The Holy State, Book 2 · Chapter 10
WILLIAM PERKINS The Learned, pious, and painfull Preacher of Gods word, at St Andrewes in Cambridge where He died Anno Dni. 1602. Aged 44 yeares. W. M. sculp.
CHAP. 10. The life of Mr PERKINS.
William Perkins, born at Marston nigh Coventry in Warwickshire, was afterwards brought up in Christ-Colledge in Cambridge, where he so well profited in his studies that he got the grounds of all liberall Arts, and in the 24. of Queen Elizabeth was chosen fellow of that Colledge, the same yeare wherein Doctour Andrew Willet (one of admirable industry) and Doctour Richard Clark (whose learned Sermons commend him to posterity) were elected into the same Society.
There goeth an uncontroll'd tradition, that Perkins, when a young scholar, was a great studier of Magick, occasioned perchance by his skill in Mathematicks. For ignorant people count all circles above their own sphere to be conjuring, and presently cry out those things are done by black art for which their dimme eyes can see no colour in reason. And in such cases, when they cannot flie up to heaven to make it a Miracle, they fetch it from hell to make it Magick, though it may lawfully be done by naturall causes. True it is he was very wild in his youth till God (the best Chymick who can fix quicksilver it self) gratiously reclaim'd him.
After his entrance into the Ministry, the first beam he sent forth shined to those which sat in darknesse and the shadow of death, I mean the prisoners in the castle of Cambridge, people (as generally in such places) living in England out of Christendome, wanting the means of their salvation, bound in their bodies, but too loose in their lives, yea often branded in their flesh, and seared in their consciences. Perkins prevailed so farre with their jaylour, that the prisoners were brought (fetter'd) to the Shire-house hard by, where he preached unto them every Lords day. Thus was the prison his parish, his own Charity his Patron presenting him unto it, and his work was all his wages. Many an Onesimus here he begat, and as the instrument freed the prisoners from the captivity of sinne. When this began to be known, some of good quality of the neighbouring parishes became his auditours, and counted it their feast to feed out of the prisoners basket. Hence afterwards he became Preacher of S. Andrews parish in Cambridge, where he continued to the day of his death.
His Sermons were not so plain but that the piously learned did admire them, nor so learned but that the plain did understand them. What was said of Socrates, That he first humbled the towring specul…ions of Philosophers into practice and morality; so our Perkins brought the schools into the Pulpit, and unshelling their controversies out of their hard school-terms, made thereof plain and wholsome meat for his people. For he had a capacious head with angles winding, and roomthy enough to lodge all controversiall in…asies; and, had not preaching diverted him from that way, he had no doubt attained to eminency therein. An excellent Chirurgeon he was at joynting of a broken soul, and at stating of a doubtfull conscience. And sure in Case-divinity Protestants are defective. For (save that a Smith or two of late have built them forges, and set up shop) we go down to our enemies to sharpen all our instruments, and are beholden to them for offensive and defensive weapons in Cases of Conscience.
He would pronounce the word Damne with such an emphasis as left a dolefull Echo in his auditours ears a good while after. And when Catechist of Christ-Colledge, in expounding the Commandments,S. W. M…. of S. C. C. applied them so home, able almost to make his hearers hearts fall down, and hairs to stand upright. But in his older age he altered his voice, and remitted much of his former rigidnesse, often professing that to preach merciemercy was that proper office of the Ministers of the Gospell.
Some octject that his Doctrine, referring all to an absolute decree, hamstrings all industry, and cuts off the sinews of mens endeavours towards salvation. For ascribing all to the wind of Gods spirit, (which bloweth where it listeth) he leaveth nothing to the oars of mans diligence, either to help or hinder to the attaining of happinesse, but rather opens a wide doore to licentious security. Were this the hardest objection against Perkins his doctrine, his own life was a sufficient answer thereunto, so pious, so spotlesse, that Malice was afraid to bite at his credit, into which she knew her teeth could not enter.
H… had a rare felicity in speedy reading of books, and as it were but turning them over would give an exac… account of all considerables therein. So that as it were riding post thorow an Authour, he took strict notice … all passages, as if he had dwelt on them particularly; perusing books so speedily, one would think he read nothing; so accurately, one would think he read all.
He was of a cheerfull nature and pleasant disposition: Indeed to mere strangers he was reserved and close, suffering them to knock a good while before he would open himself unto them; but on the least acquaintance he was merry and very familiar.
Besides his assiduity in preaching he wrote many books, extant at this day. And pity it was, that he set not forth more of them himself; for though some of his Orphan works lighted on good Guardians, yet all were not so happy; and indeed no nurse for a child to the own mother.
He dyed in the 44. yeare of his age of a violent fit of the stone. It hath been reported that he dyed in the conflict of a troubled conscience; which admit were so, had been no wonder. For God sometimes seemingly leaves his Saints when they leave the world, plunging them on their death-beds in deep temptations, and casting their souls down to hell, to rebound the higher to heaven. Besides, the devil is most busie on the last day of his Term; and a Tenant to be outed cares not what mischief he doth. But here was no such matter.S. W. ut priús. Indeed he alwayes cryed out Mercy Mercy: which some standers by misinterpreted for despair, as if he felt not Gods favour, because he call'd for it: whereas Mercy is a Grace which they hold the fastest, that most catch after it. 'Tis true that many on lesse reason have expressed more confidence of their future happinesse, and have delivered themselves in larger speeches concerning the same. But who could expect a long oration from him, where every word was accented with pain in so sharp a disease.
His funeralls were solemnly and sumtuously perform'd of the sole charges of Christ-Colledge, which challenged, as she gave him his breeding, to pay for his buriall; the University and Town lovingly contending which should expresse more sorrow thereat. Doctour Mountague, afterwards Bishop of Winchester, preached his Funerall-Sermon, and excellently discharg'd the place, taking for his Text, Moses my servant is dead.
He was of a ruddy complexion, very fat and corpulent, lame of his right hand; and yet this Ehud with a lefthanded pen did stab the Romish Cause, and *Hugh Holland in his Icones.as one saith,
Dextera quantumvis fuerat tibi manca, docendi
Pollebas mira dexteritate tamen.
Though nature thee of thy right hand bereft,
Right well thou writest with thy hand that's left.
He was born the first, and dyed the last yeare of Queen Elisabeth, so that his life streamed in equall length with her reigne, and they both had their fountains, and falls together.
I must not forget, how his books after his death were translated into most modern Christian languages. For though he excellently improved his talent in the English tongue, yet forreiners thought it but wrapt up in a napkin, whilest folded in an unknown language. Wherefore some translated the main body of his works into French, Dutch, and Italian; and his books speak more tongues, then the Maker ever understood. His Reformed Catholick was done into Spanish, and no Spaniard ever since durst take up that gantlet of defiance our Champion cast down: yea their Inquisition rather chose to answer it with tortures, then arguments.