The Life of Mr John Hieron, Chapter 10

The Life of Mr John Hieron · Chapter 10

p. 35CHAP. X. Of the Ʋſes to be made of the Life of this Man of God, in certain Reflections and Corollaries.

Sect. 1. MEthinks, I ſhould be greatly wanting to my Duty in writing this Life, if I ſhould not add ſomething by way of Improvement of it. I have endeavoured to make this good Man known to them, that knew him not; and to make him better and more fully known to them that knew him; but what is all this to the main purpoſe, if I ſhould not ſay ſomething to make him known for good, that we may be ſomething bettered by this knowledge? I have ever judged a Sermon lame, let the Doctrinal part be never ſo well handled, if it wanted its Application. I know this Narrative, that ſpeaks of him, ſpeaks to us; but alas who is not wanting to himſelf in Applicative knowledge! What a vaſt diſtance do many of us find betwixt our Heads and our Hearts? How little p. 36do we carry on of a practical deſign, in our reading of dead Miniſters, or in our hearing of the living Miniſters?

The Man here mentioned (Reader,) is a part of the Cloud of Witneſſes, wherewith we are encompaſſed. Suffer me to do what I can to put ſome Life into this Life. I know I cannot do it; all quickning comes from God; yet in Miniſterial Excitations God many times ſhews himſelf a quickening God: I will lay my Wood in order, and wait for Heavens Fire: I will propheſie according to my ſlender proportion, and will hope for Gods commanding the Wind to blow, that brings the Breath of Life with it. I know every Letter I have written, or can write, is dead; but whilſt I am ſtirring up my ſelf and you, God can (if he ſo pleaſe) make words ſpirit of Life, make them quick and powerful. I fain would ſpeak, write nothing, but words of truth and ſoberneſs. I am ſenſible in ſome things I muſt ſay, I ſhall not pleaſe ſome; but I muſt pleaſe God, in uttering the deep thoughts of my heart upon this occaſion. Bear with me, ſuffer my heart to have a little vent. If you will interpret as charitably as (I hope) I mean honeſtly, you will take no offence at any thing that falls from my Pen, who have followed inoffenſiveneſs, ſo far as I could do it with faithfulneſs.

COROLLARY 1.

Sect. 2. Suffer me to prevent prejudice, and anticipate ſome Objections or Exceptions that I eaſily foreſee may be made.

Obj. 1. Oh, may ſome ſay how do you know theſe things you write of Mr. John Hieron?

Anſw. Many things I know of mine own knowledge, and for things that I do not know, I have very credible Information from them, that have reaſon to know: My minutes concerning him are from a very knowing friend, one of higheſt advantages to know, a Man of great Obſervation and hath a good Memory, but truſts it not; one of great veracity, that is too well bred a perſon to uſe any impious frauds, and ſo much an honeſt man and truly tender, that he dares not uſe any of thoſe that are called (though miſcalled) Pious Frauds, deceitful talk for God. He cannot, dare not love, nor make ſo much as an officious lye.

Obj. 2. Oh, but you Nonconformiſts lean to your Party, and magnifie your own out of meaſure.

Anſw. 1. We love our Party; but we confine not our love within our Party. We love all good men, and do them right; own that of God that is in them. We love the amiable according to the degree p. 37of Divine Goodneſs that is impreſſed on them. We ſhould not love God ſincerely, nor them aright, if we did not do ſo. We never had been a diſtinguiſht Party, if you had not forced us to be ſo, by impoſing terms we cannot bear. We ſtand to it, we are no Sectaries, nor Schiſmaticks: In Gods Judgment we ſhall not be called ſo.

Anſw. 2. We love dear (now bleſſed) Mr. H…eron; he was a glory to his younger fellow-ſufferers, his gray head was a Crown to our green h…ads; but yet we love the Truth better▪ We can do nothing againſt the Truth, ought to ſay nothing prejudicial to Truth; we will not break a Commandment of God to ſet off a man▪

Anſw. 3. My Heart reproacheth me not about this Life of his, that I have drawn any Line, but what was in his Face: That I have laid on any falſe Colours, but what were agreeable to his Complexion. Look how much I have fallen ſhort, I am not ſenſible that I have exceeded; we muſt have leave to magnifie them, that God hath magnified; we muſt not obſcure them, that God hath made to ſhine. I have only tranſcribed my own apprehenſions of him, without any love of error, and as far as I could, have kept from errors of love. I muſt confeſs my great affections to him, and veneration of him; but I have watched againſt my Affections bribing, or byaſſing my Judgment.

COROLLARY 2.

Sect. 3. Let me hence plead with men of Antiminiſterial Principles: If this Book fall into your hands, read and conſider to your Conviction. Oh go not on to deny and decry the Office, and the Officers. Lay your hands upon your mouth. Ceaſe to vilifie Gods Miniſters, and the Miniſtry. Let your Ignorance drivel no more. Let your rancorous Minds vomit no more Reproaches. Let your ſpightful, envious Minds, full of malignity, belch out no more unſavoury, noyſome Language. Lo, here is a man that we offer to you as a proof of the Miniſtry. We have many ſuch as he. Our Quiver is full of ſuch, who make us not aſhamed to ſpeak to the enemies of the Miniſtry in the gate. Will you call Mr. John Hieron a Wolf, that did ſo feed the Church of God? Will you call him an Hireling, that Preached as many Sermons for nothing, as when he had his place; that made the Goſpel without charge? Will you call him a limb of Antichriſt, that was a pleader againſt Babylon? Will you Blaſpheme the Holy Ghoſt in the Gifts and Graces beſtowed▪ on him, the apparent fruit of Chriſts Aſcenſion? Will you ſay he caſt out Devils by Beelzebub? Will you queſtion his Call, that Heaven hath put ſo many p. 38Seals to? Shall a Man of God be called a Prieſt of Baal? Shall a Prieſt cloathed with Salvation by God, be called by you a Chemarim? Do you ſeek a proof of Chriſt ſpeaking in a man? Lo here it is! Do you not know, he was no reprobate; however he and others have been reprobated by you? Oh, return to more ſober Minds, and paſs a better Judgment on the Miniſtry▪ Why will you be guilty of ſo great ingratitude, as to account this great gift of Chriſt as filth, offſcouring, refuſe? Why will you ſtrengthen the prejudices of a carnal corrupt World, againſt thoſe that would awaken and mend them? Why will you lend your mouths to Satan, to reproach the Servants of the moſt high God? For if your Language be not the hiſſing of the Serpent, I know not what is. Can wrath, clamour, bitterneſs, be from the Holy Spirit, who expreſly declares himſelf grieved by it? Do you not quench the Spirit, by deſpiſing Prophets, and teaching others to deſpiſe Propheſying? Whoſe Errand are you on? Whoſe deſign do you drive but Papiſts, who have transformed themſelves into various ſhapes; but agree in this, to wound the Miniſters? Whence do you fetch your Arguments againſt the Miniſtry; but from Socinians, which deny the Deity of Chriſt? Why will you credit them againſt the Miniſtry, that deſtroy the Foundation-ſtone of Chriſtianity?

COROLLARY 3.

Sect. 4. Give me leave, O you, that had an hand in contriving, in forming, in eſtabliſhing the Act of Uniformity, to ſhew you what manner of Men fell by it, and before it; the Man whoſe Character I have given you, and many of the ſame Spirit and Character, were driven out of their places by the Act of Uniformity, fled before the Oxford Act, and were all endangered, and many of them were malled by the Conventicle Act. What evil had they done? Surely, nothing that God had declared to be Sin; but what thoſe Acts made Crimes. Were the Penalties proportionate to the Crimes? Did you indeed ſpeak Righteouſneſs, O Congregation? Did ye indeed judge uprightly, O ye Sons of Men? Do you know what Spirit you were of, when you raiſed ſuch a Storm, ſuch a dry Wind, not to fan, nor to cleanſe the floor of Chaff; but to blow away the Wheat? When you threw this fire into the Sanctuary, where was your Chriſtian Charity? From whence were your Politicks fetcht from, to begin ſo fiercely to lay the foundatons of reſtored Monarchy, and reſtored Prelacy in the civil death of ſo many, and diſobliging ſo conſiderable a number of the ſtanch men of this Kingdom, that had theſe Miniſters in thier p. 39hearts? Was this a winning way? Did this commend the Government in Church or State? What ſo dear to the ſober part of men in this Nation, as their good Miniſters? When men take them away, they are ready to ſay, what have we more? Better the Sun did not ſhine, then Chryſiſtome not Preach. Who can read love to a Nation in ruining of Synagogues? Brown bread with the Goſpel is better to ſerious Souls, then white bread without it; yea the bread and water of Affliction, is good fare to them that can ſee their Teachers: Oh that you ſhould ſtretch out your hands to vex certain of the Church! Such work ſhould be left to ſuch as Herod was. Why would you make ſo great a cry in the houſes of Iſraelites? Why would you put the praying ſeed to make ſo many complaints in Heaven to their Father againſt you? Why would no petitions for peace (ſo pathetick) move you? Why would no conſiderations of the mutability of Humane affairs, the ſight of the turnings of the wheel of Providence, the ſence of your own paſt ſufferings, which poſſibly might return again, ſoften you, moderate you? Why had you no proſpect of the evil that might be upon the Earth, to induce you to ſhew Mercy, and ſtore up Mercy for your ſelves againſt ſuch a time? Did you do as you would that men ſhould do to you? Oh, if into any of your hands, whom this Corollary concerns, this Book falls, I entreat you to give my words an impartial Reading, tread your violent ſteps back in great indulgence. If there be any thoughts of comprehenſion, let there be no ſnares. Let the Rules of Chriſtianity make it, we that are old, ſhall make no ſtrains of our Conſciences, we will lye in our Irons ſtill, knowing Death will ere long releaſe us; rather than have our liberty, by yielding to ſay or do things that cannot be done without a great many diſtinctions. We deſire to be dealt plainly with, and to deal plainly with all the World. We are reſolved againſt all conditions that are ſinful; and we ſhall not willingly do any thing that is doubtful, or carries an appearance of evil, or may give any colour of ſuſpicion, that we do depart from our Principles; we would advance in Reformation, and not be tempted to any retrograde ſteps. If you will lay the Bible betwixt us and you, it ſhall, like an enquiry at Abel, end the matter. If our Bible lead us to you, we will follow it: We have heard of late dayes ſome ſpee…hes of tenderneſs to Diſſenters, when our cup ſeemed to paſs over to you: Now we are waiting to feel it. If any true remorſe do touch your hearts, you will become good Samaritains, and your kindneſs will exceed your rigours, you will pour into our wounds Oyl and Wine inſtead of Vinegar. Oh, I beſeech you think, (as I may allude to a Scripture Hiſtorical paſſage) what manner of men you flew (civilly) at p. 40Bartholomew day: Lo, here I have preſented you with one, that reſembled the Apoſtles, the Evangeliſts, yea imitated the great Shepherd and Biſhop of Souls. This Man, and many ſuch you ſet aſide, the precious Sons of Zion, comparable to fine Gold, how were they eſteemed by you as Earthen pitchers? Yea, the Nazarites purer than Snow, whiter than Milk, more ruddy than Rubies, their poliſhing of Saphire; their Viſage made as black as a Coal by you, they are not known in the ſtreets; will you not remember the Battle, and do no more. Again, do not you ſee who have practiſed upon you, whoſe Agents you have been, whoſe hand is in theſe things? Have they not been ſervices to Rome, diſſervices to the Church of England, made her appear as a Stepmother to her beſt Children? As if ſhe was become cruel, like the Oſtriches in the Wilderneſs. Hath not this ſtrictneſs about Ceremonies been managed by Papiſts in diſguiſe? Have not the ſame hands inlarged that ſtrictneſs? And ſhall we ſtill go on? Is it not enough that you have done their jobbs, till they had like to have ſerved all our turns? (Bleſſed be that Providence that prevented it in the nick of time) but muſt we, will we go on now our eyes are openeed? Oh, work not with them, but counter-work them. Be not tenacious of what is theirs, caſt out their houſhold-ſtuff. Botch no more in Reformation, purge out the old leaven and let us be made a new lump: Let us keep the things wherein the Kingdom of Chriſt is, and part with thoſe things wherein it is not. Take not of Babylon a ſtone for a corner, a ſtone for foundations, daſh her little ones againſt the ſtones. Let the obſervations go, wherewith the Kingdom of Chriſt comes not. Are all the ſignificant Ceremonies ſo ſignificant, as one Sermon of Mr. John Hierons? Have they that in them to excite, that energy, that Miniſterial excitation hath? Where's the promiſe of Gods preſence with them, that the qualified, ſent, Miniſtry have and can plead? Were it not much better that (like Pollio's glaſſes) they were broken to pieces, than that one good mans mouth was ſtopt, becauſe he cannot ſwallow them? And further, are we ſo full of Miniſters, truly ſo called in England, that we can ſpare ſo many of our Labourers, and turn them off at once? Many thinking men judge a plurality of Miniſter's needful in moſt places, and know not how any Miniſter of Conſcience can accept plurality of places; but it ſeems you thought, there is ſuch plenty of Miniſters, as to disband ſo many good Souldiers was no loſs. When in Queen Elizabeths time ſhe was inſtigated by ſome ill affected to the Miniſtry, (very probably the diſguiſed Papiſts, that the Reverend Dr Burnet ſuggeſts) to abridge the number of Preachers; E. G. then Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury was much troubled at it, and p. 41wrote a ſerious, zealous, learned, ſtrenuous, ſinewy Letter to her, urgeth the many hands uſed about Solomons Temple, and many very pertinent Scriptures, to prove that the Goſpel ſhould be very plentifully preached, and that plenty of Labourers ſhould be ſent into Gods Harveſt; ſo great and large, as that it requires not few, but many Labourers. Oh caſt your eyes upon that Letter, it may make you mourn for what you have done, and melt you into great tenderneſs. Furthermore, perceive you not how unproſperous your method hath been; ſee you not how you prevail nothing: If you thought to rip up the womb of Puritaniſm you have but made it more fruitful. There is ten of the Puritan perſwaſion for one formerly, (I wiſh though, that one of the ten were the true old Puritan). See you not ſince this Liberty what flocking there are to the Miniſtry? And if People were freely and fully at liberty to act according to their Judgments and Inclinations, you would ſoon ſee a very great encreaſe of theſe numbers. See you not how many young men God hath raiſed? How he hath bleſſed their private Education? And what gifts they are enriched with? See you not, that Providence hath been inſtead of Livings to thoſe, whom you caſt out of Livings, drove from Corporations, from their kind Neighbours, entred Cautions againſt them in all wayes of Livelyhood that they were capable off, left many no way, unleſs they could dig in the Town-ditch? Ye dealt worſe with us, then Joſiah did with the Prieſts of high places: 2 Kings 23. 9. They did eat of the unleavened bread with their brethren; but for us, we muſt neither have Altar, nor Bread. The Prieſts of the high places had broken a poſitive Law of God; yet Joſiah moderated their puniſhment, though he ſhut them out from Spiritual Services; yet he allowed them Natural and Neceſſary Proviſions; I do not know that our crime was ſo great, but our puniſhment was greater. We found no ſuch moderation; yet we have found Mercy from God, we have turned no ſtones into bread. View our faces, we are fair liking; Mr. Hieron had an Eſtate, and God gave him an heart to live on it, and no need, nor mind to be burdenſome; and for others in meaner circumſtances, yet God hath abundantly bleſſed their proviſion, and hath ſatisfied his poor with Bread. Nay, let me cloſe this Corollary with that, which may moſt convince, and melt you, and make you ſmite upon your thigh; hath not God been near them? Hath not God met with them, whom you have caſt out of the Synagogues? Have not their parts been increaſed? Have not their Graces flouriſhed, hath not God ſpoken peace, and lift up the light of his countenance upon them? See you not in Mr. Hierons Life an intercourſe betwixt God and him? How did his beloved Jeſus ſhow himſelf, yea, flouriſh thro' the latteſs.

p. 42COROLLARY 4.

Sect. 5. O you, that are the Miniſters of God, let me call your eyes to behold Mr. John Hieron. Mr. Bowles hath written an excellent Book for Miniſters, called Paſtor Evangelicus; lo, here I preſent you with a Miniſters Life, that wrote after that Copy, and his Life is a praxis upon the Book. His Preaching was the praxis upon Biſhops Chappels, Methodus concionandi; an accurate Ramiſt Mr. Hieron was, and his management of his Miniſtry was a Tranſcript of Reverend Mr. Bowles his Paſtor Evangelicus, and thoſe few hints that we have of his converſe with his heart, and God give us ſome reſemblances of great and good Mr. Corbets Self-imployment. Brethren, I do not oſtentare virum, ſed oſtendere, I do not make a proud oſtentation of Mr. Hieron, but I do ſhew him as a good pattern to Miniſters. I preſume not to teach you; but I may be allowed to be your Remembrancer: I may ſtir up your minds, and I do beſeech you mind his Qualifications for the Miniſtry, and labour you to be ſo qualified; this will make your inward call clear, and without that your outward call will afford your minds little ſatisfaction; nor can you with that confidence expect a Bleſſing. You have the ſame Father of Lights to go to. All his Gifts and Graces were borrowed. Where he borrowed his, you muſt borrow yours. If good men, much more a good God, is ever merciful and lendeth; he gives Wiſdom liberally, and upbraids not. You may light your candle, fetch fire to warm your heart from him, whoſe fire is in Zion, and furnace in Jeruſalem. Iſa. 31. 9. The better qualified, the more hopes of ſucceſs. Qualifications beget us a Reverence in People. The Sanctuary Weights and Meaſures were bigger. Miniſters ſhould out-part their People, elſe they are diſdained. Qualifications approve the Miniſter a workman in his Services. God ordinarily works according to the aptneſs of means; good men full of the Spirit of God, have the preſence of God ordinarily moſt with them. I further exhort you to have an outward Call, the People have a right to choice, the Miniſtry a right to examine, judge and ſeparate. The Magiſtrate may claim confirming. And oh that the Spirit of this Worthy Man was in us, that though he doubted not of his own Epiſcopal Ordination; ſo he queſtioned not Presbyterial Ordination: I wiſh moderation in this point. The Younger Clergy are very intemperate: But I pray you, if you do read what I write, conſider that they that are much Elder than you, are convinced by their Bibles, that a Biſhop and a Presbyter are the ſame Office. And let me add, they that have ſearched into true Antiquity, p. 43and have perhaps read more Books, then either you, or I have ever heard of; dare aſſert, that they find no evidence of Dioceſan Epiſcopacy. I ſhould much queſtion Epiſcopal Ordination, if Biſhops were not Presbyters. But above all, I deſire all Miniſters to mind and follow his Exerciſe of his Miniſtry; I have laid before you his Diligence, his Faithfulneſs, his Laboriouſneſs; I have ſhewed you how inſtant he was at home and abroad, Preaching in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon. When he was fixt, he ſetled to his work; when toſſed, he was fixed for his work; throw him as men would, he fell upon his ſquare; he run all hazards, endured hardſhip as a good Souldier of Jeſus Chriſt: O follow him. You find in his Life, that when he heard of Grace eminent in a Miniſter, or read of their Graces, he beſpoke himſelf to go and do likewiſe: So let Miniſters that read his Life, charge themſelves to Preach, as he did; Converſe profitably with your people, as he did; Admoniſh, Reprove, Exhort, as he did; endeavour to prepare People for the Sacrament, as he did. When his Breadſall Neighbours met frequently at the Smiths Shop, and there, as he feared, ſpent too much time unprofitably; he obſerved it, and would ſend a good Book amongſt them to read. Oh thus it is, ſay you to your own Souls, and thus it will be with them that have a care of Souls. I have repreſented to you his converſe with his own Heart, his looking to and keeping his own Vineyard. He was for ſaving himſelf, and thoſe that heard him. Oh be not you content to be as Noahs Ship-wrights. Remember the ſolicitude of Holy Paul, leaſt by any means when I have Preached to others, I my ſelf ſhould be a caſt away. 1 Cor. 9. 27. He looked after his Sermons; he liſtened not who commended his Sermons, but who made good uſe of them, bewailing the ſins of their hearts and lives. Not who, after his Sermons, cryed, how well hath he Preached; but how ill have I lived, what a vile carnal wretch am I? He longed for ſucceſs, ſo do you travail in birth. Pray that your Sermons may be the Arrows of the Lords deliverance; that as the Row of Jonathan turned not back, as the Sword of Saul returned not empty; ſo it may be in your Spiritual Warfare. What ſhall I ſay to excite Miniſters? By long and ſad Experience I have found, I need it. I have had ſome reflecting thoughts upon that paſſage Iſa 42. 19. Who is blind, but my ſervant, or deaf as my meſſenger that I ſent? Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lords ſervant? Do you think he did more than his Duty, more than needs? Sure you cannot think ſo, when you read Acts 20. 28. that a double [Take heed] is the Miniſters charge: Can you think it was more than needs, when Jeſus Chriſt ſpent his Blood for the flock? Can you think it more than Duty, p. 44when a double dedication is upon you, your Baptiſmal Devotedneſs, and your Miniſterial Conſecration. Can you think it over-doing, when ſuch a Worthy as Arch-Biſhop Ʋſher breaths out his dying breath, O Lord, forgive my ſins of omiſſion? Can you think it more than needs, when you know the worth of Souls, the terror of having the Blood of Souls required at your hands? If he did not, the obligation is the ſame upon you and him. 2. Would you have Honour and Reſpect in your places, follow your work, as this faithful man did, Honour will follow you as it did him. Herod reverenced John. Honour God, he will honour you. Seek not the faces of men, fear not the faces of men, do nothing that may make men deſpiſe you, depart not out of the way, cauſe none to ſtumble at the Law, corrupt not the Covenant of Levi, be not partial in the Law; leſt God make you contemptible and baſe before all the people. Malachi 2. 8, 9. Fawn upon no body, flatter no body; fidelity commends it ſelf to Mens Conſciences. 3. Would you have his ſucceſs? He had a Seal in the Conſciences of his Hearers, had Letters of Commendation; would you have ſo? Uſe no Leaden Daggers, but wield the Sword of the Spirit, let not the weapons of your Warfare be carnal; but thoſe that are mighty through God. He was an able Miniſter of the New Teſtament, not of the Letter only. He was full of might by the Spirit of the Lord, drew the bow with his full ſtrength, did not do Gods work negligently, ſerved God with his Spirit in the Goſpel of his Son, and he was full of Souls given in; He will appear with a Lo! I, and the Children thou haſt given me. Be you travelling in your Souls, and you ſhall ſee of your travel and be ſatisfied; carry forth your ſeed weeping, your boſoms ſhall be full of joyful ſheaves. 4. Would you have his peace, his viſits of God, his ſhines, his aſſiſtances, his comforts in the way, his ſerenity, his ſatisfaction in the end? Follow his Integrity, mark this upright Man, tread after him in Zeal for ſubſtantials, Moderation in doubtfuls, in Charity, Hoſpitality, in ſtudying all the holy wiles of winning Souls, in loſing ſomething of your own to gain them, with meekneſs inſtructing oppoſers, reſtoring the lapſed, in puting your ſtronger hands under feeble hands, &c.

COROLLARY 5.

Sect. 6. To you O Men I call, to you O people I addreſs my ſelf, at Newton Solney, at Aſhbourn, at Bredſall, at Little Eaton, at Newthorp, at Loſco, you that enjoyed his younger days labours, his Middle Age pains, and the ſervice of his mellow years, his laſt Labours, which were better than his firſt, though all was good you that heard p. 45how he preached, and ſaw how he lived. If I did think any of the Neglecters of him would read this Life of his, I would give them a Severe Repremand. Were you prejudiced? Why did not you go and ſee? John 1. 46? Were you frighted? Durſt he preach at ſo great an hazard, and would not you adventure your ſmaller penalty? Did you judge your publick Miniſtry ſufficient? Would not his help have done well to have given your Souls a lift? Had it not been wiſdom to have twiſted his Cord with your publick advantages? Was it careleſsneſs, Oh, know, that is an ill Sign. It's well if any Spiritual good come to you. If God have People in a place, God brings them to the means, he ſends among them: If any of you do read theſe lines, I intreat you to know, to your Conviction and Humiliation, that you had a price put into your hands, leſt you know, to your coſt and ſhame, that a Prophet was ſent among you, Ezek. 33. 33. But I leave theſe, and come to you, that heard him, but your profiting by him doth not appear. You were the Reproach, not the Credit of his Miniſtry, he fain would, but could not cloath himſelf with you. Let me lay before you a few awakening things, if God will bleſs them to you. 1. How can you think to be wrought upon, when you have been under ſuch a skilful hand not healed? What can they do that come after him? If you have got no Light, no Zeal under ſuch a burning and ſhining light, if from the dayes of Mr. John Hieron you have not been violent for the Kingdom of God, if not awakened▪ under ſo Rouſing a Miniſtry, how muſt the hands of others be weakened, and their hearts diſcouraged in their labour amongſt you? Where he plowed upon the Rock, What other of Gods Husbandmen can hope to make any thing of you? If ſuch a Soul-ſearching, Heart-ripping Miniſtry could not get within you, how little can others hope to give you any light into your hearts?

2. How ſpeechleſs will you be when the Fruits of his Labours upon ſome of your Neighbours will be brought forth to convince you? You had the ſame mean…, the ſame pains▪ beſtowed upon you. You had the ſame Tillage, the ſame Rain came down upon you. Sure your deſtruction is from your ſelves. I did more for them, than for you; but the denyal of my Grace is not the Cauſe of your periſhing; but your own ſinful, wilful forſaking of your own Mercies.

3. Do you not believe that he who teſtified Gods mind to you, muſt one day come forth at the Call of God to teſtifie againſt you? And they that have not …nned to declare unto you all the Counſel of God, will be as full in their Teſtimony againſt you: For they will be ſo ſwallowed up with the Glory of God, that they will ſpeak out even againſt the deareſt Relations they have. And thoſe, that while p. 46they were here, they could have gone upon their knees to, to beſeech them to be reconciled to God, they will then have no ſuch tenderneſs for; but utter every whit that God may be juſtified when he ſpeaketh, and clear when he judgeth. I pray you accommodate that part of Joſephs Story, Gen. 45. 3. when Joſeph diſcovered himſelf, his Brethren could not anſwer him; for they were troubled at his preſence, how will it be at the great day with all his People in all places, when you ſtand at the barr, and this Witneſs is called againſt you? Oh what trouble, what conſternation will you be in, when Conſcience within, and ſuch a Witneſs without appears againſt you and ſuch a manifeſting light is round about you?

But I do betake my ſelf to you that made a good uſe of him, that neglected him not, but attended on nis Miniſtry, that eſteemed him highly in love for his Warks ſake, that gave your own ſelves to God, and to him by the Will of God, 2 Cor. 8. 5. To you I give a few hearty Advices and Counſels.

Advice the Firſt.

1. Admire that wiſe Providence of God, that good Providence of God, that ordered a tempeſt upon the Church to bring Mr. Hieron (like the Goods of a ſhipwrackt Ship) upon your Coaſts. The loſs of other places was your gain. An Inſtance you have which calls your thoughts to it, Acts 8. 4. Acts 11. 19. 21. Philippi 1. 12. It was in greater Mercy to Greaſley Pariſh, that was firſt bleſſed with him; becauſe precious Mr. Smally outed of that place, A man in whom a very found Judgment and lively Affections met▪ finiſhed his courſe ſomething ſooner than divers others of his Brethren. Now for God to provide ſuch a ſtake, was an admirable Mercy. And though he removed from you; yet to be ſtill within the reach of many of you, was ſtill more Mercy. And that God found a reſting place for him at Loſco, was a very great Mercy to them, and that Pariſh, and Neighbour places.

Second Advice.

Remember how you have received, had heard, and hold faſh▪ He gave you ſound Bottoms, continue upon them▪ It is very grievous to hear of the waverings of ſome in Greaſly, Pariſh, ſo well inſtructed by Mr. Smally built up by Mr. Hieron. Let Children be toſſed: Let not Men of underſtanding be ſo, Beware of defection. Have you attained no diſcerning of Spirit? Have you loſt your Palate? Cannot your taſte p. 47diſcerne, perverſe things? Will you bid them God ſpeed, that teach other Doctrine? Have you not ſaid, when you have heard Mr. Smally, Mr. Hieron, Oh the Bleſſedneſs! Shall any Body have occaſion to ſay to you, Where is the Bleſſedneſs you ſpeak off? Do you think, if ſuch things had been Truths, that your dear, faithful Miniſters would have hidden them from you? Do you not know they were no ignorant Men? Do you not believe they were faithful Men? Surely if ſuch things had been bread, they would have broken it to you. If they had been food, they would have ſet it before you. Oh, I beſeech you believe, that Doctrine can never edifie you, that undermines the Doctrine taught you. Believe all the Doctrines Strange, that your Teachers did never acquaint you with. I am well ſatisfied their Doctrine remembred, believed, and practiſed, will bring you to Heaven. Read and Apply, John 6. 67, 68, 69.

Third Advice.

Remember what of a Chriſtian you ſaw in Mr. Hieron, and imitate him. Much of a Miniſter, much of a Chriſtian was with him. When his heart was dull, he went to ſome good lively Book, ſo do you. He went to Secret Prayer, and found God anſwering by Fire, ſo do you. He kept by him a Catalogue of Sins, to renew his Repentance for them before Sacraments, ſo do you. He had a Catalogue of Mercies, he looked back even to his Childhood, to ſtir up thankfulneſs, particular thankfulneſs, herein follow him. He communed with his Heart in his Solitary Houres, he looked up his Evidences, and kept them fair, he entred proteſts againſt ſpecial Sins upon ſpecial occaſions, and took notice how he kept touch with God; follow him. He never met with any Experience either in a way of quickning, or comfort, but he made quick returns of Praiſe. Let every deſcent of Mercy return back in the quick aſcent of Praiſe: What ſhall I render? Was his queſtion; let that be more familiar with you. Teach your Tongues to praiſe, as ſome teach their Tongues to lye, and blaſpheme. He was a cloſe walker, an unblameable Converſation was with him, turn not you looſe Libertines, now his Eye inſpects you not, Gods doth. Do not that in Gods Eye you would not, durſt not have done in Mr. Hieron's. If you feared his reproofs, how ſhould you dread the Reproofs of God? Let that comprehenſive Rule be before you, Phil. 1. 27.

p. 48Fourth Advi….

Follow after all thoſe wayes, wherein he led you, and accompanied you. Meer ſtill in days of Prayer, keep up your Sacraments, your Sabbaths, as far as you can. And if the Word be not ſo nigh you, as it hath been, make out for it as health and ſtength will permit. Forget not the laſt Exhortation he gave you, his farewel Speech. Tho' you may go far and not meet with a Preacher like Mr. Hieron; yet honour the Ordinances, be thankful for meaner fare. Ordinances Bleſſing is from their Inſtitution and not the Excellency of him, that adminiſtreth them. Gods Bleſſing will be upon honeſt Endeavours, and honeſt Attendances upon God in them. If you were truly fed by him, you will hunger after the Word. The Thirſt of Total Indigence is taken away by the Well of Water in your ſpringing up, by your firſt draughts of the Water Chriſt gives you; but not the Thirſt after ſweeter and fuller Enjoyments. David's ſights of God in his Sanctuary ſet him a longing, to ſee as he had ſeen; Spiritual ſatisfactions ſatiate not, glut not Gods people. They riſe with moſt appetite from their fulleſt meals.

Fifth Advice.

Pay your reſpects to his Name and Memory, keep up Communion with him in your Thoughts and Mind, caſt no Reproach upon him by looſeneſs, lenity, infalibility, give no Body occaſion to ſay with ſcorn juſtly, This is a Hearer of Mr. Hieron's. Looſe not the things you have wronght. Be not as Joaſh, or Jehoaſh. 2 Kings 12. 2. 2 Chron. 24 2. 16. that did what was right in the ſight of the Lord all the dayes of Jehojada's Inſtructing him: But fell off at his Death, you muſt expect Temptations as Joaſh had: But pray that you may reſiſt and overcome them.

Sixth Advice.

Long for that Bleſſed day when you, and your Dear Mr. Hieron and your good Neighbours, and whole Society ſhall meet again and part no more, have and keep an Eternal Sabbath, eat Bread, and drink Wine in your Fathers Kingdom, of which your Sacraments here were but an Antepaſt; have the Harveſt of your firſt fruits, the whole ſum of which here be but earneſts; when all you that received him as a Prophet p. 49of God, ſhall ſhare with him in his reward, even a Prophets reward, as I told you upon the occaſion of his death. You have not my word for it, but Chriſts word for it, who is the Amen, the true and faithfl witneſs; Matth. 10. 41. and ſo I come to my cloſing Corollary.

COROLLARY 6.

Sect. 7. And now my Pen is expreſſing my ſad thoughts about our great loſs of Mr. Hieron, let me lead my Reader a little further on; to weep upon the Graves of ſome other Derbyſhire Miniſters. Oh my Derbyſhire Friends, bear with me if I go on, and give my mind a little vent upon this doleful Subject. Derbyſhire is a beloved Country to me; I am no Native of it, but it being the Country wherein I began and ended my Publick Miniſtry, I am as it were Naturalized of it. By my great affections to it, my heart points towards it. And when I can breathe in that Air, and breathe out my ſelf amongſt them, I am refreſhed, and in my Element. I deſire my Limbs, that I might get over to them, and help them. Beſides, unworthy I am ſurvivor to divers of my Brethren there, their memory is precious to me. I cannot but build ſome little Monuments for them, and ſet them about this larger Monument of Mr. John Hieron; they wrought the work of God, as he did, they were his Companions in labour, his fellow Souldiers: They were driven into corners, lived in obſcurity, dyed in obſcurity, ſo far as men could cloud them, they were lights put under buſhels, but they were lights. Theſe Candles were not extinguiſhed, when men put them into dark Lanthorns; as the Bleſſed Jeſus, in his ſtate of Humiliation, his Deity in its Glorious Rayes did dart forth: So theſe Holy Servants of God did (as they had opportunity) manifeſt their graces and gifts, though covered with a cloud by the juſt anger of God, (Adored be his Juſtice!) and by the cauſeleſs diſpleaſure of men (Curſed be their Wrath!) Theſe I think I am bound to give ſome ſhort account of.

To awaken my Derbyſhire Friends to bethink themſelves what a Miniſtry God hath bleſſed them with, and hath bereaved them off, it well becomes you, Oh my Friends, to reflect, whether you be Vines ſo flouriſhing, ſo fruitful, as anſwers ſuch Vine-dreſſers? Whether you were a Crown to them, that were a Crown to you? The ſtaple Commodities of your Country are Wooll and Lead: You are Traders in theſe many of you, and are grown up to great conſiderableneſs. Let me tell you, the Miniſtry of Derbyſhire was a more advantageous price than them. Your Shepherds were far beyond your p. 50Sheep. And thoſe Earthen Veſſels, your Miniſters, had ſuch an excellency of treaſure, as is of more value, then your rich Mines. Oh have you traded with them? You have cauſe to ſuſpect it, becauſe theſe Shepherds are ſmitten, theſe Veſſels are broken, theſe Mines fail, theſe Crowns are fallen from your heads. Again, I do it to enlarge thoſe ſhort hints in Mr. Hierons Life, wherein I have ſaid that we have not only him, a ſingle Miniſter to produce; but we have many like him in Parts, like him in Fidelity, like him in Laboriouſneſs, like him (though few equals to him) to ſhame the contemners, and to ſilence the ſilencers of them. And laſtly, to preſerve their Names and Memories, and to provoke the Miniſters, that yet are in the Vineyard▪ to quit themſelves like Miniſters, to play the men for the Congregations of God, to emulate their gifts and graces; that ſo people may not be ſtraitened in their Miniſters, that the loſs of ſuch Worthies may be leſſened, that the decay of the bearers of burdens may not wholly diſcourage, nor make the work to ceaſe.

Let no offence be taken if I do not mention all. It is not diſreſpect to any good man; but only forgetfulneſs, and the want of ſome good Remembrancer at my Elbow: For I am in the ſtocks, ſhut up, cannot go out to others, and few have the kindneſs to come at me.

1. After the killing Uniformity Act had diſſeized Mr. Thomas Shelmerdine, Death followed; he was Lancaſhire: born, bred in Chriſts Colledge, Cambridge, ſerved God in the Goſpel of his Son▪ was a diligent Preacher at Criche divers yea…s, where he was encompaſſed with many good old Puritans, that lived in that Pariſh and about it, who did ſtrengthen his hands much in his work; he was a man very chearful in converſe. He was a kind Husband to an holy, but very melancholly Wife. From Crich he removed to Matlock, where he did the work of his place, lived peaceably with his Neighbours, and found more benefit by his peace, than his ſucceſſor found by his contention. From Matlock, after Aug. 24. 1662. he removed to a dwelling in Wic…sworth, where he lived not long; but fell ſick of the ſickneſs of which he dyed▪ In his ſickneſs he would ſay to his very Friends, that he was going to his Preferment, and ſome few dayes before his death, he ſaid to an Honeſt Soul that informed me, that next to my hopes of Heaven, I rejoyce that I turned out of Matlock. He lived not to have any more removes by renewed violence; but was houſed and laid in his bed of reſt at▪ Wicksworth, a place that he had laboured much in, being one of them that kept a Weekly Lecture there; and lives in his Son Mr. Daniel Shelmerdine, who is an active ſpirited man in the Miniſtry, and goes about doing good.

p. 512. After him went Mr. Stanley of Eyam: A man of worth, and had been long a painful Miniſter in the …eake. After he was outed, the Plague ſiezed that place▪ and there (if I do not miſtake) he continued, and (though not then a Miniſter of that place,) yet he ſhewed himſelf both a Miniſter, and did many good offices to that place, during that …ore and very mortal Viſitation. My acquaintance was ſlender with him; but they that knew him ſpake very well of his Praying and Preaching. I am not certain what year he dyed.

3. Mr. John Oldfield or O…efield, born near Cheſterfield, brought up at Dronfield School, at that time famous. He was outed from Carſington. A general Schollar; a great Maſter in the Tongues and Mathematicks. He had a Mechanical Head and Hand, capable of any thing, he had opportnity to get inſight into. I mention not his Univerſity Education: For what ſome would reflect upon him, as a diſparagement, was really his great honour; that he was a man of ſo great Learning and worth, and yet beholden to no Univerſity for it. It is manifeſt to all that knew him, that he was a Judicious Divine, a good Caſuiſt, a workman in Preaching that needed not to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, he was pertinent, methodical, a man that was clear in opening his Text, and ſpake very cloſe to Conſcience from it. He knew well the inſide of Religion. Few that heard him, but they did diſcern his underſtanding of the myſtery of Godlineſs, that he ſpake from his Heart, and they felt his words come to theirs. He was of few words and reſerved, not at all talkative; but give him but occaſion by ſtarting Diſcourſe, get him but upon his Knees, or put him upon Writing or Preaching work, and then you would ſoon find he wanted neither Words nor Senſe. Oh, he was a Man of Prayer; ſome dear ones that are left behind, and have had no ſmall burdens of Affliction ſince they loſt him, do feel the want of his Prayers, to lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees. He was of a very quiet Spirit; a people amongſt whom he laboured very ticcle, very capricious, very hard to be pleaſed in Miniſters, yet centered in him; and I am ſure his Name is precious amongſt them: And well he may; for I am ſure amongſt them, and ſome Neighbouring Meetings to them, he ſpent himſelf, and was ſpent by his great labours, in diſpencing Holy Myſteries, Word and Sacraments amongſt them. This good Man had many removes after he was outed, but God told his wanderings, and he had Songs in the Houſes of his Pilgrimage. At length he pitched at Alfreton, from whence he took many weary ſteps to ſerve his Maſter, and was very uſeful in that Neighbourhood; but at laſt was forced by his Infirmities to ceaſe from his Labours, and now reſts from them, p. 52and thoſe works follow him. He hath built himſelf a laſting Monument in his ſmall piece about the Righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, the ſubſtance of ſome Lectures at Wicksworth. And in his larger piece about Prayer: Thoſe things are diſcoveries of the Man: Yea, God hath built him a Monument in ſuch a ſet of Children, as God hath bleſſed few with, Mr. John Oldfield lives in three Sons of the Fathers Principles, actually in the Miniſtry, whoſe parts are above the common rate of moſt of their years, and their Piety, Zeal, and Induſtry anſwerable to their Parts. He dyed June 5. 1682. in the 55th. year of his Age.

4. Mr. John Billingſley, Kentiſh Man, born at Chatham, educated in both Ʋniverſities, outed from Cheſterfield, an ingenuous Man, ſtrict to his own well underſtood Principles, an accurate ſavoury Preacher, an exemplary walker, a Man elegant in every thing, a diligent Reader, and obſerver of what he Read, ready with his Pen. Few men have left more excellent Collections behind them than he, which are happily fallen into his Sons hand, that knows well how to uſe them. His outward Bodily appearance was ſmall and mean, but he had a great Soul, rich in Grace and Gifts He left his place at Cheſterfield, becauſe he could not keep his Place and his Peace, but he kept his Affections and Care over them; hazarded his Health and Liberty to ſerve them. If Cheſterfield People would reflect upon his Labours amongſt them, and his warm Letters written to ſome of them, they muſt needs know that a Prophet was amongſt them, both able and faithful. The Pin of the Uniformity Act, driven by hands that were fit tools for ſuch miſchievous work, puſhed him out of his Pulpit and Houſe, and the hurricane of the Oxford Act drove him from his hired Houſe and Town to Mansfield; in which he paſſed the reſidue of his ſojourning time in fear, wrought for the Salvation of others, and wrought out his own, was ever ſerious and laborious: But towards his latter end his Motion was very quick, made actual preparation for Death, deſired his poor outed Brethren, caſt into Mansfield, (as he was▪ to come together a little before his Death, to put him into the hands of God by Prayer, made a ſhort Confeſſion of his Faith in, and ſole dependance on the alone Righteouſneſs of Chriſt; and not long after went full ſail into the Kingdom of God: He dyed May 30. 1683. He writ ſomething againſt Quakers, and Printed a Sermon with it, which gives the World a taſte of his Abilities. He lives in his Son, who bears his Fathers Name, and hath his Fathers Spirit, the true Son of ſuch a Father, filling up the vacancy by his Fathers death in Miniſterial Labours; in which (in my Judgment) he gives no juſt occaſion to any to deſpiſe his Youth.

p. 535. Mr. Luke Cranwell, born at Loughborough, in the County of Leiceſter, Educated in Chriſts Colledge, outed from Peters Pariſh in Derby, a knowing, a couragious, zealous, and a very upright Man. Some now alive knew how deeply he engaged to reſtore Monarchy, but when reſtored it engaged not for him. He fell by the Decree of Uniformity, that ſpared not Age nor Parts, nor conſidered any Service done, but levelled all that lay in its way, and ſpake no other Language, than bow or break. He was not very ready in Elocution; but very Scriptural, ſolid, and ſubſtantial in all his Diſcourſes; his Sermons when looked over by Writers, or thought over by underſtanding Hearers, were found to be full of Divinity; weighty and rational good matter filled them. He had ſome competent Skill in Phyſick before he was outed; and when he perceived, he muſt no longer trade his Miniſterial Talents publickly, he reſolved to try what he could do in his other faculty. Since he was cut off from the publick ſervice of Souls, he betook himſelf to ſerve Bodies, (though not deſerting his Miniſtry, neither in his Affection, nor as to its Exerciſe). In this Imployment he grew preſently very Judicious, Skilful, Uſeful, and by Gods Bleſſing very Succeſsful. By this he maintained himſelf and his Family very comfortably, kept good Hoſpitality, did as readily help his Brethren, and the poor among his Neighbours, without any deſire or expectation of Fees, as he did the rich and greateſt. He had a working head. He underſtood well what he read, and did find out ſome Magiſtrals of his own; many happy and effectual Medicines. He was a chearful Man, and to appearance very ſtrong; but after he began to decline, he run down ſpeedily. His loſs was, and is much lamented: He was indeed a beloved Phyſitian. That he might be out of the reach of the Oxford Act, he went to Kegworth in Leiceſterſhire, and there lived and dyed Nov. 11. 1683. on the Lords day.

6. Mr. Joſeph Moore, Nottingham born, Educated in St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge, in the beſt dayes of that Colledge, when the truly Reverend, ſingularly Learned, and eminently Holy Dr. Tuckney preſided there, a Man fitted for wiſe and holy Government. He was ſober minded from his Youth. He entred young into the Miniſtry; but his Youth was not deſpicable; being grave, ſerious, and ſavoury. He was forced from his publick Miniſtry, which he exerciſed at Sandiacre; by the Act of Uniformity, ſpent the reſidue of his time in divers private Families, in Praying, Preaching, Catechizing, all which he performed far beyond what might be expected from his years. He was an hard Student, a ſearching Man, a pertinent profitable Preacher, lived well, and dyed happily, Novemb. 27. 1684 Interred in Carſington Church.

p. 547. 8. The two Stanyforths, Mr. Jonathan and Mr. Timothy, one ſerved Jeſus Chriſt in the Goſpel at Alleſtrey, the other at Hogneſton; both their mouths ſtopped by the Act of Uniformity. They were the Children of an Antient Godly Miniſter, and an eminently pious and found Mother. They were two good Men, gave much attendance to Reading, had a good Library. After their outing, and the entrance of the Oxford Act, they were driven from pillar to poſt, yet I find that in all places they were at work, and the Lord gave them ſucceſs. I hope there are divers about Heage will bleſs God for their Night-labours. There are ſome that look white for the Harveſt, and ſeveral Families long, and follow after the Word. Theſe two Brothers lived ſome years together, and dyed very near one to another. They made their laſt remove to an honeſt, but an obſcure Family: And from thence they took their flight one after another, from that obſcure corner to a lightſome and large place. They dyed both of them with much inward ſatisfaction, that they were going to that Heaven they had choſen and long laboured for. They had lively hopes in their dying Moments.

9. Mr. Samuel Hieron, Brother to Mr. John Hieron, made no great figure in the World, but was an honeſt man, and an uſeful Preacher; he had a room in the hearts of Gods people amongſt whom he laboured. Few mens outward circumſtances more preſſed their Conformity, than his did; yet he followed his Conſcience, and left a pretty Living at Shirley, upon Auguſt 24. 1662. and threw himſelf and all his, into the hands of Gods Providence. And though he removed from place to place, and every where met with hard pennyworths; yet he found God pityful, and of tender compaſſion; had enough to carry him to his Journeys end; and (through the workings of Gods good Providence) his, that he hath left behind him, I hope will not be expoſed to poverty, or coutempt. He dyed March 24. 1687.

10. Mr. Samuel Wright, outed at Heanor, a good Man, a very able Preacher: Lived in much weakneſs for divers years after his outing. He could not preach, as the reſt of his more healthful Brethren; but when he did, he preached to very good purpoſe.

11. Mr. John Bingham, outed from Marſton upon Dove. A Man of much Integrity, Zeal, and Faith; hearty for God, and in worſt of times and things kept up his heart, waiting for, and confidently expecting the Salvation of God. Thus he hoped to the end, and lived to ſee ſome dawnings of light, which he hoped would grow to a more perfect day; and ſo departed in peace.

p. 5512. Mr. Joſeph Sweinam was not formally put out by the Act of Uniformity, but really he was, for foreſeeing that Acts commencement at Bartholomew day, he thought good to make a mixtly voluntary ſeceſſion ſometime before its taking place, and ſo was not, and yet was expelled by it. He was a Man very well qualified to fill ſo auguſt a place as Allhallows in Derby, a very able Preacher, a great Maſter of Language, and lives in his Son Mr. Thomas Swetnam, whoſe abilities are well known by ſome few Sermons he hath Publiſhed, and by his frequent labours.

13. I mention not divers driven out of the Country, men very valuable; viz. Mr. S. B. Mr. R. M. Mr. S. C. who (though they be alive) yet are dead as to the Country and Places of their uſefulneſs.

Thus have I done ſomething to do my dear Brethren right, and pay my reſpects to them. And this I have done, partly to provoke others to do the like in other Countries, and eſpecially to ſtir up thoſe that are able to decypher the Brethren I have mentioned, or any of them; to write their Lives more fully than I have done. Partly to ſtir up Derbyſhire Chriſtians, to dear remembrances of their dead Miniſters; to reflect upon their Doctrine and Life, and to ſtir them up to a Duty (which I fear is much neglected) of viſiting their Fatherleſs and Widows in their diſtreſs. Read the Hiſtory, 2 Kings 4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. They were offered upon the ſacrifice and ſervice of your Faith; in ſome ſenſe you ought, (as David once did) Ask whether there be any of theirs who need your kindneſs, and ſhow the kindneſs of the Lord unto them, for their worthy Husbands, and Fathers ſake. Their love to you (like Jonathans to David) paſſed the love of Women. And furthermore to call upon you to adore and admire Gods goodneſs, that hath raiſed you up many young Men that preach, pray, and live at a great rate; that hold faſt, and hold forth the form of ſound words, which they have heard of Gods Servants in Faith and Love, which is in Chriſt Jeſus. Oh when you conſider this, Sing, becauſe ſo many are the Children of the deſolate Miniſtry. Their Rod hath bloſſomed, and brought forth Almonds: Say in your hearts, who hath begotten me theſe? Who hath brought up theſe, ſeeing I am deſolate, a captive, removing to and fro, left alone? Iſa. 49. 21. Oh you are not ſtraitened in Miniſters: Cry to God that you may not be ſtraitened in your own Bowels.

Yea laſtly, (If it were poſſible) to bring the rigid Men for Uniformity to repent of their great ſin in compoſing and impoſing ſuch things, as ſtopped the mouths of ſuch Servants of God. I have ſhewed you what mouths it ſtopped in Derbyſhire; and if you ask what it hath done in other Provinces, Cities, Towns, and Counties▪ you p. 56will find alike, if not a ſadder account. So that as one opening the miſchiefs of War, concludes his paragraph, h…c ſunt Belli Decora; ſo I may ſay, when I have mentioned the outed Miniſtry, theſe are the Decencies, the Graces, the Triumphs, and Spoils of Uniformity. What hath caſt away vilely the ſhields of the mighty? Uniformity. What hath ſlain the Beauty of England, and made the mighty fall? Uniformity. What hath deſpoiled the neck of the Church like the Tower of David, builded for an Armoury, whereon their hangs a thouſand Bucklers, all ſhields of mighty men? Uniformity. When the very ingenious Eſquire Evelin, in his Book of Forreſt-Trees, mentions the goodly Oaks of England, he cannot forbear to pronounce his Dirae upon Iron Maſters, and Iron works in England, that have made ſuch waſts. I am for no imprecations, but expoſtulations with Men for rigid Uniformity. And give me leave to cloſe this Diſcourſe, by laying before you ſome ſober thoughts by way of Queſtion.

Queſt. 1. Where do you find in Scripture a power given to man to make additions to Religious Worſhip? Do you not find the contrary in thoſe Scriptures; Deut. 4. 2. Deut. 12. 32. Prov. 30. 6. Who gave Man power to adopt unneceſſaries into Religion? What bottom ſtands Magiſterial Authority upon? Miniſterial Power is of God, but for this Magiſterial, it wants Commiſſion. Matth. 23. 8, 9, 10.

Queſt. 2. Is not the power of impoſing, as dark to thinking men, as the power of inventing? Whence did you learn to make burdens? Whence to lay them on, and bind them on? We are tempted to think your Maſters are, Matth. 23. 4. Hath God given you power over the Conſciences of men, to ranſack their Judgments, and wrack their Conſciences, to ruin all that cannot agree to your Sentiments, to undo all that cannot do what you will have them? Do you not in this ſtrike down the pin, upon which the Law and the Prophets hang? Would you that others ſhould do ſo to you? What ſtricture, or beam of right Reaſon leads you to make your Judgment the publick ſtandard.

Queſt. 3. What branch of Juſtice or Equity is there in ſo grievous Penalties for not conforming to ſuch Impoſitions. The fault is ſmall, if it be a fault. Should mens brains be knocked out, to kill a Fly on their forehead? But the Diſſenters judge it a Duty to witneſs againſt uſurpations of Men. They think they are bound by Gods Law to preſerve the purity of Chriſts Worſhip. They think that a yielding in ſome things was as a ſtirrop, by which Antichriſt got into the ſaddle. Are not theſe things judged by you indifferent? And muſt men be p. 57puniſhed, as if they had denyed and razed the Fundamental Articles of Faith? Should you make men ſpectacles, the filth, and off-ſcouring of all things, upon theſe accounts? Who can read either Chriſtianity or Humanity in ſuch ſeverities?

Queſt. 4. What awe can be impreſſed, or obligation faſtened on a well informed Conſcience, from Humane Laws eſtabliſhing, backing, and enforcing ſuch Impoſitions? Have not Magiſtrates ſupream and ſubordinate, their Lines and Limits, Provinces and Bounds ſet them by the God of Heaven? Are they makers or only keepers of Gods Tables? Did the People of England truſt their Repreſentatives to make ſnares for their Miniſters and yokes for the People? Were they impowered by them to preſcribe, and write the grievouſneſs they had preſcribed? They were entruſted to be ſhields, not ſwords; healers, not wounders; they ſaid to them, Let our ruins be under your hands; they never put themſelves into their hands to ruine them.

Queſt. 5. What Spirit are you of, when you make all Aſſemblies but your own, Seditious Conventicles, Schiſmatical Meetings, Routs▪ Riots? Know you not, that they which acknowledge God, are bound to aſſemble to worſhip him? Do you, can you think it is better not to worſhip God at all, then not to worſhip him in your way and mode? Dare you undertake that this ſhall hold in the day of Judgment? Are not you told by ſome great men of your own, That he that gives the cauſe of the Schiſm is the Schiſmatick? Do you think, thoſe you diſplaced took themſelves to be diſofficed? Did their People deſert them, when you ejected them? Was the Word of Truth utterly taken out of the mouths you ſtopped? Was not Gods word in their hearts, as a burning fire ſhut up in their bones, ſo that they were weary of forbearing and could not ſtay? Did their Breaſts ake, and muſt they not draw them out to the Babes, that deſire the ſincere milk of the Word? You have ſome of you called Conventicles, the crying ſin of England: Oh! How crying a ſin is it in you that have occaſioned them; yea, neceſſitated them? A Natural Mother turned out of her own Houſe, will ſuckle her Child in the Field, or in the meaneſt coat, or ſhed ſhe can ſet her foot into. Corners are not our choice, but your force.

Queſt. 6. Have not you cauſe to fear, that the blood of ſome of theſe dead Miniſters will be upon you? You judged them unworthy of the World, and God hath thereby been provoked to judge the World not worthy of them. You made their work much harder to them, and by their journeyings and faſtings, and watchings, in all likelyhood you did hurry and haſten them out of the World. Oh that ſome of us might live to ſee a relenting Spirit in you! It would be a joy to me, and a token for good to you, for otherwiſe I am greatly perſwaded Judgment is towards you, becauſe Mercy is the promiſed portion of the Merciful; p. 58and Judgment without Mercy hangs over the heads of them that ſhew▪ no Mercy.

And ſo I have finiſhed my Hiſtorical and Practical part of this Book: And ſhall conclude it with only adding one Chapter more in communicating to you ſome Letters written by this Eminent Servant of God Mr. John Hieron, which are as a Mirrour, wherein you may ſee the Ability and Fidelity of the Holy Man of God.