The Lives of Twenty-Two Eminent English Divines, Biography 13
The Life of Master Hugh Clark, who died Anno Christi 1634.
His birth, and breeding.HUgh Clark was born at Burton upon Trent, in the County of Stafford, August 15. 1563. of honest Parents, who were very carefull of his education, both in Religion and Learning, and when he was fitted for the University, they sent him to Cambridge, where he was admitted into Jesus Colledge under the tuition of Master Duport, His going to Cambridge.(afterwards Doctor Duport, and Master of that Colledge) in that place he followed his study very hard, and his Proficiency was very exemplary; but after two years and an half, the air not well agreeing with his constitution,His remove to Oxford. he removed to Oxford, and continued there till he was Master of Arts. He was a good Logician, and a very acute disputant. The first place that he was called to exercise his Ministry in,His going into Northamptonshire. was about Oundle in Northamptonshire, where he met with a people, that for the generality of them, were very ignorant and ungodly, and much addicted to the Prophanation of the Lords day, by Whitson-ales, Morris dancing, &c. which sinnes Master Clark in his Ministry much set himself against, endeavouring from Gods Word to convince them of the evil, and denouncing Gods judgments in case of their obstinate perseverance in such provoking courses; but they, having been alwaies trained up in such practices, and having their hearts hardened against admonition, still persevered in their former courses; and that the rather, because they were opposed by the Word of God therein; but the judgment of God found them out for this their wickednesse.Gods judgements on Sabbath-breakers For shortly after, on a Lords day, the Leader of the Dance, being a lusty young man, in the midst of their prophane pastimes suddainly fell down and died. Yet these obdurate persons (though a little affected for the present) soon shaked off their fears, and returned to their vomit again.
Master Clark the Sabbath following, took occasion from this sad dispensation of God, to shew them the greatnesse of their sinnes, and how highly God used to be displeased with those which took liberty to prophane his holy day, withall quoting, Jer. 17.27. If thou wilt not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath-day, &c. Then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devoure the Pallaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched; opening, urging, and pressing it home upon their consciences: yet still they kicked against these warnings, and the evening following, returned to their sports again. Amongst these there was a Smith that was a chief Ring-leader; But it pleased God the very next day, that two Husbandmen coming to his Shop to sharpen their plough-shares, a spark from the red hot iron as he beat it on the anvil, flew into the thatch, which both the Smith and his neighbours saw, and stood gazing upon it, and might at first with one of their fingers have pulled it down, that thatch being low, but God took away their power of moving towards it; so that they saw it at first burn like a candle, then like a torch, and presently the whole shop was on a fire, and the men running out, both Shop, House, and all the Smiths goods were consumed in the fire, and yet a Neighbours House that stood very near it escaped.
The second remarkeable judgment was again by Master Clark pressed upon their consciences, yet nothing would prevail,Isa. 28.15. but as if they had made a Covenant with death, and were at an agreement with hell, they still persisted in their ungodly practises, and God who threatens to walk contrary to them that walk contrary to him, pursued them with one judgment after another; and amongst others,Levit. 26.27, 28. this was very remarkable: That upon the Sabbath day, which they had highly prophaned, by drinking, dancing, &c. in the night, when they were retired to their several homes, there was heard a great noise, and ratling of chains up and down the town, which was accompanied with such a smell and stink of fire and brimestone, that many of their guilty consciences suggested unto them, that the devil was come to fetch them away quick to hell. This so terrified and wrought upon them, that they began to give better heed to the Ministry of Gods Word, and to break off their prophane courses for the greatest part, so that there was an eminent reformation wrought amongst them; at least, sixteen of those poor souls being effectually wrought upon, and brought home to Christ; and some others that relapsed to their former waies, God pursued them with his judgments till he had brought them to beggery.
During Master Clarks abode in this place, he had experience of Gods gracious protecting him from the rage of some desperately wicked men, and amongst others, this is very remarkeable: Master Clark, having on a day pressed Gods judgments against some sins, that he saw some of the people much addicted to, there came the next morning, a lusty young man [a serving man] to enquire for him, as desirous to speak with him. Master Clark being made acquainted with it,A special Providence. sent for him up into his chamber, and knowing his vitious life, took occasion sharply to the reprove him, and to tell him of the danger that he was in by reason of the same, in case he persevered in his lewd courses. This round and faithfull dealling, through Gods mercy, wrought so effectually upon him, that falling upon his knees, he intreated him to forgive him: Master Clark answered, that he should beg pardon at the hands of God, against whom he had sinned, for he knew not for his own part, wherein he had offended him; yea, said the other, I have not only offended God by sinning thus and thus against him, but you also; for I came hither with a full resolution to stab you with this dagger here at my back, but God hath so overawed my spirit, that I have not had power to move an hand, to acccomplish such a wickednesse; and this resolution of mine, proceeded from the Sermon which you preached yesterday, which so terrified my conscience, that my whole body fell into such a trembling, that I was not able to sit, whereupon I rose up, and set my back to a Pillar to stay me, yet neither would that prevail to stay my trembling, &c. But now if you please to forgive me, I shall, by Gods grace, never entertain any such desperate thoughts again. Maher Clark freely forgave him, and after some wholesome and seasonable admonitions, dismissed him.
About this time, the schism and errors of the Brownists began to spread in Northamptonshire, and Master Clark had many bickerings and disputations with some of the chief of them, whom he mightily confuted, and through Gods grace, reclaimed some of them.
His remove to Woolstone.Anno 1590. He was sent for by Roger Wigstone Esquire, who lived at Woolstone in the County of Warwick, by whom he was chosen to succeed Master Lord, an able and eminent Divine in the pastoral charge in that place, and having preached sometimes amongst them, he was freely chosen by the People also. Then having his presentation from Master Wigston (who was a Gentleman of eminent Piety in those daies, and a great friend to godly Ministers.) He went to Doctor Overton, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, for his institution; but the Bishop having designed the living for one of his Chaplains, he endeavoured to perswade Master Clark to desert his title to it,He is opposed by the Bishop. promising that he would remember him when some other preferment should fall. Master Clark considering his fair and direct call to the place, and therefore hoping that God had a work for him to do there, he absolutely refused to gratifie the Bishop in his request, telling him, that he could not with a good conscience do it, and therefore importuned him for his institution. Then did the Bishop set his acutest Chaplains upon him, to examine and dispute with him, hoping thereby to get some ground of exeception against him; but when that prevailed not, he framed other excuses to defer the instituting of him, one while alledging that his Register was not with him, and then that he had so many daies allowed by the Law ro make enquiry after him. And hereby he made Master Clark to ride three or four journeys without attaining his desire, and this the Bishop did, that the Living might fall into the Lapse. Master Clark perceiving his drift, told him, that if he refused any longer to grant him institution, he would bring his Quare impedit against him, which occasioned the Bishop at last to grant it him; but withall, he sent at several times, sometimes an Apparitor, sometimes one of his Chaplains, and other subtill persons to attend his Prayers and Sermons, to see if they could catch any advantage against him, and upon trivial occasions cited him oft to his Court, and thereby much molested him. At last the Bishop himself being at Coventry upon a Sabbath day, he with some of his Servants came in the morning to Woolstone, being but four miles off, and coming into the Church, he set him down in a seat just before Master Clark, none else of the Congregation knowing him. Master Clark seeing the Bishop, abated nothing of his zeal and fervency in preaching and applying of the Word; insomuch as the Bishop being much netled by the Sermon,His courage. shifted and shufled up and down, as if he had sate upon thornes; an honest man by, observing it, fetched him a quishion, first to sit on, and then another to lean on, but yet the Bishop seemed very restless.
The Sermon and Prayer being ended, the Bishop said openly, This is an hot fellow indeed, but I will coole him. Master Clark hearing it, replyed, My Lord, if I have not fa…thfully delivered the truth of God, I beseech you declare what I have said amisse, that I may make my defence here before my people. The Bishop answered as before, You are an hot fellew indeed, but I will coole you; and so departed. Master Clark replying, It's good to be zealous in the work of the Lord.
After this the Bishop picked a quarrel against him, and suspended him from preaching, whereupon Master Clark used to expound the Word;He is suspended, and excommunicated then did the Bishop suspend him from expounding; whereupon he catechized with exposition and application; then was he suspended from catechizing also. Whereupon at the usuall times, in the Church, he caused an honest man, that was his neighbour, to read a Chapter, and at the end of every verse, to ask him the meaning of it, and what instructions and uses might be gathered out of it. This so angred the Bishop, that he proceeded to Excommunicate him. Whereupon Master Clark repaired to Doctor Whitgift, Arch-bishop of Canterbury, Absolved by the Archbishop.and from him procured his Absolution; and as he returned homewards, about Dunstable he met Bishop Overton going towards London, to whom he shewed his Absolution, and so went on in his Ministry as before. This so irritated the Bishop, that he still suborned some to watch him in all his publike Prayers and Sermons; about which time the persecution growing hot against the Non-conformists, Master Clark in his Prayer, requested of God to forgive the Queen her sins, though in modest expressions. This the Bishop being informed of,He is accused of treason, and imprisoned. and supposing that he had now gotten that advantage, which he had long waited for, he charged Master Clark with treason, and caused him to be committed to the common Jayle in Warwick, where he lay (bail being refused) till the Assises; and then the Bishop caused him to be arraigned at the Bar, and had so exasperated the Judge against him, that he would have had the Jury to find the Bill. But it pleased God to stir up the heart of a noble Gentleman,Sir T. Lucy. a Justice upon the Bench, from that good report which he had heard of Master Clark, to stand up, and publiquely to tell the Judge, that before Master Clark should have any wrong, he would kneel before the Queen for him. This so prevailed with the Jury, that he was acquitted.He is acquitted
Upon his release, Master Clark repaired again to Arch-bishop Whitgift, complaining to him of all this wrong which he had received from the Bishop; the Arch-bishop (very worthily) sent for the Bishop, and upon a fair and equal hearing of the businesse betwixt them,The Bishop enjoyned to ask him forgivenesse. he enjoyned the Bishop to go down, and in Master Clarks Church, upon a Sabbath day, before the Congregation, to acknowledge the wrong which he had done him, which the Bishop accordingly did perform, and ever after upon all occasions was Master Clarks great friend so long as he lived.
Not long after, the Devill stirred up new adversaries against him in his own Parish, his Ministry being very quick, powerfull and searching, so that some wicked persons that found themselves to be galled by it, railed upon him, threatning to kill him; so that Mr. Clark, being a strong lusty man, for a time walked not abroad without his Rapier in his hand,P. Petiver. for his own defence. At last, one of these wicked men, whose conscience the Ministry had galled, vowed his death; and as Master Clark was coming from Coventry, Binley Wood.he way-layed him in a Wood. Master Clark in the evening came alone homewards, with nothing but a wand in his hand;A special Providence. whereupon this man rod up to him, and falling into discourse with him, Master Clark took the opportunity to reprove him for his disordered life, and so laid open Gods judgments due to him for the same, that he fell into a great trembling, confessed his intention to have killed him, and begged pardon. Yet still he persisted in his wicked waies, and Gods judgments found him out at last; for though he had a very good Living, yet he fell into misery and want, and died in Warwick Jayle for debt.
Master Clark had in his Parish a Chappel of Ease, which had two townships belonging to it,His great pains. one of them two miles from the Parish Church, the Chappel it self near two miles from it, and the profits of both (the tythes being impropriated) scarce amounting to a competent maintenance for one man. Master Clark was fain to supply them both himself. And indeed God had extraordinarily fitted him for it, having given him a very strong, able, and healthfull body, so that for the greatest part of his life there, which was about fourty four years; he rod four times a day winter and summer between the two Churches, read the Word, and preached four times a day, administred the Sacraments, and performed all other ministerial dutyes in them both. He preached uppon several texts in each of the Churches, so that divers godly persons, old and young, went betwixt the two Churches, hearing several Sermons to their great profit and comfort. Besides this, every Holiday he supplied both the Churches, sometimes preached, but constantly expounded in each of them, and for the most part twice a day also; and God so blessed his labours,The success of his Ministry. that he begat many Sons and Daughters unto God.
He was very carefull in the education of his children, first to train them up in the knowledge and fear of God;His care in the education of his children. for which end he would take all opportunities to whet the Word of God upon them, when he lay down, and when he rose up, and as he walked by the way, &c. and God so blest his labours, that he lived to see, to his great comfort, the work of grace wrought in the hearts of all his seven children. And next to this, his care was to train up his children in learning, and to honest callings; often saying, that if he could leave them no other portion, yet he would give them that education, that they should be able to get their own livings in any part of the world, where God should cast their lott.
Towards the latter-end of his life, came forth the Book for Recreations on the Sabbath day, and some young persons in the Town where he lived, being encouraged thereby, and by a Popish Landlord which they had, would needs have a Whitson-ale, and Morris-dance, an heathenish sport, long before, through Gods goodnesse, banished out of that town. Master Clark laboured by his Ministry, to beat down the first rising of this motion; but these persons were so backed and encouraged by some that set them on, that they would needs prosecute their design notwithstanding all the warnings given them by their faithfull Pastor. But God that hath said, He that despiseth you, despiseth me, &c. made their sin quickly to find them out in a terrible judgment that suddainly ensued; for in that very Barn, standing near a Smiths Shop,Gods judgements on Sabbath-breakers where their revels were most kept, there was a violent fire kindled, which notwithstanding all help, quickly burnt it down, and in a strange manner flying against the wind, it went from house to house, burning down all the houses of the chief of those which had an hand in these prophane sports.
Master Clark was a man (like Apollos) mighty in the Scriptures, and so studied in the Body of Divinity, that upon short warning, he could preach very pertinently and profitably. He had an excellent pair of lungs, and was exceeding powerfull in his Ministry,His powerfull manner of preaching. striking shame and terrour into the hearts of the wicked, to whom he was a Boanerges, and yet withall, he was a Barnabas to humbled, broken, bleeding souls.
His old age was accompanied with a lingring and painfull disease,His last sicknesse. which yet he bore with great patience, and as he came nearer to Heaven, so his motion thitherward was more quick and lively. Many godly persons came to visit him in his disease, and none of them went away without some spiritual, and comfortable instructions from him. At last, having long glorified God on earth, and finished his work,His death. he went to receive his wages, quietly resigning up his spirit unto God, November 6. 1634. having lived seventy one years, two moneths, and nineteen dayes, and having been Pastor of Woolstone fourty four years.
This Master Hugh Clark was my Father.