The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Andrew Willet
A. WILLET
The Life of Andrew Willet, who dyed Ano Christi 1621.
ANdrew Willet was born in Ely in Cambridgshire Anno Christi 1562.His birth and education. His Father was a Minister, who carefully brought him up in the School of that City, where by his extraordinary pa…ns and diligence he profited so much, that at fourteen years old he went to Cambridge, He goes to Cambridge.and was admitted into Peter-house; yet not long after was transplanted to Christ's Collegde, where Doctor Downham, and Master William Perkins were of his own standing. There he applyed himself so seriously to his studies, that in short time he gained a good measure of knowledge in the learned tongues, and Arts; yea hee attained to such a measure of perfection therein, that at twenty two years old he published his book,His proficiency. De animae natura, & viribus, wherein he did Philosophically Theologize in five subtil, and abstrase questions. About that time also he was made Minister, and began sometimes to Preach, being furnished with Piety, Learning, and Gravity beyond his years: Insomuch as an accident befalling a Proctor of that Colledge, hee suddenly undertook his place at the Commencement,He is ordained Minister. and so well, and dexterously perf…rmed it, that thereby he gained the applause, yea the admiration of all his Auditors.
Having thus spent thirteen years in the University, by the favour of Queen Elizabeth, He is Prebend …fhe was made a Prebend in Ely, Ely His marriage.where also he married a Wife, by whom he had eleven sons, and seven daughters. But his Wife being a carefull yoak-fellow, his houshold affairs troubled him not, so that he pursued his old course of study, which was his delight, and of which he never was weary: His manne: was to rise early in a morning,His studiousness. and to get half way on his journey ere others could set out. At the hour of Prayer he came down, and took his Wife and Family with him to Church, where he had publick Prayers,His piety. to the great comfort of his Parishioners: Prayers being ended, he returned to his study till near dinner time, when his manne… was to recreate himself either upon a little Organ, which he had in his house, singing to it; or sporting with his young Children:His recreations Sometimes also he would cleave wood for his health-sake. At his meals he used pleasant discourse, seasoned with some profitable application: After dinner he used to sit and discourse a while, or walk abroad, and then to his study again, so that (without extraordinary avocations) he spent eight houres a day in his study:His great …eading. By which means he read over the Fathers, Councels, Ecclesiastick Histories, a great part of the Civil and Canon Law: Polemick Controversies between Rome and us; and most Commentaries upon the holy Scriptures; in his papers he had couched the whole substance of his reading: So that he might say,
Exiguis Patres …rctantur pellibus omnes,
Quos mea non totos Bibliotheca capit.
Lo here few leaves th'old fathers all infold,
Whom whole at once my study ne'r could hold.
He improved his Talent for the publick good,His Works. so that every year he either published a new book, or reprinted some old, with a new Edition. He is one of those concerning whom Doctor Hall saith, Stupor mundi clerus Britannicus: The English Clergie is the Worlds wonder. In his younger time he preached the Lecture for three years together in the Cathedral Church of Ely: And for one year in Saint Paul's at London, in both with a most singular approbation of a frequent Auditory. Sometimes he preached in Cambridge, His Ministry.and therein discovered himself the man, quem rus non infuscavit, whom the Country had not stained. When hee was once called to a Pastorall charge at Burley in Herfordshire, He is made Pastor.he was alwaies constant in Preaching,Preachers pattern. instructing his people in a plain familiar way, applying himself to their capacity. He would also sometimes sharpen his stile, and cut them up roundly for their sin: But when he spake words of Consolation, he was wholly composed of Sweetnesse: In denunciations of Judgements, he would put on the bowels of compassion, and the spirit of meeknesse, sugaring every bitter pill that it might goe down more pleasantly. His very presence was powerful and perswasive (mildnesse mixed with gravity sitting in his countenance) insomuch as one word from him was able to effect more then thousands from some others.His holy life. But especially his godly conversation, exemplifying what he gave in charge out of Gods Word, did most of all convince his peoples judgements, and subdue their affections to obedience, so that the Lord blessed his labours much to them.
His house was a little modell of a Church, and house of God:His family wel governed. Here morning and evening sacrifices were offered to God daily: His children after supper read some part of holy Scripture, and he required of every one present, that they should remember some sentence or other, and afterwards he would repeat the same, adding some exposition, and sometimes something of application to them: Yea he made himself an exact pattern and example to all his family.
His Charity will eminently appear,His charity. if we consider quantum ex quantillo, how much out of how little means he freely gave to the poor and needy. He maintained two of his near A…lies (being faln into want) many years at his own table; and maintained, for the most part, a son of either of them at the University; and though his many children might have restrained his bounty; yet he was of Cyprian's mind, The more children, the more charitie. He gave a dole of bread to the poor, on the Coronation and Powder-treason daies: At Christmass he gave Corn to some, money to others, and to the rest of his neighbours liberal and loving entertainment. In the Harvest he would say to the poor, as Boaz did to Ruth, Go not to glean in another field, &c. And when at any time himself came into the field, he would scatter of his heaps with a ful hand; so that the poor would be ready to leap for joy at his coming.
When he set any on work, he payd freely, and speedily: When the poor bought corn of him,His justice they were sure to gain both in price and measure; and yet as Wels drawn spring more freely, so his substance encreased with his bounty. Hee took much pains in composing the differences amongst his neighbours.He was a Peace maker. He was especially carefull to doe good to poor Ministers, his fellow-labourers. Some that lived near him tasted of his bounty oft, to whom he sent Wheat, or Malt, in no scant proportion.
He was much given to Hospitality, and Strangers out of other Nations,His hospitality hearing his fame, resorted to him for his acquaintance.
About December, Anno Christi 1621, having been at London, as he was returning home,He breaks his …. his horse by the way stumbling, threw him down, & in the fal brake his leg, but being holpen up, he rode to a town called Hodsdon, where in an Inn, hee sent for a Bonesetter, by whom, after his leg was set, he was directed to keep his bed ten dayes, which he willingly submitted to. As he lay he imployed one of his sons who waited on him, to write from his mouth some heavenly meditations upon the song of Hezekiah, when he had been sick, and recovered of his sicknesse, Isaiah, 38, especially upon the 9, 10, 13, and 15 verses. Thus he continued to the tenth of December, when early in the morning, being awakened by the tolling of a passing bell (which probably occasioned in him a strong apprehension of his own approaching death) he fell into a discourse with his wife (who lay in the chamber by him since that accident first befel him) concerning death, and our blessed hopes expected after death:His preparation for death. And amongst other things, touching the mutual knowledge that the Saints have one of another in glory: Which comfortable discourse being ended, they began to sing an Hymn (of his own composing) giving thanks to God for their rest that night, and praying for a blessing upon them and theirs in the day ensuing: And then having repeated one verse of the 146 Psalm, he presently brake out into these words, Oh this a most sweet psalm; and so went on, but pausing at the end of every staff, he delivered a short Paraphrase upon it; and coming to these words, ver. 7, 8. And loose the fetters strong; and the lame to limbs restore; he applyed both to himself, calling the splints upon his legge his fetters, and comforting himself with this, that God would restore him from his lamenesse; but having occasion for som ease to stir himself, he suddenly fetched a deep groan, and so fell into a trance:He faints. His wife crying out, and some coming in, they used means, and he began to rouse himself a little, and to look about: And uttered these his last words; Let me alone, I shall do well: Lord Jesus—and so gave up his soul to God, Anno Christi 1621,His death. and of his age 59:
His Works are, Synopsis Papismi. A sixfold Commentarie upon Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Samuel 1 & 2, Daniel. Romans. Ecclesia triumphans, Thesaurus Ecclesiae. A Comment upon the Epistle of Jude. The Protestants Diet.