The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons, Part 2 · Biography 4
Sr Nathaniel Barnardiston of Ketton in Suff. K• Obiit A. D. 1663. Aet. 66.
F. H. van. Houe Sculp:
The Life and Death of the Eminently Religious, and much Honoured Knight, Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston.
IT's certain that the Light of Nature, and of Grace also, hath ever set an high value upon the Memonies of all just and worthy men; such as have honoured and blest the World by their living in it; as we see proved and illustrated by the ingenious Writings of several Learned and Great Men, both in the Heathen and the Christian World; besides what we see better discovered and confirmed in the sacred Text, where it is said, The name of the wicked shall rot, but the memory of the Just is blessed. Nature says, That the good Lives of men merit praise and an open acknowledgment; thereby to draw others to the same perfections, thereby to preserve the value of Mankind, and to better the circumstances of an idle impertinent World, with the good of Kingdoms, States, Towns and Families: Grace says, That nothing is so good, sweet, and pleasing, both in Life and Death, as to imitate the dear Jesus, and to copy out the blessed Rules of the Gospel; to the confirmation of this we may draw in all that is affirmed in whole Divinity, or treated on in the holy Bible: Referring to the case in hand, It was well said by a Worthy Divine, That it is barbarous Inhumanity in Nature, injurious Detraction in Morality, and wilful disobedience in Divinity, to bury the Memory and Reputation of those in silence and obscurity, whom the Lord by the manifestation of his Grace hath raised to eminency, and exalted above the Standard of the World: For what is humane in Nature, or praise worthy in Morality, or commanded in Divinity, but what belongs to good and holy Living? Then certainly we may make bold to caress the Memory of him who bears our Title, Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston; a Person not fit to be mentioned without a Preface, being so eminently Religious, and much to be Honoured; as we shall easily see, if we search into some only of the most memorable passages of his Birth, Life, and Death.
First, To begin with his Birth. Both Natural and Divine: Natural, Thus: His Birth. Natural.He was born in Suffolk, in that admirable year One Thousand five hundred eighty and eight; A year that ever deserves to be with in Letters of God; a year in which the Pope and the Spaniard designed to have taken away the Lives of the English Protestants, and with them to have put an end to their holy Religion; a Design carried on with the utmost Endeavours imagineble, and appeared, when it began to Act, much like the Title of the Navy, that should have managed it, to wit, Invincible; but it pleased God wonderfully to overcome and dash in pieces all this Pompous Strength, Pride, and Hope. It was no small Glory for a man to date his Nativity from such an Eminent Time; and this Gentleman would often please himself with the remembrance of it. And on the other hand, God did not a little add to the Honour and Grandeur of the year by his being born in it.
He was not of a mean or low Original, though its possible for one arising from Not of a low Original.such a Fountain to be Great and Worthy) but he derived his Pedigree from an Ancient Family, containing no small number of Noble Ancestors; He was the Twenty Third Knight, lineally desended of that Family, which still enjoys the Paternal Estate they had before the Conquest. He w…y one that knew the Countrey very well, styled The Top-Branch of the Suffolk Cequest. To be of a more raised, durable, and lofty Descent than the Vulgar, is a thing of note and value in the Judgment of Infinite Wisdom, 2 Sam. 7. 9. speaking of David, there the Lord says, I have made thee a great Name like the Name of the Great men of the Earth. The Greater Men are, and the greater Blessings to all that have to do with them, if they be but truly gracious. Eccles. 10. 17. Blessed art thou, O Land, when thy Prince is the Son of Nobles, and not of an upstart Family: yet this is no other blessing but what is common to the more rude and immoral World, as well as to the best and most useful Believer; and so it cannot possibly have any such great excellency in it as some proud and carnal Minds do fancy; all Noble Blood without the Divine Grace, being no better than tainted; Abel was of the younger House to Cain, but yet transcendently more Honourable.—Nobilitas sola est, atque unica, virtus. Inv. Sat. 8.
It is therefore necessary and becoming to shew how the Almighty honoured him Divine Birth.in giving him another Birth, more Noble and Great than the most losty Unbeliever ever enjoy'd; here we may say foreign, he was born from above; born (I say) not of bloud, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, BƲT OF GOD. And this his second Birth was eminently honourable and remarkable above others in three Particulars;
1. In the Time of his Conversion.
2. In the matter or occasion of his Humiliation.
3. In the Foundation of his Faith.
1. For the Time of his Conversion, it was when he was young, the Lord enabled The Time of his Conversionhim to Remember his Creator in the days of his youth, by casting in the Seed of Regeneration when he was at School, the very time when others of his Rank and Quality give up themselves to the greatest degrees of licencious Wantonness, and immoderate Excesses; pretending that the heat of Nature, and strength of the lusts of Youth, produce a sufficient Apology and Discharge for the same: But at that very time did Infinite Grace so effectually seize on him, That with the devout young Abel he did offer his First-fruits unto God. O how emphatical and thoroughly excellent it is for young Gentlemen to bear Christs Yoke in their youth, when brisker Nature invites and irritates, when the fawning blooming World hugs and most obsequiously attends them; and Satan (in his most smooth appearance) strews their way with Roses, and puts on his most sugar'd Bait, and presents to unexperienced and forward Flesh and Blood, all the dangerous Things that are taking and desirable? O then to be abstemious, to be crucified with Christ, to be mortified and wholly dead to all these things, is rare and glorious!
2. For the matter or occasion of his Humiliation; this was eminently remarkable; Matter or occasion of his Humiliation.the Lord being pleased to go out of his ordinary way or method he commonly useth in the Conviction and Humiliation of such as bear his date and character in the World, to wit, by charging upon their Consciences some notorious actual sin, as we find by frequent experience, but yet it was otherwise with him; For living more innocently than (for the most part) young Gentlemen do, upon a time hearing that of the Psalmist opened, Psal. 51. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my Mother conceive me. From which words the greatness and odiousness of Original sin being demonstrated and pressed home, it pleased the Lord so deeply to awaken and affect his Mind and Conscience thereby, as that in the whole following course of his Life, from that very time, it was a means to abase all high thoughts of himself, and to make him lye down at the Footstool of God in the mournful sense of his own emptiness and vileness; yea, he was more solidly and constantly humbled and broken for it, than for all the Fruits of it, which every day make their appearance by actual transgressions in the Lives of the most, yet by this means was happily prevented in him: For as Pliny says (in his Natural History, lib. 7.) That they that are once stung with Scorpions, are ever after priviledged from being stung with Wasps and Hornets, so he that is first deeply humbled for this Root, Mother, and Nurse of all Wickedness and Corruptions (to wit, Original sin) shall seldom have cause afterward to be wounded with the guilt of Actual transgressions; this was well confirmed by the following Life of this holy Youth.
3. For the Foundation of his Faith, it was more to be observed, or taken special notice of than the rest; for whereas the greatest number of Men ground their Faith Foundation of his Faith.upon that which can only be the Proof of it, that is, the evidences of their love to God; and others, having learned better things, ground it upon the discovery of the all sufficiency of Christs merit, revealed in the Gospel; and a third sort lay the ground of their Faith upon the general offer of God in the Gospel, tendering Christ to them; His Faith was not only built generally upon the Evidences of Gods love to sinners, but particularly upon the Gospel, as it is the Law of Faith, held forth unto him in the first Epistle of St. John 3. chap. ver. 23. This is his Commandment, that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ. From which place was very happily urged by him that then Preached, That in the Gospel there was not only granted a liberty to believe in Christ, if we pleased, but a necessity imposed, that requireth us to believe, whether we will or no. It pleased the Lord by this Doctrine so to prevail with, and overpower his Heart by the Authority of this Precept, that he durst not refuse it, but submitted unto it; and so his confidence, or foundation of his Faith, was exercised in pure obedience unto God. Which, being the most Evangelical and sublime reception of Christ; namely, upon no other ground but the authoritative Will of God, was that which produced this honourable second Birth in him; wherein his Faith was more established, than it usually is in most Believers through all the days of their Lives.
Now we have shewed you the Birth of this Great Man Divine as well as Natural; you cannot but say, That as he was Genere nobilis, so he was Sanctitate nobilior: Great by his Natural Birth, but greater by that which was Divine.
Secondly, concerning his Life; which we shall find was as useful and gracious, as His Life.his Birth was raised and remarkable, if we compare those exact Descriptions we find of such a Life in the holy Text with the Actions and Practices of this holy Gentleman. Whether we draw the Description of his Life from what the Psalmist lays down, Psal. 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, which walk in the Law of the Lord. Or, from what Zacharias doth propose, Luke 1. 74, 75. Serving God in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of our Lives. Or, lastly, from what Saint Paul did practice, Acts 24. 16. Exercising himself to have always a Conscience void of offence towards God, and towards Men. We shall find, I say, his Life to be a Copy or Counterpane of all these, and so to be very useful and gracious; and this we must draw from the whole of what is to be said under this General Head.
For the illustrating this, I shall set before you Four Particulars.
1. His Personal Capacity as a Man, including part of his constitutive Character.
2. His publick Capacity, as a Magistrate or States-man.
3. His Relative Capacity, belonging to his Family.
4. His Religious Capacity, belonging to God and the Church.
1. For his Personal Capacity, as a Man, including part of his constitutive Character. Personal capacity, as a man.And here take him in the composition of his Soul and Body (say it was distinct from the stiperaddition of renewing perfecting Grace) and you shall see he was lovely; yea, so lovely, as to invite and please the observation of the Great and Wise. The make of his Body, even from Head to Foot (not to be too particular) was competently Gentile and Brave; His Soul was Comprehensive, Vigorous, Noble, Great and Active; His Presence and Aspect smooth and pleasant, yet Grave, and often striking Reverence and Awe into the minds and deportment of such as looked upon him; especially, such as came before him when he was exercising the Office of a Magistrate. I may say of his, as was said of Basils Countenance, whilst he was performing holy Exercises, namely, That so much Divine Majesty and Lustre appeared therein, that it made the Emperour Valens tremble to behold it. And in like manner this most exact and holy Gentlemans severe deportment was so effectual, that it banished from his presence all those scurrilous and sordid Gestures and Practices, which the debauchery and impudence of too many of considerable Degree fear not to act in the sight of God and their Betters. This will be further confirmed, if we do but recite four Lines of a large Elegie upon his Death, writ by a knowing impartial Hand; thus,
Shall I not once again on Earth behold
That Countenance so grave, so brave, so bold,
Which with a look could daunt the face of sin,
And make offence to hide it self within.
As there were none more flexible and complying than himself to the most easie desires of those who were just, honest, and good, be they of the lowest Rank of men in the World; so on the other side, there was none could put on a braver obstinacy, or move peremptory refusal, than he would do, to the most lofty Commands, or most zealous Importunities, even of the greatest Men, if what was urged was unjust, or against his happy Rule of Life, the Word of God. This was the occasion of what was said by another, of those many excellent Persons that condoled his Death, and justly adorned his Person and Memory by their Elegies; as follows,
Most perfect Image of the God above,
Without was Majesty, within was Love;
One drawn with sweetness by an Infants hand,
Not driven by violence or base command.
It was said at his Funeral, That there was in him a blessed conjunction of those things which rarely meet in any other, to wit, an admirable facility and easiness to be intreated, with a great yieldingness of Spirit, even to Inferiours, when any good might be done thereby: and yet also a strong, resolute, unmoveableness and stedfastness of mind in opposing all evil in whomsoever: so that he was truly what was reported of Athanasius, Magnes & Adamas, a Loadstone for his sweetness in drawing on that which was good and holy, and an Adamant for his Courage and Stoutness in suppressing Evil. In regard of the former, I may say as was said of Titus, the Emperour, that he was Deliciae humani generis, the delights of mankind; and in respect of the latter, he was Nathaniel, a true Israelite without guile.
2. For his publick Capacity, as a Magistrate or States-man. So,Publick capacity as a Magistrate. Justice of the Peace.
As he was Justice of the Peace, he was exceeding active and useful; he ever exercised Justice in its own due time and way; he never befriended the Great to the prejudice of those that were little and mean in the World; he ever held the Ballance of Justice in an even hand, and acted as impartially, as if all that came before him had neither had Interest in him, nor any Acquaintance at all; he was only a terrour to evil doers, but a praise and encouragement to all them that did well; by this means making Religion and Justice grow round about him.
When he was High-Sheriff, (which he was in the One and twentieth year of the High Sheriff.Reign of King James) he was to God, his King, and the Country for which he served, one of the most exact that ever bore that Office. One passage here I must not let slip; As serving of God was one principal business in every place he was employed in through his Life; so here, though he neglected no business that belonged to his present Office, yet he had a special care to have God faithfully served, and that even in the Week-day, taking with him his Sheriffs-men to a Weekly Lecture at some distance from his House; thereby dignifying that Office at an higher rate than usually, if not at any time, is performed.
He was also usually placed in the high Trust of a Parliament-man; for he was Parliamentman.constantly chosen on every occasion as a Knight for his own Native County; not, that he had a Patent for the place, as some of his Enemies did report, out of envy at the Peoples honouring him by their constant Election, but because he was ever found to have a noble Resolution and Care to discharge the Trust that was committed to him; whereby it came to pass that no sooner was one to be chosen, who should be intrusted with a power over the Lives and Estates of his Country, but presently the thoughts, eyes and resolutions of all Men were fixed upon him, and all cryed for a Barnardiston, a Barnardiston. Which Trust he received upon him, not out of any Popular ambition, to advance his own greatness; nor, out of any self-end to raise his own Estate, by exhausting the publick Treasury, or to enrich himself by other mens ruine; nor out of lofty arrogancy that he might domineer and trample upon his Neighbours in the Country, under pretence of the Priviledge of a Parliament-man; much less to abuse that Peace to an impurity, and sheltering of himself in Riot, Excess, Pride and Lasciviousness; but out of a Mind and Conscience devoted to the Service of the Church and Commonwealth; beyond which neither fear, favour, nor flattery could draw him to Act or Vote at all, absolutely refusing to defile himself by any miscarriage, let the inducement or temptation be whatsoever.
Now consider him as a publick Person, and was he not Pater Patriae, a true Father of his Countrey? which Title he did as certainly deserve as ever did Curtius, Claudius, or the Decij; for although he did not in every particular what is said of them, Pro toto terrarum orbe se devovere, devote himself for the defence of the whole Earth; yet for his Countrey and the defence of the just Rights and Liberties thereof, he did not refuse voluntarily to expose himself to a Gulph of hazards and sufferings; witness his suffering under the Imposition of Ship-money, Coat and Conduct-money, and the Loan; for refusing whereof he was a long time imprisoned in the Gate-house, and afterward confined for a longer time in Lincoln-shire, above sixscore miles from his own usual abode.
3. For his Relative capacity, belonging to his Family. Here he was really what became Relative capacity belonging to his Family.a good and holy Man. And here we'l consider him in his carriage and acting both as Inferiour, and Superiour.
1. As an Inferiour towards his Father, and Grandfather; where he did in every As Inferiour.thing answer that Relation he stood in to them. So that you will see he knew as A Son.well how to honour, serve and obey, as to command, cherish and love. He enjoy'd his Father a less time than his Grandfather, his Father being removed by Death long before his Grandfather; but yet we may easily gather what his carriage to him was, from the high and extensive value he set upon his Memory; as, he used to please himself to discourse of his Father, affirming that he was a very godly Man, and that it was a great disadvantage for him to part with him so young; these things, and others, he would often declare to his Children and Friends, dropping many Tears, to shew his great and strong Affection; and when he made his Will, he there exprest an importunate desire to his Executors that the Bones of his Father might be digged out of the Earth, (where they were buried) and laid by his own Body in a new Vault, he ordered his Executors to erect for the same purpose; thus, though he could not live with his Father as long as he would have desired, yet he designed that their Bodies or Relicks, should lye together till the happy Resurrection day; which certainly did denote a noble Veneration, and a most raised Filial Affection. As to his Grandfather, he always behaved himself in all suitableness A Grandson.to his Relation; Two things here we may record, as First, how the Grandfather when young was educated under the Great Mr. Calvin in Geneva, being sent thither by his Guardians in the miserable and most unhappy days of our Queen Mary; and this we can say, that if the Grandfather failed to live according to that Education in some part of his Life, yet his Grandson endeavoured to live it for him; which he not only did in an eminent Degree, but for that reason also; looking upon the Goodness of God, in extraordinary Mercies or Providences to Progenitors, to be obliging to Posterity, so as to invite to a good Improvement, as the best way of thankfulness, the best way of preventing the Divine displeasure, and the best way of reconciliation to God, and true advantage to a Mans own Soul. Again, Secondly, There was another thing fit to be recorded, to wit, his constant importuning his Grandfather, upon every vacancy of Church Livings, to give him leave to Present, because he was likely, according to the common course of Nature, to have the longest enjoyment of such men; which, his Grandfather submitting to, was the occasion of eminent and worthy Divines being put into such Livings as became void, there being many belonging to that Family. This was much to the credit of his Grandfather, more to his own comfort and joy, and most of all to the prosperity and happiness of such Towns and Parishes as this Blessing fell upon. All the days of his Grandfathers Life he was ever endeavouring to do him good, and help him in any of his Affairs, all which he did with great Humility, Respect, and Honour.
2. As a Superiour; and here his Relation honoured the Degree of an Husband, As Superiour.a Father, a Grandfather, and a Master; in all which he appeared and acted in an eminent way. As,
An Husband; he seemed here to imitate the practice of the Lord Jesus towards An Husband.his Church, in his conjugal love, protection, and full contentation and delight, until he became a Pattern and Mirrour of Matrimonial sweetness and faithfulness: and as it is said by one of the Rabbins concerning Methuselahs Wife, That she had nine Husbands in one, for age and years; so I may say of this Gentlemans Lady, that she had nine Husbands in him alone, for his amiable Carriage and Graces. These were, it is true, acted while he was Living, but he left a Testimonial in his Will of his living Affection after his own death, over and above the Marriage Covenants, to shew his endearedness of her, by his affectionate remembrance when he himself was gone.
A Father he was also; and what manner of one his Children have declared in As a Father.their hearts, lives, and filial deportments; they have always affirmed that he ever performed not only the part of an earthly Father, in the due discovery of all becoming bowels and tender affection to their Bodies, but also performed the Office of an heavenly Father to their Souls, by a constant endeavour and serious study for their Education in the most exact and strict way of pure and paternal Religion; one testimonial of which was his continual bestowing on them spiritual Counsels and gracious Instructions, the grand scope and end of which was to incite and stir them up to a strict watchfulness over themselves, and a close walking with God; and it was usual with him, after the giving such Instructions unto them severally, to take them into his Closer, and there pray over them and for them. If at any time they had displeased him, so excellent was his moderation and wisdom towards them, that he would never correct them, nay, not so much as reprove them in his displeasure, but still waited the most cool and convenient time, wherein they seldom discovered that he was angry, by any other effect but his silence. And, on the other side, he was so ready to encourage them in any Acts of well doing, that for the most part his extraordinary respects and favours towards them, were bestowed rather under the notion of rewards of their Duty, than the issues of his Bounty; still professing before them (as he usually did to his Friends upon their discoursing concerning the extraordinary Blessings of God upon them in their Travels abroad, and their Returns home again) that he took infinitely more content in beholding one grain of Grace, and evidence of true Regeneration in his Children, than if their Estates and Gains abroad had been multiplied an hundred fold; if withall they had come back again prophane, or no more than meerly Civilized, without the power of Godliness.—He was ever a kind and dear Father for Affections and Wishes, for Advice and Prayers; and for numerous Letters constantly sent to his Children; many of which, being very excellent, might have been inserted for the good Instruction of others, only they would have swell'd his Life beyond what is thought convenient.—Though he was ever importunate to have all his Sons employed, not taking it as becoming to have any of his live out of useful Callings; whereby they might bless and better their Generation, yet he ever desired rather to have them good than great.—In his Will he exhorts them all to fear God, and love one another; and that, if any difference happened amongst them, as ever they bore any duty or love to him, or as they would expect the like from their own Children, they would leave all such differences to the Arbitrement of the rest of their Brethren, and would stand to their Award.—In the said Will he also leaves Ten Pounds to the Reverend Mr. Fairclough, his Parochial Minister, with this desire, That whilst he lived he would give good Advice and Counsel to his Children. Thus you see he was a most dear, most affectionate, and most Religious Father. You shall also see more of this, when we come to speak of his Death.
He was also a wise and careful Grandfather, not only instructing these little As a Grandfather.sweet Relations while he lived, but also using endeavours to command them to be good, honest, and obedient when he was dead; as appears by what he lest under his Hand in his last Will, so often mentioned, where he bequeaths them several Legacies, but with this Proviso, That if any of them would not be ruled by their Parents, it should be in the power of their Parents to lessen or take away what he had left them, first giving it under their Hands to his Executors.
He was also an excellent Master to his Servants; giving them all that was just, due, and necessary for their maintenance and encouragement. He ever gave them As a Master.good Example in himself, and failed not to instruct them in the most useful things for the benefit of their Souls and Bodies. As he walked within his house with a perfect Heart, so he hated the work of them that did turn aside; and did not permit any prophane person to stand before him, or to wait upon him; his eyes were ever fixed upon those that were faithful in the Land, that they might serve him, Psal. 101. This was the reason that he had so many excellent Servants; his Family being a true Nursery for the qualifying and accomplishing such; so that one, who was well acquainted with his Family, affirms, that at one time he had ten or more Servants so eminent for Piety and Sincerity, that he never saw the like, all at once, in any Family in the Nation; such, whose Obedience, joyned to their Governours care, produced so rare an effect, that they truly made his House a spiritual Church and Temple, wherein were daily offered up the spiritual Sacrifices of Reading the Word, and Prayer, Morning and Evening, of singing of Psalms constantly after every Meal, before any Servant did rise from the Table: also the chiefest of them did usually, after every Sermon they heard, call the rest into the Buttery, (a place of most disorder in other Houses) and there repeat the Sermon unto the rest, before they were called to the repetition of it in their Masters presence.
By this time you may easily see how excellent this Gentleman was at Relative Duties; he was not a Saint abroad, and a Devil at home, as is but too truly said of some that make no small show in Religion, but he was a Saint in all places and Relations; which will appear by what follows.
4. We are to consider him in his Religious Capacity, belonging to God and the His Religious Capacity belonging to God and the Church.Church: In which he was no less excellent than in any of those that went before.
Here we may (first) see with how much Piety ond Devotion he exercised himself towards God; he ever lived and acted with such a reverential Awe, and most devout respect towards the Almighty, that his Life seemed little else but one entire Belonging to God.Se…ies of Devotion. Yet we will a little see what he was in particular Duties of Religion; and here whether we instance in secret or publick Exercises, he did so earnestly devote himself unto them, that for my part (saith a Godly Divine that was his close Observer) amongst Persons of his Quality, I think he hath left very few Superiours behind him, if any Equals.
1. In Private Duties.
It's recorded to the everlasting praise of the young Lord Harrington, so famous for Piety, that it was his constant use to Pray twice every day in secret, twice with Private Dutiessome choice Friends and Servants, besides his Family Duties. But I am assured, by those that closely observed this gracious Knight, that it was his practice to pour out his Soul before the Lord in secret thrice every day, and sometimes oftner, if he could gain opportunity; besides his Family Duties, and days of extraordinary Humiliation, which he importunately embraced upon every occasion. This I can testifie (saith Mr. Fairclough) upon mine own experience, that for many years together when I was first acquainted with him, I seldom visited him or he me, but if any convenient place could be found, we might not part except we had prayed together.—Nor was he more frequent in secret Prayer, than constant in secret reading the Scriptures; which he ever made sure work to begin and close up with Prayer, that he might obtain the blessing of God thereon: afterward he ever read other choice Authors, of which he had store; but not long before his Death he took singular delight to read Mr. Baxters Saints Everlasting Rest, and Preparation thereunto; which after his death was taken notice of to be nothing else but the gracious event of the Divine Providence, sending it as a Guide to bring him more speedily and directly to that Rest.—His constant converse with single Persons, was so Divine, as to merit a place among his private Duties unto God; for his Speech was ever free from the least unsavouriness, boasting, or passion; consisting of nothing but love, sweetness and modesty; all his Discourse ever ministred Grace unto the Hearers, it was ever a pure Stream from the pure Fountain of his Heart; so far from the least appearance of lightness, or excessive Mirth, that in Thirty years together none ever heard one syllable from his mouth tending to any wanton expression, that might offend the most chast Mind or Ear; but as the Poet affirmed, Vernas efflat ab ore rosas, his Tongue dropped Honey, and his Breath was as sweet and fragrant as Roses in the Spring.—Thus you see with what an industrious Holiness he used his precious time when less or more retired, so that Nunquam minus solus, quam cum solus, is a true saying of him, He was never less alone, than when alone, his God and he was most abundant company.
2. In Publick Duties.Publick Duties.
Though in private Duties, his noble Actings in or for Religion, were so much hid, as to be only like the Beams of the Sun striking under, or through a cloud; yet in his Publick Exercises unto God his Graces and Activity had their Tabernacle in the Sun, so that they did shine in a most resplendant way.
If we begin with his Sanctification of the Sabbath, we shall find he addrest himself thereto with so much delight, that notwithstanding he rose early every day in Sanctification of the Sabbath.the Week, yet he rose more early on the Lords-day, so early, that usually he was the first up in the Family; then called his Children and others up, that they might have sufficient time to prepare themselves for a more reverent and devout attendance upon the Lord in his Publick Ordinances; and for himself he usually spent much time every Sabbath Morning, before he came to the Congregation.
His value of, and constant attendance upon, the Ministration of the Word publickly dispensed, shewed him so eminent, and zealously concerned, and taken up therein, Attendance on the Word Preached.that it was difficult for any in the whole World to out-do him. What the Apostle James requires in a blessed Hearer, was his punctual practice, that is, He was swift to hear; he could never satisfie his own Conscience, if he was not present to joyn with the Congregation before there was one word spoken, or one Petition sent up to the Lord; his unweariedness in this course while he lived, was always visible to them of those Congregations where he resided. You'l see something more when we come to speak of his Death.—The Congregation being dismissed, the first thing which he did usually, after he came within his own Doors, was immediately to betake himself to his Closet, to beg a blessed dew from Heaven, to water the seed sown in his Heart that day.
His Preparation for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was transcendent; though Preparation for the Sacrament of the Supper.he ever exceeded the most in diligence and reverence in other Duties of Gospel Worship, yet in his consciencious preparation for, and fruitful improvement of the Lords Supper, he did exceed himself; for the most part he spent all the time he could redeem in a fourth night before the Sacrament, in his Closet in reading, praying, and examination of his spiritual state, with other Duties of Preparation tending thereunto; and what he practised himself in this kind, he constantly called upon others under him to do the like. We shall presently see further how eminent he was in preparing for the Sacrament, as also in advancing publick Catechising under the next Head; which is, in the (Second place)
To consider him in his Religious Capacity, belonging to the Church of God: in which His Religious Capacity belonging towards the Church. Love to the Ministry.we shall fully see his incomparable use and worth, if we seriously weigh the following four Particulars.
1. His warm Love, and durable Affection to an holy Ministry. They who were faithful and godly in this Function, had not of his Quality a more faithful and hearty Friend and Well-wisher in the whole World; none so earnestly and frequently prayed for them, none so highly prized their Calling and Labours as he did; he was fully of that good mans mind, who openly professed, He had rather fall with the Ministry of England, than stand in greatest power with their Enemies. When some talked of mortal bloody times, and dark, black days a coming upon us, he replied, That those would be accounted dark black days indeed, when the Lights of the Ministry were extinguished, than the shortest Life would be accounted best. It was said at his Funeral, whosoever in the Congregation have been losers by his death, We of the Ministry have the greatest loss; if the Hearers put on blacks, the Preachers have cause to mourn in Sack-cloth.
2. His extraordinary care and endeavours constantly to present to every Living where Care to make good Presentments.he was Patron, such as were right qualified and holy Men. You may refer to this Head what was said before, in speaking to his behaviour to his Grandfather; to which I shall add, That he was not only careful in his Grandfather's time, but ten times more in his own; so that when any Place belonging to his Gift was vacant, he would spend many daies in Fasting and Prayer to invite the Direction of God, to guide his bestowing thereof; professing many times with all possible seriousness, That his Spirit did more tremble to set his hand and Seal to a Presentation, than to any other Writing or Deed whatsoever; lest (said he) I should thereby bring the loss of the Peoples Souls to be required of me or my Posterity, through my negligence therein. And therefore when by all his own eare, and advice of Friends, such an one would not be procured, as for sufficiency and abilities could give satisfaction to the conscience of this rare Patron, then he left it wholly to the better sort of the People in that Place, to chuse their own Minister and Pastor. Oh how happy was all those Towns where he was Patron, for they might be sure to have fair play for their Souls.
3. His doing all he could to draw his Neighbours to the Life, Power and universal practice of Religion. This was admirable kindness to the Church: for she is little befriended Drawing his Neighbours to the Life, &c. of Religion.by like-warm, much less by lifeless Professors. He alwaies heartily joyned with his Minister (the fore-mentioned eminent Mr. Fairclough) in every Design that might advance holiness, and make the Church to grow; nay, engaged himself to do all things that could be proposed for that end. I will here mention two excellent Practices of his tending directly to the design in hand; the first was about Catechizing, the other the Sacrament of the Supper of our Lord.
As to Catechizing, he saw it was necessary for Old People as well as Young, in order to the obtaining Saving Knowledge, that he proposed it to the Heads of the Families in the Town and Parish of Ketton (both rich and poor) That when the Children or Servants were Catechized, if they could not give Answer at any time to the Question asked, the Father or Master should answer for them; he engaging that he would do the like for his Children and Servants; he, having laid out some time and several importunate Arguments, did preyall to the setting up of this practice, which by his Example succeeded well; which, through the grace of God, was of admirable Advantage to the informing of ignorant Minds, and the building up them and others in the most holy Faith.
In the next place, as to the Sacrament of the Supper of our Lord; here he did all he could to assist the Minister in hindering the openly wicked from participating of this holy Ordinance, to their own great disadvantage, as also the scandal of the Church; in order hereunto he agreed with the rest of those that were to communicate, That publickly he and they should declare their owning of the Baptismal Covenant; accordingly this gracious Knight did himself begin this holy undertaking, and before all the Communicants did declare his Faith in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and did undertake, through the assistance of the Holy Spirit, to perform whatsoever his Sureties had promised in his Baptism upon his account; in which he was imitated by all others that did communicate; which did silence and keep the visibly Profane from medling with that sacred Justification and Action, they being fully convinced of the reasonableness of the practice. This surely was doing what he could to advance the Life, Power and Ʋniversal Practice of Religion among his Neighbours? and I am sure it was advantageous to the Church. But so was also,
4. His constant commemorating and rejoycing in the Deliverances of the Church. Although his practice was herein universal, and did contain his abundant joy in the success and deliverances of the Churches abroad, in any part of the World; yet we shall consine his Actings to our own Church in this Nation, and tell you that he did Annually commemorate and solemnize The thrice happy Day of Queen Elizabeths Inauguration, her entrance upon the Crown of England, to the glorious rescuing of the Reformed Religion, from the bloody designs of the inhumane Papists. He also did every year observe and celebrate the Fifth of November, with all becoming expressions of Joy, from the wonderful deliverance from the Gun Powder Treason, a Treason as black as Hell it self, attempting the utter destruction of our King, Prince, Nobles, principal Church-men, and all the Leading States-men of England, in order to the change of our Religion and ruine of our Church. But because the Papists, many of them to this day, like the Whore in the Proverbs, wipe off this discovery of their sin and shame, saying, There was no such thing; notwithstanding the finding their cruel Preparations, owned and vindicated by the desparate Traitors, with many other undeniable circumstances; I shall add one farther confirmation of their undoubted guilt, often affirmed and mentioned by this excellent Knight, not a little adding to the confutation of these lying Pseudo-Christians, to wit, That a day or two before the perfect Discovery of this Horrid Plot, (which was when Faux was apprehended) he being for some considerable time in the Temple Garden, where he was then a Student, did observe several men walking there together, and constantly whispering, looking and acting much concerned, all of whom within a few daies after he found to be those bloody Conspirators, by going to view them in Prison. Well, on these daies, (I say) of our Churches Deliverance, he did annually express all becoming joy and thankfulness, by Divine Praises, and other usual civil waies of rejoycing. See Esther 9. 22, 26, 27, 28.
Thus I have shewed you something, and but something, of what this Holy Man was in his Religious capacity towards God and the Church. I have, I confess, but mentioned (as I say) something of his Graces and Excellencies, for divers are omitted wherein he was as eminent as in any I have named. It's necessary indeed that I instance in one, I mean, his Charity to the Poor, in which he did Cloath and Feed great number of those that dwelt round about him constantly year by year while he lived, and left them Legacys in several Parishes when he dyed; yea, so extensive was his Heart in the practice of Charity, that it reached even as far as the Poor in New-England, whose necessities he did highly commiserate and supply.
But thus much for his Life.
Thirdly, And lastly for His Death: and surely if their Death be blessed, That (with His Death.St. Paul) have finished their Course, and kept the Faith: That (with good old Simeon) have beheld the Salvation of Christ; or that rest from their labours, their Works following them? then it will appear that his Death was as blessed, as his Life was gracious, and his Birth Honourable.
Here we shall find six Things remarkable. 1. His Preparation for it at some distance. 2. His welcoming the Messenger thereof when it drew near. 3. His unwillingness, even then to be absent from holy Ordinances and Exercises. 4. His most fervent performance of such Duties as he was capable of. 5. His excellent farewel Advice to his Children. 6. His peaceable and joyful Departure.
1. His Preparation for Death at some distance. He was unwilling to be surprized, and therefore did use endeavours for several years before it came to be ready, but His Preparation for Death.especially for two years before he was, ever thinking of it and fitting for it: then he made his last Will and Testament, and writ it with his own Hand, upon this very ground (as he there expresseth) that after he had so disposed his Affairs, and set his House in order, he might have nothing in the World to look after, or to look upon, but his blessed Saviour, and Salvation by him. In which last Testament, he discovers so much Assurance, and confidence, of the Lord's everlasting grace and love unto him, as if at the same time, like the fore mentioned Simeon, he had embraced the Lord Jesus in his Arms. As in the beginning of his Will he heartily begs the guidance of God to direct him in the wise disposal of what Divine Goodness had bestowed upon him, so in several other places he doth annex and twist in so many heavenly Counsels and precious Instructions, tending to the everlasting Inheritance of his Posterity, that it rather resembles our Saviours Testament, conveighing the Legacys of the Covenant of Grace, or an heavenly Sermon, then any political Instrument to dispence only earthly Possessions. It was observed of him, That after his Will was finished, he seemed to have little to do, but to be gone to the better World, being so much at ease and rest, as if he had indeed wholly done with this World, in which he continued (as is said) about two years after, but alwaies acted at the same rate of willingness and readiness to be gone.
2. His welcoming the Messenger of Death, when it drew near. He did not then, according His welcoming the Messenger of Death.to the usual method of most, seem shy and averse to be gone, as if so be he were not ready, but was heartily ready; for as soon as ever there appeared on his side a small swelling, in which none but himself conceived any danger, he being then at Hackney, did send Fifty Miles for Mr. Fairclough, his Minister, to discourse him, and taking him to walk with him, presently fell into conference of the worth and immortality of the soul, of the manner of its Subsistence and actings, when it was separated, of the Joyes of the other World, and the vanity and emptiness of all things in this as being most suitable to his present condition; and herewith he was so deeply and spiritually affected, that at their parting he exprest himself in the following manner to Mr. Fairclough.
Sir, I now much wonder that any man, that fully believes these things to be realities, and not meer notions (being in my condition) should be unwilling to dye; for my own part, I will not be so flattered, with any carnal content, as to be desirous to live longer in this World, where there is little hope left that the Lord hath any more work or service for me to do, except it be to suffer for keeping a good Conscience, in witnessing against the Apostacys and impieties of the Times; and now it is a great favour of God to be sent for speedily. After this, he being removed to London, for greater conveniency of Physicians, he there made the same profession, Of his desire to be desolved and be with Christ, unto several Friends, and Visiters.
3. His unwillingness even then, to be absent from holy Ordinances and Exercises. His pains and weakness growing so fast upon him that he was thereby hindered the enjoyment, His unwillingness to neglect Ordinances.first of publick Ordinances, in the Church, and presently after sometimes of those that were private in the Family; which was the greatest grief that burdened his Mind, as you shall see in what follows—One Sabbath morning observing the People of the Family, where he lodged, getting themselves ready to joyn with the Congregation belonging to that Place, He fell into a great passion of sorrow, and wept very much, and with David, Poured out his Heart, because he had gone with the multitude, and led them to the House of God, but now was necessitated to want the benefit of that, which his Soul so much thirsted after.—Again, The Week before he died, he was perswaded in respect of the extremity of his pain once or twice to go to bed before Family Prayers; but the night following, being again perswaded to it, he told them he would not be intreated to do so any more, for he said, He was sure that he slept the worse those nights for the want of it, spiritually using the Proverb, Whet is no Let.
4. His most fervent performance of such holy Duties, as he was capable of. Because His performance of all Duties as he wa… able.he could not enjoy those that were Publick, as I have said, he therefore gave up himself so much the more earnestly to the exercise of secret reading the Scripture, Meditation and Prayer, so long as his strength would hold out; but one Wave followed another so fast, that he was disabled thereby to be so frequent and constant in those secret Duties of communion with the Lord as he desired; for which he made many complaints to his Sons, and others, as they came about him.
5. His excellent Advice to his Children. The day before his Death, his Children His advice to his Children.being about him, as Jacobs were, after he had blessed them all, and put up his Prayers to Heaven for them, and gave them his last Advice and Counsel; in four Particulars. First, He admonished them to take heed of Worldliness and vain glory. Shewing what a vast difference there was between a gracious, humble Man, and a proud graceless Man, both in the estimation of God, and all men that were good and wise. Secondly, He perswaded them to live in love and unity together; yet so as they should ever count it their Duty to wrath over one another, and never be afraid to tell one another of their faults lovingly, and not be Mealy-mouth'd, as his expression was. Thirdly, That they should take heed of timorousness, and sinking from the Truth, by reason of the oppositions of the Times against the Scripture-power of Godliness, shewing the danger of complying with man against God. Fourthly, He commended them unto the Word of Gods Grace, and the Word of Grace unto them: Requiring them to be constant in reading the Scriptures, and to joyn Prayer thereto, for a blessing before and after.
After these Counsels, one of his Sons (telling him, how much he hoped the words of a dying Father would be regarded by them) desired him to deal impartially with each of them, and discover unto them what Evils he had noted each of them most prone unto, and what Duties he had observed any of them most negligent in; he did perform what was desired with so much plainness, that one of his Brothers standing by, desired him to use the same fidelity to him, which accordingly he did: A piece of Affection rarely found expressed with wisdom.
6. His peaceable and joyful departure out of the World. He enjoyed just before his His peaceable and joyful departure.death, and even to the last, such an abundant Peace and ravishing Joy, as could not be hid, his Soul being so filled therewith, that it even overflowed, and poured upon all those that enquired after his condition. This appeared, First, to his second Son, who observing him to grow faint, did desire him to be chearful; to whom he answered, Son, I thank the Lord, I am so chearful in my heart, that I could laugh whilst my sides Ake.—Then to his Brother at the same time, enquiring how he found himself, he answered much to the same purpose, saying, O Brother, blessed be God, I have abundance of ravishing joy within me. The same answer he gave to his Eldest Son, who being called to him, he enquiring of his Father, How it was with him? he presently fell into an earnest Prayer, That the Lord would be pleased to give him an happy deliverance out of this World, and a glorious Meeting with his Saviour. Which Prayer of his was so graciously answered, that as long as he enjoyed any use of Speech, he acknowledged the sence of this inward Joy; and after he had said, I have peace within, I have peace within, he spake no more, but lying for a while (as it were) in a slumber, at last he opened his eyesagain, and lifting up his hands towards Heaven, fell asleep in the Lord.
Thus you see that his department of Life was as comfortable, as his entrance into it was Honourable, or his abode in it gracious and acceptable both to God and all good men.
He left the miserable, and went to the happy World, on the 25th of July, in the year 1653. when he had lived full Threescore and five years.
His Corps being carried down from London, was met about twenty Miles from his own House by Two hundred Persons, most of them of Quality; and his Funeral, at Ketton on the 26th of August following, was attended by many Thousands.
When his Body was just going to be Interred, it was said of him, by one equally impartial and holy, who knew him much better than other men, That his Life had been so free and pure from any scandalous sin, or any other actual Evil course, that for thirty years together, he did not remember, that ever he knew him soiled with any spot, which might give occasion to any to suspect his eminent integrity and sincerity, but his heart was yet upright before God; a thing very rare to betaken notice of in this World.
The observation of his admirable holy Life (to all that were intimately conversant with him) rendred him, The Beauty of Grace, and Glory of Christianity, as was once said of a German Divine. His gracious Accomplishments and Practices, being numerous and more illustrious than all other Ornaments, presented him Honourable to all men while he lived, and being Dead (as so many redulent Flowers stuck upon his Hearse) did give such a pleasant and odoriferous perfume in the nostrils of all Spectators, that the memory of them surely will ever remain among all future Generations, who shall have the advantage to understand, how the Lord was pleased to dignifie and honour him, first, with a Spiritual Birth; and after with a Gracious Life; and last of all, with a most blessed Death; for of these we may truly say, as Eusebius says of Constantine, Faelix Nativitas, felicior vita, felicissima Mors, his Birth was good, his Life better, and his Death most glorious of all.
Sr Thomas Barnardiston Bt.
Pelatia
Nathaniel
William
Sr Samuel Bart
Arthur
Stephen
Ann
John
Jane
CALCAR VIRTVTIS HONOR
Insignia Dignissimi Dom: D: NATHANIELIS BARNARDISTON
Equitis Aurati
… Goddard sculp S Morgan Inuen…
The Mourners Blazonry.
HArk how the doleful Bittern sadly moans,
And tunes her withered Reed, to dying groans.
The Streaming Spots of Ermine, seem to weep
That Innocence it self (their Type) doth sleep.
The Crosses, once dyed Gules, with Saviours blood,
Turn Pale with Grief, as if they understood
The Gospels loss in his: The Azure Field
(Heav'ns Hieroglyphick) shews, Faith was his Shield.
SA. FAIRCLOUGH. Fell. of Caius Colledge.