The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 27 – Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVII.
2 In eſtabliſhing Gods true Word and worſhip.NOw as it was the juſt and due praiſe of theſe worthies of the Lord (according to the nature of true zeale) not onelyonly to demoliſh and deface all inſtruments or ornaments of idols, and falſe worſhip, but to build up, and beautifie the houſe of God, in procuring and providing all good means for his due and true ſervice: ſo may it be, and that juſtly an addition to this Gentlemans former praiſe, that his heart was ſo enlarged towards God for his glory, and Gods people for their good; that it was not only his care and conſcience, to aboliſh all occaſions and provocations unto idolatry and falſe worſhip, but the very joy of his ſoule, to bring in ſuch godly and able Miniſters amongſt them (as he could provide) almoſt every Lords day into the publike Aſſembly. Such as did feed the people (like faithfull Paſtors) with knowledge and underſtanding. Such as did ſowe and plant (as Gods husbandmen) the ſeeds and roots of grace and truth amongſt them. Such as were Ambaſſadors of peace, both preaching unto them the glad tydings of the Goſpell, by the word of reconciliation; and beſeeching them alſo in Chriſts ſtead to be reconciled unto God: and Heralds at armes alſo,By procuring godly Miniſters to preach. to lift up their voices as a trumpet, to tell the houſe of Iſrael their tranſgreſſion, and the houſe of Iudah their finnes, and to denounce Gods righteous judgements due unto the ſame. And all this he did of his own coſt and labour, and that with a cheerfull and upright heart, honouring the Lord with his ſubſtance, and giving meanes and maintenance to ſuch as were the Lords labourers in the Lords harveſt.Of his own coſt and charg. All which his care, coſt, and labour, although it was much ſlighted by many, little regarded by the vulgar ſort, much oppoſed by the popiſh and profane, and too much undervalued by all: yet was hee never daunted nor diſcouraged in his courſe, nor weary of well doing,Little regarded. neither Rheum the Chancellor, nor Shimſhai the Scribe, by their letters; nor Samballat and Tobiah by their mocks, threats, and ſlanders,Yet he not diſcouraged, becauſe the word of God proſpered. could ever divert him from his way, or cauſe the worke of God to ceaſe in his hand. So the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed: and to uſe his own words, ſo religion began to enter, mangre the divell, and his partakers, for I was much oppoſed &c. In this paſſage I much deſire to commend unto every Chriſtian, eſpecially, to Gentlemen of good rancke and place (to whom the Lord hath given a large portion in the bleſſings of this life) ſuch fruits of faith and love, and ſuch vertues of Chriſt in this Gentleman,Many vertues of his to be obſerved. as are well worthy both the obſervation, and imitation of every true Chriſtian.
1. His compaſſion on the multitude being as ſheep without ſhepheard, when hee ſaw them erring from the wayes of God, and like to periſh for want of paſture, expreſſing herein (in ſome meaſure) the holy affection of Chriſt Ieſus.
And imitated.2 Secondly, his free will offering unto the Lord of his owne ſubſtance and coſt, to provide his people of ſpirituall food, and that with a cheerfull and free heart and hand, like unto David, who bought the threſhing floore of Areunah at a price, becauſe he would not offer burnt offerings to the Lord, of that which coſt him nothing.
3. Thirdly,1 Kin. 18.3.4. 2 Chr. 35.2,3 4 his entertaining and maintaining Gods Miniſters, as Obadiah did the Lords Prophets, beſides his countenancing and encouraging of them as Ioſiah did the Levites in the Lords ſervice.
4 Fourthly, the exceeding joy and comfort that he took in ſetting forwards the Lords worke, for the foundation and building up the ſhouſe of God, by his good example, godly preſence, and holy practice, in publike places, and religious duties, endeavouring to bring forth the head ſtone,Zach. 4.…7. as Z…rubbabell did with ſhootings crying, Grace, grace unto it.
5 Fifthy, his courage and conſtant…y in maintaining all good exerciſes of Religion againſt all oppoſitions of popiſh and profane perſons,Nehem, 4 as did good Nehemiah, in going on with the in building of the was of Jeruſalem, notwithſtanding al the attempts and aſſaults of ſecret treacholy, … open hoſtility, made againſt him.
6 Sixthly, his uprightneſſe and ſu…oirity, doing all that he did with an honeſt and good heart, not to bee ſeene of men but to approve himſelf unto God in all things.
This worthy example thus decked and adorned with theſe jewels of grace,For Gentlement to be rich in good workes. I deſire alſo to commend unto the due and ſerious conſideration of ſuch Gentlement and others, as being rich in this world, are yet poore, and very poore in ſuch good workes, and had rather beſtow an hundred pounds in building and beautifying their owne houſes, than an hundred pence towards the laying of the foundation, or building up the walles or windowes of Gods houſe amongſt them.
For patrons not to ſpoile the Chur. being bound to provide for it.And to ſuch alſo as being entruſted with the lands and livings of the Church, for the maintenance of the Miniſtery and ſpirituall proviſion of Gods people, doe notwithſtanding turne their patronage into pillage, and their devotion into ſacriledge, cutting ſhort the Miniſter of his meanes, and the people of their proviſion, taking the wheat unto themſelves, and leaving the ſtraw and chaffe unto them for their portion onelyonly.
For proſane Gent. beſtowing much upon their luſts, nothing upon Gods ſervice.Neither would I have them to paſſe without gentle admonition alſo, who had much rather ſpend much of their eſtate, in maintaining idle and baſe perſons to ſerve their owne luſts, and ſatisfies the humour of a rude and profane people, as many do their Horf-riders, Faulkeners, Huntſmen, Lords of miſrule, Pipers, and Minſtrels, rather to lead them, and their followers (both in their publik… aſſemblies and private families) a dance about the Calfe, than ſuch a dance as, David danced before the Arke, with ſpirituall rejoycing in Gods mercies, and inlarging of his owne and the people hearts in Gods praiſes.Neither maintaining any Leyite at home. And being utterly deſtitute of all meanes of grace, both in aſſembly and family and nothing ſenſible of the ſpirituall famine that hath brought a loathſome leanneſſe into their ſoules, they neither make any conſcience, nor will beat any coſt,Nor ſeeking after the word abroad. to call on the Levites to bring in the Arke of God amongſt them, nor will ſeeke themſelves, nor ſuffer others (that much deſire to enter into the Kingdome of God) to frequent thoſe places and exerciſes of religion, where the heavenly Manna, the bread of life may be broken unto them.
CHAP. XXVIII.
ABout the yeare 1590. when he ſaw,Mr. I. D. that having provided for the publike congregation a worthy Preacher, whom they ſeemed much to admire for his gifts, yet would not ſo much as thanke him for his pains, the Preacher grew ſomewhat unwilling to beſtow his labour any longer amongſt them. Hee in Chriſtian policy,VponUpon their neglect of the publike Miniſtery. began to withdraw the Preacher of the Word from the aſſembly, to his owne family, to make them more ſenſible of the want of it, more carefull to ſeek it where they might finde it, and more thankfull to God and his ſervants, by whoſe meanes they did enjoy it, and reape ſome fruit by it. To which end and purpoſe, he built him a Pulpit in a Chappel in his owne houſe, and for a ſeaſon maintained the Preacher there, ſo that (as hee ſaith himſelfe) hee had good company every Sabbath day.He maintained the Preacher in his own family. This company, as I doubt not but it was much to his comfort, ſo could it not bee, but much to his coſt alſo, when, amongſt a multitude, though ſome might come to the Chappell with good mindes, to feed their ſoules, yet others would bee as willing and ready to preſſe into the Hall to fill their bellies. And yet was he well contented to be at this charge alſo, for the increaſe of Religion and further of the Goſpel.
But he could not long make ſuch an incloſure of the Word, nor ſo confine it to his private family; for partly the publike neceſſity, and partly the importunity of ſome Chriſtian friends,But after a while reſtored him to the publike aſſembly. did worke ſo effectually upon him, and prevaile ſo farre with him, that hee yeelded up the Preacher to the publike aſſembly againe, and ſo continued to maintaine him, and other Preachers after him, untill upon the death of the Incumbent, God eſtabliſhed a faithfull Paſtor amongſt them. Let him if you pleaſe, tell you thus much and the occaſion thereof, in his owne words.
The ſame Preacher being invited to a wedding at Peile, The cauſe and occaſion thereof.preached there in the parlour, for which Sermon he was much admired. And then, It was objected againſt me, that I had committed a great ſinne, to keep ſuch a worthy Preacher from the great congregation. But I ſaid, none requeſted it, nor gave him thankes when I brought him;And ſo continued to maintaine the Miniſter. And therefore he was unwilling to come amongſt them. But I was glad then, to bring the Word of God againe unto them, and ſo have continued till now that God hath planted M. Clark amongſt us.
And here I thinke it not amiſſe, ſeeing hee thus toucheth upon M. Clark, in this buſineſſe of providing the Pariſh of a faithfull and ſufficient Miniſtery:Both by his owne and M. Clarkes teſtimony. to call in, and produce Maſter Clank's own words, for evident teſtimonie to his bounty and faithfulneſſe in this particular.
He was the chief inſtrument, to plant, and eſtabliſh the preaching of the Goſpel in this congregation. Firſt, by providing divers of Gods Miniſters to preach here oftentimes when the Incumbent was growne old, and decrepit: afterward by maintaining a Preachet at his owne proper coſt and charges: And laſtly, by being a means to obtaine the place for me in reverſion, and allowing me the greateſt part of my maintenance. So that this Pariſh hath cauſe for ever, to acknowledge him a nurſing father of Religion amongſt them, and a bleſſed Inſtrument to bring in the light of the Goſpell unto them, when they ſate in darkneſſe, and in the ſhadow of death.