Invisible Realities, Title page – Biography
Inviſible Realities THE REAL CHRISTIAN'S Greateſt Concernment. In ſeveral SERMONS On 2 COR. 4.18.
By HENRY PENDLEBURY, A. M. late Miniſter of the Goſpel at Rochdale in Lancaſhire; Author of the Plain Repreſentation of Tranſubſtantiation.
LONDON, Printed by J. D. for Ann Ʋnſworth of Mancheſter; and ſold by Jonathan Robinſon at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard. 1696.
To the Right Honourable HUGH Lord Willoughby of Parham.
My Lord,
THE favourable Aſpect your Lordſhip is pleaſed to afford to the living Miniſters and Members of Chriſt, encourages me to addreſs unto your Honour theſe worthy remains of a Reverend Miniſter now with God. And as I would humbly implore your Lordſhip's kind and noble Patronage to theſe Diſcourſes, ſo I do with the profoundeſt Deference and Submiſſion, commend them to your Peruſal and Practice. Your Lordſhip is not without a juſt Apprehenſion of the Caution and Vigilancy which they more eſpecially ſtand in need of, who poſſeſs an high Station, and manage great Concerns in this viſible World, leſt they ſhould be diverted thereby from ſeeking that which is Inviſible and Eternal. The Conſiderations preſented in the following Sheets, will contribute no ſmall Aſſiſtance to your Lordſhip's Chriſtian endeavours in this weighty Affair: They do not only make future Inviſible Things a match to cope with thoſe that have the Advantage of a Senſible, Viſible Preſence; but, if duly attended to, may by the Bleſſing of God, give them a victorious Sway and Empire in the Thoughts and Affections of Men.
That your Lordſhip's Conduct may entirely correſpond with the Profeſſion you make of a moſt holy Religion, and with the clear Knowledg of Divine Things, wherewith it hath pleaſed God to endow you; that to your noble Extraction and great Abilities, you may add many honourable Atchievements, and happy Performances, for the Glory of God, the Good of his Church, and the Proſperity of your Native Country, to the everlaſting Honour of your Perſon and Family in this World, and to the Salvation of your precious Soul in the World to come, is and ſhall be the Prayer of,
May it pleaſe your Lordſhip, Your Lordſhip's moſt humble and moſt obedient Servant, JOHN CHORLTON.
A Brief ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.
MR. Henry Pendlebury, the Reverend Author of the enſuing Diſcourſe, was born the 6th of May 1626, at Jokin in Bury Pariſh in Lancaſhire: His excellent Memory is owing to the following Account. He was from his Childhood of a ſolid and reſerved Spirit; there did then appear in him an averſneſs to Vanity, and an inclination to Seriouſneſs; he had an aptneſs for, and love to Learning, and purſued it with great Cloſeneſs and Diligence. There then ſeemed to be an early Foundation laid in him, upon which afterwards a high Fabrick of Learning and Goodneſs was to be erected. He was at ſeveral Schools, but perfected for the Ʋniverſity at Bury School. After he had taken his Degrees at Cambridg, he returned into Lancaſhire, and preached his firſt Sermon at Aſhworth in the Pariſh of Midleton, Auguſt 16. 1648. where afterwards he ſpent ſome time as Probationer in the Miniſtry.
He was ſet apart to the Office and Work of the Miniſtry at Turton-Chappel, in the Pariſh of Bolton in the Moors, Octob. 3d 1650.
The Reverend Miniſters that inveſted him in the Miniſterial Office, were Mr. John Tilſley, Mr. Thomas Pitts, Mr. Jonathan Scolefield, Mr. Toby Furneſs, Mr. Robert Bath. They who were preſent, obſerved him to make his Ordination-Vows and Promiſes with great Humility of Spirit.
After his Ordination, he preached near a Year at Horrigde-Chappel, in the Pariſh of Dean. From thence he removed to Holcombe Chappel in the Pariſh of Bury, October 16. …651. where he laboured hard in his Maſter's Work, till he was excluded from the publick Performance thereof in that Place on Black Bartholomew Day 1662. when about 2000 Miniſters were turned out for Non-conformity. The Adjacent Miniſters and People had him in high Eſtimation for his Life and Labours. When he was there, he had a Call from the People at Ringley, but they at Holcombe being ſenſible what a burning and ſhining Light he was amongst them, would not be brought to give up their Title to him. He had a large meaſure of natural Gifts and Parts, which furniſhed him with great promptneſs and readineſs for all his Miniſterial Performances; but they did not render him the leſs ſtudious, for he would not ſerve the Lord with that which coſt him nothing. Much of his Time was ſpent in his Cloſet, where he gave himſelf to Prayer, Reading, and Meditation: This was the only Place upon Earth, where he took the greateſt Pleaſure, next to his Pulpit. He did not concern himſelf in any ſecular Affairs pertaining to his Family, but devolved the whole Management of them upon his vertuous Conſort. All his Sermons both as to the Heads and Enlargement of them, were premeditated and penned, and afterwards preached with little variation without the help of his Notes; which manifeſted, beſide the ſtrength of his Memory, the vaſtneſs of his Pains to fix them therein, conſidering the variety of Matter, and the number of the Texts contained in them.
So great was his Induſtry, that in his Weakneſs, when there were ſome ſmall Hopes of his Recovery, he ſet himſelf to ſtudy a new Diſcourſe ſutable to his own and his Hearers Condition. Before his Excluſion from this Work in Publick, beſide his conſtant Preaching every Lord's Day at Holcombe among his People, he preached much to other Congregations both far and near, in the Country which had their Monthly Exerciſes; and after he was ſilenced, he continued as Laborious in Preaching as before. And indeed the Diſſenting Party of Proteſtants in all the Pariſhes adjacent to him, were very deſirous of his Labours amongst them; and he was free to ſpend, and be ſpent for the promoting of their Souls good. He was ever mindful of his Ordination-Vow, and could not think that any Power upon Earth could null his Commiſſion which he had received from Chriſt to preach the Goſpel. He was moſt eminent for Humility, Meekneſs, and Self-denial; herein he ſhined above his Fellows.
His Modeſty was ſuch, that tho he was one of the talleſt of his Brethren for Miniſterial Attainments and Performances, yet he did really eſteem himſelf the leaſt of them all: his Humility caſt ſuch a Vail over all his Abilities, that he could not diſcern them though they were very conſpicuous to others. He was able to maintain the Truths of the Goſpel committed to his Truſt, againſt the Oppoſers and Subverters of them. The Controverſies both as to Faith and Worſhip, between the Proteſtants and Papiſts, were throughly underſtood by him; his ſmall Treatiſe of Tranſubſtantiation is a ſufficient Evidence of his Ability to defend the Proteſtant Cauſe: And he has left behind him another piece on the Sacrifice of the Maſs, not inferior to it in Worth and Excellency.
He had a Tranſcript of all thoſe Divine Truths and Graces upon his own Heart, which he diſcloſed unto others; the ſcope of all his Studies, Prayers, and Sermons, was directed by him to the ſaving of himſelf, and thoſe that heard him. And in his Converſation were ſo expreſſed the Power and Life of all his Miniſterial Acts in a Holy Imitation of his Lord and Maſter Jeſus Chriſt, as did ſhew him to be really perſwaded in his Heart that there was more than ordinary Care required of him to keep himſelf in all Reſpects pure from the Blood of Souls: and the Lord who is the ſearcher and trier of the Heart, and who loves Truth of Grace in the inward parts, did crown his Miniſterial Endeavours with great Succeſs. He did not run in vain, nor labour in vain, nor ſpend his Strength for nought; but he had Seals of his Miniſtry all along, from the beginning to the cloſe thereof; and the Lord ordered it ſo wiſely in his Providence, that ſometimes the notice, or the ſaving Succeſs of his Miniſtry was then brought unto him, when it conduced moſt to his inward Support and Conſolation. Then (to give one Inſtance of many) when he was baniſhed by the Oxford Act, at the firſt Houſe he took up his Lodging as a poor Exile from his own Home, he who ſaluted him as his Spiritual Father, related to him that he was the Inſtrument of his Converſion, by preaching a Lecture-Sermon at Leigh Church. Mr. Nathaniel Hilton of London, gave a Stipend for a Weekly Lecture at Bolton every Monday, of the moſt eminent Miniſters in the County, to four in their Courſes, among whom this worthy Servant of Chriſt was choſen one, other two were Mr. Roger Baldwin, and Mr. Henry Newcome, who are both ſometime ſince removed by Death. Ceaſe Lord, by whom ſhall Jacob ariſe, for he is ſmall? He was a great redeemer of his Time, there was not ſo much as a Day ſpent by him in Idleneſs; the ſenſe of unſeen things was ſo deeply impreſt upon his Spirit, as made him fill every Leaf in the Book of his Life, with thoſe great and weighty Works which were incumbent on him in his Place.
When Perſons that had been converted by his Miniſtry gave notice to him thereof, he would with great Humility lift up his Eyes and Hands towards Heaven, and ſay, Lord, who am I, that I ſhould be ſo far honoured as to be the Inſtrument in the converting of one Soul!
He was Eminent for Contempt of the World, he never ſought great Places for himſelf, and when they were offered him, he declined them; he was content to move in an obſcure and low Sphere, ſo he might but be an Inſtrument of doing good to Souls; he would not be drawn nor driven away to any other Buſineſs, but continued in his laborious Courſe of Preaching twice every Lord's Day, adminiſtring the Lord's Supper Monthly.
He was a conſtant Mourner for the Sins of the Nation; and was greatly concerned for the riſing Generation, and bent his Diſcourſes t… eſtabliſh them in the true Religion.
He welcomed his laſt Sickneſs with deep Submiſſion to the Will of God.
He expreſſed his Contentedneſs, if his Lord and Maſter whom he ſerved with his Spirit in the Goſpel, had any more Work for him to accompliſh in the Church below; but if not, he was willing to depart, deſirous to have his own Bleſſedneſs among the Saints above, and to be with Chriſt as being far better.
He had little pain in the beginning of his Sickneſs, and was much in bleſſing of God for dealing ſo gently with him, and carrying on his long Viſitation with ſo great eaſe to him. He kept his reſigned Frame to the Will of his Heavenly Father, and ſaid, I have had more Time to work for my own and others Souls, than I made accompt of when I was Young, and ſo if God have no more Work for me to do, I am free to go to my Reſt; I have had enough of Living, and am filled and ſatisfied with this Life upon Earth.
There came Friends from all Places where he had preached to viſit him, to whom he always dropped ſome word of ſutable Counſel. He adviſed thoſe who told him they were converted by his Miniſtry, to give God the Glory, and to walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith they were called.
He exhorted thoſe who had profited, and were built up in Grace by his Labours, to go on their way rejoicing, tho they ſhould ſee his Face no more.
He cautioned rich and trading Profeſſors to take heed that they loſt not their Souls in a croud and hurry of earthly Buſineſs; he charged them to remember the Saying of Sir Thomas Moor, there is a great Truth in it, as well as a Scum of Wit; There is a Devil that is termed Buſineſs, that carrieth more Souls with him to Hell, than all the Devils in Hell beſide. O beware of the Devil; when you come to be in my Condition, your full Bags, your full Shops, and full Houſes, will ſtand you in no ſtead.
Some of his Reverend Brethren in the Miniſtry did viſit him, with whom he freely converſed, and whom he always deſired to pray with him as he did all his other Chriſtian Friends; and amongst the reſt Reverend Mr. O. H. was with him, and in his Diſcourſe propounded theſe Queries here inſerted, to which be returned with great compoſedneſs of Mind the following Anſwers.
What are your Thoughts as to Juſtification by Chriſt's imputed Righteouſneſs?
I look only to be juſtified by Chriſt's Righteouſneſs received by Faith.
Being ask'd, What Evidence he had for Heaven?
He ſaid, he had good grounds of Hope many Years ago concerning his State of Grace: tho be was full of defects, yet the Merits of Chriſt were alſufficient, on which he truſted.
Are you ſatisfied that you have delivered in your Sermons nothing but ſuch Goſpel-Truths, as you can own at the Tribunal of Chriſt?
Excepting humane Frailty, ſo far as I can remember I have never delivered any thing to my Hearers but what I dare die with, and go with to Judgment.
Mr. H. continued, Whether have you any comfortable Seals of your Miniſtry?
He anſwered, I bleſs God I have, and have had more Fruits appearing ſince my Lying down, than I knew of before, eſpecially many young Perſons have appeared hopeful.
What are your Thoughts now as to your Non-conformity? Do you repent of it?
I bleſs God I am abundantly ſatisfied with it, and if I was to make my choice over again, and if it were poſſible for me to ſee all the Sufferings which I have undergone for it, (which are nothing to what many of the precious Servants of God have ſuffered) and if they were all laid together, I would make the ſame Choice which I have made, and take my Non-conformity with them; and I bleſs God that I never ſo much as tampered with them.
What Legacies have you to leave?
I am unfit to give Counſel to you my Brother, but the words of the Apoſtle I leave with you, Be not weary of Well-doing, and you ſhall reap in due Time if you faint not.
In the latter end of his Sickneſs, it pleaſed his Heavenly Father to viſit him with a complication of painful Diſtempers, under all the Tortures of which he yet glorified God with great Patience, and expreſſed his Hope of his future Bleſſedneſs, ſaying, I am not ſick unto Death, but unto Eternal Life. He would often ſay, In a little while all will be well. As to the Eſtate and Condition of his Soul, he expreſſed himſelf to ſome Friends thus; I can now look back upon my Way and Work in the Miniſtry, and ſay, I have been Faithful; and I can look within, and ſay I have Peace; but after all, the bottom I would fix on is Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs, I would make him all in all.
When his Body was brought exceeding low, yet he would be left alone ſometimes in the Day, (as was concluded) that he might with leſs diſtraction enjoy Communion with God in ſecret Prayer and Meditation.
A little before he died, ſome of his Hearers coming to him, and inquiring of him how he did? he ſaid, I long after your Spiritual and Soul-Welfare.
He departed this Life the 18th of June 1695. about eight of the Clock in the Morning, and in the 70th Year of his Age. His pious Soul, which through the whole Courſe of his Life had been bent towards God, did ſhew her readineſs and preparedneſs for the full and eternal Fruition, by the ſweet and ardent Breathings which it had that Night and Morning after him, which were often expreſſed in theſe words, Father, come and take me Home to thy ſelf.
His Body was interred in Bury Church-Yard (being the Pariſh Church where he lived) cloſe by the Chancel-Wall, on the South ſide, June 20. Anno Dom. 1695. A vaſt Concourſe of People appeared at the Funeral, and made great Lamentation over him; the Reverend Mr. Robert Seddon of Bolton, preached the Funeral Sermon at Mr. Pendlebury's own Chappel. The Subject of his Diſcourſe was in the 12th of Daniel and the 13th Verſe, But go thou thy way till the End be; for thou ſhalt reſt and ſtand in thy Lot at the end of the Days.
Thus have we ſorrowfully brought to the Grave this excellent Miniſter of Chriſt, who was truly a Nathaniel, an Iſraelite indeed, a Gracious, Humble, Meek-ſpirited Chriſtian, that lived as he preached, and preached as he believed: his exact Life was an accurate Comment on his Doctrine; his Doctrine was ſound and Scriptural; he was a ſolid, judicious Divine, that throughly ſtudied what he preached: he was not forward in ſpeaking, but what was wanting in Number was made up in Ponderouſneſs of words, they had all their full weight. He was beloved of all, and reverenced eſpecially by Brethren in the Miniſtry, and his People whom he laboured and ſpent himſelf for about 44 Years, who will be ready to ſay of his Worth, what the Queen of Sheba ſaid of Solomon's Wiſdom, That the one half thereof is not here publiſh'd to the World.