The Life and Death of Edmund Staunton, Part – Title page 2
A brief Relation (chiefly) of his great care to promote Religion, and Learning, in the College of which he was Preſident. By Mr. J. M. Sometime Fellow of the ſame.
IT was a great commendation which Poggius the Florentine, though a Papiſt, gave the Renowned Hierome of Prague; when (obſerving the great Learning, Eloquence,O virum dignum memoria hominum ſempiterna! Aen. Silv. Hiſt. Bohem. cap. 36. and Chriſtian fortitude which he manifeſted at the Council of Conſtance) he proclaimed him to be a man worthy to be had in perpetual remembrance.
There are, no doubt, many thouſands in this Nation, who having had perſonal knowledge of the worthy man, Dr. Edmund Staunton, will remember him while they live, and vocally tranſmit the memory of his name, as precious to Poſterity. And ſome of them, who have often ſmelt the odour of his ointment (for he was anointed with ſome gifts and graces above many of his Brethren) have ſpread abroad the ſavour of it, by declaring what an excellent ſpirit was found in him; chiefly, that men might utter the memory of Gods great goodneſs to him, and to his Church in him; as alſo, that ſuch as never knew him, might, by beholding his Portraicture drawn (though, it may be, not to the life) be brought, by his example, to ſome conformity to that holineſs which did ſhine forth in him: and, laſtly, that ſo worthy a perſon might have the honour which is his due,Pſal. 112.6. and which the Lord alloweth to be paid to his faithful ſervants.
I alſo, who had the happineſs to be near him for many years, and obſerved the excellent workings of the grace of God in him, cannot but ſpeak of the things which I have ſeen and heard.
He was, in his younger years, choſen Scholar of Corpus Chriſti College in Oxford, and, not long after, Probationer Fellow of the ſame, viz. before he came to be Batchelor of Arts, a thing ſeldom known in that houſe. There Men, finding him to be not only Ingenious, Ingenioſus. Ingenuus.but Ingenuous alſo, did ſhew him great reſpect, beſtowing one token thereof after another: And there God, not for any deſert in him, but out of his own mercy, and grace, did ſet his eye upon him; there did the kindneſs, and love of God (which a great while before had run, like water, under ground) break forth and appear, Saving him by the waſhing of Regeneration, Tit. 3.5.and renewing of the Holy Ghoſt.
In Corpus Chriſti College (as he told me) it …leaſed the Lord (firſt) to open … eyes, cauſing him to ſee his wretched condition, which did greatly, and deeply humble him, and made him put up ſtrong cryes, with tears, to him that was able to ſave him from death, and was heard in that he feared: Hebr. 5.7.for at length he had his Conſcience ſprinkled with the blood of Chriſt, by whom he received the atonement; and the law of the Spirit of life, in Chriſt Jeſus, Rom 8.2.made him free from the law of ſin, and death.
And now he became a Member of the moſt ancient, honourable, and durable Society in the world; being firſt choſen, and then admitted Fellow of Sion College, where an innumerable company of Saints, and Angels, were his Collegues. Herb. 12.22.Having received this grace, he found himſelf ſtrongly inclined to make others partakers of the ſame.
Wherefore, having taken his degree of Maſter of Arts, after ſome few Years, he left the College, and addicted himſelf to the work of the Miniſtry.
He ſpent moſt of his time and labours at Kingſton upon Thames, where the pleaſure of the Lord did proſper in his hands: From thence he was called, in the time of the late Troubles, to take upon him the government of the College, of which he had been before a Member.
As ſoon as he came upon the place, he manifeſted an earneſt deſire after the welfare of the Society, in every reſpect, exciting, and, by his example, leading ſuch as were to aſſiſt him to endeavour the ſame.
His Government ſavoured more of lenity and mildneſs, than of ſharpneſs and ſeverity; yet he kept the College in very good Order and Diſcipline. Though the Houſe, before his time, had been much troubled with diviſions, he, by his moderation, and Chriſtian prudence, kept them all of a piece, and in the enjoyment of great peace and concord.
He was, indeed, naturally, of an exceeding good temper, and diſpoſition; gentle, affable, and courteous to all, which, being embelliſhed with grace, made him exceeding amiable, and very uſeful in all his converſation.
His great care was to promote Religion, and Learning in the College, which he did with both his hands earneſtly. Divine knowledge, and Humane Learning, are the right, and left eye of the World; as the Sun and Moon are to the Ʋniverſe, the eclipſing of either of them, leaves the World in darkneſs. One thing there was that made him, the more deſire to ſee Religion and Learning meet together, in conjunction, in all ſuch as were to be choſen Scholars of the Houſe; or, if that could not be obtained, to have them joined together afterward. It was the Founders Will, expreſſed in one of his Statutes, That all the Fellows, and Scholars of the Foundation, ſhould, about a year, or two, after they became Maſters of Arts, be ordained to the Holy Miniſtry; one only excepted, who, ad arbitrium, might be deputed to the ſtudy, and practice of Phyſick. Parts, and Learning, without grace, make a man capable of doing very good ſervice in the Commonwealth; but both in conjunction, are more requiſite in one, who is to make manifeſt the ſavour of the knowledge of Chriſt in every place, Alludit ad Sacerdotum unctione…, & Sacrificiorum ſuffitus. Junius in locum.2 Cor. 2.14. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth, 1 Cor. 8.1. A man of Learning without grace, is like a ſhip without ballaſt, the leaſt blaſt of applauſe is ready to drive him upon the Quick-ſands of Pride, or carry him on the Rocks of oppoſition to others, and ſometimes to the truth it ſelf, to his own great danger, if not ruine; and the prejudice of others. If ſuch a man ſee another not to ſail altogether by his Compaſs, but to be carried by a ſide-wind, to ſome diſtance from his judgment, he finds it a hard matter to forbear making up to him, and can ſcarce hold his hands from letting flie at him.
Difficile eſt Satyras-non ſcribere.
Hence have flown thoſe great heats, Animoſities, and perverſe Diſputings, which have ſo much troubled the Church of God. Unſanctified Parts and Learning have been the ſharpeſt Tools, that the great Adverſary of Mankind, and of the Church eſpecially, could ever lay hold on to do miſchief withall; as the Hiſtories of all Ages do abundantly teſtifie.
Upon ſuch accounts as theſe, this godly wiſe man was careful to prevent (if it might be) an error in the firſt concoction, knowing how hard it might prove to amend it in the ſecond.
Therefore, when any Scholars place became void, if there appeared many Candidates for it, he appointed them ſome time before the Election, to attend him at his Lodgings, where he examined them privately, and ſet down in a Paper the age, ſtanding, and proficiency in learning of every one of them: He noted alſo, what Teſtimonials he had received from perſons of Integrity, concerning the good converſation of any of them, and their hopefulneſs as to Godlineſs; with his own apprehenſions about them, upon his examination, as to that matter alſo.
And if ſuch a number of the Electors as was requiſite, could not, after publick examination, agree upon one of them; he, upon whom the election was, in that caſe, devolved; if there appeared to him an equality, or near an equality in other reſpects, would alwayes let Piety have the honour to turn the ſcale.
His next care was to have theſe Twins parts, and Piety foſtered, and cheriſhed, and by all wayes and means improved, and heightned to the utmoſt of his power. To this purpoſe, he came, ordinarily, to all College Exerciſes, held every one to the duties of their ſeveral places; and obſerved every ones growth, and progreſs in Learning; by which he was the better able to judge whom to prefer, when any of them came to be Competitors for a Fellowſhip.
He was no leſs careful to ſee Religion thrive, and proſper among them: For firſt, he made choice of the fitteſt perſons he could find, to perform the duty of Prayer Morning and Evening, ſuch as might, with reverence, ſeriouſneſs, and warm affection, engage the hearts of others in the duty.
At this holy exerciſe he was preſent himſelf, as conſtantly, if not more conſtantly than the younger Scholars, as to join in the duty, to bring down a bleſſing from above upon them, and their ſtudies; ſo, to ſee it reverently performed, and that the whole Society came duly together.
Every Lords day in the Evening, when the whole Houſe met to offer up their Sacrifice of praiſe, and prayer, he examined the younger ſort, calling them to account about what they had heard that day; which was a likely means to engage them to the greater attention in hearing, and to make the truths, by their pondering them, ſink the deeper into their hearts.
He took great pains to inſtruct them of the lower rank in the grounds of Religion, calling them one day in the Week into the Chappel; where he opened, and explained the great, and weighty Truths of Chriſtianity to them; endeavouring ſtill, not only to inform their judgments, but to make the truths reach their hearts.
Whereas, the Founder required, that the Fellows, and Scholars ſhould, at ſuch a ſtanding (as was ſaid before) be ordained to the Miniſtry; he, with the conſent of ſuch of the Fellows as were impowered by Statute to make orders for the good of the Society, decreed, That all of ſuch a ſtanding, or above, ſhould preach every Lords day in the morning, by courſe, in the College Chappel, before the publick Sermon in the Ʋniverſity.
By this means, they, who were deſigned for the Work of the Miniſtry, might, firſt, prove, and improve their own abilities. And ſecondly, approve themſelves to others, to be men apt to teach, which is one of the qualifications required in the Apoſtolical Canons in them that are to be called to the Paſtoral office.
Fifthly and laſtly, beſides the Conference which he had often in his own Lodgings about Soul-matters, and Communion in the Lords Supper, in the College Chappel, where he himſelf did adminiſter, and many of the Houſe, with others from abroad were partakers; he was often diſcourſing, with ſuch of the Society as came to him about any buſineſs, in ſuch a manner as tended to the promoting of Holineſs; for he ſeldom let them depart without ſome inſtruction, admonition, or hearty counſel.
They eſpecially, who, by reaſon of their place and ſtanding, were moſt about him, received great benefit by converſing with him; For his heart taught his mouth, and added learning to his lips. When a portion of the Scripture was read, at Dinner (as is uſual) he did not only cauſe altum ſilentium, and reverent attention through the Hall, that all might feed their Souls, while they were feeding their Bodies; but, the Chapter ended, if there were any difficult places in it, he either propounded them to the Fellows that ſate at the Table with him, to be unfolded by them, or elſe opened, and unfolded them himſelf; if it contained practical matter, it was a pleaſant thing to ſee, and hear, how he, who applied his heart to the knowledge of God, and kept his words and Laws within him, had them withall fitted in his lips.
He lived to ſee ſome fruit of his Labours, to his great joy and contentment; for a competent number of them, who were educated, ab origine, under his care, became Learned, well-diſpoſed, and pious men. I cannot refrain, but muſt mention one of them, viz. Mr. Joſeph Alleine, late Miniſter of the Goſpel at Taunton in Somerſetſhire; for as he was a great comfort to this holy man, while he continued in the College; ſo it did revive him to hear (for he was often enquiring after ſuch as had been of his Houſe, as a father after his children) that he proved ſo eminently pious, and uſeful a man in the Church of God.
But, had he lived to ſee the Relation of his Life, now publiſhed ſince his Death, he would have fallen into an extaſie of joy: And I have ſo much charity for ſome, that were inſtrumental about his great Sufferings, and often Impriſonments, as to believe, that if they would pleaſe to read the Relation aforeſaid, wherein both Conformiſts and Nonconformiſts agree to give him an high teſtimony for his great parts, Learning, peaceable ſpirit, quiet deportment, zeal of the right kind, with ardent love to God, and man, extending to the worſt of his enemies, their hearts would ſmite them for giving ſo good a man ſo much trouble: however, he is, now, where the weary are at reſt, Job 3.17.
We have ſeen how vigilant, and induſtrious a Governour this worthy man was in his College; he was alſo one, who, in compaſſion to mens ſouls, took every opportunity, when at home, to Preach in, or near the City.
One of the Impropriations belonging to the College, about ſeven Miles diſtant, having but a ſmall ſtipend, before his time, not ſufficient to afford a ſubſiſtence to an able man to labour, and watch among the people for the good of their ſouls; he firſt went himſelf, afterward he deſired ſome of the Senior Fellows to go over by courſe, and Preach unto the people; which deſire of his they readily complied with, for ſome time, till the Leaſe of the Impropriation came to be renewed; when, upon the Preſidents propoſal, the Fellows conſented either much to abate, or wholly remit the Fine; requiring, in lieu thereof, a competent Sum to be paid yearly, to encourage an able man to labour conſtantly among them.
When the Affairs of the College called him forth into places remote from the Ʋniverſity, he was alwayes ready to take any opportunity to do good to the ſouls of men.
One who hath rode many hundred Miles in company with him, hath alwayes obſerved his deportment in all places, and toward all perſons, to be ſuch as became an heavenly minded Chriſtian, and a true Miniſter of Chriſt.
When he was riding on the way, Deut. 6.7.he entertained his company with heavenly diſcourſe; and as variety of Objects did preſent themſelves to him, he alwayes drew excellent matter out of them; glorifying God for the power, wiſdom, and goodneſs which appeared in the Works of Greation, and Providence.Pſal. 104.24.
As he paſſed by ſuch as were about their occaſions in the Fields, he would many times make an halt, and enter into a ſhort diſcourſe with them: He would, firſt, ask them ſome ordinary queſtion, ſuch as Travellers uſe to ask, and then take an occaſion, from their anſwer, to ask them other queſtions of more weight and concernment to their Souls; leaving alwayes ſome ſerious word with them, at parting, for them to ruminate upon: And I am perſuaded, that there are many, who never ſaw his face, nor he theirs, but thus, in tranſitu, that have bleſt God for him.
When he came to his Lodging, either in a publick or private houſe; as he had a better advantage there, ſo he conſtantly made good uſe of it, for the glory of God, and the edification of whatever company he was caſt upon.
He had an excellent gift, and rare faculty, beyond what I did ever obſerve in any man beſide, to improve diſcourſe ſo as to make it, not only pleaſant to thoſe with whom he did converſe,foreign. but very profitable to their ſouls, aiming ſtill at the laſt, as the mark which he had conſtantly in his eye.
When he came among perſons of Quality (being himſelf well born, well educated, of a generous ſpirit, and a chearful temper) his company, and converſe was, uſually, very acceptable to them, which gave him an advantage to tell them (as he would plainly, though prudently) of what he ſaw amiſs in them; to mind them of the vanity of the World, of better things above, and to put them (as he often would) upon good deſigns, to ſhew their thankfulneſs to God for his mercy to them.
Nor was there a perſon ſo mean, but he could, and would readily, and humbly condeſcend to him, as knowing what precious ſouls dwell in the pooreſt houſes of clay.
He ſpake to ſuch alwayes in their own dialect, and in a phraſe they well underſtood; trying their knowledge, and feeling the pulſe of their ſouls: if he found them ignorant, or unſenſible, he would endeavour to awaken them, by laying plain Texts of Scripture before them, for their conviction.
If he met with humbled and burdened ſouls, or ſuch as were babes in Chriſt, he would gather them as lambs in his arms, and gently lead them to the Wells of Salvation.
If at any time there hapned to be a mixt company at the Table with him, ſome ſerious Chriſtians, ſome Profeſſors at large, his manner was to be very free and pleaſant in diſcourſe with them, which cauſed them all to give great attention to him: then might you have ſeen, how, ever and anon, the honey dropt from his lips, while the company were hanging on them; how skilful he was in dividing the Word aright, to every one his portion; and how wiſe in winning of ſouls.
If he obſerved any to take the boldneſs, from his innocent mirth, and pleaſant humour, to incline to vain, and frothy diſcourſe, he would very dexterouſly turn to ſome more profitable matter, and, as occaſion was given, afford a ſerious reproof, tempered with much kindneſs and love to their ſouls, which was, uſually, well taken at his hand.
If his occaſions required his ſtay, a day or two, at any place, he ſeldom departed before he had Preached to the People.
He found, by much and long experience, that a plain way of Preaching was moſt effectual to the ends for which that Ordinance was appointed; and therefore he conſtantly uſed it, even in the College and Ʋniverſity; though he could eaſily have appeared in another ſtrain, had he preferred an aiery Reputation with ſome, before the Work of his Maſter, and the real advantage of others.
To conclude, I hope, that many, who ſome time were, and ſome, who yet are members of that Society, having felt his fatherly care, heard his ſound and pious inſtructions, and ſeen his godly examples, do, and will endeavour to hold a conformity thereunto: If any neglect, or deſpiſe them, let them know aſſuredly, that God will require it at their hands.
A Dialogue: OR, A DISCOURSE BETWEEN A Miniſter and a Stranger, As they were On the High-way together, ABOUT Soul Affairs.
By Edmund Staunton D. D.
LONDON, Printed for Tho: Parkhurſt, and are to be Sold at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapſide, near Mercers Chappel: And at the Gilded Bible on London-bridge, under the Gate. 1673.