The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 41
CHAP. XII.
NOw to go forwards in this Gentlemans ſtory, when he had thus wiſely and effectually reformed and ordered his whole Family,Some defect of the publike Miniſtery. there began to appeare ſome defects, and failings in the publike Miniſtery again; which he taking into due conſideration, moved with compaſſion of the peoples want, and very deſirous to make ſome good ſupply, procured that faithfull Miniſter of Chriſt, M. Ar. St. to be Preacher at Tarum, whoſe Miniſtery (being very profitable,He procured M.Ar. St. for ſupply. and powerfull) he ſo much delighted in, that as he did entertaine him kindly, ſo did he maintaine him, and his Family very bountifully, for the comfort and benefit which himſelfe and many others did reape, and receive from him.
For better evidence hereof, as alſo for a farther addition to this Gentlemans juſt commendation, and due praiſe; I will not ſpare to ſet downe that worthy teſtimony, which of late I received from him touching this matter and the whole courſe of his profeſſion and practice of Religion.
Good M. H. I received your letter, but I know not what to ſay of that worthy Servant of God M. JOHN BRUEN, which you your ſelfe know not already. I think I may well ſay of him, as it was ſaid of Noah, that he was a just and perfect man in histime, and walked with God. Whiles I was Preacher at Tarum,Whom he mainteined for the moſt part. I had little maintenance, but what I had from him. And with much chearefulneſſe did he miniſter both to me and mine that which was ſufficient, affirming oftentimes, that he had not the leſſe for that which I and mine received from him. For other matters, I know not what to ſay of him, His worthy Teſtimony concerning M. Bruen.that you your ſelfe know not as well or better than I. For he was ever one, and the ſame, at home and abroad, very faithfull unto God, and loving unto men, walking in the uprightneſſe of his heart in the midst of his houſe. I am glad that God hath put it into your heart to write ſomething of his life and death, that the memoriall of his vertues, may be the better continued, and the Church of God receive good thereby, &c.
This teſtimony is true, not only becauſe it is given by his own Preacher, but becauſe it proceeds from a faithfull,Being an eye and care witneſſe. both eye and eare-witneſſe of the truth, who could not but ſpeak the things which he had heard and ſeen, and was no leſſe willing than able to honor the memory of this deceaſed Servant of God therewithall.
It was much about this time, that M. Perkins (that worthy man of God, famous in our Church for his ways and Works) hearing much by ſufficient Witneſſes of M. Bruen, M. Perkins hearing of him.for his excellent parts, and paines in the profeſſion, and holy exerciſes of Religion in his own Family, and underſtanding alſo his godly manner, and comely order in the government of his houſe, and the ſufficiency and ripeneſſe even of his ſervants, for the knowledge and power of godlineſſe; being raviſhed with a kind of heavenly joy,Did much admire, and ſtricken as it were with a holy admiration at the hearing of it, brake out (as I have been credibly informed) into theſe ſpeeches. Certeinly this is no other than the houſe of God, and for the practice and power of Religion, And commend himthe very Topſiile of all England. This commendation I confeſſe is very ample and large,This commendatto the greater being fro a man ſo great himſelfe. yet ſo much the more to be eſſeemed, and accepted, becauſe it proceeded from a man of eminent parts and place himſelfe, who knew right well, what was worthy true praiſe, and what it was that did make a mans face to ſhine in the mids of his own houſe and in the Congregation.
For, as Laudari ab illaudato viro vituperiumeſt, Vide Aul. Gell de Iſtaudate li…. 2. cap. 6.To bee praiſed of a man utterly unworthy of any praiſe himſelfe, is a diſpraiſe: So to be praiſed or a good man, a meſſenger of God, one of a thouſand, as he was, and that with ſuch ardent affection, and heavenly rejoycing. For the power of Religion and fruits of grace in that Family, muſt needs advance the praiſe of this worthy Gentleman to a higher ſtraine and pitch of his due and true commendation.
Thus it pleaſed the Lord every day more and more to crown this Gentleman, and his houſe, his deſires, and endevours, with honor and favor, beauty and glory.Many Gentleme deſire to ſo journe with him. Inſomuch that the eyes and hearts of many were towards him, & divers of the beſt ranck in the Country, did much deſire to have acceſſe and acceptance (as ſome others had before) to ſo journ with him.
His houſe being herein (me thinks) not much unlike unto a goodly Tower upon a hill,Aſpicis us veniunt adcandida recta collibae Accipior nullas ſordida Turris …. faire built and richly beautified, which doth eaſily invite and allure the Doves of the vallies to fly and flock unto it, and for their better refreſhing and repoſe to build their neſts in it.
And ſo upon the ſollicitation and importunity of his Couſins and Friends, he entertained againe divers Families and perſonages of great place, to partake of Gods meanes, and mercies with him in his Family. Who they were, what ſucceſſe they had, what fruits they found, what comforts, and refreſhings they reaped and enjoyed in their cohabitation, and Communion one with another in holy duties, he ſhall himſelfe relate unto you in his owne words, which he hath left upon record under his own hand, to this purpoſe.
Afterwards (ſaith he) many more deſired to table with me: His owne Relation.The Lady Egerton widow, daughter in law to the Lord, Chauncelour, then being with her company. And my conſen Tho: Dutton of Dutton, with his wift, ſon and daughter, that now is the Lord Gerrards Wife, being 10 of his Family, And 4 Gentlewomen of Hatton, being ſiſters, and one maid attending on them. Which maid was froward at the firſt againſt Religion and religious dutyes. But God in his mercy began firſt with her. For being in grievous affliction of conſcience ſhe was humbled ſoundly, & had a most comfortable converſion, bleſſed be God. Mary Sherington, I think was her name.
And they 2 of the ſisters had a more eaſie converſion, but I believe, true grace.
And the other 2 ſiſters convineed, and very honest modeſt maids.
And for my (coſen Dutton, his condition with me was to keep the Lords Sabbath with my Family, as well afternoon is forenoone, which he and all his did, in the publike Congregation. All of us having then great help from a learned godly Miniſter, M. Rob. Wats, a Reverend Worthy man of God, whom we called Old Eli, for his gravity and faithfulneſſe above many, and being continually with us in my Family: Obſerving this order for our Family exerciſes, hee and I to pray in the family; he one morning, and evening, and I another, and both of us every evening to give a note upon a chapter, and between nine and ten of the clock in the forenoone, we agreed to have prayer again for the Tablers.
At the ſame time my coſen Dutton, being preſſed and charged by ſome of great place to mainteine his Royalty of Minſtrelſey for Piping and Daunſing on the Sabbath day, my Miniſter, my ſelfe, and my family were earneſt against it, and prevailed ſo far with my coſen Dutton, that he promiſed that all Piping and Dauncing ſhould ceaſe on the Sabbath day, both forenoone and afternoon, and ſo his Licences were made, and do continue ſo untill this day. And ſo wee had great peace and comfort together; bleſſed be God.
By all this we may eaſily ſee and perceive, how graciouſly the Lord dealt with this Gentleman from time to time, not only to bleſſe him, and his family every day more and more, but to make him a bleſſing alſo to many others of his kindred, and friends, which came but for a ſeaſon to ſo journe with him.