A Pearl in an Oyster Shell, Biography 2 – By the same author
The Life and Death of Mr. Thomas Hall, who died April 13. Anno Dom. 1665.
THomas Hall was born in St. Andrews in the City of Worceſter, about July 22. An. Dom. 1610. His Father was Mr. Richard Hall, a Cloathier in that City, of a competent Eſtate, his Mother was Mrs. Elizabeth Bonner, deſcended of an antient Family; but that which truly ennobled her was with the Bereans, ſhe Acts 17. 11.diligently ſearched the Scriptures. Theſe two lived together many years, God giving them a plentiful Progeny of Sons and Daughters: three of which Sons were brought up Scholars, and afterwards proved godly Preachers: The Mother being to them (as an Eunice to Timothy, or Monica to Auguſtine) 1 Tim. 2.5.a careful Inſtructer in their Youth and lived to reap the Fruit of her endeavours in her old age (Magnum eſt Dei beneficium pios nanciſci Parentes, ac praeſertim Matrem qua pene tota filiorum A lapide.educatio dependet), like another Bathſheba ſhe did bathe them with her Tears and Inſtructions, and with her Prov. 31. 2warm and melting Supplications.
This Thomas was firſt ſet to the Grammar-School under Mr. Bright, and thence ſent to the Univerſity of Oxford, and admitted into Bayliole Colledg; whence (through the neglect of his Tutor) he removed to Pembroke, and became Pupil to Dr. Luſhington, a good Scholar; but whoſe Principles As Plato ſaith of him.were ſo poyſonous, that he might have boaſted with Protagoras, that he had ſpent many years in corrupting of youth.
Having taken his Degrees, he returned into the Country, and for a while preached and taught a private School, at the Chappels belonging to Kings-Norton. But as yet he was a Foe and no Friend to Gods Truth and People, whom he oppoſed under the notion o… Puritans. But as it was with St. Auguſtine (who before was vitious in manners and erronious in judgment) going to hear the Eloquence of Ambroſe, was reduced from his Errours: ſo it fared with him, being about that time a diligent frequenter of the learned Lectures of ſundry Orthodox Divines at Burmingham; he had here a ſure and ſafe foundation laid of the true Religion; and from that time, he favoured the ſincere Milk of the Word of God, and intirely loved thoſe that were born and begotten unto God thereby.
Not long after he was called to ſupply the Cure at Kings-norton, under his Brother Mr. John Hall, who had it annexed to the Vicarage of Bromsgrove, and a while after gave it franckly to him; the Free-School was alſo added to it, for his further encouragement; (for though it were a large Pariſh, yet the great Tyths being impropriate) he had but a ſmall Sallary, and could ſcarcely have ſubſiſted, had he not embraced a ſingle life for this cauſe chiefly as he ſaid. Yet after God had ſet a ſeal to his Miniſtry, this great people were much upon his heart (who ever ſought Work rather than Wages) that he would never be perſwaded to leave them, though ſolicited with a promiſe of far greater preferment, and was in the time of War often accuſed, curſed, threatned▪ with death, plundred many times, and five times impriſoned at the leaſt.
He was a very hard Student, though of a cold rheumatick Conſtitution; he would impalleſcere Chartis, even hazard his life to get Learning and the choice Obſervations he met with in good Authors, he inſerted into his Commonplace Book, and by his great induſtry he acquired a good meaſure of knowledg in Arts and Sciences, eſpecially in Divinity; of God and his Word, and Works; of himſelf and his Duty; Plin. Sec. de Avunculo ſuo Epiſt. l. 3.Perire omne tempus arbitrabatur quod ſtudiis non impertiretur.
He took great pains in his Paſtoral Charge, and would not offer to God that which coſt him nothing: he conſtantly preached twice on the Lords day, and kept Lectures in other places; beſides his Expoſition of Scripture, and Catechizing, which laſt he uſed when the days were of any length, and always before the Sacrament; and many of his Hearers ſent in their Children and Servants to be inſtructed: To which he added private Admonition, Prayer and Examination to many that were willing to partake of that Ordinance, yet were unwilling to appear in publick: by all which means he did much good, and laid ſuch a foundation that few of his Hearers were levened with the looſe opinions of thoſe times.
And ſo great was his repute amongſt the godly, that many came to hear him from far, and not a few deſired his advice in their fears, doubts and temptations; and ſeveral perſons of Quality ſent their Sons to table in the houſe with him, that they might partake of his prayers and precepts for the orderly regulating of their lives and ſeaſoning their tender years; eſpecially ſuch as intended them for the Miniſtry, to the intent that they might get Learning, a right Method in their Studies, and learn to divide the Word of Truth aright; whoſe pains hath been to ſo good purpoſe, that many of his Scholars have proved able Miniſters of the Goſpel.
Neither was his Good confined to a particular Congregation; for he ſeemed with the Apoſtle to have a care of all the Churches; and it might be ſaid of him, as of Calvin, That he was no otherwiſe affected towards the Churches of Chriſt though remote, than if he bore them upon his ſhoulders. How pathetically would he pray for the Churches abroad, and ſympathize with them in their ſorrows and ſufferings! and when he heard good news from far of any Church of Chriſt planted, the Goſpel propagated any-where, How would he rejoice and praiſe God! and even particular Churches at home in many places have taſted of his good will, by his preaching and prayers.
But to ſpeak of him more expreſly and particularly.
1. He was a man of great integrity and ſingle-heartedneſs in his Miniſtry, eſpecially, wherein he had no worldly or baſe affection, no carnal deſign or ſelfintereſt, mainly ſeeking the glory of God, the good of his Flock, preferring always this, before any earthly gain or advantage whatſoever: in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity he had his Converſation in this preſent world. He 2 Cor. 4.earneſtly coveted the beſt things; and if any worldly thing, it was Books; as Dr. Smith would ſay merrily of himſelf, Nullius rei preterquam Librorum avarus; he coveted nothing but Books: and not Books neither ſo much for himſelf, He made not himſelf the center of his actions.as for the publick good: Witneſs the Library at Burmingham and Kingsnorton: The Latter of which that he might procure the Pariſh to Build, he gave his Study of Books to it in his lifetime: to the former he was a good Benefactor, and gave ſeveral Volumes that he bought, and prevailed with many of his Brethren to do the like.
2. He was of a free and liberal heart, never thinking the things that he poſſeſſed Acts 2.44.were his own, or that he was born for himſelf, but for his Country and the Church of God. In his lifetime he made his own hands his Executors; like Noble Arawna he would give like a King, or as the Macedonians, according to his power; yea, even 2 Cor. 8.3.beyond his power; and always he gave his Heart with the Gift: if he beheld a poor man that wanted Cloaths for himſelf and his Family, How would his very bowels yearn towards them! and T. H. His true Chriſtian Charity.he he hath been ſeen to pluck the very Coat off his own back to cloath ſuch.
And though he uſually denied not ſuch as asked an Alms of him in the As it was ſaid of Mr. Fox.Name of Chriſt, yet the nearer any were to God, the more they taſted of his bounty; knowing it was his duty to do good to all, eſpecially to the houshold Gal. 6.10.of Faith.
3. He was a juſt man, and lived much by Faith when outward Comforts Heb. 10. 38.failed; for when he had expended moſt he had upon charitable uſes, his uſual ſaying was, enough; enough: And in his laſt ſickneſs, when he had but ſix pence in his Purſe, and a Friend offered to lend him Money, he refuſed it; and not long after God ſo enlarged the hearts of his people towards him, that he had ſeveral ſealed Papers of Money ſent him, as I am credibly inform'd, he knew not from whence; So that he had enough indeed, and to ſpare. Eſau could ſay he had enough, but Jacob had more, or had all, becauſe God was his Portion; he had enough to give Legacies to certain Friends after his Burial. It fared with him, as with Pithias a Merchant of Ithaca, who had compaſſion upon an aged Man taken by Pirates, and redeemed him, and bought the Commodities they had taken from him; the old Man ſaw that out of meer pity and charity he had done this, he diſcovered a great Maſs of Money hidden amongſt certain Barrels of Pitch, that he had bought of theſe Pirates, inſomuch as the Merchant became very rich: So this our ſpiritual Merchant loſt not but gained by laying up his Treaſure in Heaven; he thought that depoſitum better in Gods hand than in his own. As the Widows Meal in the Barrel and Oyl in the Cruiſe waſted not, but increaſed by feeding the Prophet; ſo he caſting his Bread upon the Waters, received it after many days.
4. He was a Man of an holy and unblamable life; ſo that Malice it ſelf, though it might bark at him, yet could not faſten her Teeth upon him. He was not like ſome Preachers now-adays, who bid the people do as they ſay, but not as they do: For what he impoſed on the people as a Duty, he made it his ſtudy and endeavour to practiſe. That Holineſs that he ſo excellently diſplayed See his beauty of Holineſs.from the Pulpit, was not ſimply notional but affective, and had an influence into his life; you who were of his Charge are Witneſſes, and God alſo; 1 Theſ. 2. 10, 11, 12.how holily and juſtly, and unblamably he behaved himſelf amongſt you, how he exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one as a Father doth his Children, that you would walk worthy of him that hath called you: And when the Book for Sports and Recreations on the Lords Day came forth, though enjoined to be read by publick Authority in the ſeveral Churches throughout the Land, he deeming it a great prophanation of the Sabbath, and contrary to the Word of God, refuſed to read it, Mat. 22. 4.though he was threatned for it: for which he ſuppoſed he had our Saviour his Precept, and his Apoſtles Practice Acts 5.29.in ſuch a caſe to obey God rather than Man. And what Eraſmus ſaid of Luther, Acts 4. 19.was true of him; Non leve prejudicium eſt, tantam eſſe Morum integritatem, ut ne hoſtes reperiant quod calumnientur; His life was ſo unblameable that his greateſt Enemies could not blemiſh him.
5. He was of an humble deportment and carriage, eaſie of acceſs, and eaſie to be intreated: he had not reſpect to the rich, becauſe of their riches, nor deſpiſed the poor, becauſe of his poverty; but his doors and ears were open to them, and he would be an Advocate for them, and plead their cauſe with ſuch as were mightier than they; and the meaneſt Inhabitant of the Pariſh ſhould aſſoon have his requeſt granted, if lawful and in his power, as the greateſt. He ſought not after great things for himſelf, but was content with mean fare and coarſe cloathing; and would often uſe that ſaying of Mr. Greenham, brown Bread and the Goſpel is good fare; and if his Landlady had provided any Diſh that he thought ſuperfluous, he could hardly be perſwaded to taſte of it, but would blame her for it: And it ſeemed to import his deep humility, he gave order after his deceaſe, That his Body ſhould neither be laid in the Church nor Chappel, but in the Church-yard among the meaneſt of his neighbours.
6. He was a great lover of peace; and for peace ſake hath often parted with his own right, never looking exactly after Decimations, but leaving it to the people many times to do as they pleaſed, & made compoſitions with them upon eaſie terms to their good liking: and when he heard of Contentions in the Pariſh, he would preach againſt them, and perſwade his Hearers to follow after the things that made for peace: And when any litigious actions have been brought in their own Court, he hath endeavoured to ſtop ſuch procedures, ſhewing the parties that contended, how unchriſtian a Courſe it was for them who were brethren to fall out amongſt themſelves; Eſteeming it much better to buy Love than Law, ſince Mr. Dod.they might buy much Love for a little, but could not have a little Law for a great deal; yea though he prized peace at ſo high a rate, he would not part with purity to purchaſe it.
7. His preaching was plain, but profitable and powerful, not in the inticing words of mans wiſdom; and he ſpake not Phalerata, but fortia, in the evidence 1 Cor. 2. 1.and demonſtration of the Spirit; never reſpecting the perſons of men, whether rich or poor, but reproved ſin in whomſoever he ſaw it.
8. He was one that was much in Communion with God in publick and in private, according to his duty; and as the Churches neceſſity called for it, obſerving many days of Humiliation and Prayer with his own Congregation and other private Chriſtians, Gen. 18.17wherein he would reverently pour out his ſoul into the boſom of his Heavenly Father, and had much of Gods Pſal. 25. 14.mind made known to him; So that he did foretel what would befal this and our Neighbour Kingdoms for our hating to be reformed; and in particular, that deſolation of London by Plague and Fire, before God ſet up thoſe Comers as Intelligencers to forewarn the Nation. See what he writ in his Epiſtle Before his Samaria's Downfal.to that famous City: Sin (ſaith he) hath brought down greater Cities than yours; as they had their time of riſing, ſo of ruining; as of building, ſo of bruning; Witneſs Nineveh, Noe, Tyrus, Babylon and Jeruſalem; Sin hath made them all a deſolation. I ſhall never expect (ſaith he) that City or State ſhall proſper, or that your houſes ſhould continue when Gods Houſe lies waſt; all our Buildings will be but Nods and Babels, unſettlement and confuſion till Gods Houſe be ſettled and exalted.
9. He was abundant in thanksgiving to God, for calling him to the knowledg of his Will, and for giving him … heart to imbrace the Truth in the love of it, who walked before as other Gentiles, whom God hath paſſed by, though greater in Wealth, outward Worth, Wiſdom, Learning; &c. and that he had called him to the work of the Miniſtry, in a place according to his own heart, and among ſuch a people as bore good will to his perſon, and acknowledging this to be the meer good pleaſure of God, he endeavoured to quicken himſelf and his Flock to a grateful Conſideration of the love of God in this reſpect.
10. He was very careful how he ſpent his time, which he never did in idleneſs, unneceſſary journeys, or complemental viſits, but whitherſoever he went, his intention was either to do or receive good: that time that he could ſpare from his Paſtoral Employment, he ſpent moſtly in viſiting of Learned men and in writing Books; Thirteen of which he printed in his life-time, beſides what he left for the Preſs after his Death.
Concerning that Commentary of his upon the Second of Timothy, Mr. Ley a very Learned, Godly Man writeth; That it is the better half (not in quantity only, but in quality) of the beſt Expoſitory Treatiſes that he had ſeen upon that Scripture; And doth believe for Congruity of the Truth with the holy Text, pertinency and fulneſs of profitable matter, (deducted from it or conſonant to it) is the beſt that hitherto hath been Extant in the Church of Chriſt.
I am now arrived at the laſt Scene of his Life, and the beginning of his Sickneſs; no part of which he acted amiſs, admitting of common frailties, which are incident to the beſt of Saints, who ſhould be denominated ſecundu n meliorem partem, with ſome Grains of allowance; (As Dr. Fuller ſaith,) A Pomegranate without any Core, muſt neceſſarily be planted in Paradiſe; And as the Swan is ſaid to ſing moſt ſweetly when he is dying and exchanging life Ariſtotle.for death; Of which Bird Martial hath this Epigram:
Dulcia defecta modulatur Carmina lingua,
Cantator Cygnus funeris ipſe ſui.
Sweet ſtrains he chanteth out with's dying tongue,
And is the Singer of his Funeral Song.
So this Saint and Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, as he was profitable in his life; ſo he was peaceable and pleaſant in his ſickneſs, ſinging and making melody in his heart unto the Lord.
In the year 1664, about the beginning of September, before his laſt ſickneſs, as he was going up the ſtairs to his Study, he was ſmitten as if one had ſtruck him with a Dagger on his back; inſomuch that he was not ſatisfied, till they that were near him looked to ſee whether there were any viſible here; he was nigh fainting upon it, and continued weak: before this he had been viſited with a Quartain Ague, the Dregs of which Diſeaſe being not wrought out by Phyſick, brought a lingring Scorbute, and he felt an extream pain in his back, and had a Flux of Blood iſſuing from him, which brought him very weak; yet he was ſtrong in the Lord and in the power of his might, and did mightily admire the free Grace of God in Chriſt, in ſeparating him from his Mothers womb, calling him by his grace, and ſetting him apart for the work of the Miniſtry, though unworthy of that high and holy Calling; ſo many that walked worthy of their profeſſion, and received with the heart the form of Doctrine delivered to them. And in his Sickneſs, though ſometimes he might be heard to groan, yet never to grumble; but would always juſtifie God, and condemn himſelf; and ſoon ſilence any mutinous and murmuring thoughts that might ſeem to ariſe in his heart, upon their firſt ſallying forth; In the words of the Prophet, Shall a man receive good from the hands of the Lord, and not evil? He counted his ſickneſs and his ſufferings light and momentany, the glory to come, weighty, great, and ſo joyous, as too big to enter into the ſoul, that the ſoul muſt enter into it; often mentioning that paſſage of the Apoſtle; For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh 2 Cor. 4. 17.unto us a far more exceeding weight of glory.
March 22. 1665, his dear ſiſter Mrs. Eleanor Smith came to viſit him, and attended upon him to the very day of his death, and wrote down in her Book the moſt remarkable paſſages that ſhe heard from him: Many of which you will have wound up in the enſuing Diſcourſe.
(He ſaid) he had done his work (meaning that he had run the courſe of his Miniſtry, and accompliſhed that laſt Work of his upon the ſeventy-firſt Pſalm) and now longed for his Diſſolution, Pſal. 71.and to reſt with his dear Lord Jeſus; And though he rejoiced much that he had compleated his former Works, yet this was the quinteſſence of all, that he was going to receive his Reward; and counted not his life dear unto him, ſince he ſhould ſhortly ſee the lovely face of his dear Saviour. And as St. Auguſtine, when he meditated of that paſſage of God to Moſes, Thou ſhalt not ſee my face and live; Lord (ſaith he) then Tunc moriar ut te videam.let me die that I may ſee thy face: So this ſerious and ſincere Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, having ſeen him by the eye of Faith, was now ready to ſing old Simeons Nunc Dimittis; Lord, now letteſt thou thy Servant depart in peace. Nothing troubled him ſo much, as that he was going to a place where he was to have ſo great Wages for ſo little Work. And he not only at the laſt (as it was ſaid to be the Speech of Bellarmine) upon his Death-bed, Tutiſſimam eſt iter ad Coelum per merita Chriſti; but he wholly in his health and ſickneſs, relied on Chriſt for Juſtification, Life and Salvation, freely by Faith in his Blood.Rom. 3.24.
He told Mrs. Smith, he much rejoiced at her kind coming to him, eſpecially at the hopes he had of her continuance with him to the laſt; which might be a means to free him from all ſcandals that might be caſt upon him by the Papiſts or Quakers, who he knew would ſpare him no leſs at his Death, than they had done in his life: he thought they would not ſtick to ſay, he died raging, an Atheiſt, or a Papiſt, or caſt the like Calumnies upon him, as they did upon Luther or Calvin; But (ſaid he) being now in perfect memory, I do declare, I die a ſincere Servant of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and do deteſt from the bottom of my heart, all their erroneous Opinions and Practices.
(He ſaid) he thought he had been under as much conteſt with Satan, the World, and the Fleſh, as ever any man for his time; of which he had left a particular teſtimony to be printed with his other works. This was (I conceive) his Life written by his own hand, which I never had the happineſs to ſee, though I much ſought after it, for the compleating of this his Narrative.
He often did reflect upon the evil of the times, the reigning ſins, whereby God was diſhonoured; viz. Profaneneſs, Atheiſm, Idolatry, &c. were very grievous to him: and he took it as a choice Mercy, that God would take him out of the world (in ſuch a time as this); Lord, (ſaid he) what am I, that thou ſhouldſt think on me, and give me reſt in ſuch an evil day?
He much deſi…ed to wait upon the Lord without diſtraction and diffidence, knowing that his time was the beſt; but rather if it were the Lords will and pleaſure, he deſired to be out of the body, that mortality might be ſwallowed up of life; he would ſay; O Lord, how long, holy and juſt, why drive the Chariot-wheels on ſo heavily? I long Lord, to come unto thee!
And as he was comfortable in his Sickneſs; ſo he gave much ſweet counſel and encouragement to Miniſters and private Chriſtians that came to viſit him, eſpecially to ſuch as he had begotten to God by his Miniſtry, or had fitted for the ſervice of God in his Church. A reverend Doctor coming to ſee him, and ſpeaking comfortable words to him; he told him he was going to his reſt, and hoped the Church of God would have reſt; and that God would raiſe up and refreſh his faithful Servants in the Miniſtry; and though there might be a ſharp ſtorm coming, he conceived that it would be but ſhort. He adviſed his Viſitants to ſtand faſt in the Faith and not to ſhrink, though a trying time ſhould come, he would have them to continue conſtant to their Chriſtian calling, and not to be carried away with the errour of the wicked to forſake their ſtedfaſtneſs, but to grow in grace, &c. prepare for death and judgment.
A young Miniſter coming to ſee him, he exhorted him to adorn his Miniſtry with a holy life; which if he did not, he might do more harm by his Example, than by all the Sermons he ſhould preach.
He called for the four Youths in the Family under his inſpection, and gave them wholſome inſtruction, viz. to remember their Creatour in the days of their Eccl. 12.1.youth; he warned them to keep Gods watch, to abſtain from youthful luſts, to obſerve the Lords Day ſtrictly, and to be obedient to their Parents; which if they did, it would be well with them, and they ſhould be a bleſſing to Poſterity, and bid them remember theſe were the words of their dying Maſter, and ſo he bleſſed them particularly in the Name of the Lord.
Ordinarily ſuch of his Pariſh that came to ſee him, he would caution them not to procraſtinate their repentance, but to be ſerious in the matters of God and his Service, to break off all delays, and to embrace the tenders of grace, the motions of the Holy Spirit, and ſet upon the practice of good works, and to do nothing that might interrupt the peace of a good conſcience, which would witneſs for them or againſt them, teſtifying that what he had taught them, was the Truth of Chriſt.
When ſome came to ſee him, that he conceived were addicted to ſcandalous ſins, he would endeavour their Conviction, by pertinent Texts of Scripture; as I heard him ſay to one, Remember to take heed of Covetouſneſs: and ſo he would ſay of other ſins, telling them, that it was the Counſel of their dying Miniſter.
I think I ſhall never forget his valediction and benediction to my ſelf and my dear Brother, with his hearty Prayers and Precepts: it put me in mind when I ſaw him in that poſture, of good old Jacob rearing himſelf upon his Pillow, Gen. 47. 31.or leaning upon a Staff to bleſs his Children; Oh with what gravity and authority did he ſpeak, as if he were already in the Suburbs of Heaven.
When he perceived ſome to go away ſad from him, as lamenting his loſs; he would ſay, I am now going where I ſhall have reſt from Sin and Satan, from all fear, wearineſs, watching, and from all the evils and errors of a wicked world; even ſo (ſaid he) Come Lord Jeſus; for I long for thy Coming.
When his pains grew greater, he oft prayed that God would help him to wait upon him without ſin.
He was abundant in praiſes to God, that he was pleaſed to take him away in that opportunity of time; as to the ſame purpoſe a little varied; he ſaid, If God had put a Pen into my hand, and had bid me write the time I would die, I ſhould have wrote for this, before feebleneſs and diſability of old age took hold upon me; now my work is done, and to die in peace is a great mercy.
Come Lord (ſaid he), come away; for my deſires are wholly for thee, and the remembrance of thy Name: I am going to keep an everlaſting holy day to the Lord, a year of Jubilee is at hand; and here he fell into ſuch an extaſie of joy, and ſuch ſeraphical expreſſions he ſpake (as were thoſe that the Apoſtle heard in his rapture) which were hardly to be written, (his Siſter ſaid) they were 2 Cor. 12.beyond her Pen.
He lay after this very meekly under his weakneſs, his body decaying apace; April 20.and he ſaid, he felt the ſymptoms of death, and then cried, when Lord, when wilt thou come?
Having ſome intermiſſion from pain, he affirmed Satan ſaid to him, What doſt thou think to eſcape above all others? but (ſaid he) I prayed the Lord to rebuke him, and ſo heard no more of him.
And when his Phyſician would have given him hopes that God might reſtore him to health, he would not hear of that, but gave him good Counſel, and ſaid, He loved him much for the grace he ſaw in him, and for his care he had of him, and bid him prepare for a ſtorm, and keep his integrity for Chriſt, and he would keep him in the hour of temptation.
(He ſaid) I bleſs God, I am going to better friends, to a better place, and better imployment; I long to be in it; When will it once be, Lord? not my time, but thine.
After this, there came a Neighbour-Miniſter unto him, and ſaid, The Church of God would be a great loſer by his Death; he anſwered, he had done his Work, and God had better to raiſe up in his ſtead; and counted himſelf happy that he was going to his reſt, and ſhould ſee none of the evils that were coming; yet was content that God ſhould ſerve himſelf upon him, and then let him depart in peace, as David that ſerved his generation faithfully according Acts 13.36to the will of God, ſlept with his Fathers.
Being asked what he thought of the Church of God, he anſwered, God was in the midſt of her, ſhe ſhould not be moved; God would keeep her, and that right early.
When a friend asked him, how he did (he ſaid) never better; for I am going to God, but never worſe as to the outward man: and his Siſter offering him a Cordial, he refuſed it, ſaying, Give no more now; for it is not fit that I ſhould be feaſting my body when I ſhould be continnally in Communion with Chriſt, and waiting with my Lamp ready trimmed; God feedeth me with better food than the world can afford me with.
He begged much that God would take him to keep an everlaſting Sabbath with himſelf; I know (ſaith he) that my Redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand Job 19. 25, 26.at the laſt day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms deſtroy this body, yet ſhall I ſee God in my fleſh. Oh let my life be nothing but prayer and praiſes, ſince God hath dealt ſo tenderly with me. He often comforted himſelf with the glorious eſtate he had in hope, and that he had a company of Angels round about him to keep and guard him to his Fathers Houſe.
Come Lord, (ſaith he) carry me out of this weary houſe of clay, which is ſo burthenſome to me; When, when wilt thou come, Lord?
He was as full of heavenly comfort as his heart could hold; yet not without ſome intervals of aſſaults, and Satans buffettings; for he ſaid, Siſter, Siſter, Did not I abhor the Maſs? Oh yes, ſaid ſhe, let not Satan tell you otherwiſe; for you have prayed and preached, and wrote againſt it, and now abhor it: to which he anſwered, I do, and do abhor it.
A little after, he ſaid, God was coming to do wonders by the operation of his Spirit, it will be, it will be, go tell it.
Now (ſaid he) I have nothing to do, but to die; and even whiles he lay with death-pangs upon him, he ſpake this; All the joys of this life are … nothing to the joy I have in Jeſus Chriſt. He cloſed up his Life, and breathed out his laſt breath, with theſe words; Come, Lord Jeſus.
He died April 13. 1665. at 4 of the Clock in the Evening.
The Names of the Thirteen Books he Printed in his life-time, viz.
1. THE Pulpit guarded, in quarto.
2. The Font guarded, 4to.
3. The Schools guarded, or a Defence of H. L.
4. The Beauty of Holineſs, 8vo.
5. A Treatiſe againſt long Hair.
6. Wiſdoms Conqueſt, a Tranſl. of the 13th Book of Ovids Metamorphoſis, 8vo.
7. Phaetons Folly, a Tranſlation of the 2d Book of Ovids Metamorphoſis, 8vo.
8. Hometius Enervatus; or a Treatiſe againſt the Millenaries.
9. Sal Terrae; or a guard to the Miniſters and their Maintenance.
10. An Expoſition by way of Supplement, … 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, chapters of the Prophecie of Amos.
11. Samaria's Downfal; or a Commentary by way of Supplement, on the 5 laſt verſes of Hoſea 13.
12. The Beauty of Magiſtracy, in an Expoſition of Pſalm 82. Wherein is ſet forth the neceſſity, utility, dignity, duty and morality of Magiſtrates.
13. A Practical and Polemical Commentary, or Expoſition upon the 3d & 4th Chapters of the Latter Epiſtle of St Paul to Timothy.
There is alſo Treatiſe a of his againſt May-poles.