The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Part 2, Book 2 · Biography 11
J. BRVEN
The Life of John Bruen, of Bruen-Stapleford, who dyed, Anno Christi. 1625.
IOhn Bruen, of Bruen-Stapleford, in the County Palatine of Chester Esquire, was born, An. 1560. and was the son of a worthy Gentleman, descended of Worshipful Ancestors, who brought him up civilly, and as those times were, religiously also: And the Lord preserved him in his childhood, and youth from the poison of Popery, & the contagion of those common gross sins, which for want of the light, and life of the Ministry of the Gospel, raigned in those parts: When he was about 7 years old his Father for some offence rebuked him sharply, and corrected him soundly, which he being much grieved at, seeking relief, he took a prayer Book which he had learned, and going into Seeds of grace.his Fathers Chappel, read in it; and prayed as well as he could, & it pleased the Lord to comfort him with unexpressible joys; the next day he went to the same place, and used the same means, but found not the like comfort: Afterwards his Father sent him to his Uncles, Master Dutton of Dutton, where he was bred up at School, under one His Education.Master James Roe, for about three years space: Anno 1577. his Father sent him to Oxford, where he first received the love of the truth in any knowledge and understanding, being then about seventeen years old, he lived in Albans-Hall as a Gentleman Commoner, and being familiar with one John Breerwood, his Countriman, an Aldermans son of Chester: This Breerwood observing in him some Popish practises, and opinions, set upon him by Scripture arguments to convince and reform him, whereupon this young Gentleman (through Gods mercy) was so wrought upon, that as himself Conversion.wrote it down in his Book; I was, saith he, then inflamed with zeal against the prophane beast of Rome, and all Popery, both persons and things, with all their Monuments, Rites, and Ceremonies, &c. After a while his Father sent for him home, that he might dispose of him in marriage, and provided for him the daughter of one Mr. Hardware [a worthy and wise Gentleman] to whom he was married with the consent of Parents, and in the fear of God, Marriage.and lived very comfortably with her for seventeen years, seeing his sons, and daughters as Olive plants round about his Table: Then being in the prime of his youth, he spent too much time in hawking, hunting, and such carnall delights. But Anno, 1587. his Father dying, he began to be much perplexed both in mind and estate; some sorrows and fears, thoughts and cares began to stir, and work in him, and the Lord hereby began to work for his more effectuall calling, and conversion, and this he did both by the rebukes of his Word, and checks of his Spirit, convincing his Humiliation.judgement, and changing his heart from the love of baser, to a delight in better things: whereupon he began to search his heart, and try his ways, and to call himself to an account for his former courses, and weighing them in the ballance of the Sanctuary, he found them to be but vanity, and vexation of spirit: and besides, he being charged by his Father with the portions of twelve children, which he left behind him, he began to cut off occasions of wastfull and riotous expences; and whereas his Father left him a Park well furnished with Deer, he disparked it, and drawing himself Frugality.to as narrow a compass as he well could, he provided competently and comfortably for his own Family, and faithfully payed his Brethren and Sisters all their portions, and disposed of them in marriage to their own content: Then he was very careful to set up Gods worship in his Family, walking wisely in the midst of his house, setting Family government.his eyes, his favour upon the godly, and not suffering a wicked person to abide in his sight: and his principall care was to dwell with his Wife as a man of knowledge, and to train up his children in the nurture, and information of the Lord, and by his holy and prudent carriage his wife (though well affected to Religion before) yet grew on to an higher pitch in knowledge, and grace, and became to him a faithfull helper, and carefull yoakfellow, to bear and draw in the yoak of Christ: they were both very carefull in the education of their children, catechising of them in the principles Education of his children.of Religion, and causing them to learn such sentences of Scriptures as might make the easiest impression of grace upon their hearts: neither did he spare to use the rod of correction, as Gods healing medicine to cure the corruptions of his children, yet if at any time his heart was overheated through his hatred of sin, and zeal for Gods glory, that he spake unadvisedly with his lips, or dealt too violently with his hands, he used to be much humbled for it, that going about to cure others, he had wounded himself: And amongst his man and maid servants, there was not one idle and unprofitable person: and for his choice of servants, he took notice of any thereabouts, that began to set their faces towards Heaven, such he loved, and laboured to draw them into his service: So that in a short time he was furnished with godly and gracious servants, both men, and maids: and then he looked upon them as his brethren, and fellow servants in, and under Christ: would sometimes use them familiarly, advise, confer, consult, and resolve with them in matters of conscience, and other weighty occasions: Sometimes he made them his comforters in afflictions, and tentations, and received refreshing from them: Amongst the rest, he had one old disciple [Robert Pasfield] a man utterly unlearned, being able neither to write nor read, yet through Old Robert.Gods blessing upon his industry, having a good memory, he became ripe in understanding, and mighty in the Scriptures: Yea, he was so well acquainted with the summ, and substance of every Book and Chapter, that hardly could a man ask him for any sentence of Scripture, but he would tell him in what Book and Chapter he might find it: He had a good gift in prayer, was very willing and able to confer of good things, whereby he became very usefull both in the Family, and to other young Christians abroad, as he had opportunity: For the help of his memory he invented, and framed a girdle of Leather, long and large, which went twice about him: this he divided into severall parts, allotting every Book in the Bible in their order to some of these divisions, then for the Chapters, he affixed points or thongs of Leather to the severall divisions, and made knots by fives or tens, therupon to distinguish the Chapters of that Book; and by other points he divided the Chapters into their particular Contents or Verses, as occasion required: This he used instead of pen, and ink, in hearing Sermons, and made so good use of it, that coming home, he was able by it to repeat the Sermon, quote the texts of Scripture, &c. to his own great comfort, and to the benefit of others; which girdle Master Bruen kept after his death, hung it up in his Study, and would merrily call it, the Girdle of verity: This old Robert (though but a servant, yet) being rich in grace, his Master used him very familiarly; when conveniently he could, he would have him neer him, would often go to the Hop-yard or Barn, where his business lay, to talk and confer with him, and when he was grown old, having been in his service about thirty years, he was so far from casting him off, that he daily fed him with some of the best morsels from his own Table, and setting him not far from him, that he might the better confer with him, which he continued to his dying day: Such other servants as he chose to be ever about him at home, and abroad, he made happy, by his taking opportunities to impart some wholsome His carriage to his servants.words of admonition, & instruction to them, &c. He never thought his Table better furnished, then when he had some godly persons to sit with him, or stand about him, nor his meat better seasoned, then when it was poudred with the salt of wholsome words: And for other of his servants imployed in Husbandry, and such out-works, he never suffered them to want such encouragements as might make them cheerfull in his, and Gods service: He would sometimes go abroad to them, raise matter of speech, and conference from their callings, works, wages, &c. for their instruction and edification: And there were few of them but exercised themselves unto godliness, praying in their courses every night in the Kitchin, when their Master was gone to bed: Such of his Servants as were inclined to Marriage, he provided well for them.
The religious duties which he daily, and duly His private, and Family Duties.performed in his Family, Morning and Evening, were these: He rose very early every morning, before any in the Family, betwixt three and four a clock in the Summer, and at five in the Winter, and then spent an hour or two in private, before he rang the Bell to awaken the rest of his Family: In his secret prayers, he used to make mention of every one in his Family, and especially as their occasions, and afflictions required, and gave thanks for such mercies, as either he, or they had received: Then he meditated upon some part of Gods Word, or Works, where with he seasoned his mind in the morning: Then he wrote out fair, part of some Sermon that he had heard lately before: Then his Family being up, and met together, he, with his heart, and his hands lift up to heaven, speak in this manner,
Blessed Lord God, and our most merciful Father in A form of Prayer.Christ Jesus, We thy poor children do humbly beseech thee graciously to assist us by thy holy Spirit in this our morning Exercise, that we may faithfully perform the same to thy praise, and our comfort, and that for Christ his sake, our onelyonly Saviour and Redeemer: Amen.
This set form of short prayer he used morning and evening before his Exercise, to convince their ignorance, which deny the lawfulness of them: Then he, with his Family, sung a Psalm, with Spiritual joy.which Exercise he was much delighted, and oftentimes so ravished therewith in his Spirit, that his heart would even spring, and leap in his body: Yea, he was so affected with praising of God: That he took the word Hallelujah for his Motto, and usually wrote it in the first Page of all his Books: Then he read a Chapter himself out of the Bible in order: Then himself also prayed with them, and that with such power, feeling, fervency, sincerity, faith, and humility, that he was oft much admired of them that heard him: He so wrestled His fervent prayers.with God by prayers and tears, that he would not let him go, till he had prevailed, insomuch that they seldom met again to pray, but he had some new and fresh cause of thanksgiving for the returns of his prayers. In the Evening he called them together again to the like service, which he performed very religiously after the same maner, saving that after the Chapter he propounded some wholsom instructions to them, as the portion of Scripture gave occasion, whether to convince any Error, or to confirm the Truth, to rebuke sin, or to instruct in the way of righteousness, &c. And the better to justifie this his practise against opposers, he made collections out of the Sacred Scriptures, Note.out of the Expositions, Testimonies, and Examples of godly and good men, concerning this point of the Masters Duty, in teaching, and instructing his Family in the fear of God, and faith of Christ: And lest any should think that hereby he intrenched too much upon the Ministers Office, and went beyond his line; they must know, that whatsoever he spake in this kind, he borrowed it of good men, or obtained it by serious Study and Meditation, got it by reading the Scriptures, and good Expositors, or by reviewing his Notes of such Sermons as he had heard upon those Scriptures, using all good and holy means to fit and furnish himself with spiritual provisions for that service: Neither was his zeal confined within his own walls: For finding in the Church of Tarvin, and his own Chappel that anciently belonged to him, Zeal against Idolatry.many superstitious Images in the windows, which by their painted coats darkned the light of the Church, and obscured the brightness of the Gospel, he caused all those painted Puppets to be pulled down in a peaceable maner, and at his own cost glazed the windows again: And for his incouragement and justification, he had not onelyonly the Word of God, but the Queens injunctions authorizing, and requiring the same: And his heart was so inlarged towards God, with zeal for his glory, and his peoples good, that it was the joy Zeal for propagating the Gospel.of his soul to bring in godly and able Ministers amongst them almost every Lords Day into the publike Assembly, and that of his own cost, and labour, which he did with a cheerful heart, honoring God with his substance, by giving maintenance to such as were the Lords Labourers in his Harvest: And though many sleighted it, yet was it no discouragement to him, neither was he weary of wel-doing: Whose practise will shame such, as being intrusted with the lands, and livings of the Church for the maintenance of the Ministery, Sacriledge abhorred.do turn their Patronage into Pillage, and their Devotion into Sacriledge, robbing the Ministers of their means, and the people of their spirituall provision.
Anno 1590. Having provided for his Parish a worthy Preacher, the people, though they admired his gifts, yet would not so much as thank him for his pains, which was a great discouragement to the Minister: Hereupon Master Bruen withdrew He withdraws the ministry for a while.his Preacher into his own Chappel, to make the people more to prize the Word by the want of it: Then resorted many to him, some to the Chapel to feed their souls, and many into the Hall to feed their bellies, to his no small cost, and yet great comfort, because Religion increased thereby: But after a while, at the importunity of Christian friends he restored him to the publike Congregation, maintaining him, and other Preachers after him, till by the death of the Incumbent, God established a faithful Pastor amongst them. And My reverend, and learned brother, Master Sabbath Clark.whereas the people at Tarvin had a bad custom of keeping Wakes upon the Sabbath Day, at which times there was much profaneness practised, to the dishonor of God, by banqueting, drinking, danceing, &c. This godly Gentleman studying to remedy Wakes put down.this great evil, against that time, every year, provided three of the best affected Ministers in the Country, who spent most part of three dayes in preaching and praying in the Church, so that the Pipers, Fidlers, Bearwards, Players, and Gamesters had no time left them for their vanities, but went away with great fretting, yet multitudes of welaffected people filled the Town, & the Church, much rejoycing before God; and these he feasted at his house also, so that at one of these times, he spent in his house a fat Beef, and a half in the Liberality.space of three dayes upon godly, and welaffected people: And this he did for divers years together, till by degrees, he had weared out those profane Wakes: Hereupon he began to be admired for his fervency in the profession of the Gospel, and practise His house a nursery of Religion.of true Religion, insomuch that divers Gentlemen of the best rank desired to sojourn in his house, for their better information in the way of God: One of which at his first coming would by no means indure to be reproved for his faults, but how it was afterwards with him, Master Bruen thus left it upon Record; After a while, having the one hundred forty first Psalm for our Evening Exercise, divers of my Family did usually give notes, being godly and welaffected, and they all concluded together that every one of them should speak upon the fifth verse. Let the righteous reprove me, &c. And my self gave the last note, after which he never resisted any more.
And whereas in those days the Lord was pleased in compassion to his people, to raise up, and establish many holy exercises of Religion in Cheshire, and Lancashire, which were maintained monthly by the godly labors of the faithfull Ministers of Christ in those parts with much comfortable success: Master Bruen frequented these exercises, and His pains to hear the Word.with great care, and conscience, he stored himself with their treasures, and lighted his Candle at their Torches, whereby he was better enabled, and more furnished to set forwards Religion in his Family, and elsewhere, as occasion was offered: In frequenting these exercises, he took much pains, riding early and late, in heat and cold, and through foul ways, sometimes ten, twenty, yea thirty miles, to his great charges also: These Sermons he wrote diligently, repeated them as he went home, and for about thirty six years together at home he wrote over again the substance of these exercises, whereby he left to the heirs of his Family so many Volumnes of Manuscripts set up orderly in his Study, as is scarce credible, which he charged them to read over, if it were but once in their lives: He used the Ministers wheresoever he came marvellous kindly, commending their pains, His love to Gods Ministers.rejoycing in their labors, and many times defraying their charges; always encouraging them with gracious and sweet words: Yea, this kindness of of his extended to all the professors of Religion, even to the weakest and poorest Christian that he observed to frequent these exercises: In the middest of these sweet comforts the Lord was pleased to exercise him with a great affliction, by taking away with a stroak his dear Wife, and faithfull yoak-fellow, yet did the Lord so sanctifie this His Wife dies.affliction to him, that by the power of grace, and Christian wisdom, he moderated his affections, and subdued his passions, not mourning as a man without hope, but assuring himself that his loss was her gain: after which, finding that he stood in need of marriage for the comfort of his life, & necessity of his family, he sought by prayer a prudent wife from God; and the Lord was pleased to answer his prayers by providing for him Mistris Ann Fox, descended of an ancient and worshipfull family His second Marriage.in Lancashire, a Gentlewoman as beautifull by grace within, as amiable in face without, and one very well reported of in the Church of God: Her therefore, with the joynt consent of her self, and friends, he married, and the first year her Mother would needs give them their Table, during which time he was as carefull to do good to that Family, as if it had been his own house, and He promotes Religion in his Mothers Family.he quickned himself and them to Prayer, and Praise, Reading the Scripture, Singing of Psalms, holy Conference, Catechising, &c. Concerning which, himself thus writes: My Mother in Law Tabling of us for a year, we set up the exercises of Religion morning and evening; In which time through Gods grace, my Mother in Law got saving grace, and my Sister in Law, now Mistris Hinde, and another half Sister of hers, and their Brothers, Master William, and Master Thomas Fox, a servant or two, and some neighbours, blessed be God for it, &c.
At the years end, he brought home his beloved Wife to Stapleford, where they lived in great peace and love; and being well setled, there were many of the greatest Gentlemen in the Country that sued to him, some for themselves, some for their children to be entertained into his family, and He entertained many boarders.hereby his house became a nursery for religion; a Vineyard which the Lord blessed to bear trees of righteousness, and fruits of holiness: Towards these his maner was, when they came first into his Family, to try their dispositions, and inclinations, & how tractable they were like to be to good duties, and practises: For which end he carefully observed their ways, saw much, & said little, bore, and forbore as occasion required: taking special notice His Prudence.of any good they said, or did, and passing over many lesser faults, till he had fitter opportunity to reclaim them: amongst others, one young Gentleman could not well away with the strict observation of the Sabbath. Whereupon (saith he) we did all conspire to do him good, ten of my family speaking one after another, and my self last, for the sanctifying the Lords day; after which he did very cheerfully yield himself, blessed be God. At another time (saith he) coming into his chamber, I found over the Mantletree a pair of new Cards, and no body being by, I took out the four Knaves, and so laid them there again: But for want of such Knaves his Game was marred, and he never played in my house after: And in like maner (saith he) twenty years before, being in one of my Studies, and seeing a pair of Tables under my feet, I took them, with the Men, Dice, and all the Cards I found, and put them into an Oven that was then in heating; and hereby he rid them out of his He reforms his house.house: And to justifie his detestation of these games, he set down in writing these Collections.
1. All Games depending upon hazard, or Against Cards and Dice.chance are to be eschewed.
2. The Prince of Devils first invented them, and the place was Hell.
3. Such gamesters were held, and accounted for infamous persons, uncapable of any office, and unworthy any benefit of Law.
4. Dicers, Harlots, and Thieves be of one Hall and Corporation, and the more cunning in this Art, the more wicked in their lives and maners.
5. All gain by gaming is turpe lucrum, plain Thievery, worse then Usury.
6. All play at Dice is plain Lottery, which to use idly or triflingly, is a sin against the Third and Ninth Commandment.
7. There is no recreation of body, or mind in these games, unless it be in desire, and hope of gain, by another mans loss, which is unlawfull.
8. Cards seem less evill then Tables, but there is never a Barrel better Herring, there is so much craft in packing, &c.
9. There are mixt games, consisting partly of Lottery, partly of wit, and are oftentimes maintained with tricks of cosenage and knavery.
10. The Coat cards were in times past the Images of their Idols.
11. We should abstain from such games; 1 Because they never were; nor are of any good report in the Church; 2 There is great appearance of evill in them; 3 The command of the Magistrate forbids them, by the name of unlawfull games; 4 They tend not to Gods glory; 5 They are causes of much hurt to our neighbours, and occasions of many sins and sorrows to the gamesters, and their Families, &c.
And therefore for the preventing of these mischiefs, and to exercise the heads and hearts of his He sets up Bibles in his house.Family, and of such as came occasionally to his house, he bought two goodly fair Bibles, and set them upon two Desks, one in his Hall, the other in his Parlour: About this time there being a defect in the publike Ministry, he procured a faithfull Minister of Christ to be Preacher at Tarvin, whose Ministry being very powerfull and profitable, he so much delighted in him, that he maintained him and his Family very bountifully, and entertained him kindly: About this time the fame of Master Bruen coming to Master Perkins, who hearing of his excellent parts, and pains in the profession of Religion, and exercises in his Family, and of his government of his house, and the religion of his servants; being ravished with heavenly joy, and stricken with an holy admiration at the hearing of it, he brake out into these speeches: Mr. Perkins his testimony of him.Certainly this is no other then the house of God, and for the practise and power of Religion, the very Topsail of England: His Fame spreading still more and more, many Gentlemen sought to him, to sojourn with him, and at the requests of his friends he entertained divers Families, and personages of great place; many of which, during their abode with him, were truly converted, others convinced, and all much reformed in their lives: But in the midst of these sweet comforts, the Lord again sent a tempest of grief, and sorrow, by taking away his gracious Yoakfellow, which not long after caused a dissolving of his Family, and a a dispersing of His second wife dies.that whole Company, to their no small grief; Concerning which, himself thus writes: When it pleased God to take away my wife from me, then all mourned for her loss: As also because all my Tablers must now part, being about the number of one and twenty: But we did still so well accord, and so loth we were to part asunder, that I requested them to stay with me that quarter more, which was very thankfully accepted: In which time we had much comfort, but mourned often to think of the quarters end: And the last day sitting at dinner together, all were so full of heaviness, that there was no meat eaten, so that I was forced to hide my self, and could not take leave of them, &c. Then saith he, I lived a single life five years and an half: And being in debt, and having four daughters, and divers sons to dispose of, by advise of friends, I gave over house, and went to live at He lives at Chester.Chester for a season: Master Bifield, a godly and powerful Preacher, being Minister there at that time: And there I lived three years, having the company of Master Bifield, and his wife every Wednesday, and Friday at Dinner with me, which were his Lecture dayes, with some other good company besides: In which time God stirred up the hearts of many of my neighbors to come to prayer with us: Which meetings were at first traduced by some, yet after awhile, being well known what they were, no fault was found: In this time it pleased the Lord Almighty to give a great blessing, All praise to his holy Name: Many converted, many confirmed, and many convinced: In these three years God also gave me a great blessing in my outward estate: I paid all my God blesseth him exceedingly.debt: I married two of my daughters, and paid their portions: I preferred a son or two: I maintained the poor in my own Parish in the Country, allowing them all the profit of my two Mils: I Charity.maintained the poor in Chester, both at my Gates, and otherwise weekly, as I was rated: All humble and hearty thanks be given unto God, Father, Son, and holy Ghost, for evermore, Amen.
The three years being expired, he returned home to Stapleford, and incouraging himself in the wayes of God: He daily performed these four Duties: First, Meditation for the increase of Knowledge, and good affections towards God, Meditation.and good things: And for his help herein, he carried about with him some part of the Bible, or Notes of Sermons when he went into the Fields: Within doors he read much in the Scriptures, and made collections of the Promises, Preceps, Comforts, Prohibitions, &c. And these he made the subject of his Meditations: For this end also he read oft the Works of divers Learned men, and drew into Heads, and Commonplaces what was most worthy Observation in them: And he found much benefit by these Meditations: as the killing The fruits of it.of noisom lusts, the dislodging of many worldly cares: It wrought in him a godly care over his thoughts, words, and actions: A gratious aptness to, and chearfulness in holy duties: It ministred to him counsel, and strength for spiritual combats: It brought him to an heaven upon earth, and made him go about earthly affairs with an heavenly minde: It kept his heart in possession of his integrity, whereby he kept faith, and a good conscience in every thing: It wrought his soul to a gratious tenderness, lowliness, and meekness: It inabled him wheresoever he came to leave a sweet savor of his graces, and vertues, behinde him: And it was as a soveraign preservative against all inticements, and allurements to sin.
In the next place he was very careful to observe His observation of Gods Works.Gods Works, both of Mercy and Judgements, for which end he observed, and Recorded many of them: Hear him speaking in his own words.
Some few years before my Brother Hardware died, he had a Man-servant (as many thought) bewitched, and grew daily weaker and weaker, so that my bother sent to me, and my Family to spend a day with him in Fasting and Prayer: At that time I had good Master Wats the Preacher with me, we went to the house, where we found the man very sick and weak, and like an Anatomy, having nothing but skin and bones, not like to live a day longer: He was brought and layed in a bed in the Chamber where we prayed, and the same Evening he began to amend: The next Return of Prayer.morning he walked abroad, and the third day was so strong, that he fell to his work and labour: All laud, and praise to God for it.
Anno 1601. My servant going with his Cart laden, fell down, and the wheels being iron-bound, went over his leg, yet hurt him not at all: Laus Deo, Praised be God.
Anno 1602. My son John going into the field, Gods mercy.took up a Sith to see how he could Mow, the Sith entred into his Stocking to the shin-bone, shaving the haire, and came out at the back-side of his leg, and touched no flesh nor skin: Laus Deo, Praised be God.
An. 1603. One that dwelt in my Farm in Wimble Gods judgement on a swearer.Stafford, seeing two godly persons going in the way, said to one with him, I will dance, and swagger, and swear, to anger yonder two Puritans, and so he did, to their great grief: But presently the revenging hand of God was upon him, so that immediatly he fell sick, was carried home in a Cart, and within three dayes died most fearfully: All glory to God
But he took the greatest pains in Recording the passages about a Boy about twelve years old at A Boy possessed with the Devil.Northwitch, who was so strangely, and wonderfully afflicted and tormented, that many held him to be really possessed with the Devil; about this he wrote much; Some of the passages were these: By his torments he was brought so low, weak, and feeble, that he was almost nothing but skin and bones, yet for the space of four and twenty hours every day (having one half hour respite, which they called his awaking time, and wherein they gave him a little food) he was of that extraordinary strength, that if he foulded his hands together, no man could pull them asunder: If he rolled his head, or tossed his whole body (as usually he did) no man could stay, or restrain him: He would, to the great astonishment of the hearers, howl like a Dog, mew like a Cat, roar like a Bear, froth like a Boar: When any prayed with him, his passions were strongest, and his rage, and violence greatest, ready to fly in their faces, and to drown their voyces by his yellings, and out-cries: If one came near him with a Bible, though under his Cloak, and never so secret, he would run upon him, and use great violence to get it from him, and when he could get any, he rent them in pieces: Sometimes he would lie along, as if he had been stark dead, his colour gone, and mouth so wide open, that he would on a sudden thrust both his hands into it: And notwithstanding his great weakness, he would leap and skip from his Bed to the Window, from the Window to the Table, and so to bed again, and that with such agility, as no Tumbler could do the like: And yet all this while his legs were grown up close to his buttocks, so that he could not use them; sometimes we saw his chin drawn up to his Nose, that his mouth could scarce be seen: sometimes his chin and forehead drawn almost together like a bended Bow: his countenance fearfull by yawning, mowing, &c. The Bishop hearing of the strange torments of this poor child, sent for him: His parents brought him, and once the Bishop prayed with him, but the boy was so outragious, that he flew out of his bed, and so frighted the Bishops men, that one of them fell into a sown, and the Bishop was glad to lay hold on the boy, who ramped at the window to have gotten out: Hereupon this Bishop granted a License for a private fast in the childs fathers House for his help and release: which accordingly was performed by two godly Ministers, & by Master Bruen, with divers others; yet God gave not deliverance at that time: when he was in his fits, without understanding and knowledge of what he did or said, he would often say,
Jesus saith, (for so he began all his speeches) the Devil when he comes takes away my hearing, seeing, understanding, hands, legs, that I should have no senses, nor limbs to glorifie God withall.
Jesus saith, If they would have cast out the evill spirit, they should have come better provided.
Jesus saith, I have but three Devils: Its like one of the Spirits will go out of me, and take counsel of a great number of foul Spirits, and come again, and trouble me worse.
God puls back the Devil with a ring in his nose, yet the Devil shakes my Faith, as if it would go out of me.
Well, these Drunkards and Whoremasters do not think upon their sins: Well, how then? there is no Drunkard that doth drink one spoonfull, or drop of drink more then will suffice nature, but the Devill doth pen it down in his book: Well, it is a great Book, and he doth keep it close till the Day of Judgement, and then he will lay it to their faces, at which time the hils will tremble and quake, and the Devil will quake, yea, he doth quake for fear already.
Well, some would think it a great while to be bound with the Devil a year or two, as I am; but its better to be so, then to wallow in drunkenness, swearing and whoring: for the Devil works in their souls.
Jesus saith, They say he shall not out of me: but when God comes he will strike home.
Many other of these strange speeches did he utter, which for brevities sake are here omitted, though recorded by Mr. Bruen.
Master Bruen, besides his Family duties mentioned before, used private prayer very often, yet not confining himself to any place within, or without Private duties.doors for it, but taking his fittest opportunity, as time, and place best accorded: About his own house he had divers places which interchangeably he used for this purpose, not frequenting one, lest he should be suspected of hypocrisie, or vain-glory; & as he was choice of the place, so of the time also, which he constantly set apart every day for private prayer: Seven times a day did he practise this duty; He prayed seven times a day.first, in the morning before any of his family rose; next after family prayer, before his breakfast; then immediately before Dinner; then a little while after Dinner; then a little before Supper; then not long after Supper: Lastly, a little before he went to bed: And as he was frequent, so was he, through Gods grace, powerfull in these his prayers: and hereunto, upon extraordinary occasions, he added fasting, which he observed with so great austerity, that he much weakned his body thereby; and Fasting.as it is recorded of Saint James the Apostle, so was it true of this Gentleman, that his knees were grown very senceless, and hard with much and He used to kneel upon the bare boards.frequent kneeling: In these his private prayers his principall aim was to search his heart, examine his life, confess and bewail his speciall sins, and infirmities, craving pardon for them, and power against them; as also for the sins or afflictions in his Family: he mourned for the sins of Sion, and for the afflictions of Joseph, and desolations of Jerusalem: he afflicted his heart for the barrenness and backsliding of professors, for their imbracing the world, forsaking their first love: to which he added, praise, and thanksgiving for mercies: He daily laboured to be more and more renewed in the spirit of his mind, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, according to the Image of him His heavenly-mindedness.that created him: Whilst his commoration was on earth, his conversation was in Heaven: He had an holy resolution, so to use the world, as neither abusing of it, nor being abused by it, but to keep himself unspotted from it: He had a full purpose to keep his heart always in Gods presence, knowing and believing that he heard all his words, and beheld all his works: He used a constant and conscionable His universall obedience.striving against all sin, especially the sins of the times and places wherein he lived: He had a godly desire in all companies either to do good to others, or to receive good from others: a full purpose to deal justly, and uprightly with all men, doing no other to them, then he would have them do to him: a charitable disposition to take doubtfull things in the best sence, so far as he Charity.might, without wounding his own conscience, or offending others: He was slow to speak, swift to hear: He utterly renounced the vain conformities of the world, neither following the fashions, nor serving the humors of vain, or vile persons, Hated sinfull fashions.nor staying in their company longer then needs must: His care was to cut off all occasions of variance, and strife, with all speed that might be: He laboured for an holy contentedness of mind, by entertaining all crosses with patience, and turning them to their best use, and imbracing all comforts with thanksgiving, bringing forth the right & proper fruits of them: He would not be easily provoked by indignities, and injuries, he had rather forgive Meekness.twenty wrongs, then revenge one: He was willing to purchase his peace, sometimes with his own loss, if otherwise he could not procure it: He used to shut his ears against tale-bearers, the seedsmen of strife, and firebrands of contention; Ordinarily he recompenced evill with good, frowardness with kindness, and passion with moderation and good affection: A neighbour Gentleman Note.conceiving a great displeasure against him upon a very small occasion, in a great ruff sent his man to him to inhibit him from coming upon his land, either himself, or any of his Family, upon their perill; To whom Master Bruen presently answered; Tell your Master from me, that if he, or any of his Family will come upon any part of Returns good for evil.my ground at their pleasures, they shall be welcome, and if he will come to my house, he shall be much more welcome; which gracious and kind answer did so melt the heart of his adversary, that he presently brake forth into tears, reconciled himself to him, and became his true and faithfull friend ever after: He was also very careful to prevent or remove all occasions of variance, and strife amongst neighbours, and friends, both neer and far from home.
Naturally he was passionate, and hasty, but having Grace overcomes nature.his sin pardoned in the bloud of Christ, and having gotten power over it, his nature was healed, his passions subdued, and his frowardness was changed into mildness: He was of an ingenuous facility, either to be perswaded to any thing that was good, or to be disswaded from any thing that was evill: An honorable Judge in open Court having a complaint made to him against M. Bruen, of some wrong that he did, by a Water course to his Mils: Out of that good opinion he held of him, said: I cannot think but that you wrong Mr. Bruen, I will undertake for him, make him but sensible of any An honorable testimony of him.wrong that he hath done, and he shall willingly acknowledge it, and make you double amends for it.
Also there was forty shillings given to the Parish of Tarvin, which being lent abroad, through neglect, was lost, whereupon the Church-wardens, and some of the neighbours requested him by Liberality.himself and his friends to make it up again, to which he presently answered, that he would not press upon any mans purse for that matter, & so he gave them the mony himself, which though not much, yet more then most Gentlemen would have have done in such a case: He saw none that were without the means of grace, but the bowels of compassion yerned in him, pitying the misery that was upon them: He saw none occasionally at their heathenish sports, and sinfull pastimes, but he looked angerly upon them, and spake roughly Mercy.to them, yet withall, inwardly mourning for the hardness of their hearts: If occasionally he met with mockers, contemners of God, and dispisers of good things, he would not cast pearls before swine, but turn away his face, and not so much as salute them: If any poor soul erred from the right way, and yet desired a guide; how carefull was he of their good? How joyfull to do them good? yea, to encourage and draw on such, he would give them Mony, Corn, Bibles, Catechismes and other good Books, which he had always by him for such purposes: If a professor of Religion fell into decay, he would relieve him by his own, and other good means: Sometimes he would take off Charity.a good sute of apparel from his own back, and bestow it upon a godly poor man that wanted it, and withall give him a good summ of mony out of his purse to accommodate him in his calling: He was much given to Hospitality, and to entertain strangers; his house was the common Inn of Gods children that came neer him: None so welcome to eat of his morsels as such strangers, as were no strangers in Israel: Many that passed betwixt Ireland & England, and that came upon business to Choster, horsemen and others; would take up his house for their lodging place, that they His hospitality.might comfort and rejoyce their hearts in seeing his face, hearing his voice, and conferring and advising with him: His ordinary Table was bountifull, and plentifull, not to excess, but to a very competent sufficiency, and for the furtherance of it, he had a great flight of Pigeons, a Warren of Conies, delicate Fish-ponds, besides other ordinary provision about his house: Yet would he not suffer any wilfull wast or abuse of Gods good creatures: His Cellar was open, and free to any, as far as they kept themselves within the bounds of moderation: He did usuall fill the bellies of great multitudes, which out of his own and other Charity.parishes resorted to him for that end: And in the deer years he made provision for them almost every day in the week, & would sometimes serve them himself; both to keep them in good order, and equally to distribute according to their necessities: His purse was ever open to give, or lend freely to such as would borrow: his admonition was, Remember your promise, and pay again if you will borrow again: and if any that borrowed were willing, but not able to pay, he would rather forgive the debt then exact it.
In the time of a great dearth, fearing that divers of his poor neighbors were in want, taking the opportunity when most of his Family were gone abroad to a religious Exercise, he sent for his neighbours, and distributed fourteen Bushels of Corn amongst them: Yea, the loyns of the poor did bless him, being warmed with the fleece of his flock, or clothed by the cost of his purse: Every year against Winter, he bestowed four or five pound in making provision to clothe the poor: His Character.Yea, he was a protector to the poor, to deliver him out of the hands of those that were too strong for them: He was a Counsellor to defend their righteous cause, and to plead for them.
He held always a gracious Harmony in judgement with all such Divines, and Professors of Religion as were most sound in the Truth: He religiously sympathised with the Church in all her afflictions.
When he heard evil tidings out of Bohemia, Sympathy.Hungary, Germany, the Palatinate, &c. he sat down (as Nehemiah) and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven: He was frequent in visiting the sick, and such Families as had the extraordinary hand of God upon them: If any were troubled in conscience, molested by Satan, terrified by Gods Judgements, happy was he that could get Master Bruen come to him, his very presence was some ease and refreshing to them: And as his gifts in prayer, and pains were great, so was the issue, and Prayer powerfull.success thereof (through Gods Blessing) many times very effectual, either for full release, or some relief at least: He himself Recorded divers mercies obtained of God by his Prayers, the glory whereof he doth ever in great humility ascribe to the Lord, giving him hearty thanks for manifesting his Grace and Power to so weak creatures, by so weak means: Being on a time at the Sheriffs Table, there was a Health begun to the Prince, and there were great Lords present, but Zeal.when it came to Master Bruen, he said, You may drink to his Health, and I will pray for his health, but drink for mine own health, and so I wish you may do for yours, and so he passed it over, not yielding to any of the solemn Ceremonies in that act: He was a great enemy to the profane Customs and corruptions used in great Houses, and would not spare to admonish his friends, by word or writing to reform the same.
He was very merciful in his dealing with his Mercy.Tenants, not grinding the faces of the poor by great Fines, nor crushing their bones by heavy rents, and racks, nor break their backs with cruel services, nor did he use their beasts without hire, nor their labour without wages: But it was the joy of his heart to see his Tenants prosper: His whole Death prepared for.life was a meditation of death, and a continual preparation for it: And in his declining dayes, when he saw that he was drawing on towards his journeys end, his faith was exceedingly increased, his hope, and rejoycing in God much inlarged, his love and zeal wonderfully inflamed, his affections towards God and his people more holy, and heavenly, and his motions towards heaven more quick and lively then before: The day before his last sickness, he rose very early in the morning, went into his Study to his private prayer, then came forth and prayed with his Family, then returned into his Study till Dinner time: and after Dinner went into his Study again, where it pleased God after two hours to visit him, as it were, with an Ague, whereupon he laid himself down upon a bed: His wife said to him, Sir, I fear you have done your self hurt with rising so early; to whom he replied; If you had seen, wife, such glorious Joy unspeakable.things as I saw this morning, being in private prayer with God, you would not have said so, for they were so wonderful and unspeakable, that whether I was in the body or out of the body, with Paul, I cannot tell, thus it hath pleased God, lest I should be too much exalted by this glorious sight, to give me a buffet in the flesh: The like ravishing in spirit, and such glorious sights, he saw not long before (as he acquainted some private friends) after he had been one day in private prayer with God in his Grove: Whence he had a strong perswasion, that he should not live long, before he made a glorious change of this life, with a better: And for this end he cleared up his Evidences for heaven, and confirmed his assurance of his right thereunto: This his confidence was Faith.his comfort in all his sickness, which drew from him many such heavenly speeches.
O how great is thy goodness, O Lord, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee, before the sons of men.
O how precious are thy thoughts to me, O God! O how great is the summ of them! If I should count them, they are more in number then the sand: When I awake I am ever with thee.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory: Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none on earth that I desire besides thee: my flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever: I know whom I have believed, and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day: O love the Lord all ye his Saints, for the Lord preserveth the faithfull, &c: As the hart panteth after the water Brooks, so panteth my heart after thee O God: My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: O when shall I come and appear before God: O let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better then wine, &c.
These, and many hundred more of these Divine speeches did he utter in the time of his sickness; and though his bodily infirmity grew upon him, yet would he by no means be kept from the house of God, so long as he could either go or ride: and His house was a mile from the Church.when he went to Church, besides his Family, he used to call his Tenants, and neighbours that dwelt in his way, to go along with him, and then calling them about him, they used with one heart and voice to sing Psalms, especially the 84. Psal. and he with his train came to Church constantly before prayers, and Divine Service began, that he How he spent the Sabbath.might the more comfortably joyn with the Congregation in the confession of sin, in prayer, praise, reading, singing, hearing, receiving of the Sacraments, all which he performed with most reverend attention, and gracious affection: After the Morning Sermon he usually stayed in the Church amongst other good people, and spent the time in repeating the Sermon, singing of Psalms, and holy conference: after Evening Sermon he returned home, attended with his company with much joy, and endeavouring as they went to encrease their knowledge, faith, obedience, &c. In his Family he was so full of life and zeal, that many that lived neer him, came to hear him repeat the Sermons, and power out his prayers unto God; and the joy and comfort that he found in these duties were such, that he would often say, O that every day were a Sabbath, or a Fast day, for then I should be well: The week days were His last sickness.more tedious to him, his bodily infirmity encreasing, and his strength decaying; yet would he quicken his soul, and raise up his heart by faith and hope, often saying; The time is not long, I must shortly lay down this my Tabernacle, and then I shall get the start of you all, and shall celebrate and everlasting Sabbath before the Lord, with his holy Angels, and blessed Saints, in the highest heavens: He grew daily more & more weary of the world: He set his house in order, and then wholly set himself to think and speak of spirituall and heavenly things: when any came to visit him, he would often say, Alas good souls, what are you come to see, a poor wretch, a worm, and no man, or a poor dying man, &c. and when any told him of hopes of recovery, he would say, My task is ended, the Lord hath no more work for me to do, my warfare is accomplished, my race is run out, I now onelyonly hope, and wait for that Crown of righteousness, His councel to his friends.which Christ hath purchased, and God hath promised to me: To his Christian friends he would give these admonitions, to hold on, and to hold out, to be stedfast in their professions, not to be weary of well doing, to grow in grace, &c. And for their greater incouragement, he would tell them, that when he first began to profess Religion, there were almost none in the whole Shire that were acquainted with the power and practise of it, &c. I was, said he, a wonder of the world, and a monster of men, and many did bend their tongues like bows for lyes, & did shoot their arrows, even bitter words against me, and yet for all this that came upon me, I did not forget the name of my God, &c. But (blessed be God) the number of believers, in this Country is much enlarged, every quarter and corner of it being filled with the sweet savour of the Gospel, &c. Therefore my deerly beloved, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong, be stedfast and unmovable, &c. Also, though his affliction and sickness encreased, yet were not his consolations diminished, though he was feeble in the flesh, yet strong in the Spirit: no pains of his body, nor pangs of approaching death did half so much trouble him, as the inward refreshings of Comfort in affliction.Gods holy Spirit did make his consolations to abound: Afterwards his weakness increased by reason of a stopping in his breast, & throat, so that he could not take down any liquid thing, but he was ready to faint away: About this time a worthy Knight coming to visit him, could not refrain from many tears, which he observing, said to him, Good Sir Henry Bunbury.Sir, weep not for me, for there is no cause of weeping, but of much rejoycing in my behalf; turn your tears into prayers, & let me enjoy that fruit of your love, &c. you are in your way, I am at my journeys end, walk on as hitherto you have done, and the Lord will be with you, he will never fail you, nor forsake you: To his eldest son he gave many wholsom instructions, His charge to his son.and gracious exhortations, praying for him, and blessing his children, encouraging them to be constant in Religion, commanding them to uphold the worship and service of God, both in the publike Assembly, and private Family.
A little before his death, there came two godly Mr. H. and Mr. L.Ministers to him, of his special acquaintance, whose presence much cheered him, to whom he said: I am here, you see, the Lords prisoner, cast upon the bed of my sickness, and in great affliction, yet waiting upon the mercies of my God, for a comfortable release in due season: And being asked by them, whether his consolations did not abound in the midst of all his afflictions; he answered, Yes, I thank God they do, and do far exceed them: Yea, and that which is more remarkable, the Lord of his mercy hath given me such strong His freedom from tentations.Evidence of his favor and love in Christ, that I am not troubled in mind or conscience with any doubts or fears, or any other Satanical molestations or tentations, but rest and waite in patience for the accomplishing his mercies upon me, according to his good pleasure towards me: Then he desired them to pray with him, & raising up himself in his bed, with his heart and hands lift up to God in the heavens, he did, as it were, reach after the petitions that were made for him, often with a cheerful consent, saying, Amen, Amen. He continued in Patience.great pain of body, but in great peace of mind, increasing stil in consolations, and bearing his sickness and pains with admiral patience, not shewing the least discontent in word or deed: When they took their leave of him, they mingled their sorrows, tears, and prayers together, and so parted: He was never quiet, unless he were either meditating, or praying himself, or had some godly man, or some good Minister praying with him: The morning before his death, divers of his friends took their leave of him, desiring at their parting a blessing from him, which he did willingly express, by lifting up his hands and heart unto heaven for them: And not long after, hearing some making motion of blacks, he said: I will have no Humility.blacks, I love no proud nor pompous Funeral, neither is there any cause of mourning, but of rejoycing rather in my particular: Immediatly before his death, lifting up his hands, he said: The Lord is my portion, my help, and my trust: His blessed Son Jesus Christ is my Saviour and Redeemer, Amen, Even so saith the Spirit unto my spirit: Therefore come Lord Jesus, and kiss me with the kisses of thy mouth, and imbrace me with the Arms of thy Love: Into thy hands do I commend my spirit, O come now, and take me to thine own self: O come Lord Jesus, come quickly, O come, O come, O come: And so his spirit fainting, His death.and speech failing, he meekly and graciously yielded up his pretious soul into the hands of God his Father, Anno Christi 1625. and of his Age sixty five.
Not long before his last sickness, my self being with him; amongst other diiscourse, he told me, that when he first procured the setting up of an Exercise at Tarvin, he was exceeding solicitous to procure all the Eminentest Ministers in those parts of the Kingdom to supply it, which coming many miles, they were divers times hindered by foul weather, flouds, or some sudden accident or other, so that at a very short warning, he was forced many times to get some honest neighbour Ministers to supply their places, and usually he, and most of the Congregaiton found more edification, and comfort by the labours Note.of those honest plain Preachers, then they did by the Sermons of such as were far more eminent for parts: Whereupon, said he, to me, I resolved to give over my former course, and to content my self with godly neighbouring Ministers, seeing God had shewed me, that it was not the greatness of mens parts, who were much admired every where, but the efficacy of the Spirit, which makes the Word effectuall and profitable.
Collected out of that Learned and elaborate Work, written of his Life and Death, by Mr. William Hinde; Wherein, besides the History of Mr. Bruens Life, many Theological points are occasionally discussed.
FINIS.