The Life and Death of Joseph Alleine, Biography · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. A few Additions to the former Character, by his Reverend and Intimate Friend Mr. R. F.
HE was a Person, with whom for many years I was well acquainted, and the more I knew him, the more I loved and admired the rich and exceeding Grace of GOD in him: I looked on him as one of the most elevated, refined, choice Saints, that ever I knew, or expect (while I live) to know; and that because (among others) I observed these things of him.
1. A most sincere, pure, and absolute consecration of himself to GOD in CHRIST JESUS: his Soul had first practised the Covenant-Dedication, which his hand afterward prescribed, as a Patern to others in his Father-in-Laws Book.
There seemed no sinister end, or false affection, to move or sway him in his way; But the good pleasure of the LORD, the edification of his Church, and the Salvation of Souls, were the only marks his eye seemed (at all) to regard, in his Designs and Acts: I know no other mans heart; but thus he appeared to my most attentive observation; and so I fully believe concerning him, as much as of any Person I ever saw.
2. In this his dedication to God, he was carried with the highest and purest flame of Divine Love that ever I observed in any: And that Love arising from a clear vision of the Beauty of Divine Perfections, especially his Gospel Love; the sight of which Beauty and Excellency seemed perpetually to possess and ravish his Soul: This Love seemed wholly unmixed from all that carnal heat that would carry him into Fantastick or Indecent Expressions; but his mind seemed to be alwayes ascending with its might in the greatest calmness and satisfaction. Thus have I oft observed him in frequent and silent elevation of Heart, manifested by the most genuine and private lifting up of his eyes, and joyned with the sweetest smile of his Countenance, when (I am confident) he little thought of being seen by any: Thus have I oft heard him flow in Prayer and Discourse, with the clearest conviction, and dearest taste of divine Excellency and Goodness; and the fullest, highest, and most pleased expression of his being overcome by it, and giving up his ALL in esteem to it; but this Love, in the greatest demonstration, appeared by his perpetual greedy and unsatiable spending of his whole self for the Glory of God, good of the Church, and Salvatio of Souls. His Head was ever contriving, his Tongue …, and his whole Man acting some design for these; so he lived, and so he dyed: He laboured and suffered himself into the Maladies which ended him: And when he was at Bath, like a perfect Skeleton, and could move neither Hand nor Foot, when his Physitians had … him all Preaching, and diswaded him from Vocal Praying, (as being above his strength) yec then would he almost daily be carried in his Bath-Chair to the Alms-Houses, and little Childrens Schools, and there give them Catechisms, teach them the meaning of them, and call them to an account, how they remembred and understood. And he died designing a way how every poor Child in Somersetshire might Have, Learn, and be instructed in the Assemblies Catechism; yea and at the expression of his affection, I cannot but mention the frequentest Extasies or Raptures of Spirit, wherein he lay on his Bed (when his Body was even deprived of all power of its own motion, but with no great pain) in consideration of Divine Love to him in general, and in particular, that he felt no great pain: Never heard I God so loved, and thanked, in the highest confluences of pleasing providences by others, as he was by him in his affliction, for not inflicting great pain upon him; though he was otherwayes so sad a Spectacle of weakness, and looked so like death, that some great Ladies oft hindered his coming into the Bath, the gastliness of his look did so afright them.
3. His pure and sacred Love wrought in him a great Spirit of Charity and Meekness to Men of other Judgements and Perswasions; and great affection towards all such in whom he found any Spiritual good. His Zeal was all of a building, and no destroying nature; he had too much wisdom to esteem his own thoughts to be the Standard of all other Mens: His clear Light and pure Heat, made him of a more discerning substantial and divine temper, than to reject any (in whom Charity could see any thing of a new nature) for differing from him in the Modes or Forms of Discipline or Worship, or Disputable Points.
4. Suitably to his high degree of Holiness and Divine Communion, he enjoyed the richest assurance of Divine Love to himself in particular, and his saving interest in Christ. I believe few Men were ever born that attained to so clear, satisfied and powerful evidence, that his sins were pardoned, and his Person accepted in Jesus, into eternal Life, and had more glorious fore-tastes of Heaven. I remember once, coming in when he was kneeling down to Family Prayer, his Heart was (in that Duty) carried forth into such expressions of love and praise for the sealings of everlasting Love and Life, as I never heard before or since; and such as (I am fully satisfied) none could express, but who had received the White Stone with the new Name in it.
But this was not accidental to him, or unusual; for (whatever Clouds he might possibly have, though I know of none) yet I am sure (for a good time before his death) he lived in the very dawning to Glory, both in the full assurance of it as his Portion, and a Spirit of Sanctity, Love, and Praise, like unto it.
And though in the very hour of his dying, his Disease had heat his Head; and in his Raptures, he had Expressions, which at another time his Grace and Reason would not have used; yet, all the Copies, (I have seen of those Transports) in the substance of them, speak only fuller assurance of God's Love to him, and his highest returns of love to Christ again.
And I do not at all wonder, that a Person shining so much with the Divine Image, and living so uninterruptedly in the clearest and nearest Divine Communion, should enjoy such assurance of God's everlasting Love, and be filled so with Joy therein, and making such returns of Love and Praise thereto.
CHRISTIAN LETTERS FULL OF Spiritual Instructions, TENDING To the Promoting of the Power of Godliness, both in Persons, and Families.
Anno Dom. 1672.