The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 1
CHAP. 1.
JOHN BRUEN of Bruen-Stapleford, in the County Palatin of Chester, Eſquire, was either by conſanguinity or affinity linked and allyed to many of the moſt ancient and worſhipfull Houſes and Families of that Countrey. His Father a worthy Gentleman of his time; deſcended of many worthy Anceſtors. The Lord having continued their Race,His birth and blood from father. and eſtabliſhed that Family in their own Ancient Name, Place, Houſe and State for many Generations. A bleſſing (I confeſſe) of no extraordinary note, yet the more remarkable, becauſe, even in theſe parts, many Families that have flouriſhed in great pomp and pride for a ſeaſon, and have thought that their houſes ſhould continue for ever,Pſal. 49.11, 12, 13. and their dwelling places to all Generations, and for this end called their Lands by their own names, have yet been cut ſhort of their hopes, and their lives both together, had their poſterity ſwept away as dung, and their names overwhelmed with the ruines of their houſes, their root being rottenneſſe, and their bloſſome vaniſhing into duſt,Iſal. 5.24. as the Prophet ſpeaketh to the ſame purpoſe.
This Gentlemans father was firſt married to a ſiſter of Sir John Dones, of the houſe of Ʋtkinton, from whom the Lord with-held the fruit of the womb,His mother. as ſometimes he did from Rachel, ſo that by her he had no iſſue. After her deceaſe he tooke to wife the daughter of Thomas Holford, of Holford Eſquire; by whom the Lord gave him 14 children ſonnes and daughters: So did the Lord truſt him with a large portion of his own Inheritance, and recompence the former barrenneſſe with a plentifull increaſe of his Family; For children are the inheritance of the Lord,Pſalm. 127. and the fruit of the wombe his exceeding rich reward. Of theſe 14 children, which God of his mercy had given his ſervant. This John Bru…n (the object of my thoughts, and ſubject of my ſpeech at this time) was the firſt bomb of the male children the beginning of his Fathers ſtrength and heire of his Family. Many of his brethren and ſiſters were holymen, and holy women, of pecially that rate Gentle-woman Miſtreſſe Katherine Brettergh his own deare ſiſter, whoſe pray ſo is in print, had whoſe name and ſame hath been founded out,Deaths advantage. M. Leig…. M. Haris. Prov. 21.29. and proclaimed to the Churches of Chriſt above twenty yeares aged by two Silver Trumpets of the Goſpel. Of whom as it may truly bee ſaid among her ſiſters, many daughters have done vertuouſly, but thou excelleſt them all:1 Chro 4.9.10: So may that as truly be ſaid of him amongſt his brethren, which is recorded of Ja… amongſt his, becauſe of his greater acquaintance and acceptance with God, Ja… was more humnable than his brethren; becauſe he called on the God of Iſrael, and God granted his that which he requeſted.Well deſcended.
It was not his double portion the priviledge of the firſt borne, nor his birth and bloud to be ſo worſhipfully deſcended, nor his gentry and dignity, to be ſo honorably allyed, nor his Inheritance and poſſeſſions, to be heyre of ſuch an eſtate and family: It was not I ſay,Icr. 9.23. 1 Cor. 1.13. 2 Cor. 10.17. 1 Cor. 12.29. either any or all of theſe, that either hee did or we doe reckon or eſteem the ground of his true prayſe and honour, or the ſtaffe of his comfort and rejoycing in this World. Hee was otherwiſe taught of God, and had otherwiſe duplicate page duplicate page learned Chriſt. Let not the wiſe man glory in his wiſdome, neither let the mighty man glory in his might. Let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he knoweth me, ſaith the Lord, and let him that rejoyceth, rejoyce in the Lord,Inter Chriſtianum & Gentilem non fides tantum debet, ſed & vita distinguers, Hieron. ad Celgutiā. Heb. 11.25, 26. Pſa. 84.10 Heb. 11.24. that every ſoule may be humbled, and no fleſh may glory in his preſence. A leſſon of great importance and uſe for many of our Gentry, which ſeeing the Lord is pleaſed both by precept and by patterne, ſo often to teach thē, they ſhould therfore learn at length leſſe to admire themſelvs for their birth and bloud, or any outward pomp & power in the World, and to eſteeme the reproach of Chriſt greater riches than the treaſures of Egypt: And to be a doore-keeper in the houſe of God, a greater honour than to dwel in the. Tents of wickedneſſe, yea than to be the ſon of Pharaoh's daughter:Quid est dignit as in indigno niſi ornamentū in luto? Sal. lib. 4. Pro. 26.23. For what is the flower of Nature without grace, but a ſtinking weed of a faire colour? What is Nobility without Religion and Piety, but an earthen pitcher covered with ſilver droſſe? And what is he that is rich in the world and is not rich towards God but a branded foole, even by Gods own Sentence, though he have goods laid up for many yeares, and ſay unto his ſoule as if he had ſpake unto a ſwine, Soule take thine eaſe, eat, Luke 12.19, 20, 21 Sub Chriſtiano nomine Gentilem vitam agunt, Hieron. ad Celant.drinke, and be merry? And what is a Gentleman without the true Faith of Chriſt in his heart,Eph. 2.15.12. Gal 2.15. and the holy fruits thereof in his life, but a meere Gentileman without Chriſt, an alien from the Common-wealth of Iſrael, and a ſtranger from the Covenant of promiſe,Eph. 2.12. without hope and without God, A very Atheiſt (as the Greek word importeth) in the World? Such gentilemen Atheiſts we have too many, both younger and elder, which walk inordinatly, not as they have this gentleman and many others for example,Eph. 2.2, 3 1 …et. 4.2, 3: but after the will of the Gentiles, not after the Word of God, but after the courſe and cuſtome of the world, and the brutiſh and baſe luſts of men, and that in all laſciviouſneſſe, exceſſe of wine, drunkenneſſe, revellings, banquetings and other abhominable villanies.