The Life and Death of Thomas Cawton, Biography

The Life and Death of Thomas Cawton · Biography

p. 1THE LIFE and DEATH Of that Reverend and Holy Man of God, M^r. THOMAS CAWTON, Late Miniſter of the Goſpel at Rotterdam in Holland.

THomas Cawton was born at Rainham in Norfolk in the year 1605. of honeſt Parents, under whoſe tuition and education he remained, til the immature part of his life was ſomething ripened, and made capable of being improved for higher deſigns than thoſe of his Infancy. The grain of his nature from a child lay towards the Miniſtry, to which he had ſo ſtrong an inclination, that nothing could unbyas or divert the current of his affections from an eager deſire of following that imployment.

His Parents ſeeing him indued with ſo good a principle, were very ſolicitous how to bring him up in learning, but being much p. 2diſcouraged by the ſmalneſs of their eſtate, want of friends and counſel, how to manage their affairs moſt for his good: they were in ſuſpence, having their eyes towards God, whoſe good hand of divine providence favouring their intended enterpriſe, ſtirred up friends above expectation, and particularly procured the Patronage of Sir Robert Townſend, a Knight of Norfolk, eminent for parts and piety, whoſe rare endowments both for Religion and Learning, as they did accompliſh his Perſon, ſo they ſounded forth his praiſe in that County. This munificent Moecenas having encouraged his Parents by his bounty, he was ſent to the Trivial School to be inſtructed in ſuch kind of literature as might fit him for the Univerſity: during which time, I cannot but note the ſweet carriage and condeſcention of his worthy Moecenas, who would call him up into his own chamber and pray with him, and often give him Verſes to make, and correct them himſelf. When he came a little to underſtand himſelf and the uſe of Learning, he was ſo unwearied in the further purſuit of it, that to out-ſtrip others, he did conſtantly riſe very early ſummer and winter; inſomuch that (though he had a great way to go to School) yet he would be there before his Maſter was ſtirring, and had admittance into his Maſters chamber, where he did every morning conſtrue a Chapter in the Greek p. 3Teſtament at his bed-ſide: by this means …e got an exact skill in the Greek Text, in …o much, that he could at the firſt ſight explain any chapter, or verſe in the whole Teſtament, before any of his fellow Schollars, and this he would often ſay he got by …he by, while others got nothing: thus induſtrious he was even then to improve the very ſhavings of time, Tempus inſtabile furtim nullo pedum ſtrepitu inter ſomnum et jocos effluit.which though it be thief and may be known by its pace ſtealing away, yet he was ſo vigilant as that he that never was a time ſerver was in this …ence a great time ſerver, or rather obſerver, accounting none a worſe thief than him that ſteals from himſelf ſo rich a commodity as time, in doing ill, or that which …s next to it, nothing.

Having for a while manifeſted his affectionate love to learning, as alſo given many evident demonſtrations of his proficiency, …oth to his Maſter and noble Moecenas, he …as judged fit for the Univerſity, and was accordingly ſent thither, and maintained by …ir Roger, he was admitted in Queens Col…edge in Cambridge: where he had for his …utor Mr. John Goodwin, but he ſucked in one of his evil Principles, which even then …e endeavoured to infuſe into his Pupils, …ough it were afterwards that he diſcovered himſelf more fully in ſetting his hereti…ll Doctrines more openly to ſale.

During his reſidence in the Colledge, he p. 4did moſt exquiſitely perfect and poliſh his Naturall parts (which were very good) by Art and Grace: he was an hard Students, and as he had begun at School, ſo here he was an excellent husband of his time, ſo provident and frugall that he highly valued the ſhreds and odd ends of it, and would gather up the fragments of this alſo that nothing might be loſt: he preſently embraced the preſent occaſion, thoſe that were intimately acquainted with him give him this character that he was the greateſt enemy in the world againſt delays, and would not only ſpeak for the frons capillata, but himſelf laid hold on the fore-lock of opportunity in ſo much that his uſuall mot…o was that of the grave Rabbin foreign ſi non nunc, quando? If not now, when? he accounted more of one hour preſent, than o… the hopes of many to come, and was much for the ſeaſon for every Study, knowing there was foreign, Virtute et induſtria bonarum que artium ſtudiis frenari poſſunt tempora non quin …giant ſed ne pereant.much time in an oportunity: and that time might be kept with bit and bridle (not from fleeing away, but) from periſhing. He was ſo induſtrious that he had no leaſure to be idle but was moſt glad of that leaſure that gave him leaſure to imploy himſelf, for he eſteemed an unimployed life a burden to it ſelf, and thought that man unworthy of the world that never did any thing in the world bu… lived and died.

p. 5He was obſerved in matters of learning to …im very high, being poſſeſſed with an Heroick kind of ambition, contemning medi…crity, and contending for excellency; he would read Ringelsberg de rationi ſtudii to whet and edge his appetite to learning, and afterwards uſed to commend the Book to young Schollars as a notable piece to quicken them in their Studies, and to ſpurr them on to great and noble enterprizes, and himſelf would often uſe that ſpeech of his quam turpe eſt mediocrem eſſe velle, its but mean and low to be of a middle ſtature in …earning: and therefore he would never ſet himſelf bounds, thus farr will I go and no further, I'le get as much learning as ſuch …n one hath and no more, but was expiring to the higheſt pinnacle of knowledge, ne…er ſetting himſelf any task, but that of perfection: this generoſity of his mind was …eiled with ſo much modeſty, and ſo free from curioſity that his demeanour ſeemed a continued repetition of that Divine precept, expreſſed in that elegant Paranomaſy foreign, that no man ſhould think more highly of himſelf than he ought to think, but to think ſoberly; ſobriety was woven into and twiſted with the whole courſe of his ſtudies, it was the frame he made to the picture of the Muſes, though he were not ſo modeſt, as to let every one get above and before him, p. 6yet he was ſo modeſt as to preferr every one before himſelf, and to ſlight his own excellency; he was, as Nazianzen ſpeaks of Athanaſius foreign, lofty in worth but low in heart, knowing, that he that is proud of his vertue, kils himſelf not with a Sword, but with a medicine: Qui de virtutibus ſuperbit non gladio ſed medicamine ſe interficit.he could bear any thing but his own commendation; he had learned how to poſſeſs learning rather than be poſſeſſed of it, and that by ballaſting his mind, leſt knowledge ſhould puff him up.

To inſtance in particulars, he being naturally of a deep judgment, made a famous Logician, and would handle an Argument with extraordinary dexterity: for the Arts and Sciences he was well skilled in them too, eſpecially in thoſe of them that concern a Divine.

He was an incomparable Linguiſt, for the Oriental tongues; few in thoſe times (none almoſt) of his ſtanding went beyond him … he took much delight in the Chaldee, Syriack and Arabick, and to gain more and more skill in them, got acquaintance with the famous Wheelock, then Arabick Profeſſor: but his greateſt and chiefeſt endeavours were ſpent upon the Hebrew, in the ſtudy of which (as the moſt profitable) he quickly conquered the difficulties of the tongue, and was Maſter of it, inſomuch that he was a great help to others: for that was his manner p. 7when he intended to be excellent at any thing, he taught others what he himſelf had learned, thinking it the beſt way to get learning to give learning: he was even in his Youth apt to teach; and I may ſay, to my knowledge, that many eminent in God's Church at this day owe all the Hebrew they have to his inſtructions.

He learned and underſtood the Saxon, high and low Dutch, the Italian, Spaniſh and French tongues perfectly, and read many Books in them all, after he left the Univerſity.

And it is worth the taking notice, that he got the skill he had in languages moſt by his own induſtry, having little or no aſſiſtance or encouragement but his love to tongues, which put him upon turning every ſtone, and uſing every means needfull and fit to obtain his end, which labour of his was ſuddenly crowned with ſucceſs, and he without a Maſter made Maſter of the tongues, which to his dying day he kept bored to his mind as perpetual ſervants to be ſubſervient to their Miſtreſs Divinity.

As his profound reaſoning ſhewed the depth of his judgment, ſo his readineſs in languages, in underſtanding ſo many, and that ſo well as he did, does evince and evidence the ſtrength of his memory; judgment and memory ſeldom meet together in one and the ſame perſon, but in him they kiſſed and p. 8embraced each other, and with a ſiſterly complyance dwelt together in unity, helping one another, and both conſpiring to make him throughly furniſhed to every good word and work.

But that that made his parts ſo eminent was his eminent piety, his holy, ſtrict, preciſe converſation; he never thought much of doing or ſuffering much for God: he was a noted Profeſſor both in the Town and Colledge, and went through much oppoſition, though but a young Diſciple; yet he was truly conformed to his Maſter in induring the contradictions of ſinners; as adverſity was his Univerſity to teach him more of God, ſo the Univerſity was his adverſity for teaching the waies of God: for he was an early Champion for Holineſs, and could better bear the reproaches of men for his holineſs, than the wrath of God for his unholineſs, behaving himſelf ſo that none could ſpeak truly and reproachfully of him at the ſame time.

He was naturally inclined to ſolitude, and having through deſire ſeparated himſelf, he intermedled with all wiſdom, he loved to withdraw and retire from the world, giving himſelf much to meditation and prayer, thinking he had ſtudied well when he had prayed well: in this ſolitude he entertained his Saviour, and by his refreſhing ſociety was more and more in love with his ſolitary p. 9as I may ſay) ſociety; he could ſay with Cyprian, Solus non eſt cui Chriſtus comes eſt, he wants no company that hath Chriſt for his Companion: and indeed though ſolitude …e to ſome hatefull, to others hurtfull, yet …e that knows not how to be alone, knows not how to be in company with profit: this … know, that the leſs wiſdom a man has, the more he complains of the want of company.

The ſociety he converſed with was of thoſe that were painful and pious, he kept no company with bad company, ſuch as loved God were his friends, ſuch as would come together to pray, and confer about religion, and ſtrengthen one anothers hands againſt profaneneſs and ungodlineſs, ſuch were his delight, and with ſuch he would be very familiar and open-hearted; If there be a Dalilah under Heaven it is evill ſociety, this (as one ſays) will bind us, betray us, blind us and undo us: but the Lord being mercifull to him preſerved him blamleſs and ſpotleſs in the midſt of a wicked generaton of Schollars, his righteous ſoul being vexed for the unlawfull deeds of thoſe amongſt which he dwelt. The ſtream of example was never ſtrong enough to make him ſtirr along with it, when a gale of cuſtom would carry others with full ſails to the port of endleſs and eaſleſs miſery: alienis perimus exemplis, we moſtly borrow our own ruine, and p. 10periſh upon credit; non ad rationem ſed ad ſimilitudinem vivimus, unde iſta tanta coacer…atio aliorum ſuper alios cadentium, we more aim at being like others than like men that are rationall, and thence we ſee what great heaps ſtumble one upon another: but he took up no imployment, followed no company but what he had the broad ſeal of Heaven to confirm, and what the narrow way to Heaven did warrant as uſefull to travel with up the hill to happineſs.

As he was carefull of himſelf leſt he ſhould at any time fall into bad company, ſo he was very deſirous and laborious to keep others out of it, and reclaim thoſe that were inveigled in it. Particular and eſpeciall notice was taken of one thing for which he was eminent and exemplary, which was this, that when any young youths came to the Univerſity either from his own Country, or elſe where, ſuch as he knew, or was informed were well educated under godly Parents, or a godly Miniſtry, he would be ſure to get acquaintance with them at their firſt coming to the Univerſity, before they were ingaged, intangled, or infected with bad company, and would bring them into the ſociety of ſome pious Schollars of which he himſelf was: he was ſo pious as to lead them from the ſnare, and ſo prudent as to take them at their firſt coming, ſhewing them the danger before they fell into it, p. 11and thereby diſingaging them from the company and acquaintance of vain and debauched Schollars, of which that Colledge was then full, and who were as ſo many Factors for the Devil, venting the wares which that grand Malefactor had to ſell to young Schollars: ſeverall there were in the Colledge at that time who drew away newcome Students from their books and ſtudies to their ungodly company and ſo made them debauched like themſelves, they were not content to go to Hell alone, but they muſt force others to go many miles in the broad way, who of themſelves would not have gone one; yet though this might ſeem to diſcourage him to ſee what Merchandize was made of ſouls, he conſcienciouſly, and conſtantly laboured to counterwork theſe Factors of Hel, and drove a trade for God in beſtirring himſelf to inſinuate into any lad that was ingenious, and was very ſucceſfull therein, to the aſtoniſhment and confuſion of his oppoſers: many had great cauſe to bleſs God for him, and their firſt acquaintance with him, for his bringing them to Dr. Preſtons, and Dr. Sibbs his Lectures in thoſe times, and ſome (to the knowledge of a Reverend and learned Divine, his intimate friend at the Univerſity, from whom I have this part of the narrative) that are yet alive have bleſſed God for their acquaintance with him; this his unwearied diligence p. 12in trafficking for God in his younger years was ſo generally obſerved in the Colledge, that it grew almoſt into a proverb among the lewd and profane Schollars, that ſuch and ſuch a youth was poiſon'd by Cawton's faction, and was become a Cawtoniſt, which nevertheleſs could not in the leaſt deterr him from proſecuting the work of the Lord, or from abiding and abounding in it, but rather rooted and grounded him, eſpecially when he conſidered his labour was not in vain in the Lord, and that God did graciouſly let him ſee of the travell of his Soul, in the welfare of thoſe Souls which he had been a means to deliver from being taken captive at Satans will.

He remained faithful in this good imployment, as alſo in following his private ſtudies in the Univerſity, till he took his degree of Maſter of Arts, ſeldom abſenting: and having ſerved an apprenticeſhip of ſeven years to humane learning, he found it prov'd but a blear-ey'd Leah (as an ingenious Author loves to ſpeak) and not ſo amiable as was expected; therefore now he reſolves to ſerve for Rachel, that is Divinity, which is more beautiful and quick-ſighted.

In order to his ſtudy of Divinity he removed for a time from the Univerſity to a place called Aſhwell, twelve miles from Cambridge, to live in the houſe of that Reverend and holy man of God Mr. Herbert Palmer, then p. 13Miniſter of that place, from whom (as he himſelf would often ſay) he reaped no ſmall benefit in his firſt ſetting upon the ſtudy of Theology, both Theoretical and Practical: …e followed his buſineſs cloſely, and with much delight; and, which is moſt and beſt, …e ſtudied Theological Truths with a Theological Heart; and indeed they are divine affections and a divine converſation which make the Divine: Alſted.Impii quidam homines egregiè videntur callere foreign, revera tamen illa cognitio rerum Theologicarum eſt foreign, quia fieri non poteſt ut cognitio verè Theologica babitet in corde non Theologo. Many wicked wretches ſeem to be excellently skil'd …n Divinity, but the truth is, ſuch a knowledge of Divinity is no Divine knowledge; for it is impoſſible that true Divine knowledge ſhould dwell in an heart that is not Divine. Having grafted his Divinity knowledge upon a Divine heart, and watered it with his tears in his frequent and fervent addreſſes to the Fountain of ſaving Wiſdom, God ſpeedily gave an encreaſe with the encreaſes of God; ſo that he in that place began his Miniſtry, ſomtimes aſſiſting Mr. Palmer in Preaching, alwaies exerciſi… himſelf unto Godlineſs, giving attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine; not neglecting, but ſtirring up the gift of God that was in him, and in ſtudying to approve himſelf to God a Workman that needeth not p. 14to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the Wor… of Truth.

After he had thus prepared and furniſhe… himſelf for the Miniſtry, though he were fit yet he apprehended it not ſo ſafe to ente… upon a Paſtoral Charge, for his ſingula… modeſty made him ſuſpect his own abilitie and ſtrength; he was ſo little in his ow… eyes, that he could not be leſs in the eyes o… others than he was in his own: wherefore h… ſtill continued aſſiſtant to Mr. Palmer, till a… length (by the means of the Reverend Mr▪ Thomas Down Miniſter of Exeter) he was called to live in the houſe of Sir William Armi… of Orton in Huntington-ſhire, to which plac… he had a free and clear call by a ſpecial providence of God, the circumſtances of which would be too long to inſiſt on in this brief Relation. While he was there he was well beloved both in the Family and Countrey, for his abilities, faithfulneſs, and plain dealing with that Family, from the higheſt to the loweſt: A Papiſt could ſay, that few rich mens Confeſſors ſhould be ſaved; that is that few great mens Chaplains ſhould go to Heaven … becauſe they were ſo apt to flatter their M…ers: but he could neither ſmother faults, nor ſmooth them over in the greateſt, but would ſo ſweetly reprove and admoniſh all ſorts according to their qualities, that though he were ſo honeſt as to be plain, yet he was ſo diſcreet as to be pleaſing in his reprehenſions: p. 15this his faithfulneſs joyned with a grave familiarity gained him the affe…ions of all.

He was ever taking occaſion to do good in at Family: more eſpecially in his ſolid …und and plain Expoſition of Scripture, in …s profitable and clear way of principling …techiſing and building them up in their …oſt holy faith: and in his Family and pri…te prayers with and for them: thus he …ent and was ſpent for God, laying himſelf …t for his Lord and Maſter, and imitating …m in his readineſs to inſtruct the meaneſt … loweſt capacities, ſuiting himſelf to them, …d becoming all things to all, that he might …n ſome; by which means, backed with a …rious godly converſation, he ſo effectually …rought upon that Family, that many have …uſe to be thankfull they ever were of that …amily, for his ſake.

Not to let the gift of preaching reſt, and … ruſt, he often preached for the godly Mi…ſters round about him in that Country, which Province he ſo zealouſly, piouſly, and …arnedly performed, that he generally gain… the hearts of all the godly in that Coun…y, eſpecially of the Miniſters, witneſs that …rge teſtimonial given him under the hands … the chiefeſt Miniſters in that County at his …parture; in which they much bewail their …eat loſs in parting with him. He was with …r William Armin four years, painfully following p. 16his private ſtudies, family duties, and often publick Preaching: and now he was perſwaded to venture into the World, and to ſerve God more publickly in his Church to which, by the advice of ſome able Divines he was perſwaded, reſolving that when God ſhould make way for him, he would cheerfully embrace the offer of a Living.

About this time his worthy Moecenas (never to be mentioned without a Preface of honour) Sir Roger Townſend being very ſick unto death, ſent for him, but he could not come, (though he made all poſſible haſt) ſoon enough to ſee him living: yet Sir Roger had not forgot him, for juſt before his death he ſealed a preſentation of him to living in Eſſex called Wivenbo not far from Colcheſter, that being then void.

Much lamenting the death of his worthy (now glorious) Moecenas, and leaving the place he had at Sir William Armins he entred into his Miniſteriall charge at Wivenho he found the Town notorious for all manner of vice and wickedneſs, drunkenneſs and ſwearing abounded among them, but eſpecially Sabbath-breaking, it was their common practiſe, (it being a ſea Town) to bring up their fiſh and ſell it on the Lords day, almoſt at the Church doors: they would excuſe themſelvs that if they kept their fiſh they ſhould ſpoil Gods creatures: poor wretches … as if it were worſe to ſpoil Gods creatures, p. 17than to diſobey God the Creator.

He was inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, preaching againſt that ſin, reproving them with much zeal, meekneſs and compaſſion to their Souls: perſwading them not to go to ſea on Saturday, which they moſtly didin regard of a Market near by kept on Munday, which they ſaid was the beſt market thereabouts for their profit: ſuch and the like cavils he eaſily removed, ſhewing the weakneſs of them, and bringing arguments againſt their ungodly courſes, to confute their ſpecious pretences which Satan ſuggeſted to them to defend their ſins withall, and to defeat the reaſons that were brought on Gods ſide for their eternall welfare.

Notwithſtanding his publick preaching, and his private admoniſhing, he found it a very difficult work to bring them off from that ſinful practice, (ſea-men of all men being moſt obſtinate) yet he gave not over, he was not ſhort breath'd in the work of the Lord, but ſtill was importunate with them to look to Soul-work and eternity work, and proceeded to ſharp and cutting rebukes plainly ſtating their caſe here, and their caſe hereafter. Many of his Pariſh would ſend him fiſh in the evening of the Lords day, but he never would receive any: he would not be bribed to ſtop his mouth, but more vehemently declaimed againſt their fin, and gave them no reſt, till there was ſuch a reformation p. 18wrought in the place, as cauſed the admiration of ſuch as knew that people.

Thus it pleaſed God to give a bleſſing to his unwearied labours amongſt them in a plentifull Harveſt of converts, many coming in to him, and ſeeing the evil of their ſins, were ſavingly wrought upon, and given in to him as the ſeals of his Miniſtry: others were reſtrained to an aſtoniſhment: the power of godlineſs did ſo ſhine in his Doctrine and life, that it had a commanding authority over the conſciences of thoſe with whom he converſed: It was well ſaid of one, that a good Miniſter will reform a Pariſh better than a Juſtice of peace, he ſpits fire into mens conſciences and binds them over to the great Aſſizes: I am ſure the change that by his means was made in the People of Wivenbo was ſo remarkable that it deſerves to be regiſtred in Marble, if that be durable enough to perpetuate ſo famous an amendment of ſo profane a generation of drunkards, ſwearers and Sabbath-breakers: that an Aegypt for darkneſs and ignorance ſhould be turned into a Goſhen of light and knowledge, a Bethaven changed into a Bethel deſerves to be written in immotall Records.

One thing for which he was noted in that place, was his zeal in preaching againſt Sectaries and their hereticall tenets, which p. 19…s one ſpeaks) though Paul never planted …r Apollos ever watered (to be ſure God …ver bleſſed them) yet grew a pace in all …rners of the land: he did ſo ſolidly and …nvincingly confute them, that he kept his …riſh almoſt free from them, when other …owns were mightily infeſted, and infected with the Sectarian inſect: He gave clear evidence of what I ſaid before that … ſucked in none of John Goodwins prin…ples though he were his Pupil.

He often preached at Colcheſter for Reve…nd Mr. Robert Harmar, where there was …neſt of Sectaries, but he feared neither …gh nor low. Once having preached up… that Text, If God be God, ſerve him; Baal be God ſerve him: the Anabaptiſts …reatned him on the Road to pull him off …om his horſe as he was riding home, but …at God hindered them. He had many …ſputes and private conferrences with them …fore he preached ſo much againſt them, …d found many of them very ignorant as catechiſtical principles: they were per…aded before they were inſtructed, and …refore they would not be perſwaded to be …ſtructed, for, as Tertullian ſpeaks, Here…ks perſuadendo docent non docendo perſua…nt, they teach by perſwading, but do …t perſwade by teaching, they wooe and …tice the affections of their hearers without …nvincing their judgments.

p. 20No man was ever more beloved of his people than he was; all ſorts rich and poor did manifeſt a great deal of reſpect and affection to him: the very children were ſ… taken with his winning way of catechizing them, that they loved him and their catechiſm the better for it: a great many of them would every Sabbath day go together to meet him between his houſe an… the Church ſhewing their readineſs to be catechized by him. Thus he that at fir… was counted ſo ſevere, was eſteemed worthy of all love and honour, and that not only amongſt the good, but the bad, ſuch a Majeſty there is in grace, and ſuch amiableneſs there is in holineſs.

This their love was not ill beſtowed, the… was none of it loſt, there being an arde… love in his breſt to them again, in ſo much that he would often ſay Wivenho was h… firſt love. He hath this character given … him by all that knew him, that he was very much unconcerned in the world he was convinced that all the world ca… afford was either uncertainly good or certainly evil, and therefore he could not ſ… his heart on that which was to be trampled under his feet, he counted the mouth and bellies of the poor the beſt treaſurie to ſtore up his goods in. Manus pauperis eſt gazophylacium Chriſti, & quicquid pauper accipit Chriſtus accipta….All the profits … his living for three years together, (being about an hundred pounds per annum) h… p. 21laid out upon the Perſonage houſe, which was old, and ready to drop down: he built it with brick from the ground, a very good houſe, with Orchards of his own planting, and fiſh-ponds made at his own charge, and was often heard to ſay, that it might pleaſe God this might be an inducement to ſome godly Preacher or other to come amongſt his people when he was dead and rotten: he cared not for his mony ſo much as for his people, and was of ſo publick a ſpirit that he made all his private conveniencies give way to that way that did moſt promote his peoples publick welfare, he was not content to do them all the good he could while with them, but was ſollicitous that one might ſucceed him who might be faithfull to their Souls: when he was forced to leave the living he was offered an hundred pounds to reſign the Living and Perſonage-houſe, but would not, but provided them a Miniſter who was preſented by the Patron, and let the houſe go to the Miniſter, and all that ſucceeded him as long as it ſtands.

Having finiſhed the houſe, and enjoying ſome content in ſeeing his ſpirituall children walking in the truth, God inclined his heart to Marriage (which was after the thirtyeth year of his life) and he gave God leave to chooſe his Wife, for I count that giving leave to chooſe for us, when we p. 22chooſe for God, or in order to Gods glory more than for our own profit, when that ſide God is on carries it in our choice: he wa… Non quanta ſit dos ſed qualis ſit uxor refert.offered many great matches, but none ſ… good as that which he pitched upon, which was Mrs Elizabeth Jenkin, daughter to the Reverend Mr. William Jenkin a renowne… Preacher in Sudbury, and Grand-child t… the famous Mr. Richard Rogers of Wether field: He preferred the ſtock ſhe came of her religious education, parts, and eminent piety before a great portion which h… might have had with others: he thought good portion far above a great portion.

Being married he returned again to h… charge of Souls in Wivenho, where he we… on in his Miniſteriall function with mu… delight, and as much dilligence: on Lord days he preached with a great deal of v… gour and life, and on week-days his li… was a continued Lecture, and commentary on his Sabbath Sermons: he went … and down doing good, and did not thing all his work was to be done in the Pulpit but diſcharged his conſcience and tr… with much fidelity viſiting the ſick, admoniſhing the wicked, ſtrengthning the wea… quickning the ſtrong, and counſelling a…

Thus this holy man of God continue among them for the ſpace of ſeven years during which time he was very ſickly, a… not likely to live long, being naturally p. 23an infirm conſtitution; the badneſs of the air at Wivenho did not a little add to his diſtempers. At the end of the ſeventh year of his abode in Wivenho, he had a very great fit of ſickneſs, in ſo much that his Phyſitians and friends did even deſpair of his recovery: but it pleaſed the great Phyſitian who was his Maker, as he had built the cottage of his body, ſo to ſhoar up the building, and he was in ſome meaſure reſtored to health: whereupon the advice of his Phyſicians was, he ſhould change the air, and get out of that could wateriſh place he was in, and the more becauſe he conſtantly was troubled with an ague twice a year at leaſt. London was the place which was thought might beſt agree with his thin body: a great many arguments were uſed by his friends to perſwade him to leave Wivenho, but none could prevail but that of neceſſity, by reaſon of the intire love he bore to his people, and the great bleſſing he ſaw God gave to his Miniſtry in that place. Neceſſity urging him more and more to look after his health; he was at length brought to hearken after a place to ſerve Gods Church in at London: and his intentions being made known, he was quickly called to the Pariſh of Bartholomews behind the Royall Exchange: the main inſtrument of his ſettlement in that living was Sir Harbottle Grimſtone who at that time dwelt p. 24in the ſame Pariſh, and was his exceeding good friend.

In London it pleaſed God, he had his health farr better than at Wivenho, and quite loſt the ague he was uſed to have twice a year all the while he was there.

His health did not a little encourage him to his former painfulneſs in the work of the Miniſtry, in which he now laboured more abundantly than ever, he was more carefull of himſelf than ever, knowing he had now more eyes obſerving him than ever, and that the ſins of Teachers were Teachers of ſins: he was well acquainted with the meaning of the Ceremony, Lev. 8. 24. where Moſes put the bloud on the lap of the Prieſts right ear, on the thumb of their right hand, and on the great toe of their right foot; Miniſters muſt hear, work, and walk right: and therefore he dayly went out and in before his people, as an enſample to the flock: the very profane of the Pariſh would ſay, they believed Mr. Cawton did really believe what he preached, when they were ready to bark and ſnarl at others, and ſay of them (as one ſaid of vicious Miniſters) that when they are in the Pulpit it's pity they ſhould ever come out, they are ſo good in their Inſtructions; when out of the Pulpit it's pity they ſhould ever come in again, they are ſo bad in their converſations.

Having preached ſome time, he began to p. 25reſume his old Theme of oppoſing Hereſies which crept in a pace into the Kingdom: He proved a true Malleus Haereticorum, and a …lagellum errorum: when he had preached ſo zealouſly againſt the Sectaries, that his friends were afraid they would have dragg'd him out of the Pulpit, he would ſay, I am ſet for the defence of the Goſpel, and am reſolved, with Gods aſſiſtance, to contend earneſtly for the Faith.

In the year 1648. the February after King Charls the firſt (of glorious memory) was moſt inhumanly and unnaturally beheaded, he was deſired by the Mayor of the City (then in being) to Preach before him and his Brethren the Aldermen of London at Mercers Chappel on the 25. of that Month; which he undertook, and accordingly performed. In his Prayer, as he thought it his duty, he prayed for our Legall Sovereign and the Royal Family. In his Sermon he laid nothing before his Auditory but Goſpel-truths; but limiting of Souldiers too much (as they thought) to the Divine rule, and ſhewing them how in their places they ought to adorn the Goſpel, which was a thing too preciſe for them that could violently do any thing: he was much threatned by them, ſwearing they would moleſt him as ſoon as he had done, but God ſo reſtrained them that they were hindred in their deſign at that time: he did in his Sermon glance at p. 26mens pretending an impulſe of ſpirit and thinking the ſucceſs of their cauſe was an evidence of its goodneſs, and in ſeverall expreſſions did much croſs the ſectaries, and Kingkillers of that time: I have added the heads of that Sermon (as full as he writ them) to this narrative, hoping they will not be unwelcome to the world.

For that time he eſcaped the hands of unreaſonable men, or rather the paws of roaring Lions, and raving Wolves; but not long after having a faſt at his own Church, and he concluding the day, there was a warrant procured by ſome malicious ſectaries and Soldiers, that had given information of what they had heard at Mercers Chappel, (ſtiling his preaching there ſeditious) ſummoning him to appear before the Councill of State, (it might well be called a Councill of Eſtate, for they conſulted much together how to take away men eſtates, if not lives) when he had concluded the faſt, the warrant brought by ſome Redcoats was preſented to him in the very Church, ſo greedy they were of their prey, the warrant ran thus:

Theſe are to will and require you forthwith upon ſight hereof to make ſpeedy repair into any ſuch place where you ſhall underſtand the Perſon of Mr. Thomas Cawton to be, who preached before the Lord Mayor yeſterday, and him you p. 27are to apprehend and bring in ſafe cuſtody before the Councill of State for ſeditious preaching, hereof you are not to fail, and for ſo doing this ſhall be your ſufficient Warrant.

Given at Derby Houſe the twenty ſixth day of February 1648. Signed in the name and by the Order of the Council of State appointed by Authority of Parliament. Arthor Heſilrige Preſident.

To Rowland Hawkard and Richard Freeman Meſſengers attending the Council of State, and to all the reſt of the Meſſengers attending the ſaid Council.

A true Copy of a Warrant directed to me from the Council of State the 26. of February, 1648.

per me Row. Hawkard Meſſenger.

This Warrant was iſſued out the very next day after his Sermon, but came not to him till the ſecond of March: when he had looked on it, he told them (without any alteration in Countenance or mind) he would go along with them, only deſired them to go with him to his houſe, that he might take p. 28ſomething to refreſh himſelf, having faſted all the day: this they though unwillingly aſſented to, and they were followed with whole multitudes of people, which thronged about the houſe (crying out againſt their unjuſt dealings) to ſee him go with the Soldiers: having refreſhed himſelf and prayed, he ſent for a Coach, and with unparallel courage and cheerfulneſs, taking a friend or two with him, went to the Councel of Eſtates, & though the Warrant was only for Seditious Preaching, yet when he came before them they had nothing to lay to his charge but thoſe words in his Prayer for our LEGAL SOVEREIGN and the ROYAL FAMILY. He told them he came to anſwer for a ſeditious Sermon, not for his Prayer according to their Warrant, but they ſatisfyed him no other way, than by telling him he had proclaimed the King, and that was high treaſon according to an Act of their own making, which made all loyalty Treaſon, when they themſelves were the Traytors.

Hereupon that compleat Hypocrite Oliver Cromwell did with extremity of indignity & ſeverity admoniſh and command him to recant of what he had ſaid: but Mr. Cawton no whit daunted by his proud inſolent carriage, was Mr. Cawton ſtill, ſemper idem, and told him, If I have done any thing not becoming a Miniſter of the Goſpel, I hope I p. 29ſhould be willing to recant, and that was all they could get from him: which they taking as a contempt of their Authority, made it an aggravation of his crime: and ordered that he ſhould be kept in ſafe cuſtody that night. Their Janizaries carried their Captive to the Iriſh harp in Kings-ſtreet Weſtminſter, and there kept him priſoner till the next day, and then he was again brought before them, and asked whether he was not ſorry for what he had ſaid, he replyed as before he had done nothing but what did become a Miniſter of the Goſpel, and more they could not wring from him by all their menaces, and ſubtile captious queſtions, and therefore ſeeing all they could do was in vain to move this rock, they thought delaying was but dallying, and that no argument would prevail but a Priſon to make him recant: wherefore they agreed to ſend him to the Gate-houſe in Weſtminſter, and immediately drew up a commitment, which was as follows.

Theſe are to will and require you forthwith upon ſight hereof to take into your cuſtody the body of Thomas Cawton clerk, and him ſafely keep in your Priſon of the Gatehouſe, he being committed for Treaſon againſt the late Act of Parliament, of which you are in no wiſe to fail, and for ſo doing this ſhall be your ſufficient p. 30warrant.

Given at Derby-Houſe this third day of March. 1648. Signed in the name and by order of the Council of State appointed by Authority of Parliament. R. Denbigh. Preſes pro tempore. To the Keeper of the Gate-houſe, or to his Deputy.

Hereupon he was carried to the Gate-houſe and there impriſoned: during the time he was there, his confinement did not in the leaſt abate his confidence, which had great reward, one affliction had fitted him for another, and the croſs was to him but coticula fidei the whetſtone of faith, he could not ſee any new light in a Priſon, much leſs timorouſly petition a viperous brood of Uſurpers, but did even then declare to all that came to him his ſtedfaſtneſs in and faithfulneſs to his former proceedings, many temptations he had to ſpare himſelf, as a ſorrowfull Wife bigg with child, ſix ſmall children to provide for, a good living in danger of being loſt, but with a holy cruelty and contempt he denyed them all, that he might deny God nothing. He ſpent almoſt half a year in Priſon ſo exemplarily that his life ſeemed to thoſe that p. 31came to him no leſs than a miracle, able to convert Infidels: it was a Heaven on earth (nay Heaven in a Priſon) to be in his company. It will be worth my pains and thy patience to take a view of thoſe graces that did ſhine moſt radiantly in his ſufferings: and here a great cloud of witneſſes both Miniſters and private Chriſtians, and mine own obſervation do preſent me with ſix ſparkling Diamonds, which ſo dazled the eyes of his viſitants that all admired him for them.

1. His ſincerity, this was the corner ſtone of all his other graces, he gave ſo many evident demonſtrations of this, that it was as viſible as if he had a caſement in his breaſt opened for every one to gaze into his heart, he that ran might read that foreign truth in the inward parts, it was written in ſo legible a character in his outward practiſes. A Reverend Miniſter of London lately deceaſed, ſaid on his death bed, Mr. Cawtons Crown was his ſincerity: indeed he walked in a plain path; and made ſtreight ſteps in that plain path: he abhorred crooked ways, and would many times ſay, though we cannot be perfect, yet we may be ſincere, again he uſed to ſay, that carnall policy would render religion deſpicable at laſt, though ſome men did take a great deal of liberty to equivocate and daub over their wickedneſs; yet it would prove but untempered mortar: p. 32he obſerved that the ſtrongeſt faith was in the pureſt conſcience. He had his loins gird about with truth, and his heart armed a… well as adorned with uprightneſs: ſincerity was an ingredient in every one o… his actions and ſufferings, and the chief cordiall that comforted his ſpirits, and kept them from drooping: his conſcience bore witneſs that his ſufferings were purely and meerly for God and his Cauſe, and tha… kept him from fainting fits in his work. He would ſpeak much againſt half Chriſtians that ſerved God with a ſecret reſerve, and for the loaves. He could ſerve God for nought, and thought his ſincerity wa… nought that could not ſerve God for nought. He was ſo far from having any deſign of hi… own in his ſuffering, that he was of Nazianzeus excellent temper, to thank God he had any thing to loſe for Chriſt: He could not ſubject his heart to his head, his conſcience to his policy, or (as one ſpeaks) make a hole in his conſcience to keep a whole skin, he could not loſe well-living to keep his Living and life: in a word, his rejoycing was this, the teſtimony of his conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, not with fleſhly wiſdom, but by the grace of God he had his conveſration in the world.

2. He acted Faith to the very life of it, and God did try the ſtrength of his Faith, as well as the truth of it, and found him a faithfull p. 33ſervant, that could depend on a bare word of God, and think that ſecurity enough: he would ſay, that they that won't believe unleſs they ſee a reaſon or experience, do tacitely imply that God does not ſpeak truth unleſs he prove it, or at leaſt that their faith is more in reaſon than in God. He could confute an eye of ſence by an eye of faith, and truſt providence where he could not trace it. Indeed it were nothing to be a believer if every thing were ſeen here, but to put a holy confidence in that unſeen power that does ſo mightily ſupport us, that is to believe. He promiſed himſelf but little from the creature, and ſo was never much deceived by it, he could ask himſelf that queſtion, and anſwer it with the advice of the wiſe Hebrew.

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Why ſhouldeſt thou beg of a begger? beg of God: are not all things in the hand of God? He knew the world could not give that which it had …ot, and therefore would not be a friend …o that which was never true to any that truſted it. He was one that thought he …ould not expect too much from God, nor …oo little from man: it was a note of his …wn, that Chriſt is more jealous of our faith than …f our love, for he'l let us believe in nothing …ut himſelf though he'l let us love ſomthing be…des him, ſo it be in ſubornation to him. He p. 34was a ſecond Gamzu whoſe ſpeech was what ever befel him foreign alſo this ſhall be for good, according to the counſel of the Rabbin,

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Whatſoever comes from God, acquieſce in it, and ſay alſo this ſhall be for good. He believed that a good God made evils good to Believers, in making good his promiſe that all things ſhould work together for good to them that love God. By faith this man of God cheerfully endured impriſonment, by faith he left his Wife and children, and friends, and living, and all, afterwards (as ſhall be related in its place) forſook the Land of his Nativity, not fearing the wrath of the Uſurper, by faith he ſojourned in a ſtrange Country where in faith he died, faith as the Italian Eccleſiaſtes obſerves, M. Ochino predich. 2.e un lume ſi chiuro et alto, che offuſcando gl' altri, ci fa vedere le richezze nella poverta, la gloria nelle confuſioni, la ſecurta ne pericoli, la pace nelle perſecutioni, la quiete ne travagli, la felicita, nelle miſerie, et la vita nella morte. Its a radiant and high light ſet up in the firmament of the Soul, which like the noonday ſun darkening all other lights, makes u… ſee riches in poverty, glory in confuſions, ſecurity in dangers, peace in perſecutions, reſt in labors, felicity in miſeries, yea, life in death. I am ſure he ſtaggered not at the p. 35promiſe of God through unbelief but was ſtrong in faith giving glory to God, and would often ſay none but believers make God to be God.

3. He was a Patron and pattern of ſelf deniall, he durſt not look after great matters in the world either for himſelf or children, but would often ſay to his dear Wife, I would have thee to rejoyce more at a little grace in thy childrens hearts, than if I had thouſands to leave them. Self denyall (it was one of his ſpeeches) it in many mens mouths but hardly to be found in any mans practiſe. It is a rare thing to ſee ſelf deniall take place of ſelf love yet he could ſay to God minus te amat qui tecum aliquid amat quod propter te non amat, he loves God but little that loves any thing with God which he does not love for God. All things in the world are but little, and yet to deſpiſe that little is a great matter non eſt minimum in humana vita negligere minima: but this man of God was no man for the world, becauſe he eſteemed all the greatneſs of the world unable to make him great, otherwiſe than by his contempt of it. He would often ſay, I do obſerve ſome profeſſors give a great deal of ſcope to the fleſh, which they of all men ſhould not do, but ſhould tye, up their affections ſhorter, and if God be God, live as thoſe that believe it. It was (as one obſerves) Eraſmus his ſpeech that ſince men could not bring the p. 36world to chriſtianity they have brought chriſtianity to the world, thoſe precepts that have been too ſtrict to give us liberty to follow the worlds vanity, we have found vain diſtinctions and expoſitions of them to make thoſe precepts ſignifie no more than we practiſe: but we that make a good profeſſion ſhould make good our profeſſion. For his own particular, he was one that could not take a breadth in Gods narrow, or look for much elbow room in the pinching way that leads to Heaven. He could ſtrip himſelf of his poſſe and poſſidere, all his abilities and enjoyments, and lay himſelf and them down at the foot of his Saviour: he was ſo much above himſelf that all things were below him, and thought he was never perfectly himſelf, till he had perfectly put off himſelf, his intereſt, his judgment, his will, his affections, his relations, his all went at a word from Chriſt, he denyed himſelf, and denyed all, now judge whether this were not true ſelf-deny-all.

4. His patience was ſingular, which was ſhewn not only in bearing but in willing bearing any burden laid on his ſhoulders: Tolerare eſt patientia neceſſitatis, amare tolerare eſt patientia virtutis, to bear is the patience of neceſſity, to love to bear is the patience of virtue: he was not ſo unhappy in his afflictions, as he was happy in his patience. When at any time he was told of p. 37his patience, and that God could not have picked out ſuch another to ſuffer for him, he would reply, I thank God I never am ſo much impatient as to ſee religion abuſed to baſe and private ends. All the while he was in Priſon, and afterwards in all the tribulations he went through he never charged God fooliſhly, not diſcovering the leaſt diſcontent or diſtaſt, but when his viſitants wiſhed his releaſment, he would ſay, he that believeth makes no haſt, and, in our afflictions we ſhould neither faint nor fret, read the 37th Pſalm; he fainted not by diſpair, knowing that God was alſufficient, he fretted not by paſſion, kuowing that Gods cauſe might often need his patience, never his paſſion. This his patience was boiled up into joy and triumphing in tribulation, he expreſſed more joy in parting with the world, than ever he did for the enjoyment of it: He was ever contented with a little of the creature; but when God called him to it he cared not for any thing of it, thinking thoſe wants well ſupplyed that were ſupplyed with contentedneſs: It's not abundance that contenteth and enricheth, but want, to wit, the want of deſire, for he that is poor in deſires is rich in content, ſummae opes inopia cupiditatum, He that deſires nothing, is in ſome ſort like God and thoſe that are already bleſſed, who are happy not becauſe they have all, but becauſe p. 38Patientia non modo animi vim auget ſed aſperitatem ipſam doloris imminuit & pene in nihilum redigit, atque hinc eſt ut acerrimo in dolore recti quidam & immoti, alii etiam laeti ſint.they deſire nothing: comparing the 6th verſe of the 4th of Phil. with the 7th, he noted that our peace of contentation makes way for Gods peace of conſolation: and at another time ſpeaking of Pauls being buffeted, he ſaid, God ſomtimes did ſupply his Peoples wants by wants: Thus in the worſt condition he ſtudied arguments to cauſe thankfulneſs, and being thankfull he could not but be joyfull, and being joyfull he could not be miſerable. This was patience and more than patience.

5. For reſolution, and execution of his reſolutions none went ever beyond him, he was almoſt to a Proverb called, THE RESOLVED MAN: he choſe with Athauaſius Sedem maluit mutare quam ſyllabam.rather to loſe his whole See than one ſyllable of truth and was obſerved by many to act more according to the willingneſs of his ſpirit, than according to the ſtrength, (rather weakneſs) of his body: he would ſay, I am confident God will have me to do as well as ſay; true it is Q' on ne peut point trouuer de harnois pour aſſeurer la peur, et pour la rendre hardie: et que ſ'il ſe trouvoit des armuriers qui en ſceuſſent et peuſſent faire, ils auroyent grand preſſe. None can find out an harneſs ſufficient to make fear fearleſs and if there were any Armourors that could and would make ſuch an harneſs they would have great cuſtom: but God had ſteeled his breaſt with undaunted p. 39fortitude, and through the power of his might he could defie every thing beſides and below God, the joy of the Lord was his ſtrength, he had not only his armour on him but in him. Reſolution (as one ſpeaks) as a ſtrong ſtream carries down all before it, little good is done in Religion without it, and with it, all is as good as done: his chriſtian generoſity and magnanimity fitted him for any encounter, and put him upon a foreign, ſomthing more than other chriſtians could do: He ſaid once, they that do but little for God do as much as ſay, that either they have but little ground why they ſhould do much for God, or if that they have great ground they are groundleſs in what they do: come of it what would his heart was fixed and reſolved for high and noble exploits: courage it ſelf might as ſoon have turned coward as he, ſo firm was he to his principles. He was (as Nazianzen ſpeaks of Athanaſius) both magnes and Adamas a loadſtone in his ſweet gentle drawing nature, and yet an adamant in his conſtant reſolute, unbroken, invincible carriage, he was a wall of braſs nothing could enter though every thing aſſaulted: He was of an heroick Spirit, as bold as a Lion, as a good Soldier induring hardſhip for Chriſt without any hard thoughts of his Maſter, nay thinking light of his ſufferings, knowing that it was not the hardneſs of p. 40affliction ſo much as the tenderneſs and ſoftneſs of our nature that makes us fear ſuffering, non quia dura ſed quia molles patimur, the ſufferings are not hard, but the ſufferers are ſoft, as one ſpeaks, we do not ſo much not attempt things becauſe we find them difficult, as make them difficult becauſe we do not attempt them. He could endure any neceſſity rather than pretend a neceſſity of ſinning, knowing with Tertullian, non admittere ſtatum fidei allegationem neceſſitatis delinquendi, quibus una eſt neceſſitas non delinquendi, that they cannot alledge a neceſſity of ſinning, who have but one neceſſity not to ſin. That that made him ſo reſolved for God was his experience of Gods alſufficiency; for as one ſays, its good Scripture logick to draw concluſions of confidence from premiſes of experience, nay he himſelf did note out of the ſame AuthorMr. Reyner., that experiences are the ſinews of reſolution, they mettall and embolden a ſoul to ſtick to and ſtand for God and his cauſe.

Laſtly he perſevered in well doing, he was not for God in a mood, or when the fit took him, but went on in an even temper, and kept his pace: He was jealous of his own heart, and would ſay, Satan may take occaſion becauſe I have done ſomthing more for God than others to make me ſecure, which is the way to fall: which conſideration made p. 41him ſo ſuſpect himſelf, that with all diligence and heedfulneſs he ſcanned every part and paſſage of his life, and as he had begun well ſo he laboured to end well: when he ſaw any godly men miſcarry he would ſay, If God ſhould leave me to do ſo my life would be a burden to me: and indeed he was ſo tender of Gods glory, that he would rather have fryed at a ſtake, than have been a ſhame to, or aſhamed of his profeſſion: He was faithfull to the death, and ſaid often, that perſeverance would ſet on the crown of life, which in trouble and perſecution he had laboured for: affliction is the antecedent of Heavenly glory (foreign,Chryſoſt. if no tryall no triumph) the Crown is the relative, and theſe muſt not be ſeparated. He perſiſted in the former and is perfected by both.

Theſe graces were his fellow-priſoners which welcomed all his viſitants, beſides the prayers which were made by him, and with him without ceaſing, which were the meſſengers he ſent abroad when he could not go forth himſelf. While he remained in Priſon his charge was drawn up, and the time expected when the Uſurpers would imbrue their hands in his bloud, yet comply he would not, he was as ſtiff as an oak in his way, and would not bend to death it ſelf: he knew death might ſtrike him but it could not ſting him, it might let him at p. 42liberty from his impriſonment, it might make the Gate-houſe the gate of his fathe… houſe, but as for hurting of him he feared no ſuch matter from ſo good a friend a… death is to Gods people.

In the midſt of the tears, and ſorrowfull ſighs of his relations, and hundreds of Gods people looking for nothing but his ſudden execution, it pleaſed God to create him a deliverance, the occaſion whereof was … victory the Parliament (if it be not a diſparagement to Parliaments to call it ſo) ha… obtained in Ireland; whereupon it was moved in the Houſe, that ſome acts of grace might be done in teſtimony of their thankfulneſs, and it was reſolved that ſome priſoners ſhould be ſet at liberty. Among others, ſome moved that Mr. Cawton might have his freedom, and by their votes carried it clearly beyond all expectation: ſo God over-ruled them whoſe mercies were cruelties, that there was an Order made preſently, which was this,

Die Martis 14. Auguſti 1649.

Ordered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament that Mr. Cawton be forthwith diſcharged of his impriſonment in the Gatehouſe, and that the Keeper of the Gate-houſe do forthwith ſet him at liberty accordingly.

Hon: Scobell Cler. Parliament.

p. 43The joy that was expreſſed among his re…tions and all that knew him is unexpreſſible, that which himſelf moſt rejoyced at was that God had delivered him, and not …e himſelf, that he had kept a good conſcience while he was in Priſon, and that he …ept the ſame now releaſed, that he had made no compoſition with the Uſurpers, and that he was not only free from his confinement, but alſo free to declare to the world that he was of the ſame mind he was before and that a Priſon and death were but poor arguments with him to deterr him from his duty.

For ſome ſhort time he enjoyed reſpite, in which he (being returned to his pariſh) followed his miniſteriall function with his wonted painfulneſs and alacrity; not omitting to declaim againſt the ſins of the times, nor ceaſing to pray for our Dread Soveraign.

About which time there was a plot (as they called it, known by the name of Mr. Loves plot) diſcovered, the deſign of which was to ſend a ſumm of money into Scotland to Major Generall Maſſie there in the Kings ſervice: ſundry Miniſters were hereupon clapt up in the Tower, and Mr. Cawton being conſcious to the deſign, and a helper by his own contribution, rumors were ſpread abroad that he that had abuſed the Parliaments mercy ſhould now infalliably go p. 44to it, and that he ſhould be ſent for ſpeedily: This made him take advice of hi… friends what to do in this ſtrait, he wa… counſelled to keep himſelf ſecret in th… Country till it were ſeen what the Parliament intended, which he did, and was hi… in the houſe of Reverend Mr. Whitaker … Horn-church in Eſſex: no ſooner was he departed, but there came a warrant to fetch him away, but he being not to be found, th… Meſſengers watched all night at the Antwerp Tavern right over againſt his houſe thinking he might come home in the dea… of the night, but they were diſappointed and fain to go without him.

He continued for ſome time at Mr. Whitakers, and ſpent it moſt in Prayer; every week one day was ſet apart on purpoſe for it: and indeed his caſe was ſo full of Labyrinths that he knew not what to do, only his eyes were towards God to extricate him and, to lead him in aplain path becauſe o… his enemies. It was thought dangerous … ly long hid for fear of his being diſcovered and therefore having asked Counſell a… the mouth of the Lord, and his judicious friends, they agreed he ſhould be conveyed away into Holland, in which voyage Mr. Nalton being much threatned fo… the ſame crime, was his companion an… fellow-ſufferer.

A little before they ſet upon their voyage▪ p. 45He moſt ſolemnly takes his leave of his dear Wife in two letters, ſent ſpeedily one after another, which becauſe they ſhew his faith, patience and reſolution in ſufferings, I think …t will not be amiſſe to inſert,

The one was this,

Dear Heart,

—I am joyfull that God hath aſſiſted thee in the midſt of thy ſorrowes, and ſufferings, ſo that thou art enabled to bear up, and to encourage thy ſelf in God, and look upon his hand, as the work, of a Father towards his Child. Read Heb 12. and then ſee what way God takes with his Children.—I do not fear but God will be thy husband in mine abſence, and the Father of my fatherleſs Children; let them be taught the fear of the Lord, and then they ſhall not want any good thing, and then he that leaves not his will be their portion and God alſufficient. I ſhal indeavour to lay up a ſtock of prayers in heaven for them, I hope I ſhall Pray, and not faint, both for thee and them, the Lord increaſe our faith, and then be it unto us according to Gods promiſes and our faith. We muſt not be ſo covetous as to deſire two heavens; the wicked have their Portion in this life, we in another; here perſecuted, in the world to come the crown that is laid up for us, which p. 46the righteous Judge ſhall give unto u… reioyce more to ſee grace in thy Children hearts, than if thou hadſt thouſands t… give them. Know that he that is our Go… is the God of our ſeed, and thou remembreſt what the holy man of God ſaid, I never ſaw the righteous forſaken, nor b… ſeed begging bread. Train up our children in their catechiſm, and in frequent reading of the Scriptures, let them know the Scriptures from their childhood, and they will make them wiſe unto ſalvation let me and them enjoy thy prayers, an… the fervent prayers of all our ſincer… friends: whatſoever is laid aſide let no… the work of prayer be forgotten. Min… my friends of my condition, that they may begg a way of the Lord for me; an… that I may be counſelled from Heaven how to imploy my ſelf, and that may not be wholly laid aſide as uſeleſs and that if God will give me my life thi… time alſo, I may lay it out more than eve… for his glory; and that God would kee… me from the ſnares of the place where … may diſpoſe of me. I have loſt much tim… and now would fain redeem ſome of it if God will give an opportunity, when God has brought me to a place of reſt, ſhall (I hope) not loyter in my ſtudies as … have done. If I have an opportunity m… friends of the Miniſtry and others ſha… p. 47hear from me. The Lord help us to keep the word of his patience, that he may keep us in the hour of temptation. Whatſoever my Brethren can lawfully do and without ſcandall to the wiſely Godly, I deſire (if it may advantage me for my true and ſafe liberty) that I may not be left out. Remember me to all our Friends that love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity,—Improve thine Intereſt for me i… Heaven, that as the Church had two wings of a great Eagle given her, that ſhe might flye from the Draggon into the Wilderneſs, ſo God would make me a member of that Church & give me the benefit of thoſe wings. What ſhall I ſay more to thee, the Lord bleſſe thee, the peace of God that paſſeth underſtanding guard thy heart, the joyes of the Holy Ghoſt that are unſpeakable fill thy ſoul: I wiſh thy perfection. Thou art mine, and I am thine; the great ſea ſhall not quench our love, the bleſſings of heaven and earth be upon thee. Farwell, farwell in the Lord, the Lord in his good time bring us together again. Adiew in Chriſt,

Thine through Chriſt really, cordially a ſympathizing Huſband.

The other letter written upon the receit, of a letter from his Wife, in which ſhe p. 48teſtified her willingneſſe to ſubmit to God and to follow him where ever God ſhould place him, was this,

Dear Heart.

I have read thy ſweet and gratious letter with teares, and great ioy: the Lord make way for our happy meeting; at the throne of grace we ſhall meet I hope every day. I know God will appeare for thee and me and ſtirr us up friends—let us labour to act faith, and ſay dayly Lord increaſe our faith. It's a very great mercy that the Lord was pleaſed to deliver me this time, as I hope he will. I grieve at the very heart to hear what—have done not only to accuſe themſelves but to betray the lives of their Brethren; yet I will not boaſt, I do not know what my vile heart might have done, I will rather judge my ſelf, I know my own great unbelief and baſe fear, the Lord help me againſt them. I do not fear but that Chriſt will be thy Husband, and make up all in my abſence. If God make my way plain before me I ſhall look upon it (as things now ſtand) as the greateſt mercy ever befell me in the matter of deliverance, and that if he give me my life this ſecond time, I hope I ſhall improve it better for his glory than ever I have done. I ſee I could not be without this p. 49tryall, and yet I think I was not fit for the greateſt of this affliction, and therefore I hope God will lay no more upon me than I am able to bear, and will make away to eſcape. I hope that I ſhall at laſt learn to live that which I have preached unto others. I grieve for my dear friends in the Pariſh that will be left as ſheep without a ſhepheard, but God will provide for them; remember my dear affection to them all, they ſhall have my prayers; and I hope I ſhall have theirs. I hope God will make way for the imployment of that poor Talent he hath given me, if not in my Native Country, yet ſome other where. I have been unprofitable, and therefore God may lay me aſide, but I hope he will ſtill make uſe of me. But ſweet ſoul, how ſhall I leave thee and my little ones behind me? yet we ſhall only in body and place be ſeparated, not in mind and affection. For directions I know not what to give thee, only be thankfull, if God hath left this back door for thy Husband, and hath not ſhut him up in the Tower, from whence no redemption, but upon ſad tearms, which would have been worſe than death. Remember what I preached, troubled on every ſide, yet not diſtreſſed, God hath troubled thee and me on every ſide, yet hitherto we never were ſo diſtreſſed as that p. 50there was not ſome way to eſcape.—My heart cannot expreſs its love to thee, much leſs my Pen, be aſſured I ſhall be the ſame I ever was; when God ſhall bring us together it will be a reſurrection from the dead: what ſhall I ſay? I ſhall now leave thee, but not loſe thee, and when I leave thee, thou haſt one that wil never leave thee nor forſake thee; my heart will be with thee, whereſoever my body ſhall be. Speak to all my dear friends, that they would pray for me more than ever, that I may not fall into the hands of unreaſonable men, and that God would make my way plain before me, and that he, who is the God of the Sea and dry land would bring me to my deſired Haven. What can I ſay more unto thee? but the Lord bleſs thee, and make his face to ſhine upon thee; the Lord fill thy heart with joy and gladneſs by believing: be of good cheer, my ſweet ſoul, it's better thy Husband ſhould be taken from thee, than not be. Learn to walk without ſuch a poor arm of fleſh: remember how long thou haſt enjoyed me beyond expectation.—My ſerious bleſſing to my poor babes, I ſhall pray for all o… them. Farewell my dearly beloved in the Lord, Farewell. The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt be with thee, Amen, Amen.

Thy ſincere, cordiall and truly loving Husband.

p. 51Preſently after the writing of theſe Letters, (in which above all things I cannot but take notice of his humility and vile eſteem of himſelf) he made preparation for his voyage, and ſecretly departed by ſhipping to Rotterdam, from whence he and Mr. Nalton went to the Univerſity of Leiden, intending to ſit down a while there, till the ſtorm in England was blown over: yet Gods providence ſo ordered it (that though they came ſomthing under a diſguiſe) yet they were quickly known, and ſpeedily meſſengers were ſent from the Engliſh Congregation at Rotterdam to find them out, and bring them thither, the place being at that very time by Gods providence deſtitute of a Miniſter. The Engliſh Meſſengers found them out at Leiden, and ſaluted them with the ſpeech of the Macedonian man, come and help us. They did not a little wonder how they ſhould be known to be Miniſters, ſeeing they kept themſelves ſo private, and were not at all to be diſcerned by their garb. But turning their admiration into adoration they praiſed God for the door he had opened to let them into their former imployment, and went a long with the meſſengers (better meſſengers than thoſe that brought the warrant) to Rotterdam, where they were joyfully entertained by the Engliſh, particularly by Mr. Harris and Mr. Shepheard, and were p. 52received into Mr. Shepheard's houſe. The Sabbath-day came wherein Mr. Cawton preached in the forenoon, and Mr. Nalton in the Afternoon, with general approbation: thus theſe Prophets were not without honour ſave in their own Country, and though they of whom their Country was not worthey were counted unworthy their Country, yet he that honours them which honour him counted them worthy of double honour, and gave them that in a ſtrange land, which their own Land did not afford.

No ſooner had Nimrod, that mighty hunter, chaſed theſe lambs out of their Native Land, but he and his creatures ſent Mr. Love out of his earthly into an heavenly country, by beheading that faithfull Antipas, for his love and Loyalty to his Majeſty's ſervice, to the diſhonour of Religion, and grief of Gods People all over the Nation, and eſpecially of his two baniſhed Brethren.

They continued Preachers at Rotterdam, and though they were generally beloved and reſpected, yet they met with much oppoſition from ſome of the Independent party, and had many diſputes with them to good purpoſe, in ſo much that being vanquiſhed they vaniſhed and never appeared after to moleſt them o… the Engliſh Church, which before was Independent, but now was brought off, and remains▪ ſo to this day▪ Mr. Cawtons wife followed her Husband p. 53with ſome of her Children, and ſafely came to him at Rotterdam, where they moſt joyfully met together, and remained. Mr. Nalton having ſtaid about half a year there, had leave to come home again, and ſo returned into England: No pardon for Mr. Cawton that had abuſed former pardon but upon baſe and unworthy tearms, which kept him where he was, alone to ſupply the place of Miniſter to the Engliſh Congregation. That which he moſt rejoyced at was, that he was out of the reach of Temptations, he would ſay, it's a bleſſed thing for thoſe that have not ſtrong grace, to be out of Temptations: for Temptations may make great alterations.

He did not at all hanker after his Native Country, but was weaned from it to admiration, when his Wife ſpake of coming to England, he would ſay, it may be God will call me to exerciſe more and greater reſolution and ſincerity than ever I have, he did exactly verifie that which a Reverend Miniſter of London ſaid in a letter to him, a Godly man is a Plant will thrive in any ſoil: any place is a Country to him who makes no place here below his Country, but as a Pilgrim and ſtranger ſeeks a better Country, that is an heavenly. He that is foreign, is foreign, a Citizen of Heaven is a Citizen of any place on Earth, it's all one to him where he is. He …ook extraordinary pains in preaching to his Congregation twice every Lords day, and p. 54ſpent himſelf infinitely by reaſon of the want of help, there being few or none that could preach in the Engliſh tongue: yet he perſiſted though he were not aſſiſted by any but Gods alſufficient aſſiſtance, by which he was able to ſay often, when I am weak, then am I ſtrong, I have laboured, yet not I.

And thus I have traced the ſeverall paſſages and parts of this Man of God's life: give me leave (Reader) to leave him a while at Rotterdam, and to give thee a view of ſome things obſervable that were common to every place he was in, I ſhall reduce them to the common place of his Relations, as a Miniſter, a Maſter, an Husband and a Father, theſe heads will take in what ever I ſhall ſpeak in reference to his ſeverall Relations, which being diſpatched, I ſhall return to … further deſcription of his life in Holland.

Firſt then as a Miniſter, he knew there w… onus as well as honos miniſterii, the work a… well as the worth, the duty as well as the dignity of the miniſtry, and therefore h… did not ſo much deſire praeeſſe as prodeſſe, to be eſteemed chief as to be profitable: I nee… not give any more inſtances of his unwearied labours in the vineyard of God, or of his ſincerity in his work, dreſſing the Vine, no… for the vintage, but for his Maſter who h… hired him to labour: it will be ſuperfluous t… tell you he was an experienced Preacher he felt what he ſpoke and then ſpoke what h… p. 55felt: he was not overcurious in his words, but uſed ſuch as were very ſignificant, the paint of eloquence does but beſmear and darken the pearl of the Goſpel: truth is moſt beautiful in its own dreſſings, and is aſhamed to ſee it ſelf clad with the flanting and adulterous attire of eloquence: yet He could ſay with the Father, Lactant.vellem mihi dari eloquentiam, vel quia magis credunt homines veritati ornatae, vel ut ipſi ſuis armis vincantur, I like eloquence only becauſe either men give more credit to truth in robes, than to truth in rags, or that they may be diſarmed with their own arms; Rhetorick is a flexanimous ſuada, and cauſes often the matter with the words ſweetly to ſlide in the hearts of the hearers. But though he did love in veris verba, yet he did in verbis vera amare non verba, though he loved good words in expreſſing the truth, yet he loved the truth expreſſed with good words, not the words. He could at his pleaſure uſe eloquence, but he could do more, that is, deny his eloquence, and preach with more affection than affectation: He uſed ſo much Art as rightly to divide, not to rend the word of truth; he preached not to ſhew his learning, but that the ignorant might learn: in a word, he was foreign, the Maſter of words: but thought it better to be a Miniſter of the word, and in his Miniſtry to omit his Maſtry. I need not tell you of his trials, his whole life was but p. 56foreign. Chryſoſt. Hom. 21. p. 322.one continued ſeries of Temptation; He was given to prayer and mditation, to which if you add his ſufferings for a good conſcience, you may behold the character of a compleat Divine, whoſe three notes (according to Luther) are, Oratio, Meditatio, et Tentatio, Prayer, meditation and temptation. But theſe are generals, to deſcend to a few perticulars.

1. He was an excellent Textuary, well read in the ſacred pages, he was an Ark of Scripture, and would often ſay, that Sermon is no Sermon to me that is not full of rightly applied Scriptures, his eloquence conſiſted in his being foreign able or mighty in the Scriptures, as it's noted of Apollos, Act. 18. …4.Acts 18:4he was an eloquent man foreign good at wording, but it's immediately added, mighty in the Scriptures, his good words were the ſound words of the Holy leaves. I believe if Apollos ſhould come unknown and preach amongſt the florid Orators of this age, he would ſcarcely be accounted eloquent, becauſe he would coat too much Scripture, and yet we ſee the Scripture puts ableneſs in Scripture and ableneſs in eloquence together, nay Scripture language ſeems the only Divine eloquence, and a Divine ſhould be aſhamed to ſpeak without it. This holy man of God ſo accuſtomed himſelf to the Scriptures that he never roſe in a morning but the firſt thing he did was to take his Bible into his hand, p. 57and ſo lifting up his eyes to heaven in a moſt ſerious manner, he prayed ſhortly, and then read ſome portion of Scripture or other: which being obſerved by his loving Conſort, ſhe asked him why he uſed that practiſe? and he told her, ▪it was my cuſtome ever ſince God made me a Miniſter. Neither did he only delight in Gods law, but was very clear and plain in expounding it alſo, he could fit his diſcourſes on it to every neceſſity and capacity; but which was moſt, he interpreted Scripture (as one ſpeaks in Solomons words) with his feet, and taught it with his fingers, his walking and working were Scripture explications: his life was a lively effigies and tranſcript of the word of life, and he caſt into the mould of it, there was a ſweet and harmonious concord and correſpondence between the originall and the copy, the Bible and his converſation.

2. He was Miniſter (as hath been declared) in three Places, Wivenho, London, and Rotterdam▪ and in every one of theſe he preached ov… the whole body of Divinity very methodically and exactly, and though it were in different places, yet he never preached one old Sermon, but has left three bodies of Divinity, on ſeverall texts, and differently handled, behind him as witneſſes of his laboriouſneſſe in his function, nay all the while he was in Holland he never preached one old Sermon. By going through a Syſtem p. 58of Theologie he laid a foundation for his People to build on, and ſucceſſively held forth one head after another, all they were to believe, or do: In this Narrative I ſhall not ſhew the uſe of Syſtems, only this I may affirm, that ſuch forms of ſound words are the beſt proviſion a Paſtor can lay in for his flock, if he would have them ſound and free from the contagion of Hereſie on the one, and profaneneſs on the other hand: a body of Divinity, is phyſick to ſouls and bodies of ignorant People, theſe foreign, healthfull wholſome words do both preſerve from ſickneſs, and procure loſt health no remedy againſt the malady of hereſie, no ſalve for the ſore of heterodoxie ſo proper as an foreign or platform of Divinity.

3. He was eminent for the ſtudy of the Sacraments, eſpecially the Lords ſupper, he was noted by many to be ſingularly well verſed in the doctrine, of this Sacrament particularly in that great work of ſelf-examination, and ſelf-judging, but in the practiſe of it he was moſt Divine a… Seraphick, whether he received from another or adminiſtred it himſelf he did it with ſo much reverence and affection that he was almoſt tranſported on a Sacrament day. The firſt time he ever received he was ſo deeply affected with the love of his Saviour that he ſounded away as ſoon as he had received the bread, and not coming to himſelf till the Sacrament p. 59was ended, he had the cup adminiſtred to himſelf alone, thus he was ſick of love for him that dyed out of love to him: ever ſince he was Miniſter he celebrated the Lords ſupper with ſo much heavenlineſs, and ſeriouſneſs that all his Communicants could not chooſe but obſerve and admire him, as if they had received Angels food from the hand of an Angel, for at that work he ſhewed himſelf more than man.

4. In writing his ſermons he uſed to ſet down nothing but his heads and places of Scripture, ſo that his notes are very ſhort, and ſo very unfit for the publick: he never read any thing in his Sermons, but always laid his notes behind him, and would dehort young men from reading, telling them that memory loved to be truſted: he could very aptly and affectionately enlarge upon his ſhort heads ex tempore, and with a little praemeditation would (even when he was young) inſiſt two hours upon ſo many heads as might be contained in leſs than half a page in ſmall octavo, as I have books and papers of his to ſhew. This his brevity has hindred the publiſhing of any of his works though they were much deſired, eſpecially his Syſtemes of Divinity, and ſeverall excellent Sermons on aſſurance: only I have here given a ſpecimen, one Sermon annexed to this Narrative which was never intended by him for the preſs, that the Chriſtian p. 60Reader may have ſomthing of his, it being the fulleſt written of any Sermon of his I could find, though in it ſelf it be very ſhort.

5. He himſelf obſerved that Providence kept him about ſeven years in every place he was in, God ſo ordered his affairs that he was ſeven years at Cambridge, ſeven at Wivenho, ſeven at London, and as many at Rotterdam, He would often ſay towards the end of the ſeventh year in Holland, where ſhall I be next? but God had no more apprentiſhips for him to ſerve; The good and faithfull ſervant that had his Maſters joys entering into him here, is now entred into his Maſters joy, he could not contain them all, and therefore they contain him: the leſs was laid out for him here the more was laid up for him in Heaven. He that thought Heaven to be perfect without the Earth, and Earth without Heaven to be Hell, is now above Earth and Hell: his ſeven years are now turned into eternity, and all his graces ſwallowed up in glory, glorious things are ſpoken of thee, (and now by thee) O man of God! thou art gone to preach Heavenly Sermons, and art become of a Miniſter a Miniſtring ſpirit before the Lord, verily I ſay unto thee, thou haſt thy reward.

Thus as a Miniſter.

As a Maſter, he was a Prophet, Prieſt, and King in his Family, a Prophet to teach, a p. 61Prieſt to pray for, and a King to govern it, he was a true Pater familias, not ſo much a Maſter as a Father of a family; though he could truſt God when Gods cauſe required it with his family, yet he did provide for it (God inabling him) in a plentifull manner, though he thought him worſe than an Infidel that provides not for his own houſe, yet he counted him no better than an Infidel that does it by Infidelity, or any other unwarrantable means. He could not abide to trouble himſelf with worldly affairs, but committed all to his ſecond ſelf: He thought it below a man, much more below a Miniſter, to be at leiſure to take account of what was ſpent in his houſe: He was given to hoſpitality, even in Holland where his means were ſmal in compariſon of his charge; he never dined on a Sabbath day without ſome of the poorer ſort of his Congregation, and he would be ſure not to forget to call upon them when he came out of the Church, to come and take part of what God had given him. He was ſo milde and meek natur'd to his Servants, that he did ſeem rather to love than to rule them; he thought impetrare melius quam imperare, it better to deſire than command them: by which ſweet diſpoſition he wrought ſo deeply upon them, that they could not but love him and ſpeak well of him, nay ſome of his ſervants, next to God, owe their Salvation to his Miniſtry and converſation; p. 62He was the ſame at home he was abroad, and the ſame in his heart as he was in his houſe: He kept a conſtant hour mornand evening for reading the Scripture to, and praying with his family, thinking that they that kept no ſet time were in danger to keep no time. Company coming in at the time ſet a part for family duties, if they were ſuch as he knew would join with him, he deſired them to ſtay with him and defer their buſineſs till after prayers; if they were ſuch as he thought would not joyn with him, he would ſend his ſecond ſelf a part with his children to pray with them. Thus this man of God behaved himſelf as a Maſter.

As an Husband, he was loving and tender; he choſe a Wife for her lovely vertues, and loved her with the greateſt affection; he found not only his Rib, but his Heart when he found her; they wedded one anothers humors as well as perſons, and ſo went the ſhorteſt way to perfection. He never denied her any thing in all his life that was conſiſtent with his Miniſtry, and ſhe never deſired any thing but what was becoming the Goſpel. He made her his Collateral, not his Servant; if he were the Head, ſhe was not at his feet, but at his ſide, and in his heart. He would be ſtirring her up to reſolution for God, not that he thought her backward, but to make her more forward. He would communicate his ſecrets to her whom he knew to p. 63be faithful, and of his mind. He would not ſlight her advice and counſel in any buſineſs, but if good, embrace and execute it. As for Temporals, he gave her the diſpoſing of all, himſelf ſeldom medling with any ſuch affairs unleſs they were too hard for her to do. In all things he behaved himſelf ſo as in all the 20 years they were married to one another there was not the leaſt jar or diſcord, no, not diſſent or diſlike between them, but a perfect ſympathy and union, nay unity of affections.

As a Father, he was very carefull for his childrens good, training them up in the way they ſhould go; he took a great deal of pains to inſtruct and catechiſe them, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; he counted good education the beſt portion, it's well ſaid of one, that a little grace will make a great ſhew in a wellbred perſon, whereas a great deal of grace will make but a little ſhew in an illbred perſon. He had taken Gods teſtimonies as an heritage for ever; he had not only a leaſe in them for his own life, but did endeavour to conveigh them to his poſterity: he commanded his Children … him to keep this inheritance, not to a…e…ate it whatever they parted with: he was almoſt ambitious to have grace and godlineſs perpetuated in his Progeny. He was very exemplary to his Children, and did blondiſſimè juber… exemple, ſweetly command by his example, with a p. 64welcome violence, and free neceſſity he inſinuated into their hearts; they were conſtrained, and yet conſented; there was ſo powerfull and attractive a virtue in his carriage, it would have forced love from a marble breſt. To his example he added many encouragements both by ſpeeches and gifts; he never let any ſparks go out for want of blowing up either by commendation or reward; he was wiſely indulgent, and would diſpenſe with any ſlip but breaking of God Laws. If he came to correct his Children, he did it with ſo much love, that his ſweet admonitions and pathetical inſtructions, ſhewing the evil they had done, and his lothneſs to correct, but that it was Gods Ordinance, did more break their hearts than the correction it ſelf: He was often ſo moved with compaſſion, his fatherly bowels did ſo yearn over them, that the tears would trickle a pace from his eies when he was correcting them: nothing ever wrought upon me like this ſight, which did plainly convince his Children of his unwillingneſs to chaſtiſe, but that he was forced to it; his tea… did ſink ſo deep into their hearts, that the… …ould not but be ſoftened at leaſt for that time; for, believe me, to ſee ones Parents weep cannot but be a great grief to dutiful Children. He had his Children in ſubjection with all gravity; and yet I may ſay, that never was Father ſo little feared as he, becauſe ſo much loved. In a p. 65word, he left his Children God for a Father when he left them; and they count it no ſmall priviledge, that they can call God the God of their Father; for, foreign he that kept the Fathers will keep the Children.

Thus I have given you a rude draught of this Man of God, in his ſeveral relations, in every one of which he was another Apelles, Rom. 16. 10.Rom 16:10foreign, approved in Chriſt, a currant Chriſtian, (as the Greek word ſignifies) one accepted and allowed of, as being not counterfeit, but of the right ſtamp. He was good in all his relations, which is a character of a good man, and (which is much) was never known to give offence to any.

To return from whence I digreſſed, This Man of God had not been long at Rotterdam, but his fame was ſpread abroad all over the united Provinces, eſpecially Holland; He that valued Gods glory above his Name in his own Countrey, received his own name in a ſtrange, and Gods glory in an heavenly Countrey. He ſhone in that Firmament as a Star of the firſt magnitude, and was highly eſteemed of by the Dutch, French and Engliſh Miniſters round about. He had correſpondence with moſt of the famous Profeſſors, particularly with Dr. Gisbert Voetius, Divinity Profeſſor, and Mr. Leuſden, Profeſſor of the Oriental Languages at Ʋtrecht, with Mr. Ʋchtman and Mr. Hulſius, both Hebrew Profeſſors, p. 66the one of Leiden, the other of Breda: ſeveral Letters there paſſed between them, ſome of which I have to ſhew.

From England he had whole ſhowers of Letters from his Brethren the Miniſters, and his friends congratulating his ſafety, and liberty to ſpeak boldly in the name of Chriſt. He was much honored, and often written to by Dr. Walton, & was not a little uſeful in promoting the great work of the Polyglot Bible, partly by procuring ſubſcriptions, partly by ſending over Manuſcripts. He was afterwards written to by Dr. Caſtell, whoſe Polyglot Lexicon got ſeveral Subſcriptions by his means: and by Mr. Samuel Clark concerning another Volume to be added to the Oriental Bible: he was known to be of ſo publick a ſpirit in any thing that was for the profit of the Common-wealth of Learning, and the good of Gods Church, that he was ſought to of moſt that did any ſingular matter in order to the encreaſe of learning.

Though Rotterdam were a place very wateriſh and could, yet He took great notice of Gods great goodneſſe in reference to his health, which was better the five firſt yeares, than ever it had bin in any place in his own Country. It's not an healthful climate but a good Phyſitian, even the Lord that healeth us, that makes us healthfull. He would ſay, I thank God I have preached twice a day every Lords day (beſides faſt and thankſgiving days, p. 67as alſo his monthly adminiſtration of the Sacrament) for five years together, and have not had five (three was the moſt) Sermons given me.

But the two or three laſt yeares he was weak, and for half a year together went with a continuall pain at his ſtomack, ſo that it was a very difficult thing for him to Preach, yet he left not off, but cheerfully and conſtantly preached, as at other times: though he never went up into the Pulpit, but every one thought he would either faint or die before he came down: he was indeed weary in his work, but never weary of his work. Once he did faint in the Pulpit, inſomuch that his voice failed him, and he was taken down, being unable to proceed, but by the means of cordial Waters given him he recovered his Spirits in ſome meaſure, yet not ſo as to Preach in the afternoon: when his Friends came about him in the evening, he told them, the Pulpit is a good place to die in. By the next Sabbath he was (by Gods bleſſing) recruited, and preached forenoon and afternoon with much vigour and zeal: but from that time till within half a year of his death I ſaw him evidently decay.

About this time he had an only Son almoſt fit for the Univerſity, whom he did always, but eſpecially now much inſtruct, and forward in his ſtudies: Mr. Robert Sheringham being then in exile at Rotterdam, he p. 68ſent his ſon to him to learn the Hebrew, Syriack, and Arabick tongues, before he went to the Academy: and would every morning call him to his bedſide, to expound a Greek or Hebrew chapter: He ſpent much time in catechizing him in particular, ſeaſoning him with the knowledge of God, and charging him to walk as in Gods ſight, when he was from under his Fathers eye. The time coming, he went with him to the Univerſity of Ʋtrecht, and there beſtowed him, committing him to the care of Dr. Gisbertus Voetius, and his ſon Mr. Daniel Voetius, both Profeſſors in that Univerſity, and eminent for learning and piety. He gave his ſon much good counſell and directions in his ſtudies, and was very deſirous of his progreſs: He would ſtrive to enflame this young ſchollar's heart with an Heroick ambition to get learning, and as he himſelf had done; and would exhort him moſt affectionately to ſtrive to be inter eruditiſſimos non inter mediocres. He gave him theſe four rules, which being obſerved, were very effectuall to get learning, and to keep it in readineſs.

1. To conſider one's own parts and time, and accordingly to order and diſpoſe one's time.

2. To be always doing, conſtant in ſtudies, like Mr. Calvin, who being asked why he was always at it? returned this anſwer, Scit virtus hoc tempus eſſe mi…itiae non tri…mphi, atque ideo nunquam …orpet & ſemper in actu eſt.Dominus cum venerit inveniet me laborantem: p. 69when the Lord comes he ſhall find me working.

3. To review over things again and again; this rule is ſo profitable that Al…edius ſaid, all learning was contained in this one word (REPETE) this was famous Dr. Whitakers practiſe, he read over his Grammar, and logick once a year.

4. To note in reading ſome ſpecialls, and many things to referr.foreign Iſocrat.

His Son thought good to communicate a Letter of advice (written to him by his Father) to me, which becauſe of the uſe it may have among young Students; and to ſhow his great care in training him up for the work of the Miniſtry, I cannot but impart, the Letter is as followeth, out of his ſons own copy.

Son Tho.

I am glad to hear of your welfare and ſtudies: my directions at preſent in order to your happy and ſafe progreſs in learning are,

That you would take what counſel you can to get a fixed, and regular method in your ſtudies, that they may p. 70neither be confuſed nor troubleſome. I ſend you here a little **Biſterfeldii Logica.Book, in the end of which are two little treatiſes, which I would have you read over a thouſand times, and to have them perfect at your fingers ends: the one he calls Phoſphorus Catholicus, or the art of meditation: the other conſilium de ſtudiis feliciter inſtituendis, you muſt now begin to ſettle your ſelf in an unchangeable method of ſtudies, that you muſt hold to all your life, you muſt always be noting of what you hear, read, and obſerve. I think you cannot be better adviſed by any than by this little treatiſe: yet ſomthing may be added to it in the matter of taking notes, and about paper-books, you muſt enquire what method others follow, and compare theirs with this, and what you find excellent in theirs add to this. I do intend to conſider, what paperbooks you muſt have for all ſorts of learning: in the mean time I would have you note things in a quire of paper, that you may tranſcribe them when you have ſetled your method: you may call your book of daily notes p. 71your Diary, and here there muſt be nulla dies ſine linea. This method of your ſtudies muſt be long deliberated on, becauſe it is but once to be done.

I much deſire that you ſhould ſuddenly take a **A Colledge is taken in tho…e Univerſities for a number of Scholars meeting together to hear the Profeſſor read in private.Colledge under the Profeſſor eloquentiae, and that you would diligently follow the exerciſes of that Colledge, for if you can get the Art of ſpeaking, and making Orations well, it will be a great help to you in order to the obtaining an outward grace in your delivery, when you come to preach: as you frame your elocution, and geſture now while you are young, ſuch they will be when you come to age. I would have you to write all your Letters to me in Latine, for exerciſe ſake; exerciſes are the very ſpirit of ſtudies: learn to make your ſentences more ſhort and quick.

Vita minutiſſimis p…rtiunc… lis dum datur, eripitur.You have your time before you, and you may ſay with the ancient, ſi non nunc, quando? therefore be carefull you loſe it not, for it is ſhort, that which is paſt you can never recover, and what is to come you know not, whether you may live to come to it; and for the p. 72preſent time, it's but a moment that ſoon paſſeth away: now is the time while you are young to perfect your ſelf, in Philoſophy, languages, and all other Divine and humane learning: now your parts are vigorous, and now you have nothing elſe to do, or to moleſt you. Be conſtant in reading over the old Teſtament and new in their originals, that you may be very ready in the Texts of Hebrew and Greek. I have heretofore counſelled you to read often St. Pauls Epiſtles to Timothy and Titus, and can do no other but put you in mind again.Oratione operatio, & operatione fulciatur oratio. Jerom. Pray to God daily for a bleſſing on your ſtudies: Luther got more learning by prayer than by ſtudy: follow Pauls rule, keep your ſelf pure, that the ſins of your youth may not be a trouble to you in your old age: add Gods fear to all your ſtudies, knowing that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of true wiſdom.Melius eſt bonum fieri quam doctum.

My deſire is not only to have you a Schollar, but an excellent Schollar, let therefore your reſolutions and endeavours be to excell, get as far on as may be, and let not others overtake p. 73you, let that noble ſpirit be in you to get above others, and to put out your parts. I deſire nothing but (as St. Paul ſaith) foreign, 1 Tim. 4. 15.1 Tim 4:15your perfection, and with Peter, that you may daily grow in grace and knowledge, give your ſelf wholly to theſe things, that your profiting may appear to all, that you may be a workman that needeth not be aſhamed. I ſend you Ringelſberg, and deſire you to read every day one chapter in it, it is a Book that will put mettall into a Schollar; I hope the excellency of **A famous learned Virgin at ƲtrechtAnna Maria Schurman will provoke you young Schollars with a gallant indignation, not only to do ſo well as ſhe hath done, but alſo to go beyond her.

Let us know what you do in French, for which I would have you ſpare one hour in a day, that when you are maſter of that, you may begin with Italian, and ſo with Spaniſh, in theſe languages there are many excellent Books; if you could converſe with ſome Schollar that hath the French tongue perfect, you might get it with eaſe; when you underſtand a little go to the French Church; always be ſpeaking that little p. 74you have: it may be hereafter you may go into France, and ſtudy ſome time there.

As to your **A Diſſertation printed afterwards by his Son at Ʋ trecht, de vſu linguae Hebreae in philoſophia theoretica.Diſſertation, I would have you look it over many times, and to be adding, and mending of it daily, till you have brought it to perfestion: Quiſquis ad ſummam perveniſſe ſe credit in hoc primum fallitur, quod ubi credit eſſe non eſt: deinde quod illuc ſerentem viam aberrando deſerit, dumque quod non hab…t anticipat, quod habere potuiſſet, ſponte ſua negligit. Nihil tam profectui adverſum quam perfectionis opinio, nemo ſtudet agere quod peregiſſe ſe putat. Petrarcha.be very curious about the ſtile, and furniſh it with as much Learning as may be; let this be your Rule, to think it never wel enough: you muſt remember Ringelſberg's Rule, reſolve in all things to contemn Mediocria; do foreign, ſome excellent thing, Mat. 5▪ 46, 47. according to the Apoſtle, ſee that ye excell foreign, 1 Cor. 14. 12. I ſhall pray that God would warm and ſtir up both grace and learning in you: as in the World every man would be more rich and honorable than another, ſo let this holy emulation be in you, both for Grace and Learning: RESOLVE NONE SHALL GO BEYOND YOƲ.

I very well approve of your following the Chaldee Paraphraſe, and the being p. 75exast in the punctation. I will ſend Clenard's Epiſtles, which I hope will ſtir up your zeal towards the Arabick tongue: they were commended to me by the learned Arabick Profeſſor, Mr. Abraham Wheelock, when I began to ſtudy Arabick; they are very good Epiſtolary Latine, and there are many things in them worth the taking notice of.

I would have you diſpute often in the Schooles; diſputing will quicken your parts, and raiſe your ſpirits too: you muſt do it with all your might as for victory.

I ſee you have much work upon your hands, the good God of Heaven help you to go through it to his glory, to your Parents comfort, and to your own comfort and benefit. The God of wiſdom breath upon your ſtudies: be ſure to get what learning you can; Si patrem adhuc habes utere ſedulo, fugitiva jucunditas pater ſenex.while your Father lives, your Father grows ancient and infirm, and you know not how ſoon God may call him from you: you are only …e that I hope to ſee come up to ſomthing, before I die; and if it ſhall pleaſe God to let me live ſo long, p. 76as to ſee you throughly furniſhed for the work of the Miniſtry, it will be great ſatisfaction to mee, and above all to ſee you endued from Heaven with grace as well as abilities.

Believe that your Father, and Mother both ſhall be ſo carefull of you, that you ſhall have all the encouragements we are able to give you, even to our uttermoſt, that you may proceed cheerfully and with courage in your ſtudies: do all that is of good report, want nothing.

Uſe recreation not as that thou likeſt, but as that thou lackeſt.Have a care of your health, and uſe ſome Schollar-like exerciſe, that will ſtand without loſs of time, read, note, write, meditate, pray much, loſe not the leaſt inches of time. The reaſon I preſs you to ſo many things, is that when you are dulled with one, you may refreſh your ſelf with another; variety will fallere taedium in the courſe of your ſtudies.

Your mother, and my ſelf ſend you our bleſſing, counting it our only bleſſing here, to ſee our children walking in the truth, that good man old Dr. Voetius will endeavour to ſeaſon your p. 77heart in the matter of religion, without which, learning is but a ſword in a mad mans hand. Chriſt Jeſus dwell in your heart, and keep you, and open your underſtanding to underſtand the Scripture. I have nothing elſe, but to believe that God will make you an inſtrument of his glory and our comfort, to his grace I commend you, and reſt,

Your Loving Father THO. CAWTON.

Having ſetled his Son at Ʋtrecht, it pleaſed God to give him another ſon, which was his third child in Holland, and the laſt he had. He named him foreign Exod. 2. 22.Exod 2:22Gerſhom, for be ſaid, I have been a ſtranger in a ſtrange Land: and devoted him like another Samuel to the Lord and the Miniſtry from his cradle: but Gods providence hath taken him away from us, to be a companion to his Father in glory as well as in ſufferings.

A little after in the year 1658. the Kings Majeſty being at Bruxells, and calumniated as being a Papiſt, his Majeſty was pleaſed to ſend a Letter to Mr. Cawton, teſtifying his conſtancy in the Proteſtant religion, and deſiring him to wipe off that unjuſt aſperſion by ſatisfying all of his ſtedfaſtneſs in that religion, the Letter was printed a little before p. 78his Majeſties return to this Kingdom, to clear him then, and deſerves here to be inſerted: it is this,

CHARLES R.

TRuſty and welbeloved, we greet you well, we have received ſo full a teſtimony from perſons (to whom we give intire credit) of your good affection to our Perſon, and zeal to our ſervice, that we are willing to recommend an affair to you, in which we are very much concerned. We do not wonder that the malice of our enimies ſhould continue to lay all manner of ſcandals upon us, which might take away our reputation; but that they ſhould find credit with any to make our affection to the Proteſtant religion in any degree ſuſpected, is very ſtrange, ſince the world cannot but take notice of our conſtant, and uninterrupted profeſſion and exerciſe of it, in thoſe places where the contrary Religion is only practiſed, and allowed. And though we do not boaſt of doing that, which we ſhould be heartily aſhamed if we did not do; we may reaſonably believe p. 79that no man hath, or can more manifeſt his affection to, and zeal for the Proteſtant Religion, than we have done; or in ſome reſpects hath more ſuffered for it. And therefore we are the more ſenſibly affected, that thoſe calumnies can make impreſſion, to our diſadvantage, in the minds of honeſt, and pious men, as we are informed they have done. And we do the rather impart the ſenſe we have of our ſuffering in this particular to you, becauſe, as you have the charge of the Engliſh Congregation in Rotterdam; ſo you cannot but have much converſation and acquaintance with the Miniſters of the Dutch Church, and others in that populous place, with whom we would not ſuffer under ſo unjuſt and ſcandalous an imputation. And we preſume and axpect from you, that you will uſe your utmoſt diligence and dexterity, to root out thoſe unworthy aſperſions, ſo maliciouſly and groundleſly laid upon us by wicked men; and that you aſſure all, who will give credit to you, that we value our ſelf ſo much upon that part of our Title of being Defendor of the faith, that p. 80no worldly temptations can ever prevail with us to ſwerve from it, and the Proteſtant Religion, in which we have been bred: the propagation whereof we ſhall endeavour with our utmoſt power. And as we ſhall never fail in the performance of our duty herein, ſo we ſhall take the offices you ſhall do, in vindicating us from theſe reproaches, very well from you. In which we promiſe our ſelf you will ſerve us effectually. And ſo we bid you farewell. Given at our Court at Bruxels, the ſeventh day of November, in the tenth year of our Reign.

By his Majeſty's command. EDWARD NICOLAS.

The Latine Tranſlation of this Letter was ſent at the ſame time from the King, which for brevities ſake I omit.

The laſt half year he was taken notice of, to look better, and ſome ſaid fatter in the face than ever before, inſomuch that many of his friends were not a little deceived: the truth is, he himſelf found himſelf better than ever, yet did many times caſt out ſpeeches, as if he could not live long.

The laſt Sabbath he ever preached was the third of Auguſt 1659. that day he adminiſtred p. 81the Sacrament of the Lords Supper with his wonted heavenlineſs, and preached forenoon and afternoon, with as much zeal as ever he was known to do: his Text was that of our Saviour to his Diſciples, John 15. 3.John 15:3Now ye are clean through the Word which I have ſpoken unto you: ſhewing, that the uſual means whereby men are made clean, was the preaching of the Goſpel, Auguſtin.the Word which I have ſpoken, non quia dicitur, ſed quia creditur: not becauſe it's ſpoken, but becauſe it's believed: the Word is the Inſtrument by which men believe, and believing, they are made clean. He made two excellent Sermons on thoſe words; and if he had known he ſhould have concluded his Miniſtry that day, he could not (me thinks) have choſen a fitter Text to conclude withall. Now ye are clean, now ye have heard me preach ſo often; now ye are ſo diligent and attentive to what I preach: now I ſhall preach no more, now ye are clean, though the word believed, embraced, and accompanied with Gods Spirit: at leaſt, now I am clean and clear from your blood, I have Spoken unto you, and my words will judge you at the laſt day, if you will not hear, the privledge you have had above others to hear will aggravate your ſin and puniſhment. Theſe were the laſt words of this man of God to his people, and I queſtion not but they have taken ſome impreſſion on their hearts.

p. 82Having ſpent himſelf much with preaching, and being wearied by the great pains he had taken that day, after the afternoon Sermon (according to his uſual manner) he laid himſelf down upon his bed to reſt and repoſe himſelf a little: after he had ſlumbred about half an hour, he awaked and having ſome warm thing brought him to drink, he drank heartily, but ſaid not any thing, being a little ſleepy. He laid down again about a quarter of an hour, and had another little ſlumber, and then riſing, got up alone, and ſat upon his bed-ſide: his Wife perceiving him to look very ill, (though ſhe did not in the leaſt ſuſpect or expect any more danger than formerly) asked him how he did? he anſwered, I cannot tell how: ſhe leading him to a chair two or three ſteps off, he ſat down and ſuddenly fainted. He was a good while rubbed, and chafed, having his mouth opened by force to pour in ſtrong waters, and coming a little to himſelf, he lifted up his eyes and ſaid, I ſhall never come to my ſelf again: whereupon his Wife ſaid to his Son fetch the Doctor quickly, but he ſaid no, no, Mr. Shepheard, a loving friend very near him: yet when he came he could not ſpeak to him. The Doctor was juſt gone by his door, and coming back, gave him ſome little Phyſick which wrought well: but he was very ſick, and faint, and not able to ſpeak, ſo that about ſeven a clock he p. 83was had to bed, and continued ſlumbering all night, not once ſpeaking to any, or ſo much as opening his eyes, but refuſing every thing the Doctor appointed him to take. In the morning he with much a do ſpake two or three words, and bad his ſon anſwer a Letter that came from Amſterdam, but all the day lay in a drowſie poſture ſpeaking to none. It proved to be a palſey all over his right ſide, and tongue, and ſo he lay till four a clock on Thurſday morning being the ſeventh of Auguſt 1659. and then gave up the ghoſt. Yet obſervable it is that on Wedneſday he called for all his children by name and bleſſed them, laying his hand on their head, and lifting up his eyes, and had his memory ſo well, that one of his children being wanting, (ſleeping in its cradle) he ſaid one more, and ſo it was brought to him. He had his eye fixed for a great while together on his eldeſt ſon, and ſtroked him often as he ſtood by him, lifting up his eyes to Heaven, in token of his praying for him. And now if tears were words I could be both fluent, and eloquent, if my tears could do him good they might ſeem juſt, nay therefore my tears are juſt becauſe I cannot do him good. But I muſt (as one ſays) when I have deplored the death of my friend as a friend, learn to bear it as a Saint, it's a wretched virtue not to know what to do elſe than bewail the dead. I have not ſo many tears to p. 84lament miſeries, that I muſt waſt them in lamenting my friends happineſs. Not Lazarus his death, but his riſing to the miſeries of the world again drew tears from Chriſts eies.Chriſtus non pl…ravit Lazarum mortuum▪ ſed ad hujus vitae ae…umnas reſuſcit…ndum. Interpreters did well to make a verſe of thoſe two words Jeſus wept, John 11. 35. in which there is matter enough for a volume, planè Lazarum mortuum flevit Chriſtus, (ſaith St. Jerom, to a Mother lamenting the death of her daughter) ſed non tuas lachrymas fudit, doluit Lazarum non dormientem ſed potius reſurgentem. Chriſt wept over dead Lazarus, but he ſhed not thy tears, he grieved not becauſe Lazarus ſlept, but becauſe he was to be diſturbed and riſe again. This man of God ſleeps in Jeſus, he laboured for reſt here, and now he reſts from his labour. Mourn not for him, unleſs you would deprive him of his reſt, and bring him again to labour.

The Dutch Miniſters took order to have him buried in their own grave, and accordingly attended him to it.

And thus I have (Chriſtian Reader) run over the ſeveral parts and paſſages of this man of Gods life, and followed him from his Cradle to his Grave: He was about fifty years old when he died, of ſtature tall and thin, in countenance lean and pale, of a very weak conſtitution, yet very active and ſtirring: of a courteous nature, very affable and eaſie to to be intreated; in his p. 85faſhions neither rude nor fantaſtick: He was both morall and gracious, and in all his actions gracefull, Earth hath loſt and Heaven hath gained a Saint by his death. foreign 1 Sam. 18. 301 Sam 18:30He is now bleſſed, and I doubt not but his memory is bleſſed, and his name pretious among thoſe that have recieved like pretious faith.

And now (Chriſtian Reader) I doubt not but this ſhort deſcription of this exemplary life, will incite thee to imitation, and teach thee to be prepared for any eſtate, to be contented in every eſtate, and to think the preſent condition (for the preſent) beſt. This rude draught of his life (which though none can draw out to the life but himſelf by living it over again) I hope may enamour thee with a Godly life. Example does more affect and infect than rule, practiſe does overbias precept; Pauci ſunt qui conſilio ſe ſuaque diſponant, c…te…i corum more qui fluminibus innatant non eunt ſed feruntur.our life is a continued imitation, we are one anothers patterns and temptations. Moſt go the way that is gone, not the way that muſt be gone: nay, few go rationally, but are carried with the ſtream, the River of cuſtom ſweeps them away the ancient River the River of cuſtom. It's to be wiſhed that we that can out do our patterns in evill could be equall to them in good:O utinam qui majores veſtros v…tus in rebu… facile vincit … eoſdem in ſer iis aequare… i…. imitating virtue is a virtue to be imitated, that is truly excellent, when we ſtrive to exceed in that, in which we cannot be exceſſive, we may ſequi though we cannot aſſequi, we may follow though we cannot p. 86fully come up to our patterns. This life is eminent for ſufferings, and as eminenent for faith, ſelf-deniall, ſyncerity, reſolution and conſtancy in enduring them; we know not what times we may live to ſee, I am ſure the example of others is a ſpeciall cordiall to keep our ſouls from fainting in the day of adverſity▪ foreignTo have good compainions in troubles is no ſmall part of our comfort in troubles; Solamen miſeris ſocios h… …uiſſe doloris.Affictiones multorum dimidium ſolatii, ſaid the Rabbin, He is half comforted, that has many fellow-ſufferers, wherefore ſeeing we alſo are compaſſed about with ſo great a cloud of witneſſes, let us lay aſide every weight, and the ſin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us, and let us run with patience the race that is ſet before us. Patimur quia peccavimus, patimur ne peccemus. Optabile malum quod mali remedium ſit majoris.This will make adverſity ſeemproſperity at leaſt a mercy if we conſider we do not only ſuffer becauſe we have ſinned but we ſuffer alſo that we may not ſin, and that it's a deſirable evill that is a remedy of a greater evill: They that ſin then to avoid ſuffering, they do a miſchief to avoid a mercy. This Hiſtory hath abundantly evinced what I here affirm, and to the end it may, it remains, that as That holy (now HAPPY) Saint was at the pains to live it, and I to write it, we both would be at the pains to live it over again, following him as he followed Chriſt, that ſo we may live well, dy better, and after death live beſt, in a life that has no

END.

End of the text · Thomas Cawton, The Life and Death of Thomas Cawton (1662)