The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, William Whately
W. WHATELIE
The Life of William Whately, who died Ano Christi 1639.
WIlliam Whately was born at Banbury in Oxfordshire, His birth, parentage, and education.Anno Christi 1583, of godly and religious Parents: His Father Master Thomas Whatelie was oft Major of that Town. His Mother Mistris Joyce Whately carefully bred him up in the knowledge of the Scriptures from a child. He was also trained up in learning in the best Schools in those parts, and being of a quick apprehension, a clear judgement, and a most happy memory; He profited so much both in Latine, Greek, and Hebrew, that at fourteen yeares old he went to Christs Colledge in Cambridge. He goes to Cambridge.There he was an hard Student, and quickly became a good Logician, and Philosopher, a strong Disputant, and an excellent Orator. He studied also Poetrie, and Mathematicks. He was a constant hearer of Doctor Chaderton, and Master Perkins: And his Tutor calling his Pupills to an account what they had learned,His excellent memory. when any was at a stand, he would say, Whately, what say you? And he would repeat as readily as if he had preached the Sermon himself.
Being Batechelor of Arts, his Father tooke him home, yet there also he followed his study. Afterwards he married a Wife, the Daughter of Master George Hunt, His marriage.an eminent Preacher, who perswaded him to enter into the Ministry; and therefore going to Oxford, he Commenced Master of Arts, and presently after hee was called to be a Lecturer at Banbury, He is called to Banbury.which he performed with good approbation for foure yeares, and then was called to the Pastoral charge there, in which place he continued untill his death.
He was of a quick understanding, of a clear, and deep judgement,His character. of a most firme memory; and of a lively spirit. Hee was naturally Eloquent, and had words at will:His eloquence. He was of an able body, and sound lungs, and of a strong and audible voice. And according to his matter in hand, he was a Boa…erges, a sonne of Thunder;Preachers pa…te…n. and yet upon occasion, a Barnabas, a sonne of sweet Consolation; and which was the Crowne of all, God gave him an heart, sincerely to seek his glory, and to aime at the saving of all their soules that heard him. His speech and praching was not in the inticing words of mans wisdom… but in the Demonstration of the Spirit and Power: He was an Apollos, eloquent, and mighty in the Scriptures, He catechized, and preached twice every Lords day, and a weakly Lecture besides, yet what he preached was before well studyed and premeditated.His great labours.
He usually penned his Sermons at large; and if he had but so much time as to read over what he had written, and to gather it up into short heads, he was able to deliver it well near in the same words.
His Sermons were plaine,The method in Sermons. yet very Scriptural, according to the Rules of Art, and right reason. Hee made use of his Grammar learning in Greek and Hebrew to examine his Text by: Then of Rhetorick to discover what formes of speech in his Text were genuine, and used in their proper signification, and what was elegantly clothed in Tropes and Figures that hee might unfold them. Then by a Logicall examining of the context, he searched out the true scope of the Holy Ghost in the words. His Doctrines which hee insisted on were naturall, not forced. These he first proved by Scriptures, then by other arguments, and reasons; and in his Applications, he either confirmed some profitable truth which might be questioned, or convinced men of some error, or reproved some vice, or exhorted to some duty, or resolved some doubt, or case of Conscience; or comforted such as needed consolation: And if his reproof, or exhortation needed pressing home upon the conscience, he would enlarge himselfe, by shewing motives to urge the duty; or disswasives from the vice, taking his Arguments from duty to God, decency, or shamefulnesse, pleasure, or paine, gaine or losse. Sometimes also hee would shew the effectuall meanes of attaining the grace, or power to performe the duty exhorted to. As also the Remedies against Vices: And when hee fell upon any Common place, or Head of Divinity, hee used to prosecute it very judiciously, and profitably. So that by all this it appeares that hee made good use of his Learning,His manner of Reading. yet without affectation. He used to read Books most swiftly, and yet not cursorily; being able, when he had done, to give an account of the substance, and most remarkable passages of what he had read.
Though he preached often, yet what he preached was beforehand well studied,Conversion wrought by him. and premeditated. And it pleased God to put a Seal to his Ministry, in the converting, confirming, and building up many thousands in the course of his Ministry. Hee was a diligent visitor of the sick under his charge, without respect of persons.Peace-maker. Hee was a great Peace-maker amongst any of his flock that were at variance. Hee had an heavenly gift in prayer, both for aptnesse,His excellency in p…ayer. and fulnesse of Confessions, Petitions, Supplications, Intercessions, and Praises, together with fervencie of spirit to pour them out to God in the name of Christ.
When he had read a Psalm,His family duties. or Chapter in his Family, in his Prayer hee would discover the scope, meaning, and chiefe notes of observation, and their use, so that his Prayer was an excellent Commentary thereupon; and this, not onelyonly in the plainer, but …n the harder Texts of Scripture also. In his prayers also after Sermon he could collect into a short summe all that hee had delivered to his hearers, and make it the matter of his prayer unto God,His prudence. that they might bee inwardly taught of God, and become believers and doers of what was taught them.
His constant practice was, besides Family-prayer twice a day, and sometimes catechizing, to pray also with his Wife, and alone, both morning and evening.
He set a part private daies of Humiliation for his Family upon special occasions,His fasting. and oft for their preparation to the Lords Supper; at which times he would exceed himself in pouring out his soul to God with many tears. He was much in daies of private fasting, and humbling himself alone before God, which impaired his health, but made much for the health of his soul. He was very able, and very ready to confer with, and to resolve the doubts of such as came to him. He bare such a tender love to that great people over which God had set him,His humility. that, though his means was small, and he had many offers of great preferment in the Church, yet hee would not leave them. Hee was daily inquisitive after the affaires of Gods Church, and sympathized with Gods people both in their weale and woe. He was much grieved when he saw that difference in opinions bred strangenesse amongst Christians, that agreed in the same Fundamentall Truths.His charity. He was judiciously charitable to such as shewed the power of Godlinesse in their lives, though they were not of his judgement in all things. He was glad when any of the righteous smote him, and would take it well, not from his Superiours onelyonly, but from his Equals, and far Inferiours; and would really shew more testimonies of his love to such afterwards then ever he did before. Hee abounded in workes of Mercy, he was a truly liberal man, one that studyed liberall things, seeking out to finde objects of his merciemercy, rather then staying till they were offered: He did set apart, and expend for many yeares together for good uses the tenth part of his yearly commings in, both out of his Temporall, and Ecclesiasticall meanes of maintenance. He entertained some poor Widdows, or nece…itous persons, weekly at the least, at his Table; and his estate prospered the better after hee took this course; and in his sicknesse he comforted himself with that promise, Psal. 41. 1, 2. Blessed is he that considereth the poor, the Lor… will deliver him in the time of trouble, the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing, &c.
The truth of grace in his heart was discovered by nothing more then by his slips and strong tentations:He gained by his falls. For hereby hee was made more watchfull over himselfe, more humble, and more to loath his originall corruption, and sinfull nature; and so to cry out with the Apostle, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Yea this made him more earnest in his prayers unto God, and more pittifull unto others: And hee was alwayes the first espier of his own faults when the world could not, or did not take notice of them, enjoying no rest in himselfe till he had sought, and regained pardon, and peace with God.
His last daies were his best dayes, for then hee grew exceedingly in humility, and in heavenly-mindednesse. And a good while before his latter end, God gave him victory over his greatest corruptions, which for a long time kept him in continuall exercise. About eight weeks before his death,His sicknesse. he was much troubled with a cough, and shortnesse of breath, which much weakned him, yet hee preached divers times, till his encreasing weaknesse disabled him.His exhortation to his friends. In his sicknesse he gave heavenly and wholsom counsel to his people, neighbours, and friends that came to visit him, exhorting them to labour to redeem the time, to be much in reading, hearing, and meditating upon the word of God, much in praier, brotherly love, and communion of Saints, and that they would be careful to hold that fast that he had taught them out of the Word of Truth, and that wai…st the means of salvation was to bee had, they would neither spare paines nor cost to enjoy it.
His pains towards his end were very great, yet hee bore them patiently.His patience. He was much in ejaculations, and lifting up his heart to God in behalf of the Church and State, and for himself also, wherein he was most frequent and earnest. A little before his death, a godly friend and Minister praying with him, that if his time were not expired, God would bee pleased to restore him for the good of his Church, or, if otherwise, that he would put an end to his pains, if hee saw good; he lifting up his eyes stedfastly towards heaven, and one of his hands, in the close of that prayer gave up the Ghost,His death. shutting his eyes himself, as if he were fallen into a sweet sleep, Anno 1639, and of his Age 56.
God took him away a little before the Civill Warres began,Note. and before the sad desolations that fell upon the Town of Banbury in particular.
He wrote Prototypes. God Husbandry. A Treatise of the New Birth.His works. The Redemption of time. A Care cloth. The Bride bush, &c.