Invisibles Realities Demonstrated in the Life and Death of John Janeway, Dedication – Table of contents
To the Relations of Mr. James Janeway, and the Survivors of his Aſſociates in Kings Colledge in Cambridge.
Beloved Friends,
MY own mean eſteem of the ſingle weight of that Teſtimony expected from me concerning my dear Brother on the account of my intimacy with him in Kings Colledge (the known me. morable paſſages of whoſe exemplary life and death are now happily compiled and publiſhed for your ſpecial peruſal) moves me to call in a twofold recommendation thereof from you to thoſe that knew him not, who being confirmed in the truth of this Narrative, may thereby be won to believe, admire and emulate the ſignal grace of God in him.
1. That remembring ſo much thereof your ſelves, and what opportnity I had of knowing the certainty of all: you would aſſure thoſe who may enquire of you; That the impartial compiler hath kept within the bounds of truth and ſobriety in proſecution of his honeſt aims, to advance the glory of Gods rich mercy to this choſen veſſel, and by reviving what remains he could collect of this burning as well as ſhining light (alaſs how ſoon extinct!) to awaken and quicken the formal profeſſors, if he may not induce the profane ſcoffers of this age, to a more ſerious ſtudy and improvement of thoſe inviſible Realities, the clear evidence and powerful influence whereof, our good friend did ſo abundantly experience. The truth is, the Tranſcriber (though beſt accompliſhed, and moſt inwardly acquainted with what, might conduce thereto) doth and could not but fall ſhort of declaring the tranſcendent excelencies of this ſublime ſoul and precious Saint, which till toward his end, when his heart was too full to hold in what could be uttered) were much concealed even to thoſe who knew him beſt, by reaſon of his great humility and modeſty. Theſe diſpoſed him rather to receive than communicate; except where he had no expectations of the former, and either familiar intercourſe ingaged, or the apprehended exigency of thoſe his heart was drawn out to in Chriſtian love and compaſſion, conſtrained to the latter. Yet many of thoſe precious ſtreams that did flow from him we muſt lament the loſs of, through default of careful rececivers or faithful retainers. He was of clear intellectuals and a large heart both for craving and comprehending what was worthy his perſuit: which being happily improved by his education, and timely ſeaſoned with a ſpiritual ſavour of Goſpel myſteries (for obtaining of which he had then with others, choiſe advantages) was a great help to his proficiency in acquaintance with the vital exerciſes and ſoul ſatisfying enjoyment of the divine life, above not only his equals, but ſeniors and inſtructors. He was much diſſatisfied with himſelf under any decays or abatements, till he could (if not alone, by imploring the aſſiſtance of Christian friends) recover what he ſometime had had ſuch ſweet experience of. And not content with any attainments, was ſtill preſſing on to what his proſpect in the promiſes, encouraged by his happy praelibations, aſſured him was attainable. He was to this end a chearful embracer and diligent improver of ſpiritual opportunities, exact in his Chriſtian watch, much wreſtling, (and very prevalent) with God in prayer, and with himſelf in his ſolitudes, ſtriving to diſentangle his heart from what might diveri his holy ambition, and to raiſe it to the higheſt activity and capacity for glorifying and enjoying God in Chriſt, for the excellency of the knowledge of whom he accounted all inferiour attainments but loſs. What he had taſted and ſeen, he was grieved to ſee others neglect, deſirous to bring others to experience, by earneſt commending them to God, deſigning with himſelf, and contriving with his ſpiritual confidence what might conduce thereto.
He had a true ſympathy with thoſe that were bound with him Heaven-ward. Their preſſures and conflicts, were his burdens: His prayers and counſels, their ready aſſiſtants: their refreſhments, his revivings: and their ſpiritual proficiency, his joy.
He was a ſecret and compaſſionate mourner; as in general for the worlds▪ degeneracy, pretended Chriſtians unthankfulneſs for the Goſpel, the hazards run by innumerable precious ſouls; ſo eſpecially for the dreadful apoſtacies of ſome; the then threatning decay amd growing formality of others: ſometime ſeemingly forward; which brought him nigher to God, and more inflamed his holy zeal. But this chiefly was carried out to advance the power of Religion in the family and perſons he was peculiarly related to: apprehending there to lie his best opportunities as well as ſtrongeſt obligations. And his ſucceſs was very encouraging.
This is part of what I knew of him in Cambridge, who refer you for farther reviewing your remembrance to the narrative. But both his ſpiritual receipts and expences were much increaſed the two laſt years of his life, when I had not opportunity of perſonal converſe with him: And by reaſon of our diſtance (and at that time ignorance of his weak condition) I was not ſo happy as to ſhare in the priviledge of thoſe who had the conveniencie of receiving his laſt and ſweeteſt breath. Though I ſoon after had the account (while things were freſh in their memories, and warm on their hearts) from the eye and ear witneſſes, that ſome of them have now been induced to make more publick. But next and chiefly,
2. I intreat you to recommend the truth of this narrative, by your faithful adhering to, and diligent promoting of what ſome of you learned from him, and others profeſſed with him. That by imitating his good example, and improving his experiences with your longer opportunities, you may be ſuch proficients in Chriſtianity, as ſhining like lights your ſelves to hold forth the word of life for convincing the incredulous: That the myſteries of regeneration, a life of faith in Chriſt, the fruitful emprovement of union and communion with him to a proſpicuous conformity to him, crucifixion to the world by his croſs, and a converſation with him in Heaven while on earth (therein propoſed, herein exemplified) be no figments, but great realities; no ſlight matters, but of greateſt conſequence: not ſuch ſingularities, but that others according to their meaſure, taking the like courſe, may be experimentally acquainted with the ſurpaſſing ſweetneſs of an intereſt therein. And the rather am I bold to intreat this of you, becauſe I was privy to his ſouls concern, for the concernments of your ſouls. How paſſionatly he deſired to ſee Chriſt formed in you, and rejoyced at any evidence thereof. How earneſtly he would pray for you all; and eſpecially for thoſe he had more occaſion to deal with, or cauſe to be jealous of. How affected he was with your dangers and ſnares. And what a deſire he had you might out-ſtrip himſelf, who could not take up his reſt on this ſide Heaven. The good Lord help every one of us to ſhew the ſame diligence to the full aſſureance of hope to the end, that we may not be ſlothful, but followers of them who by faith and patience inherit the promiſes.
I have one farther requeſt, that you would purſue by your moſt earneſt ſupplications the deſign of publiſhing this narrative, that God would make it proſperous to the pious ends therein propoſed, and for which I hope in his providence it is reſerved now for publick view. Eſpecially that it may provoke to holy emulation; not only thoſe who were more peculiarly endeared to our pretious Friend by natural or ſpiritual bonds; (And that if any of theſe be fallen from their firſt love, they may be excited to repent, do their firſt works, and ſtrengthen the things that remain; leſt having begun in the ſpirit, they wretchedly end in the fleſh, and draw back to perdition) but alſo, ſome at leaſt of them that ſueceed in the Chambers and Studies, which ſometime were ſanctified with the word and prayer, by thoſe that ſingly and joyntly (as Bhamber fellows and Colleagues) earnestly implored the divine benediction on thoſe two royal foundations he was member of: That the God of the ſpirits of all fleſh would make them fruitful nurſeries of ſuch as might be eminent inſtruments of Gods glory here, and turning many to righteouſneſs, might ſhine as the ſtars for ever and ever. Wherein you may expect the hearty concurrence of
Your real Friend, Samuel Borfet.
The Teſtimony of Mr. Marmaduke Tennant ſometimes Miniſter of Tharfield in Hartfordſhire, an intimate acquaintance of Mr. John Janeways, and one that was a conſtant viſitor of him in his ſickneſs, and an eye and ear witneſs of the moſt ſubſtantial things in this inſuing Narrative.
Chriſtian Reader,
I Can aſſure thee from my own knowledge, that this Mr. John Janeway was an excellent perſon, in reſpect of his natural parts, acquired gifts, and divine graces, wherewith his heavenly Father adorned him (conſidering his age) even far above the ordinary rate of the beſt ſort of Scholars and Chriſtians: All which he exceedingly improved for the good of others (eſpecially in his neer Relations) both in health and ſickneſs, even to the laſt hour of his life. And when the immediate forerunners of death was upon him, he ſo acted faith and compoſedly, (without the leaſt ſhew of humane frailty) as if with bodily eyes he ſaw the holy Angels ſtanding before him, ready to receive and carry his pretious ſoul into his Fathers glory. Verily he was moſt lovely in his life, and yet more lovely at his death, the like I never beheld neither before nor ſince. And I doubt not but the ſerious conſideration of this narrative of his life and death, will (through Gods bleſſing) beget a zealous imitation of this Saint indeed, in every good Chriſtian which reads the ſame; which that it may do, is the hearty prayer of thy friend in the Lord Jeſus,
Marmaduke Tennant, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
Chriſtian Reader,
WHen I ſeriouſly conſider how much Atheiſm, and impiety abounds; and ſee how ſenſual delights are purſued, and Religion in its power is rejected, as a dull ſad aud unpleaſant thing; when I ſee zeal decried as unneceſſary, and few acting in the things of God, as if they were indeed matters of the higheſt conſequence, reality and ſubſtance, the greatest profit, and ſweetest pleaſure: I could not but do what in me lies to rectifie theſe diſmal mistakes, and juſtifie wiſdom from the imputation of folly: and demonſtrate even to ſenſe the tranſcendent excellency and reality of Inviſibles. The proſecution of which deſign I could not more effectnally manage, than by the preſenting this inſuing narrative to the world. As for the truth of it, if the ſolemn teſtimony of ſeveral Miniſters (which were eye and ear witneſſes of the moſt ſubſtantial things here preſented) may be credited; here thou haſt three of them. As for my ſelf I think I had as great an advantage to acquaint my ſelf with the ſecret practices of this pretious Saint, as any one could well have; beſides my dearest intimacy, and ſpecial obſervation and peruſal of his papers, I had a long account from his own mouth upon his deathbed of his ſecret and conſtant practice and his experiences. And let me tell you, the half is not told you. For the treachery of my memory hath not a little injured thee and him. Had this work been done exactly, I am perſwaded it might have been ſo ſingular uſe to the world. In ſome places I could not justly word it in his phraſe; but I aſſure thee thou hast the matter and ſubstance. The weakneſs of the Relator is no ſmall diſadvantage to the ſubject; but I might a little excuſe this, by telling thee that I think that none living had the ſame opportunity in all things to do this work as I had. I might alſo tell you that ſome Reverend, Learned and Holy men, whoſe authority and request I could not deny, put me upon it. And I was not altogether without ſome hopes of drawing ſome, to the love and liking of Religion, that had not only been strangers to the life and power of it, but it may be had entertained deep prejudices against it. And of quickning of others that had loſt their former vigour; and encouraging ſome that were too ready to go on heavily and diſponding. If I may ſucceed in this, I ſhall adore the goodneſs of God, and praiſe him with the ſtrength of my ſoul, That I may be ſnbſervient to the Lord in promoting the true intreſt of Religion: I beg thy fervant and constant prayers; and that every one that readeth may imitate and experience all, and ſo be filled with grace and peace, is the prayer of yours in his deareſt Lord,
James Janeway.
The CONTENTS.
Chap. 1. AN account of him from his Childhood to the ſeventeenth year of his Age. pag. 1.
Chap. 2. Of his Converſion, with viſible proofs thereof. p. 6.
Chap. 3. His Carriage when Fellow of the Colledge, at twenty years of Age. p. 16.
Chap. 4. His particular addreſſes to his brethren, for their ſouls good, and the ſucceſs thereof. p. 21.
Chap. 5. His great love to, and frequency in the duty of prayers: with rmarkable ſucceſs. p. 24.
Chap. 6. His care of his Mother, and other Relations after his Fathers death. p. 29.
Chap. 7. His return to Kings Colledge after his Fathers death. His holy projects for Chriſt and Souls. p. 37.
Chap. 8. His departure from the Colledge, to live in Dr. Cox's Family p. 38.
Chap. 9. His retire into the Country; and his firſt ſickneſs. p. 39.
Chap. 10. His Exhortations to ſome of his friends. p. 43.
Chap. 11. His Temptations from Satan. p. 45.
Chap. 12. Miniſters not to carry on low deſigns. p. 60.
Chap. 13. His Love and Compaſſion to Souls. p. 67.
Chap. 14. His trouble at the barrenneſs of Chriſtians. p. 71.
Chap. 15. Two Letters to Cement Differences, and cauſe Love among Chriſtians. p. 74.
Chap. 16. An account of the latter part of his Life. p. 91.
Chap. 17. His laſt Sickneſs and Death. p. 98.
IF the Chapters appear not to be well divided, nor their contents well collected, let the Reader know, that a friend of Mr. Janeway's, not himſelf made the diviſion of them.
T. P.