The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons, Part 1 · Biography 19
The Reverend Mr. Thomas Gouge.
F. H. van. Houe. Sculp.
The Life and Death of Mr. Thomas Gouge, who Died Anno Christi, 1681.
MR. Thomas Gouge, was the Eldest Son of Dr. William Gouge, an Ancient His Parentage, Birth and Education, at Eaton and Cambridg.and Eminent Minister in the City of London, when he was Pastor of the Church of Christ in Black-Friars, for about the space of Forty Six Years.
This our Thomas was Born at Bow, near Stratford, in the County of Middlesex, September the 19th, Anno Christi, 1665. His Father was very careful that he might be well trained up both in Religion and Learning, and for that end, so soon as he was capable, he placed him in Eaton-School: And after he had finished the course of his Studies there, he was chosen from thence into Kings College in Cambridg, being then about Twenty Years old, which fell out to be Anno Christi 1626.
Having continued in Cambridg, and followed his Studies, till he had taken his Degrees of Batchelor, and Master of Arts, his Reverend Father thought fit to withdraw him from the University, and so leaving the College, and his Fellowship, he came home.
Not long after his return he was Presented to a Living at Colsden near Croydon, At Colsden.in the County of Surrey, where he continued not above the space of Two or Three Years, but from thence was removed to the great and Populous Parish of Sepulchres in London, Anno Christi, 1638. And being well setled there, the Year Sepulchres.following, he thought fit to change his Condition, by entring into a Married Estate, and after good advice, with the consent of Parents, he was Matched into a very Worthy and Ancient Family, Marrying one of the Daughters of Sir Robert Marriage.Darcy.
In this place he did with great Labour, Diligence and Faithfulness, perform all His Industry.the Offices and Doubts belonging to, and required of a Minister of Jesus Christ, for about the space of Four and Twenty Years, till that Fatal Bartholomew Day came, which made a Divorce between so many Pastors and their People.
During his Abode in that Parish, he was indefatigable in the exercise of his Ministry, Preaching Twice every Lords Day, besides Monthly Fasts, which continued for some Years, Funeral Sermons, &c. He was also very diligent and Charitable Charity.in visiting the Sick, to whom he Ministred, not only Spiritual Counsel and Comfort for the good of their Souls, but likewise liberally relieved the Wants and Necessities of those that were Poor, and destitute of Means wherewith to help themselves in that condition.
Every Morning also throughout the Year he Catechised in the Church, especially Labors.the Poorer sort, who were generally the most Ignorant, and to encourage them to come thither to be Instructed by him, he used once a Week to distribute Money among them, yet not upon a certain Day, but changing it on purpose, as he thought best, that so thereby he might engage them to attend every Day.
These were chiefly the more Aged Poor, who being past their Labour, had leisure Prudence.enough to attend upon this Exercise. As for the other sort of Poor, who were well able to Work for their Living, he set them on Work at his own Charge, Buying Flax and Hemp for them to Spin, and what they Spun he took off their Hands, paying them for their Work, and then got it Woven into Cloth, and Sold it as he could, chiefly among his Friends, himself bearing the whole loss therein.
And this was a very wise and well chosen way of Charity, and in the good effect of it, a far more excellent and useful way of Charity, then if he had given freely, and for nothing, to those very Persons so much Weekly as they Earned by their Labour. For by this way he took many off from Begging, and thereby rescued them at once from Two of the most dangerous Temptations of this World, [Idleness and Poverty,] And by degrees reclaimed them from an Evil, to a Vertuous and Industrious course of Life, which enabled them afterwards to Live without being beholden to the Charity of others.
Thus we have heard something of his Charity in his Younger Days, we shall hear much more of it, as he grew to greater Maturity, at which time most Men grow more Worldly and Covetous. But in the mean time let us take notice of some other Gifts and Graces which shone forth in his Life and Conversation. Graces.And
First, For his Piety towards God, which is the necessary Foundation of all other Piety.Graces and Vertues; it was vere great and Exemplary, yet withal still and quiet, without any great stir or ruffle in the World: Indeed, much more in Substance and Reality, then in Shew and Ostentation. It did not consist in Censuring and finding Fault with others, but in a due Care and Government of his own Heart Humility.and Life, and in exercising himself continually, to have a Conscience void of Offence, both towards God, and towards Men: In which he was so good a President, that those which had long acquaintance, and familiar Conversation with him, could not easily Observe any thing that was Blameworthy in him.
He more particularly excelled in the more peculiar Vertues of Conversation, Modesty, &c.viz. In Modesty, Humility, Chearfulness, and in Kindness and Charity towards all Men.
So great was his Modesty, that it never appeared by Word or Action, that he Modesty.put any value upon himself, or hunted from any applause from Man; and this was very Observable in him, That the Charities which were procured chiefly by his Interest and Industry, where he had occasion to speak, or to give an account of them, he would rather impute it to any one that had but the least hands and part in the procuring of them, then assume any thing of it to himself.
Another instance of his Modesty, was, That when he was ejected out of his Living of Sepulchres Parish, he forbore Preaching, saying, That there was no need of his Labours in London, where there were so many Godly, Able and Painful Ministers to carry on that Work.
According to the Apostles Exhortation, He was Clothed with Humility, and had Humility.in a very Eminent degree that Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit, which, St. Peter tells us, is in the sight of God of great Price: so that there was not the least appearance, either of Pride or Passion in any of his Words or Actions. He was not only free from Anger and Bitterness, but from all affected Gravity and Morosness. Affability.His Society and Converse was affable and pleasant. He had a very great serenity of Mind, and evenness of Temper, which was visible in his very Countenance. He was very rarely Merry, yet never Melancholy and Sad; and so far as could be discerned, by some who had intimate acquaintance with him, he was upon all occasions and accidents, Semper idem, always the same, constantly Chearful, and ever Courteous and Kind, of a Disposition ready to embrace and oblige all Men; allowing others to differ from him even in Opinions that were very clear to him, and provided Men did but fear God, and work Righteousness, he loved Prudence.them heartily, how different, soever from him in Judgment about things less necessary.
But that Vertue which of all did shine brightest in him, and was his most proper Charity.and peculiar Character, was his chearful and unwearied D…igence in promoting Works of Charity.
A while after the London Ministers, among many Hundred of others, were ejected out of their Places, and thereby deprived of the means of Subsistence for themselves and Families, Mr. Gouge with Two or Three of his Brethren, applied themselves to many Worthy and Charitable Citizens, of whom they received some considerable Sums of Money, whereby they relieved the Necessities of such as were in present Want. And this course they continued for some Years, till that Charity was diverted into other Channels.
Anno Christi, 1671. When the Life of that Eminent Minister and Servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine was first Printed, he hearing that I was in London, came to me, and told me that he had been Reading that Life, and therein meeting with that passage, (Page 33.) That Mr. Alleine had an Eye to poor Wales, and had an influence upon the sending of some Ministers to them. And he resolved to have gone, and to have spent some time among them himself. And by all the disswasions of his Friends, for his great Weakness, and unfitness for Travel, he was hardly with-held from his purpose.
Reading this, (said Mr. Gouge to me) it hath set me all on fire, with Zeal to prosecute that design: and God seems (in some measure) to have fited me for it, having taken away my Wife: and his Children, being grown up, were disposed of in the World; and he was left alone; and God had given him a competent Estate where withal to defray the Charges of his Undertaking. Having heard his Reasons, I encouraged him in the Work, and left him till his Thoughts were brought to more maturity.
About a Quarter of a Year after, (if I mistake not the time) he began his first His first Jorney into Wales.Jorney into South-Wales, and in every Town where he came, he enquired what Poor People there were that had any Children whom they were willing to have taught English, and to Read and Write, and to learn the Catechism: And where he met with a competent Number, he enquired for fit Persons to Instruct them: A Man for the Boys, and a Woman for the Girls, and agreed with them, as afore, for a Penny or Two Pence a Week, which he undertook to pay.
At his first going, he spent most of his time in the Borders and Skirts of Wales, Bordering upon England, where many could speak, and understand English, and therefore he Preached as he went up and down among them, where he could be admitted. But he had not long continued this Practice, before Satan, (who is an inveterate, and implacable Enemy to the Preaching of the Gospel,) stirred up some to molest, and impede him in this so free, and Charitable a Work.
Whereupon a Citation was sent out, requiring him to appear in the Bishops A Citation sent out.Court at such a time and place. But Mr. Gouge thought fit to anticipate that time, going to the Bishops of his own accord, desiring to know of him the reason of that Citation: He Answered, For Preaching without his Licence. Mr. Gouge replied, That he had a Licence for all England and Wales. The Bishop demanded, Who had given him such a Licence? He answered, The University of Cambridg, and withal shewed his Licence. Upon this the Bishop discoursed with him in a friendly manner, and stayed him at Dinner, after which he departed friendly from him, thinking that he should hear no more of that matter.
But when the Court met, Mr. Gouge was called for, and upon his Non-appearance, Excommunication. … from his own M…th.an Excommunication was decreed against him. This coming to Mr. Gouge his Ears, he was fain to make another Jorney about it, and upon promise of not Preaching again, was dismissed.
After he had made Three or Four Jorneys into South-Wales, some in North-Wales hearing of it, sent some unto him, requesting him to come into their parts to carry on the like Excellent and Charitable Work among them also. This he assented to, and went, at least once, if not oftner, into those Parts likewise.
When Mr Gouge was engaged in this Pious, Necessary and Charitable Work, Want of Books in Wa…e….one thing did much Impede, and obstruct his Progress therein, which was want of Bibles, and other Books of Piety and Devotion, in the Welch Language, for the use and behoof of such as understood not the English Tongue. This made him look about where, and what Welch Bibles could be had, and upon diligent enquiry, he could find but about Twenty in all London, and some few in Oxford. The reason of which scarcity, perhaps was this;
It hath been Observed, That the Scriptures were Translated into Two and Thirty Languages before they were Translated into Welch, which was not don… till the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, of Blessed Memory, by the Care and Industry of Bishop Hanmer: And about Fifty Years ago, when I lived upon the Borders of Wales, there were only Two Men that could Preach in Welch, neither could many of the common People at first understand them, the Scripture Phrase and Dialect being grown so much out of use.
It was a great work incumbent upon Mr. Gouge, not only to have poor Children taught to Read and Write, and to be carefully Instructed in the Principles of Religion, but the Persons of grown Age, the Poor especially, should be furnished with necessary helps, and means of knowledg, as the Bible, and other good Books, in their own Language: Among which were, the Practice of Piety, the Church Catechism, the Duty of Man, with some other Pious and Useful Treatises, of which he caused a great number to be Translated and Printed, and to be sent down to all the chief Towns in Wales, to be Sold at easie Rates to those that were able to Buy them, and to be freely given to such Poor as were not able.
In both these Designs, through the Blessing of God upon his unwearied Endeavors, he found very great and good success. For by the large and bountiful Contributions, which chiefly by his Industry, and Prudent Application, were obtained from Charitable Persons of all Ranks and Conditions: From some of the Nobility and Gentry of Wales, and of the Neighbouring Counties, and of several of that Quality in and about London: As also from some of the Reverend Bishops and Clergy: And from that Inexhausted Fountain of Charity, [The City of London,] led on and encouraged by the most Bountiful Example of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen; to all which he constantly added Two Thirds of his own Estate, (which was very considerable,) I say, By all these together, there were every Year, Eight Hundred, and sometimes a Thousand, Poor Children Educated, as afore is expre…ed. And by his Example and Perswasions with the Magistrates in all the chief Towns in Wales, he prevailed with them to maintain and bring up, at their own Charges, the like number of Poor Children, and under his Inspection and Care.
He also gave a very great number of the Books, afore spoken of, both in the Welch, and in the English Tongues, to such of the Poorer sort as were unable to Buy▪ and willing to Read, and make use of them. But that which was the greatest work of all, and amounted indeed to a mighty Charge, was this,
He procured a new and very fair Impression of the Bible, and Liturgy of the Church of England in the Welch Tongue, to the number of Eight Thousand: One Thousand whereof were freely given to the Poor, and the rest were sent to the Cities and Principal Towns in Wales, to be Sold to the Rich at very reasonable and low Prizes, viz. at Four Shillings apiece, well Bound, and Clasped, which was much Cheaper then any English Bible, that was of so fair a Print, and Paper, was ever Sold for.
A Work of that Vast Charge, that it was not likely to have been done any other way, and for which Work, not only the present, but the succeeding Age also, will have great cause to Bless and Praise God on his behalf.
In these Pious and Charitable Imployments, he laid out most of his Time, and Pains, an… his whole Heart was in them, insomuch as he was not much affected with matters of less concernments. He seldom minded, or (Athenian-like) wasted his precious time in telling of, or enquiring after News: or if he did mind them, he seldom talked of them. His afore-mentioned Work was that which he laid to Heart, and about which his thoughts were busied; and knowing that it was agreeable to the Will of his Heavenly Father, it was his Meat and Drink to be doing of it: And the good success which God gave him in it, was to him a continual Feast, and gave unto him a perpetual Serenity, both of Mind, and Countenance, [Sinceritas Serenitatis, Mater. Aug.]
His great Love and Zeal to this Work, made all his Labour and Pain, yea, and all the Difficulties which he met with in carrying it on, to seem as nothing to him. Yea, he would rise early, and sit up late, to advance it, and continued this Pains, Diligence and Industry, to the last of his Days, though he was then in the Threescore and Seventeenth Year of his Age.
And Mr. Gouge, that he might manage the Distribution of this great Charity with his own Hands, and see the good effect of it with his own Eyes, he always Once, but for the most part Twice a Year, at his own Charges, traveled over a great part of Wales, (none of the best Countries to Travel in,) but for the Love of God, and Mens Souls, he endured that, together with extremity of Heat and Cold, (both which in their several Seasons there, are very great,) not only with Patience, but with great Pleasure. These things being seriously considered, will Patience.evidently shew how careful he was to imitate, and to tread in the steps of his great Lord and Master, Christ Jesus, of whom it is Recorded, That he went about continually doing Good.
Thus we have heard a brief account of the Life and Labors of the Reverend, Mr. Thomas Gouge, who after all his Pains and Travels, Died in his Sleep, without His Death.any sensible Pain or Sickness, October the 29th, Anno Christi, 1681. and in the Seventy Seventh Year of his Age.
Indeed few there are, (yet I have known some,) that desire a suddain Death, as fearing that they were not so suffifliently prepared for Death as they desired, and should be: But to him, the constant imployment of whose Life, was the best preparation for Death that was possible, no Death could be suddain: Nay, it more suddain, by so much the more easie it was. For thereby he was freed from those Pangs and Pains; from those Sighs, and Sobs, and Groans, &c. which most endure in the Agonies of Death. As if God had designed thereby to begin the Reward of the great Pains of his Life, by affording him an easie Death.
And indeed it was rather a Translation than a Death: And saving that his Body was left behind, what was said of Enoch, may not be unfitly applied to this Pious and Worthy Servant of God, with respect to the suddainness of his Change; That he walked with God, and was not; for God took him. And it may be said of him, as it is of David: After he had served his Generation, according to the Will of God, he fell a Sleep, Acts 13. 26.