A Pearl in an Oyster Shell, Biography 1 – Dedication 2
His CHARACTER.
HE was a man of middle Stature, his Hair blackiſh, which he wore very ſhort, ſcarce to cover his ears; his Face pale, and ſomewhat long; his Spirit brisk and lively, active and able to bear the brunt of buſineſs; and was ſeldom or never known to be caſt down with diſcouragements, though often menaced and impriſoned by Souldiers, and peſtered with Sectaries of all ſorts: His Eyes were ſparkling, eſpecially when he was intent upon the delivery of matters of worth and weight: The cloaths he wore, were rather coarſe than coſtly; his carriage and behaviour, courteous …nd attractive; his temper and conſti…ution inclined him to choler, and he would break out ſometimes into paſſion; …ut would ſoon recal himſelf, and that, …or the future, he might not ſin in his …nger, he would reſolve to be angry …or nothing but Sin. One thing hath been obſerved in him, he would be over-credulous, ſay ſome, in receiving Reports upon truſt, without examining the Truth of what was told him, eſpecially when it came from ſuch as he had a good opinion of for Godlineſs; which I impute not ſo much to his weakneſs, as to the ſincerity and ſimple plainneſs of his own heart, his own words being the iſſues of his upright heart, he judged ſo of other men. For his judgment (however it was in the matters of the world) yet doubtleſs it was deep in the ſearch, and diſcovery of the Myſteries of the Goſpel and of Godlineſs; which he got by frequent Communion with God, and walking in his fear all the day long, and the ſecret of the Lord is with ſuch as Pſal, 25. 14fear him. He could ſee more in theſe ſacred Riddles by Prayer, than by his Learning, and much labour in Reading.
For his Judgment about Diſcipline, he was of the Presbyterian Perſwaſion; and happily he was held too rigid by his Brethren, that diſſented from him in this: and though more more mildneſs and moderation was deſirable eſpecially towards Diſſenters, who ſerve the ſame God, and ſeek jointly to advance the Intereſt of Jeſus Chriſt, in the power and purity of his Ordinances; yet doubtleſs what he did, was out of a zeal for the Truth, which he took this to be. And to my knowledg he I can witneſs that he gave a Legacy at his death to one who was of a contrary judgment to him in Diſcipline and Church-Order.had a Catholick Charity for all ſuch in whoſe hearts he perceived the Seed of true Grace to be ſown, though they differed far from him in Judgment: for his love to the Saints, was not grounded upon an identity of Opinion, but on a ſweet ſuitableneſs and harmoniouſneſs in Grace; and whoever he found to have in him aliquid Chriſti, was the Object of his Love: and though he had a hatred towards the ſins of all (were they never ſo great in place), yet, not to their perſons, which he would pity and pray for, and reprove: And as he was jealous over this houſhold of God, with godly jealouſie; ſo Prov. 4.23.in particular, over his own heart, which he kept above all other keepings with much Chriſtian caution; well knowing, that, if the Spring were clear, the ſtreams would ſoon clear themſelves; and leſt the fleſh ſhould wax wanton, and kick, he would keep it down by ſevere mortification and abſtinence, giving himſelf much to private prayer and faſting. Indeed he was at all times temperate in the uſe of the Creature; even at Feaſts he would feed very ſparingly upon a few Diſhes, and would commonly riſe from the Table before others had half-dined. But of all other things, he was moſt ſpare of his time, which he eſteemed a choice Treaſure, and the loſs of it irreparable; and what ſhreds of it he could ſcrape together from a double publick imployment he had, he ſpent in writing Books: In compoſing of which, he ſtudied very hard & ſate up late; for he had this happineſs above many other men (as he ſaid), he found himſelf beſt when he was moſt ſtrongly employed; his Work was to him inſtead of Phyſick, and he choſe rather to ſpend himſelf in Labour, than to conſume with ruſt and ſickneſs. See more in his following Life.
ABEL REDIVIVƲS; OR THE DEAD SPEAKER.
The Subſtance of an Anniverſary SERMON, Preached at Withall, April 26. 1674.
Whereunto is annexed certain dying Speeches of many Modern DIVINES, eſpecially of Mr. THOMAS HALL, late Paſtor of Kings-Norton.
HEB. 11. 4. And by it he, being Dead, yet ſpeaketh.
LONDON: Printed by A. M. for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Bible and three Crowns, near Mercers-Chappel in Cheapſide. 1674.
To my much eſteemed Friend, Mr. William Turton of Aulderways in Staffordſhire.
Worthy Sir;
YOƲ may wonder at my boldneſs, in preſuming to prepoſe your Name to this popular Sermon, and imperfect draught of the Life and Death of Mr. HALL, who may ſeem a ſtranger to you: and indeed I do not remember that I ſaw your Face, ſince the time, that the Lord (who ſets the bounds of our habitations) had caſt our Lot together in a pleaſant place, in a time of Jacob's troubles; where we only heard the Voice of Chriſts Turtle-Dove, and had not thoſe dreadful Allarums of War, under which other parts of the Kingdom trembled, and the very pillars of it tottered.
That which now encourageth me to this Attempt, is, that I took notice of your conſtant attendance upon the Ordinances of Chriſt, and your readineſs to ſympathize with the ſufferings of Sion, and the reſpect you had to the godly Paſtors of the Church; in particular to the perſon ſpoken of in the enſuing Narrative, betwixt whom and your ſelf, it is ſaid, there was a near alliance; but doubtleſs, there was an intimate friendſhip and aloſe familiarity contracted; the remembrance of which, I hope, ſtill liveth in your heart, happily no leſs than Jonathans did in the breaſt of Davids, or Baſils in Nazianzens.
As therefore Epaminondas defended the body of his faſt Friend Plutarch.Pelopidas, whom he ſuppoſed was ſlain and ſaw lying upon a heap of dead men: ſo I ſuppoſed you would be ready to defend this poor Piece written concerning your deceaſed Friend, of whom, though I have ſaid ſomewhat, yet not the one half that I might. Tou would not think me to be partial, ſhould I ſay of him what Nazianzen did of Baſil aforeſaid; Antiqua probitate, ſimplicitate que praeditus & eruditis pietate, & piis erudition is laude antecellens; Some that were more eminent for Learning, he excelled in Piety; and ſome that were more See Mr. Leys Epiſtle to his Com. upon 2 Tim. as alſo Mr. Calamy's Epiſtle.famous for Piety, he excelled in Learning: And indeed, he was held to be by ſuch as well knew him, and were able to judg of mens parts and piety, both learned and religious.
I have no more to ſay concerning him in this place; I only beg your pardon and Patronage, together with a ſhare in your prayers, that what is ſaid in the enſuing Leaves, may find acceptance with God, and favour in the eyes of his people.
And my earneſt deſire and prayer to God for you, is, that he who holdeth your ſoul in life, and hath lined it out to or beyond David's ſpan, would give you much joy and peace in believing; That whilſt your Body is deſcending towards the Common Mother the Earth, your Soul may aſcend as towards the top of Piſgah, to deſcry the Holy Land; that the nearer you come to the pit of corruption, the more prepared you may be for that place of perfection; and like a Tree planted in the Courts of Gods Houſe, you may bring forth Fruit even in old Age; This, (I ſay) Sir, ſhall be the prayer of
Your Servant in our deareſt Saviour and Redeemer, Richard Moore.