A Collection of the Lives of Ten Eminent Divines, Frontispiece – Errata
All that thou sees't and readest is Divine:
Learning thus vs'd is water turn'd to wine:
Well may wee then despaire to draw his minde,
View heere the case; i'th Booke the Jewell finde.
… sculpsit P. V. A. M. fecit
A COLLECTION OF THE LIVES OF Ten Eminent Divines, Famous in their Generations for Learning, Prudence, Piety, and painfulness in the work of the Ministry. Whereunto is added, the Life of GVSTAVUS ERICSON, King of Sueden, who first Reformed RELIGION in that Kingdome, and of some other Eminent Christians.
By Sa. Clarke, Preacher of the Gospel in St Bennet Fink, London.
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ,
1 Cor. 11. 1.
Brethren, be ye followers together of me, and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an ensample,
Phil. 3. 17.
Ministri vita censura, & Cynosura.
LONDON, Printed for William Miller, at the Guilded Acorn near the Little North-door in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1662.
To the Candid Reader.
CHRISTIAN READER,
I Here present thee with another Volume of the Lives of Ten Eminent Ministers of Jesus Christ, and of some other Christians. The acceptance of my former Labours in this kinde, hath encouraged me to make some further progress herein. We see how diligent the Papists have been to write and publish the Lives of their Rome-canonized Saints, though most of them were but Ignes fatui that led men into Boggs of Errour, or blinde leaders of the blinde, as the Pharisees were in our Saviours time, till both fell into the ditch: How much more diligent and carefull should we be, to perpetuate the Memories of those who were fixed Stars, not in the Antichristian, but in the true Church of Christ: And truly, if any Church in the Christian world, since the Reformation, much more (through Gods great mercy) hath the Church of England abounded with such: And now what doth the Lord require of us, but that we should be followers of those, Heb. 6. 12.who through faith and patience inherit the Promises. Good examples are for imitation, bad for evitation. Good examples put a kinde of life into men: Even tired Jades seeing other Horses to gallop, will easily be put into a gallop also; and experience shews, that its a good means for our quickning, duely to observe the examples of such as have been forward in godlinesse, according to that of the Apostle, Phil. 3. 17. Mark them which walk so as you have us for an example. Its the Spirits end in guiding some men in the right way, and that eminently, that by their walking therein, they might excite others to follow them: And its also a special end of Regestring the Histories of the Saints departed,Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever was written aforetime, was written for our learning; and this is the best learning which we can reap from such Records, to imitate their Excellencies, and (if it be possible) to outstrip them therein. God in his wisdome hath not Regestred them, that they should be known onelyonly as matter of Story for our delight, but for our direction and imitation; and to shew that the things which he requires of us are possible, seeing they have been done by others before us; as also to shew the way and means more plainly how to do them, and to declare how gratefull and acceptable they are when done. For the Scriptures are not penned altogether in a commanding stile, but have sweet alluring Examples mingled with the Precepts. There are four wayes (saith an eminent Divine) of teaching,Doctor Sibb…. Rule, Reason, Similitudes, and Examples: The two former enjoyn, but work not upon the affections; and as for Smilitudes, they are for illustration, onelyonly Examples conform us in a sweet alluring manner; and that we may receive good from good Examples, these Rules are to be observed:
1. We must eye and pry into them, which is the very end why God hath left us a continuall succession of good Examples.
2. We must eye them, not to observe their weaknesses, to discover their shame, for this is a poysonous disposition; neither may we observe them thereby to take liberty to the flesh, from what is amiss in them; but we must eye them, as we look into Glasses, to dress, and adorn our selves thereby.
3. We must eye them for imitation: We must look upon the best, and the best in the best. We must not compare our selves with those who are inferiour to us in Gifts and Graces: For he that thinks himself good by comparison is not good at all.1 Cor. 11. 1. St. Paul saith, Brethren, be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ: He propounded to himself, the most excellent pattern of all, even of Christ himself, and he blamed the Corinthians, because they measured themselves by themselves, 2 Cor. 10. 12.
4. We must labour for soft and sanctified hearts; for a stony heart will receive no impression.
5. We must look to every one that hath any good thing worthy imitation: For in every Christian there is something imitable; and therefore St. Paul longed to see the Romans, that he might be comforted by their faith, Rom. 1. 12.
6. Lastly, In things concerning which there is no certain rule to direct us, we ought to imitate the Examples of the most holy and sober Christians, as in the fashion of our apparrel, the length of our hair, &c.
And as good examples are very profitable, so there is much danger in those that are evil, which by reason of the corruption of our natures, are great incentives, and allurements to sin. Nemo errat uni sibi, sed dementiam spargit in proximos, accipitque invicem, saith Seneca. No man erres to himself also, but disperseth, and communicates his folly to his Neighbours alone, and interchangeably receiveth the like from them. And as evil Examples are hurtfull in all, so they are most pernicious in superiours: For seldome do these tall Cedars fall, but they beat down all the low shrubs about them. Thus Magistrates by their evil example corrupt their subjects, Parents their children, Masters their servants, and especially Princes their people, seeing all the Country, either for fear or flattery, is apt to conform to their Examples. Ea conditio est Principis, ut quicquid faciat, praecipere videatur, saith Quintilian. Princes actions stand for precepts, and their examples have the power of a Law to draw their subjects to imitation. As the Heliotrope moves after the Sun, so do subjects follow the manners of their Princes.
Regis ad exemplum totus componitur Orbis. Alexander the Great used to carry his head on the one side, whereupon his Nobles and Courtiers in imitation of him did the like. The common people (saith one) are like a flock of Cranes, as the first flyes all the rest follow after; or as a Beast, where all the body follows the Head. Rulers sins do much hurt, as by imputation—Delirant Reges, 2 Sam. 24.plectuntur Achivi, so by imitation; For man is an Apish creature, apter to be led by his eyes, than by his ears. Magis intuentur quid fecerit Jupiter, quam quid docuit Plato, satth St. Augustine. Height of place ever addes two wings to sin, Example and Scandal, whereby it soars higher, and flyes much farther. Oh therefore how cautious should Rulers be lest they be partakers of other mens sins, 1 Tim. 5. 22. They have enough of their own to answer for. Potentes potentèr torquebuntur. Let them take heed lest the iniquity of their heels (of those that follow them at heels) doth compass them about, Psal. 49. 5.
And as the evil examples of Great ones are very pernicious, so are their good examples very profitable: Such as were the Kings of Judah, such were the subjects; like Prince, and like Priest, like people. Before Vespatians time the Romans were grown to great excess, and profuseness in their apparrel, houshold stuffe, and attendants, having by their Conquest of the East, learned the Eastern vices; and though many good Laws were made against it, yet could they not be restrained: But so soon as he came to the Empire, being a sober, moderate, and temperate Prince himself, all that former vanity grew out of fashion.
I am not ignorant how some of late have endeavoured to bespatter, and to bring an Odium upon the Names of some of our former Worthies (whose Lives I have formerly published) as though they were Fanaticks, Anabaptists (because they would not have their children baptized by Popish Priests) enemies to the State, Traytors, &c. But the memory of them shall be blessed, when the names of these their traducers shall not. This is no new thing: Indeed its an old trick of the Devil and his instruments, to belye Gods Children, and to represent them in the ugliest hue they can devise, thereby to make them the more odious:Jaer. 20. 10. Thus Doeg dealt by David: The Priests and Prophets by Jeremy: Dan. 3. 12. & 6. 13.The Persian Courtiers by Daniel, Amos 7. 10.and his Companions: Amaziah by Amos: Hamon by the whole Nation of the Jews: Esther 3. 8.Tertullus by Paul: Act. 24. 5.And the Heathen Idolaters by the Primitive Christians, whereof you may see many Examples in my Mirrour, p. 44, 45. But though the credit of the Saints may be Flyblown for a season, and somewhat obscured, yet as the Moon wades out from under a cloud, so shall their innocency break forth as the light, &c. Psal. 37. 6. Buried it may be in the open Sepulchre of evill throats, but surely it shall rise again. A Resurrection there shall be of Names as well as of Bodies, at the farthest at the last day.
But I fear to exceed the length of an Epistle, and therefore I shall conclude with the words of the holy Apostle St. Paul, 2 Cor. 13. 14.The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. So begging your prayers, I rest
From my Study in Thredneedle-street, Octob. 10. 1661. Yours to serve your Faith and further your Joy, SA. CLARKE.
VponUpon this Book of Lives.
VVHo e're shall please to cast a glancing-eye
On these unpolish't, and rude lines which I
Expose to publick view, may chance t'admire
A womans hand should dare so to aspire.
But why should man and wife divided be,
Who long have liv'd in love, and unity?
For mine own part I do not know the reason,
Except a womans verse be out of season.
Indeed I almost blush thus to be seen
Amongst so many Worthies as have been
Famous for Learning give them but their right,
Yet let me dare 'mongst them to throw my mite.
Of these Examples sure I am there's need,
To back our faith, and strengthen us indeed
Against such traps and nets as now are spread
To catch Gods people in the wayes they tread.
Yet if these Worthies rather chose to dye
Than known Truths to betray, or once deny,
Then let us tread their path, which path is blest,
That when we dye we may with them have r…st.
And now to him that wrote this Book
Due praise, and thanks I give:
And pray that it may never dye,
But when he dyes may live.
To the Reverend, &c. Upon his Book of Lives.
VVIll not the rest of mankinde blush for shame,
When they shall read, what under every name
Is there related? may not Ushers graces
Raise conscious blood into our modern-faces?
(He honour'd more his Dignity and See,
Then they did him; God send more such as he)
May not Crook, Whitaker, and painfull Hill
Shame Drone-vinedressers who want skill or will?
May not, or rather, will not every story
U…b…aid the present age, and stain our glory?
When those that are not over-vicious shall
Run hazard to be styl'd Fanatical:
And these much more, whom you present to view
May probably be call'd Fanaticks too.
For Moses and the Prophets are despised,
Apostles, and Evangelists not prized:
What wonder then, if those whom here you raise
Even from the dead to guide in holy wayes
Shall be reproached, scorned, and neglected,
And that example which they gave, rejected?
Yet, Sir, your pi…us labours sober men
Will prize, and praise God for your happy Pen,
Whereby that pr…cious treasure once contain'd
In earthen v…ssels, now broke by deaths hand
Is for our use preserved i… good part,
And we therewith enriched by your Art.
Let them who would your labours rightly prize
Endeavour to untwine these mysteries.
Candles put out, yet shining bright and fair,
Cities demolished, yet standing are;
Salt turned into dust, yet seasons much,
Uncanonized Saints, yet truely such.
J. C.
The Names of those Divines, and Others, whose Lives are contained in this Volume.
MR. John Carter, who dyed Anno Christi 1634.
Mr. Samuel Crook, who dyed Anno Christi 1649.
Mr. John Cotton, who dyed Anno Christi 1652.
Dr. Thomas Hill, who dyed Anno Christi 1653.
Dr. William Gouge, who dyed Anno Christi 1653.
Mr. Thomas Gataker, who dyed Anno Christi 1654.
Mr. Jeremy Whitaker, who dyed Anno Christi 1654.
Dr. James Usher, Primate of all Ireland, who dyed Anno Christi 1655.
Mr. Richard Capel, who dyed Anno Christi 1656.
Dr. Robert Harris, who dyed Anno Christi 1658.
In the second Part.
Gustavus Ericson, King of Sueden, who dyed Anno Christi 1562.
Mrs. Jane Ratcliffe, who dyed Anno Christi 1638.
Mr. Ignatius Jurdaine, who dyed Anno Christi 1640.
Mrs. Margaret Duck, who dyed Anno Christi 1646.
Mrs. Margaret Corbet, who dyed Anno Christi 1656.
Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson, who dyed Anno Christi 1654.
Being sometimes occasionally absent from the City, these faults have escaped the Corrector, which I pray thee mend with thy Pen before reading of the Book.
PAge 29. line 4. read foreign for foreign, p. 33. l. 8. r. strenuous for pervous, p. 77. l. 1. put in, when so ne, &c. p 87. l. 1. r. conscionably for conscionable, p. 91. l. 4. put out, an, p. 129. l. 15. put out, was, p. 140. l. 1. put in, of, l. 20. r. her for his, p, 144. l. 22. put in, occasion, p. 149. l. 20. r. familiarly, for familiarity, p. 150. l. 29 r Bishops for Bishop, p. 156. l. 23. r. strange for strong, p. 157. l. 11. r. dayes, for life, p. 233. l. 31. r. knowing for know, p. 312. l. 4. r. wrote for wrough…, p. 318. l. 25. r. jure human…, & juris human…, p. 342. l. 17. r. bury for b…y, l. the last, r other, for to her, p. 315. l. 8. r the restless, for restless the, p. 369. l. 17. r. Sabboth for Sabbath, l. 27. r. Lubeckers for Lubecks, p 435. l. 21. r. the so…l, for the sould, p. 439. l. 7. r. M…t. 6. 3. for M…t. 3. 6. p. 443. l. 11. r. which for when, p. 451. l. 15. put in by that, l. 24 p…t in, he, p. 452 l. 13. p…t out, used, and put in, to, p. 457. l. 3. put in, of, p. 468. l. 29. r. you, for yours, l. 529. l. 11▪ r. breeding for being.