The Life and Death of Richard Mather, Title page – To the reader

The Life and Death of Richard Mather · Title page – To the reader

THE LIFE and DEATH OF That Reverend Man of GOD, Mr. RICHARD MATHER, TEACHER of the CHURCH IN Dorchester IN NEW-ENGLAND.

Psal. 112. 6.

The Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.

Heb. 13. 7.

Remember them who have spoken to you the Word of God.

Rev. 14. 13.

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: they rest from their labours, and their works follow them.

Ministri vita censura & cynosura.

CAM…RIDGE: Printed by S. G. and M. J. 1670.

TO THE CHURCH AND INHABITANTS OF DORCHESTER in N. E. Grace unto you from God by Jesus Christ.

Beloved in the Lord Jesus,

YOu have here presented to your view, and for your Imitation in the Lord, the Life of him that was to many of you a Spiritual (as to me a Natural) Father: Inasmuch as the greatest part of his time in the Ministry he was a Labourer in the Lords Harvest amongst you; Also with you did he finish his course. There is therefore special reason why what is here done should be directed to your selves.

The Composer of this ensuing Relation is not willing that his Name should be published. But it is done by one who hath had the viewing of my Fathers Manuscripts; from whence, as well as from personal and intimate Acquaintance of many years continuance, and other wayes, he hath been truly furnished with the knowledge of what is here reported. And indeed the greatest part of the Story is known unto sundry amongst your selves.

What remaineth then, Brethren and Beloved in the Lord, but that we should be mindfull of what is by the Lord required, when the Scripture saith, Remember them that have taught (and not onelyonly them that do teach) the Word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. What that Doctrine of Faith is which your blessed Teacher did from the Lord instruct you in, I need not say; onelyonly Remember it. Remember his Farewell Exhortation, which is now in many of your Houses, and Oh that it were in all your Hearts. And as for his Conversation, your selves know that God made him Exemplarily Faithfull, Zealous, Patient, Humble, Holy: Follow him as he followed Christ. So likewise pray that he may do who is

Boston Septemo. 6. N. E. 1670. Yours in the Lord alwayes, Increase Mather.

p. 1THE LIFE & DEATH OF Mr. Richard Mather.

THe Writing and Reading of the Lives of Worthy Ones, hath been by some accounted amongst the most profitable works of men under the Sun. The Labours of some Learned amongst the Gentiles this way have not been altogether without benefit, witness what is done by Plutarch, Laertius, Philostratus, Eunapius, Pliny, &c. albeit they are to be read with judgement. But especially the faithful Description of the Lives of those who have been Eminent Teachers in the Church, hath been to the great advantage of after-Ages. Many have reaped benefit by reading Dorotheus his Collection of the Lives of the Prophets, Apostles, and Seventy Disciples of Christ: And (not to speak of the Labours of Gennadius, Epiphanius, Isidore, and Prochorus of old) among later Writers, Shopfius his Academia Christi, and Tossanus concerning the Lives of the Fathers, and Melchior Adam concerning the Lives of all our Modern Divines, as farre as he could by any means come to the knowledge thereof. The pains which Mr. Clark hath taken in publishing the Lives of many of our English Worthies, hath been profitable to not a few: And great pity it is that more should not be done that way. If the Lives of Brightman, Parker, Ames, Burroughs, Hooker, &c. were published to the World, it might be of generall advantage. Nor is it to be doubted but that there have been many famous in their Generations, whose Memories are p. 2buried in the dust, for want of some one to undertake this office, whereby their Names might have been perpetuated to Posterity.

Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona

Multi: Sed illachrymabiles

Ʋrgentur ignoti{que} longâ

Nocte; Carent quia vate Sacro.

But it must needs be in it self a thing pleasing to God, that his grace towards and in his Servants, and the wonders of his Providence about them, should be kept in remembrance. Therefore some have written their own Lives. So did (not to mention Josephus, Bellarmine, Cardan) amongst our Worthies, Junius, Collinus, Buchanan; and of our own Nation, Bale, Burton, Hall, Bodly, &c. And the like did this Reverend Man who is to be the Subject of the ensuing Discourse essay to do; and proceeded therein to the 39^th year of his Age, but finished not what he had purposed. It remaineth therefore that some other should do it, which we shall in following words of truth and plainness endeavour to do.

THere is in the Parish of Winwick in the County of Lancaster, a small Country Town or Village called Lowton: In which Village Richard Mather was born Anno 1596. His Parents Thomas and Margarite Mather were of Ancient Families in Lowton aforesaid, but by reason of some unhappy Mortgages they were reduced unto a low condition as to the World. Nevertheless, God so disposed their hearts, that they were willing to Educate this their Son in good Learning: Concerning which he (after that the Lord was pleased to bestow not onelyonly Learning but Grace upon him) hath sometimes expressed himself, saying, By what principles and motives my parents were chiefly induced to keep me at School, I have not to say, nor do I certainly know: But this I must needs say, that this was the fingular good Providence of God towards me, (who hath the hearts of all men in his hand) thus to incline the hearts of my Parents; for in this thing the Lord of Heaven shewed me p. 3such favour, as had not been shewed to many my Predecessors and Contemporaries in that place.

Now his Parents being strongly bent in spirit to have their Son a Scholar, they sent him to Winwick School, which was about four miles distant from his Fathers house. In the Winter season they boarded him at Winwick; but such was his desire after knowledge, that in the Summer he travelled every day thither. Whil'st he was thus at School he met with no small discouragement, for that the Schoolmaster under whom he was, although he had an excellent faculty for teaching in Grammar-Learning, and many were trained up by him, so as to be sent unto Oxford and Cambridge, for Instruction in higher Studies; yet was he very severe and partial in his discipline. Junius was almost quite discouraged from his Studies, when being a School boy his Master would beat him eight times in a day whether in fault or in no fault: The like Magisterial har shness caused him of whom we write, earnestly desire that his Father would take him from School, and dispose of him to some other Calling. Himself afterwards, when he had waded through these D…fficulties, would say, God intended better for me, then I would have chosen for my self; and therefore my Father, though in other things indulgent enough, yet in this would never condescend to my request, but by putting me in hope that by his speaking to the Master, things would be amended, would still overrule me to go on in my Studies; and good it was for me to be over-ruled by him, and his discretion, rather then to be left to my own offection and desire. But Oh that all Schoolmasters would learn Wisdome, Moderation and Equity towards their Scholars, and seek rather to win the hearts of Children by righteous, loving, and courteous usage, then to alienate their mindes by partiality and undue severity, which had been my utter undoing, had not the good Providence of God, and the Wisdome and Authority of my Father prevented. But thus was that of the Poet made good:

Multa tulit ficit{que} Puer sudavit & alsit

Qui cupit optatam curs… contingere metam.

p. 4After that he had spent sundry years in this School, some Popish Merchants coming out of Wales to Warrington, which is two miles from Winwick, were inquisitive whether there were not any pregnant Wits in that School whom they might procure for Apprentices. Presently Richard Mather was mentioned to them as a pregnant Youth: Whereupon application was made accordingly to his Father, who was inclineable to accept of this Motion, because now his Estate was so decayed, that he almost despaired of bringing up this his Son as he had intended. But here the Finger of Divine Providence was observable; for when his Father was ready thus to part with his Son, and the Childe to go, the Lord raised up the heart of his Master, to be importunate with his Father still to keep him at School, professing that it was great pity that a Wit so prone to Learning should be taken from it, (as indeed it was) or that he should be undone by Popish Education. The Perswasions of the Master so farre prevailed, as that his Scholar was still continued under him, untill the fifteenth year of his Age.

It was a mercy to him, that whil'st he was yet in his Minority, he enjoyed the publick Ministry of one Mr. Palin, then Preacher at Leagh; of whom he would say, that the remembrance of that man was Comfortable and Honourable in his thoughts, even in his old Age, though his knowledge of him was in his Childhood: He then observed such a plain, powerfull, and piercing efficacy in Mr. Palins Ministry, as was not to be seen in the common sort of Preachers in those dayes, by means whereof some Illumination, though not a through-Conversion, was wrought in him.

Having been thus long kept at School, he was called to leave his Fathers Family. The occasion whereof was this. At a place called Toxteth Park near Liverpool, there dwelt a wise and Religious People, who being desirous of the good of themselves and their Posterity, intended to erect a School amongst them, for the Education of their Children. It came into their mindes to send unto the Schoolmaster of Winwick, to enquire whether he had any of his Scholars whom he would p. 5recommend unto them for such a Service: who having received their desires, forthwith communicated the same to this his Scholar, and to his Father, to see if the Motion would stand with their acceptance. He was desirous rather to have gone to the University, but his Father closed with the Offer; whence it was in fine mutually embraced, so that he removed from his Fathers house to Toxteth (Anno 1611.) there to teach School. Nor is it any disparagement to his Worth that he was once a Schoolmaster; for very eminent Divines have been so, as of our own Nation Mr. Hieron, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Vines, not to mention others, but rather an Eminency; the like seldome known, that one should be found fit to be a Schoolmaster at fifteen years of Age: Yet the Lord helped him in those his young years to carry it with such Wisdome and Love and Gravity amongst his Scholars as was to admiration, so as that he was by them both loved and feared, beyond what is usual, even where there are aged Masters.

His being thus employed was more wayes then one advantagious to him: for by this means he became a more acurate Grammarian then Divines usually are. Being also diligent in his Studies whil'st he continued in this way of Imployment, he became a Proficient in other Arts, as in Logick, Rhetorick, yea and in Theology. Moreover, it afterwards appeared to be of God, that he was Called to such a Work in such a place, for there the effectual Conversion of his Soul unto the Lord, was wrought in his tender years, even afore his going to Oxford; whence he was preserved from those Corruptions which undid many of his Contemporaries, through the Temptation which in the University they met with. The means of his Conversion was partly by seeing a strange difference between himself and sundry in that godly Family, where Divine Providence had cast his Lot in Toxteth, viz. the Family of Mr. Edward Aspinwall, who was a Learned and Religious Gentleman. Now he observed that the way and walking of that holy man, was such as himself had not as yet been accustomed unto, which caused sad fears to arise in his Soul, lest haply he might not be in the way which leadeth unto Eternal Salvation. Also p. 6Mr. Harrison, then a famous Minister at Hyton, Preaching upon Joh. 3. 3. concerning the necessity of Regeneration, and at the same time reading a Book of Mr. Perkins his, shewing how farre a Reprobate may go, God blessed these three things not onelyonly to Conviction, but to Conversion. This was Anno 1614. The pangs of the New-birth were exceeding terrible to him, inasmuch as many times when they were at Meals in the Family where he sojourned, he would absent himself to retire under hedges and other secret places, there to lament his misery before God. But after some time, the Lord revived his broken heart, by sending the holy Spirit in the Ministry of the Word to apply the Precious Promises of the Gospel to his Soul.

Being thus become a New Creature, he was the more eminently a Bl…ssing in the Family, and in the Calling which the Lord had disposed of him in: And such notice was taken of him, as that even from places remote Children were sent unto him for Instruction and Education; and many were, by the Lords blessing upon his Endeavours, fitted for, and sent unto the Ʋniversity. Some years having been past over in this way of Employ, he resolved (foreign) to spend some time in one of the Universities, as apprehending that there, by converse with Learned men, and other Advantages not elswhere to be had, he might gain more then by his private Studies in the Country. Accordingly he went to Oxford, and continued for some time there in Brazen-Nose Colledge. Being there, he was variously affected: for it was a joy to him to finde many there who had been his quondam Scholars. It was also a joy to him that he had such leisure to follow his Studies, and by Disputations, Lectures, Books, Conferences with Learned men, &c. marvellous Advantages to obtain a Treasure of Knowledge. But his heart being afore this touched with the fear of God, the great Superstition and Prophaness which he was forced there to behold, was no small grief unto him.

Soon after his coming to Oxford, he came into Acquaintance with the Learned Doctor Worall, who was helpful to him in directing him as to the course of his private Studies. Amongst other things, he advised to reade the Works of Peter p. 7Ramus; which counsel he followed, and saw no cause to repent of his so doing. But before he had spent so much time in Oxford as he could have wished that he might have done; the People in Toxteth, whose Children had been taught by him, sent to him, desiring that he would return unto them to instruct not so much their Children as themselves, and that not in meer Humane Literature, but in the things of God. This Call, after due Consideration, for weighty Reasons he accepted of. Being then returned …o Toxteth, he Preached his first Sermon November 30. 1618. There was a very great Concourse of people to hear him, and his Labours were highly accepted of by the judicious: Such was the vastness of his Memory, as that the things which he had prepared and intended to deliver at once, contained no less then six long Sermons. The people having had some taste of his Gifts, were the more importunate in their desires that he might continue amongst them. And because that could not be without Episcopal Ordination, they urged him to accept thereof: Not having at that time so throughly looked into that part of Ceremonious Conformity as afterwards, he yielded unto the Motion; and accordingly was Ordained (with many others on the same day) by Doctor Morton then Bishop of Chester, after the Mode of those Times. The Ordination being over, the Bishop singled out Mr. Mather from amongst the rest, saying, I have something to say to you betwixt you and me alone. Mr. Mather was then afraid lest some Informations might have been given in to the Bishop against him because of his Puritanism, thereby to prejudice him; but it hapned to be otherwise: for when the Bishop had him alone, I have (saith he) an earnest Request unto you, and you must not deny me; It is that you would pray for me: for I know (said he) the Prayers of men that fear God will avail much, and you I believe are such an one. Nevertheless, after that the Lord gave him to see the evil of the sin of Conformity in the whole latitude of it, (for as to the substance of Conformity, even from his first entrance upon the Ministry he saw the evil thereof, and was by Divine Grace kept from being stained therewith) his Conforming (although it was at the desires of p. 8his people) to accept of this Ordination from the Prelate, was no small grief of heart to him. Many years after, one of his Sons taking-notice of a torn Parchment in his Fathers Study, enquired what it is; unto whom his Father replied, That he received that when he was Ordained by the Bishop: And (said he) I tore it, because I took no pleasure in keeping a monument of my sin and folly in submitting to that Superstition, the very remembrance whereof is gricvous to me.

Being as hath been related, setled in the Ministry at Toxteth, he resolved to change his single condition: And accordingly he became a Suitor to Mrs. Katharine Hoult, Daughter to Edmund Hoult Esq; of Bury in Lancashire. She had (and that deservedly) the repute of a very godly and prudent Maid. The Motion for several years met with Obstructions, by reason of her Fathers not being affected towards Non-conformable Puritans: But at last he gave his Consent that Mr. Mather should marry his Daughter; the Match therefore was Consummated …eptemb. 29. 1624. God made her to become a rich Blessing to him, continuing them together for the space of above 30years. By her God gave him six Sons; four whereof (viz. Samuel, Timothy, Nathaniel and Joseph) were born in England, and two (viz. Eleazar and Increase) in New-England. After his Marriage he removed his Habitation three miles from Toxteth, to Much-Woolton, having there purchased an House of his own; yet he was wont constantly Summer and Winter to Preach the Word at Toxteth upon the Lords-dayes. During his abode there, he was abundant in Labours in the Gospel: For every Lords-day he Preached twice at Toxteth, and once in a Fortnight on the Third day of the Week he kept a Lecture at the Town of Prescot. Also, faithful and powerful Preaching being then rare in those parts, he did frequently Preach upon the Holy d…yes (as they are called) being often thereunto desired by godly Christians of other Parshes in that Country: And this he did, not as thinking that there was any Holiness in those times (or in any other day besides the Lords-day) beyond what belongs to every day; but because then there would be an opportu…ity of great Assemblies, p. 9and it is good casting the Net where there is much Fish: for which cause it might be that the Apostles Preached mostly in Populous Towns and Cities, and also (which suiteth with what we are speaking) on the Jewish Sabbaths after their abrogation as to any Religious tye upon Conscience for their observation. Yea and besides all this, he often Preached at Funerals. It is true that Cartwright, Sherwood, Hildersham, and many other Renowned Non-Conformists, have scrupled Preaching Funerall Sermons; Also in some Reformed Churches that practice is wholly omitted, yea and Decrees of Councils have sometimes been against it; account of that Custome of Praising the dead upon such occasions, and that many times untruly: Which Custome (as many Learned men have observed) is Ethnicall, having its rise from the Funeral Orations of the Heathen. Publicola made an excellent Oration in Praise of Brutus, which the People were so taken with, that it became a Custome that Famous men dying should be so praised, and when (as Plutarch saith in the Life of Camillus) the Women amongst the Romans parted with their Golden Ornaments for the Publick Good, the Senate decreed, That it should be lawful to make Funeral Orations for them also. Hinc mortuos laudandi mos fluxit quem nos hodie servamus. Pol. Verg. de Rer. Invent. lib. 3. cap. 10. Nor indeed was this Rite practised in the Church afore the Apostacy began. Vide Magd. Cont. 4. Cap. 6. wherefore this faithful Servant of the Lord avoided that practice, his speech at Funerals being taken up not with Praising the Dead, but with Instructing the Living concerning Death, the Resurrection, the Judgement to come, and the like seasonable Truths. Thus did he Preach the Word, being instant in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking. exhorting, with all long-suffering and doctrine. In his publick Ministry in England he went over 2 Samuel, Chap. 24. Psalm 4. and Psalm 16. Proverbs, Chap. 1. Is…iah, Chap. 1. and Chap. 6. Luke, 22 and 23 Chapters. Romans, Chap. 8. 2 Epist. to Timothy; 2 Epist. of John; and the Epistle of Jude.

After that he had thus painfully and faithfully spent fisceen p. 10years in the Work of the Ministry, He that holds the Stars in his right hand, had more work for him to do elswhere; and therefore the rage of Satan and wrath of men must be suffered to break forth, untill this choice Instrument had his mouth stopped in unrighteousness. The Lecture which he kept at Prescot caused him to be much taken notice of, and so was the more unto the Adversaries of the Truth an object of Envy. Magnam famam & magnam quietem eodem tempore nemo potest ecquirere. Quint. Wherefore Complaints being made against him for Non-Conformity to the Ceremonies, he was by the Prelates Suspended. This was in August, Anno 1633. U…der this Suspension he continued untill November following: But then, by means of the Intercession of some Gentlemen in Lancashire, and by the influence of Simon Byby (a near Alliance of the Bishops) he was restored again to his Publick Ministry. After his Restauration he more fully searched into, and also in his Ministry handled the Points of Church-Discipline. And God gave him in those dayes not onelyonly to see, but also to Instruct others in the Substance of the Congregationall-Way, which came to pass by his much reading of the holy Scriptures, and his being very conversant in the Writings of Cartwright, Parker, Baynes, and Ames. But this restored Liberty continued not long; for Anno 1634. Bishop Neal (he who was sometimes by King James pleasantly admonished of his Preaching Popery, because by his carriage he taught the people to pray for a blessing upon his dead Predecessor) being now become Archbishop of York, sent his Visitors into Lancashire; of whom Doctor Cousins (whose Cozening Devotions Mr. Pryn hath made notorious to the world) was one: These Visitors being come into the Country foreign, kept their Courts at Wigan; where, amongst many other unrighteous proceedings, having Mr. Mather convened before them, they passed a Sentence of Suspension against him, meerly for his Non-Conformity to the Inventions of men in the Worship of God. It was marvellous to see how God was with him, …ausing a Spirit of Courage and of Glory to rest upon him, … filling him with wisdome when he stood before those p. 11Judges, who were not willing that he should speak for himself, or declare the Reasons which convinced his Conscience of the unlawfulness of that Consormity which they required. Concerning the Lords presence with him at that time, himself doth in a Manuscript left in his Study thus express it: In the passages of that day, I have this to bless the Name of God for, that the terrour of their threatning words, of their Pursevants, and of the rest of their Pomp, did not so terrifie my minde, but that I could stand before them without being daunted in the least measure, but answered for my self such words of truth and soberness as the Lord put into my mouth, not being afraid of their faces at all: which supporting and comforting presence of the Lord I count not much less mercy, then if I had been altogether preserved out of their hands.

Being thus silenced from Publick Preaching the Word, means was again used by Mr. Mathers friends to obtain his Liberty; but all in vain. The Visitor asked how long he had been a Minister? Answer was made, That he had been in the Ministry fifteen years. And (said he) how often hath he worn the Surpless? Answer was returned, That he had never worn it. What (said the Visitor, swearing as he spake it) preach Fifteen years and never wear a Surpless? It had been better for him that he had gotten Seven Bastards. This was a Visitors judgement. foreign.

Wherefore the case being thus, he betook himself to a private and no hope being left of enjoying Liberty again in his Native Land; foreseeing also (Sapiens Divinat) the approaching Calamities of England, he meditated a Removall into New-England. The principall Arguments whereby he was Convinced that he had a Divine Call to engage in so great and hazardous a Design, he drew up together, and put them into form. Which because they are of weight, and because Posterity may thereby see what were the swaying Motives which prevailed with the First-fathers of N. E. to venture upon that unparallell'd Undertaking, even to Transport themselves, their Wives and Little ones, over the rude Waves of the vast Ocean, into a Land which was not sown; We shall therefore here insert them.