Thirty-Six Sermons, Life · Floating text 3 – Floating text 5
That Command which commands an act in it self lawful, and no other act or Circumstance unlawful, is not sinful.
Mr. Baxter denied it for two Reasons, which he gave in with his own hand in writing thus: One was, Because that may be a sin per accidens, which is not so in it self; and may be unlawfully commanded, though that accident be not in the command. Another was, That it may be commanded under an unjust penalty.
Again, this proposition being brought by the Conformists, That Command which commandeth an act in it self lawful, and no other act whereby any unjust penalty is injoyned, nor any circumstance whence per accidens any sin is consequent which the Commander ought to provide against, is not sinful.
Mr. Baxter denied it for this reason then given in with his own hand in writing, thus: Because the first act commanded may be per accidens unlawful, and be commanded by an unjust penalty, though no other act or circumstance commanded be such.
Again, this Proposition being brought by the Conformists, That Command which commandeth an act in it self lawful, and no other Act whereby any unjust penalty is injoyned, nor any circumstance whence directly or per accidens any sin is consequent, which the Commander ought to provide against; hath in it all things requisite to the lawfulness of a Command, and paticularly cannot be guilty of commanding an act per accidens unlawful, nor of commanding an act under an unjust penalty.
Mr. Baxter denyed it upon the same Reasons.
Peter Gunning.
Iohn Pearson.
These were then two of the Disputants, still live, and will attest this; one being now Lord Bishop of Ely, and the other of Chester. And the last of them told me very lately, that one of the Dissenters (which I could, but forbear to name) appear'd to Dr. Sanderson to be so bold, so troublesom, and so illogical in the dispute, as forced patient Dr. Sanderson (who was then Bishop of Lincoln, and a Moderator with other Bishops) to say with an unusual earnestness, That he had never met with a man of more pertinacious confidence, and less abilities in all his conversation.
But, though this debate at the Savoy was ended without any great satisfaction to either party, yet both parties knew the desires and understood the abilities of the other much better than before it: and the late distressed Clergy, that were now restor'd to their former rights and power, were so Charitable, as at their next meeting in Convocation to contrive to give the Dissenting Party satisfaction by alteration, explanation, and addition to some part both of the Rubrick and Common-Prayer; as also by adding some new necessary Collects, with a particular Collect of Thanksgiving. How many of these new Collects were worded by Dr. Sanderson, I cannot say; but am sure the whole Convocation valued him so much, that he never undertook to speak to any Point in question, but he was heard with great willingness and attention; and when any Point in question was determin'd, the Convocation did usually desire him to word their intentions, and as usually approve and thank him.
At this Convocation the Common-Prayer was made more compleat by adding three new necessary Offices; which were, A form of Humiliation for the murther of King Charles the Martyr, a thanksgiving for the Restoration of his Son our King; and for the baptizing of persons of riper age. I cannot say Dr. Sanderson did form or word them all, but doubtless more than any single man of the Convocation; and he did also, by desire of the Convocation, alter and add to the forms of Prayers to be used at Sea (now taken into the Service-Book.) And it may be noted, That William, the now most Reverend Archbishop of Canterbury, was in these imployments diligently useful; especially in helping to rectifie the Kalendar and Rubrick. And lastly, it may be noted, that for the satisfying all the dissenting Brethren and others, the Convocations Reasons for the alterations and additions to the Liturgy, were by them desir'd to be drawn up by Dr. Sanderson; which being done by him, and approv'd by them, was appointed to be Printed before the Liturgy, and may be now known by this Title,—The Preface: and begins thus—It hath been the wisdom of the Church.
I shall now follow Dr. Sanderson to his Bishoprick, and declare a part of his behaviour in that busie and weighty imployment. And first, That it was with such condescension and obligingness to the meanest of his Clergy, as to know and be known to most of them. And indeed he practis'd the like to all men of what degree soever, especially to his old Neighbours or Parishioners of Boothby Pannel; for there was all joy at his Table when they came to visit him: then they pray'd for him, and he for them with an unfeigned affection.
I think it will not be deny'd but that the care and toyl required of a Bishop, may justly challenge the riches and revenue with which their Predecessors had lawfully endow'd them; and yet he sought not that so much, as doing good with it both to the present Age and Posterity; and he made this appear by what follows.
The Bishops chief House at Buckden, in the County of Huntington, the usual Residence of his Predecessors (for it stands about the midst of his Diocess) having been at his Consecration a great part of it demolish'd, and what was left standing under a visible decay, was by him undertaken to be erected and repair'd; and it was perform'd with great speed, care, and charge. And to this may be added, That the King having by an Injunction commended to the care of the Bishops, Deans, and Prebends of all Cathedral Churches, the repair of them, their Houses, and an augmentation of the revenue of small Vicarages; He, when he was repairing Bugden, did also augment the last, as fast as Fines were paid for renewing Leases: so fast, that a Friend taking notice of his bounty, was so bold as to advise him to remember, he was under his first fruits, and that he was old, and had a wife and children that were yet but meanly provided for, especially if his dignity were considered. To whom he made a mild and thankful answer, saying, It would not become a Christian Bishop to suffer those houses built by his Predecessors to be ruin'd for want of repair; and less justifiable to suffer any of those poor Vicars that were call'd to so high a calling as to sacrifice at God's Altar, to eat the bread of sorrow constantly, when he had a power by a small augmentation to turn it into the bread of chearfulness: and wish'd, that as this was, so it were also in his Power to make all mankind happy, for he desired nothing more. And for his Wife and Children, he hop'd to leave them a competence; and in the hands of▪a God, that would provide for all that kept innocence, and trusted in his providence and protection, which he had always found enough to make and keep him happy.
There was in his Diocess a Minister of almost his Age, that had been of Lincoln Colledge when he left it, who visited him often, and always welcom, because he was a Man of Innocence and open-heartedness: This Minister asked the Bishop what Books he studied most, when he laid the foundation of his great and clear Learning? To which his Answer was, That he declin'd reading many Books; but what he did read, were well chosen, and read so often that he became very familiar with them; and told him they were chiefly three, Aristotle's Rhetorick, Acquinas's Secunda Secundae, and Tully, but chiefly his Offices, which he had not read over less than 20 times, and could at this Age repeat without Book. And told him also, the learned Civilian Doctor Zouch (who died lately) had writ Elementa jurisprudenti…e, which was a Book that he thought, he could also say without Book; and that no wise man could read it too often, or love, or commend it too much; and he told him the study of these had been his toyl: But for himself, he always had a natural love, to Genealogies and Heraldry; and that when his thoughts were harassed with any perplext Studies, he left off, and turned to them as a recreation; and that his very recreation had made him so perfect in them, that he could in a very short time give an account of the Descent, Arms, and Antiquity of any Family of the Nobility or Gentry of this Nation.
Before I give an account of his last sickness, I desire to tell the Reader that he was of a healthful constitution, chearful and mild, of an even temper, very moderate in his diet, and had had little sickness, till some few years before his death; but was then every Winter punish'd with a Diarrhed, which left him not till warm weather return'd and remov'd it: And this Distemper did, as he grew elder, seize him oftner, and continue longer with him. But though it weakned him, yet it made him rather indispos'd than sick, and did no way disable him from studying, (indeed too much.) In this decay of his strength, but not of his memory or reason (for this Distemper works not upon the understanding) he made his last Will, of which I shall give some account for confirmation of what hath been said, and what I think convenient to be known, before I declare his death and burial.
He did in his last Will give an account of his Faith and Perswasion in Point of Religion and Church-Government, in these very words:
I Robert Sanderson Dr. of Divinity, an unworthy Minister of Iesus Christ, and by the providence of God Bishop of Lincoln, being by the long continuance of an habitual distemper brought to a great bodily weakness and faintness of spirits, but (by the great mercy of God) without any bodily pain otherwise, or decay of understanding, do make this my Will and Testament (written all with my own hand) revoking all former Wills by me heretofore made, if any such shall be found. First, I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God, as of a faithful Creator, which I humbly beseech him mercifully to accept, looking upon it, not as it is in it self (infinitely polluted with sin) but as it is redeemed and purged with the precious blood of his only beloved Son, and my most sweet Saviour Iesus Christ, in confidence of whose merits and mediation alone it is, that I cast my self upon the mercy of God for the pardon of my sins, and the hopes of eternal life. And here I do profess, that as I have lived, so I desire and (by the grace of God) resolve to dye in the Communion of the Catholick Church of Christ, and a true Son of the Church of England; which, as it stands by Law established, to be both in Doctrine and Worship agreable to the Word of God, and in the most, and most material Points of both, conformable to the Faith and practice of the godly Churches of Christ in the primitïve and purer times, I do firmly believe: led so to, not so much from the force of custom and education (to which the greatest part of mankind owe their particular different perswasions in point of Religion) as upon the clear evidence of truth and reason, after a serious and unpartial examination of the grounds, as well of Popery as Puritanism, according to that measure of understanding, and those opportunities which God hath afforded me: and herein I am abundantly satisfied, that the Schi…m which the Papists on the one hand, and the Superstition which the Puritan on the other hand, lay to our charge, are very justly chargeable upon themselves respectively. Wherefore I humbly beseech Almighty God the Father of Mercies, to preserve the Church by his power and providence, in peace, truth, and Godliness, evermore to the worlds end: which doubtless he will do, if the wickedness and security of a sinful people (and particularly those sins that are so rife, and seem daily to increase among us, of Unthankfulness, Riot, and Sacriledge) do not tempt his patience to the contrary. And I also farther humbly beseech him, that it would please him to give unto our gracious Sovereign, the Reverend Bishops, and the Parliament, timely to consider the great danger that visibly threatens this Church in point of Religion by the late great increase of Popery, and in point of Revenue by sacrilegious enclosures; and to provide such wholsom and effectual remedies as may prevent the same before it be too late.
And for a further manifestation of his humble thoughts and desires, they may appear to the Reader, by another part of his Will which follows.
As for my corruptible Body, I bequeath it to the Earth whence it was taken, to be decently buried in the Parish Church of Bugden, towards the upper end of the Chancel, upon the second, or (at the farthest) the third day after my decease; and that with as little Noise, Pomp, and Charge as may be, without the invitation of any person how near soever related unto me, other than the Inhabitants of Bugden; without the unnecessary expence of Escutcheons, Gloves, Ribonds, &c. and without any Blacks to be hung any where in or about the House or Church, other than a Pulpit-Cloth, a Hearse-Cloth, and a Mourning Gown for the Preacher; whereof the former, (after my Body shall be interred) to be given to the Preacher of the Funeral Sermon, and the latter to the Curat of the Parish for the time being. And my Will further is, That the Funeral Sermon be preached by my own Houshold Chaplain, containing some wholesome Discourse concerning Mortality, the Resurrection of the Dead, and the last Iudgment; and that he shall have for his pains 5 l. upon condition, that he speak nothing at all concerning my person either good or ill, other than I my self shall direct; only signifying to the Auditory that it was my express Will to have it so. And it is my Will, that no costly Monument be erected for my memory, but only a fair flat Marble stone to be laid over me, with this Inscription in legible Roman Characters,—Depositum Roberti Sanderson nuper Lincolniensis Episcopi, qui obiit Anno Domini MDCLXII▪ & aetatis suae septuagesimo sexto, Hic requiescit in spe beatae resurrectionis. This manner of burial, although I cannot but foresee it will prove unsatisfactory to sundry my nearest Friends and Relations, and be apt to be censured by others, as an evidence of my too much parsimony and narrowness of mind, as being altogether unusual, and not according to the mode of these times; yet it is agreeable to the sence of my heart, and I do very much desire my Will may be carefully observed herein, hoping it may become exemplary to some or other: at least howsoever testifying at my death (what I have so often and earnestly professed in my life time) my utter dislike of the flatteries commonly used in Funeral Sermons, and of the vast expences otherwise laid out in Funeral Solemnities and Entertainments, with very little benefit to any, which (if bestowed in pious and charitable works) might redound to the publick or private benefit of many Persons. This is a part of his Will.
I am next to tell, that he died the 29th of Ianuary, 1662. and that his Body was buried in Bugden the third day after his death; and for the manner, that 'twas as far from ostentation as he desir'd it; and all the rest of his Will was as punctually performed. And when I have (to his just praise) told this truth, That he died far from being rich, I shall return back to visit, and give a further account of him on his last Sick-bed.
His last Will (of which I have mentioned a part) was made about three weeks before his death, about which time, finding his strength to decay by reason of his constant infirmity and a consumptive cough added to it, he retir'd to his Chamber, expressing a desire to injoy his last thoughts to himself in private, without disturbance or care, especially, of what might concern this world.—Thus as his natural Life decayed, his Spiritual Life seem'd to be more strong; and, his faith more confirm'd: still labouring to attain that holiness and purity, without which none shall see God.—And that not any of his Clergy (which are more numerous than any other Bishops of this Nation) might suffer by his retirement, he did by Commission impower his Chaplain, Mr. Pullin, with Episcopal Power to give Institutions to all Livings or Church-Preferments, during this his disability to do it himself. In this time of his retirement which was wholly spent in Devotion he long'd for his Dissolution; and when some that lov'd him pray'd for his recovery, if he at any time found any amendment, he seem'd to be displeas'd, by saying, His Friends said their Prayers backward for him: and that 'twas not his desire to live a useless life, and by filling up a place, keep another out of it, that might do God and his Church more service. He would often with much joy and thankfulness mention, That during his being a Housekeeper (which was more than 40 years) there had not been one buried out of his Family, and that he was now like to be the first. He would also mention with thankfulness, That till he was threescore years of Age, he had never spent 5 s. in Law, nor (upon himself) so much in Wine: and rejoyc'd much that he had so liv'd, as never to cause an hours sorrow to his good Father; and that he hop'd that he should die without an Enemy.
He in this retirement had the Church Prayers read in his Chamber twice every day; and at nine at night some Prayers read to him and a part of his Family out of the Whole Duty of Man. As he was remarkably punctual and regular in all his Studies and Actions, so he us'd himself to be for his Meals: and his Dinner being appointed to be constantly ready at the ending of Prayers, and he expecting and calling for it, was answered, It would be ready in a quarter of an hour. To which his reply was with some earnestness, A quarter of an hour, Is a quarter of an hour nothing to a man that probably has not many hours to live? And though he did live many hours after this, yet he liv'd not many days; for the day after (which was three days before his death) he was become so weak and weary either of motion or sitting, that he was content, or forc'd to keep his Bed. In which I desire he may rest, till I have given some short account of his behaviour there, and immediately before it.
The day before he took his Bed (which was three days before his death) he, that he might receive a new assurance for the pardon of his sins past, and be strengthned in his way to the New Ierusalem, took the Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of his, and our blessed Iesus, from the hands of his Chaplain Mr. Pullin, accompanied with his Wife, Children, and a Friend, in as awful, humble, and ardent a manner, as outward reverence could express. After the praise and thanksgiving for this blessing was ended, he spake to this purpose; I have now to the great joy of my Soul tasted of the All-saving Sacrifice of my Saviours death and passion: and with it, received a Spiritual assurance that my sins past are pardon'd, and my God at peace with me: and that I shall never have a Will, or Power to do any thing that may separate my Soul from the love of my dear Saviour. Lord confirm this belief in me; and make me still to remember that it was thou O God that tookest me out of my Mothers Womb, and hast been the powerful Protector of me to this present moment of my life: thou hast neither forsaken me now I am become grey-headed, nor suffered me to forsake thee in the late days of temptation, and sacrifice my Conscience for the preservation of my liberty or estate. 'Twas not of my self but by grace that I have stood, when others have fallen under my trials: and these mercies I now remember with joy and thankfulness; and my hope and desire is, that I may die remembring this, and prasing thee my merciful God. The frequent repitition of the Psalms of David hath been noted to be a great part of the Devotion of the Primitive Christians: The Psalms having in them, not only Prayers and holy Instructions, but such Commemorations of God's Mercies, as may preserve, comfort, and confirm our dependance on the power, and providence, and mercy of our Creator. And this is mention'd in order to telling, that as the holy Psalmist said, that his eyes should prevent both Psal. 119. 147.the dawning of the day and the night watches, by meditating on God's word: so 'twas Dr. Sanderson's constant practice every morning to entertain his first waking thoughts with a repition of those very Psalms, that the Church hath appointed to be constantly read in the daily Morning Service; and having at night laid him in his bed, he as constantly clos'd his eyes with a repitition of those appointed for the Service of the Evening; remembring and repeating the very Psalms appointed for every day; and as the month had formerly ended and began again, so did this Exercise of his devotion. And if the First-fruits of his waking thoughts were of the World, or what concern'd it; he would arraign and condemn himself for it. Thus he began that work on Earth which is now the imployment of Dr. Hammond and him in Heaven.
After his taking his Bed, and about a day before his death, he desir'd his Chaplain, Mr. Pullin, to give him absolution: And at his performing that Office, he pull'd off his Cap, that Mr. Pullin might lay his hand upon his bare head. After this desire of his was satisfied, his Body seem'd to be at more ease, and his mind more chearful; and he said often, Lord, forsake me not now my strength faileth me, but continue thy mercy, and let my mouth be ever filled with thy praise. He continued the remaining night and day very patient, and thankful for any of the little Offices that were perform'd for his ease and refreshment: and during that time, did often say to himself the 103. Psalm, a Psalm! that is compos'd of Praise and Consolations, fitted for a dying Soul, and say also to himself very often these words, My heart is fixed O God, my heart is fixed where true joy is to be found. And now his thoughts seem'd to be wholly of death, for which he was so prepar'd, that that King of Terrors could not surprise him as a thief in the night; for he had often said, he was prepar'd, and long'd for it. And as this desire seem'd to come from Heaven; so it left him not, till his Soul ascended to that Region of blessed Spirits, whose employments are to joyn in consort with his, and sing Praise and Glory to that God, who hath brought him and them to that place, into which sin and sorrow cannot enter.
Thus this Pattern of meekness and primitive innocence chang'd this for a better Life:—'tis now too late to wish that mine may be like his: (for, I am in the eighty fifth year of my Age; and, God knows it hath not,) but, I most humbly beseech Almighty God that my death may: and I do as earnestly beg, that if any Reader shall receive any satisfaction from this very plain, and as true relation, he will be so Charitable, as to say
Amén.
I. W.
Blessed is that man in whose Spirit there is no guile,
Psal, 32. 2.