The Life of Mr John Hieron, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of his drawing to his end, of the Sickneſs of which he dyed, of his Death and Burial.
DEath threw not this good Man down the ſtairs, but he was led down by many declining ſteps. He had little Deaths, that were forerunners of great Death; decayes before diſſolution.
The foundation of his Diſtempers began in that ſore Feaver, which he had in Winter, 1661. which followed an ill Fit, which he brought upon himſelf by overdoing in Jan. 1655. The Feaver did in the thoughts of ſome endanger him; but he broke through that brunt. He had a ſecond fit of the Stone 1664, and a third 1665. In April, 1667. ſome fits of an Ague. In March, 67, 68. Not well after his pains, had two fits of an Ague; yet in a Fortnights time returned to his work, and Preached twice, on 15 March and the 22th. he ſpent himſelf, that he quite loſt his Voice. In Feb. 68. 69. Humours ſtirred, as the year before, his pains made his Throat ſore, and the Ague was feared; but by Gods Bleſſing on ſome means uſed, prevented It was obſerved about this time of the year, he could worſe bear his pains, than at other times. Jan. 77. Want of Health forced him to take up, and to Preach but once a day. March 78. He ſwooned once, or twice, was ſick after, had two Ague fits, was for ſome time diſabled wholly. April, 81. An Ague, though not many fits. July 27. A ſore Ague fit; but it was but an Ephemeris, (as the Phyſitian called it) but had no more fits. Auguſt 7. He returned to Preaching once a day, and ſo continued (though under an Epidemical Diſtemper which was in October) till the 26th of February when he preached his laſt Sermon: For March 2. he was forced to riſe to get breath: The humours, that ſtirred in former years at Spring in Agues, now appeared in a worſe form, differing from former Diſtempers: Some thought it a Dropſie, ſome a Tympanites; but Judicious Mr. Cranwell ſaid from the beginning, it was a decay of Nature, whereby his Blood was ſtagnated; and ſo it proved. All Winter before his death he came down ſtairs puffing and blowing; and ſaid one Morning, (when diſturbances in Religious Exerciſes were much expected) If they will let me alone a while, I ſhall not trouble them long.
His greatly concerned Society came to his Houſe, and ſpent a day in Prayer, his weakneſs would not admit him to be in the room with them; yet would he come to crave a Bleſſing; and did ſo; and then ſaid to them, If you put up any Petition for me, Pray that God would give me Patience; we are apt to faint under long weakneſs: And then left them, and returned to pronounce the Bleſſing, and gave them this farewel Speech; I thought to ſpeak to you, it gri…ves me for your ſakes: But if God have any more work for me to do, he is able to raiſe me up again; if not, as David ſaid, here I am, let him do with me what ſeemeth him beſt: I deſire to ſubmit to his will whether for Life or Death; but I would have you ſtill be earneſt after the Word; and if you cannot enjoy it powerfully Preached at home, you muſt be content to take pains for it; as an hungry man will do, if he want bread; travel for it, and do not think your labour ill beſtowed. Remember you have enjoyed the Word along time. Now twice ſeven years and upwards I have been continued with you, and for the most part with great liberty, and I hope not without ſome good effect. Oh bleſs God that you have enjoyed the Goſpel ſo long. It hath been your priviledge to have the Word nigh you, when others have travelled for it; and now if it be your lot to take pains, be not weary of well-doing, knowing, that in due time you ſhall reap, if you faint not. Go on as you have begun. The Promiſe is to them that continue in well doing; Be faithful unto Death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life. This was June 21. 82.
June 22. He had an ill fit of the Stone which he never recovered; but declined faſt after it; much faſter than any time before. June 25. He had a touch of the Apoplexy or Palſie, for his Speech faltered. He ſpake not right, 26.: He was dull and ſleepy, 27: On 30. an ill fit of the Stone. Beginning of July, grows reſtleſs, weary of all poſtures, Sleep went away, Hands ſwelled, looked blackiſh, his Pulſe ſo low that it was not perceived, weary of bed, weary up. A Neighbour bidding him farewel, and wiſhing him a good night; he added himſelf, a…d an happy diſſolution, when the Lord pleaſeth. Thus it was, 1. 2. 3. 4. of July, the 5th they expected, that watched, he would have dyed, went not to Bed; the 6th he blew ſhort, ask'd how he did, he ſaid, weak: Asked his dear Mrs. Anne Taylor? will you go to Prayer? which they did; and returning, found him in appearance as we left him; but he changed his Colour ſuddenly, and dyed in his Chair, ſomething before Nine in the Morning, being within Two Moneths of Seventy Four Years of Age. He dyed in the Commencment Week, when he had been Maſter of Arts juſt Fifty Yea…s; and an Ordained Miniſter above Fifty Two Years; in which time he hath Preached at Sixty Six Churches and Chappels in Derbyſhire; and at Thirty out of Derbyſhire: And at little Sanctuaries, ſince his excluſion from the publick exerciſe of his Miniſtry, who knows how many. He lyes Interred in the Chancel at Heanor, where Jeſus Chriſt is the guardian of his Duſt, till the Reſurrection of the Juſt, to conſummate Happineſs of his whole Perſon.
Thus is his courſe fulfilled, his good fight is fought; he ſo run that he hath obtained; he i… gone into that Heaven which came down into him here: He lived not to be reſtored to Breadſall Parſonage; but he is preferred to a Dignity far exceeding all Eccleſiaſtical Dignities here He hath a City inſtead of a Country Town. He hath a Rectory over many Cities, Lu…e 19. 17, 19. For he was a good and faithful Servant; he had Talents and improved them for his Maſter. He did win Souls, and now wears a Crown. He was diſſeaiſed of a good Miniſterial encouragement, but preached on, laboured on, and now he hath a Prophets Reward. Matth. 10. 41. He abounded in the work of the Lord; and now God hath his Medals for ſuch, Dan. 12. 3. high degrees of Glory. He was a Veſſel of big ſize and bore. He had a great meaſure of Grace, and laboured much in the Lord, and for the Lord; and therefore his meaſures of Glory, his Reward is accordingly: 1 Cor. 3. 8. Every man ſhall receive his own reward, according to his own labour, not only in kind, but degree. He was a plentiful Seedſman, and his reaping is accordingly. He hath paſſed the pikes, ſerved the will of God in his Generation; he is fallen aſleep; he is gathered to his Fathers. He was not found naked, but in the Ornaments of Chriſts Righteouſneſs and Grace; and therefore we may expreſs a confidence concerning him, that he is cloathed upon in his Soul with his Houſe from Heaven, and that his Duſt reſts, his Fleſh reſts in hope, &c. Non-Conformity caſt him out of the Publick Service of the National Church; but is no bar to his admiſſion into Heaven; for he did aſſent throughly, and conſent cordially to the Covenant of Grace. He did depend on Chriſt entirely, did obey ſincerely, and the Covenant of Grace (like the Ark ſtanding in Jordan, till all the Iſraelites were paſſed over) hath landed him ſafe in Heaven.
The ſure Mercies of David have not failed him, nor will fail us, if we follow his Faith, his Practice: Which I haſten to.