The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 20 – Chapter 21
CHAP. XX.
BUt now to leave old Robert in reſt and bliſſe with God, we are concerning his Maſter farther to underſtand, that albeit he ſhewed much reſpect and love unto this ancient profeſſor his faithfull ſervant, yet did he wiſely proportion his regard and care of, and over the reſt, in their places, to their good contentment and his owne comfort. Some he made choice of to be neare about him for attendance,Acts 10.7. at home and abroad (and they ſuch as did feare God) as did that good Cornelius, who had ever devout men about him,His due regard to the reſt of his ſervants. that waited on him continually. Theſe were more happy than their other fellow ſervants, becauſe they were ever with him, to whom hee was ever ready either to impart and offer ſome wholeſome words of admonition or inſtruction, or to conferre, reaſon, object, and anſwer in points of religion for increaſe of knowledge, conſcience and obedience, and that mutually and friendly,Some attending upon him. as they did ſerve him at his Table or did walke or ride abroad with him. He never thought his Table better furniſhed, than when he had gracious and godly perſons to ſit with him, or ſtand about him, nor his meate better ſeaſoned, than when it was poudered with ſuch ſalt of wholeſome words, and holy wiſedome as might miniſter grace unto the hearers that were preſent with him. Nullus enim ſuavior animo cibus eſt, quàm cognitio veritatis, Lact. lib. 1. de falſa Reli. O how contrary unto this courſe, is their carriage, who like none ſo well, as a knave to attend them, a flatterer to humour them, and a foole to make them merry at their meate. It was the wiſdome of Salomon to ſpeake of wiſdome, both in naturall and ſpirituall things, even at his Table; in ſo much that the Queene of Sheba admired what ſhe ſaw,1 Kin. 10.8. and heard; and reckoned his ſervants happy, that might then ſtand before him and heare his wiſedome. Shall I crave leave of our wiſe men of the world, to tell them that in their courſes they come ſo farre ſhort, not only of Salomon, but even of this Gentleman, that they are not much better, than Salomons fooles, whoſe heads are ſo ſhallow,Prov. 1.12. & 9.6. that they have no braines to ſpeake of knowledge, nor of any divine things: and their hearts ſo empty of grace and goodneſſe, that they take no pleaſure in ſuch company, nor in ſuch talke, and conference at their tables, where they imagine they cannot be merry if God ſtand by, nor be at any quiet in their minde, if there bee any good man there, that offers any occaſion to ſpeake of holy and of heavenly things. Thus dealt he with the better ſort of his ſervants that were neare about him, and attended on him.Some labouring for him. And for the reſt that were imployed in his husbandry and buſineſſe abroad, hee was not forgetfull, but mindfull of their good. Hee allotted them their places according to their skill and knowledge, and proportioned their labour to their ſtrength, and their wages to their labour, ever allowing them liberty and leaſure, meanes and helpes to accompliſh the workes which they tooke in hand; and never ſuffering them to want any encouragement, which might make them chearfull and faithfull, in his, and Gods ſervice. To which end he would often (as other his greater occaſions would permit) goe abroad amongſt them,His over ſeeing of them, and wiſe dealing with them. both to ſee the work, and to encourage the workemen. At which time, that both he and they might goe about earthly buſineſſe with heavenly mindes, he was wont to raiſe matter of ſpeech and conference, ſometimes from their callings, workes, wages ſometime from the good creatures of God, their nature, end, and uſe: ſometimes from the ſeaſon of the yeare, the Spring, Seedings, Summer, Harveſt, Winter, faire or foule weather, and the like; and to apply theſe to ſuch places of the Scriptures as they had heard or read the ſame things in, for their farther inſtruction and edification. Now for their work, what he ſaw was well for manner and matter, hee did likewiſe well approve and accept; and by a due and kinde commendation of their care and paines, hee provoked them to continue in well doing. What he ſaw was amiſſe, if it were of ſmall moment, hee would wiſely paſſe by it, if of greater weight, he would admoniſh them of, and reprove them for it, yet not with any railing or reviling words (for ought that ever I could heare) but in words of wiſedome as became a holy man, and a good Maſter: ſometimes (it may be) more ſharpely, becauſe the nature of the fault, and diſpoſition of the offender, might ſo require it, and ſometimes more mildly, as hee found the party more ſenſible of his fault, and more tractable for amendment. There was not the meaneſt amongſt them, but hee would labour to cheare him, and encourage him in his ſervice: and if hee ſaw them any more towardly, in duties of Religion, hee would ſo much the more kindly ſpeak unto them, and more willingly confer with them. They did uſually alſo exerciſe themſelves unto godlineſſe, by mutuall exhortations, and admonitions, drawing on one another in every good way, and praying unto God in their courſes together, in the evening for a bleſſing upon their deſires and labours, which they ordinarily performed in the Kitchen, more privately, after prayer in the Parlour with the whole family. So that by this meanes, the Maſter governing religiouſly,His family a religious nurſury. and the ſervants obeying conſcionably, his family became a common nurſury for the Churches of God, in the whole countrey. For, 1. Such of his ſervants as were inclineable unto marriage, hee provided well for them, and ſent them out being married in the feare of God, to raiſe and eſtabliſh the worſhip of God in their owne houſes. And ſuch as were ſingle perſons,By diſpoſing. as he had any mind to ſpare them and to part with them, he either beſtowed them in other families, or ſuffered them to plant themſelves in ſuch houſes, where they might mutually both joyne, and joy together in Gods ſervice, to the ſpreading abroad of Religion, and farther inlarging of the kingdome of Chriſt Jeſus. Or diſperſing his ſervants.And then he made ſupply againe, by taking out of the countrey ſuch of their ſonnes and daughters, as were fitteſt for his planting or watering in that part of the Lords Vineyard, or for ſowing or ſetting in the Lords field.
CHAP. XXI.
THus farre we have heard in what manner hee governed,His courſe in Family duties towards God. and ordered his family in their ſeverall places, for the better diſcharge of their duties amongſt themſelves: Now we are farther to obſerve his courſe and carriage, in thoſe exerciſes and religious duties, which he daily and duely performed morning and evening with his family, in the worſhip of God, for their mutuall comfort, and for Gods praiſe and glory.
This Gentleman knew right well, that family exerciſes were the very goads and ſpurs unto godlineſſe, the life and ſinnews of grace, and religion,The neceſſity and excellency of family duties. Example in Abrah. Gen. 18.19. in Cornelius Act. 10.2. in Lors & Eun. 2 Tim. 1.5. the bonds and cords of love, drawing or leading to perfection. Like the coales taken from the Altar, whereby both iniquity is purged, and mens hearts are inflamed with holy and heavenly affections towards God, and good things. Like the planting and watering of the Lords Vineyard, whereby every branch is made more fruitfull. Like the private training of Chriſtian Souldiers, that they may be fit, and more fit for publike ſervice. Like the nurſing or nurturing of the children, or heires of great families, where ſome are fed with milke, and ſome with ſtronger meat, all with wholeſome food, untill they bee brought on to their Fathers houſe, to bee farther refreſhed and feaſted at his Table.
Of the ſouldiers Harneſſe.Laſtly, hee knew well that Family exerciſes in religious duties, were like the putting on, and buckling unto us the whole armour of God, that ſo being furniſhed with all offenſive and defenſive weapons, we may ſtand faſt in the evill day, and goe through the duties of every day alſo, with more eaſe and comfort.
His preparation in 4. things. 1 In his vigilancy.And upon theſe and ſuch like ſerious conſiderations, he exerciſed himſelfe and his family unto godlineſſe after this manner. Firſt, for preparation, and ſecondly, for execution. For preparation: It was his ordinary courſe to riſe very early in the morning, before the reſt of his family, betwixt three and foure of the clock in Summer, and at, or before five in the Winter, ſo that by this his vigilancy and induſtry, hee gained the liberty and opportunity moſt commonly of an houre or two before he rung the bell, to awaken the reſt of his family: which time he beſtowed moſt graciouſly, firſt in private prayer for himſelfe,2 In his private prayer. and for every ſoule in his family, making mention of ſome more particularly by name, as their occaſions or afflictions might move him thereunto: and giving thankes to God therewithall, for ſuch mercies and comforts, as both hee and they had received that night paſt, and formerly alſo from his hand. Secondly,3 Meditation. in meditation upon ſome part of Gods Word and works, wherewith he did ſeaſon his mind and refreſh his heart, endevouring ſo to ſet the Watch aright in the morning, that the clock might go the better all the day after.4 Induſtry in writing Thindly, hee did as hee had occaſion uſually write out faire, ſome part of ſuch Sermons, as hee had by a running hand taken from the mouth of the Preacher, for renewing and increaſing of the benefit, and comfort which hee had reaped and received by the ſame. Thus did he watch over his family, when they were at reſt themſelves, and commend them unto God by his prayers, before they could open their lips, to ſpeake unto him by their owne words. Thus did he awake with God in the morning, that he might the better awake unto righteouſneſſe, and walke before God in holineſſe and uprightneſſe all the day after, even untill the evening.