The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons, Part 1 · Biography 7

The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons · Part 1 · Biography 7

p. 57M^r Richard Blackerby Dyed in the yeer 1648 in his 74^th. year

F. H. Van Houe. Sculp.

The Life and Death of Mr. Richard Blackerby, who died Anno Christi, 1648.

THat eminently holy Divine Mr. Richard Blackerby, was born in the His Birth, Family and Education.year 1574. at Worlington in Suffolk. He was second Son of Thomas Blackerby, a person of good Estate and Quality, whose Nephew (the Worshipful Thomas Blackerby Esquire) was lately one of the Aldermen of the City of London, and afterward high Sheriff of Suffolk, and is yet living a Justice of Peace in that County; being Honoured by all men for his eminent Service to God and his Country, in all his publick stations; Richards Father had nine Sons and one Daughter; unto all whom he gave Pious Education: who designed his second Son (from the first) for the Ministry, and first put him to the School of St. Edmundsbury in Suffolk, where he profited so much, that at the Age of Fifteen years he was admitted a Student in Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge, where he lived nine years, and became an eminent Scholar in all parts of Learning, especially in his great skill in the Hebrew, Greek and Latine Tongues, being reckoned one of the best Hebritians in Cambridge in those days.

While he was in the University, famous Mr. Perkins was a Preacher and Lecturer in the Town of Cambridge, upon whose Ministry he diligently attended; He is first convinced of sin by the Ministry of Mr. Perkins.whereby his Soul (when he was middle Batchelour of Arts) was deeply wrought upon, and truly converted, but he lay some years in great distress of Conscience, and much perplexity of Spirit, when his Father took him for some time home to Worlington, to see if change of Air might a little relieve him in his Melancholy, which his Friends thought proceeded from temper of body, though it had another cause, which neither Air nor Company could remove.

After a short time, he desired to return again to Mr. Perkins, for satisfaction of Soul, and it pleased God (as he was returning to Cambridge, and Riding alone upon New-market Heath, bemoaning his sad condition before the Lord) to reveal his p. 58reconciled face in Christ Jesus to him, and to give him that Peace of Conscience (so well grounded, and so clearly evidenced) that he never lost it to his dying day.

From the University he went and lived first in the nature of a Chaplain in the House of Sir Thomas Jermin of Rushbrook in Suffolk, who was Father of the present Earl of St. Albans, in which Family he both Morning and Evening, not only prayed, but opened some Portion of Scripture, during the whole time of his abode there.

From thence he removed to live with the Renowned and Pious Knight, Sir Then with Sir Edward Lewknor at Denham, where he married the Daughter of a Reverend Divine.Edward Lewknor of Denham in Suffolk, (great Grandfather to the Right Honourable and Virtuous, the late Lady Townsend) with whom he lived till he married Sarah, the eldest Daughter of Mr. Timothy Prick, alias Oldman; which alias Oldman was assumed to the Family in the days of Queen Mary, the Father of the said Timothy, being forced then to abscond, and to change his name, being persecuted for the Protestant Religion.

Mr. Blackerby lived two years with his Reverend Father-in-Law, Minister of He was offered the Living of Feltwell in Norfolk, but seats himself at Ashen in Essex.Denham, and from thence was called to be Minister at Feltwell in Norfolk, where he continued without Institution or Induction for some time, but then by reason of his Non-conformity, he was forced to remove, and hired a House at Ashen, a Village in Essex near Clare.

Here, not being capable to receive any Ecclesiastical Preferment upon the account aforesaid, he betook himself to the way of Boarding young men, and Educating of Youth, spending three and twenty years in that imployment in part; for during the whole time, he almost constantly kept Lectures in some Neighbouring Town, Preaching weekly in one place or other; and for the last ten years of the forementioned time, he Preached statedly either at Castle Heningham, Stoke by Clare, or Hunden in Suffolk.

In the way of his life, he seemed never to lose one moment of time in idleness, His general course of life.or non-improvement thereof; and herein is wrapt up even all the practical wisdom of mortal man, viz. to improve time for immortality. He rose early in the Morning Winter and Summer, and spent the whole day in Reading, Meditation, Prayer, and teaching of others. After a competent time spent in his Study in the Morning, he would early call his Family (or any other Family in which he was, and wherein he had any influence) together, and as constantly as the Sun rose and set, he failed not Morning and Evening to spend some time in Reading and Expounding some part of the Scripture and Prayer, unless in very extraordinary cases; and not being capable of a Benefice, because he could not subscribe, he spent much of his time in teaching young Schollars, Boarding in his House always a great number of youths, the Sons of Pious Gentry, Tradesmen, and Yeomen in the Country, whom he daily instructed both in Religion and Learning. They sate round about the Table at his Expositions; and if he saw any behaving themselves as not minding, he would call out to that Youth by name, and ask him what he had said last; by which means he made them continually attentive.

He was a great Walker, and, like the old Peripateticks, he would oft call forth He Educated and Instructed many persons afterwards Famous in their Generation.his Scholars abroad, and teach them both Natural and Divine knowledge; fitting some for the University, and others for other Callings. He walked continually before them, as the Picture of Jesus among his Disciples, abounding in Wisdom, Heavenliness and Love. Many grew to be excellent persons in Church and State; and indeed, his example was enough to commend Religion to the Head and Heart of every spectator. The observance of his Life did seem immediately to dash all thoughts of Atheism and Irreligion, whenever they arose in the hearts of any spectatators, it was the saying of some of his Scholars, that they were as satisfied that he lived in the virtue of a Divine and holy principle, as that they did ever see men walking on Earth by virtue of a living Soul within. Divers young Students (after they came from the University) betook themselves to him to prepare them for the Ministry, whom he taught the Hebrew Tongue, to whom he opened the Scriptures, and read Divinity, and gave them excellent advice for Learning, Doctrine and Life; and many eminent persons proceeded from this Gamaliel; as Dr. Bernard, afterwards Dean and Bishop in Ireland, whom he commended to Archbishop Ʋsher, with whom he had great acquaintance; Mr. Prosse Minister of two Dutch Congregations, first in Colchester, then in London; Mr. Stone, afterwards famous in New England; holy and learned Mr. Fairclough, and Mr. Burrel, and many others.

p. 59He was a man much in Prayer, much in Closet Prayer, much in walking Prayer, Much in Prayer.much in solitary Prayer by himself; much in conjugal Prayer (for he daily prayed with his Wife alone) much in Family Prayer; daily with his own Family, and almost daily with some other Family; very much in Fasting and Prayer; for which he took all occasions that seemed in any measure to require it.

The instructing of his Family, and teaching youth, took him not off from his The way of his publick Ministry.publick Ministry: for though he could never have a Benefice, yet he usually Preached some Lecture in some Neighbouring place, as hath been told; and he also Preached frequently occasional Sermons. If he were suspended in one County, he would go and Preach in another; for his Habitation was near to two or three several Counties; he used much to Ride about from Family to Family (when possibly he could be spared from his Scholars) and only alight and pray with them, and give them some heavenly exhortation, and then away to another Family. And in the next Neighbourhood to his House, where he could walk, he would frequently visit those near Inhabitants, especially the Poor, painfully instructing them, and fervently praying with them; and would give them Catechisms and Bibles, and money, if he had it, and they had need of it; by which his going about and doing good, many backs and bellies praised God in time, and more Souls will to all Eternity.

His Preaching was not altogether in the usual manner, but much in opening the The manner of his Preaching.Scripture, and making excellent, spiritual, short observations, and brief and close Applications. He had great skill in the Original Tongues, spent much Study to understand the Scripture, and lived much in Divine Converse; by all which he became a singular Textuary, and famous Divines would frequently send to him for his Opinion in Scripture difficulties. He was a mighty man in wounding Consciences by the Sword of the Spirit, and in healing them by the Blood of Jesus. His Voice used not to be very loud, but his Preaching was accompanied with such an Authority of the Divine presence and power of the Spirit, that Souls fell exceedingly under the Yoke of Christ by his Ministry; so that he has (being urged by some reasons thereto) been constrained to acknowledge to some intimate Friends, (though far from boasting) that he had reason to believe, that God had made him a Spiritual Father to above two Thousand persons. Indeed the Word of God in his Lips was so unmixt with any appearance of any self, or by-respects, and came so pure, as it were immediately from the Holy Ghost, that like the Word of God, Heb. 4. it was very quick and powerful, and men soon became, either Converts to it, or flyers from it; or with all their might fighters against it; The direct rays of Divine Light falling on the Conscience, will have a speedy and great effect; When 'tis mingled and diluted with a Carnal Spirit, or not directly levelled at the heart, it may fall, many years, upon the outward Ear, and may sometimes affect men, but never a piercing drop doth enter the Soul; or if it does, it is quickly choaked there, with the body of death and power of darkness; but his Preaching was such as must be yielded to, fled from, or fought against. Many prophane persons that could both hear other Pious Ministers, and would curse them bitterly when they had done; yet dared neither to hear him, or speak against him if they did. There was so much of God in him and with him, that he left a perpetual dread upon many Souls that would play with others Sermons, and with their names and persons. Multitudes of very prophane persons did fall under the power of the Word Preached by him; a particular instance whereof, happened in or near Castle Heningham in Essex, where a Society or Club of young persons, (who used to have their set times to meet, and dance, and frolick it in their youthful sports, sins and vanities) were by his Preaching there, all or most of them converted, and became a company of gracious Christians, and used afterwards to joyn in Prayer, as before they had done in sin and folly.

Some whose Consciences were scared, would sometimes rise up against his Preaching Gods vengeance on his Persecutors.with rage and violence; but the Wrath of God did often most eminently take hold of such. As in Hunden in Suffolk, where sometime he had a Lecture, he met with great opposition; divers persons of considerable Estate in the Town, joyned together, ond procured his suspension; but all of them were notoriously afterwards, blasted in their outward Estates; some brought to beggery, and all but one died miserably: One of them the next Lords-day after his Suspension, boasting in the Church-yard, That now they had got Blackerby out of the Pulpit; to which, p. 60a Woman standing by and hearing, replyed, Blackerby will Preach again in Hunden Pulpit, when you are crying in Hell; and that very day eight years that man was buried, and the Lords-day after, Mr. Blackerby had liberty to Preach again, and Preached in Hunden Pulpit.

The particular acts of his great Religion, the little Piety of the next, and this The eminency of his Holiness, and Heavenly mindedness in General.present Age, have suffered many of them to slip out of their memories, and have been much wanting as to the copying of them out in their Lives and Conversations; but there was yet never any person who had the happiness to converse with him (and some of them are yet living) who did not behold both his Heart and Life, so greatly sanctified, and so generally raised, to such an universality and heighth of true Christian Godliness, as cannot be equalized. Few persons have ever been acquainted with, or scarce ever read or heard of any meer man, that did exceed him, though others might equal him in some corporal severities, and seem more heated in some particular parts of Religion or Obedience, yet for the impartiality, constancy and sweetness of Holiness, very few have came near him, and none since the Primitive times did excel him. He (in good earnest) made it his business to live with God, and to his Glory, not as it is to be feared of too many Professors, that they satisfie themselves in the frequent motions of their affections in some pangs of indigested resolutions, or some fits of Pious Conversation, as if these were the Life and Power of Godliness, all which are very good and desireable; but yet at best, they are but some seeds and blossoms of the Divine Nature, which is first conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Soul, in a real absolute Consecration of the whole Man to God, and grows in a diligent endeavour of perfect Conformity to this Consecration. He, the business of whose Heart and Life is not in all things (fetching strength from Christ by Faith, who is the careful and faithful Head of his Church) to live to God, is yet no living Child of God, what preparatories soever there may be in him towards it. It would make ones heart tremble to think what multitudes of half Christians drop daily down into everlasting destruction, cheating themselves with pious sentiments, as if they were the life of Godliness, which cannot be but in an absolute Union with Christ, and living in the virtue of him, and faithful Obedience to him, as this Saint did. He lived not without infirmities, but in the eye of all knowing, impartial, daily spectators, he was free from the allowance of himself in any sinful act in the World, and without the visible acting of any sin of Commission, not so much as speaking of an idle, or an angry word (but in reproving of that which he accounted sin) or losing any moment of time that he could redeem, or that he was sensible he might better spend; and this by the space of above forty years, as by diligent inquiry, and personal acquaintance of many years, will be justified. His deportment was always such, as if at that moment he saw God, and had Gods Law, his own Covenant with God, and the day of account just then before his eye, so that whenever the Lord should come and call him, he would ever have been found so doing. To any understanding converser with him, there always appeared wrote in his face and demeanour, A sense of the Divine Majesty and Holiness a most pleasing consciencious, and full dedication of himself to God, a watchfulness upon his own Heart and Life, least he should offend; a great mortification of heart to all the World; a wonderful purity from sinful pollution; and an admirable transformation of Spirit unto the Divine similitude and converse. Indeed, constant Holiness seemed perfectly natural to him, when it seems but laboured and endeavoured after by others. That he sinned, his conversers knew not, but by; First, the infinite due of God, and perfection of his Law, to which no depraved Son or Daughter of fallen man can (in his affections and operations) be adequate or exactly correspondent. Secondly, by some mistakes that some might apprehend in his Judgment in some disputable things. Thirdly, by the great complaints usually made of the Plague of his Heart.

For with this heighth of Holiness was joyned the depth of Humility. He has Great Humility.sometimes, walking with his eldest Grand-child, then but a youth, took occasion to say (after other serious discourse) Oh Lad! thou little thinkest what a vile heart I have, how I am plagued with proud thoughts; Child (if thou hast acquaintance with God in Prayer) pray for me, that God would purifie this filthy heart; oh! if God did not enable me in some measure to keep a watch over it, I should act to the shame of my face; which expressions did greatly affect the heart of this young p. 61person, to hear one who lived so like an incarnate Angel, to speak at such a rate of his heart; to hear so grave on Apostle, who never used to speak unbecomingly, so talk to one but a youth, and his Grand-child.

And such discourses as these were frequent with him to other persons, when a fitting season offered it self. He seemed to have small sense of any self-excellency, though Satan would sain have defiled him with it (but he walked in continual admiration of the vouchsafements of free Grace unto him) from his Humility came that readiness in him to be perswaded or disposed of by others, much inferiour to him, in any thing (so Religion and Duty suffer not by it) little valuing in what place he was put, or what account was had of him, so he might keep close to his Duty, and enjoy the Light of the Divine Countenance.

And that which did set him most high above all others who lived in these later The impartiality of his Conscience.days, was the most impartial universality of his Obedience, joyned with the greatest Charity and Candour to all others, wherein was the least appearance of good. No hopes of preferment, or smart of suffering, could prevail with him to depart from his Light; he could not so conform to the Church of England, as the Law required, to make him capable of a Living, or secure from the punishment of some Laws; yet wherein he thought it his Duty, or becoming Religion to Conform, no man more exact than he.

And therefore being no Enemy to the greatest part of the Common Prayer, he would all days, Lords-days and Week-days, when Divine Service was read in the Parish-Church, go with his Family to the very beginning, and there behave himself with that Reverence and Heavenliness, as I never saw any like him therein.

That Religion will never stand before God, that by Zeal in some things thinks to purchase Liberty for transgression in others. It is a single eye that will reach Heaven, that aims only at Divine pleasure wherever he finds it; all the Will of God is amiable to it, unmingled with by ends or selfish concernments. Its true, circumstances of things may impose or discharge from the actual performance of positive commands; that act may be a Duty to day, and to this man, that all things considered, will be a sin to morrow, and to another person; and the heart may have a single eye, when that of the understanding may have a cloud of mistakes upon it; but integrity impartially inquires, chearfully embraces, and diligently pursues all Gods revealed pleasure.

And there is nothing more contrary to the Law of Christ, to the Eye of Knowledge, His candid and charitable Spirit.and to the Nature of the Gospel, than to set my self down in an Infallible Chair, and pass sentence on the Light and Truth, Knowledge and Grace of all others, by the measure of my own sentiments; herein Pride, Folly and Cruelty are come to the heighth, when I would be a Prince, and judge not only over mens acts, but their heads and hearts, as though I were not fallible and corrupt as well as any of them. Blessed be God, who will in Christ accept of mens faithfulness to their Light, though their Neighbours see it not. This Saint was so far from the crime of censuring, that if any fault were visible in him, it was that of excessive Charity to all others, in whom there was the least appearance to him of good, which charitable credulity of his, some persons did abuse; with which, when he has sometimes been charged, he would usually repeat a saying of his Father in Christ, famous Mr. Perkins; That when a man is once acquainted with his own heart, he will be apt to think every one better than himself; an appearance of the love of God in any, would make him put the best construction on all their words and acts.

But he was as far from countenancing any known evil in any: I believe none that His faithful, kind and wise reproving.ever conversed with him, but will bare him witness, that he never suffered, what he thought sin in them, without admonition and reproof; as sure as he observed the evil, they should hear of it from him; but ever with so much evident love as well as seriousness, that at the same time, both their Consciences were awed by the gravity of his advice, and their Affections inflamed with the sweetness of his Spirit. His reproofs were truly, as one well expresses, Nailes dipt in Oil, driven with power into the inmost of the heart, and received with all acceptation, because of the overcoming kindness they were accompanied with. Most mens reproofs by pride, passion, or imprudence, bar the door against their own entertainment; but his Sun would woo away mens evil, when others violent Storms make them in rage hold p. 62it faster. When he has been in company, and heard great persons swear, or speak prophanely; he would with a sad Countenance (leaving the Table, or departing the Room) rebuke, and afterward privately address the great Person with so much seriousness and respect, that they would be much taken with his dealing with them, greatly thank him for his reproof, and the manner of it; and one told him, had you spoke to me at Table, I had stabb'd you, but now I heartily thank you. He would neither suffer sin in men unreproved, nor provoke to sin by his rebuke.

He was very zealous for the holy observation of the Lords-day. On Saturday at Sanctification of the Lords-day.four in the Afternoon, he constantly Preached in his Family, (to which divers Neighbours would resort) preparatory for the next day. Of all Mornings, he would rise most early on the Lords-day Mornings; and wherever he was, and had any power, would call up all the Family, but especially his own, to Prayer and Reading. He usually prayed six times every Lords-day in the Family. First, as soon as he had got them up in the Morning, expounding some part of the Scripture to them. Secondly, when he was going to the publick Congregation, he carried his Family with him, and before they went out of door, would pour out some Petitions for Gods assistance and blessing in the publick Worship of the day. Thirdly, when he returned again from Church in the Morning, he constantly prayed for a blessing on what they had heard. Fourthly, he led them out again in the Afternoon with Prayer. Fifthly, a while after they were returned in the Afternoon, the Sermons were repeated, the Family examined what they remembred; which they concluded with Prayer. Sixthly, after Supper, when the Family was ready to go to Bed, he commended them again to God by Prayer. But this must be observed, he prayed oft, but never (unless upon an extraordinary occasion) very long, neither Lords-days nor Week-days, at home or abroad, in Family or Congregation; nor in Preaching, would he ever be tedious or over-long; but the graciousness of his Spirit in the Ordinance, brought a peculiar delight with it to all that joyned with him, and had any love to their God or Souls; so that his Exercises (though frequent) were never burdensome. On the Lords-day he was impatient to hear any idle word, or see any idle action, nor could he endure any worldly word or act, but what was of Charity or Necessity; but after Dinner he would call upon all, especially those that were apt to sleep at Church, to go and take a Nap, as he himself usually did, least they should prophane Gods publick Worship, or should hazard the salvation or edification of their immortal Souls, by sleeping in the Congregation; and therefore also he frequently inveighed against great Dinners on the Lords-day, as apt to make them heavy and dull on those glorious days, set apart for celebration of Divine praises, and edification of mens precious Souls. At a place called Linton in Cambridge-shire, there was a Fair usually kept on the Lords-day once a year; at which time he was once invited to Preach, and he then so plainly convinced the Town of the greatness of the sin, and evil of it, that they would never more keep the Fair on the Lords-day. Though he lived every day as sinless, and as heavenly as if it had been a Sabbath, yet he was very sensible, that our time is then much more to be spent in outward Religious Exercises, than on other days. The business of his Life, was all the Week to Obey, Glorifie, and have Communion with God; but on the Lords-day, the object of his acts was all Religious or Charitable performances.

He was much free from the stone in the heart, a man of a most tender and contrite His tender frame of Spirit.Spirit. Any (greater than the most common) sins or providences, made deep impressions on him; if any such sin were committed in a Neighbour Town, or any Judgment fell out in the Vicinage, or in the Nation, he would be sure to get divers Ministers and Christians together, and keep a day of Fasting and Prayer. In Nights of great Thunder and unusual Tempest, he would call up all his Family to Prayer, and expound some part of the Scripture to them, to affect their hearts with greater Reverence towards God. Any notable Scripture, any eminent Providence deeply entered his Soul, and raised up his Graces into act.

As his Life was ever led as in the Divine presence, so his Heart and Tongue were His readiness for, and delight in Gods Ordinances.ever ready for Prayer, or any holy Duty; and he so enjoyed God in every Religious Exercise, that he would almost constantly say when he rose up from Prayer, or came from a Sermon, or any holy Converse, or any Religious Exercise (especially a day of Fasting and Prayer) that he must bless God for ever for such an Ordinance, and would not for many worlds, but have been in it; a frequent expression with p. 63him, and if an Hyperbole, the only one that he observed to use; but this worlds delights were so small, and Heavens so dear to him, that we might believe his expression to be a truth (in the very Grammatical sense) and spoken from his heart.

When he awaked in the Night, he was ever in Meditation or Prayer His Nightwakings.he would oft at Midnight, make Greek, Latin, or English Verses, exalting the Praise of God, his Attributes, the Acts of Christ, or the Graces of his Spirit, or the like, and give them in the Morning to his Scholars.

His Dreams were usually such, as shewed a heart that lived with God, full His Dreams.of gracious Communications from God to him, and of Faith, Love and Obedience to God, and in abhorrence of sin; and he would in the Evening usually pray, that his Dreams might be holy; and usually holy Dreams are certain signs of much love from God, or gracious habits in the man.

He oft received immediate answers of Prayer. I heard an eminent Divine Answers to his Prayer.once say, he knew Eighteen Persecutors taken away remarkably upon his Fasting and Prayer. God seemed also to make a covenant for him with the Beasts of the Field: His Daughter Burrel was much affected with a remarkable Providence, which happened to him when she was waiting on him one day, to visit one afflicted in Conscience; and their way lying through a Field where was a raging Bull, that used to do much mischief; which Beast seeing them, made towards them with great Fury; and being come very near them, he put off his Hat, and prayed in these words, Lord, if our way be of thee, stay the Fury of this Beast; which immediately stopt its way, and Roaring, turned from them. They that believe our Saviour, who saith, Not a hair of our Head, or a Bird in the Air, falls to the Ground but by the Councel of Providence, will think she had cause to be affected with this mercy.

He kept three Diaries of his Life, one in Greek, another in Latin, a third His Diaries.in English, where he set down all the remarkable acts of God towards him, and of himself towards God; and had not those some way or other perished, (it is supposed by a Fire that burned down the House where he lived not long before his death) we had not been so barren of memorable instances of his Life, as now we are; these he would oft read over to affect his Soul, and improve them to Divine Glory.

His heart was as Pauls, so crucified to the World, and the World to him, Mortification of inordinate affection.that all Worldly concernments seemed a perfect nothing to him; (but where Duty obliged him) the World seemed to have no temptation to him, and he no taste for the World. His Passions were so much subdued, that though he was one that was most tenderly affected to his Relations, yet their loss discomposed not his Mind, interrupted not his Communion with God. His eldest Daughter was a most excellent person, and one in whom he took great delight; who died a few hours after her last Child was born, and he being present at her death, commended her Spirit to God more affectionately; but as undisturbedly, as when he gave her Person to her Husband in Marriage. He desired to Preach her Funeral Sermon, which he did; and therein gave her this Testimony, That he believed she had feared the Lord in sincerity, from three years old; yet Preached so, as shewed he had not lost his God, though he had lost his dearest Child. Nothing of Creatures could in the least draw him from his Life with God.

Living much in Divine Communion, he had great insight into Scripture His Prophetical Spirit.Prophesies, and had many future events deeply imprest on his Mind. Men know but little of Gods Mind, because they live but little in his Presence and Converse. He was one of the first that convinced men in those parts, p. 64of Gods intent to convert the Nation of the Jews. Famous Mr. Rogers of Dedham, and Mr. Stephen Marshall, and divers others, much opposed that Opinion at first, but were at last (by his Discourses) fully satisfied, and really perswaded of the truth of it. He lived much in the foresight and delight of the Glory and Peace of the Church in the last Ages of the World. He oft said (many years before it came to pass) to divers of his Friends, that they would, (and he believed himself should) live to see never a persecuting Bishop in power in England; and so he did. The first time when the Scots Army came into England, in the beginning of our late Troubles, he said to some that were much troubled for it, That that Army should go back again without a stroke struck; and so they did. He said after the Battle of Naseby, that many strict Professors of Religion should have rest for a little time; but afterwards a blacker time would come unto them than ever they had; which was in part fulfilled: but he used to add, the Storm would not last very long. And these were his very last words which he spake at his Death, uttered to his Daughter Burrell, a little before he breathed his last; There is a sharp Storm coming, but it will be but short; the former part is in a considerable measure already proved true, God grant that (in the fulness of Gods time) the other part may also be accomplished, though the wretched decay of powerful Godliness among us may lengthen the Furrows on Professors backs, and put good things farther from them.

He used to say, God had two Sieves for the Professors in England, one of a courser make, and that he had used; but there would come a finer one, which all should stand ready for; and this its doubted, is in a great degree to come. He used to say, That it was very probable this Nation would be punished by the French, after whose Fancies they went so much a Whoring. And he much believed Popery would come in, but it would not last; for it could not recover its first strength again in England; which last part of the Prophesie I pray God fulfil.

He expressed at his death, great hopes which he had, that there would His hopes of his Posterity.be found many hundreds proceeding out of his Loins, standing at the last day at Christs Right Hand; and in all Charity, every one that have known them, must believe, that all his own Children were Heirs of Eternal Life; and there are great hopes of all his Grand-children, divers of whom are eminent and gracious persons; and some (of his fourth Generation) of his great Grand-children appear already most Consciencious and serious Christians.

There were some particularities in him that may seem of lesser moment, but of good remarque. He could not endure to see any Bible lye contemptuously Some things were peculiar in him.about the House; but would have them carefully and cleanly used, or laid up; he thought there ought a negative Reverence to be given to the out-sides of such sacred Oracles.

He was exceeding careful to have none of Gods Creatures lost; he would always have a Fowl or two allowed to come familiarly into his Eating Room, to pick up the lesser Crumbs that would fall from the Table.

He was a great Enemy to vain Fashions, and in particular, to over long Hair; and would oft intimate, that excess of Apparel shewed great vanity of mind, and too great Conformity to the World; and it would be a forerunner of much wrath from God; had he lived to see the mighty Towers and Mountains of Hair upon professing Men and Womens Heads, with the present decay of Piety, and the dreadful imminent Judgments, he would have greatly lamented it. Oh what amazement of Soul would he have been in, had he lived to see the Professors Garbes (in the best Congregations of Men) in the days wherein we live.

p. 65His Conversation was so in Heaven, and the Majesty of Holiness did so shine The awe his presence carried.in him, that that most famous Divine for Learning and Piety, Mr. Daniel Rogers of Wethersfield in Essex, told another Divine, that he could never come into the presence of Mr. Blackerby without some kind of trembling upon him; because of the Divine Majesty and Holiness which seemed to shine in him.

The heighth and constancy of his holy and heavenly Converse was accompanied with a setled peace of Conscience, and good assurance of Eternal Life; His constant and uninterrupted assurance.for some years before his death, he would oft (upon seasonable occasions) declare, that for more than forty years he never had a doubting thought of his Salvation. It is our low, loose, unequal walking in Religion, that makes the sense of Gods love, peace with God, and evidence for Eternal Life, so rare a thing among us; Religion lying for the most part so weak among Professors, as if it were in a Swoon, no wonder if it be oft esteemed dead. A Summer glorious Noon-tide, abundantly shews the Sun to be up; but how can they that live far from God, behold the Smiles of his Face, or hear the Whispers of his Voice.

This holy Man was indeed an instance sent by God into the World, to shew A living pattern of Piety.to what Life of Holiness and Peace, Christians may on Earth certainly arrive, if hearty sincerity, deep mortification, diligent watchfulness, love of Divine Communion, and an humble and active Faith doth meet and concenter in the heart of any man.

When he was about the Age of Fifty five years, his Son-in-Law Mr. Christopher He removes to Great Wratting with his Son-in-law.Burrell, was Presented to the Rectory of great Wratting in Suffolk; Mr. Burrell had lived some years as a Boarder with Mr. Blackerby, Mr. Blackerby now removes and continues a Boarder with him, and that for divers years; in all which time he continued Preaching the Gospel only occasionally (except at Gastingtherp in Essex, where he maintained a constant Lecture) until towards the close of his Life.

When Providence so ordered, that he took upon him a Pastoral charge over the He was chosen Pastor by a People at Thurlow, where he ended his days.Congregation at great Thurlow; And here his Master found him so doing, to wit, very busie in his Masters Service; for as he was Preaching on one Lords-day, he was took with a great weakness and fainting while he was in the Pulpit; so that being carried home, he continued very weak six Weeks, but kept his Bed but two days before he died, which was in the seventy seventh year of his Age.

He had seven Children who lived to be Men and Women, (two Sons, and five His Posterity.Daughters) his eldest Son was a gracious young man, and lived sometime a Student in Katherine-Hall in Cambridge, but died of a Consumption before he took any Degree. His other Son was also a very good Man, and an excellent Preacher of the Gospel, and died lately Minister of Stow-market in Suffolk. His eldest Daughter, and his third Daughter, were both married to two Divines, in whom Sanctity, Learning and Ingenuity, strove for victory; the eldest was married to Mr. Samuel Fair clough, the other to Mr. Christopher Burrell aforesaid; all his Daughters were also married to Pious persons.

And now all his Sons and Daughters, except one, and all his Sons-in-law, and Now all in Heaven with him.Daughters-in-law, are gone with him to Everlasting Rest; and it is most fitting that the World should know and remember, That there was a Man that lived Fifty years after his Conversion, doing good, and walking with God in the Eyes of the most strict Observers, without perceived voluntary actual commission of any known transgression, no, not so much as of an idle or sinfully angry word; but he seemed wholly dead to all the allurements and enticing vanities of this World.

p. 66His Countenance and Speech, his Deportment and Behaviour, was perpetually He had always a very pleasing and graceful Countenance, conjoined with a grave and holy Conversation, through the whole course of his Life.as before the Eye of God, in the Consciencious observance of all his Precepts, with a heart full of Love to him, having his Face awing with a Majesty, and shining with a sweetness and beauty of Holiness; who (to all appearance) spent every moment of his time in his believed Duty, and in zealous doing of good, always ready for, and having spiritual Communion with God in all his Ordinances, and all carried on with a deep and contrite sense, of the natural corruption of his heart, in lowest humility and condescension (with most transcendent Charity to all men, yet never suffering sin in his Brother unreproved) one that kept peace of Conscience, and assurance of Eternal Life, inviolate for forty years together; one who convinced all men (both good and bad) that knew him, that the power of God and Religion dwelt assuredly in him, and continually with him; the Divine Spirit and Power, beautifying and adorning him, and assuring both himself, and others, that he was born of God.

FINIS.