A Collection of the Lives of Ten Eminent Divines, Biography 1
Mr. JOHN CARTER.
The LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. JOHN CARTER, Who died Anno Christi, 1634.
MAster John Carter was born at Wickham in Kent, His birth.near Canterburie, about the year of our Lord, 1554. He was descended but of mean Parents, yet were they Religious, and of good report, who not being able to maintain him at the University, wholly upon their own charge; there was one Mr. Rose, His education.a rich man in Canterbury, who taking notice of his Piety in those his tender years, of his ingenuity, studiousness, and proficiency in all School-learning, even beyond the pitch of a Grammer Scholar; and finding him hopefull, and likely to prove a precious instrument in the Church of Christ, he took him into his care, sent him to Cambridge, and contributed such sums of money to him from time to time as were needfull.He goes… … Cambridge. He was admitted into Clare-Hall, and was Pupil to Dr. Bing, a famous Civilian, and Master of that House.
Presently after his first admission into that House,His Proficiency. he was taken notice of as one of singular Learning, and ripeness for his years. Amongst the rest that were of his year he had a Theam given him to make upon this Subject, Frugalitas virtutum maxima: and when the young Students brought in their Theams, the Lecturer took, and read them, and when he came to Carters Theam he stood,His Industry. and paused awhile, and at last, said before them all: Here is the best Theam that ever I read; and gave him some money for his encouragement, and highly commended his Industry; and always after cast a favourable eye upon him, and sought opportunities to do him good.
When Mr. Carter had taken his degrees of Batchelor, Gods providence.and Mr. of Arts, his Tutor, Dr. Bing (out of his singular love to him for his Piety and Learning) gave him a Chamber in his own Lodgings, where he continued a year, or two, which conduced much to the compleating of him for the work of the Ministry; and all the while that he continued a gremial in the lap, and bosom of his Mother, the University, he held constant Meetings with divers of his famous Contemporaries, and that every week, as with Dr. Chaderton, Dr. Andrews (afterwards Bishop of Ely) Mr. Culverwell, Mr. Kewstubs, and divers others, whom God raised up and fitted to send forth into his Harvest, to gather his Corn, then ripe for the Sickle, into his Barn.Note. At their meetings they had constant Exercises; first, They began with prayer, & then applied themselvs to the Study of the Scriptures; one was for the Original Languages, anothers task was for the Grammatical Interpretation; anothers for the Logical Analysis; anothers for the true sense, and meaning of the Text; another gathered the Doctrines, and thus they carried on their several imployments, till at last they went out, like Apollos, eloquent men, and mighty in the Scriptures: and the Lord was with them; so that they brought in a very great Harvest into Gods Barn.
Mr. Carter would not run before he was sent,His Ordination. though he was so excellently qualified for the work; he durst not venter upon the exercise of the holy work of the Ministry, till he had, not only an inward, but an outward call also, viz. an assignation, approbation, and solemn admission by the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie. When he was ordained, the Bishop (who in those days was primus Presbyter, or Praeses) seeking to oppose him, asked him this Question, Have you read the Bible through? Yes (said he) I have read the Old Testament twice through in the Hebrew, and the New Testament often through in the Greek; and if you please to examine me in any particular place, I shall endeavour to give you an account of it. Nay (said the Bishop) if it be so, I shall need to say no more to you; only some words of Commendation and encouragement he gave him, and so with other assistants, he Ordained him.
Anno Christi, 1583. the Vicaridge of Bramford in Suffolk, He fixes … Bramford.near Ipswich, fell void, and Mr. Rose of Canterbury, beforementioned, procured the Presentation thereof for Mr. Carter of the Dean and Chapter of Canterburie, in whose Gift it was. The Salary at first was only twenty Marks per annum, but afterwards the Church raised it to twenty pound per annum, and that was the most that ever he had there, yet he accepted of it, and being setled in it, he set himself to do the work of Christ faithfully with all his might, as a workman that needed not to be ashamed.
Every Lords day he preached twice very powerfully,His great pains. and Chatechised the younger sort. He also preached a Lecture every Thursday, to which multitudes from Ipswich, and other adjacent places, did resort: And God gave such success to his Ministry,His Successe. that by his labours many sons and daughters were from time to time begotten unto God. Many precious Christians that remain unto this day, acknowledge that their Conversion was by Mr. Carters Ministry.
Before his Sermons he made but a short Prayer,His Prayers. and that always in the same words: After Sermon he used to be large, and full, and expressed himself with great variety of phrases, and with much fervency, and always he concluded with the Lords Prayer.
He was very diligent in visiting the sick,Hi… Charity. especially the poorer sort; and he never went to the house of any poor creature, but he left a Purse-Alms, as well as a Spiritual-Alms of good, and heavenly advice, and prayer. No poor body ever came to his door that went away empty; his wife also looking to that as carefully as himself.
Every Saturday throughout the whole year he gave the Milk of his Cows to the poor of the Town; and indeed he gave more to the Poor every year, then the Revenue of his slender Vicaridge came to in the whole: yet God so blessed him, that whilst he was in Bramford, he quickly paid Mr. Rose of Canterbury all the money that he had disbursed toward his Education in the Uuniversity; and before he left Bramford he purchased about twenty pound per annum; Gods blessing only makes rich.
He had but two sons,His children. and he brought them both up in Learning, and maintained them in the University in good fashion.
He was sound,His zeal. and orthodox in his judgement: An able, and resolute Champion against all manner of Popery and Arminianism; as also against Anabaptism, and Brownism, which did then begin to peep up, and infest the Church, to tear and rent the seamless coat of Christ.
He was always a Non-conformist, His non-conformity.one of the good old Puritans of England. He never swallowed any of the Prelatical Ceremonies against his Conscience: So that he was often troubled by the Bishops, but God raised him up friends that always brought him off, and maintained his Liberty. He was prudent, and of a peaceable spirit, and never censured any that could, and did conform, if he judged them consciencious, and saw any thing of God in them.
At his first coming to Bramford, he saw of the travel of his soul. He had a plentifull harvest, many souls being daily added to the Church, by his powerfull Ministery, and holy life. But after he had abode many years amongst them, the people began to be glutted with heavenly Manna, and loathed it, so that there grew a great decay in their first love: and about the year 1615. or something before,His enemies. there arose up a generation of malignant spirits, who were haters of a plain, powerfull, and searching Ministry, and of the life and power of Godliness: These were the Gentry, and chief of the Parish. These rose up against Mr. Carter, pressed him to Conformity, complained of him to the Bishop, and threatned that they would either bring him to conformity or eject him.
At this very juncture of time,Gods providence. through Gods gracious Providence, the Rectory of little Belsted fell to be void. A very small Village, some three miles from Ipswich, and a solitary place; the means indeed was better then Bramford, yet short of a competency, and of the deserts of so eminent a Pillar in the Church of Christ: it being but about fifty pound, and at the most not worth above sixty pound per annum.
The Patron (Mr. Bloss) became a Suitor to Master Carter to accept of it, which he refused again, and again, being resolved rather to endure persecution at Bramford, to grapple with all difficulties, and to die there, rather then to remove. But Gods providence over-ruled him. At Bramford he saw that he must be outed, and Mr. Bloss would take no denial: yea, and he found favour in the eyes of the Bishop; so that he was instituted without subscription, or submitting to the Ceremonies: and then at last, God (as it were) taking him by the hand, and pulling him whether he would or no, he removed from Bramford, after he had done faithfull Service in the work of the Ministery for about thirty four years in that place,His remove to Belsted. and was setled at Belsted Parsonage, where be continued eighteen years before God caused him to rest from his Labors; and in all that time he discharged his holy Function just as he had done in Bramford in his younger years; though his Congregation here was but small: yet it pleased God that many Fish came within the compass of his Net from Ipswich, and other neighbouring Towns, where they were destitute of faithfull Shepherds, so that his later Crop in Gods Harvest-field, was very considerable.
Little Belsted was a Tusculanum to him, where in his old age he had much secret,His Communion with God. and sweet communion with God in the house, and, as an Isaac, with him in the Fields, which was a beginning of that glorious Communion which he now enjoyes with God in the mountains of Spices. He being dead, yet speaks; and his works praise him in the Gates. His works.For from the Press we have his Learned, and pithy Commentary on the Sermon of Christ in the Mount: and two short, but substantial, solid, and profitable Catechisms: one, Milk for children: the other, Winter evenings Communication.
His pains in the study of the Revelations were indefatigable. He wrote much in a little room; but these Labours of his yet never saw the light. Many Ministers that privately did converse with him, lighted their candles at his.
For his carriage and deportment in his Family,His Family Duties. it was sober, grave, and very Religious. He there offered up the Morning and Evening Sacrifice of Prayer, and praise continually: so that his House was a little Church. Thrice a day he had the Scriptures read, and after that the Psalm, or Chapter were ended, he used to ask all his children and servants what they remembred, and whatsoever Sentences they rehearsed, he would speak something out of them that might tend to their edification. For his own, and his Wives habit, it was very plain, and homely, of the old Fashion,His humility. yet very cleanly and decent; insomuch, that all that came to his house would say, they had seen Adam and Eve, or some of the old Patriarchs.
In all his house also, there was nothing but honest plainess. He was such an one as Jacob, a plain, sincere, I had almost said a perfect man; I am sure a true Nathaneel, in whom was no guile.
He never used any Plate in his House, but Vessels of Wood and Earth; Pewter and Brass were the highest Mettals for his Utensils. All the time of his house-keeping he used constantly at his Table a little wooden Salt, which with age was grown to be of a duskish black, which was much taken notice of by all Comers.
He never made Feasts,His hospitality. yet always had wholsom, full, and liberal Diet in his house, and all fared alike: He, and his wife did never think that his children, and servants, and poor folk did eat enough.
The righteous man (saith Solomon) is mercifull to his Beast: So he was carefull even for the bruit Creatures, that they should be fed to the full. All his cattel were like to the first Kine that Pharaoh saw feeding in the Meddow, they were fat-fleshed, and well favoured; insomuch, as some godly people used to say merrily: If they would be a Cow, or a Horse, or a Hog, or a Dog, they would choose Mr. Carter for their Master.
He had a sharp wit,His conversation. and was sweet, milde, affable, and pleasant in his conversation; yet were there not any of his most facetious passages, that did not savour of holiness. His communication and discourse was always heavenly,His secret Duties. and his eyes were frequently lifted up towards heaven: He did not eat, or drink without praising God with his mouth, and eyes. His whole Conversation was in Heaven.
Besides his Family Duties, and Prayers, he prayed constantly in his Closet at his first going to his study, and before he came forth to Dinner and Supper. He prayed very loud,His Prayers and mostly very long: for the extension of his voice he had a double reason; one that by his earnest speech he might quicken, and raise up his own heart, and devotion: the other, that he might give a good example for secret prayer to his children, and servants; and he never closed any Prayer, without adding the Lords Prayer; and his ground for that practise was this; He judged his own best Prayers imperfect, and that of Christ most perfect, and comprehensive of all our necessities.
That you may be the better satisfied concerning his sense, and judgement in this matter, take this transcript out of his Printed Commentary upon Mat. 6. 9. Where after he hath set forth the excellency, and perfection of Christs Prayer, he addeth, Christ now directs us to the right performance of the Duty of Prayer.Of the Lords Prayer. After this manner pray ye: Or as St. Luke sets it down, When you pray, say. Not binding us strictly to use these words always, and none other, but to use the matter, manner, and like affections: But as for them who cannot so well enlarge their suits in other words, or for those also who can, and do it, and yet remain still unsatisfied, as not having done it sufficiently (and who can do it sufficiently?) the Lord Christ hath left this most excellent help to use the very words of this Divine Prayer, as the most worthy servants of God have ever used to do: And learn we here by the way, that an absolute necessity lyeth upon us (which ought to be our greatest glory and comfort) to pray in these words, or in this manner. For it is the undispensable Commandment of our Lord Christ: After this manner pray.
He had a special dexterity in comforting afflicted Consciences;His skil in comforting afflicted Conseences. resolving doubts, and answering questions; when some came to him (not long before he changed this earthly for an heavenly Mansion) and told him of the rigour of the Prelates, how it grew higher every day, how they persecuted conscientious Ministers, and Christians: Of their Innovations, and of the Book for Liberty of Sports on the Sabbath days, tending to the fearfull profanation thereof: He used these expressions: I have had a longing desire to see, or hear of the fall of Antichrist: But I check my self, I shall go to Heaven, and there news of it will come thick, thick, thick.
When others came to him, and pressed him with importunity to tell them his Judgement concerning the future state of the Church, saying to him, that he had travelled much in the study of the Revelations, and they were perswaded that God had revealed something more then ordinary to him. What do you think (said they) shall we have Popery once again, or no? He answered, You shall not need to fear fire, and fagot any more: but such dreadfull divisions will be amongst God people and Professors, A… Prediction.as will equalize the greatest persecutions.
A man meeting him near his house, called to him, saying, Oh Mr. Carter! What shall I do? My wife is entring into her Travel, and I think she will die with very fear: Mr. Carter answered, Make haste, run to your wife, and tell her that I am going to my Closet as fast as I can to pray for her; therefore bid her not faint, but to be of good courage and comfort. His Prayers successfull.The man accordingly ran to his wife, and told her what had passed between Mr. Carter, and him. Presently her fears vanished, God gave her strength, and she was delivered immediately, and safely: and strait after, her Husband went to Mr. Carter (even before he came out of his Closet) and told him what God had done for him.
Another time, a poor man met him by the way, and cryed to him piteously, saying, Mr. Carter! What shall become of me? I work hard, and fare hard, and yet I cannot thrive, I continue bare, and know not how in the world to live.His gracious speeches. He answered him: Yet still you want one thing, and I will tell you what you shall do, Work hard, and fare hard, and pray hard, and I will warrant you shall thrive.
There dwelled in that Parish a Tanner, that was a very godly man, and one that had much familiar society with Mr. Carter. This man as he was very busie in Tawing of a Hide with all his might, not so much as turning his head aside any way: Mr. Carter coming by accidentally, came softly behinde him, and merrily gave him a little clap on the back: the man started, and looking behinde him suddenly, blushed, and said, Sir, I am ashamed that you should find me thus: To whom Mr. Carter replied, Let Christ when he comes finde me so doing: What (said the man) doing thus? Yes (said Mr. Carter to him) faithfully performing the Duties of my Calling.
Being at Dinner at Ipswich at one of the Magistrates Houses; divers other Ministers being at the Table also: One amongst the rest (who was old enough, and had learned enough to have taught him more humility) was very full of talk, bragged much of his parts, and skill, &c. and made a Challenge, saying, Here are many Learned men, if any of you will propound any question in Divinity, or Philosophy, I will dispute with him, resolve his doubt, and satisfie him fully. All at the Table (except himself) were silent for a while: then said Mr. Carter, (when he saw that none else would speak) to him, calling him by his name: I will go no further then my Treacher to puzzle you: Here is a Sole:His acuteness. Now tell me the reason why this Fish that hath lived always in the salt water, should come out fresh? To this, this forward Gentleman could say nothing, and so was laughed at, and shamed out of his vanity.
At another time a certain man came to him, and made his moan, saying, I have lost the greatest friend that I had in the world: I had (in a manner) all my livelyhood from him: To whom Mr. Carter answered: When the Fountain is dryed up in one place, God will open it in another.
To one of his Sons he said, Son John, God hath always brought water for me out of the hard stinty rock. Those covetous hard hearted men, who have been enemies to my person and Ministery, have many times come in, and given me countenance and maintenance.
His eldest son, whom he had bred up to the Ministery, and who proved a blessed Instrument in the Church of Christ, being dead, Mr. Carter took care of his eldest son, sent him to Cambridge, and walking with him towards the Stable, took his last leave of him, in these words in Latine, Cave, mi fili, fastum, ignaviam, Antichristum, My son, beware of Pride, Sloth, and Antichrist.
His usual saying was, a Traveller must have a Swines belly, an Asses back, and a Marchants purse: Meaning that he must be content with any fare, bear all injuries, and provide for vast expences. We are Pilgrims and Travellers here, and we must prepare for wants, wrongs, and spoiling of our goods.
It might well be said of him, Semper erat ubi non erat: His heart was where his head was, and now his soul is, to wit, in Heaven.
His whole life was nothing else but a Communion day. Old Jacob seemed to live in him: and sure the Spirit of God breathed as much in him,His fruitfulness. in his words, and writings (holiness dropped from his Pen in every ordinary Letter that he wrote) in his actions, and Soliloquies, as in any mans in these latter times. He was always instilling precious precepts, exhortations, instructions, or consolations into those with whom he had occasion to converse.
A godly woman told his Son, that she had been servant to a Religious Gentleman, to whose house Mr. Carter did often resort, and that she was won to Christ at first, by hearing the Heavenly speeches, and sweet principles that dropped from him as she was warming his Bed, and as she waited upon him in his Chamber.
He was always most just,His Justice. and exact in his dealings. He put a Clause in his Will, for the faithfull, and carefull payment of his Debts: yet when his Son John, and his daughter Eunice, whom he made his Executors, enquired what his Debts were, he could finde nothing that he owed, except to the Smith for shooing of an Horse or two.
His Son, when he came to look over his Library, found two or three Books (not one of them worth a Groat) upon which he had written, This Book was borrowed of such an one: Let it be restored: or if the owner cannot be found, allow something to the poor for it, and that liberally.
Once, being in a journey many miles from home, in changing a piece of Gold at a Shop, he took an half Crown piece instead of a shilling, neither he nor the Shop-keeper knowing it: but as soon as he came home, he found the mistake; whereupon he could not rest satisfied, but the next day took a long journey back again on purpose to that Town, to carry back the half Crown again.
He was of a sweet, mild, and gentle nature, and of a gracious spirit. A loving, and faithfull Husband to his wife, and a tender, and indulgent Father to his children; and if he failed in any thing, it was in his carriage to his Servants; for truly he carried not himself to them as a Master to his servants, but as a familiar friend to his friends. He would make them to sit down with him at his Table, and would drink to them at his meals.
He, and his Wife were married together almost threescore years, and in all that time there was never heard any distastefull word to pass betwixt them. Neither indeed could it be otherwise: For he lived, and walked with her as a man of knowledge: he was to her a Prudent, Faithfull, and tender guide; and she was humble, and meek, reverenced, and highly esteemed him. Every word he spake was an Oracle to her, and her will ever closed with his Judgement.
He lived to the age of fourscore:His Age. When his youngest son John was born, who was the youngest of nine, he called him the Son of his Age, and yet he lived to see him fourty years old before he died himself, being fourty years old when he was born.
He was much,His Fastings. and frequent in secret Fastings, and when he kept such a day, he told none of his house of it, save his wife only, and she would not eat any thing that day on which he fasted, but oft-times she was with him in his retiring chamber to joyn with him in prayer; yet could it not be concealed from the rest of the Family, because at night he supped not, but only had a Toste, and a draught of ordinary Beer to sustain nature.
On the Sabbath Days he never had any Roste meat at Dinner, because he would have none thereby kept from the Publick Ordinances; the Pot was hung on with a piece of Beef, and a pudding in it, and that was their constant Lords Days Dinner, for well-nigh sixty years together.
His Church at Belsted stood in a very solitary place,His retirements. whereof he always kept a key, and would often resort thither all alone. A Gentleman once espying him as he went towards the Church on a private day, hid himself, till Mr. Carter was past, and gone into the Church, and then he came close up to the Church wall, desiring to peep in at some window to see what he did, and to listen if he said any thing; and this Gentleman afterwards told his Son John, that he first prayed, then read a Chapter, and after that prayed largely, and very heavenly, as if he had been in his Family, or in the publick Congregation.
He vigorously held on the constant course of his Ministry to the last.His vigour. It may be said of him, as of Caleb and Joshua; he was as sit for service in Gods Harvest-field at fourscore, as he was at fourty.
Indeed some abatement of bodily strength there was, as old Age did steal upon him. After his afternoon Sermon on the Sabbath days he would be something faint, and commonly when he came home he would call for some comfortable draught, and when he had lifted up his eyes to heaven, and taken it, he would say to them about him, These are crutches to shore up a ruinous house: but in his Intellectuals, and spiritual strength there was no decay.
Old Mr. Benton of Wramplingham in Norfolk, a holy man of God, being upon occasion in Suffolk in those parts, could not but give a visit to his old friend, Mr. Carter of Belsted; and being with him, he heard him discourse with such holy gravity, and a mixture of all kinde of Learning, sollidity, and wit, that he stood amazed at it, and said, Mr. Carter, I see you are like unto the Palm and Cedar Tree, you bring forth more fruit in your Age. I thank you (said Mr. Carter) you tell me what I should be.
And now the time of his departure was at hand:His sickness. Some fortnight, or three weeks before his Translation, there appeared some decays in his body, and memory, which now began to fail him. He would sometimes (but rarely) call to go to Sea, and to his better Countrey. Yet he sate up from morning till night, and commonly walked up and down the room, and never failed to perform Prayer, and other Family exercises, so that none could discern any considerable defect either in his spiritual, or natural strength: Only in this, that when he had done, he would presently call to begin again; and say to his daughter Eunice, who was now the stay of his house, and the staff of his old age (God having taken away his dear wife about two years before) Daughter, shall we not go to prayer? and when she answered him, Sir you have been at Prayer already, and you are weary, he would reply, I fear we have not done what we should do.
It was one of his constant and ordinary Petitions in every Prayer, that God would vouchsafe him a mercifull, and easie passage out of this life, and the Lord did most graciously answer him therein.
February the 21. Anno Christi, 1634. being the day before the Sabbath, in the evening he called very earnestly for Paper, Ink, and two Pens: For (saith he) by Gods grace tomorrow I will preach twice: But (God knows) he was not in a fit condition for study; yet with that resolution he went to Bed, and God gave him some rest that night. In the morning upon the Sabbath day he did rise from his Bed, as he used to do, and came out of his Bed-chamber into the Hall, and after Prayer, he called for his ordinary breakfast, which he used before he went to Church (for still he held his resolution for Preaching) which was an Egg; he took it into his hand, but alas! it would not down: whereupon he said to his daughter.
Eunice, I am not able to go to Church, yet I pray thee, lead me to my Bed, I will lie down a little and rest me. So he rose up out of his chair, and walked up and down, she supporting him, and when he came to the Parlour door, before he put his foot over the threshold: Oh Eunice! saith he, What shall I do? Put your trust (saith she) in that God of whom you have had so much experience, who never yet did leave you, nor forsake you. Yea (saith he) the Lord be thanked.
So he gathered up his strength, went to the Bed-side, sat down upon it, and immediatly composed himself to lie down.His Death. He lifted up one of his Legs upon the Bed without any great difficulty, laid down his Body, and rested his Head upon the Pillow. His Daughter still stood by, expecting when she should lift his other leg upon the Bed, thinking that he had been faln asleep: and she was not mistaken, for so he was. It proved his last sleep, and before she could discern any change in him, his soul had taken its flight into heaven, even into the Arms, and embraces of his Blessed Saviour, whom he had faithfully served all his life long; being about fourscore years old.
He intended a Sabbaths labour for Christ, and Christ gave him rest from his labour, even the rest of an eternal Sabbath. When his daughter began to speak to him, and to lift him, she found that his breath was departed, yet was there not any change in his countenance at all: his eyes and his mouth continuing in the same posture they used to be in his sweetest sleeps.
Thus the Lord gave unto his faithfull Servant the desire of his soul, and a return of his Prayers, such an easie passage, as that his death could not be discerned from a sweet natural sleep.
Not many days before his death he called his daughter and said to her, Daughter, Remember my love to my Son John: I shall see him no more in this life: and remember me to the rest of my children, and Family, and deliver this message to them all from me: Stand fast in the faith, and love one another. This was the last message that ever he sent to them.
He ended his life with a Doxology, breathing out his last, with these words, The Lord be thanked.
When he had thus yielded up his Spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father, his daughter Eunice dispatched away a Messenger to his Son John at Norwich: for so had her Father given order before he died, that his body should not be put into a Cofsin till his Son John came: and God carried him through the journey in hard weather, so that through Gods good providence, he arrived at Belsted early on the Tuesday, and going into the house of mourning, he found the Body of his deceased Father still lying upon the bed: they uncovered his face, and sweetly he lay, and with a smiling countenance, and no difference appearing to the eye between his countenance alive and dead, only that he was wont to rejoyce, and to bless his Son at their meeting, and now he was silent. His son fell upon his face and kissed him, and lift up his voice and wept, and so took his last leave of him till they should meet in a better world.
February the 4th. in the afternoon,His Funeral. Anno Christi, 1634. was he Interred, at which time there was a great confluence people from all the parts thereabout, Ministers, and others, all taking up the words of Joash King of Israel: Oh my Father! my Father! the chariots of Israel, and the Horsemen thereof!
Good Mr. Samuel Ward, that famous Divine, and the glory of Ipswich, came to the Funeral, brought with him a mourning Gown, and offered very respectfully to have preached his Funeral Sermon, now that such a Congregation was gathered together, and upon such an occasion.
But his Son, and daughter durst not give way unto it: for so their Father had often charged them in his life time, and that upon his blessing, that there should be no Sermon at his burial: For (said he) it may give occasion to speak some good of me that I deserve not, and so false things may be uttered in the Pulpit.
Mr. Ward rested satisfied with this, and accordingly did forbear: But the next Friday at Ipswich, he turned his whole Lecture into a Funeral Sermon for Mr. Carter, in which he honoured him, and lamented the Churches loss, to the great satisfaction of the whole Auditory. Gloria fugentes sequitur.
Glory is like your shadow! follow it, and it will flie away from you; but she from it, and it will follow you.
And so it proved with Mr. Carter: His Humility.He was most eminent for Humility: Humble he was in his habit, and humble in all his deportment: For though his Gifts called him before great men, yet his most ordinary converse was with those of an inferiour rank; in whom he saw most of the power of godliness. So that he might truly say, with David, Psal. 119. 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
He wrote very much; but he left nothing behinde him save what is Printed,His Works. and his Exposition upon the Revelations; and a Petition to King James for the taking away of burdensom Ceremonies out of the Church. Nothing else but a few broken Papers, which he regarded not. Probably he burnt the rest, when he saw his appointed time draw neer, meerly out of a low opinion of himself, and his own gifts.
He avoided all things that might tend to outward Pomp, and ostentation: He would have no Funeral Sermon: He left order in his Will not to be buried in the Church, but in the Church-yard; where he, and his wife, that glorious pair, he interred together without so much, or rather so little as a poor Grave-stone over them.
He had learned of Christ to be meek and lowly in heart: He was humble in his Life, and humble in his Death, and now the Lord hath highly exalted him.
He kept a constant Diary, His Diary.or day book, in which every day he set down Gods extraordinary dispensations, his own actions, and whatsoever memorable things he heard, or read that day.
He cast up his Accounts with God every day: and his sins were blotted out before he came to his last reckoning; his day of refreshing came, and he rests from his labours
Plus vivitur exemplis quam preceptis, saith Seneca; Examples of the dead, are Sermons for the liv…ng:
He was a true child of Abraham, and the blessing of Abraham fell upon him. I will bless them (saith the Lord to him) that bless thee, and I will curse them that curse thee. Some years after his death, his Son John being at Bramford, there was an ancient Gentleman, that had lived there long, and was Mr. Carters old Friend, who spake thus unto him, Mr. Carter, I have nowli… to see the downfall of all your Fathers opposites, Note.and enemies; there is not one of them, but their Families are scattered, and come to ruine. Let all the enemies of Gods faithfull Messengers hear and fear, and do no more so wickedly.
It may be truly said of him, and his faithful Yoke-fellow, as it is written of Zacharias and Elizabeth, they were both righteous before God, walking in all the Commandments, and Ordinances of the Lord blameless; and truly the world will, and can testifie, that neither of them did ever do that thing that was evil, or unjust, or scandalous, or uncomely, even their enemies themselvs being Judges, they were as to men, without blemish: their life was a sweet savour, and they went out of this life as a fragrant persume.
This Life was drawn up by Mr. John Carter, Junior, now also with the Lord, one who degenerated not from the steps of his Learned, and holy Father, and by him was sent to me some years since, together with this ensuing Epistle: which I have the rather inserted, to provoke, and stir up others, who can in this way, revive the memories of the Dead Saints, to do it, which will be a more lasting Monument to them, and far more beneficial, and advantagious to the Church of God, than any sumptuous, and costly Funerals, or Grave-stones whatsoever.
To his Reverend Brother, and fellow Labourer in the Lords Vineyard, Mr. Samuel Clark, Pastor of Bennet Fink, London.
Worthy Sir,
THat which Naomi spake to Ruth concerning Boaz▪ He hath not left off his kindnesse to the living, and to the Dead: It is fully verified of your self: You cease not to shew kindness to the Living, and to the Dead. To the Living; by your Preaching, and Ministery you make Saints daily. To the Dead Saints you shew kindness, by perpetuating their Names to their honours, and the good of many: And herein you are a greater gainer: you shine your self by making others shine. Amongst the rest of those that honour you I am one, though I never saw your face, otherwise then in the Frontispiece of your Learned Books.
In the first part of your Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, we had information, that you did resolve to add a second Part; and to put in the Lives of such godly Divines, and others, as were eminent in these latter times, if you were furnished with faithfull Informations. Hereupon, divers did set upon me with very great importunity, to write the Life of my dear Father, and to send it up to you. Truly worthy Sir! I was desirous of the thing, but durst not undertake the work: I was sensible of mine own weakness, and also that his sayings, and doings had … slipped the memories of this Generation, that I should have brought to light such an imperfect thing, as rather would have been a blemish to so eminent a Saint, than any Honour. Hereupon I laid aside all thoughts of medling, or attempting such a thing. I know that he is glorious in heaven, and on earth too, so far as his name is spread.
Now, good Sir, let me be bold to give a short account of my self. Some few days since I went about to make a new Diary for my self, I was desirous in the first place, to set down some passages of my Father, for mine own satisfaction, and use. I began so, and before I was aware, it amounted to so much, as I thought better that that should be published, than nothing at all: and at last my Spirit grew restless: I could not satisfie my self, till I had digested it into some order, and made it publick. And now, Sir, here it is; I present it to your judicious view; accept it in good part from a meer stranger.
My humble request to you, Worthy Sir, is this, that, though I slipped the last opportunity, yet if you shall set forth any more Lives; or if you shall have a new Impression of any of the former, that you would extract so much of my precious Fathers Life, as you shall judge fit, and place it where you please in your Ecclesiastical History. Your Monuments will be lasting in after Ages, when my poor Pamphlet will be worn out with time. Pardon my boldness: The Lord lengthen out your days, for the good of his Church, and the honour of his Saints.
Your most observant friend and brother, that truly Honoureth you, JOHN CARTER.