The Lives of Twenty-Two Eminent English Divines, Biography 6
The Life of Master Paul Baines, who died Anno Christi, 1617.
PAul Baines was born in London, and had his Education in his younger years at Withersfield in Essex, under one Master Cosens, his Schoolmaster,His Birth, and Education. from whence, being fitted for it, he was sent to the University of Cambridge, and admitted into Christs Colledge, where his conversation at first was so irregular, that his Father being grieved at it, before his death, being intimately acquainted with one Master Wilson, a Sailes-man in Birchin-lane,His Fathers Prudence. he left with him forty pounds by the year, desiring him, that if his Sonne did forsake his evil courses, and become an honest man, he would then give him that fourty pounds per annum, if not, that he would never let him have it. But it pleased God, not long after his Fathers decease, to shew him his sinnes, and to work effectual repentance in him for the evil of his waies; so that forsaking his former evil company and practices,His conversion. he became eminent for Piety and Holinesse, and according to that of our Saviour, Much being forgiven him, he loved much. After which gracious change wrought in him by the goodnesse of God, it was not long before Master Wilson fell dangerously sick, and hearing how God had dealt with his Master Baines, he sent for him and desired him to pray with him, by which, as also by his savoury discourse, finding that what he had heard of him rather came short of the truth then exceeded it, according to that trust reposed in him, perceiving himself to be upon his death-bed, he told Master Baines of the fourty pounds per annum, Mr. Wilsons fidelity.which his Father left with him, and so faithfully delivered up to him those writings of the agreement which had passed betwixt his Father and him, and being like to leave behind him a Wife and two Children, he intreated Master Baines, Mr. Baines his Gratitude.that as he had faithfully and carefully discharged his trust towards him, so when God should take him away hence, that he would have a care of his Wife and Children, and be a Friend to them. And Master Baines, after Master Wilsons death, that he might fully discharge that trust which was reposed in him, and also by way of gratitude for that friendship and fidelity, which he had found in Master Wilson, married his widow.
But before this, for his eminency in learning,He is chosen Fellow. he was chosen Fellow in Christs Colledge, where he so much (through Gods blessing on his studies and endeavours) improved his time, and talents, that he became inferiour to none for sharpnesse of wit, variety of Reading, depth of judgment, aptnesse to teach, holy, and pleasant language, wise carriage, heavenly conversation, and all other fulnesse of grace. By his holy life and coversation also he did largely preach to all such as came neer unto him: and for the heavenly frame of his spirit, what it was, his incomparable Writings will sufficiently demonstrate to all future generations.
When Master Perkins, who was Lecturer at Saint Andrews in Cambridge, had there for many years held forth a burning and shining light, the sparkes whereof did flie abroad into all the corners of the Kingdom, and after he had served in his generation, was taken up into Heaven, there was none found so meet to receive, as it were, the Torch out of his hand, and succeed him in that great Office of bearing it before such a people, as Master Baines, He is chosen Lecturer.upon whom also the spirit of that Elias was by experience found to be doubled. In which station he so demeaned himself for some years, that impiety only had cause to complain. But all that favoured the wayes of God, or savoured of Religion, rejoyced, and gloried in him and his Ministry, as in a spiritual and heavenly treasure.
But at length the hour of darknesse came from Lambeth, when Arch-bishop Bancroft sent Master Harsnet to visit in that Diocesse, which was but a trick to suppresse those which were not friends to the Bishops Kingdom. At which time, though there were multitudes of unable, and notoriously scandalous Ministers, yet none were found worthy of censure, but only Master Baines, of whom indeed the world was not worthy, and one other godly Minister like unto him.
It's yet hard to say, whether the silencing of this good man were more odious, or the manner of it more shamelesse, which was thus: Their custome was, for fashion sake, at their visitations to have a Sermon, and Master Baines was chosen out by the Visitor to preach it at this time, not out of love and respect to him, but from a designe, either to ensnare him in his words if he did not apply himself to their humour,Prelatical malice. or else to grace their ungracious courses if he did. But it succeeded not handsomly either way; for Master Baines delivered holy and wholesome Doctrine, appertaining to the present audience, in such a wary manner, that no specious occasion could be taken whereby to deprive him of his liberty. Yet they were resolved to spit forth their malice against him, whether by fair or foul meanes, which they thus effected.
Master Baines having heat his weak body by much straining his voice to speak to so great an Auditory, Sermon being ended, he retired himself presently to provide for his health, which otherwise would have been much endangered. They in the mean time going on with their businesse, according to their accustomed Lordly way, called for Master Baines amongst the rest, and upon his not answering, though he was not cited thither as to a Court, but only intreated to preach, as he did: Yet for not appearing, he was immediately silenced. But afterwards the Chancellour being informed that that grosse sentence was illegal, and therefore a meer nullity, he went another way to work, and sending for Master Baines, he urged him about subscription and conformity, and upon his refusal, to make sure work, silenced him over again. In which businesse he was so conscious to himself of unreasonable and ridiculous dealing,He is silenced. that when Master Baines, standing to receive that unjust sentence from so corrupt a man, lifted up his heart and eyes towards God, with an heavenly smiling countenance, as his manner was, the Chancellour interpreted that gesture to be a scorning of his authority.
After this Master Baines was perswaded by some of his Friends to make triall of the Archbishops courtesie, to whom when he had addressed himself, at the very first salutation, the gravity, and severity of Arch-bishop Bancroft, led him sharply to rebuke the good man for a little black-work edging upon his cuffs: telling him in a very Episcopal strain: that it were a good deed to lay him by the heels for it.
After which time Master Baines would have no more to do with such absurd and unreasonable men: but preached sometimes where he might have liberty, and as the weaknesse of his body would suffer.His painfulness and piety. The rest of his time he spent in Reading, Writing, Meditation, and Prayer, saving that upon occasion he instructed and comforted those that came to him in private, wherein he had a very happy and heavenly gift. He was indeed all his life after pressed with want,And poverty. not having (as he often complained to his friends) a place to rest his head in. Yet did he never so much as consult with himself about his denying his sincerity and complying with the Bishops; of whom, and their courses, he was wont to say, They are a generation of the earth, earthly, and savour not the wayes of God.
Whil'st he lived a private life his Wife died, and being thunder-struck by the Bishops bolt, he had time and leasure to apply his able wit and judgment, about the discussing of many questions, which if the Prelates had not forced such leasure upon him, it may be he would have passed by with others.
He was of such an holy and heavenly temper, that he was reverenced by all good men that knew him. His manner was in the summer-time, to go from one Gentlemans house to another, and happy were they that could get his company. He had such a Divine and heavenly Majesty in his countenance, that it would awe any man to look upon him. Little recreation he used, but sometimes to play at Chesse.
The Bishops malice.Once he was called by Bishop Harsnet, to the Councel-table, the Bishop having laid a designe to suspend and banish him under the pretence of keeping Conventicles, the reason whereof was this. He was an excellent Casuist, and thereupon many doubting Christians repaired to him for satisfaction in cases of Conscience, which the Bishops would needs have to be keeping of Conventicles. When he was accused hereof before the Privy-Councel,Gods Providence. one of the Noble-men said to him, Speak, speak for your self: Whereupon he made such an excellent speech, that in the midst thereof a Nobleman stood up and said, He speakes more like an Angel then a man, and I dare not stay here to have a hand in any sentence against him; upon which speech they dismissed him, and he never heard more from them.
Upon a time he went to the House of Mistresse Sheafe who was his Wives Sister, at Cranbrook in Kent; where observing that she, and others of the Family used to play much at cards and such like games, as the custome was, and still is too much used in Gentlemens Houses, he took occasion on the Sabbath day in his Sermon to speak against such games: And it pleased the Lord so to work upon Mistresse Sheafes heart by that Sermon,His faithfulnesse and prudence. that when she came home, she came crying to him, saying, Oh Brother, Why would you thus suffer me to live in sinne, to the dishonour of God, and would never tell me of it before? To which he replied, that it was best of all that God had wrought on her by the publick Ministry, and that it might not have been so well if he had spoken to her in private.
He was a man of much communion with God, and acquaintance with his own heart,His Character by Dr Sibbs. observing the daily passages of his life, and was much exercised with spiritual conflicts, whereby he became the more able to comfort others with the same consolations which himself had received from God. He had a deep insight into the Mystery of Gods Grace and mans Corruption, as appears by his Commentary upon the Epistle to the Ephesians. He was one that sought not after great matters in the world, being taken up with comforts and griefes unto which the world is a stranger. One that had not all his learning out of Books: Of a sharp wit, and clear judgment. So that though his Meditations were of an higher strain then ordinary, yet he had a good dexterity, furthered by his love to do good, in explaining dark points with lightsome similitudes.
His Prayer in his Family was not usually above a quarter of an houre long, and having respect to the weaknesse, and infirmities of his Servants and Children, he used to disswade others from tediousnesse in that duty.
It pleased God to make him an instrument of the conversion of that holy, and eminent Servant of Jesus Christ Doctor Sibbs.
In his last sicknesse he had many doubts and feares, and God letting Satan loose upon him, he went out of this world,The manner of his death. with farre lesse comfort then many weaker Christians enjoy. He resigned up his spirit into the hands of God, in Cambridge, Anno Christi, 1617.