The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons, Part 2 · Biography 5

The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons · Part 2 · Biography 5

p. 105The Life and Death of Mr. John Row, who Died, February Anno Christi, 1659/60.

IOhn Row the Son of Lawrence Row, was born in the Parish of Shobrook in Devonshire, His Parentagein that remarkable year, 1588. And when he was an Infant, he was laid aside in his Cradle for dead: But it pleased God that one of his Sisters, having a little more courage and resolution than the rest, went to look upon him once more, and putting her A special Providence.hand to his mouth, she thought that she felt a little breath, whereupon, some means being presently used, he began to revive, and probably by this early and signal Providence, the Lord intimated that he had reserved him for some more than ordinary service, and this the future course of his Life did evidently shew.

Being arrived to a competent Age, he was by his Parents set to School at Crediton, His Education.where he profited so much, both in the Latin and Greek tongue, that he was almost fit for the University, and had accordingly been sent thither in order to his training up for the Ministry, but that it pleased God to take away his Father a little before the intended time, concerning which himself would often say, that we frequently err in our judgments of things: And that, God sees not as men see.

Being frustrate of the hopes he had of going to the University, however he would not lose that little Learning which he had got at School, only the Greek through disuse was somewhat worn out with him: But he still retained the exact knowledge of the Latin Tongue, which was of great use to him till his dying Day.

He was of a sharp and pregnant Wit, of a great, deep, and penetrating Judgment: His Character.Himself indeed complained of some deficiency in his Memory, but others discerned it not. For they judged him to excell in that as well as in other Abilities of the mind. As for his natural temper and disposition, he was a man of great ingenuity, of much candor and sweetness: They which knew him intimately, judged him to have as noble and generous a soul, and to be as far from any thing that savoured of a base, disingenuous, and sordid Spirit, as ever any that they knew. He was exceeding Affable, and Courteous unto all, and that without the least shew or suspition of seeking his own ends in it: His temper inclined him to be pleasing unto all, without morosity; and there was not the meanest Person which could say, that he was neglected or despised by him. He was very careful to give a due respect unto all, and never was any more curious to pay a just reverence to those that were above him in rank and quality.

In his Deportment and Behaviour he was humble, sweet, and candid; as ready His Deportment.to hear others speak as to speak himself, and usually he would give others leave to speak before him. This (together with his Grace) was elevated to such an height, as that, the worst of men had not any evil to speak of him. And yet (that which is not common, but somewhat rare to be met with) altho his natural Candor and Abilities were such, yet was he a man of great Presence and Authority. He seldom spake in any serious matter▪ but his speech carried with it a wonderful and peculiar kind of Authority: And such a Majesty shined in his Conversation, as that some (and those reputed both Prudent and Pious) taking notice of the excellency of his Spirit, the Lustre of his Graces, and how much his conversation differed from the most of men, have professed, that when they have been in his Company, they had a kind of awe upon them, and they could not be so free, whilst they were with him, as when they were among others.

When he was young, his tender Parents (according to their measure) instructed him in the grounds of Religion, and caused him, together with themselves to attend upon the publick Ordinances, by which he came first to have a taste, and relish of Religion in his heart. When his Father was dead, he went to live with Doctor Bodley (Brother to the famous Sir Thomas Bodley who was the Founder of the University Library in Oxford) a man of eminent Piety and Exemplary Holiness, who at this time was Minister His Conversionof the Parish where Mr Row was born, and where his Parents lived. From this holy man Mr. Row learned much, yea very much of the work of God upon his soul: And as p. 106he learned much from him, so he was not a little beloved of him, the Doctor bearing as tender a respect to him as if he had been his own Child.

Living thus with Doctor Bodley, and afterwards, for a while with another Godly Gentleman [Mr. Thomas Gale of Crediton] he had opportunities of frequent going to London, where he heard those Preachers as were in the greatest Repute in those times, as Doctor, His Progress.Gouge, Mr. Stock, &c. and by them he was much holpen forward in spiritual knowledge and quickned in his love to the ways of God. But Doctor Bodleys Counsel, together with his holy Example (he being a man of an Austere Life, and most strict Conversation) seemed to be that which had most influence upon him, and to have the greatest impression upon his Heart: For nothing was more familiar with him, through his whole Life, than to be speaking, upon all occasions, what he had seen, and heard, and observed in this worthy Doctor. The Sermons also and Preaching of Doctor Bodley was of great use to him. For this was Mr. Rowes observation concerning him, that whatever the subject were that the Doctor had been treating of, yet still, when he came to the Application, the use that he would be sure to make of it, should be to drive men to Christ.

The Doctrine was so firmly rooted and rivited into Mr. Row, that all which knew him intimately, could not but say that they never knew any man that was a greater advancer of Christ, or that did more inculcate this great principle upon all whom he had occasion to coverse with, namely, That they should have a great care to deny themselves and to live upon Christ.

More particularly what were the first gracious workings of God upon his heart, himself set down in a Paper under under his own hand, where having before related the Mercies of God towards him, and his care and providence over him in his Infancy, and Childhood, he goes on thus.

Neither did my gracious God cease to do me good in the days of my youth, whereat I may Note.justly admire: O the depth and riches of his unchangeable Grace! For here were I able to set out the true Idea of my then deformed heart and life: But better it is to confess the same to my gracious God, and to pray him not to remember those sins of my youth: Both which I have done; to wit, both confessed them and begged pardon of them, and by Gods Grace intend to do to my dying day. Yet thus much I think good to unfold, for the praise of the glory of Gods Grace, that, whereas I was by nature prone to all sins, of all kinds, especially to those two Monsters, Pride and Voluptuousness and in the latter of these an Inventer of new kinds of sinning, yet the Lord gave me not up to mine own hearts lusts altogether: But even then began, not only to restrain me, but also by the means of Grace to do me good. O Lord, my Salvation is of thee alone. For if ever any should be saved by their own Merits, very likely was it that I should be farthest off; For thou resistest the Proud. But the Gifts and Calling of God are without Repentance.

Hence it came to pass that the same gracious God (who out of his unchangable Love ordained me unto Life) stirred up the Spirit of Doctor Bodley to admonish me to take heed of Pride, and those overweaning conceits of my self, which he espied in me, and counselled me to buy a Bible and to read the same: which Admonition and Counsel the Lord was pleased to bless in such wise, that ever since that time, I have in some weak measure kept a constant course of reading the Scriptures, except some few short intermissions; By which means, I do acknowledge to the Glory of my God, that my poor soul hath received no small benefit. By this it appears that Pride and the love of Pleasure were his Master sins in the dayes of his youth; which caused him often to say in his familiar Discourse, that Ease, Pride, and Pleasure were the great sins of youth. He would also very frequently speak of this passage, that there was but one thing which he mainly desired in the days of his youth, which if it had been granted, would have proved his ruin; And that was, that he might have had the same liberty, that another young man of his acquaintance had granted unto him, who afterwards came to a miserable End. Afterwards he often acknowledged what a Mercy it was that he was so restrained by his Parents, and that God gave him not his own Will.

The Lord having thus begun the good work of Grace in Mr. Rowes heart, it was His Growth in Grace.much improved by the Counsel, Ministry, and holy Conversation of Doctor Bodley, with whom he continued for sometime, even till the Doctors death. And the Doctor, after some experience of him, perceiving his Ingenuity, Fidelity, and Inclination to Religion, bare a very great and tender affection to him; yea, such was his love to him, that, having no Child of his own, he intended to have done much for him at his Death: But being surprized with somewhat a suddain sickness, whereof he died, and not being able by reason thereof to do what he inteded, Mr. Rowes hopes were wholly frustrated of p. 107enjoying any thing that the Doctor purposed to do for him. And this Event he looked upon (as he was ever wont to construe it, in his familiar Discourses with his Friends) as the wise Providence of God towards him, that he might see his whole dependence to be on the Lord for what he had.

About the twenty fifth year of his Age he was disposed of in Marriage, about which His Marriage.there were some remarkable Providences which he thought fit to Record in these words.

When I was desirous to enter into the state of Marriage, I was assayed with Covetousness, Voluptuousness, and Ambition, and would surely have undone my self by some, or by all these evils, had not my gracious God, by disappointing my unsanctified desires for seven years space, or more, prevented my Folly. Oh what a misery is it for vain youth to have its will! O what a Blessing to bear the Yoke betime! Especially when God will open the Ear to discipline, as (blessed be his Name) he did mine at last. And here I may justly break out in admiration of the riches of his Grace, that brought light unto me out of my darkness, I mean, a great light of Grace into my soul, by occasion of the great darkness of mine own sin into which I fell. My Pride went before my fall; so sin drew on sin: and sin was punished with sin: Yet (O depth of Grace!) this Fall was the cause of my Rising; I mean, in Grace. Thus my Gracious God did me good by mine own evils, and made my greatest sins the occasion of my greatest humiliation.

And though Voluptuousness, Ambition, and Covetousness were the Idol sins of my youth, yet my Gracious God preserved me from the gross acting of those sins, either by Murther, Adultery, Fornication, Theft, or any other unlawful way of gain: I say, that it was my gracious God that preserved me, and therefore let his Name have all the Glory. As for me, I should have run mad in Pride with Nebuchadnezzar, and burst asunder in Covetousness with Judas, and drowned my self in a daily course of delicacy with the Glutton that Saint Luke mentions, had I not been kept by the power of God alone. Only, only to thy Name, O Lord be the praise.

My desire of Marriage was corrupt through Covetousness, Voluptuousness, and Ambition, as I said, and my gracious God crossing those unsanctified desires of mine for divers years, did at length teach me to desire Marriage for better Ends: And having begun to set my mind in order, he also brough on the blessing. For first he prepared my heart to seek him by Prayer for a meet helper, and then he opened his Ear, and granted my request; so that even in the same day wherein he had stirred me up in a more than ordinary manner to seek a blessing in my Marriage by Prayer, he was pleased to give me evidence that he had heard me, in sending me an honest Christian, which came to me on purpose to break the matter for Marriage with her, which afterwards God gave me to Wife.

This Match Satan attempted to hinder, …y stirring up a near Friend of mine to fail in performance of his promise made to me, for my preferment, which justly might have alienated the minds of my Wives Parents from me, but that my gracious God would not suffer Satan to do me that mischief; yea, more than so, he gave me Grace to seek Reconciliation with that Friend of mine that had so deeply wronged me.

The Family into which he matched was godly, who rather embraced Mr. Rowes motion, because of that which they had heard concerning his good Affections to Religion. She whom he took to Wife was a very godly and sincere Woman, though she walked in darkness and had no Assurance of Gods love the greatest part of her life, yet when she lay sick and was upon her death-bed, she complaining that she had no assurance of Gods love, or that when she died she should be received into glory, Mr. Row besought the Lord very earnestly for her, and the Lord was so far prevailed with, that a little before her death, he gave her assurance of being received into his heavenly Kingdom, and this in a more than ordinary manner.

After Mr. Rowes Marriage he continued in his Father-in-laws house at Pinhow in Devonshire Prayer prevalent.four years; a place enriched with divers worldly contentments, but all imbittered for want of the Ministry Gods word, as himself recorded it. There (saith he) I had just occasion given me to repent of my former fulsomness and weariness of that heavenly Manna. But here again my gracious God that never ceaseth to do me good, did as well provide the Plaister, as give the wound, He wounded my Conscience by want of the Ministry, thereby bringing to my remembrance my sin in undervaluing the plentiful Ministry which I once enjoyed: But he healed the breach again, not only by forgiveness and repentance, but also by providing for me the Ministry of a worthy Servant of his in a neighbouring Parish.

Mr. Row being now weary of living any longer in the house of his Father-in-Law, p. 108for the aforesaid reason, and hearing that there was an able Preacher at Crediton, he removed His remove to Crediton.his Family and habitation thither, on purpose to enjoy the means of Grace, and continued there to his dying day: And he would often exhort his Children and Acquaintance, that in choosing an habitation, their first care should be to plant themselves under a godly and powerful Ministry, and for this purpose adding that Text, Cant. 1. 8: Go forth by the Footsteps of the Flock, and feed thy Kids besides the Shepherds Tents.

Not long after his coming to Crediton, he was made High Constable, in which office he continued twenty years; in which place his care, diligence, and zeal was such, for suppressing and punishing of Vice, that his name became a terror to the wicked and prophane. And his prudence, charity, and compassion were not inferior to his zeal. For he used first to seek to win Offenders by good Counsel, and gentle Admonitions, before he would use the severity of the Law against them; and he had a special care to let men see that his heat was not against their Persons but against their Vices: And such was Gods presence His Zeal.with him, such the Authority and Majesty which shone in his carriage, that although he was forced to punish many for their misdemeanours, yet none had power so much as to lift up an hand against him. One instance is remarkable.

A certain Rustian being punished by him, for some gross misdemeanours, vowed that the next time he met him he would stab him, and being put into the stocks, his rage was such, that not being able to have his Will upon Mr. Row, he struck at the stones with his Knife for very madness: Yet afterwards when he met Mr. Row, and might Special Providence.have had opportunity to revenge himself upon him, yet the Lord so overpowred him that he was as a man struck dumb, and had not a word to say.

Many of his Friends that knew his abilities, often solicited him to take the Office of a Justice of a Peace, but such was his humility and modesty, that he would by no means yield to it, saying he had neither Abilities, nor an Estate fit for it, and that it was a way Humility.to make Authority contemptible when Inferior persons were put into such Places. He was very circumspect to cut off all occasions of Offence from such as would be ready to take it. Being used in his younger days to shoot in the long Bow for his Recreation, once meeting with an Offender against the Law, he rebuked him for it. The man answered, Why may I not as well do this as you shoot with a Bow? Upon this he laid it aside His Prudence.and would never shoot afterwards.

He was of a very peaceable temper: He would never soment differences, but sought all he could to compose them. If any jarring was between him and any others, the fault was usually theirs, because he could not comply with their corruptions, but sought their Reformation. He was a great Peace-maker, and spent much of his time in A Peace-maker.composing differences among neighbours and friends: Many Law Suits he prevented; many differences between near Relations he reconciled; and the Lord so blessed these his endeavours, that he was seldom free from such imployments. Upon an occasion he said to a Relation of his, that he might have encreased his Estate much more, had he spent that time in prosecuting his own affairs which he spent in the businesses, of other men. He made made other mens occasions and conditions his own; he deeply Sympathized with their distresses, and in his Prayes he would as affectionately Pray for them as for himself: And when he had undertaken their businesses, he would Act as vigorously in their behalf as if it were his own concerns, though he neither sought nor reaped any advantage to himself by it.

He was Forty years old e're he attained that great blessing of Assurance; But having once obtained it he never lost it; so that he enjoyed the comfort of it for above Thirty Assurance.years: And as himself said, he maintained it by a diligent and constant use of all the means of Grace, both publick and private, and by taking an account of his heart, at least once every day. And that at sometimes he had more special Experience of the Witness and Testimony of the Spirit, together with that of his own; concerning which himself thus expresses it in a Letter to a Friend: In answer to your desire to receive a few of my thoughts and experiences concerning the Witness, or Testimony of the Spirit in Assurance;

I do acknowledg (to the glory of God) that God hath given me some Experience of his Love (and at sometimes more than at other times) in the Testimony of his Spirit bearing Witness with my Spirit concerning mine Adoption, and so consequently of my Justification, Sanctification, and Eternal Life. But this is better felt than expressed; yet in some measure (as the Lord shall enable me) I will endeavour to answer your desire herein. First, that there is such a priviledg given to some of Gods Elect on Earth, as to have Gods Spirit to bear Witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God, appeareth, Rom. 8. 16.

p. 109Again, that this Testimony is given to Believers after that they are effectually called to Grace, appeareth, Eph. 1. 13. by which they are assured of the Grace of God: But that every one that is effectually called to Grace hath this Testimony presently given, I dare not affirm; but do rather think that some may wait a longer time than others before they do receive it. For mine own part I believe that I was effectually called divers years before the Lord gave me this Assurance.

Again, the truth of the Testimony of this holy Spirit in mine own Soul, I have discerned from false flashes, and unsound comforts by this, that this Testimony doth alwayes when it comes, raise the Soul to more desires after more intimate Union and Communion with God: Works more Self-abhorrency, and more to please God, and fear to displease him, and (in a word) drives me nearer unto God, whereas false flashes leave the Soul loose.

Again, for the continuance of this blessed Testimony in the Soul, I do find that an holy, humble, constant waiting on God and Communion with him in his Ordinances, joyned with a constant care and endeavour to walk with God, in uprightness in all the duties of my particular Calling, and Relations, are blessed means to keep up and encrease this Assurance: But the neglect, or remiss usage of these doth diminish the Oil of this blessed Lamp, and unsanctified Liberty so far grives the holy Spirit as to suspend his Testimony for a time.

Another asking him about the Testimony of the Spirit, he answered, It is a secret overpowering, that I am his and he is mine: I am my welbeloveds, and my welbeloved is mine. He observed that the likeliest means to attain Assurance was, to propound Spiritual ends to our selves in desiring of it; not so much that we might be quiet and free from trouble in our Consciences, but that by the knowledg and apprehension of Gods love to us, we might be able to give to God the glory of his own Grace, and be carried out to higher pitches in our obedience. For (said he) there may be much selfishness in seeking peace. I find it best when I am come to the greatest heights of Peace, to study my duty; what it is that God would have me to do, and to follow him therein: Otherwise I meet with a Cloud.

In his accounts which he made up every day, the method that he used in his Meditation, Meditation.was to consider what God had done for him, and what his carriage had been towards God; And he said, when he consider'd what Gods carriage towards him had been, there he saw that God had been doing him good in a constant tenor: But when he reflected upon himself, there he saw many failings: whereupon he said, there was no Action done by him that was ever so good, but there was some circumstance or other that he saw himself imperfect and defective in: And he said, I have accounted it a great pitch, when the Lord hath shewed me some defects in my best Actions that I may go clean out of my self unto Jesus Christ: By this constant practice of his in reviewing his Life and Actions, he kept much inward peace of Conscience: And usually, at the close of the day, after the casting up of his accounts and fervent Prayer, the Lord made it out out to him, that all was pardoned: And by this means at the last he attained to as an habitual a perswasion of the love of God as most have attained unto, so that he walked in the light of Gods countenance from day to day. Much of his Prayers were, that his faith might be so strengthened as to see and behold the love of God in all the passages of his Life, that (with Abraham) he might give the Lord glory by believing.

He was very jealous of losing this blessed priviledge, namely, the sense that he had of the love of God and the light of his countenance that he walked in. He said, they were two things that he mainly desired of God: First, that having been a Professor of Religion so long, he might be kept frame scandalous sins. Secondly, That God would not hide his face from him; Saying, that he was a man of a low Spirit, and that without Gods presence he could not subsist. And therefore (said he) I saw it necessary to be kept under Affliction, that I might be humble. Knowing that God would not reveal himself to proud persons.

Besides this habitual Peace and assurance, he had many particular comforts from the Lord at several times, and upon several occasions; usually when he laid him down His Comforts.to rest at night, he had the promise Sealed to him; Fear not—I am thy shield, and thy exceeding Great Reward. When he had been begging such a pitch of Holiness, the Lord hath hinted to him, I will satisfie thee: When the Lord took away his first Wife, whereupon he was troubled how to dispose of his Children, the Lord comforted him with this: They are thine but for a time, but they are mine for ever. Having been exercised p. 110with a sit of the Stone, he wrote thus to a friend: These are to let you know how Fatherly the Lord dealeth with us: Tho afflicted, yet not forsaken. That which sweetens all my Afflictions is, the inward Peace which the Lord is pleased to give me in all my outward pain. When he was in any special strait or difficulty, and needed Counsel what to do, the Lord did always, first or last (after his earnest seeking to him) make his way plain unto him.

The Lord did also many times give him secret hints what he was about to do, Discoveries of future events to him.which also came to pass according to these Scriptures, Psal. 25. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him: Gen. 18. 17. Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I do? When any great thing was approaching Relating to himself, his family, or the Church, he had usually some intimations from God before-hand concerning it. On a time he was observed to be very sad, saying that God intimated to him that he would make some change in his Family, but what it would be he knew not; and he made this use of it, to set his House in order; and not long after the Lord took away a near Relation, which proved a great affliction to him. And tho the Lord did many extraordinary things, and such as were not usual or common, yet did he not expect them, neither did he (as Luther speaks of himself) indent with the Lord that he should give them unto him, much less would he boast of things of this (whereof he had many) unto others. He was content with the plain, naked word of God, which he magnified, and all his study and delight lay therein: And tho he met with many extraordinary things in his own experience, yet spake he of them seldom, and but to a few; which (he said) he did, partly to prevent Spiritual pride, and partly lest weaker Christians should be discouraged, who had not attained to what the Lord had done for him; and partly that such as never knew what belonged to such things might not make a Scoff at them when they heard them.

He was much in Prayer, and had a singular ability in Meditation, and this made him a wise Man, and a wise Christian, He would seldome answer any serious matter, Meditation.but he would first pause a while. He was much delighted in a saying of Dr. Prestons, That the Greatest Musers are the best Artists. He was so much taken up in Meditation, that he found himself much spent by it, and would say, That Meditation was a spending thing. Sometimes in a Morning before he rose, he would be Meditating an hour or two together: When he was riding, or walking abroad (if he was alone) he would still be in Meditation. When he went about his worldly affairs, he would contrive them before hand, and spend what spare time he had in Heavenly contemplation: He seldom prayed in secret, but would fit himself for it by Meditation; Saying, he preferred a short Prayer after long Meditation, before a long Prayer without Meditation: When ever he heard a Sermon, he spent a considerable time in Meditating upon what he had heard.

He used to say, That if he were in a place wherein he might have opportunity of hearing more than two Sermons a day, he should not like it so well to hear much, unless he could have liberty to digest it by Meditation. In Meditating upon the things he heard, he would diligently look into all the Texts that were quoted; often speaking of that famous Instance of the Bereans, of whom the Holy Ghost testifies, that they were more Noble than those of Thessalonica, because they searched the Scriptures, whether those things were so. This Meditation helped him greatly, insomuch that by a diligent inquity into the Scriptures, and musing upon what he had heard, he was sometimes carried much farther than what the Minister had touched upon: And when he came to repeat those Sermons in his Family (as his constant Practice was) having Meditated upon them before-hand, he would clear up those passages as had most difficulty in them, or that had been delivered more darkly. And if the Preacher was of meaner parts and gifts, and what he had delivered might not seem so useful, he would so explain, and illustrate what he heard, that the Sermon was always rendred profitable in his Repetition of it.

After his Repetition on the Lords days, he used to call his Children and Servants to an account of what they had learned of that which had been taught; If any had been careless, he would admonish and reprove them for their negligence, and shew them the danger they were in, by reason of their unprofitableness under the means of Grace: Such as were apt and forward to remember, he would commend and encourage them, often mentioning that Speech of our Saviour, To him that hath, shall more be given; But from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath. And, p. 111tho where there was occasion, he would speak with great Authority, yet when he came to discourse with his Children and Servants about these things, he would speak with much familiarity and condescention to the meanest of their capacities, thereby insinuating himself into their affections, begetting a Love in them to the word, and taking opportunity thereby to make things more plain and easy to their understandings.

He was much and frequent in Prayer: He often prayed with his Wife alone; And Frequent in Prayer.when any great occasion fell out in the Day, he would retire into his Closet to ask Counsel, and a Blessing from the Lord. Every Month he kept a private Fast by himself, (besides what he did upon emergent occasions) to seek the Lord, and the better to prepare himself for the Lords Supper, at which time also he had much upon his heart the concernments of the Church; when ever any affliction befel him, or any in his Family, or of his Relations, his constant course was, to seek the Lord in an extraordinary way. And if there were any great business that he was to undertake, or any great strait wherein he needed divine Counsel, or Protection, he still set time apart in a more than ordinary manner, unto which he used to have some gracious return or other.

And besides his set times of Prayer, he was frequent in holy Ejaculations, which proceeded from the Spiritual frame of his heart; he was very punctual in keeping his times and seasons for Prayer, Reading, and Meditation. Tho his worldly business were sometimes very urgent, yet was he always very loth to abridge himself in his wonted course for holy exercises, and if at any time he was abridged of his full time, he would redeem the next opportunity, to regain what time he had lost. He used to say, that when he did hasten over holy duties out of an eager desire to follow his worldly business, he did many time meet with a cross in them, but when he did spend his ordinary time, God did make his other Business to prosper the better; or if not, his mind was brought to submit to the Will of God.

In all his Prayers, whether alone or with others, his heart was greatly affected and A holy heart.carried out with much holy Zeal and fervency. In his old age his heart would often melt and be dissolved into Tears, and his affections seemed to be as vigorous as the affections of young converts; when he joyned with others in Holy duties he was far from remiss and careless carriage. His deportment was so Reverent, and mixed with such affections that the Minister under whom he lived, would profess, that he found himself much quicked by observing his lively affections: If at any time he found a deadness coming upon him, it grieved him more than any outward affliction. In a Letter wherein he had spoken of a bodily distemper, he adds this; That which troubles me now is the distemper of my Spirit; because I find my self less lively in holy thing, and more unactive than formerly: Yesterday (blessed be God) I found some reviving.

If he awoke in a Morning before his ordinary time, yet he would get up; and his manner was to spend some time in Meditation, for the most part about the great work of our Redemption, and on the Eternal Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus which he offered up to his Father for the taking away of his peoples sins: And he used to Counsel his Children, every morning to take a turn at the Cross of Christ, and to think of his Sufferings, which (said he) will be a means to make you love Christ the more. As he dressed himself in a morning, he would drop some holy Instructions or other among those that were about him; and when he was ready, his first work was to retire into his Closet, where he spent a considerable time in Reading, Meditation, and Prayer.

Every morning he read some part of the Scriptures, with some Commentary upon the same, especially with Calvins Exposition, which he much delighted in for the Spirituality, and solidness thereof.

Having ended his private Devotions, he used to call his Family together, to whom he Communicated what he had learned by his own Meditation, and by what he had His Exercise in the morning.learned from the Authors which he read: And whatsoever his worldly business were, he would rarely omit this excercise in his Family. And such was his modesty and humility in mannaging this business, that he would tell them, that he would not take upon him to interpret the Scripture, but only would communicate to them what he had learned from Judicious Divines. By this constant course of Reading and Meditation he became expert and mighty in the Scriptures, so that in his Family duties, he would open the Scriptures with much clearness of Judgment, the Lord enduing him p. 112with a more than ordinary ability to make things plain and familiar to the meanest capacity: And when he came to apply things to those of his own Family, he would carefully consider every ones condition, and those whom he feared to be still in the State of nature, he would lay open to them the danger of their present condition, and what a sad thing it was for them to remain out of Christ; And whatever the matter was that he had been speaking of, his Exhortation still was, to press them to look after Christ, in whom the Father had laid up all Grace, and from whom they must expect to receive all Grace; And his exhortations were set on with great Authority: And there was so great a presence of God with him, that many (besides his own Family) who occasionally came to his House, and heard him, will have cause to Bless God for him to all Eternity.

Having spent a quarter of on hour or little more in these exhortations, he would close up the duties with Prayer, wherein he would not be long: but his Prayer was so substantial, that he would comprehend the whole of Religion in a short Prayer. His Prayer seemed to be nothing but a digested Meditation acted by the Spirit of God; every passage in it had its weight, and not one Sentence could well be spared. Tho he varied in his Form, yet the substance and materials of his Prayers were for the most part the same, yet still he took in the other necessities of his Family, as the various Providences of God gave occasion. The main scope at which his Prayers were levelled, was the glory of God; he was still carried above himself to eye and aime at that, and still he would thus be expressing it; Lord glorifie thy self in our Salvation: Glorifie thy self in bestowing this or that Grace upon us. The matter of his Prayer was still commensurate to the word; what the word required of us as a duty, either in our general or particular Callings, or in Relation to the various Providences of God, that was still the matter of his Prayers; he was most eminent in this, for having a very large and comprehensive Charity, he would still take in the concernment of the Church Catholick, and would constantly pray for all that Election where ever they were.

In the Evening, before Supper, if he could get liberty, he spend would some time in His Evening Exercise.Reading the works of some Eminent Divine; and he took most delight in Dr. Prestons Books, wherein he was so conversant that most of the choifest passages in his Writings, became very familiar with him. Then he betook himself to his constant course of Prayer and Meditation. After Supper he caused his Children, and the young Scholars that were in his House (which for many years was never empty of such, who were sent to the Grammer School, and by their Parents were placed in his Family, to enjoy the benefit of his Instructions and holy Example,) each of them to Read a Chapter; which being done, he would call together his whole Family, and would spend the rest of the Evening in Catechising, or in repeating some Sermon that had been Preached in the week day.

When the Sabbath was approaching, he would endeavour so to order his affairs, that he might dispatch his worldly business in due season, and so have the more liberty Sabbath prepared.in the Evening to set his heart in order for the the duties of the Lords Day; when it was come he would spend most of the Morning in secret Prayer and Meditation, and he used to be shorter in his Family duties on that day than on others, that so they might not be hindred from attending upon the Publick Ordinances. And his care was to be there at the Beginning; and he used to say, that it was fitter for them How spent.to wait for the Minister, than that the Minister should wait for them; And he would often mention the example and Speech of Cornelius (Act. 10. 33.) We are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God: The Morning Sermon being ended, he would spend the little time he had before Dinner in looking over his Notes, and in Meditating upon what he had heard.

Dinner being ended, he used to repeat the Sermon to his Family, and so hasten to the Congregation. After the Sermon he used to spend a considerable time in secret, and the rest of the Evening was spent in Repetition of the Sermon, and in calling his Family to an account of the things which they had learned.

He highly esteemed and Reverenced Godly Ministers, tho they were very mean and of low parts and gifts he would shew much respect to them; And according to his His high esteem of Godly Ministers.own practice, he would often exhort his Children, and those about him to have an high esteem of the Gospel Ministry, often pressing upon them those words of our Saviour Christ, He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you, dispiseth me, and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. He would mind them also of what Saint Paul said, that Faith came by hearing, and hearing of the word of God.

p. 113He would often tell them, that God could, if he so pleased, speak unto them himself; but choosing to condescend to our infirmities, he rather speaks to us by men like our selves: He could have spoken to Cornelius himself, or have caused the Angel to Preach to him; but he bids him to send for Peter, who should tell him what to do. He could not endure that any should account our Ministry Anti-Christian, but upon all occasions would vindicate them against all opposers, and would say, That unless we firmly believe the Ministry to be the appointment of Jesus Christ, we cannot so profit by it as we ought to do.

He would say that it was lawful for us to covet the best gifts, if we might enjoy them, but we must not despise the meanest. He said, When you come to the Ordinance, the business is between God and you, and whether the Instrument be of meaner or greater Parts, yet this is the Portion that God allots you. And he said, That there was not the weakest Sermon that ever he heard, but the Lord did him good by it. When I meet with a Sermon that doth not like me, I first look into my self to see if there was nothing amiss there; And if there were no fault there, I would then scan it over again. For we many times blame the Minister, when as the fault is our own, that we have not prayed for him as we should have done. His love to the word was such, that tho there were two Ministers in the place where he lived, and a weakly Lecture, yet even in his old age he would ride six or seven Miles to enjoy the benefit of a weekly Lecture at Exeter.

His desires were much carried out for the Conversion of Souls. He seldome prayed Conversion of Souls desired.but he would pray with great affection for all in his Family, and for all others that belonged to Gods Election, that were yet uncalled: And in his Family exercises he would still be speaking somewhat that might make them see their need of Christ; and that which he pressed most was, that they would labour to get into Christ, and to make sure of Christ.

He was full of bowels of compassion to those that were under Temptations, and distress Compassion to the Tempted.of Conscience, several of which did resort to him, and some did abide in his Family for a season, the better to enjoy the benefit of his Counsel and Prayers; and God was pleased so to bless his endeavours, that they went away with peace and satisfaction.

Himself also was not without his Temptations, tho his assurance remained unshaken. Temptations.Once indeed in sickness, he was strongly assaulted by Satan, who suggested to him that he was an Hypocrite, and that all he had done was in hypocrisie; But the Lord put it into his heart to answer, Be it so, yet now I will cast my self upon the grace of God in Christ, and hereupon the Temptation immediatly vanished. And he was not without other Temptations, especially unto Infidelity. A day or two before his death he complained to a near Relation, that he had been troubled with grievous Temptations, as to question whether there were such an one as Christ, and whether there had been such Actions done by him as are Recorded? But the Morning after, these words were dropped into him: I was Crucified for thee: I shed my Blood for thee. This melted his heart exceedingly, that when his Temptation was of so grievous a Nature, yet the Lord should so condescend to him, that he could not speak without Tears.

He had had also several other conflicts, so that he once brake out into this expression: O it is hard keeping up till we come to Heaven: It is hard fighting: And again; Before we receive our Crown, we must strive and finish our course: Temptations will arise. His benefit by Afflictions.But blessed is the man that endures Temptation; For when he is tryed he shall receive the Crown of Life. He said, that he had been Ten years striving against one corruption, and at last the Lord brake the neck of it: As also, I have been striving against the heighth of my Spirit these forty years. And as he had his inward conflicts so he was seldome without some outward Tryal and Afflictions. He said, it was one of his exercises every Morning, to expect what God might try him with in the Day, either by Afflictions or Temptations: Adding, I thought I had undergone many Tryals, so that now I might hope to be quiet, but still the Lord provides some new ones. And in a Letter to a near Relation, he said; That his life was made up of mixtures of encouragements and difficulties: And, I do think it may be much conducing to the glory of God, and to our Advantage, if we still expect such mixtures, knowing that we are thereunto appointed, and that so we may in every days success intreat the Lord for Grace suitable to our infirmities and necessities; whereas, if we should limit the Almighty to have our Wills satisfied, we may displease him and create crosses to our selves: And as he was seldome without some p. 114affliction or other, so they were of singular use to him. He said, whenever I was out of the way, the Lord shewed me clearly that I was so, and that this or that was not right, and this he did usually by Afflictions. He sayd, He never had any Chastisement in all his Life, but the Lord had shewed him some miscarriage by it.

His afflictions made him pray much; and that was his constant course when any Tryal befel him, to set time apart to seek the Lord in an extraordinary manner: And in all his afflictions, his great request to the Lord was: That he might be made partaker of his holiness thereby. When his Family was visited with the smal …ox, he was mightily stirred up to pray, that this Visitation might end in the Reformation of it, and that they might set to the work of God with all their might: And this was usually the fruit of all his Afflictions, to make him more active in the ways of God.

When one of his Relations had been sick, he wrote thus unto him: Truly I perceive the Lords mind is to wean us from the world, and from Self: Now the Lord accomplish the good pleasure of his Will in us to the utmost, that we may cleave unto him wholly and fully, by the wisdom and strength of the Lord Jesus in us: Be not dismayed at your Afflictions; the Lord will turn them to Good. A few years before his Death, the Lord tryed him by suffering his house to be on Fire, upon a Saturday-night about A special Providence.ten a clock, most of the Family being in Bed, and himself asleep: Being awakened by some that first descried the danger, and called upon to arise for his safety, the first thought that God put into his mind was, that God in Judgment would remember Mercy; And God in mercy answered his Prayer: For only his Out-houses were burnt, and his Dwelling-house was preserved, which yet joyned to the other. Yet the Providence of God was wonderfully seen in its preservation, and his Friends, Neighbours, and the Poor of the Town came in to his assistance, and tho all his Goods were carried out, and there were many necessitous people, who might have conveyed away several things, yet such was their Love and Respect to him, and the experience they had of his Charity, and readiness to do them good, that he lost not any thing, but all his goods that were carried forth, were preserved intire, without the loss of any one thing. And that which added much to the Mercy, was, that the Fire was so soon quenched, and his Goods set so soon in order by the help of his Friends, that he had liberty to attend upon the Ordinances the next day, and to Sanctifie the Sabbath according to his wonted manner.

This affliction he attributed to his not putting away an evil Servant (whom he had Afflictions sanctified.often admonished, and yet he was not reformed) tho he oft had thoughts of putting him away, but being slack in doing it, he thought that this was the reason why the Lord so corrected him. When at an other time the Lord had made some breach upon his Estate, he said, The Lord had hereby shewed him, that if he leaned too much upon these things, God would take them all away. Also speaking about afflictions in general, he said, For mine own part I do acknowledge to the glory of God, that our only wise God and heavenly Father hath taken the best course with me. O how lazy had I been and worldly, if the Lord had not hedged up my way: But blessed be God who will not suffer me to live after the Flesh.

He was very sensible of the least Mercy, and a curious observer of every Providence. Mercies sanctified.When at another time his House had been in danger of burning, writing to a near Relation, he thus expressed himself. The Lord make us really Thankful, and teach us what to render for all Mercies and deliverances; Especially for that great deliverance from wrath to come; and for the hope of Eternal Life, which God, who cannot lye, hath promised. He was very curious in observing the least check or rebuke from Providence in every thing that befel him. And upon the least cross, he would presently humble himself before the Lord, and pray that he might understand his meaning in it.

His great design was, that he might glorifie God in his whole Conversation; He studiously watched all opportunities for that end: And his great Prayer was, that Gods Glory sought.werever he came, he might either do or receive good: And prayed, that we might not only Glorifie God, but that we might do it intentionally. He did not speak of the things of God customarily, or because others spake of them; but if opportunity were not offered, he would seek it, and fasten some good discourse upon those with whom he conversed. The Minister that Preached at his Funeral had this passage: The General bent (sayd he) and biass of his Spirit was towards God, and towards his Name; p. 115The very quintessence of his Spirit carried him that way, and that intensively and constantly: I could never observe in him that he intended any thing more, or minded any thing so much as the Glory of God. Did you converse with him about Worldly affairs, he would reduce you by little and little, to some Heavenly discourse: There would all the Lines of his Circumference Center.

His humility and Modesty was such, that if any godly Ministers were present, or others Humility and Modesty.whom he took to be his superiours, he would wait to see whether they would speak any thing for Edification; if they were silent or more slack, he would endeavour to engage them in good discourse, or else, before they parted would set in on foot himself: He used to be troubled if he was long in any Company, and nothing was spoken to Edification. When he spoke of the things of God, he did it with much Authority: The weight of the things he spake of, was much upon his Spirit, and he had his heart wholly taken up with them. Religion and the things of God were become natural unto him: and look what vehemency of Spirit others had in prosecution of their worldly affairs, the same did he manifest in the things of God; and as himself was affected with them, so did he for the most part affect others. When he either Counselled, or Reproved any, he would choose, as much as might be, to do it in Scripture Language, that so (as he spake) they might rather hear God speaking, than His Prudence.hear him speaking, and so consequently, what was spoken might carry the more Authority with it. In his reproofs he would use great wisdom and compassion, and he so ordered his reproofs, that it might appear, that he only aimed at their Reformation, and the good of their Souls. And he greatly loved such as would faithfully reprove him for what was amiss. He often sayd, that he had never met with but one in all his life, that would be so faithful a Friend to him, as to tell him of what he apprehended to be amiss in him, and he loved him the better for it all the days of his Life.

He was very eminent for his Heavenly-mindedness, and his Heavenly Affections. Heavenly-mindedness.He constantly prayed, that our Conversation might be in Heaven, whilst our Habitation was on Earth. And as he prayed so he lived: He sayd, Methinks that I look upon all things in this World, as Pictures of the things in the other World. And again; Surely if God shal be All in All hereafter, the less we have to do with the Creature here (more than needs must) the more like we are to that life. And again; I am ashamed very much sometimes that I should delight in the Creature so much, and delight in God no more. When some of his Children were coming to visit him, fearing, out of a Godly Jealousy, lest they might be too much transported with a meer natural, and carnal Joy, and not make that Heavenly and Spiritual improvement as they ought, he wrote thus unto them before their coming: When Moses and Elias appeared in Glory, at the Glorious Transfiguration of Christ in the Mount, the talk they had (as Saint Luke saith) was touching the decease of Christ, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem: And we (among other things) may thence also learn, that its an Heaven-like disposition, in the midst of all our Earthly enjoyments, to think and talk of our departure hence. And as I write this to you, so I speak of it here, that both you and we may mingle our meeting here on Earth, with such thoughts and discourses, as may mittigate the bitterness of any afflicting Providences, and may contain our Spirits in an even temper by the expectation of that uninterrupted and Eternal Joy that we hope one Day to enter into, when we shall meet, never more to be separated. And in an other Letter he thus expressed himself: We have but an inch of time upon Earth, and then we enter into Eternity: O then let us pray continually, effectually, fervently, that our way may be right, and our hearts upright to the finishing all Gods Wills in Duty, according to our Relations in all well-pleasing.

He had a very tender Conscience, sensible of the least slip and failing; and tho A tender Conscience.none was known to be more Charitable unto others, and to make a more Charitable construction of what was done by others, yet none was ever more severe against himself, or more curious to espy the least sinful defect, or irregularity in himself. When he discerned the Ebullitions of Pride, Self-love, Covetousness, Infidelity, &c. When he saw the least mixture of carnal and self-ends in his good Actions: When he observed how prone he was to be biassed by Man-fearing, and Man-pleasing, from his Duty; this was an inexpressible trouble to him, and he would bewaile these infirmities with more bitterness, than many are wont to do for their grosser Sins. If he had at any time unawares, and on a sudden spoken a word which he judged uncomly, and unsuitable to the gravity which he conceived became a Christian, he p. 116would bewail it greatly, and could not be at rest in himself till he had desired those whom he supposed might take offence, to pass it by. He was often complaining of his Infirmities, and he rarely spake of his Comforts or Spiritual Joyes, but oft of what he found amiss in himself, and many things which are much slighted by others, were curiously observed by him. In a Letter he thus expresses himself, My unthankfulness (besides mine other sinful Infirmities) grieveth me sore, and I am jealous of my self, lest the fear of the Lord doth trouble me more than grief for sin. And Again: I have found and do find a great difficulty (as in other things) so in this of health, to keep that narrow way of the Lord, for I find by woful experience that I am often slipping out, either too much indulgence, or too much severity, which may rather be termed cruelty: The Lord make us wise to avoid both these extreams.

His great care was to keep himself, not only from such things as were in themselves sinful and unlawful; But to abstain from all appearance of evil, and to cut off occasions of offence from such as might seek them, or to be apt to take offence. He sayd, he had found by many years experience that the great difficulty that lay upon Saints, was, in the use of things lawful and indifferent: Saying, that he had been often overtaken unawares this way, sometime by the leading aside of his own corrupt nature, which was ever willing to take the largest size, and sometime, by the mistaking of others who had misapprehended his intentions, and made an evil construction of his Actions; Yet God hereby made him more wise and circumspect. And hereupon he would advise to forbear lawful Recreations at some times and in some place, rather than by the use of our Christian Liberty, occasion the censures of any that are loose and large walking, tho unjustly raised.

He was eminent in Resigning himself, and all he had to the Will of God. It was His Prudence.his constant practice to pray his Will into an one-ness with the Will of God. He observed that it was very incident to our natures to desire to bring down Gods Will to ours, but it was much better to pray up our Wills into his. When any difficulty did occur, and his natural affections, and inclination would have carried him such a way, his first work was, not to pray so much that he might obtain that which nature would desire; but that his Will might be brought up to the Will of God, and that his Spirit migh be brought to an Holy indifferency, and the Lord eminently answered him herein.

Whereupon, before the issue of Providence was discovered, his Will was usually brought up to the Will of God, and in several great Cases and emergencies in his Life, wherein he was much concerned, he hath sayd. Touching the issue, and success of such a business, I have received power (through Grace) to acquiesce in the Will of God, when it is manifested. He made it also his endeavour to resign all he had to the Lords wise disposal. Having heard of the welfare of some of his Children, he thus expressed himself, and now what thanks can I render unto God for you all? Only I desire to give all up to God, that hath given you to me for a time. His advice also to his Children was to follow his Example herein, and to give up their nearest comforts to God dayly.

He much desired to be Spiritual in all he did, and that Grace, and not Nature, or fleshly wisdom might sway him in every thing. When a near Relation asked his Counsel in a business of concernment, before he would give his advise, he sayd: O that I might be wholly Spiritual; that no carnal respects might blind mine eyes? Wherever he was engaged in any difficulty, or was to mannage any business of great concernment, as to the issue of it, his first care was to mind his duty, and to study which way Grace would teach him to act, and his great care was, that grace might have the principal sway in all his actions.

He used to say, That duty was ours, but the issues and success of things belonged unto God. We should go study what our duty is, and then leave the issues and successes unto God. One that had desired his advice in a business of importance and great difficulty, he wrote back thus unto him: This one thing let us with incessant importunity crave of the Lord, that in this, as in all other things, he would teach us the way wherein we should go, and that we may walk with God, and follow him fully in the Integrity of our hearts, and then leave the success on his care, who is the only wise and Almighty, and our Father.

He advised that in all cases of Conscience we should seek resolution from the Word; and that in difficult cases we should ask Counsel of some able, faithful Minister. For His advice in difficult cases.(said he) The Priests Lips must preserve knowledge, and we were to enquire the Law at his Mouth: And God hath appointed Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of Saints. And p. 117concerning Ministers advice, he would say: That which they speak out of the Pulpit is to be perferred before that which they speak occasionally, and in a more private way of discourse: For it is to be supposed that they have consulted much with God, and have studied, and prayed hard for that which they deliver in publick and therefore more authority is to be given unto it, than to any occasional, or suddain Counsel.

His desire was to be always in the exercise of grace, and to mind and attend present duty. He was much pleased with the saying of a Godly Minister: That a Christian His exercise of Grace.ought to be always in duty: And according to this, he made it his great study to consider what it was that God called him unto for the present, and what the present duty was that God put him upon. When he went to visit any one, he would consider what his Call was to go, and what opportunity he might have to do or receive good: And he much bewailed needless and Complemental visits, as things that did eat up, and consume much pretious time. When he used any bodily Recreation, he would do it as Duty, saying, That it was the Will of God that we should endeavour the preservation of health: And when he followed his Earthly affairs, he would do it as Duty, saying, That it was the Will of God that we should honour him in a particular Calling. And his great care was to make this particular Calling subservient to his General Calling: And his great endeavour was, so to order his Earthly affair, that they might not justle out the duties of Religion, nor himself to be abridged by them of convenient time for the more immediate service of God.

By these means Religion was become so Spiritually natural to him, that he seemed wholly to be turned into it: Whatever he did and spake, for the most part, did not Religion became natural to him.only favour of Grace, but it seemed to be wholly guided and acted by Grace: Not but that he had the remnants of the body of Death, which he bitterly complained of, but Grace had so great a sway and command in him, that there was little else but Grace that appeared unto others.

He hath sayd, that when he was Carnal, he could have wished many of the Commandments razed out of the Bible, but now he found his heart in some measure made suitable to the Law. He never thought his heart to be in a right temper, but when he could delight in the ways of God, and he used frequently to mention that Text: Blessed is the Man that feareth the Lord, and delighteth greatly in his Commandments. He took such delight in the ways of God, and found so much satisfaction in them, that he spake thus with much seriousness: If I were sure, that as dies the Beast, so dies the Man; yet would I not chuse to be otherwise than I am.

One of his most eminent Graces was his faith and living upon Christ, which was the true Root from whence his other great attainments in Christianity did arise. It His living by Faith on Christ.was the great work of his Life to go wholly out of himself, and to live wholly upon Christ for all. These were some of his frequent expressions in Prayer: Take us wholly out of self, and let our whole dependance be upon Christ Make us one Spirit with Christ, and let us be acted by his Spirit, that so we may not live so much as Christ may live in us. It hath pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell: Out of his fulness let us receive grace for grace. Thou hast appointed him to be Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, even all in all to thy People: Lord make him so to us.

This was his constant and most familiar kind of Language, and as the bent of his Spirit lay most this way, so he counted it his greatest perfection. To some that highly esteemed him for his great measure of holiness, he sayd: The highest thing that I have attained to, is to go quite and clean out of my self, and to role my self wholly upon the grace of God in Christ. Herein he imitated the holy Apostle Saint Paul, who, after the greatest measure of holiness that he had attained, yet was it his great desire to be found in Christ. This Holy Man was so curious in this point, of living intirely upon Christ, as that he never suspected himself more, or thought worse of himself, than when he found a secret inclination to look to somwhat in himself, and could not find himself so clearly brought off to acts of Self-denial: Whereupon he sayd: I have been apt to question my condition much, of late, because when I have found things amiss in me, and have found out any Salve, I would be quiet, and did not deny my self fully to rest on the grace of God in Christ.

He often exhorted his Children that they should labour to deny themselves more and more, and study Christ, and learn him more and more: He was scarce ever known to give any holy Exhortations (in which he was most frequent and abundant) but still he would be sure in the close to advise them to look to Christ for all Grace; and whatsoever duty he exhorted them to, he would still put them in mind p. 118that the Grace and strength by which they were to perform this, was to be expected from Christ alone.

He was as eminent for living by Faith on the Promisses as on the person of His Faith on the promises.Christ, resting upon the Lord in all his straits. When he could but take Sanctuary in some promise, and find out some word of God for his Faith to rest upon, he thought himself safe: He delighted to speak of that passage of Abraham, that Abraham gave glory to God by believing: He thought that the highest way of honouring God was to trust him upon his naked word and promise. Indeed he was often assaulted with Temptations of Infidelity, but these did but quicken him to pray more fervently, and in the conclusion, by these shakings his Faith got the deeper Root. The chief stream of his Prayers in his Elder years ran this way, that he might not stagger at the promise through unbelief: That he might be established in the Faith; and that his Faith might not fail; And the Lord answered him herein: For his Faith held out in its strength to the very last.

Whenever he was in any strait or difficulty, and knew not which way to turn, the Lord did so bear up his heart by believing, that he would make out his way at last, and provide for his comfort some way or other. Speaking to a near Relation, of some touches of the Stone, and other infirmities that he laboured under, he added: But the Lord supports me; in whom I trust also that he will support me. Telling his Friends that he endeavoured to answer their request in praying for them, he sayd, that he did indeed pray for them daily, but it was with much weakness and infirmity; yet (sayd he) our trust is of acceptance in the Lord Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of the Father, and makes request for us.

That which was the Crown of all his Graces was his great Humility. As his Graces His great humility.and experiences were extraordinary, so he had more than an ordinary measure of Humility. He frequently used that expression of Saint Paul, that he was the greatest of sinners. There was no corruption that he set himself more against than Spiritual Pride. He would often mention that of the Apostle Saint Peter; God resists the Proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Whenever he begged any other Grace of God, he still begged Humility, as that which must prepare him, and make him capable of receiving that Grace. He used thus to express himself: Empty us of self, that we may be full with thy fulness: That we may receive more grace, make us more humble. He used also to warn and admonish others to beware of Spiritual Pride: Watch (sayd he) against that Stratagem of Satan, wherewith he usually assaulteth Souls in the Growth of Spiritual Gifts, which is, to puff them up with Pride.

He also would speak thus: As he sayd, Fight not against small or great, but only against the King of Israel; So say I, above all, fight against self, and Pride. Writing to a near Relation, he sayd: Truly I find in every Days success the Ebullition of that remainder of pride in me, and I rejoyce at your sensibility of it, and I have you in remembrance as to this very thing, I think I may say, dayly. Tho he was most sensible of the stiring of Pride in himself, yet by his long and daily praying and striving against it, he got so great a Victory over it, that others who beheld him, never saw greater demonstrations of Humility in any than in him.

He was never known to boast of his own Excellencies, but he would often speak of his Infirmities, that so (as he used to say) God might have the more Glory, and himself shame. When he spake of God or in the cause of God, he would speak with great Authority, as ever any one of so private a capacity used to do: But when he spake of any thing relating to himself, he would still abase himself, and manifest the greatest lowliness of mind and self-denial; and he liked not that others should think too highly of him. Writing to one whom he feared to esteem him too much, he sayd: Think of me no otherwise than you see me: Only I hope I have obtained mercy to be faithful.

His great care was to put off all from himself and to attribute all to the free Grace Gods Glory sought.of God, as Saint Paul sayd: Not I, but the Grace of God in me. And when he was carried out to any special or eminent exercise of Grace, he would say. I have received Grace to do this or that duty, or to believe this or that particular Promise. It was his frequent saying: Let us remember to expect all from him, and to ascribe all to him. When he heard of the Grace of God in others, he used much to rejoyce in it, and he was never known to envy the Gifts or Graces of others, but rejoyced exceedingly to hear of them, and blessed the Lord for them as for himself. He loved holiness for holiness sake, p. 119and therefore when he saw it in any, he rejoyced in it as much as if it had been in himself. Hearing of the Grace of God bestowed upon some, he sayd: Blessed be the Lord for ever and ever. Who are we that we should be able to will any thing after this sort? The Lord keep it in the purpose of our hearts for ever, and prepare our hearts to him. The great thing which he begged of God for himself, and his near Relations was, that God would make use of him and them to be some way servicable to him whilst they live: And then sayd: One thing more I have begged of God, and shall beg, that both I, and you, and all that do receive the benefit, may look up, and give to God alone all the Glory.

Herein lay the perfection of his grace, and wherein he came nearest to the Saints in heaven, that tho he desired to be most servicable, and to be carried forth in the highest way of exercising grace, yet when all was done, he desired not to be eyed, or looked upon the more; but his great desire was, that all that was done, might be seen to be of God, and that God might be admired the more. Writing to a near Relation, he sayd: I pray that God will make use of my self and you in such a way, as that God alone may be seen, and we not taken notice of at all: That be may have the Glory, and we not be seen. He mightily rejoyced to see Religion honoured. When an old Christian, that had been a professor of Religion many years, died, and had held out in his Profession to the end, without any stain upon his Conversation, he seemed to be transported with an extraordinary joy, and could hardly speak of it without Tears. O, sayd he, such an one hath left no stain behind him.

He was greatly affected with a sense of Gods dispensations towards the Land: If Fasting and Prayer.there were any signs of Gods displeasure, and Judgments from God seemed to be approaching, or if the Land lay under Judgments for the present, his course was to humble himself in a more than ordinary manner, and stirred up himself to pray with the more fervency. He used to say, that he looked above the Instruments, and second causes, and to transact all between God and him, and to consider what it was that God aimed at in every dispensation. In the time of our late troubles, he wrote to a near Relation thus: We had here with us as loud a Thunder as I ever heard. Our House Note.in which I was did shake: The Lightning also was extraordinary, such as I never saw in all my Life. I stood to see how it came forth at the breaking of the Clouds, and I saw (and so did many others with me) that out of the midst of the Lightning there came forth diverse times the likeness of fresh burning Coles of fire, so red and sparkling as any hot Iron can be when its heated to the uttermost in the Smiths Forge. These signs from Heaven, with the Sword drawn out upon Earth, do seem to speak aloud that our Provocations are very great. Joyn with us to intreat the Lord for Pardon and Reformation. Stir up your godly Friends to do the like: It may be the Lord will hear and spare, because he warns; or it may be such seekers may be hid, or marked out from the common destruction; Or if the outward Man perish, sure I am, that Soul shall find mercy that seeks the Lord in truth; He will in no wise cast out such a Soul.

In an other Letter he wrote thus: At such a time fell abundance of Rain, and the waters were so high as have been seldome seen; many Mens Harvest is yet behind, and great loss likely to ensue: Our heavenly Father shakes now the Rod of Famine, as formerly of the Sword. O let us pray, that grace may turn all of us that are his, from our iniquities. In an other Letter speaking concerning the troubles and publick distractions that were in the Land, he thus expressed himself; Methink the voice of the Gospel, considered with the uncertainty of all things here below, doth seem to put us most seriously to resolve upon the setting our affections upon things above; I hope it is our resolution with yours: But yet I think both you and we need more firmness in Resolution; else why should our wise, heavenly Father hold us at such uncertainties, if he did not see this to be best for us?

In an other Letter, speaking of the publick troubles, he thus expressed himself: I believe that one end of our troubles may be to keep us up in a fervent frame of praying: That we may pray our selves more and more, into that heaven like Conversation; in wich the Antient Saints have been inabled to out-live their troubles; and so I trust shall we.

He was a man of a sound Judgment and most stable in the Faith, insomuch that, His soundness in the Faith.tho he had been a professor of Religion for many years, and lived in such a time wherein so many opinions and errours sprang up, yet he never took up, much less was fond of any private, particular, or Novel opinion. But he always preferred the old Divinity, and liked that Doctrine best, which he knew to be held and maintained, by the generality of Godly, Sober, and Orthodox Divines. When he p. 120perceived that any were led aside into unsound and corrupt principles, by Satans subtilty, and their own weak Judgment, he would pray with great compassion and tenderness for their reduction and recovery.

Indeed herein he was very eminent; instead of censuring others or quarreling with them about their opinions, he did Conscientiously set himself to pray for them; and as he had opportunity, he would, in the Spirit of meekness endeavour, by setting before them the clearest and plainest Texts of Scripture that opposed their opinions, to inform them in the Truth. And being sensible how much the work of Christ was hindered by the falling away of many that had newly taken up the profession of Religion, to vain opinions, his Prayers ran much that way, that the Lord would please to reduce wandring Souls, and he used to exhort others to do the like: O (sayd he) let us be earnest with our God to establish us and ours, and all his People in the truth of the Gospel.

His Charity towards others was very Exemplary where he saw any thing of Christ His Charity to Souls.or sincerity, tho mixed with some errours in Judgment, and accompanied with other infirmities; his Charity would pass over those defects, and embrace that of the grace of God that he apprehended to be in them: He loved to make the best construction of the Actions of others, and if it could possibly admit of a Candid interpretation, he would be sure to construe it in that sense. It was a Rule with him, never to speak of the faults and failings of others behind their backs, except it were in two cases; either that it might some way or other tend to the persons Reformation, or else to warn others to take heed of such an one that might do them a mischief. Neither could he patiently endure to hear an evil report concerning others; and it was the most unpleasing discourse to him, to hear the infirmities of others blazoned without a cause.

He was ready to distribute to the necessities of others to his power, yea many times beyond Charity.his power. His House was free and open at all times for the entertainment of Godly Ministers, and other good persons that came to visit him. He was a Lover of Hospitality, and spent a great part of his Estate that way. Few weeks passed wherein his House was not a receptacle to entertain, and lodge some Godly person or other. And none could be freer, more hearty and ingenuous in the entertainment and respect that he gave unto others, whether they were his familiar friends, or strangers. His Love was truly according to the Apostles Rule: Let Love be without dissimulation: And all the entertainment he gave, might easily be discerned to be done with all his heart; and he rejoyced that he had an opportunity to express his kindness to them. He did Conscientiously set apart some portion of his Estate yearly for pious uses; Some part whereof he gave to godly Ministers, another part in a yearly allowance to young Students at the University, and the other part to poor and necessitous people, as providence gave occasion: Besides, his Doors Ministred a constant relief to the poor of the place where he lived, who were very numerous.

He was very just and righteous in all his dealings with men: He would rather part with his own right than do the least wrong to any. When he drew near to his end, His Justice.having been intrusted with the imployment of considerable summs of Mony that belonged to several persons, his great care was to dispose of things so, and to put all into such an exact Method, as that every one might have his own, and that none might receive Prudence.the least wrong or prejudice, which he did to the general satisfaction of all.

When any came to complain to him of their dissentions, he would exhort them, first How he made up differences.of all to make their peace with God and to endeavour to set all right betwixt him and them, and then God would quickly turn the hearts of their Enemies to be at peace with them. He had the general repute of a Man so just and unbyassed, that many times both the dissenting parties would refer the whole business to his single determination, and they were content to yield and stand to what agreement he should bring things to. When he went about such businesses, he would usually begin with Prayer. Being once called to make up a difference between some neer Relations, he moved that they might first begin with Prayer, but one of the persons there present declared his unwillingness thereunto, whereupon he soon took his leave, and sayd to a Friend that came away with him: O! we shall be able to do no good in it. In making up breaches, he was as careful to make the disagreeing persons friends, as to compose the differences that were between them: And he had an excellent dexterity to use Motives and Arguments, taken, as well from the Laws of the Land as from the Laws of God to press them to come to p. 121an Agreement. Such was his Love of peace, and desire to promote it, that when it hath been a matter of cost and something hath been to be paid, and the party that was to pay it hath refused to part with the Mony, rather than the breach should not be made up, he hath paid it out of his own Purse.

Many times he had mony put into his hands by some Godly persons, to dispose of as Prudence and Piery in charity.he saw cause; which being known, when some poor people have come to him for relief, he would always give them some Spiritual Alms, before he distributed the other: And if any of them were guilty of any notorious and scandalous sin, he would endeavour to make tham sensible of it, and to bring them unto Repentance for the same.

He was a great promoter and upholder of the meetings of Christians for Prayer and holy conference which tended to Spiritual Edification; but an Enemy to such meetings where they met together to discourse of State affairs, or to talk of opinions, and controverted points, or where the time was spent meerly for an Ostentation of mens parts and gifts, not aiming at the Spiritual Edification of one another: And this appeared by the caution which he used in setting down Rules for the Ordering and regulating such Christian meetings; which were these.

1. They ought not to be in the time of publick Ordinances.

2. Nor to the hindrance of Family duties.

3. Nor in places, or with persons of an evil report.

4. Nor to the hindrance of Mens particular Callings.

5. Nor by night, or other suspected times.

6. Nor for controversies of disputation.

1. But for the clearing and setting home of Truths received in the publick Ministry, and in clearing of Cases of Conscience arising thereupon or otherwise. And in such Exhortations, Admonitions, Counsels, and Consolations as conduce thereunto, or that are otherwise necessary.

2. In some convenient time of the day, for an hour or two at the most, and once in the week at most, except in some urgent Cases.

3. In some family of good report, and with persons of good report.

4. That every one present may have liberty to speak one by one.

5. That they begin and end with prayer for a blessing.

6. That the Minister of the place, or some other godly Minister may be desired to be present.

7. All being ended, that presently every one departs to his place and duty, and to walk sutably, that the ways of God be not evil spoken of.

When he first began to set up this way of Christian conference, some godly persons were offended, fearing that such a meeting might minister opportunity for the venting and spreading of Errors, which were to rise at that time. And others feared that it might take off some from the love and esteem of the publick Ministry: But when this paper (drawn up with his own hand) came abroad, it was sufficient to satisfie all ingenuous and unprejudiced persons; and this meeting was so far from giving occasion of spreading Errors, that the godly of that place, were by this means kept stedfast in the Faith.

And this arose much from the wisdom which God had endowed him with: For his His Prudence.prudence was such in ordering those meetings, as the time which was spent in them, was taken up, for the most part, in discoursing of some main Article of Religion, or some Catechetical point; by this means the Christians in that place were so rooted and grounded in the faith, as that they were not so soon shaken by Temptations, as many others were in other Parts of the Kingdom, who had not the principles of Religion infused into them, nor rendred so familiar with them.

But that which did most of all commend him, and most set forth the grace of God The conjunction of Graces in him.in and towards him was, that he did not only attain to an eminency in this or that grace, but he arrived to a great degree in every grace, so that there was no grace but might be clearly seen and discerned to be in him, and in each of them he seemed to excel: As holy affections, and a spiritual fervour in prayer; zeal for Gods glory, faith, humility, meekness, patience, submission to the Will of God, heavenly-mindedness, charity and compassion unto others, &c. And there was such an eminency in every grace, as that it was hard to say in which of them he excelled most.

As he thus walked with God many years, so he kept his integrity to the end: And p. 122that which was most remarkable was, that in his Elder years he seemed to excel himself: His Progress in Grace.He did not only retain the lustre of his former Graces, but he was still more spiritual, active, and lively in the ways of God: he spent more time in Prayer, Meditation, and other holy Exercises: He was more abundant in holy Counsels and Exhortations. He oft said, Since our time is short, let us work the faster, and watch and pray the more fervently. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garments. He minded little else but spiritual concernments: Grace seemed to have the whole command of him. Being asked by a friend, how it came to pass that now in his elder years he had more command over his Affections, and Passions, than in his younger? He answered, That it was not, because he found not the same things in his nature still: For he found himself more inclined unto Passion than before: But because the grace of God had now overcome, and overpowred him, and reduced him to the present temper wherein he now was.

He had a long and constant remembrance of his change before it came, accounting Death expected.himself but a Pilgrim and Stranger upon Earth. Divers years before his death, he seldom Wrote a Letter to his near Relations, but he expressed his sense of his approaching change. In a Letter to some of his nearest Relations he thus expressed himself: Our time of our departure hence, draweth near. O pray for us as we desire to do for you, that we may be found blameless at that day. And in another, after he had been sick, he Wrote: Pray for me that I may not be taken hence unready: Nor yet my life be longer desired than all Gods work by me, and in me be done. A year or two before his death, he much rejoyced to think that so much of his race was run, and said, That he would not for a great deal be set back, and to have those years to live again that he had already passed over. About five or six weeks before his last sickness whereof he died, he thus expressed himself: I am old (as Isaac said) and know not the day of my death: pray for me that I may be faithful unto the death.

About the beginning of December Anno Christi, 1659, he fell sick of a lingring distemper, His last sickness.which continued upon him about the space of ten weeks, before the Lord was pleased to put a period to his Race. In the beginning of this sickness he had some intimation from the Lord about his change: And the Lord, the better to prepare him for it, had fastened the impression of it upon him before it came. When the Minister of the place where he lived came to visit him, and said, he hoped he might recover: He answered, He knew not how God might deal with him: But he had received the sentence of death in himself: A little before, he thus Wrote to some of his near Relations: Beloved in the Lord, I am yet (through mercy) alive; and continue sick: My God dealeth bountifully with me, who do from my heart acknowledge that I am a chief of sinners; yet hath he pardoned me, and will e're long receive me to be with Christ, which is best of all. Pray for me that I may give God his due glory by believing, and by a holy submission and conformity to his Will in Life and Death. Blessed be God, I have in my weak measure set my house in order, &c.

Whilst he was able, he continued to pray in and with his Family, and speaking something to them out of the Word read; and when he found his spirits so low, and so much spent that he could not do so much as formerly, he told them, that it was the grief of his soul that he could do no more for them.

His deportment all the time of his sickness, and at his death, was suitable to his Life. As he had lived Exemplarily, so he died Exemplarily. The whole of his carriage was (as one who was judicious, and an Eye witness of it, testified) as if it had been a studied piece. His great care was, that Grace might be seen to act in him at his death, as his chief care had been to express it in his Life. He was naturally a man of a timerous and fearful spirit. But when he came to die, Grace had so elevated him above his natural temper, that he was not only willing to die, but he triumphed over death, without being afraid of it.

He delighted not to speak much in the time of his sickness, but imployed it for the most part in holy Meditations: yet he sometimes spake to such as came to visit him, in some short sentence or other. His usual Exhortation to them was this: Make sure His dying Speeches.of Christ: Remember that one thing necessary. Once, when some of the younger sort were about him, he said, Make sure of Christ: And for your encouragement I tell you, that Religion is no vain thing: Is no notion: 'Tis a reality; and I tell you so from mine own experience. And at another time, seeing some young ones talking familiarly together, he said to them, He knew not what they were talking about, but commended their Love: only they should be sure to speak something to the edifying of one another: And that they should have their speech seasoned with the salt of the word: For the Lord hearkened, and heard, p. 123and there was a book of Remembrance Written for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And when a person of quality came to visit him, he said: Hold on as you have begun: Make sure of Christ. If I had as much gold as would reach up to the Skie, it would do me no good: My interest in Christ is all my happiness.

At another time his Wife and Children coming about him, he said, I hope you have made choice of Christ: And he exhorted them to cleave unto him: Be diligent in the use of means, but when all is done, be sure to depend upon Christ: Take heed of the World, for that is your greatest Enemy: I have found it to be so. And particularly to his Children, he said, deny your self sinful self-pleasure, and self-profit, and the delights of the world; and seek your All in Christ, and in him you shall find All-sufficiency. When some good people, who used to have private meetings, came to visit him, he said to them; continue in prayer: Hold on: I am confident it is the way of God you are in. To the Minister of the place, who often visited him in his sickness, he said: Preach to win souls: Let all your Preaching be to win souls. And to his own Son he Wrote thus: My Son, take heed to the Ministry that thou hast received of the Lord, that thou fulfil it This will tend to the glory of God, to the good of Souls, and to thine account in the day of Christ, the great Shepherd of the Sheep. And to some that were going to a Fast, he said: Pray for me; but especially for the Church of God.

During all the time of his sickness he had not the least Cloud upon his Spirit, neither Freedom from Temptations.was Satan permitted in the least to disturb his Peace. When a Minister that came to visit him asked him, whether he had any Temptations? He answered, No: Blessed be the Lord he had none: So that although all his Life time, he had been full of Conflicts, yet when he came to die he had perfect peace and serenity. When he had been sick some weeks, he wrote thus to a near Relation: I yet live through Gods mercy, but do continue weak: Yet the Lord deals very gently with me: For my outward afflictions are tolerable, and my inward consolations are full of Grace and Heavenly sweetness. These Comforts continued with him to the very last: For at several times in his sickness, and the same day he dyed, he was heard to say: God hath left with me the Comforts. And when about an hour before his Death, his Natural Spirits being almost spent, he brake forth into this expression; My grief is great: One of his Relations that stood by, sayd, you do not mean in respect of your Spiritual Estate? He answered, with a little seeming displeasure, No, No: He hath, and doth, and will support by his Eternal Spirit. Thus the Lord was pleased to answer him, in that which had been his great desire for a long time, which was, That his Faith might not fail, and that he might be kept up in the Faith to the last. The Night before he dyed he spake thus: I have waited upon God for my Salvation; and blessed be God I shall not be disappointed.

As was his manner in his Life, so at his Death, he was much in the acknowledgment His self-denial.of his own nothingness and vileness, and much in magnifying the free Grace and Mercy of God to him. The Minister that Preached at his Funeral had this passage concerning him: He was much (sayd he) in Self-denial even to the last; Looking on all that he had done as nothing; As dross and dung in comparison of Christ. Once when his Wife came to him and sayd, she prayed that she might follow his steps: He replied; Follow Christ: Follow Christ: He hath given you an Example: Blessed be God for Friends; But blessed be God for Jesus Christ, who hath saved us from wrath to come.

His great desire was to be perfectly resigned up to the Will of God; and therefore his great request to his Friends, when they came to visit him was, Pray me up into the Will of God: And to some of his near Relations in the time of his sickness, he wrote thus; Pray for me and your self, that we may be taught, and made able by the Spirit of Christ in us, to resign and conform to our Fathers Good-will, that when Gods time is come, I may depart in Peace, unto that longed for everlasting Rest, which the Lord Jesus hath purchased for me, and to which he will bring me: Even so Amen. And in an other Letter he wrote thus: I desire your Prayers for me whilst I live, that I may abide steadfast in the Faith of the Lord Jesus, whose I am, and by whom alone I expect Salvation: And that I may by Faith in the Lord Jesus have power from him, by his Spirit to submit and conform to his Will, both in life and death.

In the time of his sickness he was full of Holy Ejaculations, and Soliloquies. He Soliloquies.often used that passage of Hezekiah, I am oppressed; Lord undertake for me. And that of David: In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy Comforts delight my Soul. He often caused the 16th. Psal. and the six first verses of the 26th. of Isaiah to be read to him; And speaking to himself alone, he often repeated these words, (Isa. 12. 2.) p. 124The Lord Jehovah is my strength and my Song; He also is become my Salvation. Sometimes he would say, Come Lord Jesus; and then would answer himself, Yea, he doth come: He comes leaping over the Mountains, and skipping over the Hills.

That which greatly comforted him was to think that he should immediatly be with the Lord as soon as his Race was at an end. A Christian Friend that visited him, using such an expression as this: That the bodies of the Saints should rest in the Grave as in a Bed of Down: Yea (sayd he) But this day thou shall be with me in Paradise. Intimating; That tho it were matter of Joy to think that his body should rest in peace till the General Resurrection; Yet his greatest comfort lay in this, to think that at the instant of dissolution, his Soul should enjoy the immediate sight of God. This appeared in his many ardent breathings which he used, saying: Come Lord Jesus. O how doth my Soul thirst for God! Go forth my Soul to meet thy God.

He was not only willing to die, but he longed to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Death desired.The last Sabbath but one before his death, he sayd: O what a blessed Sabbath would this be, if this might be my entrance into my everlasting Sabbath! At an other time he sayd, Why should we not be willing to die? Christ came from Heaven to the Earth to free us from sin and misery: And why should not we be willing to go from Earth to Heaven to be freed from sin and misery?

Two or three days before he dyed, he had a sore fit, and thought that he should then have died: But reviving a little, he called for his Wife and Children, to whom he sayd: This is the true Grace of God, wherein I stand; that I expect Salvation by Jesus Christ▪ and by him alone. And this he repeated again, and withal exhorted them; that they should give up themselves to Christ, and live upon him. A day or two before he dyed, when he saw his Children weeping about him, he sayd, Weep for your sins: And when his Wife was lamenting, saying, what should she do, when God took him away? He sayd, You must Repent for that word. Did Joseph say, without me God shall provide for the Life of Pharoah, and shall not God provide for you? Yes he Will: Only cast your self upon him.

His understanding and memory continued with him to the last, insomuch that he wrote a Sheet or two of Paper a few days before his Death, for the better directing of those that were to dispose of things after his Death. His Will was made long before for the setling of his Estate. And having finished this, he sayd, Now I know not any thing more that I have to do. And among these directions he gave a particular charge that there should be no Blacks worn at his Funeral.

The day wherein he dyed fel out to be on the Lecture day in that Town. And a near Relation coming to see him, he would not suffer him to stay with him, but seemed to put him off with his Hand, saying, Away, Away; You will come too late. For he would not have him lose the Sermon, tho it were the last time he was like to be with him.

When his End drew neer, one that stood by, sayd: You see that a Holy Life brings a blessed Death: Whereupon he, lifting up his Hands, sayd, Yea: Yea: Yea: And a little before he dyed, he sayd: Lord Jesus receive my Soul. His time being now come, that he must leave the World, and go to the Lord, he called for something that he used to take in his sickness, which being brought, he (as his manner was) set himself to lift up his heart to the Lord in a short Ejaculation, and in that posture he breathed out his last, with his Hands clasped together, February the 7th. Anno His Death.Christi. 1659/60. And of his age the seventy second.

Laus Deo.