The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Part 2, Book 2 · Biography 9
JO: L: HARINGTON
The Life of John Lord Harrington, Baron of Exton, who dyed, Anno Christi, 1613.
IOhn Lord Harrington was the Eldest Son of the Lord and Lady Harrington, to whose care, and tuition King James committed the education of his Eldest daughter the Lady Elizabeth, who was after married to Frederick, Prince Elector Palatine: They were persons eminent for prudence, and piety, who carefully educated this His Education.their son, both in Religion, and Learning: and this honorable Lord, as a thankfull man for their care, and honor received from them, returned honor to them again and that with advantage; being no less honorable to them, then they were to him: He was of an excellent wit, firm memory, sweet nature, and prompt to Learning, so that in a short time, he was able to read Greek Authors, and to make use of them in their own language: He spake Latine well, wrote it in a pure, and grave His Learning.Stile, was able to confer with any stranger readily, and laudably in the Italian, and French Tongues: Understood the Authors which he read in Spanish: And for the Arts, he was well read in Logick, Philosophy, and the Mathematicks: He made a good progress in the Theorique part of the Art Military, and Navigation, so that he wanted nothing but practise to make him perfect in both: And for his understanding in Heavenly knowledge, and the mysteries of salvation, it was admirable; so that there was scarce any question His Religion.that could be propounded to him about those matters, unto which he was not able suddenly and understandingly to answer; Being wel grounded both in Religion, and Learning at home, his noble Father sent him to travell abroad in His Travels.France, and Italy, that by experience he might ripen that knowledge which before he had gained, and for a guide, and Tutor for him in his Travels, he chose and sent over with him one Master Tovy, a grave, learned, and religious man, and formerly the head Master of the Free-School in Coventry: But how dangerous a thing it is for religious Gentlemen to travell into those Popish Countries, may appear by the example of this Nobleman, and his Tutor, whose sound Religion, and heavenly zeal for the truth being taken notice of by the Jesuits, they took their opportunity Popish malice.to administer a slow-working poyson to them, that seeing they had no hopes of corrupting their minds, they might destroy their bodies, and bring them to their graves: Of this poison, Mr. Tovy, being aged, and so less able to encounter with the strength of it, died presently after his return to England: but the L. Harrington, being of a strong and able body, and in the prime of his age, bore it Anno, 1609.better, and conflicted with it longer, yet the violence of it appeared in his face presently after his return, and not long after hastened his immature death: He was eminent for sobriety, and chastity: His Chastity.His lips were never heard to utter any unchast, or unseemly speech, which was the more admirable, considering that he was in the heat of youth, living in the Court, and had been a Traveller into those countries which are Schools of uncleanness, where few return such as they went out, but of chast are made unchast, or if unchast before they are made seven-fold worse then they were: But this our Noble man was as fish, fresh in s…t waters, and kept himself undefiled, as Lot in …he middest of Sodom: and indeed he took the right way to preserve his Chastity, by avoiding the incentives, and provocations to lust: He spent not his time in courting of Ladies, and am…rously contemplating the beauty of women, which are Bellows of Lust, and baits of uncleanness: But he preferred his Books before their beauty, and for his society, His companions.chose men of parts, and learning, for Arts and Arms: Besides, he was very temperate in his diet, shunned Feasting, and was frequent in Fasting; and hated Idleness, and much sleep, which are the two Nurses of uncleanness: and in the night Tentations prevented.when he lay awake, to prevent temptations, he exercised his thoughts with heavenly meditations: His justice, so far as he had occasion to shew it, His justice.was very exemplary; he dealt honorably and honestly with every one that he dealt with; and whereas his Father had contracted great debts by his Princelike House-keeping, and other publike and private occasions, he was very solicitous for the discharge of the same, giving power to his Executrix to sell part, or all his Land, if need were, therewith speedily to discharge the Creditors: and being asked when the writing was drawn up, Whether he assented to it? He answered, Yea, with all my heart, for my honor, and my honesty are my neerest heirs.
But the splendor of his Religion out-shined all His Piety.his morall, and naturall accomplishments: This was the Temple that sanctified the Gold, and the Altar t…at sanctified the Offering: this was that which enob…d his Sobriety, Justice, & other vertues: And this appeared both by his Private, and publike exercises of Piety, which were rare in a His religious exercises.young man, more are in a young Nobleman, yea, and hardly found in such a measure in any man, of what age and condition soever: He usually rose every morning about four or five a clock, seldom sleeping above six hours: When he first waked, his constant care was to set his heart in order, and to fit it for holiness all the day after, offering the first fruits of the day, and of his thoughts unto God: Being up, he read a Chapter out of the holy Scriptures, then with his servants in his Chamber he went to prayer; then he spent about an hour in reading some holy Treatise, to enliven his affections, and encrease his knowledge: He read over Calvins Institutions, and Rogers his Treatises, which were his two last Books: Before Dinner and Supper, he had a Psalm, Chapter, and Prayer Family duties.in his Family, and a Psalm sung, and Prayer after Supper: and besides these publike duties, he prayed privately every morning in his Closet, then betook himself to some serious study for three or His studies.four hours together, except he was interrupted by some special business: The residue of the morning he spent in converse with his friends, riding the great Horse, or some such other honest and Noble recreation till Dinner time; Thus avoiding Idleness, and preventing temptations, which ensue thereupon ordinarily; presently after Dinner he retired into his study to meditate upon some Sermons that he had lately heard, or if he was disappointed of that opportunity, he neglected not the first that was offered to him; yea, many times in his Travels by Land, or Water, he thus busied himself, the rest of the afternoon he spent in businesses, study of Histories, the Art of War, Mathematicks, and Navigation, wherein he attained to a great measure of perfection: After supper he prayed with his servants, then withdrew himself into his study, where he kept a Diary, or Day-book, wherein he recorded what His Diary.he had done that day; how he had offended, or what good he had done; what temptations he met with, and how he had resisted them: and surveying his failings, he humbled himself before God for them; and for such failings as were fit to be known onelyonly to God and his own soul, he wrote them down in a private Character, which none could read but himself, and then betook himself to his rest; and to prevent evill thoughts before sleep, one that waited upon him in his Chamber, read a Chapter, or two out of the holy Scriptures to him, and this practice he continued for four years together before his death.
And as his care was thus in private to walk with God, so no less was his care in publike also, which appeared especially in his use of the time, and means of Gods worship. He was a most religious observer of the Lords Sabbaths, both in His sanctifying the Sabbaths.publike and private duties, yet preferring (as he often professed) the publike before the private, so that though he had an houshold Chaplain, yet he ever frequented the publike Assemblies twice a day; yea, whilest he was a Courtier: and if his occasions cast him into a place where the word was not preached, he would ride to some other place, sometimes four miles, rather then want it: Immediately after Sermon, he withdrew himself from company for about half an hour, to meditate upon, and apply what he had heard to his own Soul: after the Evening Sermon, two of his servants having written, he caused them to repeat both the Sermons in his Family before Supper; and such was his memory, that usually he could remember, and speak of more then they had written; then he wrote them down in his Book, and prayed himself with his Family, wherein he had an excellent gift: And by way of preparation to the Sabbath, every Saturday night he used to call himself to a strict account how he had spent the whole week, and accordingly to humble himself for his failings, and to return praise to God for mercies received from him: On the Sabbath morning, rising betimes, he used, as he was making himself ready, to repeat to his servant those Sermons which he had heard the Lords day before: He used Monthly to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; and to fit himself to feast at the Lords Table, he kept a private Fast the day before, and then he Fasting, and Prayer.looked over his Book for his carriage that month, and spent the whole day in prayer, meditation, and self-examination, observing how it was with him since his last receiving, what progress he had made in piety, how he had thrived in grace, and what more strength he had gotten over his corruptions: and thus he spent the whole day, not coming His preparation for the Lords Supper.out of his Study till about Supper time: Also the morning before he received, he read over 1 Cor. 11. Wherein is contained the institution of the Lords Supper, and to his servants that were to communicate with him, he read a little Treatise to them; wherein the right manner of preparation was contained; and besides these monthly Fasts, he kept many other days of afflicting his soul upon sundry occasions: He was wondrous attentive in hearing the word of God preached, or Reverence in hearing Sermons.read, and carried himself exceeding reverently therein, knowing that he was in the presence of God, that was no respecter of persons, and that he heard not the words of a man, but of God: Shewing thereby, that when he came to hear, he willingly laid down his honor at Christs feet; and to avoid ostentation, or the appearance of it in his private duties, he never admitted any one, either to his prayer, or repetition of Sermons in, and with his Family, but onelyonly one friend, that was Sir Edward Harwood.most intimate with him. And thus was this holy servant of Christ blameless, and pure, and the son of God without rebuke, in a naughty and crooked generation, amongst whom he shined as a Light in the world, holding forth the words of Life, that he might rejoyce in the day of Christ, that he had not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.
He further manifested the sincerity of his Religion, His love to the Saints.by his love to all that were truly godly, especially to faithfull, and painfull Ministers; as also by his mercy, and charity to the needy Saints, and poor members of Jesus Christ: After His Charity.his return from his Travels, by way of thankfulness to God, he gave yearly, by the hand of a private friend, twenty pounds to the poor, and the second Sabbath after his landing in England (having spent the day before with his Tutor, Master Tovy, in fasting, prayer, and thanksgiving) he heard the Word, received the Sacrament, and gave to poor of that Parish, five pounds; and besides, he gave forty pounds to be bestowed upon poor Ministers, and other Christians, for the relief of their necessities: Yea, such were his bowels of tender mercy, that he gave the tenth part of his yearly allowance, which was a thousand pounds per annum, to pious and charitable uses, besides much that he gave occasionally, as he travelled, walked abroad, &c. And all his other graces were beautified, and adorned with admirable humility, which is rarely found in persons so Humility.honorable, and honored both by God and men. From the first day of his last sickness, he strongly apprehended the approach of his death, and therefore His last sickness.accordingly prepared himself for it (though others thought of nothing less then his death:) Besides his private meditations, he called often for others to pray with him, prayed often himself: made confession of his sins, and oft confessed his Faith, and undoubted hope of salvation by Christ, Faith.professing with much cheerfulness that he feared not Death in what shape soever it came: He uttered many heavenly speeches, desiring to be dissolved, and to be at home with God, and his Father, professing not above two hours before his death, that he still felt the assured comforts, and joys of his salvation by Christ Jesus, and when death it self approached, he breathed forth these longing expressions, O that joy! O my God, when shall I be with thee? and so in the middest of those longing desires, Death.he sweetly and quietly resigned up his spirit unto God, Anno Christi, 1613. And of his Age 22.
He was not so eminent in place, as he was in grace, his gifts and graces, and power of Religion were exceeding rare; So that the Papists, who brag so much of merits, and good works, cannot bring forth a parallel example amongst them, of any man of his age, honor and rank, nay scarce of any age, or degree whatsoever, that shewed so much power of Popery, or the form of seeming sanctity, as this young Nobleman did of true Piety, and power of godliness.
Collected partly out of my own knowledge, and partly out of Mr. Stocks Sermon at his Funerall, and Dr. Hollands Heroωlogia Anglica.