The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 108
The Life and Death of William Whately, who dyed Anno Christi 1639.
WIlliam Whately was born in Banbury in Oxfordshire, An. Christi 1583. of godly and religious Parents: his father was oft Mayor of that Towne: his mother 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 apprehention, a cleare judgement, and a most happy memory; he profited so much both in Latine, Greek and Hebrew, that at fourteen years old he went to Christs Colledge in Cambridge. There he was an hard Student, and qucikly became a good Logician and Phylosopher, a strong Disputant and an excellent Orator: He studyed also Poetry and Mathematicks: He was a constant hearer of Doctor Chaderton and Mr. Perkins: And his Tutor calling his Pupils to an …ccount what they had learned; when any was at a stand, he would say, Whately, what say you? and he would repeat as readily as if had preached the Sermon himselfe: being Batchelor of Arts, his Father took him home, yet there also he followed his study. Afterwards he married a wife, the Daughter of Master George Hunt, an eminent Preacher, who perswaded him to enter into the Minis…ery: and therefore going to Oxford, he commensed Master of Arts, and presently after was called to be a Lecturer at Banbury, wch he performed with good approbation for four years, and then was called to the Pastorall charg… there, in which place he continued to his death. He was naturally eloquent, and had words at will… he was of an able body and …ound lungs, and of a strong and audible voyce: He was a B…nerges, a son of Thunder, and yet upon occasion, a Barnabas, a son of sweet Consolation: His speech and preaching was not in the inticing words of man's wisdome, but in the Demonstation of the Spirit & of Power. He was an Apollo…, eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures: he Catechized and Preached twice every Lords day, and a weekly Lecture besides, yet what he Preached was before well studyed and premeditated: He usuall 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 Preaching was plain, yet very much according to Scripture, and the rules of Art: He made good use of his Learning, yet without affectation. He used to read Books most swiftly, & yet not cursorily; being able, when he had don, to give an account of the substance, and most remarkable passages of what he had read. And it pleased G…d to put a Seal to his Minis…y, in the c…nverting, confirming, and building up many thousands in the course of his Ministery. He was a diligent visitor of the …ick under his charge without resp…ct of pe…sons: he was a great P…ace maker amo…gst any of hi… Fl…k that were at variance: he had an heavenly gift in prayer, both for aptn…sse and fulnesse of Confessions, Petitions, Supplycations, Intercessions and Praises, together with fervency of spirit to power them out to God in the name of Christ. W…en he had read a Psalme or Chap. in his Family, in his prayer he would discover the scope, meaning, & chiefe notes of observation, and their use, that his Prayer was an excellent Commentary thereupon; and this not onelyonly in the plainer, but in the harder Texts of Scripture also. His constant practi…e was (besides Family-prayer twice a d…y, and sometimes Catechizing) to pray also with his wife, and alone, both morning and evening. He set apart private dayes of Humiliation for his Family upon speciall occasions, and oft for their preparation to the Lord's Supper; at which times he would exceed himselfe in pouring out his soul to God with many tears: He was much in dayes 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 him: He bare such a tender love to that great people over which God had set him, that though his means was small, and he had many offers of great preferment in the Church, yet he would not leave them. He was daily inquisitive af…er the affairs of Gods Church, and sympathized with Gods people, both in their weal and woe.
He was much grieved when he saw that difference in opinions bred strangnesse amongst Christians, that agreed i… that same Fundamentall Truths. He was judiciously charitable to such as shewed the power of godliness in their lives, though they were not of his judgment in all things. He was glad when any of the righteous smote him, & would t…ke it well, not from his Superiours onelyonly, but from his Equals and far Inferiors; and would really shew more testimonies of his love to such afterwards then ever he did before. He abounded in works of Mercy, he was a truly liberall man, one that studyed liberall things, seeking out to find objects of his mercy, rather th…n staying till they were offered: he did set apart, and expend for many years together for good uses the tenth part of his yearly comings in, both out of his Temporall and Ecclesiasticall meanes of maintenance… he entertained som… poor Widows, or necessitous persons, weekly at the least at his Table; and his estate prospered the better after he took this course; and in his sicknesse he comforted himselfe with that promise, Psal. 41.1, 2. Blessed is he that considereth the poore, the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble; the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing, &c. His last dayes were his best dayes, for then he 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, he was much troubled with a cough and shortnesse of breath, which much weakned him, yet he Preached divers times, till his encreasing weaknesse disabled him. In his sicknesse he gave heavenly and wholesome counsell to his people, neighbours and friends that came to visit him, exhorting them to labor to redeem the time, to be much reading, hearing, and Meditating upon the Word of God; much in prayer, brotherly love, and communion of Saints, and that they would be carefull to hold that fast that he had taught them out of the Word of Truth, and that whil'st the the meanes of Salvation was to be had, they would neither spare pains nor cost to enjoy it. His pains towards his end were very great, yet he bore them patiently. He was much in ejaculations and lifting up his heart to God in behalfe of the Church and State, and for himselfe also, wherein he was most frequent, and earnest a little before his death. A godly friend & Minister praying with him, that if his time were not expired, God would be pleased to restore him for the good of his Church, or if otherwise, that he would put an end to his pains, if he 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, shutting his eyes himself, as if he were fallen into a sweet sleep, Anno 1639. and of his age 56. God tooke him away a little before the Civill Wars began, and before the sad desolations that fell upon the Town of Banbury in particular.
Renowned William Whately also wins
Like fame with Bol…on, as two equall twins
Of honour and renown; for piety,
And admirable parts in's Ministry:
In Latine, Greek and Hebrew rarely able,
A Disputant also unconquerable.
Of apprehension quick, of judgement clear,
Strong memory; and that which was most dear,
Of a most holy life and Conversation;
Who many souls did win to Christs salvation:
And Divine-like in Scriptures eloquent;
In Prayer, Preaching faithfull and fervent:
Much charity and love, who still exprest
Among his people a Peacemaking blest:
Pittifull, patient, full of courtesie:
His soul with Christ now raignes most gloriously.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Fuller, The Dead Yet Speaking (1652)