The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI.
Being ſtill more religious.AFter that he had thus planted and watered his owne family, and for the better increaſing of the fruits of religion had well provide for the publike aſſembly alſo, he was much admired for his ſincerity, as well as for his fervency in the profeſſion of the Goſpel, and practice of true religion. He that had done ſo worthily in Ephrata, became famous in Bethlehem; He grew more famous.His name being perfumed with ſuch, and ſo great variety of Gods graces, did ſend forth a moſt fragrant and ſweet ſmell, and ſavour, into all the families of the countrey, round about him: inſomuch,Many deſite to ſojournwith him. that now divers Gentlemen of the beſt ranck, did much deſire to ſojourne under his roofe, and to table with him, for their better information in the way of God, and more effectuall reclaiming of themſelves, and their families. That honourable and worthy Knight, Sir Richard Groſvenor, Baronet, when he was young and tender, was by his parents godly and gracious care, and deſire of his religious education,Sir R. G. in his tender yeares brought up in his houſe. tranſplanted (as it were) into this family, where for the ſpace of three yeares, he was trained up and nurtured in the knowledge and feare of God, and that with ſo good ſucceſſe and fruit of this Gentlemans labours, and endeavours, (through the bleſſing of God upon him) that, both the Univerſity in his youth, and the countrey in his reper age, may, and will ſeale him a worthy teſtimony for a Gentleman of an amiable and ſweet diſpoſition, and of a ſtudious, and religious carriage, and converſation amongſt them. The ſeed that was then ſowen, and the plants that were then ſet in this ſoyle, are yet ſtill increaſing and bringing forth more fruit, both in his perſon, and calling, whereof as wee have ſeene a faire increaſe already, in ſome of his more eminent imployments, ſo doe we yet looke for a more plentifull harveſt of his holy and wholeſome fruits, in their ſeaſon, as hee may have further calling thereunto.
Much about this time alſo, his brother in Law Maſter Hardware of the Peile, M. Hard. and his family alſo tabled with him.was very deſirous to draw nearer unto him; and ſo with his good liking and allowance, brought himſelfe and his whole family, wife, children, and ſervants, to be tabled with him. This Maſter Hardware at the firſt, ſeeing this Gentleman in the government of his family, ſo full, and free, for wholeſome admonitions, and reproofes, could no better abide a rebuke, than ſore eyes can endure the Sun. Which when Maſter Bruen had once and againe obſerved, knowing that Patient to be very ſicke, that is impatient of the meanes, and medicine, which might cure him: He began to caſt about how he might beſt deale with him, and moſt effectually worke upon him for his good.
What he did to this end, and with what effect and fruit,His wiſe and gracious dealing with him and his. he ſhall himſelfe tell you, in his own words. I remember (ſaith hee) my brother Hardware, when hee was tabler with us, at firſt would not bee reproved; but after a while, having the 141. Pſalme for our Evenings exerciſe, and then divers of my family did uſually give Notes, being godly and well affected, all concluded together, that all ſhould ſpeake of the fifth verſe, Let the righteous reprove mee, &c. And my ſelfe gave the laſt note, after which time he never reſiſted any more.
Yea more than all this,And the good effect and fruit ther of. he gives him yet a better teſtimony of his growth and proficiency in religion, under his own hand in theſe words. It pleaſed God, ſaith hee, ſo to worke upon his, and their hearts, that they went home with new hearts converted unto God, and profeſſed religion in holy ſincerity untill their death. My brother Hardware then at Peile, Both in his family andſet up religion in his family with great power and comfort; So that the very firſt evening after their comming home, they began to ſing Pſalms, to read the Scriptures, to Pray, and to Catechiſe; all which being ended, his wife ran unto him; and kiſſed him, with great rejoycing, ſaying, O husband, I thank God, and bleſſe his name, that ever you came to Staplefoord. And ſo afterwards being Major of Cheſter, In the cityhe that year ſhewed his religion very graciouſly in his government, all praiſe to God, &c.
Theſe things he hath thus ſet downe (as he hath done alſo many more) as certaine memorials of Gods mercies,Thus to ſeaſon others. in bleſſing his deſires and endeavours, for the ſeaſoning of others, both perſons and families, with the ſalt of true religion, by his hand, that ſo they might bee better able to offer themſelves, and their ſervices, as holy, living, and ſpirituall ſacrifices, acceptable unto God in Chriſt Jeſus.
This was his labour of love,And to build up Gods houſe, in his owne was his labour of love. And joy of his heart. to build up the houſe of God, even in his owne houſe, and taking ſome out of other families (as rough ſtones out of the Quarries) to hew, and ſquare them ſmooth, and poliſh them, to be as lively and precious ſtones, of, and for the Lords Temple.
And this was the very joy of his heart, to ſee the word of the Lord proſper in his hand, according to that ſaying of Saint Iohn, I have no greater joy than to heare that my children walke in the truth, I wiſh above all things, that thou mayeſt proſper, and be in health, even as thy ſoule proſpereth.