The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons, Part 1 · Biography 3
The Life and Death of Dr. Twiss, who dyed Anno Christi 1644.
DR. Twiss was an English Man, born of honest Parents, who yet lived but in a mean His Parentage.condition. His Grandfather was a German, who upon some occasion came over into England, and by a gracious Providence of God he left this his Grandson, never to be forgotten among the Reverend Fathers of our English Church.
When he was a Boy, he was brought up in the famous Shool of Winchester, where were He went to Winchester School.Bred also those eminently learned Men Bilson, Lake, Hanmer, Wotton, Hoskins (who was our Twisses Uncle) and he was familiarly acquainted with the other.
When he was eighteen years old, he was sent to Wicham Colledge in Oxford; where he Thence to Oxford.applied himself, first to the Study of Logick, than of Philosophy, and afterwards of Divinity, in which Studies he continued in that University for about the space of twenty years.
He was taken notice of in that University for his acute wit, his solid judgment, his integrity, His excellent Parts.and pleasing behaviour, his pious, and humble mind, and at the last, he took his Degree of Doctor, with a general applause. For he had before given a great manifestation both of his Learning, and Industry, in his Lectures, and Disputations; as also in transcribing, and judiciously correcting the Writings of that profound Doctor, Thomas de Bradwardine, which were to be Published by Sir Henry Savil.
Neither was he less famous for his Sermons which he Preached in the University, though An excellent Preacher.some were not so well pleased with them, saying, that his Gifts were fitter for the Schools than the Pulpit. But how powerful he was in his Ministry, may appear by this instance? There was in Oxford in his time one Joseph Barnet, a Jew both by Nation and Superstition, who read Hebrew to divers young Students, and had cunningly pretended, and held forth, that he embraced, and believed Jesus Christ to be the true Messias: He professed that he was seriously and heartily grieved for his former Blasphemies against him. He mournfully bewailed that the Eyes of his Brethren, and Countrymen were so blinded, and their hearts so hardened. He seemed to desire nothing more earnestly, than that he might be judged worthy to be admitted into the Christian Church by the Sacrament of Baptism.
By these tricks of Legerdemain he deceived many of the Learned Doctors, especially Dr. Lake, the worthy Provost of New Colledge, and afterwards B. B. of Bath and Wells. And a Sabbath was appointed publickly, wherein Baptism should be administred to this new Disciple in the University Church of St. Maries, Dr. Twiss was commanded to Preach before the administration of this Sacred Ordinance, to add the more lustre to it. But the very day before he was to be Baptized, this dissembling Jew ran away.Jewish Hypocricy.
Dr. Lake being informed hereof, sent some on Horseback, others on foot to pursue him, who overtaking him, brought him back, though against his Will, to Oxford, where, on his own accord, he professed that he was returned to his old Judaism, which he had forsworn: he jeared at Christ, and despised Baptism: For he had now filled his Purse.
Hereupon our Twiss laid aside the Sermon which he had prepared, and instead thereof Preached an excellent Sermon upon occasion of Barnets revolt, wherein he shewed Gods His great Labours.just Judgment upon that perverse Nation and People, whom he had given up to a reprobate sense even to this very day. And this he performed with great applause, and to the admiration of the whole University: For that he had composed this in fewer hours, then the common Wits in the University could make a Sermon in so many weeks, yea months, and yet they consisted more in words then in profitable and useful matter.
Hence it was that those Catechistical Lectures, which he read every Thursday in Term time in the Colledge Chappel, and those publick Sermons which he Preached every Lords Day throughout the year, in the Parish Church of Olives, were so much frequented by the Scholars, as well as by the Townsmen. And though he lay hid, as it were, in quiet in his Academical Cel, yet was his Name so celebrated in King James his Court, that that Prudent Prince made choice of him to be Chaplain to his only Daughter the Lady Elizabeth His Preferment.to wait upon her into the Palatinat to Heidleberg.
Dr. Twiss being now to leave his Native Country of Great Brittain, before he went, he His Prudence.disposed of his Patrimony (which was about 30 l. per annum) and commended it to his Brother, requiring him, that out of the Rents of it, he should raise Portions for his Sisters. And thus having disposed of his small Estate, he went cheerfully with the Princess into the Palatinat: And to deceive the tediousness of the journy, he faithfully expounded some part of Holy Scriptures daily, whereby he prevailed with his excellent Lady, to moderate her grief, for leaving her dear Brittain, being taught by him, That here we have no abiding City, but we seek for a better in the world to come. By these and such like admonitions, he armed this rare Princess her mind to encounter with the strongest gusts of adversity with an undaunted mind. And ttuly she was put upon great trials, when, after she was Crowned Queen of Bohemia, she was forced not long after to fly out of that Country, being great with Child, and excluded out of the Palatinat, also (her Husbands Paternal Inheritance) and driven to live in exile all the remainder of her days, which sad dispensation of God towards her, she bore with a masculine, and undaunted Spirit, being forewarned, and forearmed by Dr. Twiss, whil'st he waited upon her, against such changes, and occurrences:
For he had taught her, That Gods Divine Providence doth order all the Estates, and conditions of all Men, whether prosperous or adverse, according to his own good pleasure, and for the Eternal good of those that belong to him, according to that Promise. Rom. 8. 28. We know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the Called according to his purpose.
And probably upon this account it was that Prince Rupert, one of the Sons of this Illustrious Queen, in the time of our unhappy Civil War, coming unto Newberry, where Dr. Twiss was Minister, entertained him courteously, and used him familiarly, making large Promises to him, that he would be of the Antiparliamentarian side, and write in their defence, and live among them, but our Doctor neither could, nor was willing to live among Courtiers, especially when they were in Arms.
Before Dr. Twiss had continued two months in that honourable imployment in the Court of that Prince Elector Palatine, he was commanded back into England, not without the grief of that excellent Lady, and her Princely Husband, for the loss of such a Jewel, which the said Prince at the departure of Dr. Twiss, expressed, and professed in a Latine Oration which he made to him.
Dr. Twiss being returned into England, did not betake himself to a Court Life; but His return into Eng.wholly applied himself for the good of the Church, and in a Country Village fell more hard to his Scholastick Studies, and in a mean House, laid the foundation of those are works, which all the Reformed embraced, and admired.
After some years he was sent for by the Magistrates of the Town of Newberry to be their Pastor, that where he had first seen the Light, he might be a burning and shining Light Goes to Newberry.to go before, and to guide and direct them in the way to Heaven: And there passed his time to the great content, and satisfaction of himself, and to the great profit and edification of the People.
He was so far from seeking after Riches, and Ecclesiastical Dignities and Preferments, that he modestly refused them when they were offered to him. Yea, he often pleased, and Humility.congratulated himself in his low, and mean condition, as being therein exposed to fewer Temptations: And he did often solemnly profess, that he was much indebted unto God, for that he had graciously placed him in a low, but far safer condition from such dangers as an Episcopal Dignity might have exposed him to.
A great part of the Fellows of New Colledge in the University of Oxford (in whose power it was to chuse a Provost for the Government of the Colledge of Winchester) did earnestly request our Dr. Twiss that he would be pleased to accept of that Place whereunto they had chosen him, and which was equal to the chiefest Ecclesiastical Preferment, at least for matter of profit: But he as earnestly contended against it, requesting them to confer and bestow it upon some other worthy Person: shewing hereby, that he rather desired to attend his Studies in private, then to wax old and idle in a more honourable Place. And which is more to be wondred at, his Wife, though she was the Daughter of one of the Prebends of Winchester, never repined, or was troubled at his refusing so fat, and plentiful a Place, and Estate. For this excellent Woman did seriously consider, that her Twiss should be nothing enriched thereby, but his Revenues would be spent upon others, and that her Husband would be occasioned to loose much time, which he esteemed most precious, and be impeded in his Studies, which he took so much pleasure in.
Not many years after a Prebendary at Winchester was laid at his Feet, which he, with an humble superciliousness kicked from him. And this he did the rather, because he foresaw that it would breed a quarrel between Dr. Moor, and Dr. Neal; the one of them a B. B. and the other a Prebend of Winchester, and Father in Law to our Twiss. And Dr. Moor had Preached freely against B. Neal in a certain Church, and had been forced to give in evidence to the Parliament against him for his innovations, though against his will.
The B. B. (by whose counsel it doth not appear) not long after, commanded Dr. Moor to Preach a Visitation Sermon before the Clergy at Winchester. After the Sermon, the B. B. complained that he had often been unworthily abused by Dr. Moor, and he was resolved to carry away a most Christian Victory over him. For now, having better knowledge of him, he would put him into the Catalogue of his chiefest Friends; and that there should be nothing which Moor should not be ashamed to ask, which he would not glory in granting. Dr. Moor returned great thanks to the B. B. And only begged of him, that himself being now worn out with Age, and labours, he would be pleased to bestow his Prebendship upon one of his Sons in Law, either Dr. Twiss, or Dr. Metkerk, Dr. of Divinity, and sometimes Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in the University of Oxford.
The B. B. readily granted this request, and designed Dr. Twiss for to be the Prebend: But he, returning his humble and hearty thanks both to the B. B. and to his Father in-Law, intreated them to give him leave to abide in Newberry to attend that Flock over which God had set him: judging himself unfit for a Cathedral employment, and saying, that it was hard for him, among such eminent Men, as were the Prebends of Winchester, either to sing Musically enough, or to Preach Rhetorically enough to their liking.
Not long after, the Right Honourable, Robert Earl of Warwick, designed him to a better Prudence.Rectory, but a smaller Parish than Newberry was; Dr. Twiss (considering that old Age was now creeping on, and his Strength was not like to hold out long) thankfully accepted Prudence.of it, provided that he would take care that his People of Newberry might be furnished with a godly and faithful Pastor at his leaving of them. Himself also went to the A. B. of Canterbury, with whom he had been familiarly acquainted while they had been Students in Oxford, and requested his favour therein: The Archbishop entertained him courteously and promised to grant all that he requested, adding that he would represent him to the King for a pious and learned man, and no Puritane: Dr. Twiss being of a quick and sagacious Wit, perceived that Snares were laid to entrap him; and therefore without applying himself any more to the Bishop he returned to his former place at Newberry, and entertained no more thoughts of leaving it, and there he spent his time in Reading, Meditating, Preaching, Piety.and Writing, to his great Content and Satisfaction.
Surely many of the venerable Cathedral Doctors never preached so many Sermons as our Dr. published Books, and some never read so many Books as he composed: For besides what he Printed, he left about Thirty compleated behind him. The reason was, because he recreated his mind, not with playing at Cards as too many do, but with writing Books.
His Recreations were friendly to debate with, and confute the Enemies of Gods Grace, of the Sabbath, and of the Churches Peace. And his abilities always encreased with his work; and by how much difficult the questions were, by so much more they were pleasing to him: But of all his Adversaries none put him to greater trouble then Dr. Jackson, whose sense and meaning he could hardlier find out than confute his Errours: neither could he so easily overthrow his Arguments as he could those of Arminius, Corvinus, yea, and of the Jesuits themselves, all things in him being hidden in such dark Expressions, and deep obscurity.
After he had overcome and beaten down this veterane Enemy, who was a man of a greater His Abilities.and no less Industry, (yet who spent most of his time and labour in making clear things doubtful and obscure.) After Jackson there arose one Hord, a young Scholar (as he pretended,) but in truth this Hord was one Mason, a man of about Sixty years old, who in his young days had been well acquainted in the University both with our Twiss and Jackson, him also our Dr. Twiss encountred, whom he did not only weary, but wholly overthrew him.
After Mason there arose one Thomas Godwin, a very learned man, both in the antiquities of the Hebrews, Greeks, and Latines, but indeed fitter to instruct Grammarians, than to deal with Logicians, and who had more power as Master of the School in Abingdon, than as Dr. of Divinity: And our Dr. Twiss quickly whipt this old Schoolmaster, and that Ferula which he had used with Pride enough, he wrested it out of his hand, and exposed him to be derided by Boys.
After Thomas one John Godwin, the Minister in St. Stephens Coleman-street, London, came upon the Stage, whom Dr. Twiss encountred with, and condemned his Book of Justification, and easily discovered that that vainglorious Divine did but sell to his Disciples pompous trifles, and guilded Coals to be adored by them.
Lastly, our Dr. did not abstain from dealing with Mr. Cotton, though his dear Friend, and an eminent Minister, about the Grace of God, (about which Mr. Cotton did somwhat err) with him he dealt gently: And because he knew that the very name of Cotton was more prevalent with the Godly, though otherwise weak, than other mens Arguments, he dealt very candidly and gently with him, as he also did with Piscator du Moulin, and Mr. Mead, all which he reverenced as his Fathers, at leastwise he loved them as his Brethren, and dealt with them accordingly, whilest he examined their Opinions, which he judged less sound. But in defending the cause of God and of his Grace, he feared not to encounter with any man living.
Neither did he less strenuously contend for the Morallity of the Sabbath, and among others he handled Dr. Heylin according to his desert, whom never any other man meddled with with impunity.
About this there came forth a Proclamation, wherein the People were allowed to use some sports which they called Innocent, and all Ministers were commanded to read the same in their Churches, upon the pain of Suspension both from Office and Benefice. Dr. Twiss refused to read it, yea, he modestly declared against it; diverse other Ministers did the like, for which that severe Penalty was inflicted upon them: But Dr. Twiss scaped better: for King James being informed of his refusal, secretly commanded the Bishops that they should not presume to meddle with him.
The truth is, the King knew very well, that though Dr. Twiss had but a small Estate, and lived meanly at home, yet his Fame was great abroad in all the Reformed Churches, and that the Bishops could decree nothing hardly against him, but it would redound greatly to their own disgrace. And truly it was no small disparagement to them that they suffered so eminently learned a man as Dr. Twiss to live without Preferment, who was so famous abroad, and yet at home a poor Curate in an obscure Village. And Reverend Dr. Prideaux, upon an occasion, said, The Bishops did little consult their own Credit, for that they had not preferred Dr. Twiss (though against his Will) to some splendid Ecclesiastical Dignity, by which (though they dispaired to draw him to their Party, yet) they might at least have taken off, or mollified the popular Envy, and not have heard themselves to be exposed to scorn by the Curate of Newberry.
Anno Christi 1643. In the beginning of the year the Parliament designing to Reform Ecclesiastical Affairs, called an Assembly of learned Divines to advise and assist them therein, and when they were met together with an unanimous consent, they chose Dr. Twiss to be the Prolocutor: But he, according to his usual Modesty, often refused it, yet was it in vain; for he was placed in the Chair: But after some Months being broken with labour Prolocutor;and Age, he fell dead in the very Pulpit.
For indeed he had long born with much grief the Discord and Divisions between the King His Death.and Parliament, which he foresaw would prove Fatal to both Parties: And he often wished heartly that that Fire might be quenched, though with his Blood.
Neither was it a less Affliction to him to see the Contentions; whilest some would have nothing Reformed, others would have all things changed, and turned uplide down. And this added not a little to his grief, to see whither the evil Counsels of some that were not evil men tended; who under a pretence of purging the Church, would expose her to spoil and Rapine: For he feared that if the Church were robbed of her Patrimony, that Religion also would be destroyed: And though himself had learned to live chearfully on a small Estate, yet he feared lest many of his Brethren in the Ministry, if they should be brought to the like straits, whilest they were solicitous about their worldly Affairs, would neglect their care of the Church of Christ.
And hence first it was that his thoughts were greatly disturbed, and his disturbed thoughts impaired his Health, and his Health being impaired, and his Private Studies and publick Employments not lessened, whilest he spake unto God in the name of the People, and to the People in the name of God, and raised up the hearts of his Hearers into Heaven, he fell down even in the very Pulpit: For his mind, whilest he was too much busied in spiritual Affairs, his weak Body was not able to bear up under it; for though his Constitution was naturally good, and he was of a chearful Disposition, yet Age had now made it heavy and somwhat burdensome.
Being carried out of the Church to his Lodging, and laid upon his Bed, there resorted unto him men of all sorts, who regarded either Religion or Learning, to whom for about a year together he gave notable Evidences of his Faith, and was a rare Example of Patience, at the end whereof God translated him from his narrow Lodging to a spatious and blessed Pallace in the Kingdom of Heaven: He seriously used these words, (which were almost his last,) Now at length I shall have leisure to follow my Studies to all Eternity.
The whole House of Commons in a certain sad and sorrowful Pomp, followed him to his Funeral. Dr. Harris preached his Funeral Sermon most eloquently upon that Text, Jos. 1. 2. Moses my Servant is dead. He was buried in Westminster-Abby, not far from King Henry the 7th's Chappel, where the Kings and Peers use to be buried. He needed neither Trophies, Marbles, nor Epitaphs. He provided Monuments for himself by every Volume which he wrote, which will be more durable than either Brass or Marble.
The day after the Parliament voted a Thousand Pound to be given to his Children out of the publick Treasury, but they never received any part of it, being cheated both of that; and of what else their Father left them, by some crafty Knaves: Yet it pleased God by his good Providence, so to provide for them, that they lived comfortably, and so as became Providence special.the Children of so great and eminent a Man.
Yet this excellent man was but a man, as himself oft confessed, and therefore thought nothing that was humane strange unto him. He had his infirmities, whereof the most visible was this: That he was of a facile Nature, and too prone to be deceived by giving too much credit to those, whom, by Information from others, or in his own Opinion, he judged to be godly. Whence it came to pass that he was often imposed upon, especially by certain crafty Heads, who solemnly professed that their chiefest care was the preservation of the purity of Doctrine, and reformation of Discipline, whereas indeed and truth they sought the utter Subversion of both. Whilest he hearkened to these Dissemblers, who yet pretended that they studied nothing more than a purer Reformation, and gave too casie credit to them, and became a Patron to them, he failed too much, and afterwards he was more troubled at it, because it was too late to help it.
Good God! How seriously, though too late, did he bewail the sad lot of the Church, which he foresaw to be in danger of Ruine in the very Reformation? How greatly did he grieve that the Reins were let loose to Heresies, whereas he presumed they would have been straitned? How grievously did he sigh for that cursed Liberty granted unto Blasphemers, whereas he thought that all their audaciousness would have been repressed? How heartily did he grieve to see the woful confusions both in Church and State, whenas he hoped that all in both should have been reduced into better order? How holily was he displeased that too much Liberty was indulged to the Pontifician Fooleries, when he had believed that they should have been deservedly hissed out of the Church? How grievously did he bear the neglect, and suspitions, raised against Godly and Orthodox Teachers, when he looked that they should have been more honoured and esteemed?
He solemnly professed his Fears, that if he had been advanced to the Episcopal Chair, he should have been insnared with the excesses of unworthy Bishops. And he gave hearty thanks to God, who had kept him, through his meer Grace, from such Honours, and Prelatical Temptations as he might have been exposed to. And in nothing it more appeared with what excellent Graces God had adorned Dr. Twiss, than by his frequent Confession of the pravity of his Nature, which now he was astonished at. And out of his great humility, he was still admiring the Gifts and Graces of God in others, and highly prizing and commending them, though they were far inferiour to his own. He reverenced and esteemed all good men, and only thought meanly of himself.
He constantly kept a Monthly Fast in his own Family, whereby he endeavoured to quicken his Prayers, by which with great importunity he sought unto God in the behalf of the afflicted Church of Christ, that God would be gracious unto it, and restore it to Peace in his own due time. Every day he applied himself with great Zeal and Fervency of Spirit to the Throne of Gods Grace by Prayer, and always before Dinner and Supper he read a Portion of the sacred Scriptures, expounding the more obscure and difficult passages therein, for the Edification of his Family. And out of these Scriptures he prudently gathered Arguments, whereby he might the more abase himself and his, and with the greater importunity wrestle with God, for the obtaining of such mercies as he craved of him.
He was once sent for by the States of Frizland to be a Professor among them, which, in an Epistle that he wrote to them, he acknowledged with great Thankfulness; but preferred the Country Obscurity before the splendor of the University, which he also did when he was proferred the chief Professors place in Oxford. He never got any thing by the Books which he Printed, besides the applause of the Orthodox, and the Envy of the Innovators. His Pen was a Hammer to beat down the New Pelagians, as Truth was his Buckler. He dyed about the Year 1644.