The Triumphs of the Reformed Religion in America, Part 1

The Triumphs of the Reformed Religion in America · Part 1

p. 14Part I. Or, Eliot as a CHRISTIAN.

Article I. His Eminent PIETY.

SUch was the Piety of our Eliot, that like nother M…ſes, he had upon his Face a co… tinual ſhine, ariſing from his uninterrupted comunion with the Father of Spirits He was ind… a Man of Prayer, and might ſay after the P… miſt, p. 15I prayer, as being in a manner made up of it. Could the walls of his old Study ſpeak, they would even Raviſh us with a Relation of the many hundred and thouſand ſervent Prayers which he there poured out before the Lord. He not only made it his dayly practice to enter into that cloſet, and ſhut his Door, and pray to his Father in Secret, but he would not rarely ſet apart whole days for prayer with Faſting, in ſecret places before the God of Heaven. Prayer ſolemnized with Faſting was indeed ſo agreeable unto him, that I have ſometimes thought he might juſtly inherit the Name of, Johannes Jejunator, or, John the Faſter, which for the like reaſon was put upon one of the Renowned Ancients. Eſpecially, when there was any remarkable difficulty before him, he took this way to encounter and overcome it; being of Dr. Preſtons mind, That when we would have an… great things to be accompliſhed, the beſt policy is to work by an Engine which the world ſees nothing of. He could ſay as the pious Robertſon did upon his Death-bed, I thank God, I have loved Faſting and Prayer, with all my heart! If one would have known what that ſacred thing, The ſpirit of Prayer, intends, in him there might have been ſeen a moſt luculent and practical Expoſition of it. He kept his heart in a frame for prayer, with a marvellous conſtancy; and was continually provoking all that were about him thereunto. When he heard any conſiderable News, his uſual p. 16and ſpeedy Reflection thereupon would be… Brethren, let us Turn all this into prayer! and he was perpetually jogging the wheel of Prayer, both more privately in the Meetings, and more publickly in the Churches of his Neighbourhood. When he came to an Houſe that he was intimately acquainted with, he could often ſay, Come, let us not have a viſit without a prayer; let us pray down the Bleſſing of Heaven on your Family before we go. Eſpecially when he came into a Society of Miniſters, before he had ſat long with them, they would look to hear him urging, Brethren, the Lord Jeſus takes much notice of what is done and ſaid among his Miniſters when they are together; come, let us pray before we part! And hence alſo, his whole Breath ſeemed in a ſort made up of ejaculatory prayers, many ſcores of which winged Meſſengers he diſpatched away to Heaven, upon pious Errands every day. By them he beſpoke B…eſſings upon almoſt every perſon or affair that he was concerned with; and he carried every thing to God with ſome pertinent H…ſannah's or Hallelujah's over it. He was a mighty and an happy man, that had his Quiver full of theſe Heavenly Arrows! and when he was never ſo ſtraitly beſieged by Humane Occurrences, yet he faſtned the wiſhes of his devout Soul unto them, and very dexterouſly ſhot them up to Heaven over the head of all.

As he took thus delight in ſpeaking to th… Almighty God, no leſs did he in ſpeaking of him, but in ſerious and ſavoury Diſcourſes, he ſtill had his Tongue, like the Pen of a ready Writer. The Jeſuits once at Nola made a no leſs profane than ſevere Order, That no man ſhould ſpeak of God at all; but this excellent perſon almoſt made it an Order wherever he came, to ſpeak of nothing but God. He was indeed ſufficiently pleaſant and witty in Company, and he was affable and facetious rather than moroſe in Converſation; but he had a Remarkable Gravity mixed with it, and a ſingular skill of Raiſing ſome holy Obſervation out of whatever matter of Diſcourſe lay before him; nor would he o… dinarily diſmiſs any Theme without ſome gratious, divine, pithy Sentence thereupon. Doubtleſs, he impoſed it as a Law upon himſelf, tha… he would leave ſomething of God, and Heave… and Religion, with all that ſhould come a … him; ſo that in all places, his company was a… tended with Majeſty and Reverence; and it wa… no ſooner proper for him to ſpeak but, li… Mary's opened Box of Oyntment, he ſtil'd … whole Room with the perfumes of the Grace in his Lips, and the Ch…ſtian Hearers taſte… a gr…ater ſweetneſs in his …ell-ſeaſoned Speeces, than the illu…ous …er aſcrib'd … the Orations of hi… …eſt▪

Whole Lip drop'd Lang…age tha… … it … or abundance.

p. 18His Conferences were like thoſe which Tertullian affirms to have been common among the Saints in his Days, Ʋt qui ſciret Dominum audire, as knowing that the Ear of God was open to them all; and he managed his Rudder ſo as to manifeſt that he was bound Heaven-ward, in …is whole Communication. He had a particu… …art, at Spiritualizing of Earthly Objects, & Raiſing of high thoughts from very mean things. As, once going with ſome feebleneſs and wearineſs up the Hill on which his Meeting-houſe now ſtands, he ſaid unto the perſon that led him, This is very like the way to Heaven, 'tis up Hill! the Lord by his Grace fetch us up! and inſtantly ſpying a Buſh near him, he as nimbl… added; And truly there are Thorns and Briars i… the way too! Which inſtance I would not hav… ſingled out from the many thouſands of hi… Occaſional Reflections, but only that I might ſuggeſt unto the good people of Roxbury, ſomething for them to think upon, when they are going up to the Houſe of the Lord. It is enough that as the Friend of the famous Ʋrſin coul… profeſs that he never went unto him witho… coming away, aut doctior aut melior, either t… …iſer or the bette… from him; ſo, 'tis an ackno… ledgment which more than one Friend of o… Eliot's has made concerning him, I was … with him, but …ot, or might have got ſome … from him.

… hearing from the great God, was an … …rciſe p. 19of like ſatisfaction unto the Soul of this good man, with ſpeaking either to him, or of him. He was a mighty Student of the ſacred Bible; and it was unto him as his neceſſary food. He made the Bible his Companion, and his Councellor, and the holy lines of Scripture more Enamoured him than the profane Ones of Tully, ever did the famous Italian Cardinal. He would not upon eaſy terms, have gone one day together, without uſing a portion of the Bible as an antidote againſt the infection of Temptation. And he would preſcribe it unto others, with his probatum eſt upon it; as once particularly a pious Woman, vexed with a wicked Husband, complaining to him, That bad Company was all the day ſtill infeſting of her Houſe, and what ſhould ſhe do? He adviſed her, Take the Holy Bible into your Hand, when the bad Company comes, and you'l ſoon drive them out of the Houſe▪ the woman made the experiment, and thereby cleared her Houſe from the Haunts that had moleſted it. By the like way 'twas that … cleared his Heart of what he was loth … Neſting there. Moreover, if ever any ma… could, he might, pretend unto that evidence o… Uprightneſs, Lord, I have loved the Habitation o… …hine Houſe; for he not only gave ſomethi… more than his preſence there twice on … Lords Dayes, and once a Fortnight beſides … b… Lectures, in his own Congregation ou… … made his weekly viſits unto the Lectures in th… p. 20Neighbouring Towns; how often was he ſeen at Boſton, Charlſt…n, Camb…i…ge, …or…ſter, waiting upon the Word of God, in the Recurring Opportunities, and counting a Day in the Courts of the Lord better than a thouſand? It is hardly conceivable, how in the m…dſt of ſo many Studies and Labours as he was at home engaged in, he could poſſibly repair to ſo many Lectures abroad; and herein he aimed, not only at his own Edification, but at the Countenancing and Encouraging of the Lectures which he went unto. Thus he took heed, that he might Hear, and he took as much heed how he He…rd; he ſet himſelf as in the preſence of the Eternal God, as the great Co…ſtantine uſed of old, in the Aſſemblies where he came, and ſaid, I will hear what God the Lord will ſpeak; he expreſſed a diligent attention, by a watchful and wak…f…l poſture, and by turning to the Texts quo…ed by the Preacher; he expreſſed a ſuitable aff…c…ion by feeding on what was delivered, and accompanying it with hands and eyes devoutly e…evated; and they whoſe good hap 'twas to go …ome with him, were ſure of having anothe… Sermon by the way, until their very Hear… burned in them. L…ct…ntius truly ſaid, Non e… …era Religio, qua cum …emplo …elinquitur; but o… Eliot alwayes carried much of Religion with him from the Houſe of God.

In a word, he was one who Liv'd in He… while he was on Earth; and there is no more th… p. 21pure Juſtice in our endeavours that he ſhould Live on Earth after he is in Heaven. We cannot ſay that we ever ſaw him walking any whither but he was therein walking with God; wherever he ſat…, he had God by him, and it was in the Everlaſting Arms of God th t he Si…pi at n…ght. M…thoughts he a little diſcovered his Heavenly way of livi…g, when walk…ng one day in his Garden, he …luck…d …p a w…d that he ſaw now and then growing there; at when a Friend pleaſantly ſaid unto him, Sir, you tell us, we muſt be Heavenly-…; but he immediately Reply d, I… is …re; and …his is no impediment unto that; for were I ſ…re to go to H…aven to morrow, I would do what I do to D…. From ſ…ch a frame of ſpirit it was that once in a viſi…, fi…ding a Merchant in his Counting Houſe, where he ſaw Books of B…ſineſ… only on his Table, b…t all his Books of Devo…io… on the ſhelf, he gave this Adviſe unto him, Sir, Here's Earth …n the Table, and Heaven on the ſhe…f; pray d…'t ſit ſo much at the Table as altogether to f…rget the ſhelf; let not earth by any …ea…s thr…ſt H …ve… out of your mind.

Indeed I ca…not gi…e a fuller Deſcription of him, than what was in a Paraphraſe tha… I have heard himſelf to make upon that Scripture, …ur Co…v…ſa…i …is to H…aven. I writt from him as he uttered it.

Behold Said he, the Ancient and Excellent Character of a true Chriſtian; 'tis that which …eter calls Holineſs in all manner of Converſation; p. 22you ſhall not find a Chriſtian out of the way of Godly Converſation. For, firſt, a ſeventh part of our time is all Spent in Heaven, when we are duely zealous for and zealous on, the Sabbath of God. Beſides, God has written on the Head of the Sabbath Remember; which looks both Forwards and Backwards; and thus a good part of the week will be ſpent in Sabbatizing. Well, but for the reſt of our Time! why, we ſhall have that ſpent in Heaven, ere we have done. For, Secondly, we have many dayes for both Faſting and Thanksgiving, in our pilgrimage; and here are ſo many Sabbaths more. Moreover, Thirdly, we have our Lectures every week; and pious people, won't miſs them, if they can help it. Furthermore, fourthly, We have our private Meetings wherein we pray, & ſing, and Repeat Sermons, and confer together about the things of God; and being now come thus far, we are in Heaven almoſt every day. But a little farther, Fifthly, we perform Family-Duties every day; we have our morning and evening Sacrifices, wherein having read the Scriptures to our Families, we call upon the Name of God, and ever now and then carefully Catechiſe thoſe that are under our Charge. Sixthly, we ſhall alſo have our daily Devotions in our Cloſets; wherein unto Supplication before the Lord, we ſhall add ſome ſerious Meditation upon his Word; a David will be at this work no leſs than thrice a day. p. 23Seventhly, We have likewiſe many ſcores of Ejaculations in a day; and theſe we have, like Nehemiah, in whatever place we come into. Eighthly, We have our Occaſional Thoughts, and our Occaſional Talks, upon ſpiritual matters; and we have our Occaſional Acts of Charity, wherein we do like the Inhabitants of Heaven every day. Ninthly, In our Callings, in our civil Callings, we keep up Heavenly Frames; we buy and ſell and toyl, yea, we eat and drink, with ſome eye both to the Command and the Honour of God in all. Behold, I have not now left an inch of time to be carnal; it is all Engroſſed for Heaven. And yet, leſt here ſhould not be enough, Laſtly, We have our ſpiritual Warfare. We are alwayes Encountring the Enemies of our Souls, which continually raiſes our hearts unto our Helper and Leader in the Heavens. Let no man ſay, 'Tis impoſſible to live at this rate; for we have known ſome live thus; and others that have written of ſuch a life, have but ſpun a Web out of their own bleſſed experiences. New-England has Examples of this life; tho, alas, 'tis to be lamented, that the Diſtractions of the world, in too many profeſſors do becloud the beauty of an Heavenly Converſation. In fine, our Employment lies in Heaven. In the morning, if we ask, Where am I to be to day? Our Souls muſt anſwer, In Heaven. In the evening if we ask, Where have I been to day? Our p. 24Souls may anſwer t… Heaven. If thou art a Believer, thou art no ſtranger to H …ven while thou liveſt; and when …hou dyeſt, Heaven will be no ſtrange place to thee; no, thou haſt been there a thouſand times before.

In this language have I heard him expreſs himſelf; and he did what he ſ…id; he was a Boniface as well as a Benedict; and he was one of thoſe Qui faciendo docent, quae facienda docent.

It might be ſaid of him, as that Writer characteriſes O…igen, Quemadmodum doeuit, ſic vi…it, & quemadmodum vixit ſit docuit.

Article II. His particular care and zeal about the Lords-day.

THis was the Piety, this the Holineſs of our Eliot; but among the many inſtances in which his H…lineſs was remarkable, I muſt not omit his exact Remembrance of the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy.

It has been truly and juſtly Obſerved, Tha… our whole Religion fares according to our Sabbaths, that poor Sabbaths make poor Ch…iſtian… and that a ſtrictneſs in our Sabbaths inſpires p. 25vigour into all our other Duties. Our Eliot knew this, and it was a moſt Exemplary zeal that he acknowledged the Sabba…h of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt withal. Had he been asked, Servaſii Dominicum? he could have made a right Chriſtian primitive anſwer thereunto. The Sun did not ſet, the evening before the Sabbath, till he had begun his preparation for it; and when the Lords-day came, you might have ſeen John in the Spirit, every week. Every day was a ſort of Sabbath to him, but the Sabbath day was a kind, type, a taſt of Heaven with him. He laboured, that he might on this High-day, have no words or thoughts but ſuch as we e agreeable …hereunto; he then allow'd in himſelf no Actions, but thoſe of a Ra…ſed Soul. One ſhould hear nothing dropping from his Lips on this day, but the milk and honey of the Countrey, in which there yet remains a …eſt for the people of God; and if he beheld in my perſon whatſoever, whether old or young, my profanation of this day, he would be ſure to …eſtow lively Rebukes upon it. And hence al…o unto the general Engagements of a Covenant …ith God, which 'twas his Deſire to bring the …ndians into, he added a particular Article, wherein they bind themſelves, mehquontamunat …abbath, pahketeaunat tohſohke pomantamog; i. e. …o Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy, as …ong as we live.

p. 26The mention of this, gives me an opportunity, not only to Recommend our Departed Eliot, but alſo to Vindicate another great man, unto the Churches of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The Reverend and Renowned OWEN in his Elaborate Exercitations on, The Lords-day, had let fall ſuch a paſſage of this

I judge, that the Obſervation of the Lords-day is to be Commenſurate unto the uſe of our natural ſtrength, on any other day; from morning to night. The Lords-day is to be ſ…t apart unto the ends of an holy Reſt unto God, by every one according as his natural ſtrength will enable him to employ himſelf in his lawful Occaſions any other day of the week.

This paſſage gave ſome ſcandal unto ſeveral very Learned and Piou… M…n; among whom our Eliot was one; whereupon with his uſual zeal, gravity and ſanctity, he wrote unto the Doctor, his Opinion thereabout; who returned unto him an anſwer full of Reſpect, ſome part where of I ſhall here tranſcribe.

As to what concerns the Natural ſtrength of man (ſaith he) Either I was under ſome miſtake in my Expreſſion, or you ſeem to be ſo, i… your Apprehenſion. I never thought, and … hope, I have not ſaid, for I cannot find it that the Continuance of the Sabbath is to b… commenſurate unto the natural ſtrength of man but only that it is an Allowable mean of me… Continuance in Sabbath Duties, which I ſu… poſe you will not deny, leſt you ſhould ca… p. 27the Conſciences of profeſſors into inextricable Difficulties.

When firſt I engaged in that work, I intended not to have ſpoken one word about the practical Obſ…rvation of the Day; but only to have endeavoured the Revival of a Truth which at preſent is deſpiſed and contemned among us, and ſtrenuouſly oppoſed by ſundry Divines of the Ʋnited Provinces, who call the Doctrine of the Sabbath, Figmentum Anglicanum. Upon the Deſire of ſome Learned Men in theſe parts, it was, that I undertook the Vindica…ion of it. Having now diſcharged the Debt, which in this matter I owed unto the Truth and Church of God, tho not as I ought, yet with ſuch a compoſition as I hope, thro' the Interpoſition of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt might find acceptance with God and his Saints, I ſuppoſe I ſhall not again engage on that Subject.

I ſuppoſe there is ſcarce an… one alive in the world, who hath more Reproaches caſt upon him than I have; tho hitherto God has been pleaſed in ſome meaſure to ſupport my ſpirit under them. I ſtill relieved my ſelf by this, That my poor Endeavours have found acceptance with the Churches of Chriſt: But my holy, wiſe, and gracious Father, ſees it needful to try me in this matter alſo; and what I have received from you (which it may be contains not your ſenſe alone) hath printed deeper, and p. 28left a greater impreſſion upon my mind, than all the virulent Revilings, and falſe Accuſations I have met withal, from my profeſſed Adverſaries. I do acknowledge unto you, that I have a dry and barren Spirit, and I do heartily beg your prayers, that the Holy One would, notwithſtanding all my ſinful provocations, water me from above; but that I ſhould now be apprehended to have given a wound unto Holineſs in the Churches, 'tis one of the ſaddeſt frowns in the cloudy B…ows of Divine Providence.

The Doctrine of the Sabbath, I have aſſerted, tho' not as it ſhould be done, yet as wel as I could; The Obſervation of it in Holy Duties unto the utmoſt of the ſtrength for them, which God ſhall be pleaſed to give us, I hav… pleaded for; the neceſſity alſo of a ſerious preparation for it in ſundry praevious Duties, I hav… declared. But now to meet with ſevere Expreſſions— It may be 'tis the will of God, tha… vigour ſhould hereby be given to my forme Diſcouragements, and that there is a Call i… it, to ſurceaſe from theſe kinds of labours.

I have tranſcribed the more of this Lette… becauſe it not only diſcovers the concern whic… our Eliot had for the Sabbath of God, but alſ… it may contribute unto the worlds good Rece… tion and Peruſal of a golden Book on that Su… ject, written by one of the moſt Eminent Pe… ſons which the Engliſh Nation has been adorn… with.

p. 29Article III. His Exemplary Mortification.

THus did Eliot endeavour to live unto God; but how much at the ſame time did he dye unto all the world?

'Twere impoſſible to finiſh the lively Picture of this pious and holy Eliot, without ſome touches upon that Mortification, which accompany'd him all his days; for never did I ſee a perſon more mortify'd unto all the pleaſures of this Life, or more unwilling to moult the wing… of an Heaven-born Soul, in the dirty puddles of carnal and ſenſual Delights. We are all of us compounded of thoſe two things, the Man, and, the Beaſt; but ſo powerful was, The Man, in this holy perſon, that it kept, The Beaſt, ever ty'd with a ſhort Te…der and ſuppreſſed the irregular Calcurati…ns of it. He became ſo nailed unto the Croſs of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that the Grandeurs of this world were unto him juſt what they would be to a dying man; & he maintained an almoſt unparal…el'd indifferency towards all the pomps, which Mankind is too generally flattered and enchan…ed with.

The Luſt of the fleſh he could not reconcile p. 30himſelf to the leaſt pampering or indulging of; but he perſecuted it with a continual A…tipathy; being upon higher principles than Tully was acquainted withal, of his mind, Non eſt dignus nomine hominis, qui non … di… …otum velit eſſe in iſto genere voluptatis. The Sleep that he allow'd himſelf cheated him not of his Morning-hours; but he reckoned the Morning no leſs a friend unto the Graces, than unto the Muſes. He would call upon Students, I pray look to it that you be morning-Birds! and for many more than a ſcore of years before he dyed, he removed his Lodging into his Study, on purpoſe that being there alone, he might enjoy his ea…ly Mornings, without giving the diſturbance of the leaſt noiſe to any of his Friends, whoſe Affections to him elſe might have been ready to have called, Maſter ſpare thy ſelf. The Meat upon which he lived was a Cibus ſimplex, an homel… but an wholeſome Diet. Rich Varieties, coſtly V…ands, and poinant Sauces, came not upon his own Table, and when he found them on other mens, he rarely taſted of them. O…e Diſh and a plain one, wa… his Dinner; and when invited unto a Feaſt, … have ſeen him ſit Magnifying of God, for th… Plenty which His people in this Wilderneſs we… within a few years ariſen to; but not mor… than a Bit or two of all the Dainties taken in… his own mouth all the while. And for a Supper he had learn'd of his loved and bleſſed Patron old Mr. Cotton, either wholly to omit it, or t… p. 31make a ſmall ſup or two the utmoſt of it. The drink which he ſtill uſed was very ſmall; he cared not for Wines or Drams, and I believe, he never once in all his life knew what it was to feel ſo much as a noxious fume in his head, from any of them; good, clear water was more precious, as well as more uſual with him, than any of thoſe Liquors with which men do ſo frequently ſpoil their own Healths, while perhaps they drink, thoſe of other men. When at a ſtrangers Houſe in the Summer time, he has bin entertained with a glaſs, which they told him was Of water and wine, he has with a complaiſant gravity reply'd unto this purpoſe; Wine, 'tis a noble generous Liquor, and we ſhould be humbly th…nkful for it; but as I remember, Water was made before it! So abſtemious was he; and he found, that, Carere ſuavitatibus iſtis, his Abſtinence had more ſweetneſs in it, than any of the ſweets wh…ch he abſtained from; and ſo willing he was to have others partake with him in that ſweetneſs, that when he has thought the countenance of a Miniſter has lock'd, as if he had made much of himſelf, he has gone to him with that Speech, S…udy Mortification, Brother! ſtudy Mortification! and he made all his Addreſſes with a becoming Majeſty.

The Luſt of the Eye, was put out by him in ſuch a manner, that it was in a Manner all one with him to be rich or poor. It could not be ſaid of him, That he ſought great things for himſelf; p. 32but what eſtate he became owner of, was from the Bleſſing of God upon the Husbandry and Induſtry of ſome in his Family, rather than from any endeavours of his own. Once when there ſtood ſeveral Kine of his own before his door, his Wife, to try him, asked him, Whoſe they were? and ſhe found that he knew nothing of them. He could not endure to plunge himſelf into ſecular Deſigns and Affairs, but accounted Sacerdos in foro as worthy of Caſtigation as Mercator in Templo; he thought that Miniſter and Market-man, were not Ʋniſons, and that the Earth was no place for Aaron's holy Miter to be laid upon. It was the Uſage of moſt Pariſhes in the Country, to have an annual Rate for the maintainance of the Miniſtry, adjuſted commonly by the ſelect-men of the Towns; which tho it raiſed not any exuberant Salaries for the Miniſters, who alſo ſeldome received all that the people had contracted for, nevertheleſs i… many places it prevented ſore Temptations from befalling thoſe that were labouring in the Wor… and Doctrine; who muſt elſe often have experienced the Truth of Luthers Obſervation, Duriter profecto & miſere viverent Evangelij Miniſtri ſi ex Libera populi contributione eſſent ſuſtentan… However, for his part, he propounded that wh… ſtipend he had, ſhould be Raiſed by Contribution & from the fame temper it was, that a f… years before his Diſſolution, being left withou… an Aſſiſtent in his Miniſtry, he preſſed his Co… gregation p. 33to furniſh themſelves with another Paſtor; and in his Application to them, he told them, 'Tis poſſible, you may think the burden of maintaining two Miniſters may be too heavy for you; but I'l deliver you from that fear; I do here gave back my Salary to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and now, Brethren, you may fix that upon any man, that God ſhall make a Paſtor for you. But his Church wi…h an handſome Repl…, aſſured him, Tha… they would count his very p…eſence worth a Salary, when he ſhould be ſo ſuperannuated as to do no further Service for them.

And as for the Pride of Life, the Life of it was moſt exemplarily ex…ingu ſh'd in him. The Humility of his Heart made him, Higher by the Head than the reſt of the people. His Havit and Spirit were both ſuch as declared him to be among the Lowly, whom God has moſt Reſpect unto. His Apparel was without any Ornament, except that of H…mility, which the Apoſtle Elegantly compares to a knot of Comely Ribb…ns, in the Text where he bids us to be cloathed w…h it; any other flanting Ribb…ns on thoſe that came in his way he would ingenio…ſly animadvert upon; and ſeeing ſome Scholars once, he thought, a little too gaudy in their Cloaths, H…miliamini, Juvenes, Humuliamini, was his immediate complement unto them. Had you ſeen him with his Leathern Gardae (for ſuch an one he wore) about his Loins, you would almoſt have thought what Herod fear'd, That John Baptiſt p. 34was come to life again. In ſhort, he was in all Regards, A Nazarite indeed; unleſs in this one, that long Hair was always very loathſome to him; he was an acute Ramiſt, but yet he profeſſed himſelf a lover of a Trichotomy. Doubtleſs, it may be lawful for us to accommodate the length of our Hair unto the modeſt Cuſtoms which vary in the Churches of God; and it may be lawful for them that have not enough of their own Hats for their own Health, to ſupply themſelves according to the ſober modes of the places where they live. But the Apoſtle tells us, Nature teaches us, that if a man have long hair, 'tis a ſhame to him; where, by Nature can be meant, no other than, The difference of Sex; as the word elſe-where is uſed.

Thus Mr. Eliot thought that for Men to wear their H…ir with a luxurious, Delicate, Faeminine prolixity; or for them to preſerve no plain Diſtinction of their Sex, by the Hair of their Head and Face; and much more, for men thus to disfigure themſelves with Hair …hat is N…me of their own; and moſt of all, for Miniſters of the Goſpel to ruffle it in Exceſſes of this kind; may prove more than we are well aware, diſpleaſing to the Holy Spirit of God. The H…ir of them that profeſſed Religion, long before his Death, grew too long for him to ſwallow; and he would expreſs himſelf continually with a boiling zeal concerning it, until at laſt he gave over, with ſome Regret complaining, p. 35The Luſt is become inſuperable! I know not whether that horrible Diſtemper prevailing in ſome Europaean Countries known by the name of Plica polo…ica, wherein the Hair of people matted into ugly and filthy forms, like Snakes upon their heads, which whoſoever cut off preſently fell blind or mad; I ſay, I know not whether this Diſeaſe was more odious in it ſelf, than the ſweeter, neater, but prolix Locks of many people were to our Eliot. He was indeed one priſcis moribus, as well as Antiqua ſi…e; and he might be allow'd ſomewhat even of ſeverity, in this matter on that account.

My Reader ſhall have a Touch or two, from a Manuſcript of his, which I have in my hands, againſt (as he calls it) The violent and inſuperable Luſt of Long Hair. He thus argues.

'Tis a ſin for a man to do that whereof he hath cauſe to be aſha…ed, Pro. 14.34. Rom. 6.21.

But it is a ſhame for a man to wear long hair, 1 Cor. 11.14. Therefore 'tis a Sin.

Obj. It was then ſo; but now 'tis a faſhion and glory to do otherwiſe.

Anſ. Nature is the ſame now as then; Unchangeable. It ſpeaks as loud now as it did then; only our Ears are ſo covered with Locks, that we cannot hear it!

Again, Long Hair on the Head, & No Hair on the Face, is the Habit of a Woman, 1 Cor. 11.16. But it is a ſinful Abomination for a Man to wear the Habit of a Woman, Deut. 22.5.

p. 36Therefore 'tis a …inful Abomination, for a man to wear long Hair on his Head, and no H… on his F…ce.

With …e, and many other ſuch perſwaſions did he endeavour to obvia e the Luxury, which he ſaw the crimes degenera…ing apace into; and he added hereunto his own Example, as a continual and effectual Sermon againſt what he thought was to be, co…d…mned in the world.

For m… own part, I cannot think Wigs unlawful things, but I muſt concur with Mr. Eliot, ſo far as to think, that Im…oder…cy in them, as in Meats and in Drink… is very ſinful.

Article IV. His Exq… …te Charity.

HE that will w…te of Eliot, muſt write of …hari…, or ſay nothing His Charity was a S…ar of the …i…ſt M…gnitude in the bright Conſtellation of his Vertues; and the Rays of it were wonderfully various and extenſive.

His Liberality to pious Uſes, whether publick or private, w…nt much beyond the proportions of his little Eſtate in the world. Many Hundreds of Pounds did he freely beſtow upon the poor; and he would with a very forcible importunity preſs his Neighbours to jo…n with him, in ſuch Beneficences. 'Twas a marvellous Alacrity, with which he embraced a…l opportunities of Relieving any, tha… were miſerable; & the good people of …oxbury doubtleſs cannot p. 37remember (but the Righteous God will!) how often, and with what Ardors, with what Arguments, he became a Beggar to them, for Collections in their Aſſemblies to ſupport ſuch needy O…j…cts, as had fallen under his Obſervation. The poor counted him their Father, and repaired ſtill unto him, with a f…ial confidence in their Neceſſi…ies; and they were more than ſeven or …igh…, or indeed than ſo many ſcores, who rec ived their po…tions of his Boun…y. Like that worth… and famous Engl ſh General, he could not perſwade himſelf, That he had any thing but w…at he gave away; but he drove a mighty Trade at ſuch Exerciſes as he thought would f…rniſh him with Bil…s …f Exc…nge, which he hoped after many days to find the comfort of; and yet after all, he would ſay like one of the moſt charitable Souls that ever lived in the World, Tha… looking over his Accounts, he could no where fi d …he God of Heaven charged a Debtor there. He did not put off his Charity, to be put in his laſt Will, as many who therein ſhew that their Charity is againſt their will; but he was his own Adminiſtrator; he made his own …ands his Executors, and his own Eyes his Overſ…ers. It has been Remark'd, That liberal men are often long-liv'd m n; ſo do they after ma…y days find the B…e…d with which the… have been willing to keep o…er men …e. The great age of our Eliot was but agreeable to this Remark; & when his Age had unfitted him for almoſt all Employments, p. 38and bereaved him of thoſe Gifts & Parts which once he had been Accompliſhed with, being asked, How he did? he would ſometimes anſwer, Alas, I have loſt every thing; my Ʋnderſtanding leaves me, my Memory fails me, my Ʋtterance fails me; but I thank God, my Charity holds out ſtill; I find that rather grows than fails! And I make no queſtion, That at his Death, his happy Soul was Received, and welcomed, into the everlaſting Habitations, by many ſcores got thither before him, of ſuch as his Charity had been liberal unto.

But beſides theſe more Subſtantial Expreſſions of his Charity, hee made the Odours of that Grace yet more fragrant unto all that were about him, by that Pittifulneſs and that Peaceableneſs, which rendred him yet further Amiable. If any of his Neighbourhood were in diſtreſs, he was like a Brother born for their Adverſity; he would viſit them, and comfort them, with a moſt Fraternal Sympathy; yea, 'tis not eaſiy to recount how many whole dayes of Prayer with Faſting he has got his Neighbours to keep with him, on the behalf of thoſe whoſe Calamities he found himſelf touched withal. It was an extreme Satisfaction to him, that his Wife had attained unto a conſiderable skill in Phyſick and Chyrurgery, which enabled her to diſpenſe many ſafe, good, and uſeful Medicines, unto the Poor that had occaſion for them; and ſome hundreds of ſick & weak and maimed people owed praiſes to God, p. 39for the Benefit which therein they freely received of her. The good Gentleman, her Huſband would ſtill be caſting Oyl into the Flame of that Charity, wherein ſhe was of her own accord abundantly forward thus to be doing of good unto all; and he would urge her to be ſerviceable unto the worſt Enemies that he had in the world. Never had any man fewer Enemies than he! But once having delivered ſomething in his Miniſtry, which diſpleaſed one of his Hearers, the man d…d paſſionately abuſe him for it, and this both with Speeches and with Writings that reviled him. Yet it happening not long after, that this man gave himſelf a very dangerous Wound, Mr. Eliot immediately ſends his Wife to cure him; who did accordingly. When the man was well he came to thank her; but ſhe took no Rewards; and this Good man made him ſtay and eat with him, taking no notice of all the Calumnies with which he had loaded him; but by this Carriage he ſtrangely mollifyed and conquered the Stomach of his Reviler.

He was alſo a great Enemy to all Contention, & would ring a loud Courſeu-Bell wherever he ſaw the Fires of Animoſity. When he heard any Miniſters complain, that ſuch and ſuch in their Flocks, were too difficult for them, the ſtrain of his Anſwer ſtill was, Brother, Compaſs them! and Brother, Learn the meaning of thoſe three little Words, Bear, Forbear, Forgive. Yea, his Inclinations for Peace, indeed ſometimes almoſt p. 40made him to ſacrifice Right it ſelf. When there was la…d before an Aſſembly of Miniſters, a b…ndle of Papers, which con ained certain mat…ers of Difference and Contention, between ſome people which our Elio… thought ſhould rather unite, with an Amneſty upon all their former Quarrels, he (with ſome Imitation of what Conſtantine did up…n the l…ke occaſi…n) haſtily threw the papers in…o the Fire bef…re them all, and with a zeal f…r peace as h… as that F…, ſa…d immediately, B…eth…en, wonder not at what I have done; I did it on my knees this m…rning before I came among you. Such an ex…ſs (if it were one fl…w…d from his Charitab…e Inc…ina ions …o be ſound among thoſe Peace-m…ers when by following the Exemple of that Man who is our Peace, come to be called, The children of God. Very worth ly migh… he be called an Ire…ae…s, as being all for Peace; and the Commendation which Epiphanius gives unto the Ancient of that Name, did belong unto our Eliot, he was a moſt bl…ſſ…d and a moſt holy man. He d ſliked all ſorts of B…very; but yet with an ingenious Note upon the Greek word in Col. ….15 he propounded, That peace might brave it among us. In ſhort, where-ever he came, it was like another old John, with ſolemn and earneſt perſwaſives to love, and when he could ſay little elſe, he would give that Charge, My Children, love one another!

Finally, 'twas his Charity which diſpoſed him p. 41to continual Apprecations for and Benedictions on thoſe that he met withal; he had, an Heart full of good Wiſhes and a Mouth full of kind Bleſſings for them. And he often made his Expreſſions very wittily agreeable to the circumſtances which he ſaw the perſons in. Sometimes when he came into a Family, he would call for all the young people in it that ſo he might very Diſtinctly lay his holy hands upon every one of them, and beſpeak the mercies of Heaven for them all.

Article. V. Some Special Attainments, that were the Effects of his Piety, and Charity.

But what was the Effect of this Exemplary Piety, and Charity in our Eliot? It will be no wonder, to my Reader, if I tell him, That this good man walked in the light of Gods Countenance all the day long. I believe he had a continual Aſſurance of the divine Lo e, marvellouſly Sealing, Strengthning, and Refreſhing of him, for many luſtres of years before he Dy'd; and for this cauſe, the fear of Death was Extirpated out of his heavenly Soul, more than out of moſt men alive. Had our bleſſed Jeſus at any time ſent his Wggons to fetch this old Jacob away, he would have gone without the leaſt Reluctancies. p. 42Labouring once under a Feavour and Ague, a Viſi…ant asked him, How he did? and he Reply'd Very well, but anon I expect a paroxyſm. Sa…d the Viſi…ant, Sir, fear not; but unto that he anſwered, Fear! No, no; I been't afraid, I thank God, I been t afraid to Dy! Dying would not have been any more to him, than Sleeping to a weary man.

And another Excellency, which accompanied this Courage and Comfort in him was, A wonderful Reſignation to the Will of God, in all Events. There were ſore Afflictions that ſometimes befel him; eſpecially when he follow'd ſome of his hopeful and worthy Sons, two or three deſirable Preachers of the Goſpel, to their Graves. But he ſacrificed them, l ke another Abraham; with ſuch a ſacred ind…fferency, as made all the Spectators to ſay, This could not be done without the Fear of God. Yea, he bore all his Trials with an admirable patience, and ſeemed loth to have any will of his own, that ſhould not be wholly melted and moulded into the Will of his Heavenly Father. Once being in a Boat at Sea, a larger Veſſel unhappily Over-run, and Over-ſet that little one which had no ſmall Concerns, becauſe Eliot's in the bottom of it; he immediately ſunk without any expectation of ever going to Heaven a…y other way; and when he imagined that he had but one breath more to draw in the world, it was this, The will of the Lord be done! but it was the will of the p. 43Lord, that he ſhould ſurvive the danger; for … was reſcued by the help that was then at hand, and he that had long been like Moſes in eve… thing elſe, was now dr…wn out of the Wate… … Which gives me oppor…unity to mention or Remarkable that had ſome Relation hereunto. This Accident happened in the Time of our Indian Wars, when ſome furious Engl…ſh People that clamoured for the ex…irpation of the P…aying Indians, which were in ſubjection unto us, as well as the Pagan Indians that were in Hoſtility againſt us, vented a very wicked Rage at our holy Eliot, becauſe of his concernment for the Indians; and one profane Monſter hearing how narrowly Mr. Eliot eſcap'd from Drowning, 'tis ſaid, he wiſh'd this man of God had then been Drowned. But within a few da…s, that woful man by a ſtrange Diſaſter wa… Drowned in that very place, where Mr. Eliot had received his Deliverance.

There was indeed a certain health of Soul which he arriv'd unto; and he kept in a b…eſſed meaſure clear of thoſe Diſtempers which too often diſorder the moſt of men. But the God of Heaven favoured him with ſomething that was yet more Extraordinary! By getting and keeping near to God, and by dwelling under the ſhadow of the Almighty, …he contracted a more exquiſite ſenſe of mind, than what is uſual among other Profeſſors of Chriſtianity; he ſomtimes felt a lively touch of God upon his refined p. 44and exalted Spirt, which were not in any paper of ours lawful or eaſy to be uttered; and he was admitted unto a ſingular Familiarity with the Holy One of Iſrael. Hence 'twas, that as Bodies of a rare and fine conſtitution, will for… bode the Changes of the Weather, ſo the ſublimed Soul of our Eliot often had ſtrange Forebodings of things that were to come I ha…e been aſtoniſhed at ſome of his Predictions, that were both of a more perſonal, and of a more general Application, and were follow'd with exact Accompliſhmen…s. If he ſaid of any Affair, I cannot bleſs it! it was a wo…ſe Omen to it, than the moſt inauſpicious praeſages in the world; but ſometimes after he had been with God about a thing, he was able ſucceſsfully to foretel, I have ſet a mark upon it, it will do well? I ſhall never forget, That when England and Holland were plunged into the unhappy War, which the more ſenſible Proteſtants every-where had but ſorrowful Apprehenſions of, our Eliot being in the height and heat of the War, privately asked, What News we might look for next? anſwered unto the ſurprize of the Enquirer, Our next News will be, a peace between the two Proteſtant Nations; God knows, I pray for it every day; and I am verily perſwaded, we ſhall bear of at ſpeedily! and it came to paſs accordingly.

It is to be confeſſed, That the written Word of God, is to be regarded as the perfect and p. 45only Rule of our Lives; that in all Articles of Religion if men ſpeak not according to this word, there is no light in them; and that it is no warrantable or convenient thing for Chriſtians to look for ſuch Inſpirations as directed the Prop…et… that were the Pen-men of the Scriptures. Nevertheleſs, there are ſome uncommon Inſtances of Communion and Fruition, which in our days the Soveraign God here and there favours a good man withal; and they are very Heavenly perſons, perſons well purify'd from the Faecul…n…tes of Senſuality, and perſons better purged from the Leaven of envy and malice, and intollerable pride, than uſually thoſe vain pretenders to Revelations, the Quakers, are, that are made partakers of theſe Divine Dainties. Now ſuch an one was our Eliot; and for this, wo…thy to be had in everlaſting Remembrance.

It would not be improper, under this File to lodge the ſingular and ſurprizing ſucceſſes of his Pr…y rs! for they were ſuch, that in our diſtreſſes we ſtill repair'd unto him, under that encouragement, He is a Pr…phet, and he ſhall pray for thee, and thou ſtalt Live. I ſhall ſingle out but one, from the many that might be mentioned. There was a godly Gentleman of Charlſtown, one Mr. Foſter, who with his Son, was taken Captive by Turkiſh Enemies Much prayer was employed, both privately and publickly, by the good people here, for the Redemption of that Gentleman; but we were at laſt informed, that the p. 46bloody Prince in whoſe Dominions he was now a Slave, was reſolved that in his Life-time no Priſoner ſhould be releaſed; and ſo the Diſtreſſed Friends of this Priſoner, now concluded, Our Hope is loſt! Well upon this, Mr Eliot in ſome of his next prayers, before a very ſolemn Congregation, very broadly beg'd, Heavenly Father, work for the Redemption of thy poor Servant Foſter; and if the Prince which detains him will not, as they ſay, diſmiſs him as long as himſelf lives, Lord, we pray thee to kill that cruel Prince; kill him, and glorify thy ſelf upon him. And now, behold the anſwer. The poor Captived Gentleman quickly Returns to us that had been mourning for him as a loſt man, and brings us News, that the Prince which had hitherto held him was come to an untimely Death, by which means he was now ſet at Liberty. Thus we now know, That a Prophet has been among us!