was in learning during his abode in Oxford I cannot well tell only I conjecture it could not be much because the time was but short the meanes but small for his helpe and impediments many to his hurt and hinderance in his studies especially those two which are blocks in the way and great ones too and do dull the edge of many young Gentlemens desire and delight in Universitie studies namely idlenesse The causes of it and remisnesse at home in their fathers houses and ignorance of the true grounds of Grammar which they should have beene throughly acquainted withall in the countrey before they had beene sent up to the University Of this minde was Master Ascham Aschams Schoolemaster li. 2 in fine sometimes Schoolemaster to Queene Elizabeth who in his booke of training up of youth in the Countrey to make them fit for the University hath this saying to the same purpose As I began plainly and simply with my young Schollar So will I not leave him God willing untill I have brought him a perfect Schollar out of the Schoole and placed him in the University to become a fit Student for Logicke and Rhetoricke and so after to Physick Law or Divinity as aptnesse of nature advice of friends and Gods disposition shall leade him Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius Some unfitnesse for learning Plato lib. 3. de Repub. p. 425. Edit Steph. 1578. His sufficiency not great for great imployment cannot be made of every peece of timber neither is every mans metall of gold but some of silver some of brasse c. as Plato hath observed in setting forth the variety of mens natures and dispositions as they are fitted for diverse studies and imployments I will not say that this young Gentleman of whom we speake was in his naturall disposition of the best timber and temper to make a Schollar nor of the best metall to make a man of the best rank for great imployments but I am well assured that the Lord was pleased upon such grounds of nature and learning as he had given him to lay a good foundation of a better building begun in his youth and reared up in his riper age than all the gold and silver either of nature or of art could otherwise have purchased or provided for him It is the wisedome and goodnesse of our God when he will furnish men with his graces and imploy them in his service sometimes to neglect and passe by such as are noble by birth Yet such as God chose to shew his power in comely for their person excellent for parts both of nature and of learning and otherwise in mans judgement very accomplished persons for such and such places and to make choice of some other of a middle or a meane estate of inferiour parts and gifts and very unlikely in the eye of reason to compasse any great matters or performe any good services either to God or man And this he hath done formerly Calv. in Act. 1 26. and daily doth both in publike and in private persons and callings that all might know their sufficiency to be of God and the efficacy and fruit of all their desires and endeavours not of themselves but from him also that so as good reason is he that worketh all might have the glory of all both now and ever I have read of that admirable man Galeacius Caracciolus As in Galeacius Marquesse of Vice in Italy that being but a youth and a meane Schollar and little studied and but lately entered into the Schoole of Christian
this life such fruits of faith and love and such vertues of Christ in this Gentleman Many vertues of his to be observed as are well worthy both the observation and imitation of every true Christian 1. His compassion on the multitude being as sheep without shepheard when hee saw them erring from the wayes of God and like to perish for want of pasture expressing herein in some measure the holy affection of Christ Iesus And imitated 2 Secondly his free will offering unto the Lord of his owne substance and cost to provide his people of spirituall food and that with a cheerfull and free heart and hand like unto David who bought the threshing floore of Areunah at a price because he would not offer burnt offerings to the Lord of that which cost him nothing 3. Thirdly 1 Kin. 18.3.4 2 Chr. 35.2,3 4 his entertaining and maintaining Gods Ministers as Obadiah did the Lords Prophets besides his countenancing and encouraging of them as Iosiah did the Levites in the Lords service 4 Fourthly the exceeding joy and comfort that he took in setting forwards the Lords worke for the foundation and building up the shouse of God by his good example godly presence and holy practice in publike places and religious duties endeavouring to bring forth the head stone Zach. 4. â—7 as Zâ—rubbabell did with shootings crying Grace grace unto it 5 Fifthy his courage and constantâ—y in maintaining all good exercises of Religion against all oppositions of popish and profane persons Nehem 4 as did good Nehemiah in going on with the in building of the was of Jerusalem notwithstanding al the attempts and assaults of secret treacholy 〈◊〉 open hostility made against him 6 Sixthly his uprightnesse and suâ—oirity doing all that he did with an honest and good heart not to bee seene of men but to approve himself unto God in all things This worthy example thus decked and adorned with these jewels of grace For Gentlement to be rich in good workes I desire also to commend unto the due and serious consideration of such Gentlement and others as being rich in this world are yet poore and very poore in such good workes and had rather bestow an hundred pounds in building and beautifying their owne houses than an hundred pence towards the laying of the foundation or building up the walles or windowes of Gods house amongst them For patrons not to spoile the Chur. being bound to provide for it And to such also as being entrusted with the lands and livings of the Church for the maintenance of the Ministery and spirituall provision of Gods people doe notwithstanding turne their patronage into pillage and their devotion into sacriledge cutting short the Minister of his meanes and the people of their provision taking the wheat unto themselves and leaving the straw and chaffe unto them for their portion onely For prosane Gent. bestowing much upon their lusts nothing upon Gods service Neither would I have them to passe without gentle admonition also who had much rather spend much of their estate in maintaining idle and base persons to serve their owne lusts and satisfies the humour of a rude and profane people as many do their Horf-riders Faulkeners Huntsmen Lords of misrule Pipers and Minstrels rather to lead them and their followers both in their publikâ— assemblies and private families a dance about the Calfe than such a dance as David danced before the Arke with spirituall rejoycing in Gods mercies and inlarging of his owne and the people hearts in Gods praises Neither maintaining any Leyite at home And being utterly destitute of all meanes of grace both in assembly and family and nothing sensible of the spirituall famine that hath brought a loathsome leannesse into their soules they neither make any conscience nor will beat any cost Nor seeking after the word abroad to call on the Levites to bring in the Arke of God amongst them nor will seeke themselves nor suffer others that much desire to enter into the Kingdome of God to frequent those places and exercises of religion where the heavenly Manna the bread of life may be broken unto them CHAP. XXVIII ABout the yeare 1590. when he saw Mr. I. D. that having provided for the publike congregation a worthy Preacher whom they seemed much to admire for his gifts yet would not so much as thanke him for his pains the Preacher grew somewhat unwilling to bestow his labour any longer amongst them Hee in Christian policy Vpon their neglect of the publike Ministery began to withdraw the Preacher of the Word from the assembly to his owne family to make them more sensible of the want of it more carefull to seek it where they might finde it and more thankfull to God and his servants by whose meanes they did enjoy it and reape some fruit by it To which end and purpose he built him a Pulpit in a Chappel in his owne house and for a season maintained the Preacher there so that as hee saith himselfe hee had good company every Sabbath day He maintained the Preacher in his own family This company as I doubt not but it was much to his comfort so could it not bee but much to his cost also when amongst a multitude though some might come to the Chappell with good mindes to feed their soules yet others would bee as willing and ready to presse into the Hall to fill their bellies And yet was he well contented to be at this charge also for the increase of Religion and further of the Gospel But he could not long make such an inclosure of the Word nor so confine it to his private family for partly the publike necessity and partly the importunity of some Christian friends But after a while restored him to the publike assembly did worke so effectually upon him and prevaile so farre with him that hee yeelded up the Preacher to the publike assembly againe and so continued to maintaine him and other Preachers after him untill upon the death of the Incumbent God established a faithfull Pastor amongst them Let him if you please tell you thus much and the occasion thereof in his owne words The same Preacher being invited to a wedding at Peile The cause and occasion thereof preached there in the parlour for which Sermon he was much admired And then It was objected against me that I had committed a great sinne to keep such a worthy Preacher from the great congregation But I said none requested it nor gave him thankes when I brought him And so continued to maintaine the Minister And therefore he was unwilling to come amongst them But I was glad then to bring the Word of God againe unto them and so have continued till now that God hath planted M. Clark amongst us And here I thinke it not amisse seeing hee thus toucheth upon M. Clark in this businesse of providing the Parish of a faithfull and sufficient Ministery
honcslus es at â—â—…heranus Aumphâ—…iâ— vita â—uâ—llis Heb. 12.16 1 Ioh. 3.12 Gal. 4.29 Isa 36.4.7 2 Pet. 2.8 Isaiah 5â— â—5 he became a vessell of honour sanctified and meete for his masters use and prepared unto every good worke And thus according to that wisdome which was given him from above hee became first pure But here some man will thinke that to bee so pure in heart and life word and deed as you speak of him to his great praise will bee returned back both upon him and you to his just rebuke and your farther blame For are not we now fallen into those times and are wee not compassed about with such prophane Esaus murthering Caines scoffing Ismaels railing Rabsekahs filthy and cursed Sodomites that a man can hardly refaine from any wickednesse but he makes himselfe a prey as the Prophet speaketh nor seeketh after any goodnesse but they will bee ready to vexe and persecute him Psal 38.20 and will needs be his adversaries because hee followeth the thing that good is Doubtlesse it may be said of us Hermodorus E phe so pulsus quod fâ—ugi esset Cic. Tusc-Quaest l. 5. Sic Aristides Ostracismo pulsus Athenis Ostracism Arist Polit lib. 3. c. 9. Tertul. in Apoluget cap. 2. Ego Lucium virum sapientem repentè factum Christianum defero Tertul ib. 1 Cor. 4.13 Isa 8.18 Luc. 2.34 for many persons and places as once it was of Rome Omnia cum liceant non licet esse pium All things are there lawfull only to be a godly and a good man is held amongst them to bee unlawfull So Tertullian hath observed it to be the streyne and manner of those times Cajus Sejus bonus vir ideo tantum malus quia Christianus Cajus Sejus is a good man therefore evill only because hee is a Christian And even so the case stands with us at this day and that in our Israel where the children of God that desire to be as their father is and they are charged to be pure and holy are no better esteemed but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even as filth of the world and off-scouring of all things even untill this day Or at the best but as signes and wonders in Israel and markes to bee shot at as Christ himselfe was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Butt or marke to bee shot at by such as bend their tongues like Bowes to shoote out their arrowes even base and bitter words against him The Disciple is not above his master nor the servant above his Lord if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub Mar. 10.24.25 what better language can we expect from them being his poore servants in the same house But what good reason have these vaine or vile persons to open their foule mouths so wide against purity in religion and holinesse of life and conversation One of their best is that which they have borrowed of their father Caine and which he was taught of his father the Divel when hee slew his brother And what was his reason wherefore slew he him Because his own workes were evill and his brothers good 1 Ioh. 3. â—2 Is it then your antipathy against goodnesse and your enmity against the godly for their holinesse that provokes you to swell against them and so much to splene and spite them that you reproach and revile them Act 7.54 and are ready to burst with anger because you cannot wreake your malice upon them Isa 57.3 4. Gen. 3 15 â— Kin. 21 10. 2 Cor. 6.18 Gal. 4.29.30 If this be your reason of this your cruell dealing then judge you your own selvs of what breed you are Are yee not rather of the seed of the serpent than of the seed of the woman Are yee not rather sonnes of Belial than the children of God And are ye not rather the children of the bond woman with scoffing Ismael than children of the free woman with holy Isaac CHAP. LI. BUt why should it seem so strange a thing unto you that every true Christian should so carry himself as this Gentleman did that hee may shew himself pure and holy in all maner of conversation Doth not our heavenly father command it 4 Pet. 1.16 Be ye holy for I am holy Doth not the vertue of the death and resurrection of Christ require it that henceforth wee dye unto sin Rom. 6.5 6 11 13 â—8 and live unto him yeelding our members to bee servants to righteousnesse unto holinesse Doth not his blessed Spirit challenge it at our hands That we be sanctified throughout in soule spirit and body 1 Co. 6.12 1 Thes 5.23 and preserved blamelesse untill the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ Doth not the Word of God tell us that This is the will of God even our sanctification that every one learne to possesse his vessell in holinesse and in honour Heb. 11. 12.1 13.7 Eph. 2.19 Doe not the examples of all holy men call upon us to follow their faith and to walk in their wayes of righteousnesse and holinesse before the Lord all our dayes Doth not the communion of saints and citizens both in heaven and earth exact and expect of us Eph. 5.3.1 Tim. 2.2 such a conversation as becommeth saints in all godlinesse and honesty Again consider What is the true religion It is pure and undefiled before God Iam. 1.27 And who is a true professor of this Religion He that is pure in heart and undefiled in his way And what is the word Mat. 5.8 Psal 119.1 which is the rule of this Religion The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tryed in a fornace of earth purified seven times Psa 19.10 Pla. 12.6 And what are the Sacraments annexed to this Word They are sacred Signes and Seales of holy mysteries in heavenly things And what are the speciall priviledges of such as are pure and true Christians 1 Cor. 11.24 Rom. 4.11 Vnto the pure all things are pure they have a great liberty and large interest in all Gods blessings Tit. 1.15 1 Cor. 3.22.23 and in the use and comfort of them Their holinesse here is a pledge of their happinesse hereafter Having their fruit in holinesse and the end everlasting life Heb 12.14 Ro. 6.22 Ioh. 17.24 1 Ioh 3.3 2 Tim. 2.21 And what must then bee the conversation of every one that hath this hope to be with Christ where he is and as hee is for ever Hee must of necessity purifie himselfe even as hee is pure and so being a vessell of honour sanctified hee shall bee meet for his Masters use and prepared unto every good worke Such are the persons and such are the things which the Lord requires and expects in the profession and practice of every true Christian Mal. 3.17 And are not all these pure and precious in the eyes of Almighty God and in the sight of heavenly Angels and holy men Mat. 7.6 Hath God
thy poore children do humbly beseech thee graciously to assist us by thy holy Spirit in this our morning exercise that we may faithfully perform the same to thy praise and our comfort and that for Christ his sake our onely Saviour and Redeemer Amen This set forme of his short prayer before his Morning and evening exercise In a set forme I doe the more willingly set downe that they may see how farre they were deceived and what wrong they did him who held him to bee an utter adversary to all set formes of prayer who might also have received their answer and beene evidently refuted to their faces if they had but observed his ordinary practice every Lords day in the publike assembly where he did reverently accommodate himself to the publike prayers of the Church and religiously joyne together with Minister and people in the celebration of Gods service Certainly hee was not ignorant A set form of prayer justified that when our Saviour Christ taught his Disciples to pray hee gave them liberty to call upon the name of God their Father even in that set forme of prayer which he prescribed and in the same words when you pray say Our Father c. And yet for all that he knew well enough that he gave the Spirit of prayer also unto them and unto all believers children of the same Father that they might enlarge themselves according to those grounds and frame all their sutes after that forme and therefore hee gave this direction unto them After this manner pray ye By our Saviours institution of the Lords prayer and By his owne practice Mat. 26.44 Our Father c. yea Christ hath left us his owne blessed example for the warrant of both when in his Agonyhe praied three times using as the text saith the same words and when after his farewell sermon to his Disciples hee prayed for himselfe his Disciples and all true believers unto the worlds end in great variety of words and for many gifts and graces in particular which yet are not all mentioned but are all for substance contained in that patterne of true prayer None precisely bound to the letter of the Lords prayer but to the matter al. Peter Martyr hath made a collection of holy prayers out of Davids Psalmes and M. Perkins hath gathered together S. Paubs prayers out of his Epistles in both which there is great variety both of matter and words much exceeding the letter of the Lords prayer yet is there no Petition or thanksgiving in either of them which may not fitly be reduced to some parts and heads of the Lords Prayer For my part I shall never blame him that seeketh to help his understanding memory Set prayer a help and affection by such meanes if he bring new affections to renewed petitions and set his heart a worke to seeke more seriously for the best things such as the godly labours of good men have in print set before him But if any man will rest in his booke prayers and never strive to speake unto God out of his owne heart by his owne Spirit which teacheth every true child of God to cry Abba Father Heart prayer best of all Rom. 8. and helpeth our infirmities that wee may stand before him as his children Such a man in my opinion comes farre short of the power and practice comfort and fruit of true prayer and is not much unlike to an impotent and weake man that being lame of his limbes and having meanes of helpe and recovery tendred unto him had yet still rather use a paire of crutches borrowed of his neighbour to goe withall as he can than betake himselfe to his owne legges and feet to walke in his way which the Lord hath appointed for him as he might and ought to doe CHAP. XXIII AFter this short prayer because wee are all commanded to sing Psalmes unto God 2 His singing of Psalmes to testifie our rejoycing in him to instruct our selves in his mercies and judgements words and works and to make melody in our hearts before him as also to quicken our soules to praise and thanksgiving hee therefore did usually call the whole family to sing some of the Psalmes such as hee named unto them with grace in their hearts unto the Lord which they ordinarily performed with such melodious and sweet voices and affections himselfe beginning the tune and the rest in a sweet accord and harmony joyning with him as if they had desired to sing Davids Psalmes His delight in singing of Psalms not onely with Davids Harpe but even with Davids heart also With this exercise of singing of Psalmes hee was much delighted and oftentimes so ravished in his spirit with holy and heavenly joy in singing and sounding forth Gods praises that his heart would even spring and leape in his body as John Baptist did for the joy of Christ in his mothers belly Hieron in Epitaphio Fabiolae yea he was so much affected with the praising of God in this kinde that hee tooke the word Halelu-jah which is the title of nine Psalmes and the song of the Quire of Angles for his Poesie and usually writ it in the first leafe of all his bookes with his owne hand to provoke and draw on others into the fellowship of Gods praises with him and to set it forth as an impresse or character of his chiefe desire and delight Amalaris de officio mâ—ssâ—c 13. to have the praises of the Lord in his heart or in his mouth in his care or in his eye continually When the Psalm was ended 3 His reading of the Scriptures he read a Chapter himselfe out of the Bible keeping an orderly and constant course in his reading to make his family better acquainted with the order and matter of the Scriptures and to season their hearts with some portion of Gods Word in the morning as a preservative against all unfavoury thoughts noysome lusts rotten speeches and ungodly workes all the day after This hee knew was Gods holy Ordinance from which neither Kings in peace nor Commanders in warre were exempted wherewith all Governours of families are expresly charged Deut. 6.6 7 8. Deut. 17.18 19. Ios 1.7.8 Deut. â—1 18 19 20 2 Tim. 3.14 15. Ioh. 5.39 wherein both elder and yonger have beene exercised and whereunto all sorts are by our blessed Saviour exhorted Search the Scriptures c. And this hee duly performed with such reverence and conscience as might to his power best become the solemnity of the action which they had in hand and the majestie of his presence before whom they stood Now because he knew that all planting and watering was in vain unlesse God himself gave the blessing of increase and that the Prayer of faith availeth much for that end if it bee fervent hee therefore with all his family bowing the knees of their hearts as well as the knees of their bodies before the throne of grace did in
the next place commend themselves unto God in humble and hearty prayer making their requests knowne unto God 4. His humble and holy prayer with thanksgiving in all manner of supplications with thanksgiving which hee usually performed with that power and feeling fervency and sincerity faith and humility as the spirit of grace gave him understanding and utterance and their severall occasions and other necessities did require that hee was oftentimes much admired of them that heard him and by his holy petitions and gracious affections did much refresh the hearts and cheere the spirits of many of his neighbours and friends which joyned with him Gen. 32.26.27.28 Hos 12.4 Hee would so wrestle with God by prayers and teares like Jacob that hee would not let him go untill like an Israel he had by praying and weeping prevailed with him The fruits of which his holy desires and endeavours were so remarkable in that family whether hee prayed against sinnes or sorrowes or sought unto God for grace and good things that seldome did they meet againe to pray but they had some new and fresh cause of praise and thanksgiving unto him that had heard their prayers Having alwayes matter of praise as well as cause of prayer A godly and an holy course in prayer which I wish were as well performed as it is well worthy to bee observed Namely Not only to consider wisely what we ask in prayer but to observe carefully how wee speed after it for in so doing as we should still be stirred up and provoked to new praises so should wee be quickned and encouraged to seeke unto our God againe by continuing or renewing the same or the like prayers and requests unto him This was the practice of holy David that man after Gods owne heart who having called upon God Psal 41.1 did patiently wait upon him for hearing and diligently observed what successe he had and as hee found the fruit of his prayers did thereupon come againe into Gods presence with new and fresh praises Psal 66.17.19.20 I called unto the Lord saith he with my mouth and he was exalted with my tongue Verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer Blessed bee God which hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercy from me CHAP. XXIV THus did he exercise himselfe and his family unto godlinesse every morning His evening exercise and after the duties of the day and their naturall refreshing and repast in the end thereof hee called them again to the like service and sacrifice in the evening which hee very religiously and constantly performed much after the same manner saving thaâ— then he tooke some more paines with them having more liberty In opening and applying the word and better opportunity so to doe for then he ordinarily instructed and taught his family out of that portion which hee tooke in the Chapter read at that time unto them propounding and applying some wholesome doctrine profitable for their godly edification as the tenor of the Scripture best served 2 Tim. 3.16.19 whether to convince any errour or to confirme the truth to rebuke any sin and to instruct in the way of righteousnesse to comfort the heart under hope in doing well and settle the soule by faith and patience in suffering ill This was his holy defire and delight to edifie his family in faith and love For the use of his Family and to traine them up in the true knowledge and feare of God so acquainting them with their duties towards God and man Tit. 2.10 11 12. that living soberly righteously and godly in this world they might beautifie their profession and adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour alwayes and in all things All which his godly paines and practices in the instructing of his family out of the Word of God as a pastor and teacher in his owne house Crowned with a blessing from God albeit they were through the blessing of God crowned with good successe at home yet were they much maligned reproached opposed and questioned abroad and that not only by the vulgar fort but even by some of our masters in Israel whose negligence was much rebuked by his diligence their prophannesse checked by his holy duties their government in their families not onely obscured but blemished Opposed much by some men of the world but blemished by the comely order and beautie of his government in his family which was so farre advanced above some of theirs as ever Bethell was above Bethaven Sion above Shilo or the Temple of God above the Temple of Idols Which malignity of the world His fortification against such assaults and enmity of godlesse persons against godly and good duties when he well observed and wisely considered of hee began to fortifie his building both for his judgement and practice as Nehemiah did the wales of Jerusalem against the assaults of Gods enemies which he did very faithfully and effectually by his painefull collections and observations which he made out of the Scriptures For justifying of his judgement and practice in thus teaching of his family and by the expositions testimonies and examples of godly and good men records of antiquity and evidences of worthy Writers and witnesses to the truth of God all sutable to the doctrine of our Church to justifie his course and stop the mouthes of all such as without any just cause did open them so wide against it I have seen and read what hee hath collected and set downe to this end and purpose under his owne hand which I approve of and like so well for his choice and paines in binding up together so many sweet and wholesome flowers of heavenly doctrine By his collections and observations out of godly and good authors for his owne confirmation and other mens satisfaction that I could have been well contented to have set downe these his collections and observations at large concerning this point of the masters duty in teaching and instructing his family in the feare of God and faith of Christ and in opening and applying some portion of the Scriptures to their mindes and hearts for that end but that I much feared lest my labour and paines herein at this time might be held not so needfull and lesse pertinent seeing many godly mens bookes are filled with the same or the like instructions since that time justifying the same point and practice and that the bulk and body of this little booke would swell too bigg if I should bring in another Treatise to stuffe up the bosome and brest of it CHAP. XXV And yet not usurping upon the Ministery Nor by aprivate spirit But by godly and good meanes Homines discunt prius quod doceant ab alâ—o accipiunt quod aliis tradant Amb. Coster us in eins Vita Amb lib. 1. de Offic. c. 1 NOw because some may mistake both him and me in this businesse as imagining
Images which heâ— found dangerous and offencive in any quarte or corner of it An attempt and act thaâ— will be subject to the censure of the Patrons of popery and many other popish and prophane persons as a matter of grosse impiety and sacriledgâ— to deale so rudely and contumeliously with the images of God of Christ and of his Saints So did Pope Gregory the third excommunieate the Emperour Leo and stamped the name of Iconâ—clast as a brand of heresie in his forehead 〈◊〉 breaking downe of Images in the churches So did Bellarmine censure the Germane Protestants as irreligious and prophane because in their reformation they spared not their Idols and their Images These men no doubt would have cast one stone of rebuke at Christ himselfe if they had seene him drive with whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple and throwne another at Paul for speaking against the Images of Jupiter and silver Shrines of Diana at Ephesus and for preaching against the Altar dedicated to the unknown God which he saw at Athens had they beene amongst those persons and in those places Now shall we intreat these hypocrites Iustified by themselves against themselvs to turne their eyes into their owne bosomes and view the records of their owne stories and then let them tell us whether their beame be not much bigger than our mote in this kinde of disgracing or defacing images and some other things which they account ornaments of their Churches What if these Catholikes as they desire and delight to be called have cast with violence the reliques of their Saints Nicu. Coni. lib. de Isaac fil Alexio into filthy and base places what if they have throwne the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ with great indignation sometimes unto the ground and sometimes into the fire what if they have prophaned their holy Vessels Altars Temples what if they have used their sacred images for seates and footstooles Their own Writers will assure them that in the taking of Constantinople Antonin Histor. part 3. tit 19. cap. 2.9 3. they were guitly of such and so great sacriledge that they spared neither the treasures of the Churches nor the Silver Tables about their Altars Sed violatis sacrariis cruces iconas reliqua Ecclesiarum ornamenta rapiebant but prophaning all the holy places and holy things they spoiled their Crosses and Curcifixes their Images and other ornaments of their Churches whatsoever Let them reade and consider Ouuph in vit Clem. 7. Guiciard Hist lib. 7. what violence and indignity Cardinall Columna offered in the taking of Rome under Clement the seventh unto the Palace of the Vaticane and Saint Peters Church when he spoiled them of all their treasure and rich furniture and all the Ornaments of the Church besides Now therefore yee Hypocrites either take the beam out of your own eye or cease to find fault with this mote in your brothers eye any longer If ye be obstinate in this errour of Image worship and call upon our Church windowes for your Church witnesses Testes fenestrae Rat. 10. Aug. de Consensu evang l. 1. cap. 10. as your Father Jesuite Campion hath done we will then answer you with Austin Sic errare meruerunt qui Christum Apostolos ejus quaesiverunt non in sanctis codicibus sedin pictis parietibus They have well deserved so to erre who have sought for Christ and his Apostles not in the holy Booke of God but in painted wales and windowes as you for your parts Aug. ibid. both doe and have done Nec mirum si a pingentibus fingentes decepts sunt And no marvaile if such fainers and forgers as you are bee deceived with such painters and pictures as these be And as for this Gentleman of whom we speak it shall be sufficient for him and us that in this his affection and action hee commeth so neare to that commendation which Ambrose gave unto Theodosius Theodosius abscondit simulacra Gentium omnes enim cultus idolorum fides ejus abscondit Ambrose Orat in mort Theo. omnes eorum ceremonias obliteravit Theodosius did obscure and disgrace all the images of the Gentiles for his faith did darken all the worship of Idols and obliterate all their ceremonies CHAP. XXVII 2 In establishing Gods true Word and worship NOw as it was the just and due praise of these worthies of the Lord according to the nature of true zeale not onely to demolish and deface all instruments or ornaments of idols and false worship but to build up and beautifie the house of God in procuring and providing all good means for his due and true service so may it be and that justly an addition to this Gentlemans former praise that his heart was so enlarged towards God for his glory and Gods people for their good that it was not only his care and conscience to abolish all occasions and provocations unto idolatry and false worship but the very joy of his soule to bring in such godly and able Ministers amongst them as he could provide almost every Lords day into the publike Assembly Such as did feed the people like faithfull Pastors with knowledge and understanding Such as did sowe and plant as Gods husbandmen the seeds and roots of grace and truth amongst them Such as were Ambassadors of peace both preaching unto them the glad tydings of the Gospell by the word of reconciliation and beseeching them also in Christs stead to be reconciled unto God and Heralds at armes also By procuring godly Ministers to preach to lift up their voices as a trumpet to tell the house of Israel their transgression and the house of Iudah their finnes and to denounce Gods righteous judgements due unto the same And all this he did of his own cost and labour and that with a cheerfull and upright heart honouring the Lord with his substance and giving meanes and maintenance to such as were the Lords labourers in the Lords harvest Of his own cost and charg All which his care cost and labour although it was much slighted by many little regarded by the vulgar sort much opposed by the popish and profane and too much undervalued by all yet was hee never daunted nor discouraged in his course nor weary of well doing Little regarded neither Rheum the Chancellor nor Shimshai the Scribe by their letters nor Samballat and Tobiah by their mocks threats and slanders Yet he not discouraged because the word of God prospered could ever divert him from his way or cause the worke of God to cease in his hand So the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed and to use his own words so religion began to enter mangre the divell and his partakers for I was much opposed c. In this passage I much desire to commend unto every Christian especially to Gentlemen of good rancke and place to whom the Lord hath given a large portion in the blessings of
fruit either in the aâ—â—â—… the issue of it 2 That these are 〈◊〉 base and bastard brood of the man of sinne begotten by Sathan upon the body of that Whore of Rome in the darke night of Popish and Heathenish superstition and therefore we are called to come out of Babell so many as are Gods people and never to be partakers of her sins lest we be partakers of her plagues also Aug. l. 22. De Civit. Dei c. 10. Euseb eccl hist l. 7. c. 14. Sigon de Regno Ital. l. 3. An. 721.726 3 That as one err our is a pregnant and faithfull mother of many more so this commemoration of Saints and Martyrs did breed and bring forth reservation of their Reliques Adoration of their Images Invocation of their Names and Peregrination to their Shrines and that with great confidence in them and great expectation of bodily and ghostly help and comfort from them Of all which errors and impieties they must needs be guilty and stand convicted before God who whether they be of the tribe of Levi as was Korah or of the Princes of the people as were Dathan and Abiram shall or do rise up in any tumultuous and rebellious manner against Moses or Aaron Magistrate and Minister with their Censers in their hands to offer incense unto such Idols 4 That such service unto Saints is but witt-worship Calv. de vera eccl reform rati Bulling de Orig. error c. 32. f. 104 Pars in 3. Convers Rain idol l. 1.0.5 §. 25 c. Hospin de Fest. in Cathar Nov. 25 Anton. hist. part 3 tit 19 c. 1 §. 3 4. will-worship and Idol-service all which are both hatefull unto God and hurtfull unto their owne soules that either do them or consent to the doing of them 5 That oftentimes by the Popish Calendar such Saints are commended unto them for commemoration of their persons and celebration of their Feasts as either never were as Saint Christopher and Saint George Saint Katharine and the like or such as it had beene good for them that they had never beene as was our Boniface the idoll Saint of Banbury Saint Dominic a grand agent for Antichrist and bloody persecutor of the true Church of Christ or such as were not much better than beasts for their conversation as Medardus Lubinus or such as having their soules frying in Hell are yet adored as Saints in their Festivalls and Wakes here amongst us upon earth and that after a more solemne and devout manner than either they themselves would or could require if they were now in company and held society with the Saints in heaven 6 That to have fellowship with such as celebrate these Idoll-Feasts is reckoned by the Apostle for no lesse a sinne than to have fellowship with Divels nor is any thing that is offered to such Idolls accounted any better service than a sacrifice unto Divels Now God forbid that they that professe the feare of God and beare the name of Christ should ever so farre forget their communion with God as to have any fellowship with Divels or so forsake the Lord the Fountaine of living waters and digge unto themselves broken Cisternes that can hold no water 7 That usually such assemblies upon such occasions are for the most part a confluence of all vaine and vile persons a concurrence of all vices a combination of the Popish and prophane a very randavous of all rogues and vagabonds and many times no better than as the Prophet speaketh a very assembly of rebels against the Lord. Now wee are charged to depart from the tents of such wicked men to separate our selves from sinne and sinners not so much as to cate or drinke with such persons to hate the garment spotted by the flesh and to touch no uncleane thing if ever we will have the Lord to receive us and to take us for his sons and daughters 8 That the attendants and consequents effects and fruits of such Wakes and Idol-Feasts are commonly as base and bitter as the sonnes of Beliall can beget or the vines of Sodome or Gomorrah can bring forth such as are swearing and blaspheming drunkennesse and surfetting brawling and quarrelling wantonnesse and uncleannesse riot and excesse in all manner of wickednesse and ungodlinesse seldome any such meetings but they either are sprinkled with blood or spotted with some grosse filthinesse Now what honest heart can abide in those places or endure those persons that will bee sure to vex his souls with their wicked conversation and grieve his spirit with that which hee shall daily and hourely heare and see amongst them Woe is mee would David say that I am constrained to dwell in Meseck and to have my habitation in the Tents of Kedar My soule is among Lions I have dwelt too long amongst them that want grace and hate peace 9 And lastly if they would set before their eyes and consider the holy examples of good and great men who loving the truth and hating a lye could never endure any fellowship with superstitious and idolatrous persons nor would ever yeeld themselves to joyne with them in the smallest things having any appearance of evill in them Daniel would not bee perswaded to defile himselfe with any portion of the Kings meat being once presented before an Idoll David will neither touch nor taste of the dainties and delicates of wicked and profane men Polycarp would not so much as make a shew of saluting Caesar as others did nor of burning incense unto their Idols though he might have saved his life and come to great honour also in so doing S. Iohn durst not abide in the Bath where the Herelike Cerinthus was but presently got himselfe away lest the Bath for his sinne should fall upon him and upon all that were with him for his take Tripart hist l. 6. c. 35. Bullin de Origin Er. c. 36. f. 115 Valentinian that valiant and noble man being sprinkled against his will with some of that heathenish holy water which the Ministers of Fortunes Temple cast upon him as hee went in and out before the Emperour Inlian and finding a drop thereof upon his cloake with great indignation gave the minister a box on the care in the Emperours presence telling him that he thought not himselfe purged but polluted by such sprinklings All which being well and duly pondered and considered I conceive good hope that men of any religious affection or ingenuous disposition will not only refraine themselves from such assemblies of vaine men but according to their place and power will bee ready to restraine and suppresse as this worthy Gentlemen did all such popish and profane Wakes and Feasts that are amongst them or about them CHAP. XXXI Being still more religious AFter that he had thus planted and watered his owne family and for the better increasing of the fruits of religion had well provide for the publike assembly also he was much admired for his sincerity as well as for his fervency in
the profession of the Gospel and practice of true religion He that had done so worthily in Ephrata became famous in Bethlehem He grew more famous His name being perfumed with such and so great variety of Gods graces did send forth a most fragrant and sweet smell and savour into all the families of the countrey round about him insomuch Many desite to sojournwith him that now divers Gentlemen of the best ranck did much desire to sojourne under his roofe and to table with him for their better information in the way of God and more effectuall reclaiming of themselves and their families That honourable and worthy Knight Sir Richard Grosvenor Baronet when he was young and tender was by his parents godly and gracious care and desire of his religious education Sir R. G. in his tender yeares brought up in his house transplanted as it were into this family where for the space of three yeares he was trained up and nurtured in the knowledge and feare of God and that with so good successe and fruit of this Gentlemans labours and endeavours through the blessing of God upon him that both the University in his youth and the countrey in his reper age may and will seale him a worthy testimony for a Gentleman of an amiable and sweet disposition and of a studious and religious carriage and conversation amongst them The seed that was then sowen and the plants that were then set in this soyle are yet still increasing and bringing forth more fruit both in his person and calling whereof as wee have seene a faire increase already in some of his more eminent imployments so doe we yet looke for a more plentifull harvest of his holy and wholesome fruits in their season as hee may have further calling thereunto Much about this time also his brother in Law Master Hardware of the Peile M. Hard. and his family also tabled with him was very desirous to draw nearer unto him and so with his good liking and allowance brought himselfe and his whole family wife children and servants to be tabled with him This Master Hardware at the first seeing this Gentleman in the government of his family so full and free for wholesome admonitions and reproofes could no better abide a rebuke than sore eyes can endure the Sun Which when Master Bruen had once and againe observed knowing that Patient to be very sicke that is impatient of the meanes and medicine which might cure him He began to cast about how he might best deale with him and most effectually worke upon him for his good What he did to this end and with what effect and fruit His wise and gracious dealing with him and his he shall himselfe tell you in his own words I remember saith hee my brother Hardware when hee was tabler with us at first would not bee reproved but after a while having the 141. Psalme for our Evenings exercise and then divers of my family did usually give Notes being godly and well affected all concluded together that all should speake of the fifth verse Let the righteous reprove mee c. And my selfe gave the last note after which time he never resisted any more Yea more than all this And the good effect and fruit ther of he gives him yet a better testimony of his growth and proficiency in religion under his own hand in these words It pleased God saith hee so to worke upon his and their hearts that they went home with new hearts converted unto God and professed religion in holy sincerity untill their death My brother Hardware then at Peile Both in his family and set up religion in his family with great power and comfort So that the very first evening after their comming home they began to sing Psalms to read the Scriptures to Pray and to Catechise all which being ended his wife ran unto him and kissed him with great rejoycing saying O husband I thank God and blesse his name that ever you came to Staplefoord And so afterwards being Major of Chester In the city he that year shewed his religion very graciously in his government all praise to God c. These things he hath thus set downe as he hath done also many more as certaine memorials of Gods mercies Thus to season others in blessing his desires and endeavours for the seasoning of others both persons and families with the salt of true religion by his hand that so they might bee better able to offer themselves and their services as holy living and spirituall sacrifices acceptable unto God in Christ Jesus This was his labour of love And to build up Gods house in his owne was his labour of love And joy of his heart to build up the house of God even in his owne house and taking some out of other families as rough stones out of the Quarries to hew and square them smooth and polish them to be as lively and precious stones of and for the Lords Temple And this was the very joy of his heart to see the word of the Lord prosper in his hand according to that saying of Saint Iohn I have no greater joy than to heare that my children walke in the truth I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soule prospereth CHAP. XXXII THis comfort and contentment which hee tooke in laying the foundation The good successe whereof and building up the walles of Gods house in this manner did give him great encouragement to furnish himselfe better and to make his provision greater for this worke both by his private studies and also by his publike travels and endeavours being herein not much unlike to holy David who having it in the purpose of his heart 1 Chr. 29 1 2. to build Gods house provided abundantly all manner of materials wood and stone iron and brasse gold and silver marble and precious stones Made him like David to make greater provision as hee could procure them farre or neare besides all the treasure that he offered of his owne proper goods even three thousand talents of the gold of Ophir and seven thousand talents of refined silver to the furthering and finishing of the Lords house For whereas in those dayes it seemed good unto the Lord having compassion on his people to raise up and establish many holy exercises of religion By publike exercises both in Cheshire and in Lancashire which were kept constantly every moneth and maintained worthily by the godly labours of the faithfull Ministers and Messengers of God in those parts and that with great and comfortable successe and fruit for the edifying of the Churches of God in knowledge faith and obedience to the Gospell This worthy Gentleman Which hee frequented taking hold of this faire opportunity did frequent these assemblies and partake of the labours of the Lords Builders with great diligence care and conscience storing himselfe with their treasures
and the godly in all duties of Piety and Charity And so continuing as she did faithfull unto death shee obtained what she desired and expected the crown of life What were the heavy consequents of this affliction in his Family hee hath himselfe set down and that in so patheticall a maner that I know some that could yet never read the words but their heart was full of sorrow and their eyes full of teares in the reading of them His own words be these But when it pleased God to take away my wife from me then all mourned for her losse As also in respect that all my tablers must now part being about the number of 21. my son John and his being then with me But we did still so accord and so loth wee were to depart a sunder The heavy parting of his Tablers that I requested them to stay with me that quarter more from January to Aprill which was very thankfully accepted which quarter we had much comfort together but mourning oftentimes to think of the quarters end And the last day sitting at dinner together all so full of heavines that in effect there was no meat eaten So as I was forced to hide my selfe All full of griefe and could not take leave with them all being so full of griefe c. When Jonathan and David whose hearts were linked together in holy love were orced to part and were now ready to take leave one with another It is said in the story that they kissed one anther 1 Sam. 20.41 and wept one with another untill David exceeded It was not much otherwise with this Company that had lived under one roof in so great love and peace together when now they must part and take leave one of another they kissed one another and wept one with another untill M. Bruen himselfe exceeded M. Bruen himselfe exceeded And so exceeded that he was glad then to hide himselfe to conceale the extremity of his griefe and since in recording of it to draw a vaile over it with an c. as the Painter did over Agamemnons face when hee knew that his pensill could not expresse the heavy sorrows of a fathers heart in the losse of Iphigenia so deare a daughter Pectoris vulaus tepore ratione curatur Hieron ad Pammach Time and reason strengthened by grace will moderate passions That which men say will avayle much with a naturall man for allaying the heate and repressing the violence of griefe and sorrow time and reason being now more strengthened by grace and well qualified by Christian wisdome and moderation brought this Gentleman to a good measure of patience and contentment in bearing and breaking through this affliction which hee saw the hand of the Lord had laid upon him For now he began to frame his affections for a single life and to draw his Family into a narrower compasse resolving to retire himselfe and to live more privatly if it were but for a season for the benefit of his children which the Lord had given him CHAP. XLIII WHat hee did herein upon what advise to what end and with what successe to others and himselfe both for soule and body I think it not amisse to tell you at large in his own words Then I continued saith hee a single life five yeares and a halfe or thereabouts Two yeares in mine own house In which time that man of God good M.D. came unto me who enquiring of my estate I told him I did owe about an hundred pounds and had 4 daughters and divers sons He therefore advised me to give over my house and to go to Chester and to live there a season which I yeelded unto M. Bifeild then being there a godly Preacher and very powerfull in his Ministery And there I lived 3 yeares having the company of M. Bifeild and his wife every Wedensday and Fryday to dinner which were his Lecture dayes with some other good company besides In which 3 yeares it pleased God to stir up the hearts of many neighbours to come every evening to prayer with us and some every morning My sister Hardware and her Family shee being a widow came constantly having a convenient way through her garden and often with her many friends and neighbours These our meetings were traduced by some and excepted against by others and yet after a while being well known what they were no fault was found In this time It pleased the Lord Almighthy to give a great blessing All praise unto his holy Name only Many converted and many confirmed and many convinced And many could I name but I spare Let God alone be glorified magnified for ever that by such weake instruments doth manifest such great power grace and mercy In these 3 yeares God gave me also a great earthly blessing 1 I paid all my debt 2 I marryed my two daughters that were marriageable and paid their marriage portions 3 I preferted a son or two 4 I maintained the poore in my own Parish in the Countrey allowing all the increase of my 2 mils in Stapl. for that end 5 I mainteined the poore in Chest both at my gates and otherwise weekly as I was rated All humble and hearty praise and thanks be given to God Father Sonne and Holy Ghost for evermore Amen Then I returned home and built my Study And tooke to wise Margaret through Gods blessing and by her one daughter dead one son living Al praise to God There are divers things in this relation very remarkable which may not well be passed over in silence tending so much both to his just commendation and to our information and edification in the Faith and feare of God 1 As first that Although the Lord was pleased sundry times to exchaunge his comforts with crosses yet was he never changed nor moved from his steadfastnesse 2 Secondly in all his afflictions he was willing to be humbled but never dejected nor discouraged having learned in what estate so ever he was therewith to be content 3 Thirdly that where ever he was at home or abroad in city or countrey his desires and endeavours were ever bent to doe good remembring the words of our Lord Jesus that it is a more blessed thing to give than to receive 4 Fourthly that where ever he went whatsoever he did the presence of the Lord Jesus was with him and his good hand upon him to prosper him in all his wayes and to strengthen his hand and heart in well doing 5 Fifthly that in every place he became a nursing father to the children of God Esay 22.23.24 whether they were babes or such as were of riper age in Christ yea he was as a naile of the Sanctuary fastened in a sure place upon which men did hang all vessels of small quantitie from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of flaggons as the Prophet speaketh 6 Sixthly that notwithstanding all his great expenses both in city and countrey in maintaining
in spirituall strength the better to encounter all sad and sharpe occurrents which either in doing or in suffering the will of God he might meet withall This hee knew was the speciall meanes prescribed by God himselfe unto Joshua Josh 1.78 The necessity and excellency of Mâ—ditation that hee might make his way prosperous and have good successe namely to meditate in the word of God day and night and not to turne aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left This hee knew was the mark and character of a blessed man Psal 1.2 Da mihi magistrum Gen. 24.63 to delight in the law of the Lord an in that law to meditate day and night And therefore for the better practice of this holy duty he did usually carry about him some part of the Bible Means and helpes which hee used or his Sermon Note booke if he went abroad into the field to meditate as Isaac did in the evening or were upon a journey as the Eunuch was when he was reading and meditating in his chariot on the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Christ Jesus Acts 8.28 Or if he were within doores he gave himselfe much to the reading of the Word and to make collections of promises Reading of the word precepts comforts prohibitions mercies judgements marks of Gods children brands of wicked men and many other good things as he found them in the way And these he made the matter or ground of his meditation and the means to inlarge himself in this exercise And of godly mens writings His Cammon-place book To which end also he did very diligently reade and peruse the workes of divers learned and godly men and drew unto certaine heads and Common-places what he thought most worthy observation and of best use in them Amongst the rest hee was much delighted and refreshed with D. Hals Contemplations and Meditations M. Greenhams workes M. Rogers his Seven Treatises which for his better helpe and greater comfort he had abridged and drawn into an Epitome almost all untill he was informed that another godly man a worthy Divine had already done it to his hand M. Baine His following of the rules of direction Afterwards when M. Egertons practice of Christianity containing the summe and substance of that booke came forth he addressed himself to make his best use of that part of it touching the art and exercise of this divine Meditation wherein he profitted so well that he was very able according to those places and rules of direction to enlarge his meditations upon any subject that did usually fall within his reach and compasse So that now hee might say after a sort with holy David Psal 119.97.54 O how love I thy law O Lord It is my meditation all the day I have made thy statutes my song and my meditation in the dayes of my pilgrimage The gaine of godlines 1 Tim. 6.6 The gain which he got by this exercise of holy meditation was an increase of godlines and godlinesse we know is great gaine having all sufficiency in it self for true comfort and contentment The fruits which he reaped of this his planting Many benefits and fruits of it and watering were very gracious and precious As 1. the killing or quelling of many noysome lusts 1 Killing of lusts which like caterpillars or cancker-worms are wont to breed in the best trees 2. The dislodging and driving out many unsavoury and worldly cares and thought 2 Driving out evill thoughts which bring nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit with them 3. This bred in him a godly watchfulnes over his words 3. Watchfulnesse and works heart and life 4. It wrought in him a gracious aptnesse 4. Aptnesse to good duties and chearefulnesse unto all good duties wherin he might be either serviceable unto God or profitable unto men 5. It ministered unto him counsell and strength for the spirituall war 5 Counsel strength that he might stand fast in the evill day against all his and Gods enemies 6. It brought him to a heaven upon earth 6 Conversation in heaven teaching him so to have his conversation in heaven that he might go about earthly affaires with a heavenly mind as he saw hee had calling thereunto 7. It kept his heart in possession of his integrity and sincerity 7 Possesing of his integrity ever calling upon him to keep faith and a good conscience alwayes and in all things 8. It wrought his soul to a gracious tendernes lowlines and meeknes 8 Sensiblenesse of sins and sorrowes to be very sensible of other mens sins and sorrows as wel as of his own 9. It was unto him as a sweet perfume composed of many delicate and costly spices 9 A perfume to all his actions which made all his thoughts words and works more sweet and savoury so that where ever he came he left no ill sent but a sweet savour of his graces and vertues behind him 10. And lastly 10 A preservative against secret and open sins this exercise of meditation was unto him a soveraign preservative not only against secret and open lesser and grosser sins but against all the inticements and allurements of the pleasures and profits honors and favors of this present evil world so that he was neither intangled in them nor inveagled by them O how great is the difference betwixt this Gent Great difference and many others of his rancke and of greater and meaner estate also I which professing themselves to be Christians Many enemies to it Psal 2.1.2 Psal 36.4 Zac 8.17 Ge. 27.41 1 Sam. 18.1.23.25 2 Sam. 17.23 2 Sam. 16.3 Ps 52.1 2 Ioh. 13.2 Acts 5.1 2 3. Many of the better sort fail in it are yet either enemies or strangers to this Christian duty required at their hands Some there be so empty of grace and goodnesse and so full of malice lust pride covetousnes and voluptuousnes that they cannot fix their minds nor settle their hearts upon any good thing to any good end but if they meditate it is but upon vaine or vile things devising mischief upon their beds and imagiving evill in their hearts against their brethren Such were Esau Saul Achitophel Ziba Doeg Indas Ananias and Saphira all of which had their musings and meditations their severall imaginations and consultations but never a good man nor any good matter of meditation amongst them all Some other there are of better minds and hearts who yet for want of good acquaintance with this holy and heavenly exercise of meditation for the nature and manner helps and meanes end and use of it have little experience of the benefit which comes by it and so deprive themselvs of many sweet comforts and refreshings which otherwise they migh enjoy by the practise of it Who is wise and he shall understand these things Hos 14 9. prudent and he shall know them for the wayes of the Lord are
life from me Well these drunkards whoremasters do not think upon their sins well how then There is no drunkard that doth drink one spoonefulor drop of drink more than doth suffice nature but the Devill doth pen it down in his book Well it is a great book and he doth keep it close untill the day of Indgement And then he will lay it to their faces At which time the hils will tremble and quake and the Devill will quake yea he doth quake for feare now Well some would think it a great while to be bound with the Devill as I am a 12 month or 2 yeares but it is better to bee so than to wallow in drunkennesse swearing and whoring for the Divell doth worke in their soules Well some will say how can the Devilly in so little a room Well the Devill is as the wind for when he did take a man away out of a chamber be came in at the little hole but how did he take him away even out at the top of the chimney Well there are some Papists and some Atheists and some of no Religion woe be to those that dye suddenly for they have no time to repent and especially those that live in drunkennesse or whoring or swearing Iesus saith they say hee shall not out of me but when God comes he will strike home Many and many other more of his strange speeches I passe over contenting my selfe with these few which were taken from his own mouth by the hand under the testimony of faithfull witnesses some at one time and some at another as he himself did then deliver them and as this worthy Gentleman hath in his diligent Observation of this amongst other of Gods Iudgements made mention of them and recorded them This therefore that hath been spoken shall suffice concerning the second daily duty which this Gent performed namely his carefull observation of Gods ways and works mercies and judgements amongst the sons of men CHAP. XLVIII His private invocation THe third followeth viz. His Religious invocation of the Name of God every day Now although it be true that he did very constantly performe this duty every day morning and evening with his Family as formerly wee have heard yet did he not hold that sufficient for himselfe unlesse he did open his heart and poure out his soule in private before the Lord making his requests known unto him Phil. 4.6 in all manner of supplications with Thanksgiving And this he desired and endevored to perform according to the Apostles direction 1 Tim. 2.8 In every place lifting up pure hands without wrath or doubting that is in faith and love For hee did not confine himselfe for his private Prayers unto any one place Not confined to one place neither within doores nor without but ever tooke his fittest opportunity as time and place might best move him or leade him unto this Duty Following herein the holy example of Christ and of other holy men setting themselves a part for this service sometimes in and upon the higher roomes of the house with Peter sometimes in the field with Isaac Acts 10.9 Gen. 24.63 Luc. 22 39 40. Eph. 3.13 14. Nehem. 2.4 sometimes in the mount and sometimes in the garden with Christ Iesus sometimes in the Prison with Paul and sometimes in the Palace with Nehemiale sometimes upon his journey with Iacob sometimes at the end of it Gen. 28.20 Gen. 24.12 Psal 6.6.9 Act. 10.30 with Eliezer somtimes on his bed with David and somtimes in his closet with Cornelius If he were in his own house or about home he had divers places which he interchangeably used for this purpose because hee would not bee too much observed to frequent one place lest he should draw himself into some suspition of vanity or hypocrisie Hee had variety of Closets Studies Chambers and other convenient roomes if hee were within and if he went abroad he had his Gardens Orchards Arbors Groves Woods and Fields Walkes and Shades where he did delight to speak and commune with his best friend and to seek the face and favor help and succour of his heavenly Father in and through the mediation of his Son Christ Iesus And as he was choice of the place so was hee carefull of the time which he constantly set apart every day for his private prayer His time for private praver Fsal 119.164 Seven times a day and praise 7 times a day did hee reverently and conscionably performe this duty causing his prayers to ascend as incense and the lifting up of his hands to be as an Evening Sacrifice The severall seasons and times he tooke were these The first in the morning before any of his family were stirring being usually first up in the house Psa 55.27.7 and that both Summer and Winter The second was before his breake-fast after prayer in his family The third was immediatly before dinner The fourth a little while after dinner The fist a little before supper The sixt not long after supper And the seventh a little before hee tooke his Chamber to go to his rest Neither was he only so plentifull for the number of his spirituall Devotions as he was by the grace of God powerfull in the manner measure end and issue of them Powerful in prayer Rom. 8.26 27.1 Iohn 5.14 I am 5.16 2 Cor. 12.7 For being full of Faith and of the holy Ghost he could speake unto God by his own spirit in his owne words according to his owne Will and in the name of his own Son And so we know he could not but speake wel and speede well either finding that which hee craved and sought for at Gods hands or obtaining more than all that he could desire or deserve My grace is sufficient for thee And herein we are the rather induced thus to thinke because usually his prayer was fortified by Faith supported by Hope inflamed with Zeale beautified with Humility purified by Sincerity and established by Constancy Now unto his Private Praying he did usually upon some extraordinary occasion his own or others adjoyne private Fasting His private Fasting which hee was very frequent and fervent in and that with so great austerity that he did much weaken his body as well as afflict his soule thereby as sometimes Timothy did in the like case 1 Tim. 5.23 Eusebius hath reported recorded it Euseb c Hist lib. 2. cap. 23. of Iames the Iust that with often and continuall bowing of his knees before the Lord for himselfe and the people in earnest fervent prayer for remission of their sins he hath so lost the sense and feeling of his knees that they were as hard and so as sensles as the knees of a Camell I will not compare this Iohn with that Iames neither for sanctity of heart nor for austerity of life Tender prayers and hard knees But for their Affections and Actions Prayers and knees tendernesse of the one
God think to be in heaven For in many things you were like him but now you are broken off and in many things differ from him 1 As first he loved the Assembly of Gods people on the holy Sabbath forenoone and afternoone But you doe not though his body were as unwildy as yours is 2 He loved often to communicate His good opinion and testimony of Thâ— wilb Esquire which you doe not 3 Hee loved and often desired the company of the godly into his house which you doe not but rather glory to have your house made a through-fare of profane persons 4 He would have his family publikely catechised by a godly Minister which you will not 5 He had every day a portion of holy Scripture read and prayer morning and evening and often singing of Psalmes which you have not 6 He abandoned and kept out of his house all roguish Players which you doe not 7 He was usually at the publike exercises of religion at Torperly and often at Northwich which you are not 8 He had a liberall disposition to releeve the godly in distresse which you have not 9 Although hee had the world at will as you have yet he gloried not in it but honoured God with his substance which you doe not 10 He did grow in knowledge and in holinesse with an hatred of sinne and love to Gods servants and children which you do not I feare Cosen you are in a Lethargie or that the Alarum Bell of your conscience is silenced Take heed It is a dangerous thing to grieve the Spirit of God by which you are sealed to the day of redemption Try your selfe for if the Spirit be not quenched it will checke your conscience of all the premisses and of many more secret sins which do accompany such open and grosse faults and offences If the Spirit have any life in you it will stirre up your heart often to pray and that with teares for the reformation of these things You were best to looke well about you that you may work outs your owne salvation with foare and trembling Bro. 9.8.9.10.12 His indignation against sinne This Letter is a good evidence of his holy indignation against grosse sinnes in great houses and of his good affection and godly care to draw his friends out of the danger and from the contagion of them His love and care to reclaim sinners His joy in such as were converted It is also a worthy and honourable testimony of the gifts and graces of the effectuall reformation and godly conversation of that worthily honoured Gentleman Thomas Wilbraham of Woodhey Esquire whose name and memoriall he hath thus sprinkled and perfumed with so due and true praises And here O that the Lord would be pleased to grant me the prayer of my heart and the desire of my soule That the heires of this Gentlemans body would view their faces in their fathers glasse and diligently see and consider how neare they come unto him in the power and practice of Religion and that where they shall find themfelves to come short of him they would seriously addresse themselves to expresse the vertues of him that is gone before them Icr. 22.15 16 17. and carefully endeavour to follow the gracious patterne and president which he hath left unto them CHAP. LIX ANother one of the last Fruits of mercy towards his Tenants upon the least of those good fruits where with this goody Gentleman of whom we write was filled was his mercifull dealing with his Tenants towards whom hee did ever beare a very tender and compassionate respect and regard He did not grind the faces of the poore by great fines nor crush their bones by heary rents and rackes and sometimes three yeares rent together at the marriage of a daughter Amos 4.1 Mich. 2.2 Mich. 3.2 nor breake their backes with bundens of oppression in all manner of cruell services as the manner of many was round about him toyling the bodies and tyring out the beasts of their poore Tenants Hee did not use their labour without hire nor call for their worke without wages nor take the benefit of their travell without any allowance of necessary sastenance which is the sinne and shame of many Gentlemen amongst as But in all things concorning their profit their ease their peace their Christian comfort and contentment hee ever carried himselfe as a mercifull He was a mercifull Landlord and good Landlord towards them Yea it was the very joy of his heart to see his Tenants prosper and thrive in their estate under him and to entertaine them lovingly and use them kindly as they came unto him Hee was much of the fame minde towards his Tenants Sueton. in August as Augustus was towards his Subjects Hee would not have any to come in feare and trembling before him as if they came to an Elephant nor any to depart with a heavie heart of sad couritenance from him as if they had beene with a Tyrant How contrary to these mercifull courses are the rigorous and cruell dealings of some Land-lords with their Tenants who if they grow wealthly under them they are used and squrezed as spunges as Vespasian did his Officers Sueton on Vesp to wrest and wring what they can from them If their Leafes be expixed they will hardly renew them but upon such hard conditions as they shall never be able to live under them Nay it may be they will grant no Lease at all neither for yeares nor lives but thrust out the ancient Tenant and set his living upon a rack for the rack say they is the casiest pace and so pull downe other mens houses and families to build their owne nests on high impoverish others to inrich themselves thrust others into corners that they may enlarge their owne borders Mic. 2.2 and make other men their slaves and drudges Isa 5. that they may domineere and dwell alone as Lords of the land bound about them The woe that is denounced by the Prophet Isay and by others also as well as by him against such sins makes me to thinke that such cruell Land-lords will nor find in the end the racke to bee the easiest pace as they imagine nor the grinding of the poore to be their sweetest grist as some conceive No no I rather feare that all the ease of such a rack will be no other but to amble with the world to trot on with the wicked to gallop to the divel and to take up their lodging in hell where they have a place prepared for them But wee speake to them that have no eares to heare what the Spirit speakes unto the Churches but are rather like the deafe Adder Cassied in Psal 57. Lyva in Psal 57. of which Cassiodore reporteth that when she is likely to bee charmed shee makes her selfe deafe by stopping one eare with the earth and the other with her taile that shee may not heare the voice of the charmer
some as they drew nearer unto them brought to a greater liking and love of the company and societie of Gods children and of these and such other duties of Gods worship His early comming to Church as they did exercise themselves withall His comming to the Church with all his Family attendants and followers was constantly before the beginning of prayers or any part of divine Service that so hee might more comfortably joyne with Gods Minister and people in confession of sins in prayer and praise His reverent and holy carriage in it reading and hearing of the Word singing of Psalmes and partaking of the Sacraments all which hee did performe with such a reverent attention and gracious affection with so holy a carriage and so good conscience that as hereby hee did much increase his owne comfort so was his godly example no doubt a great encouragement to many others yea a very spurre and goade unto them to bee more religious and conscionable in Gods worship and service After prayers and Sermon were ended hee seldome went to dinner His dinner time hee bestowed well in the Church but abode in the Church to bestow himselfe and this interim in Gods Service with such good people as were willing to stay with him And this hee did by repeating the Sermon which hee had taken very exactly as usually hée did with his owne hand and by singing of Psalmes and by wholy and wholesome conference in and about good things The Evenin Sacrifice he performed in like manner And so waiting for the Evening Sacrifice after hee had with like care and conscience performed the publique duties of the Sabbath in the same hee returned homewards with his company with much comfort and joy in their hearts endeavouring as they went along to increase their Knowledge Faith and Obedience by repeating and conferring of the Evening Sermon and to inlarge their hearts in Gods praises ◠Sam. 12.24 by singing of Psalmes a fresh considering what great things hee had done for them Their returne homewards and mutuall care to do good And if any amongst them were afflicted they would bee ready to counsell him comfort him and pray for him And he himselfe especially if he heard of any such as were troubled in Conscience upon the hearing of the Word would be ever mostready and willing like the good Samaritane Luc. 10.34 Gal. 6.1 to powre wine and oyle into that wounded spirit wine that he might search and scoure it and oyle that he might supple and heale it After this manner did he frequent the House of God sanctifie the Lords day rejoyce in the Assembly of the Saints and refresh his own Soule with Heavenly Manna and other spirituall repast so long as hee could either goe or ride unto it CHAP. LXIIII. His private Evening exercise full of life ANd then in his Evening Exercise he was so full of life and zeale that besides his own family many of his Tenants and Neighbours did much desire and delight to heare him repeat the Sermons presse the speciall points urge the Conscience and powre cut his prayers unto God with so tender and sweet affections for them all that the heat of his spirit did cause their hearts as it were to melt within them The great joy he had in the Sabbath and Fasts The joy and comfort which he found in these holy duties both in publike and in private on the Lords day and in their Fasts was so exceeding great that he would often and earnestly wish O that every day were either a Sabbath-day or a Fast day for then I should be well His thankefulnesse for one Sabbath more And when the Sabbath was past it was his usual manner to blesse God with a thankefull and chearefull heart for that hee had given him one Sabbath more than he did looke for amongst his people The weeke dayes were somewhat more tedious and grievous unto him his bodily infirmities much increasing and his strength decaying and yet would he never be dejected but endevoured to quicken his own soule and raise up his heart by Faith and Hope speaking to his Family and Friends about him much after this manner The time is not long I must shortly lay down this my tabernacle and then I shall get the start of you all 2 Pet. 1.14 Heb. 4.9 11. and shall celebrate an everlasting Sabbath before the Lord with all his holy Angels and blessed Saints in the highest Heavens This he spake rejoycingly and yet with teares Weary of the world Hee grew every day more and more weary of the world and was then best contented when he could dispatch worldly businesses with fewest words He makes his Will Isay 38.1 It was his provident and godly care to set his house in order as good Ezekiah did to make his will and to leave all things in good tearms of peace and love Which he did with good successe accordingly And so by this meanes his mind and heart were disburdened and cased of many worldly thoughts and cares So hee was more free and more fit for Heavenly things Gal. 6.10 and he brought to a greater freedome and liberty both to think and speake of spirituall and of heavenly things Which in no sort he did omit but as he could stir abroad in the House either to the Fall Parlour or Kitchen He would drop some wholesome words of counsell or comfort amongst such as he met withall and never cease speaking of holy or of heavenly things amongst the rest of his Family When many came to visit him he would often say Alas good Soules what are yee come to see Iob. 7.13 19. a poore wretch a worme and no man or a poore dying man I may now say with Iob. If I waite the grave is my house I have made my bed in the darknesse I have said to corruption thou art my father to the worme thou art my mother and my sister Iob 19.15 16. And yet I know that my Redeemer liveth that he shal stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin 2 Cor. 4.16 wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Therefore wee faint not but though the outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed daily And so our conversation is in heaven from whence also wee looke for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body Phil. 3.20.21 that it may bee fashioned like his glorious body according to the working whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe Some that came unto him would out of their common kindnesse comfort him with some hope of health and recovery Si nunquā bene si aliquando quare non modo Posidon in vita Aug. Cap. 27. to whom hee would make this answer My time is in the Lords hand and it is not likely it can bee long my dayes are past my purposes are broken