The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 101 – Biography 102
The Lif and Death of William Cowper, who dyed Anno Christi 1619.
WIlliam Cowper was born in Edenburgh, and at eight years old was sent by his father to Dunbar School, where in four years he learn'd the whol… course of Grammer, and profited above his equals, and at that time did God begin to reveale himselfe to him: many times in the Schoole he lifted up his heart unto God, begging of him knowledge and understanding: and alwayes as he went to Church, he sent up his ejaculation …o heaven, L…rd how mine ear that I may hear thy Word. At his entry into his …hirteenth year, his Father sent for him home to Edenburgh, and presently after he went to Saint Andrews, where he continued to his sixteenth year in the study of Phylosophy, but made no great progress… the…ein; yet the seed of grace was still working in him, inclining him to a carefull hearing, and penning of Sermons and other Theologicall Lectures. During his abode there, Satan working in corrupt nature, sought oft to trap him in his snares, but as himself testifies, the Lord in mercy forgave the vanities and ignorances of his youth, and preserved him from such fals as might have made him a shame to the Saints, and a reproach to his enemies.
At the age of sixteen years, he returned to his Parents at Edenburgh, who propos'd to him sundry courses of life: but his heart was still enclined to the study of the holy Scriptures, whereupon he resolved to goe into England, and the Lord provided him a place at Hoddesdon, 18. mils from London (just as he had spent all his mony which he brought with him out of Scotland) where he was entertained by one Master Gut…ry a Scotch-man to assist him in teaching of a School: There he remained three quarters of a year, and then having occasion to goe to London, he was unexpectedly called to the service of Master Hugh Broughton, with whom he continued a year and a halfe, and daily exercised himselfe in the study of Divinity.
At nineteen years old he returned againe to Edenburgh, where he lived with his elder brother [then one of the Ministers in that City] who much furthered him in his former studyes: at last he was required to give a proofe of his gifts privately, which he did in the New Church before Master Robert Pont, and Master Robert Rollock, and some others, by whom he was commanded to Preach in publick also. Being twenty years old he was sent by the authority of the general Assembly which met at Edenburgh, to be the Pastor at Bothkenner in Sterlingshire; when he came thither he found in the Church, besides ruinous wals, neither roof nor doors, nor Pulpit, nor seats, nor windows, yet it pleased God to give such a blessing to his ministery, that within halfe a year the Parishioners of their owne accord, built, and adorned the Church in as good a quality as any round about it: There he continued seven or eight years, yet subject to great bodily infirmities, by reason of the wetnesse of the soyl, and the moystnesse of the ayre: and in that time did God begin to acquaint him with his terrors, and with inward tentations, so that his life was almost wasted with heavinesse; yet thereby he learned more, and more to know Christ Jesus. About that time there was a Generall Assembly of the Church at Perth, unto which some that lived in the North of Scotland sent to desire that a Minister might be sent unto them; whereupon the Assembly appointed Master Cowper for that place, and accordingly wrote to him by Master Patrick Simpson, who comming to Sterling, delivered to him the letters from the Assembly, and the Town, containing his calling to the Ministry of that place; and shortly after the Towne sent their Commissioners to transport himselfe and family thither. In that place he continued doing the work of the Lord for nineteen years together, where he was a comfort to the best, and a wound to the worser sort: Besides the Sabbath dayes, he chose thrice a week to convene the people together in the Evenings, viz. Wednesdayes, Fridayes and Saturdayes, for preparation to the Sabbath, upon which dayes they had no Preaching in the morning: concerning which meetings, himselfe writes, That it would have don a Christians heart good, to have seen those glorious and joyfull Assemblies, to have heard the zealous cryings to God amongst that people, with sighings and tears, and melting hearts, and mourning eyes: and concerning himselfe, he saith, My witnesse is in heaven that the love of Iesus, and his people made continuall Preaching my pleasure, and I had no such joy as in doing his worke: and besides that he preached five times a week, he penned also whatsoever he preached, many of which holy and godly Sermons are extant in print. All …he time of his aboad there (except some little intermissions and breathing times) the Lord still exercised him with inward tentations, and great variety of spirituall combats; the end of all which (th…ough God's mercy) was joy unspeakable, as himselfe testifie's; Yea once (saith he) in greatest extremity of horror and anguish of spirit, when I had utterly given over, and looked for nothing but confusion, suddenly there did shine, in the very twinkeling of an eye, the bright and lightsome countenance of God, proclaming peace, and confirming it with invi…cible reasons: O what a change was there in a moment? the silly soul that was even now at the brinke of the pit, looking for nothing but to be swallowed up, was instantly raised up to heaven to have fellowship with God in Christ Iesus; and from this day forward my soul was never troubled with such extremity of terrors: this confirmation was given unto mee on a Saturday in the morning; there found I the power of Religion, the certainty of the Word, there was I touched with such a lively sence of a Divinity, and power of a God-head, in mercy reconciled with man, and with mee in Christ, as I trust my soul shall never forget: Glory, glory, glory be to the joyfull deliverer of my soul out of all adversities for ever.
In the middest of these wrestlings with God he wanted not combats with wicked men also, but the greatnesse of his inward conflicts made him lightly regard all their outward contradictions, and to esteem them but as the bitings of a Flea. It was no marvell to see Satan stir up his wicked instruments to molest him, since he professed himselfe a disquieter of him and his Kingdome; and this much supported him, that he never had a controversie with any of them but for their sins; and the Lord assisting him, the power of the Word did so hammer downe their pride, that they were all of them at last brought to an acknowledgement of their evill wayes.
But at length (as God turned the heart of Pharaoh and his people the Israelites, when the time drew on f…r their remove) so by little and litle, did the zeal and love of most of that people fall away, so that his last conflict was not with the prophane, but with Justiciaries & such as were unrebukeable in their lives: These men were stuffed with such pride, self-conceit, disdain, and intolerable contempt, that thereby they were carried further from their duty th…n any of the former, and which should have been his greatest comfort, were his greatest crosse.
Presently hereupon God called him to the Government of the Churches in Galloway, in the South-West parts of the Kingdome, being chosen by the Assembly, and presented by the King thereunto: this was effected with out his privity, or ambitious seeking after it; yea, he was so far from it that eightteen weeks passed betwixt the Kings Presentation, and the Acceptation of it. In that place he was very carefull to advance the Gospel, & to adorne his Ministery: concerning the frame of his Spirit thus he writs: My soul is alway in my hand, ready to be offered to my God: Where, or what kinde of death God hath prepared for mee, I know not: But sure I am, there can no evill death befall him that lives in Christ, nor sudden death to a Christian Pilgrim, who (with Job) waites every day for his change: yea (saith he) many a day have I sought it with tears, not out of impatience, distrust or per…urbation; but because I am weary of sin, and fearfull to fall into it.
This faithfull servant of God, who had alwayes beene faithfull and painfull in his Ministery, when sicknesse grew daily upon him, was no way deficient in the duty of his ordinary Preaching: taking great pains also to perfect his worke upon the Revelations; which he desired greatly to finish before his death: he had also much griefe by reason of some that disturb'd the peace of the Church, which he always sought to procure: so that his infirmity encreasing, he was compelled to keep home: yet as his weaknesse permitted, he applyed himselfe to revise his writings, and to dispose of his worldly estate, that he might be ready for his passage, which every day he expected: and some ten dayes before his decease, he manifested to his friends what great contentment h… h…d in his approaching death. Many repaired to him in his sicknesse, whom he ent…rtained with most holy and divine conferences, expressing a great willingnesse to exchange this life for a better; and at last feeling his strength and spirits to decay (after he had conceived a most heavenly prayer in the company of those that were by) he desired to goe to bed; in which also, after he had most devoutly commended himselfe unto the Almighty God, he took some quiet rest: After which he spake not many words, his speech failing, though his memory and understanding were perfect: and so about seven a clock at night he rendered his soul unto God in a most quiet and peaceable manner Anno Christi 1619. Some of his private Meditations were these.
Now my soul be glad: for at all parts of this prison, the Lord hath set to his Pi…ners to loose thee: Head, Feet, Milt and Liver are fast failing: yea, the middle strength of the whole body, the stomack is weakened long ago: Arise, make ready, shake off thy fetters, mount up from the body and go thy way.
I saw not my children when they were in the womb, yet there the Lord fed them without my knowledge: I shall not see them when I goe out of the body, yet shall they not want a Father: Death is somewhat driery, and the streams of that Jordan between us and our Canaan run furiously, but they stand still when the Ark com…s: Let your Anchor be cast within the vail, and fastened on the Rock Iesus: Let the end of the threefold cord be buckled to the heart, so shall yee go thorow.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Here also Cowper, Scotlands Prelate grave,
A place of honour doth deserve to have
Among these Honour'd Heroes; whom the Lord
Did many exc'llent Ornaments afford
In piety and parts, but specially
Making him prosperous in the Ministry,
By's constant, and by's consciencious Preaching
And holy life, which was a second teaching:
Famous for's writings on the Revelation;
Piously, thus persisting to's tranats…ion.
The Life and Death of John Piscator, who dyed Anno Christi 1625.
JOhn Piscator was born at Argentine, Anno Christi 1546. at which time Germany was on fire with civill Wars: Yet that hindred not, but he followed his studyes very hard, and profited exceedingly in learning: when he came to the study of Logick, with great felicity, he joyned Ramus and Aristotle together: And afterwards having made a good progresse in the study of Divinity, he was called to Herborn to be the Professor there, and his labors were so gratefull to young Students, that many flocked thither out of Germany, France, Hungary, Poland and other Nothern Countries: He wrote many things with great diligence and labor, scarce affording any rest to himselfe: He transl…ted the whole Bible with great pains and faithfulnesse into the German Tongue: besides his Logicall and Theologicall Analisis of the greatest part of it: He dyed at Herborn Anno Christi 1625. and of his age 80.
This J…hn Piscator born at Argentine,
For his rare parts in Arts did fairly shine
I… He…b…rn, where Professor he became,
And exercis'd that place with so much fame,
That many Students out of Germany,
F…nce, Poland, and from out of Hungary,
Came flocking thither for his grave direction,
Which he afforded them with sweet affection:
I'th Germane to…gue the Bible he translated
And it with learn'd Analisis ornated;
And thus his dayes in pious pains being spent,
At fourscore years his soule to heaven he sent.