The Lives of Twenty-Two Eminent English Divines, Biography 18
The Life of Master Richard Sedgwick, who died Anno Christi 1643.
RIchard Sedgwick was born at East Deereham, in the County of Norfolke, His birth and education.Anno Cbristi 1574. His Father was a Clothier; but by reason of a great losse by fire, fell into decay. He had an Uncle living in Yorkshire, who was very rich, and of large yearly revenues, having no Children; whereupon he took this Richard in his tender years home to himself, and put him to School, with an intent to make him his heir; but God had laid up a better portion for him. His Uncle and his Family were prophane, hating the power of godlinesse, and wedded to games and sports; yet even in such a Family God visited him in mercy,His conversion. and awakened his soul by working in him hearty desires after himself. While the rest of the Family were at their games and dancings, he would be in a corner mourning. His Uncle at first thought his retirednesse to have been bookishnesse, and therefore rebuked him gently, and called upon him to take more liberty; but at last perceiving the truth of the thing, he began to hate him, and to deal roughly with him, and not being able to bring him to his will, cast him out of his Family, saying,He is rejected by his Uncle. that a Puritane should never inherit his land. Before this, his Father died, and his Mother being industrious and sparing, out of the little means she had left her,His going to Cambridge. maintained him at Peter-house in Cambridge, where he profited greatly in all kind of learning. He began the exercise of his Ministry in Kent; where he being called to preach in the Cathedral at Canterbury, in his Sermon touching the corruption of the Prebends, and their Cathedral service, he so far displeased them, as that by threats they brought him to condescend,Humane infirmity. through weaknesse, to promise to recant, and a day for this was appointed.
Upon his return home, and his second thoughts, he became very sad, and in his perplexity took his Bible and opened it, and at the first,A special Providence. lighted on that encouraging Word of God to Jeremiah, Jer. 1.7, 8. Whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak; be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. By this he was so strengthened, that he resolved to stand to what he had formerly delivered, whatsoever dangers did attend him. At the time appointed, he preached again in the Cathedral, having a very large Auditory, both of the Countrey and City, in which Sermon he confirmed what he had before delivered, earnestly pressing the Prebends to reform the abuses amongst them. By this they were so offended,His recovery. that they complained of him to the Bishop, and so persecuted him,He is persecuted. that he was forced to forsake his place, and to retire himself into private, and was entertained for a time by Sir Edward Bois the elder,And entertained by Sir Edward Bois. a man eminent for Piety in those daies.
During this his retirement, he came upon occasion to London, and by the meanes of Master Egerton Pastor at Black-fryers, was received into the Family of Sir Edward Anslow, By Sir Edward Anslow. His great painswho lived in the City during the winter, and in summer at Crawley in Surrey, a place destitute of a preaching Ministry. In this Family his encouragement was great, but his labours aboundant. Every day his usuall course was to pray in the morning at six a clock with the Husbandmen, and at ten to pray with the rest of the Family, and expound a Chapter,His faithfulnesse. in which course he went through the four first Books of Moses. His course at night was after Prayer, to catechize the Family by turns, wherein he used no respect of Persons, the meanest not being left out, and the chiefest not forborn. On the Lords day, during his abode at Crawley, he preached twice constantly, and after publique exercise, called the whole Family in private to render an account of what was delivered in publique. In the winter, when the greatest part of the Family was at London, under an able Ministry, he was ready to help others, and by Providence, was called to improve his talent at Battersey in Surrey. Master Wybourne, a Reverend Divine, who constantly preached in that place,His preaching at Battersey. having by a fall broke his legge, and being disabled thereby to continue his labours, desiring his assistance. At this place the people were so affected with his Ministry, that they requested him to continue to preach among them, promising to strain themselves to provide him maintenance.
He had a fair call and opportunity (denying himself) to answer it, for Sir Edward Anslow about this time had an estate befallen him in Hertfordshire, whither he resolved to go to dwell, in which place was an able and godly Minister, Master Sedgwick seeing that, by continuing in this Family, he should not have occasion of exercising his publique Ministry, relinquished fifty pounds annuity during his life,His self-deniel assured to him by this worthy Knight, and accepted of this call to preach at Battersey.
Before his departure out of this Family,His marriage. he married a Wife of an honest and Religious stock in the City of London. He had not long exercised his gifts at Battersey, bringing glory to God, but the devil again raised up persecution against him. One Master King, He is again persecuted.Church-warden of the place, was offended at him, because he freely reproved sinne, and boldly spake against the corruptions that were then in the Church; by this man he was presented into the Commissaries Court, and by his means cited to appear to answer certain Articles. This was about the latter end of Queen Elizabeths reign, not long before the coming in of King James. Upon this citation he resolved to appear, and came to London, and being at the door of the Commissaries house, Master Egerton his faithfull and Reverend Friend, by Providence passing by, came to him, and having saluted him, told him he had heard of the opposition made against him at Battersey, and asked him if he would accept of a Call to go beyond the Seas; his answer was (having returned thanks for his kindnesse) that he could not as yet resolve him, forasmuch as he stood accused at present,His Courage. and was resolved what ever came of it, to defend those Truths that he had publiquely delivered; but yet professing a willingnesse to follow Providence, whithersoever the Lord should call him. Appearing before the Commissary, he met with courteous usage, and was friendly dismissed; for at this time those men feared a change to be brought in by King James.
Not long after this he was called by the Merchant-adventurers to be Minister to their company beyond Sea,He is chosen by the Merchants. whither, breaking through all discouragements, he went. During his abode beyond the Sea at Stoade, and Hamborough (which was about the space of eleven years and an half) he by the advice of the godly learned,He erects discipline in the Church. erected and established Discipline in that Church. God did greatly blesse his Ministry, and he begat among that little company, many Sons and Daughters unto God.Conversion. He had Communion with the Netherland-Dutch Church at Stoade, and at Altenon near Hamborough, and with the godly that came out of England, admitting them, being desirous to come to the Lords Table.
The efficacy of his Ministry.In his Ministry he was very searching, many coming and confessing those things which he had never heard of, till it came out of their own mouthes.
In his carriage he was affable and courteous, yet grave and awfull, so that many durst not for fear do those things that otherwise they were disposed to. The Merchants here found the benefit by the orderly carriage of their Factors there. Yet here the Devil was not quiet, for one of the prime Merchants taking exceptions against his impartiall dealing in his Ministry,Gods judgement on a persecutor. and the order in the Church, threatned by such a day, naming it, to have him over into England; but before that day came, himself was summoned by death to another place.
His charity.He was very charitable himself, allowing something yearly towards the maintenance of the suspended Ministers here, and greatly furthered charity in others. By his direction and encouragement Master Jones, a rich Batchelour, and one of the Elders of his Church, bequeathed many thousands of pounds to pious uses, which to this day speaks his praise.
He was eminent in self-denial; for being made Executour by the said Master Jones of his last Will and Testament,His self-denial. whereby he might have gained much to himself, he never rested till he had caused him to alter his Will, and to place others in his room.
His return into England. His Lecture in Wales.Upon the dissolving of that company of Merchants he came over into England, and being disappointed of a place in London, intended for him by Master Jones, he went to Monmouth in Wales, and for some time held the Lecture setled there. Afterward a Chappel being erected at Wapping, he was called to that place,His call to Wapping. and became the first Minister there. Here he abode to his death, being holy and exemplary in his life and conversation, and aboundant in labours, preaching constantly thrice a week, and catechizing on the Lords day besides.
The tendernesse of his fatherly care and love of this people, he expressed all the time of his living with them,His painfulnesse. but especially in the time of the great sicknesse, when, remaining with them, he preached constantly every Lords day, and the Fast dayes, notwithstanding all the danger that he was in, the infection in that place being much spread, and very violent. The Providence of God over him at that time was very remarkable. For although all the Families round about him were infected, and his house adjoyned to the place of Burial,A special Providence. yet neither himself nor any of his Family were any waies smitten with it.
Many were his labours in private, being much sought unto both for counsell and for comfort. What successe God gave unto his Ministry, was evident by the many souls won and built up by him. He was very studious, and wrote much,His humility. yet was alwaies averse from publishing any thing, though often requested; saying, that the many Books that were daily set forth, hindred the study and reading of the Holy Scriptures. Once, he committed to the Presse a Catechism fitted for his own Congregation, and before his death had finished a large Tractate of the body of Divinity, which still lies by.
He sought the good of all, and was a precious savour unto some, in whose hearts to this day his memory flourishes. He foresaw the ensuing distractions with a grieved heart, and raised himself up to comfort by contemplating the approaching time wherein Christ and his truth, and his waies shall have the preheminence. His judgement concerning some hath proved true, asserting often that their principles would not (if they continued in them) suffer them to sit down on this side Anabaptism. He was a Friend of truth and peace, and an Instrument of refreshing the bowels of the poor, many strangers for his sake giving in largely towards their relief. Having finished his course, being spent with labours, he quietly and comfortably ended his daies, and according to his last words,His death. went unto his God Anno Christi 1643. and of his age 69. having continued his Ministry at Wapping six and twenty years.