The Faith of Dying Jacob, Memorial
The Memorial or Character of that approved deceased Christian, Mr. Isaac Hubbard of Great Cogs-hall in Essex.
'TIS too common with worthless men to express their pique at vertue, with their venemous mouth to spit poyson, and spray the Face of Beauty, to scratch with their Ethiopian Nails, and with their Blood-shotten eyes to make envious detractions on worthy Persons and their laudable actions, and by immixing Alchymy to give a dull allay to finer metals. But the wise shall inherit glory; and the memory of the Righteous shall be Blessed: This made Demetrius say, the Athenians could demolish his statues, but not his Pyramidical vertues. The Phaenix dies in her Bed of Arabian Spices, fired with the pure Beams of the Sun. Absolom had his Monuments, 'twas a shame he had nothing better to perpetuate his memory. Men godly need no Parasitical Smoak, yet 'twould be a manifest breach of Law, a disingenuous profuseness, an encouragement of bad men, to pour Fragrant Ointments on a Dung-hill by emblazoning Panegyricks: But good men deserve a bundle of Myrrh and Frank-incense; 'twas acceptable and honourable for Mary to pour the Alabaster-Box of very precious Ointment on the nigh dying Body of her dear Redeemer. The Sun setting leaves a Light behind it: When the Spirit came at the name of Enoch, it made a pause, and trebled its notes, as the Nightingale quavering on her pleasant Note, Gen. 5. 21, 24. It tells no stories of the Victories and Triumphs of Alexander and Caesar; but will not forget Dorcas Coats, nor the fame of the Widdows Mite: 'Tis but Justice that good men and their Lives laudable and exemplary, that are registred in Heaven, should be preserved undefaced upon Earth. But in the report I have to make, conciseness must be, as with them who frame the Picture of great Persons into little Tablets: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of the Righteous.
His Temper.
1. It was smooth, cheerful and well-pleasing, manifest by that usual Commentator his Countenance: This rendered him an acceptable Companion, apt to all offices of Love, and an Ornament to Religion, which yet was a greater Ornament to him. But this cheerfulness from his refined sublimated Soul, was most manifested by his Angelick delight in singing Psalms, in which he expressed an internal joy, and was oft dissolved into a mixture of melting precious Tears, Fragrant as the Dews and drops of Roses distilled over a gentle fire: As also by his Prayers that ascended as sweet odour or incense to Heaven, in his usual magnifying rich unmerited distinguishing grace, and the glorious unutterable priviledges of his dear Redeemer.
2. He was patient, composed, calm and silent especially at injuries, knowing it to be the greatest and noblest victory to conquer himself: With a grateful mixture of Faith and Patience, he could behold the party-coloured and variegated Rain-bow of earthly intermixtures. Innocency with the Testimony of God and Conscience were shield enough. He knew troubles to be the tribute and appendages of Humane Nature, yet as a Christian could take them as Pledges of Fatherly Love: Without a Stoical Apathy afflictions did not much damp him; and without an enamoured levity, he could behold the Glitter, Gildings, Musick, and pleasure of the Worlds gaieties that enchaunt others. In case he found any mental jar, mutiny, or insurrection; and if with Rebekah by the struglings of Jacob and Esau in her narrow enclosure, he found cause to say, why am I thus? Without amuzement or changing of Countenance, putting all under the domination of reason, in wisdom he could conceal, and by the encounters of grace timely suppress, not suffering the spark to rise up into a flame; yet at some time when surcharged, he would unburden himself into a faithful friendly Bosom: In the alternate successions of this changing world experience prepared him for harsh occurrences, and sometime to be justled in the tumultuous bespattering Croud of this busie world: He would rather let the Blustering Winds pass on, stepping out of their way, than by opposing make them more outragious, knowing that the Squibs of the Tongue would expire of themselves, and that 'twas folly to think of preventing matters impossible, and no ways remediable, but by a prudent forbearance; he knew the chewing of bitter Pills would render them more disgustful: He could contemn unmerited injuries, and requite them with kindness, not retaining a close festering malice in his Breast: He had somewhat of the Ostriches stomach to digest Iron, the climate he lived in required it, and grace enabled him to it. He could leave such injuries to die alone or to repay themselves: And amongst Obstreperous Noises could Deafen his Ear, as, tho of a better Spirit and principle, that Cholerick Satyrus stop'd his Ear, lest the Bellows of others Tongues should make the Blood Boil in his Veins.
His Religion.
He was no Notionist with an Itch after Novelty, or affected singularity; had no rolling Prurient Fancy, nor a Coy Squeamish Stomach, as sick men to pingle at the Sawce, or childishly to pick Straws in Divinity. He was endowed with a great Sobriety and Moderation of Judgment, never so Unchristian as to make all Anti-christian who differed from him, as if none could get to Heaven that went not in his Congregational Path: His Religion lay not in an opinion or party, tho he could not be religious without either. He was neither erratick, phrenetick, nor paralytick. He liked not the lofts of Giddy Heads, had good battlements on his upper story, that he fell not over to break his Bones; time taught him what absurdities overweening, luxuriant, unreined, opinionated fancies ran into: He liked not the torrid Zone, was no Galloper, but went his sober steady pace, being more for Truth than Zeal, yet labouring to be zealous in Truth. If any Ethiopian scratch'd him, Truth was his Salve: Gods Eternal Truth was dearer than Ease, Liberty, or Life, that are in continual Fluxes and Hazards. His Vessel had a good Ballast that he did not tumble, toss or jump up and down by the estuations of flowing and reflowing Waves, in stead of sailing forward to his Heavenly Port.
His Card, Pole-star, Canon he sailed and walked by was the word of God: The Sun of his daily Life passed through this Zodiack, yet sometimes crossed by the Eccliptick Line. He made this word the man of his Counsel, minding and moving by the Sun rather then the Dial. If he left the Common Road 'twas because fouler and craggy, and he espied another clearer and safer. Wherein he separated from others, 'twas where they first separated from Truth, knowing that men entring and holding on in a wrong way, have the further to come back with shame, sorrow, and loss of much time. Like the better-bred Bereans he would enquire at the Scriptures, those Divine Oracles, whether those things were so.
Heaven had giv'n him a competent Judgment within himself, that with an easy credulity he could not readily be imposed on by the Impostures of a false world. He used his own Legs, not walking on others Crutches, and did not fancy himself nigh Blind to be beholden to others spectacles. That which fixed the Orient Dye, and brightest colour into his Religion, was his fixed perseverance: His supernaturalized Soul, followed not the sensible declination of his Body, but in the deadness and barrenness of Nature, he bore fruit in the Autumn and Winter of his Life. His Sun did not as Hezekiah's go back, nor as Joshua's stand still, and if at any time a little overcast it soon wrought out. His Caelestial fire never went out, his Lamp was f…d with fresh Oyl, and continued as a Green Olive-tree in the House of God. He began with fear, care, and labour, travelling after the word, pursuing the light of that word which first awakened and illuminated his dark Soul; from a leaden Youth growing to a Golden Age, and not as many from a Golden Youth to a Leaden Age; from a day of small things increasing to a day of great things; from an early young Disciple, becoming as Mnason an old Disciple, till like Simeon with an armful, with an heartful of Christ he could say, Now, Lord, lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation. 'Tis true he was not what he would be, by the impedings of the flesh, yet was not what he might have been, through the preventings of Grace.
He was not drunk with opinions, to stagger and reel to and fro, nor as dying People did he desire the exchange of his Bed and Chamber, but continued his repose in the Bosom of that Church, where grace had made him a member. And in all material matters wherein 'twas his duty to be resolved, he had no suspensive hesitancy; he knew not the fall of the Leaf, nor falling sickness that many have been troubled withal, and in case a little short swoun surprized him, the Spirit soon chafed him to Life: If a little straying, the voice behind him, remembred him, here is the way walk in it. His study was not to spend time but to spend it well, to redeem it, that he might spend it better: He took it by the forelock before it turn'd its Bald-pate, endeavouring the witness of some good done before it got out of his reach.
Time's redemption is a great art, in his journeyings he so contrived affairs that he might way-lay Soul markets in his return. And when hearing he made not idle Indentures on the Table, nor minded he the raptures of a flaming fancy, nor the ringing of Changes or Chimings of words by a loose fancy: 'Twas the necessity, and emprovement, nourishment of his heart he aimed, and not the curiosity of his Ear or Palate.
His Conversation.
1. His personal Conversation was to be much at home with his own heart in self-observation, and heart-examination; if one Eye went abroad for intelligence, the other kept home for application and improvement, conversing with men as glasses wherein to behold his own infirmities, and with Christians as with Books of Receipts, whereby to know his own maladies and cure; making himself another from himself; he was most quick-sighted, and severe at home, calling his Eye home to himself, reading, hearing nothing but to be enriched with more Divine observations, and not that for discourse, but practice.
In Divine matters in reading and hearing he was very sedulous, he saw that nature had hid precious Minerals, not next the skin of the Earth, but deep, and that not because they should not be enjoyed, but that as a witness of their worth, they might be digg'd and laboured for, and when cloyed with retirements or other domestick occurrences, he took the recreation of the good Air in some godly company, to make an exchange of secular trouble for spiritual cheerings.
Also as to his personal Conversation, he was much in secret, out of the noise and buz of the world, whose croud he knew might thrust out many a good purpose, and whose blustering winds might blow out his Candle. These solitary shades and retirements were not so much to escape the world, but for the more reserved immediate enjoyment of himself with God, and hereby grew the better, the worse he found the world. To be enlarged in private communion, is the largest dominion, and the best initiating holy souls into heavenly fruitions, to get the sensible feelings, prelibations, and anticipations, Divine prospects and transports of supernatural, solacing, ravishing bliss, and joys soon without interruption to be enjoyed. Doubtless Souls familiarized with their God, have the softest days, the sweetest nights, and the largest entrance into the Everlasting Kingdom, readiest for the Bridegroom's call, with their Loins girded, and their Lamps burning. Abroad men find enveigling vanities; every Port, the Eye, the Ear assaulted with some pleasing temptation, or as it fared with Lot, with perplexing vexations.
These Solitudes and Arbours of holy retreated Meditations are Gates that let into the inward World, Heavens Suburbs, and Resemblances; Valleys where the hotest Rays strike, where the sugar'd Dews and Drops of Heaven mostly fall, are oft blessed with clearest Illuminations to the mind, Exhilarations and sweetest Satisfactions to the affections, and Strengthnings to the wills holy resolutions. Yet 'tis beneath a Christian to be immured in a Monkish Cloister to secure the Castle of Innocency where there are no Assailants, Religion is little concern'd in such sullen Gravities. 'Tis far more noble to be familiar and yet untainted in the throng of the World, where courted with vice, frighted by threats, to sit at a full Table and not to surfeit, whereby the world knows it hath but the Ghost, the Shadow, the worser Half, and God the Main: Those Beasts were clean and fit for divine Sacrifices that chewed the Cud, and divided the Hoof, Lev. 11.
2. His Domestick Conversation was pious and profitable. He knew the Jews divident of time, for the Law, for Prayer and Work; he missed not our Saviours counsel to the healed Demoniac, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, Mark 5. 19. Nor the practise of David, who after his joyful Solemnity about the Ark, return'd to bless his Houshold, 2 Sam. 6. 20. Together with the Scripture, he emproved some Books, not many, but choice for the explication of what he read, and this he did not as a task, but out of choice, and as most congenial to the Appetite and Palate of his own Soul, as the Air and Element most suitable to gracious Souls to breath in. Doubtless he is the best Christian that is so at home: Samson imparted of his Honey taken from the Lions carcase to his Father and Mother. The constant humectation of Rivolets of Family Prayer and Counsel is as necessary as the great defluxions of a publick Ministry; the watering pot must not be neglected: Who fears not the black brand of an Infidel and worse, that provides not for his Family? When the Sun shines not, Candles do well in the night: Though most live in their Families as if they had only Bodies, or rather Beasts to take care of.
3. In his Conversation with the Church, he diligently, constantly, even naturally, like Timothy, cared for the things thereof with singular prudence, and exemplariness, as a sound, able Christian, and almost a Divine, with an assiduous labour to grow in knowledge and grace, and to promote both in others, which was the more effectual, because his actions were no solaecism or contradiction to his profession; this Star is now set, this Pillar taken down, this Stake removed, this Cord broken. You that remain pray that the Lord would enlarge your Tents, and strengthen the Curtains of his Habitation, that he would spare, lengthen your Cords, and strengthen your Stakes.
4. As to his Civil, Social Converse: He was choice as to his company; if he went into infected places, he knew his danger, and like a Physician, designed others Cure: He knew Friends were brittle ware, and that Enemies would with a censorious eye, scan and it may be wrest his words and actions: Therefore chiefly chose company not many, but good, where he might impart or get good, or mingle his Light with other Stars or Candles, likeing to be one of the Coals that kindle one another; to be where he might converse with the God of Spirits, and the Spirits of that God. He knew the difference of Friends and Familiars, was sociable to all, intimate with few: He loved goodness, and good men for goodness sake, was no Raven feeding on others Carcases, nor as Vintners kind to Guests for the sake of a profitable reckoning. His delight was in the Saints, those that excel, to encrease the revenues of his Holy Heart.
He could commiserate others calamities, grow in wisdom by their follies, in strength by their infirmities, and by their slips stand the stronger.
He was suspicious of hearing well from ill men, as that Phocion commended cryed out, What evil have I done?
In perplexing, arduous cases he was prudent, furnished and ready by his long experience to give advice, and with that practical Job, was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, and like his Saviour who went up and down doing good, counselling, instructing, and fitted to speak a word in season to weary minds.
His Ear was a Sanctuary to others matters needing concealment, and had no itch of prying into secrets, by which he might hurt himself, or them upon a distast, if Grace prevented not. His Eye was quick and faithful in inspecting others Circumstances, and his Tongue impartial in reproving or encouraging as the case required.
He was social without servility, levity or flattery: Courteous, but not precarious; Courtesies received were but lent, and doubly repaid; In courtesies bestowed, they were not Baits to Catch Fish withal, he was no singing Wasp, for the Honeys sake frequenting the Sweet Pot.
His Disposition.
1. He was Charitable, Tender-hearted and Ready in his Behaviour towards the Poor: He followed the new Trade of Tyrus after converted, not to hoard up for himself, but for them that dwelt before the Lord, Isa. 23. 18. not reckoning himself rich in having goods, but in doing good, esteeming it better to be a Steward than a Treasurer, to lay out, than to lay up, to give, than to get, minding others necessities as his own conveniencies, and that 'twas better the World should be his Servant than his Master, and that to trust the Poor with his Estate was the best Usury, and that Riches are not what men possess, but what they use: His perpendicular Rays shined warm on his natural Relations, yet dispersed a benign, charitable Influence, like the Sun, on others at distance; and this he did not for Ostentation, but Compassion, and in all had a richer heart than hand, out of the competent, comfortable Mediocrity of Estate he was honoured with, not wrapping up his Talent in a Napkin, being ready on all occasions to do what became a good man, and a Christian: Covetousness oft flourisheth in old mens decaying nature, but 'twas dead in him, yet it flourished in his pantings after grace and glory.
2. He was contented. All fulness is in content, it makes a perpetual calm, and a continual feast: He was grateful, not confident in present things, knowing the Bird might take wings and fly away, and that what one Tide brought in another might carry out: And not murmuring or diffident about future contingencies. He esteemed Gods carvings best, and enough; wherein providences were defective, he made a supply in the promises; what he wanted in water, he made up in wine: What he wanted in Bran he made up in Flower. He envied not Superiors who exceeded him, nor Inferiors growing up to equal him: He suffered not the Bladder of his Soul to swell too big; though he had a great Soul, 'twas not for the great things of this World. He could with the Prophet stretch himself to the proportions and commensurations of the Child, if providences seemed little or low by a gracious contraction he could shrink up himself to their proportion. If he had an envious emulation 'twas divine, in imitating and emulating such as enjoyed mo… of God, and were more enriched with grace; that man, who enjoys all in God, (who is ever the same) will know where to possess all even when possessing nothing. The stream is not wanted by him that is drinking at the Fountain head.
3. He was meek and humble: He knew too big a Sail and Wind was not safe for his Bottom; and therefore rather strove to give honour to God, than to catch it from man, knowing 'twas better to deserve it, than to have it: Anothers brightned Excellencies cast no shade upon him; he pined not, as Ahab, at Naboth's Vineyard, nor was sullen at Mordecai's unbended knee: He knew 'twas folly to be swell'd with the course breath and froth of the rustick Rabble, who live like the Eel in Mud, and like Swine upon the Excrements of evil actions. Padaretus was pleased the Spartans had thirty better Men than he to be Senators. Though a good Name was worth having, he chose rather by good merits to deserve it, than to catch at it: Yet as the Wind blew fair without any hoising his Sails in a greedy desire, he admitted it to serve God and his King and his People: He found the Solitudes of Obscurity safer than a too free voluntary exposure of himself in publick transactions.
His Death.
Death met him nigh at home, whose imperious necessity he had prevented by the daily resignation of himself to Heavens commission. Grace was grown to maturity, and like the wombed Child, knocked at Natures doors to entreat the liberty of a larger room in glory: 'Twas his daily task to be doing something good against the good of the last day; every day drawing a Line to make the draught of his eternal fashion glorious: 'Twas his daily endeavour to acquaint himself with that God, and to get the testimonies of his love, with whom he was to live for ever. He lived holily, and died chearfully; Innocency is bold: Coming to the Iron Gates, they readily opened, and so died with his own consent, without any perplexity of mind, or strong pangs in his body, though Nature gave a little short struggle; the last and strongest Siege and Assault was quickly over: Death's Arrow was dipt in the Oil and Honey of Heaven's love, and though he were an homely Messenger, was welcom for his Fathers sake. Death's terrour was supplanted by the foreseen sequel of joy, the Joys of Heaven, that through the very flames of Hell, holy Souls would run unto: He well knew the conflicting Life he was parting with, and the triumphing Life he should unalterably and eternally be possessed of. Having like David served his Generation, and done the office of a faithful Steward, his Audit day was welcome, for his honourable discharge, Well done, good and faithful Servant: From the time of his first return to God, and Faith in his unchangeable Love, though at some time corruption gave him trouble, yet for about forty years his Ship was never driven from its Anchors, but he retained his hope without any unraveling or unbottoming doubts, and in the last year of his Life was much solacing his Soul in the fore-views of future Glory, much reading that piece of his Ancient Reverend Pastor Dr. Owen about the Glory of Christ in his Person, Office and Grace.
Thus having Fought the Good Fight, Run his Race, Finished his Course upon Earth, having oft fetch'd his God down to him, he was taken up to his God.