Section 14
4. They are made of difierent sorts of earth, as earthen vessels are; all of the same nature, but not all of the same natural constitution. The bodies of some are of a stronger make, and more cut out for labour, while others are feeble, and soon foiled. Qtdet meliore lutofinxit pracordia Titan — Some have souls that seem to he made of finer mould than others ; the capacities of their minds more elevated and enlarged ; while others, who yet have their hearts upright with God, in comparison with them, are but babes in understanding.
But those of the finest mould, even the china vessels, are but earthen ones; the head and the eye in it are made of the same earth with the rest of the body; and those who are of a coarser mould, yet may as efiectually answer the end in keeping the treasure, as those of the finest composition. The living creature in EzekiePs vision, that had the face of an ox, did as good service in his place, as that which had the face of an eagle.^ Therefore let not those of eminent gifts be puffed up, they are but eaithen vessels; nor let those of meaner abilities be cast down or discouraged, God can make them who seem poor, yet to enrich many.
A great deal of difference there is likewise between some and others of those earthen vessels, in respect of natural temper: some are more bold, others more timorous: some more warm and eager, others more soft and gentle. I remember Gregory, in his book de pastorali cnrA — on pastoral care observes, that St. Paul, writing to Timothy, bids him not strive, but be gentle to all men, and to reprove with all lonff-suffering; but, writing to Titus, he bids him rebuke sharply, and reprove with all authority; for which he gives this reason: *' Titus was a man of a mild disposition, and needed a spur; Timothy more sanguine, and needed a bridle.'' Some are of a sorrowful spirit, reserved, and inclined to melancholy ; and that is turned to their reproach, as it was to David's, when he wept and chastened his soul with fasting, Ps. Ixix. 10. and to John Baptist's, who, because he came neither eating nor drinking, not conversing so familiarly with the world as others w Ezek. i. 10. X laa. xxviil. 10. P UlMsoriam nt Anvtv vtrka fnfkfttanm nhtannani. Orot.
did, they said. He hat a devil he is a erased, distracted man. Others are of a cheerfal apirit, and jocular sometimes, and that shall be made a blemish in their character; as, because Christ came eating and drinking, they called him a gluttonous mmuj and a wine-bibber, a/riend of publicans ond sinners.
So likewise, as to the manner of exhibiting and dispensing the treasure, there is a great variety of gifts: Apollos is an eloquent man; bat PauF speech is contemptible, (2 Cor. x. 10.) yet bis letters are powerful. Even among the inspired writers there is a great variety of phrase and diction, raacb more among the other earthen vessels, that are left more to themselves. And all these, as far as tbej have an aptitude to edify some or other, either the learned or the unlearned, are wrought by one and the self-same spirit; and yet by men of corrupt minds, both the one and the other are exposed to contempt. He who delivers his message, as St. Paul did, in tears, is ridiculed as a whining preacher: he who delivers it now and then with a pleasing, surprising turn, is ridiculed as a facetious one ; as Isaiah was bantered for saying. Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, Une upon line,* which in the original is a jingle of words, Tsof betsaf, haf behaf; and this made a song of, r. 13. The word of the Lord was unto them, precept upom precept. Jeremiah is jeered for saying. The burthen of the word of the Lord ; and they said of Ezekiel. Doth he not speah parables? and yet, after all, laid to their charge a thousand things which they knew not: but wisdom is, and will be, justified of all her children.
(5.) They are of different shapes and sizes, as earthen vessels, and vessels of shells, osed to be; notwithstanding which they may all receive and keep safe, and minister the treasure, according to their different capacities. While they hold the foan-dation, Christ, and him crucified, and the truth as it is in Jesus, yet in matters of lesser moment, that do not so immediately affect the treasure, there may be a great variety of sentiments, and of practice accordingly.
It was so in the apostle's times: One believes he may eat all things, another, who is weah, eats herbs: one esteems one day above another, another esteems every day aliheJ Both cannot be in the right: yet the apostle interposes not his apostolic authority in the matter to determine it either one way or other ; but rather chooses to give a rule, which would be of lasting use to the church, in all differences of that kind, when apostolic authority should cease; and that is, each to practise according to their sen> timent, with true devotion to God, giving him thanks, and with true charity toward their brethren; not imposing upon them their own sentiments, no, nor so f Rom. xlv. s, 6.
THE REV. MR. DANIEL BURGESS.
1097 uch as j adding and censnring theirs, or judging id despising them for practising according to them; lat both sides may reserve their zeal for the weigher matters of the law and gospel, faith in Christ, id holiness of heart and life. (6.) They are all what God, the great potter, takes them; for if tJiey are earthen vessels, they '6 in his hand, as the clay in the hand of the potter, ho has a sovereign power over them; and it is not I be asked. Why hath he made them thus ? The wise od knows what he designs men for, and what use e will make of them, and fashions their hearts ac-[>rdingly : Before I farmed thee in the belly, says rod to the prophet, / hnew thee, and knew what srvice I would employ thee in, and formed thee ccordingly, fitted thee to be a weeping prophet in alamitous times.' As God intrusts talents with his errants according to the ability he has given them,
0 be gives them ability according to the talents he iesigns to intrust them with.
Therefore we ought not to envy the gifts of those Fbo excel and eclipse us; for may not God do what le will with his own? Nor should we be discouraged, hoagb our capacity be small, our faculties weak, md the sphere of our activity low and narrow; if le be faithful in the little we are intrusted with, and iilient to improve it, it may be our comfort, that it s the place which God has seen fit to put us in; md where he has given but one talent, he expects the improvement but of one, for he is not a hard Master.
(7.) They are all vessels of use and service in the family, though they are but earthen ones. The apostle ohserres, that in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver, (the angels who are God's ministers in the upper world, and employed in this, are vessels of gold and silver, vessels of honour,) hot there are also vessels of wood and earth, which are comparatively vessels of dishonour :^ but it does not therefore follow, that they are no part of the farniture of Gods house: If the feet shall say^^Be-taute I am not the hand, or the ear shall say. Because
1 em not the eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore Mt of the body?^ God knows how to make use even of earthen vessels, how to make them truly beautiful and valuable, by putting a treasure into them, which may be and must be received from them, and use made of it.
(8.) They are oftentimes despised and trampled upon hy men, notwithstanding the honour God has put QpoD them, and are thrown by as despised broken ▼essels, and vessels in which is no pleasure. So tbis similitude of the earthen vessels is explained here, in the following verses; where the apostle shows, that he called himself and his fellow-apostles earthen vessels, because they were troubled on every
A. • Matt XXV. 15.
e I Cor. xii. I&, 16.
b 3 Tim. ii. 20. a I Cor. xii. 8-10.
side, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down i and because they past by so much dishonour and evil report as deceivers, and unknown, though they were true and well known.*
It has often been the lot of some of the most faithful, useful ministers of Christ, to be loaded with reproach and calumny, to be exceedingly filled with the scorning of them who are at ease, and the contempt of the proud, and to have all manner of evil said against them falsely. Thus the precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, and every way preferable, have been esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter. ^ Our Lord Jesus himself was one whom men despised, whom the nation abhorred,' and the disciple is not better than his Lord; and Satan finds his account in it, for by casting dirt upon the earthen vessels, he prejudices the minds of people against the treasure that is put into them, " But" (as I remember Archbishop Tillotson somewhere expresses it) '* it is no disparagement to be laughed at, but to deserve to be so; nor ought we to think the worse of the food at Christ's table, because it is not served up in plate, but in earthen vessels."
(9.) They are frail, and mortal, and dying, and upon that account they are earthen vessels. Thus the apostle explains it here. We which live are always delivered unto death. They are dying daily, and yet this is so far from being any allay to the rejoicing which they have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that the apostle protests the truth of it by that rejoicing, as a thing of unshaken certainty. These earthen vessels are soon broke, and return to their earth; they most needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; but, blessed be God, the treasure in them is not so: the word of the Lord abides, but the prophets do not live for ever."*
They are worn out with their labours; and as they spend, they are spent, in the service of Christ and souls. They are subject to the same decays of nature, the same distempers of body and mind, the same accidents, and the same infirmities of age, as others: they are cisterns at the best, and will shortly be broken cisterns; flowers at the best, and will shortly be withered flowers. I have said ye are gods but ye shall die like men, for ye are earthen vessels.
Ministers are workmen, and they shall accomplish as a hireling their day; and having patiently borne the burthen and heat of it, shall be called in by the shadows of the evening to receive their penny, and enter into their rest: they are watchmen, and when they have staid their time shall be relieved; they are soldiers, and their warfare will shortly be accomplished; witnesses, and their testimony will be finished ; they are Christ's ambassadors, and will be
11 Cor. vi. 8, 0. r Isa. xlix. 7.
f Lam. Iv. 2. h Zecb. i. &
A SERMON ON THE DEATH OF
recalled, and an exchange made. This ia not the world that ministers and people are to be together in. O that the one in preaching, the other in hearing, and both in praying, would look upon themselves and one another as dying! that what their hands find to do therein, they may do with all their might!
III. God has pat the treasure of the gospel into earthen vessels, that the divine power which goes along with the gospel may be so much the more glorified. The great design of the everlasting gospel, is to bring men to fear God, and give glory to him; and that he may be the more glorified, those are employed in propagating it, who were least likely for such a purpose, that his strength may be manifested in the weakness of the instruments. He ordains strength out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, that thereby he may perfect praise; as if this were the perfection of the divine praise, not only to help the weak, but to employ the weak. And he chooses to make use of such, to confound the wisdom of this world, and that he who glories, may glory in the Lord, and give glory to him.
There was an excellency of power going along with the apostles, which appeared to be of God, and not of themselves.
1. To strengthen them for the work they were employed in ; to preach down Judaism and paganism, and to preach up the kingdom of a crucified Jesus, was a service that required a far greater strength, both of judgment and resolution, than the apostles had of themselves; so that if they had not been full of power by the Spirit of the Lord of hostS) they could never have spoken, as they did, with that wisdom, which all their adversaries were not able to gainsay or resist; oould never have made such vigorous attacks upon the devil's kingdom, nor have gathered in such a large harvest of souls to Jesus Christ. They were in labours more abundant, and yety like their Master, did not fail nor were discouraged ; for though they knew and owned that they were not sufficient of themselves for such a service, yet they found their sufl Bciency was of God, and they could do all things through Christ strengthening them.
2. To support them under the hardships that were put upon them. Therefore God chose the service of such men as were despised, that he might magnify his own power in keeping the spirit he had made, and made fit for his own use, from failing before him. One would wonder how the apostles kept np their spirits ; it was not by any power of their own, but underneath them were the everlasting arms; and when they were pressed out of meaeure above strength, so that they despaired of life, yet they did not faint, being born up by the power of a God who i CoL f. 11.
k Rom. XV. 18.
raises the dead. Then it was, that Cbrists strength was made perfect in St. Paul's weakness, when ht was enabled not only to bear reproaches, and persecutions, and afflictions for Christ, and to say, None of these things move me, but to rejoice that he was counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ; to glory in these tribulations, and even to take pleasure in them. Let it never be said, it was by any power of their own, that the apostles were enabled to bear the shame so boldly and sorrow so cheerfully, and to die daily, and yet live pleasantly; no, it was according to Christ's glorious power, and by his might, that they were thus strengthened unto all patience and long-suffeiing with joyfulness.*
3. To give them success in that great work to which they were called. The world was to be enlightened with the lamps, and enriched with the treasure, that was lodged in these earthen vessels. By their agency the kingdom of the Redeemer was to be set ap upon the ruins of the devil's kingdom, the stream of the world was to be turned, the sea must be made to fly, and Jordan must be driven back: this work must be done; and therefore such earthen vessels shall be made use of in the doing of it, that it may appear, that the victorious power that does it, is not that of the apostles, but that it is a divine power; it is not what they have wrought, but what God has wrought by them to make the Gentiles obedient ;^ it is mighty through God, to the casting down of imaginations,* and the captivating of high thoughts. The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation,"* and in that, as in his chariot, the exalted Redeemer goes forth conquering, and to conquer."
O the wonderful achievements of the gospel! the trophies of its victory over the powers of darkness 1 the numerous instances of its convincing, converting, sanctifying power! How many sinful hearts have by it been made to tremble, and how many gracious souls to triumph! Had the preachers of it been princes or politicians, had they been philosophers or orators, this success would have been attributed to them; but when they are such despicable men, and so despised, men who, like their Master, were of no reputation, it must be owned, that therefore so many are brought to believe their report, because the arm of the Lord is revealed to them.
Now, for the application of this,
I. Let us see how this Scripture is this day fulfilled, in the removal of the master of this assembly from its head. The gospel treasure was faithfully dispensed here; but hereby it appears to have been put into an earthen vessel, that the vessel is broke, and is returned to the earth out of which it was taken. We are here bewailing the death of a minister of Christ, who was intrusted with the gospel treasure, was enriched with spiritual gifts, and has been
Rom. 1.16.
■ Rev. vi. %
THE REV. MR. DANIEL BURGESS.
I09P in his day iostrnmental, tfarough the grace of Ood, to make many rich. But he has finished his coarse.
My personal acquaintance with him was small, and therefore I wished, and laboured, that this service had been put into the hands of some other person, every way better able to do him justice; but since it is thrust into my hands, I think I need not study to do any other honour to his memory, than to take notice of the honour God has done to bis ministry, in blessing it to the conversion and edification of many precious souls; which I find there are multitudes ready to bear their testimony to; who, though they have had many instructors in Christ, have called him their spiritual father; for under his preaching, the grace of God has turned them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; and those who have been effectually called, he has been many ways instrumental to build up in their most holy faith. And this I know, there were many very judicious Christians, and who had spiritual senses exercised to discern things that differ, to whom his praying and preaching were both very acceptable and very serviceable, and who sat down under his shadow with delight; yet none more mindful than he, that he was an earthen vessel. An instance of which comes to my thoughts; I once saw a letter from him, to which, instead of his name, he subscribed himself" dust and ashes." Now if those who have obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, are to be esteemed very highly in love for their work's sake, much more are they to be so esteemed, who have obtained this further mercy, to be successful for the sake of the fruit of their labours.
Two things he was an eminent example of:
(I.) Great industry and courage in his work, while his health and strength were continued to him. It is a great blessing to any man to have a good constitution of body, and especially to a minister, and is a great talent, that must be accounted for. Such a one he had, and made a good use of it; for he laboured more abundantly, on Lord's days, on week days, in season and out ofteason and was in his element when he was in his work. He took pains in preparing what he preached, and then took pains in delivering it, and did not think that either one would excuse the other; either that if a sermon was well studied, it was no matter how dully and carelessly it was preached ; or that if it were preached with liveliness, it was no matter how slight and superficial the preparation was: no, he knew, that they who are made fishers of men, have need to mind their business, both when they are fishing, and when they are mending their nets.
You who knew fully his doctrine and manner of life, remember with what unwearied vigour he went on in his work for many years ; how he wont from strength o Pb. xxiii. 4.
to strength, and his bow was renewed in his hand; with what courage and holy contempt he looked upon the reproach of men, and their revilings, and like the prophet, set his face at a flinty for the advancing of serious godliness. And he found that in waiting on the Lord he renewcl his strength, and therefore would not hearken to those who suggested. Master, spare thyself. Those who nre enabled to do thus have reason to be thankful; while those who are not may yet be very useful, and ought not to be discouraged, since God requires, and will accept and bless, according to what a man has, and not according to what he has not. So much was his heart upon his work, that he complained of being too much hindered in needed and desired ministrations, in which he would willingly give his pains, as that which was a great grief and burthen to him, I have reason to think, that which at length sunk his spirits, and broke his strength, was not so much his working as his not working.
(2.) Great cheerfulness and holy confidence, when he saw the day of death approaching. Many who are very gay and pleasant while they are well, and in health, when they come to be sick, when painful threatening distempers grow upon them, when they find death working in them, and that they are already taken into the custody of its messengers, how are they cast down, and how is their countenance fallen! But it was not so with him: the cheerfulness of his spirit being founded on a good basis, continued to the last, and he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, as one who even there feared no evi!.<*
He looked back with comfort upon all the way in which the Lord his God had led him in this wilder-ness,p and encouraged his family to trust in God and his providence, from the experience which he had had of God's goodness to him, and particularly in the abundant kindnesses he received from his friends, now in his last illness, which he had a very grateful sense of, and for which he gave thanks to God.
He looked forward with comfort upon a blessed state on the other side death. When he found nature sensibly decaying, he said to some of his friends, '* Well, if God has any more work for me to do, he can repair these decays, and will do it; and if not, blessed be God, I have a good home to go to, and this is a good time to go home."
A little before be died, he said to those about him, he had four props, which he staid himself upon, and that he found them firm, and they did not sink under him when he leaned on them: 1. ''The incarnation of Christ, and his taking our nature upon him.'' 2. *' His oblation of himself a sacrifice for our sins/' 3. " His resurrection from the dead for our justification." And, 4." The intercession which he ever lives
P Deut. viii. %
nod
A SERMON ON THE DEATH OF
to make for all that come to God by him." These he resolved to rest opon. Tbas to him to live was Christ, and to die gain. Christ was all in all to him. Thus, thus he ventured into the invisible world, thus embarked for eternity in the never-failing vessel of Christ's mediation, as a poor sinner in the arms of an al Usufficient Saviour: and it is the excellency of our holy religion, that it furnishes us with living comforts in dying moments, and enables us to triumph over death and the grave, as those who through Christ are more than conquerors.
2. Let us see what improvement we may make of the truth contained in this text, and confirmed by this providence, that we have the gospel treasure in earthen vessels.
(1.) It may be many ways instructive to us who are ministers, and may remind us of our duty.
[1.] Are we earthen vessels ? Then we have reason to be very humble, and low in our own eyes, and to take great care that we never think of ourselves above what is meet, but always think soberly. Let us watch over our own spirits, that we harbour not any conceit of ourselves, or confidence in ourselves, or contempt of our brethren, remembering what we are. We are but vessels, and have nothing that is valuable but what we have received, and are intrusted with; and if we have received it, and received it but in trust, why then do we boast 7^ or what have we to boast of? We are no more, no better, that what the free grace of God makes us every day.
We are of the earth, and therefore it becomes us to abase ourselves before God, and to put our mouth in the dust, and acknowledge ourselves unworthy to speak to, or speak from, the Lord of glory.' We are of the same mould with others, and therefore ought to condescend to the meanest of the flock of Christ for their good; and to be so far from lording ii over God*s heritage as to make ourselves the servants of all, as being less than the least of all saints, and the meanest creatures that ever called God Father.
[2.] Are we earthen vessels ? Then let us not be indulgent of our bodies, nor of their ease, or appetites. What needs so much ado about an earthen vessel, when after all our care and pains about it we cannot alter the property of it, but brittle it is still, and must inevitably be broken after a while. Let not this earthen vessel be enshrined, and made an idol of, nor the belly made a god of; but let it know its place, let it be kept under, and brought into subjection,* and kept employed as a servant to the soul in the service of God: our principal care must be about the treasure, duly to dispense that, and about the vessel, only in order thereunto. We then, indeed, make much of our bodies, it is the
4 I Cor iv. 7. r Gen. xviil. 97. t ] Cor. \x. 37.
t I Thesft. iv. 4. o i Sani. Ii. 17.
most we can make of them, when we make ase of them as instruments of righteousness to God's honour.
[3.] Are we earthen vessels ? Then let us not be empty vessels. A vessel of gold or silver is of considerable value, though it be empty; but an earthen vessel, if empty, is good for little, but is thrown among the lumber. Let us get 5ur hearts replenished with the gospel-treasure, with sanctifying ^race for our own benefit, and with spiritual gifts for the benefit of others. Let us be filled with the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, filled with the Scriptures, filled with devout affections and holy dispositions, that we may be thoroughly furnished for every good word and work ; and, in order hereunto, let as give attendance to reading, to meditation; and, as long as we live, be still improving and adding to our stock, that we may bring forth things new as well as old; and it may appear, though we are still spending, we have still, by the blessing of God on our stadies, fresh supplies.
[4.] Are we earthen vessels ? Then let ns be clean vessels. It is enough, that as earthen we are mean by nature, we cannot help that, but let us not make ourselves vile by sin. Let us possess these earthen vessels in sanctification and honour,^ as temples of the Holy Ghost, which it is sacrilege to pollute: the bodies of all Christians are so, much more the bodies of ministers, with whom the gospel treasure is lodged, who are therefore concerned to keep themselves unspotted from the world and the flesh, lest if, like £li*s sons, they make themselves vile, they make even the sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred,*^ as good food is in a dirty vessel. If they must be clean who bear the vessels of the Lord,* much more must they be so who are themselves his vessels. Let our conversation be with all purity,^ nor let any blot of any kind cleave to our hands: let as carefully avoid filthy lucre, and every filthy lust, every thing that looks like it, and leads to it. And since it is our business to compass God's altar," let as, with the priests under the law, frequently wash in the gospel laver. Lord, not my feet onlg, but also my hands, and my head^' and my heart.
[5.] Are we earthen vessels ? Then let us take heed of dashing one against another; for nothing can be of more fatal consequence than that to earthen vessels, no, nor to the treasure that is deposited in them. It is not only the duty of ministers, in conformity to the design of their ministry, to be at peace among themselves, but it is their interest; for if they clash with one another, both sides are in danger of being broken: no better can come of it, when the jiotsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth,* They who think, because they are stronger vessels they can crush the weaker, should remember they are still
T Isa in. II. w 1 Tim. v 9 « Pa. xxvi. &
THE REV. MR. DANIEL BURGESS.
1101 bat earthen ones, and it may prove a crash to themselves.
What if some, according to the light God has given them, stand op for a Christian liberty, in those things wherein others, according to the light God has given them, yield a Christian obedience, since there are those on both sides who do it unto the Lord, and give God thanks,^ why should thev judge or set at nought each other? They are both earthen vessels, that have their infirmities, and seeing through a glass darkly, may be mistaken ;^ why should they not bear with one another, strengthen the hands of one another, since they both are intrusted with that treasure which comiitt not in meats and drinki, but in riffhteousneu and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghott,^
Let us therefore study the things which make for peace, and unite our zeal against popery, that common enemy ; for if God, for our sins, should suffer that to prevail against us, it will be a rod of iron to break in pieces all these potter's vessels: and we cannot do it better service, than to quarrel among ourselves; for if we bite and devour one another, we shall soon be consumed one of another,^ at least so far as to become an easy prey to that great devourer.
[6.] Are we earthen vessels? Then let us bear contempt and reproach with patience, and not think it strange, or fret at it. It would contribute very much to the quiet and repose of our own minds, if we could but learn epemere te epemi, — io despite hein despised, and not to be disturbed or moved oy it Now those who overvalue themselves, cannot easily bear to be undervalued by others; let us therefore, not only by keeping a good conscience, have this to say, to those who think and speak ill of us, that it is false and unjust, and our hearts condemn us not; but by keeping the grace of humility in its strength and exercise, have this to say, to those who think and speak slightly of us, that they cannot have a meaner opinion of us than we have of ourselves, nor lay us lower before men, than we lay ourselves every day before God. What else can earthen vessels expect, but to be despised and thrown under foot ? Let us make sure the honour that comes from God, and then reckon it a very small thing to be judged of man's judgment.*
[7.] Are we earthen vessels? Then let us often think of being broken and laid aside, and prepare accordingly. We are in use for a while, and it is our honour and delight to be employed in the service of Christ and souls. But what is our strength, that we should hope to be long thus employed? And wkat is onr end, that we should expect to pro-long our life f Is our strength the strength of stones ? or is our flesh of brass .*' No, we are earthen vessels, and are hastening to the dust; let us therefore work
Rom. xir. 6. * Rom. xiv.
b I Cor. xiii. 12. « Gal. V. 1&.
the works of him that sent us while it is day ;v let us fill up our time with that which will turn to some good account or other, and improve all our opportunities of doing good, though it be in the lowest sphere of usefulness, as those who know and consider the day of our service is hastening off, and the day of our account is hastening on. Let us follow our work with vigour and resolution, that at lengtli we may finish our course with joy and honour; in a believing expectation, that these earthen vessels, though sown, as you have seen, in weakness, dishonour, and corruption, shall shortly be raised in power, and glory, and incorruption; these vile bodies, made like Christ*s glorious one, according to the mighty worhing, whereby he is able to subdue al things to himself, that in glory, as well as grace, the excellency of the power may be of him.
(2.) This doctrine may be of use to you all. Are your ministers earthen vessels ?
[1.] Thank God for the gospel treasure, though it be put into earthen vessels ; nay, thank God that it is in such vessels, that it may be the nearer to you, and the more within your reach; and give all diligence to make sure your interest in this treasure. What will it avail us, that we have the gospel in our land, if we have it not in our hearts, that we have the sound of it about us, if we have not the savour of it within us ? that we have Bibles in abundance in our houses, and in our hands, if we have not a Bible religion reigning in our souls ?
You are laying up treasures of this world's wealth, it may be; O that you would be so wise for your souls and eternity, as to lay up for yourselves that treasure, which will make you rich towards God! which will send you rich out of this world, when death will have stripped you of all your possessions and enjoyments here.
[2.] Esteem the earthen vessels for the treasure's sake that is put into them ; esteem them highly in love, as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God ;** and as such make use of them, and show respect to them. The greatest honour and pleasure you can do them, is to draw from the treasure that is put into them, in your profiting by their ministrations, and making your profiting to appear. As far as you find they deliver Christ's errand, receive it and them for his sake.
And since they are earthen vessels, do all you can to strengthen their hands in their work, to forward it, and to further the success of it; and take heed of doing any thing to discourage them. Throw not those vessels to the ground hastily, because in something or other they do not please you ; for remember, they are earthen vessels, and they are your own. They who by their loose and irregular walking, or by their unruliness or peevish strifes, sadden the hearts
• I Cor. iv. 3. ff John Ix. 4.
r Jobvi. u, 13. li I Cor. iv. I.
LIFE OF THE REV. MR. DANIEL BURGESS.
of faithful ministers, do more than they think of toward the hindering of their work, and the shortening of their days, and perhaps will have a great deal to answer for shortly.
[3.] Bless God that the breaking of the earthen vessel is not the loss of the heavenly treasure. Ministers die, but the word of the Lord endoreth for ever; and a seed of ministers shall be raised np to preach it, and a seed of Christians to profess it, both which shall be accounted unto the Lord for a generation.^ Ministers hold forth this light, but it shall not die in their hands; they hold this treasure, but it shall not be buried in their graves ; for though we see the end of the conversation of those who have spoken to us the word of God, have seen their exit, and shall see them no more, yet we are sure that Jetus Christ is the tame yetterday to-day, and for ever.^
And therefore, since Christ has provided that there should be a succession of these earthen vessels, why should not you look out accordingly ? Apply yourselves to him who has the residue of the Spirit, and who holds the stars in his right hand, and attend his conduct
[4.] Let the glory of all the benefits you have, or may have, by the ministry of the gospel, be given to God, to him only, to him entirely; for from him the excellency of the power is. No praise is due to us, we have a great deal in ourselves to be ashamed of, and nothing to boast of, nothing to trust to; the more
1 Ps. xzil. 30.
k Heb. xiii. 7, S.
we do for God, the more we are indebted to him for employing os in his service, and enabling as for it: and therefore let every crown be cast at the feet of free grace, and every song sang to the homble strain, (Ps. cxv. 1.) Not unto tf#, O Lard, not unto us b unto thy name yive glory.
[5.] Let the consideration of the frailty and mortality of your ministers quicken yoa to make a diligent improvement of their labours, while they are continued with you. You have the treasure in carthea vessels, therefore delay not to make it yoans lest tht vessels that are most likely to convey it to yoa, should break, and others such should not be raised op, and so you come short of it Behold, now is the eicceptei time, therefore put not off the great work yoo wen sent into the world about to a further time, bat today, while it is called to-day, hear the voice of Christ and heed it Yet a little while is the light with yoK, therefore walk and work while yoa have the light' He who will not send to yoa by a messenger from heaven, will not send to you by a messenger from the grave: if you believe not Moses and the prophets, your ministers, when once laid in the dost, shall be no more reprovers to you; nor Samoel be raised from the dead to advise Saul, who woo Id not be advised by him while he was with him. By these, therefore, be admonished now, at length in this your day, to know and understand the things that belong to your peace, lest you despair at the last when they are hid from your eyes."
1 John zii. M.
m Luke xiz.
A CONCISE ACCOUNT
OF THE
LIFE OF THE REV. DANIEL BURGESS.
He was born about the year 1646, at Staines in Middlesex, where his father, Mr. Daniel Burgess, was at that time minister, but afterwards removed to Sutton, in Wiltshire, and then to Collinburn Duels, in the same county, a very considerable living, I am told, of about 400/. per annum ; and thence he was turned out by the Act of Uniformity, choosing rather to qait it on the fatal Bartholomew Day, 1662, than to wrong his conscience; and with what little he had of his own, by the blessing of God, made a shift to maintain and educate a numerous family.
This son of his being looked upon to be a child of extraordinary ability, he sent him, at nine years old, to Winchester school; and, after some time, he was chosen on the foundation, where, as is supposed, he continued till he removed to the aniversily. He was entered Commoner of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford, in Mich, term, 1660, when we take him to be but about fifteen years of age; so great was his proficiency. That house then flourished much aoder Dr. Henry Wilkinson, who was then principal of it, bat was turned out by the Act of Uniformity. His totor was one Mr. Northmore, a Devonshire man, of great note for piety and learning, and an acate disputant
One who was his contemporary in Magdalen-Hall, gives us this account of him, that he was observed to be a very close hard student, and his demeanoor in the house was, in all respects, very good.
He continaed there till he was Bachelor's standing ; but then he and some others his contemporaries
1103 in the same bouse, (Mr. Brice and Mr. Cadmore,) scrupling something that was required of them for their degree, as I am informed, chose rather to wave taking it, than to submit to the impositions they were then dissatisfied in.
Soon after that he left the university, and went to his father's in the country, and in a little while went to be chaplain to Mr. Foyl, of Chute, in Wiltshire; from thence he moved into the family of Mr. Smith of Ted worth, in the same county, as tutor to his and some other gentlemen's sons. After some years he was courted by the Earl of Orrery, Lord President of Munster, (who was Mr. Baxter's gpreat friend,) to go over with him to Ireland ; which he did about the year 1667.
The Earl set up a school at Charlevill for the strengthening of the interest of the protestant religion in that kingdom, and nominated Mr. Burgess the head-master of it. There he had the education of the sons of many of the nobility and gentry of that part of Ireland. After he left that school, he was for some time chaplain to the Lady Mervin, near Dublin.
He was ordained in Dublin, by Dr. Harrison, Dr. Rolls, and some other ministers there. There he married Mrs. Briscoe, by whom he had a son and two daughters.
He continued in that kingdom about seven years; bat his father growing in6rm, sent for him over to settle near him, which he did in 1674.
He took up his residence at Marlborough in Wiltshire, where he applied himself closely to the work of the ministry, as the difficulty of the times would permit: for he had the courage to put to sea in a storm, and when very few nonconformists did.
He laboured abundantly, and with great success, at Marlborough, and in the parts adjacent, and afterwards preached statedly at Baden, and occasionally at Hungerford, Ramsbnry, Album, and other places thereabout.
And as he was much followed by those who loved and valued his ministry, so he was greatly persecuted by those who hated it, and much hardship he underwent. Being once taken up for preaching, he was committed to the common gaol, at Marlborough, where he had nothing either to sit down, or lie down, upon, but was forced to walk all night, till next day bis friends got a bed in to him at a window. He was likewise denied a copy of his commitment; but after some time he came out upon bail. His prosecutions at assizes and sessions were very expensive to him; and as he laboured, so he suffered, abundantly.
The violence of his prosecutors in the country at length forced him to London, about the year 1685. And there be was when the dissenters had some breathing time allowed them, in 1687, and then he first began to be taken notice of in the city; and some little singularities he had in his preaching, made him to be the sooner and the more taken notice of: and in a little time his hearers were very numerous ; and among them divers persons of distinction formed themselves into a society, and took a meeting-place for him in Bridges-street, near Co vent Garden: divers of them were the remains of Dr. Manton's congregation thereabouts. There he continued many years.
After that turn of the tide in favour of the dissenters, he was advised by a great man to take his advantage against those in the country, who had prosecuted him beyond the law; but he said, no, he had freely forgiven them, and would never meditate revenge.
He often said he chose rather to be profitable than fashionable in his preaching, and that he thought it cost him more pains to study plainness, than it did others to study fineness; and he would be willing to go out of the common way to meet with sinners, to persuade them to return to their God. <' That ia the best key (said he) that fits the lock, and opens the door, though it be not a silver or golden one." And many have acknowledged that they came to hear him at first only to scoff at him, and make a jest of what he said, but went away under such convictions about the concerns of their souls, and another world, as, it was hoped, ended in a happy change of their spirits.
In his preaching he insisted mostly upon the first and great principles of religion, which all good Christians are agreed in ; and one who was a very competent judge told me, he thought he had as good a faculty in demonstrating them, and making them plain and eyident, as most men he ever heard. He much lamented, and vigorously opposed, the growth of deism and infidelity among us, saying, he dreaded a " Christless Christianity." He meddled not with party matters, or matters of doubtful disputation, but plainly made it his aim to bring people to believe in Jesus Christ, and to live in all godliness and honesty. He was particularly careful to explain the two covenants of works and grace, and to guard against the two rocks of presumption and despair.
He was observed to be very serious in prayer, and not to allow himself there such liberties of expression as he sometimes took in preaching.
He had a great dexterity in resolving cases of conscience, abundance of which were brought him from other congregations as well as his own.
He now and then used some plain similitudes, or surprising turns of expression, or little stories, such perhaps as we find Bishop Latimer's sermons fall of, (that celebrated preacher and martyr,) which, by some, were turned to his reproach; but it is certain many particular stories were maliciously fathered on him, that were abominably false, and were raised by a lying spirit only to obstruct his usefulness; and in the general he was industriously misrepresented
LIFE OF THE REV. MR. DANIEL BURGESS.
by many, who it is to be feared therein discovered no i(.iDdness for senoas godliness. A gentleman having once the curiosity to go to hear him, when he had done, could scarce be made to believe that that was Mr. Burgess; for, said he, " / never heard a better sermon in my life !**
His moderation was known unto all mdn, and he often said he cared not for being distinguished by any denomination, but that of a Christian o/Antioch,
He was a most agreeable man in conversation, (which is all I can say concerning him of my own knowledge,) very ingenious and pleasant, and his discourse good, and to the use of edifying. He had wit and learning, and could use them aright.
He was much respected by many considerable men ; and, like St. Paul, passed by honour and good report, as well as by dishonour and evil report. The excellent Dr. Bates, I am told, had a particular kindness for him.
His delight was much in his study, and there he spent most of the day, and was uneasy when he was interrupted, or called from it, unless it were to do some good office. He went from strength to strength in his work, and chose rather to wear away than to rust away.
It is well known, he had many very sore trials in the latter end of his time, and some of them went very near him; the unkindnesses, at least apprehended, of some of his friends, much nearer than the insults of his enemies ; which yet, said he, '* I have never inclined to express my feeling of to any friend save Eloah, Emanuel only. But it must and shall be said, to the praise of new-covenant grace, (so he goes on in the paper I have by me,) of never-failing grace; all my nights are not sleepless, all days are not restless, every friend is not found faithless, nor are all enemies found useless; all disturbed studies are not tasteless, all the disadvantageous sermons have not proved fruitless, all the various troubles have not been comfortless, nor the comforts mixed with them successless. Some grapes have been gathered from both sorts of thorns, and the dung, wherewith the tree is so much soiled, it is hoped will make it the more fruitful. Remember what I add, when you see me not, and when I shall be seen no more. I am near home; and, whatever falls on me betwixt this and home, I shall strive myself, and exhort such as you, to maintain a holy gospel alacrity and cheerfulness: because it is most sure, 1. Our God approves it, and requires it in all states. 2. Our Lord Jesus is anointed to give it to us. 3. Our holy infirmity-helper is sent to work it in as. 4. Our dangerous enemy is advantaged by our want of it. 5. It is our spiritual bread, to strengthen us. 6. It is our bright armour, to adorn and defend us. Hereof think you, therefore, in your supplications for yourselves, and for a poor servant of that Lord, whose oblation and intercession we count our best and only riches: content, I hope, (as Luther spake,) to leCc« names be vilified, so that his name aiay be ba Horei and glorified. I am sore new-covenaiit grace ■ cordial, and very supporting; and I hope no dty shall pass without my experience thereof/'
During his last sickness, which continaed soaaj months, and was purely a decay of natare, he bad ij great composure of mind, and was rerj macfa in m heavenly frame. He expressed an entire sabmissiod to the divine will, often repeating the words of Davidij 1/1 shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he riB bring me again to see the arh and his habitat ion ; bmt if not here I am, let the Lord do with me as seenuth good in his eyes. He said, if he must work no noore. be would rather be'' idle under ground, than idle above ground.'^
His great weakness disabled him from speakiof much; but most that he did say was beayenly and profitable. He once said, a little before his deatk, *' I thank God, I have been dying every day in th? week. With God is terrible majesty ; and that the guilty world will find ere long. Who can dispute an all-knowing God, or evade his charges ? Bat there is a Mediator, an Emanuel. O for a Christ, or ebe I die I O for that covenanting act to make him oms!
The evening before his death, a friend who came to see him, speaking of public affairs, said, it was feared there would be a storm; he answered with cheerfulness, '* But God will house some of his children first." And when he was so weak, that be conld scarce speak so as to be understood, he said, ** WeU, here is all trouble at the gate; but when got through it, no more, no more," And when he seemed to be fainting away, and one of his near relations thereupon cried out, in a fright, when he recovered himself, he asked what was the meaning of that shriek: *' We thought you had been dying," said they i ** And what iflkmdT said he, *' what needed that confusion V* Thus willingly, thus cheerfully, did he enter into the joy of his Lord.
He was buried at St. Clement Danes chorcb. Strand, London, January 31,171^13.
The books he published were these: Soliloquies which be printed in Ireland. Mr, Noah Webb's funeral sermon, in 1675, when he was in Wiltshire. And after he settled in London: A call to sinnert ; written at the request of Judge Rotheram, for the use of condemned criminals. Three questions ptminly resolved. Adiscourseof the Lord*s Supper. Counseltn the rich, with an address to King William. Cf reconciliation to God. Characters of a godly man, more or less grown in grace. 7^« Christian decalogue. Hastiness to anger reproved. Directions for reading the word of God projitably. The golden snuffers, the first sermon preached to the societies for reformation of manners. Holy contention for the faith. Duties ef parents and children. Proof of the Scriptures' divine original. Sure way to wealth, Funerai sermons em Mrs. Hooh, Mr. Fleming Dr, Rolls, and the Countets
1105
Jianeloffh, A sermon in the morning exercise, 1680, vo-nceming the conversion of young people. The most "iiffieult duty made easy : or, directions to bring our hearts to forgive injuries, foolish talking and jesting described and condemned, in a sermon on Eph. y. 4. Rwiies for hearing the word with certain and saving benefit. Forty aphorisms concerning riches. Poisons snc/ antidotes; the sins whereby poverty tempts; and helpful considerations against them. Mrs. Sarah Bull*s funeral sermon. The death and rest, resurrection and blessed portion, of the saints, with the work of the Redeemer and redeemed, Man's whole duty, and God's wonderful entreaty of him thereunto. Advice to parents and children. And, a Latin defence of nonconformity, entitled, Appellatio ad Fratres Exteros — A call to the expelled brethren.
A CONCISE ACCOUNT
OF THE
LIFE OF LIEUTENANT ILLIDGE,
FIFTY YEARS IN THE MILITIA OF THE COUNTY OF CHESTER
CHIEFLY COLLECTED FROM HIS OWN PAPERS.
Christian Reader,
It is well observed by the wise man, (Pro?, xiv. 10.) that the heart knows it» own bittemns, and its own fears, cares, desires, joys, and hopes, and expectations ; that as there is occasion, it is natural and easy to speak or write most feelingly concerning them. These are those things of a man that no man knoweth, save the spirit of man which is in him, (I Cor. ii. 11.) which is therefore called the candle of the Lardy which searcheth all the inward parts of the belly, that is, of his own heart, (Prov. xx. 27.) especially when this candle is lighted by the word and Spirit of God. And when a person makes it his business to accomplish a diligent search, doubtless he may arrive at a certain knowledge of his own state and condition, with reference to God and his salvation, by observing the complexion of his own soul from time to time, and looking at himself in the glass of God's law, he may come to know what manner of man he is.
The world sees our ways and actions, and is apt to be either too severe on the one hand, or too favourable on the other hand, in their remarks upon them. but as to this, which is the most hidden, and yet most excellent, part of man, the thoughts, the designs, the various workings of the heart, and the secret and solemn transactions between God and it; here a man is best able to draw his own picture: which this good man has done for his own use, in the manuscripts he has left behind him, that he might know (but not with any design to make known to others) what manner of man he was.
What he had done more at large, his friend has in this extract done in miniature, and taken the liberty to show it to the world. This we find done by some, who, for their eminency in gifts, and learning, and station, have made a much greater figure in the church, and in the world ; and it has met with good acceptance, and been of use for the assisting, quickening, and warning of others. And we are net without hopes, that this may have the like good effects; that it will not be despised, bat be the more acceptable to some, for its plainness and simplicity, as proceeding from an honest farmer, who was t good husband of his time, and was instructed by tbe grace of God how to cultivate his sool, as well «5 his ground, and suffer neither to be overgrown witii briers and thorns. These thoughts, expressions, prayers, and self-reflections, may suit tbe case of many others, as well as his; the tradesmen, tbe farmers, those who are in a public post, tbe aged and infirm, may here meet with instruction ; and especially it may be of use to work in us sacb a sense of death and eternity as he had, and as, I think, is not common.
I know it will be a surprise to many of his friends, because it represents him to be a better man than, it may be, they took him to be, thougb, «^pe, not a better man than, by the jpace of God, he reailr was. They saw his outside ; this shows them his inside : they saw some of his failings, and remember some of his gross sins; here they may see what bitterness they were to him in the reflection. And I cannot but expect, that all good men who loved bim, will rejoice and glorify God in him, for the grace given unto him, whereby he was victorious over those foolish and hurtful lusts, to which too many (the more is the pity) still continue in bondage.
The case reminds me of the apostle's remarks cm men's sins and good works, (I Tim. v. 24, 25.) Some men's sins are open beforehand, &c. that is, their sins are some way open, or they had not come ander censure; and their good words must he some way manifest,or they can have no right to absolution: so the learned Dr. Hammond understands tbe text Then by good works understand, such are the genuine fruits of an unfeigned faith, and sound repentance: for God pardons and absolves suchrand only such, ns truly repent, and unfeignedl believe his holy gospcK
THE LIFE OF LIEUT. ILLIDGE.
1107
Hat then, as to those his frieods and acquaintance, who have gone a great length with him in sin, but yet are not conscious to themselves of such reflections on themselves as they find in these papers, it does not become me to threaten or judge ; but I would with the tenderest compassion warn and exhort them, that they would bethink themselves, as they are reading the following lines, and assure themselves, that there is an eternal difference between good and evil, how industrious soever some may be to confound the ideas of them; and that when they come to die, ^nd enter on their eternal state, they mast expect no true peace on any other terms, than those on which, we trust, this good man has both hope and peace: and on these terms, peace be with you. Amen.
THE LIFE OF LIEUT. ILLIDGE.
He was bom in Weston, in the parish of Wibun-bury, in Cheshire; his father was of Cberlton ; his grandmother was of the Pools of Blackwell; his grandfather, his father, and himself, had each four sons, and no daughter. His mother was Cecilia, daughter to Mr. Chesnis, of Mick ley in Wrenbury parish, who, besides four sons, had seven daughters, who were all married, had children, and died widows.
His father once Intended him for the ministry, he having a very good capacity for learning; but neither his father's abilities, nor his own inclination, would permit it. However, he made good proficiency in school learning.
When he was about fifteen years of age, being a younger brother, he was put apprentice to a shoemaker in Nantwich, whom he served faithfully; and it was a comfort to him, in the reflection long after, that he did so. When he was out of his time, Lc went about to divers cities and towns, to improve himself in his trade. At last he came to London, where he staid about a year; and it was a satisfaction to him in his old age, to be able to say, that in all that time he did not remember that he had neglected the religions observation of one sabbath; and that he did not keep ill company, or haunt ill hpuses, but delighted in the manly exercises of wrestling, leaping, &c. He was at London at the time of the return of King Charles II. And the spring following came down to Nantwich, married Mary, the daughter of Richard Price, and widow of William Minshul, and set up his trade, which he followed seventeen years.
Bat his genius led him more to that ancient, innocent, and honourable employment of husbandry, which, he says, was his chief worldly delight; and therefore, when he was about forty years of age, he
4 B 2 took a rack-lease of a farm near Nantwich, on which his father and mother lived and died. It was looked upon by some of his friends as a hard bargain. But by the blessing of God, upon his great ingenuity and industry in improving the lands, he lived very comfortably upon it for thirty years, rejoicing with Istachar in his tents. In the first year of his removal into the country, he lost very considerably by suretiship. He said, his father, on his death-bed, gave him much good counsel, to keep the sabbath, to be obedient to his mother and master, and not to take tobacco, (he himself having found great inconveniences by it,) which he bad carefully observed; and (said he) if he had given me the same charge against suretiship, it might, perhaps, have prevented that loss.
His father and mother were religious, and brought him up in the fear of God. He relates in some of his papers, that when he was about ten or eleven years of age, there was a solemn fast kept in Nantwich church, upon occasion of a great drought, where his father and the family attended. Divers ministers prayed and preached ; but he was particularly affected with a sermon of Mr. BurghaFs of Acton ; (who was afterwards silenced by the Act of Uniformity;) his opening the evil of sin, and man's misery because of it, brought many tears from his eyes. He had a book written by Mr. Burghal, called *' The perfect way to die in peace;" which, when he was old, he delighted much in. After this he betook himself to secret prayer and reading good books, and took pleasure in hearii the word, to which he all along continued a good affection.
After he married, and set up his trade, he was taken into the militia, and continued an officer in it to his death. At the last muster he observed, there was only himself and one more left alive, of about nine score who were in when he entered. He was of a lively, active temper, very bold, and would turn his back on no man, but not abusive or quarrelsome ; he loved the soldiers, and they loved him; he took great pleasure in military affairs, and had good judgment in them, which recommended him to the esteem of his superior officers, who loved him.
But this proved a great snare to him ; for though he fell not into that height of profaneness that many do, yet he left off to watch and be sober, and for many years lived a vain and careless life; often sitting up till midnight and morning, drinking and mispending his time and money; excusing it to himself) that this was the way to oblige the gentlemen, and get an interest in them, for the promoting of his trade, having but little to begin the world with. His reflections upon this long after are: " Happy, thrice happy, are they, who not only remember their Creator in their yoath, but continue to do so from thei][jouth up; which I humbly confess, to my sorrow and shame, that my conversation has
THE LIFE OF LIEUT. ILLIDGE.
been loose and extravagant; I often ventared wickedly upon sin, against knowledge and conscience, and quenched the Spirit, and neglected the day of visitation. But this I can truly say, it was always with regret and reluctance. I have been a great sinner, but, through grace, a penitent sinner; both my own sins, and the sins of others, were a grief and trouble to me."
The chief thing that induced him to leave off his trade, and retire into the country, was, because he was weary of this evil course of life, and desirous to break off from that company, which he found to be a snare to him; and he found the benefit of it, and walked much more circumspectly afterwards, and kept a more strict watch upon himself. '* Such a day," says he, " I unhappily fell into ill company, and, contrary to my inclinations, designs, and resolutions, was overcome by their enticements to drink to excess: a sin I have been often guilty of, and have cause to repent of all my life long. I have of late years set myself much against it; and not without success, through mercy." He set down what were the prayers which, with many tears, he offered up to God on this sad occasion. *' Good Lord, in mercy, give me strength and power to overcome thiq, and all the enemies of my salvation; and hereafter to resist all such wicked and evil temptations, both from men and devils. Lord, thou art merciful to all true penitents, but a consuming fire towards obstinate sinners: in tender mercy, look down upon me thy poor, unworthy, sinful creature, even one of the worst qf thy creation, because I have known thy will, but have not done it. Now, O Lord, if thou shouldst be severe and strict with me, I were un* done to all eternity. Strike this rock, O Lord, that the waters may gush out, even floods of tears. O purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me in the blood of Christ, and I shall be whiter than snow." He said to one who was no company keeper; " I wish I had done as you have done. If I were to live my life over again, I would never keep company with those that are given to drinking." Being once at a feast where full glasses were pressed, his parish minister, Mr. Jencks, being present, took him aside, and begged of him not to humour such sots, to his own damage and danger. This good caution confirmed his resolution, and made him more afraid than ever of such company; and through the grace of God, by degrees he got a victory over temptations to this sin.
Let drunkards, who make a mock at this sin, read this and tremble ; for it will certainly be bii Umets iirtke latter end how light soever they make of it; taking a pleasure, and taking a pride, in making themselves and others drunk, and turning it off with a jest. Let them know, that they must either
• i Cor. vi. 10.
weep for it, and bewail it with godly sorrow, and hj a holy violence used with themselves, most break of from it, and become sober, as this good man did, or they must drink of the cup of the Lord's wrath, which is poured out without mixture in a lake of fire and brimstone, where there is weeping, and wailing, ami gnashing of teeth, and not a drop of water allowed to cool the tongue. For, whatever they saj, the God of truth has said. Drunkards shall not inherit tke kingdom of God:*" they shall not kmve peace trie ^ on to add drunkenness to tkirst.^ The wine that givtt its colour in tke eup at tke last bites like a eerpemi
And let not those who are unhappily entangled in temptations to this sin, despair of getting a victory over it, through the gce of God, which shall not be wanting to those that desire it, and pray for it, as this good man did, and are careful and faithful in the use of proper means for the improvini of that grace. Those who are acceptable to their company, as he was, and upon that account are courted and respected in company, have need to doable their guard, lest under pretence of obliging their friends, and entertaining them, and improving themselves and others by conversation, they wrong and ruin their own souls.
And let those who are out of the way of temptatious of this kind, keep themselves so, and bless God. that they are so happy as to be .strangers to this sio; and hope the best concerning others whom they see entangled in it, that they repent in secret of their folly, and that they may yet, through the help of divine grace, recover themselves out of this snare of the devil, in which so many are led, and held captive by him.
When he had attained to the age of fifty-seven, at which age both his father and mother died, that consideration, with some others, awakened him to a serious concern about his great change, and hb everlasting state, and consequently to a closer application to the business of religion: then he began to be more diligent and serious than before, in prayer, reading, and other devout exercises. It was then, about the year 1694, that he set himself to write down his reflections and observations upon himself, his meditations and pious breathings towards God, memorandums of the sermons he heard, and very large collections out of the Scripture, and other good books he read, with some account of remarkable providences. This practice he continued from that time to his death, which was about fifteen years; and has left behind him seven books, three quartos, and four octavos, fairly written, which show him to be a man whose heart was very much upon another world, and who made it his geat care to prepare for that world.
The reasons he gives for employing himself thu5.
V Deut. udz. 18.
r Prov. xxiii. 31.3S.
THE LIFE OF LIEUT. ILUDGE.
1109 ire, because he bad made it his chief end to honoar the great God of heaven and earth, and his chief business to endeavour the salvation of his own pre-rious and immortal soul; because he would often meditate on death, that he might prepare for bis great change; because he would thus employ his vacant hoars, that he might keep from idleness, and keep out of idle company. He hoped, likewise, that this practice would increase his knowledge, strengthen his faith, and give him more hopes of salvation. He also hoped it might be beneficial to his grandchildren, whom he desired to take the same method. Mach of what he wrote being transcribed out of the Bible and other good books, which might be thought needless, since the passages might be better read in their proper places, he thus excuses for it: that he transcribed those things which he was himself most affected with, and which, when they were collected and put together, would be the more ready for his use and meditation; that the writing of them over, would better settle them, and fix them in his memory ; that both the writing and reading of them was pleasant and delightful to him; and that the time he employed herein, would, if not thus spent, in all probability, be worse spent. I wish others would be prevailed with to use the same expedient for the same good purposes.
The motto he wrote on his books was, ** Piety is the way to prospity, both now and liereafter." And thus he writes, *' Should I fill my head with good thoughts, and this book with good sayings and sentences,yet, unless my heart befilled with sincerity and holy zeal, it is all as nothing." When he staid at home on the Lord's day in the afternoons, which he often did, while he lived in the country, that his whole family might go to church, he spent his whole time in this pious and profitable exercise.
A.nd we shall now have little more to say of him, but what shall be gathered out of his own papers, and delivered in his own words, which it is hoped, may be regarded by some who had a kindness for him, and may make good impressions upon them, which may abide. We shall only glean some passages out of many of the same purport, and, for more clearness, reduce them to proper heads.
I- His deep concern about his soul and eternity. His soul was his darling, for thus he writes:
0 my soul, my precious soul, shall I hazard thee for all the good that is in the world? Sorely there is an immortal spirit dwelling In the fleshly tabernacle, of more value than all earthly things, for it must live to all eternity, either in bliss or woe. This never-dying soul I value above all things here below. There is no greater folly or madness prac-lisedinthis world, than over-caring for the body, and neglecting the immortal soul. The body hath no assurance of life one moment, nor of that dross and dong which roost men so inordinately covet, which is transitory and fading, and not to be compared with our eternal concern. Even heathens, by the light of nature, did set a great value upon the soul of man; and shall not I then, who own myself to be a Christian, have the light of the gospel, and the knowledge of Christ, and many other benefits which tend to the advantage of my soul, shall not I above all things prize and take care of my immortal soul? Sad and miserable is their condition, who neglect their own souls, as the generality of men do. O my soul, let it be thy chief and continual care to seek and secure heaven!"
As he was walking in his fields, and looking on his improvements, he said to a friend who was with him, " All prospers, if the soul prosper. The most precious and valuable thing, that I am concerned for in this world, is my immortal, never-dying soul; which must fare in the next world according as I behave myself in this. O ! it is rest for my precious and immortal soul, which I desire and aim at above all things whatsoever." He wondered at those who spent their precious time so contrary to reason and their own interest, when their immortal souls lie at stake, and are in danger to be lost to all eternity. ''All my concerns here below (says he) will shortly end in death; and therefore it is my soul that I set so high a value upon, as the most precious jewel in the world, bought with the precious blood of the Son of God."
He writes this saying of Mr. Mede's: " O take heed thou art not found overvaluing other things, and undervaluing thy precious soul! Shall thy flesh, nay, thy beast, be beloved, and thy soul slighted ? as if a man should feed his dog, and starve his child."
In a letter to his friend, who was concerned for his spiritual state, there are these passages: " I have read over and over your good advice, and seasonable admonitions. I take them very kindly, and give you great thanks, and do bless God, and shall do upon my knees, that any take so much care of my immortal soul. I may well take it as a message from God, whose assistance I humbly beg in the performance thereof, with your continued prayers on my behalf, against all the enemies of my salvation. With God's assistance, I shall endeavour to observe and keep your instructions, which are both necessary and pious. Your reproofs are sharp, but just and real. Should I go about to vindicate my past course of life, it is in vain; had I done any thing that were well, I am but an unprofitable servant, but shall daily beg for repentance and amendment of life. I desire two things of yon; 1st, A frequent part of your prayers. 2dly, When you see or hear of any thing amiss in my conversation, that you would reprove me sharply: I shall take it kindly." So he writes, though to an inferior. Dec. 16,1690. IT. His exercise and expressions of repentance.
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It is my heart's desire to repent of all my sins. And I humbly and earnestly beg of God, that he would herein assist me with bis Holy Spirit. It is with sorrow and shame, that I call to mind my sins, the sins of my whole life, humbly confessing them to the Almighty God. Lord, I repent, help my repentance, and make it sincere; Lord, I repent, accept my repentance through my blessed Saviour; in whose merits is my only hope of salvation. Lord, I repent, increase my repentance, that I may mourn for my sins all my days. Lord, I heartily grieve for them, and stedfastly purpose, by thy grace, to lead a new life. O seal my pardon in the blood of my Saviour, whom I stedfastly believe in. Lord, accept of sighs for tears; O that I could weep a flood of tears for my sins! O wicked wretch that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death ? I desire to continue my repentance to my last moment, and to die repenting.*'
He writes many passages out of the books be read concerning repentance: as thus ; '* True repentance is a change of the whole man, the judgment, will, affections, conversation; it turns a man not only from this or that particular sin, but from all sin.— He whose mind and desires were before to fulfil the fusts of the flesh, and to prosper in the world, and enjoy the pleasures of it, now strives as hard to kill those desires, takes the world for vanity and vexation, and turns it out of his heart. No sin is rightly killed, till the love of every sin is killed. True repentance is turning to God, and setting our hearts and hopes on heaven, so that we now love holiness, and seek God's kingdom above all things In this world. To say we repent, and not to reform, to be sorry for sin to-day, and return to it to-morrow, is but counterfeit repentance."
Many confessions and lamentations of sin we find in bis papers, with petitions for mercy: such as these;
" O God, when I call to mind the »ns of my youth, the many and great offences, which I ungratefully committed against thee, my God ; and when I consider my present state, how subject I am to failings and infirmities, and how apt I am to come short of my good designs and resolutions, I am almost ready to despair, and am full of doubts and fears: but when I call to mind the goodness and mercy, and the suflferings of my blessed Redeemer for me, I conceive some hopes."
Lord, I am a sinful unworthy creature, that have made no suitable returns for the great and many mercies I have received from thee all the days of my life. Thou mightest justly have cut me ofl, and thrown me into utter darkness long ago; but good Lord, pardon my sins, and be reconciled to me, through the merits of my blessed Saviour. I have too much pampered this perishing body, and have taken too much delight in the vanities of this sinful world, little regarding the shortness and uncertainty of my life, and the greatness of that account I havt shortly to make. My good desires, endeavoars, and resolutions are often frustrated and disappointed; temptations overcome me ; these are my daily grid There is nothing in this world that troubles me mofe than sin : good Lord, remedy and amend all that is amiss in me, for Jesus's sake."
O my soul, seek thou the Lord, humble thyself before him, beg for his grace, without which I can do nothing. Lord, I repent, and am ashamed when I look back, and consider bow vile and wicked a creature I have been, the many great sins I have committed, none of which are hid from thine all-seeing eye; my sins of omission and commission, of weakness and wilfulness; many in number, heinous in nature. Be merciful to me, O God* be mercifal to me, thy poor sinful servant, who am not worthy to breathe in thine air, or to take thy holy name into my polluted lips."
I cannot melt into tears, as I should, for my sins; but when I consider what my dear Savioar suffered for my sake, I find my mind greatly troubled, and the hardness of my heart is my grief. Where must I seek for succour, but from thee, my God ? O help me, and deliver me for thy mercy's sake. Thou ait the only Physician that canst heal maladies ; O heal this hard distracted heart of mine; compose it, mollify it, make it such as thou wouldst have it, for Christ's sake." .
I have known the will of my heavenly Father, but have not done it; therefore deserve to be beaten with many itripei. O let me with regret and sorrow look back upon a loose, ill spent life, which I must be afflicted in soul for now, and must amend, or suffer for eternity. O let me cry out with the gaoler. What shall I do to be eaved ?*'
" When I look back and consider the number and greatness of my sins, I cannot but admire the mercy of God in sparing me so long: O how often have I provoked his gat Majesty to be angry with me, till be has destroyed me, and cast me into hell; but be had spared me, because his mercy and compassions never fail. Ever blessed, praised, glorified, and magnified be thy great and holy name."
Lord, give me hearty sorrow for all my offences, and grant that I may never be at peace with myself, till I am at peace with thee."
I find a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me; when I address myself to any spiritual or heavenly employment, when I design to draw nigh to God, and promise myself comfort in commutiion with him, then is evil present. Could I but enjoy a freedom from it in the season of my duty, and the time of my communion vrith God, what a comfort would it be! but then am I molested with wanderings and distractions, then is sin most busy. O this is my great misery and burthen. Good Lord, help me out of these troubles."
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nil
Two things lie irery heavy upon me at this present, and greatly troable me; ingratitude under ^reat mercies, and impenitence under great sins; Lord, help me under these great straits."
I strive against sin, but am often overcome; iht, but am often foiled: Lord, assist me in my sptritaal warfare, and make me a conqueror."
The longer I live, the more sensible I am of my 3wn frailties and infirmities, hardness of heart, distraction in duty, want of zeal in the service of God; these are my grievances ; the spirit willing but the fUtk tceak. O wretched man that I am! My tin it ever before me. But I am resolved, by the help of God, it shall have no rest or quiet in my heart; I will continue to fight against sin and Satan, and all the enemies of my salvation ; and though, like the sons of Zerniah, they are too hard for me, yet I will daily beg and pray for thy help, O Lord, and the assistance of thy Holy Spirit against them, without which I can do nothing that is good. Mine inigui-tiet are gone over my head at a heavy burthen, they are too heavy for me ; but I will declare mine iniquity, I will be tarry for my tin."
III. His particular striving against the sin of pas* sion, and hastiness of spirit.
Lord, thou knowest my frame; I humbly confess, to my shame and grief, that I have been passionate and impatient; it is a misery that has too much attended me in the whole course of my life : the Lord in mercy pardon me, and change my corrupt vile nature. Lord, give me patience and meekness, and an humble spirit, that I may bear with submission all the afiiictions that come from thee, my God, and all the disturbances and injuries that are offered me by men." ^Through the grace of
God, he got very much the mastery of this corruption toward his latter end.
" I bless the Lord, I do what lies in me to life at peace with all men; I am willing to bear many wrongs, and freely forgive all men that have done me wrong; and were I satisfied that I had wronged any man, I would freely make restitution. I wish barm to no man: if any do to me, I pray God forgive them, for I freely do, as I desire to be forgiven myself. I confess, through passion I may jar with a neighbour, but I dare not bear malice, or harbour revenge in my heart, against any man living, nor ever had one suit or trial with any man in any court in all my life."
I have read (says he) of a good man, who, when one wondered at his exceeding great patience in bearing injuries, answered, ** When my heart is ready to rise against those that have done me wrong, I presently begin to think of the indignities and in-jaries that were done to Christ, which he bore patiently for me. If my own servant should pluck my beard, or smite me on the face, yet this were nothing ^ wbat my Saviour suffered; and I never leave off thinking on this, till my mind is still and quiet.— Who am I, that I should not be crossed ?"
He found great advantage against this sin, by the frequent receiving of the Lord's supper; for, (says he,) '* When I meet with wrongs and abuses, affront and injuries, they disturb and vex my mind, and often put me into- a passion ; and then, in haste, I threaten to go to law. But I presently consider that I am a Christian, that I was lately at the Lord's table, and must appear there again ere long, if not prevented by sickness or death ; and how dare I then harbour malice or revenge? Then I soon alter my mind ; for my great Creator hath said. Vengeance ie mine, and my blessed Saviour hath strictly charged us to love our enemiet, and hlett tlum that curte ut"
IV. His doubts and fears about his spiritual state, with his good hopes and resolutions.
'' When I inspect the state of my soul, doubts and fears arise; especially when I recollect the number and greatness of my sins, and observe the present hardness of my heart, and dryness of my eyes. I am subject to a wandering fancy and distractions in duty : God seems to frown, and to withdraw himself from roe. It is sin that is the only cause of this my present misery ; but when I think of God's mercies and Christ's merits, and the comfortable promises of the gospel, my hope revives. Lord, my sins are great, but thy mercies are greater; therefore, I will never despair: if I perish, it shall be at thy feet. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trutt; let me never be confounded"
I seldom miss any opportunity of coming to the Lord's table ; but I want that sensible joy and communion with God, which many good Christians have, and that inward comfort, which is of more value than all the riches in the world. My heart is hard, my affections dull, I am often lukewarm, and unfit for holy duties. Lord, it is thou alone that canst help me, and vain is any other help; of myself I can do nothing; I have none to fly to but to thee ; Christ is the rock on which my foundation shall be laid : O pluck me as a brand out of the fire. Thou hast said. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rett: these are comfortable words to a poor sinner. Assist roe by thy Spirit, good Lord, that I may embrace them, and rightly apply them."
O when will the happy time come, that I shall be set at liberty from sin and corruption, from the body and the world ? When will the cares of this life cease to trouble me, that I may repose in God ? His love and favour is the greatest comfort in the world, that will make a death-bed easy, and dying hours comfortable.'*
'' It is the great mercy of God, that hath supported me under many temptations. I have often fallen; but, through the goodness of God, I have risen again. I have been long troubled with doubts ma
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and fears, yet have not despaired of God's mercy. Let not his goodness encourage me to presumption or vain hopes, or to think my own case better than really it is; but put me upon striving to enter in at th.e strait gate, and working out my salvation with fear and trembling, that I may make my calling and election sure, while it is called to-day, because the night is very near, when I shall work no more. Lord, give me grace, though I want comfort."
It was some encouragement to him when he read the lives of good men, to find that they had the same exercises, particularly that of Mr. Philip Henry. '* If such an eminent holy man" (said he) '* that lived a life of communion with Ood, yet complained of wanderings and vain thoughts in duty, &c. I will not despond, who have the same burthens to complain of."
He also took comfort from a passage he transcribed from the present Lord Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, which was this: " The strongest encouragement of our endeavours towards heaven, is, that all our defects shall be supplied by the infinite merits of our Lord and Saviour, who knows the infirmities of our nature, takes the will for the deed, and admits honest endeavours in lieu of perfect obedience. The goodness of God is infinite, and his mercy is over all his works."
" I believe (says he) that vain and groundless hope of salvation is the ruin of many, who say they hope in Christ, but keep not his commandments; whereas, it is not saying. Lord, Lord, that he will accept, but doing the will of our Father ; it is not my prayers, nor my reading good books, nor writing good things, that will bring me to heaven, without faith and repentance, and serving God in sincerity."
y. His self-examination, and evidences for heaven.
Were I capable, I would write something of the hardness and deceitfulness of man's heart, since I can say so much on that subject by woful experience, for it hath been a continual trouble to me most of my days. <' The heart" (says one) *' is that which the eye of God is, and the eye of a Christian ought to be, chiefly fixed upon." Many an earnest prefer have I put up to God to soften this stony heart, and fix this wandering mind: O that at length my heart might be wrought into a right frame. Could I win my heart to God, and keep my heart with God, I should think myself a happy man. I pray daily that God would create tit me a clean Keart, and renew a right spirit within me. O that I could obtain the favour of God, and communion with him, which I value more than all the riches of this world. The light of his countenance, an interest in Christ, and the assistance of his Holy Spirit, I desire above all worldly treasures."
Lord, thou knowest all the secrets of my heart, and all my thoughts afar oflf, all my present desius and purposes, which, I hope, are well inteoded; hn I want thine assistance. The heart is deceitfcL and doubtless mine as bad as any; how then s]i«il I judge of my spiritual state, which most judge tun favourably of in their own case ? If the heart be filled with sin, and so continues with delight, there is do room or habitation for God and Christ in it. O that I could put away all the evil of my doings, and repent with tliat repentance which is not to be repented of. So far as I know my own heart, these are my unfeigned desires. Help and assist me, O God, for thy mercy's sake. Let thy strength appear in my weakness."
" Let me not censure others, bat begin at home, and examine my own conscience, and judge mj own heart: I am in the sight and presence of Gd, whose all-seeing eye beholds all my thoughts, word$« and actions; and it is dangerous to dissemble wiih God, or flatter myself."
Mr. Corbet's inquiry into the state of bis sool, was of great use to him in this part of his work. " Doubts and fears arise, (says he,) I feel nuny conflicts between flesh and spirit; and though the flesh often prevails in some particular instances,yet I trust, through grace, the spirit hath the predominant power. Tain thoughts, unruly passions, often intrude into my heart, but they are unwelcome guests there, and soon turned out I hope I sball never offend my God willingly; and that I do not delight or allow myself in any known sin/'
Some of my weak imperfect evidences for heaven are these : 1. My hope is built porely upon the mercy of God and the merits 4>f Christ. 2. Mj designs, endeavours, and resolutions are freqnendj good. 3. It IS my desire, delight, and practice to hear the word of God preached. 4. I have a great esteem for all that love and fear God, of what persuasion soever. 5. When I have done any action that I think is pleasing to God, it is my great joy and heart's delight 6. When I have done any ill action, or committed any sin, it is the grief of mj soul. 7. It is a very great trouble to n>e, to hear the name of God profaned, or his word undervalued, or evil spoken of. 8. I have been averse to law-suits, and, to my power, am a peace-maker. 9. I have been always willing and desirous to keep holy the Lord's day. 10. There is not that person living that I onvy or hate, or seek to be revenged on; if any hate me, I pray God forgive them, for I forgive them freely. 11. Though I have been a vile sinner, yet, I hope, I can truly say, that I am a penitent sinner, and desire from the bottom of my heart, to sorrow for all my sins, and to amend my life: Good Lord, help roe so to do. 12. I had rather have a heart to ^ve God above all, to love him perfectly, than have all the riches, honours, and pleasures in this world. I would rather lose all things, than the grace and
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1113 favoar of God, and the benefit of Christ, and the Holy Spirit. I hope I can tnily say, with Mr. Corbet, as far as I am able to discern my own heart and ways, I have chosen the Lord for my portion ; I take ap my rest in him, and not in the creature. To love, fear, admire, and bless him, and to have commanion with him, is my chief joy. I am heartily grieved for loving God so little: yet I am certain, I love nothing more than God, and in my esteem and choice, I prefer a spiritual, heavenly life above all things upon earth."
Lord, I love thee, for I am grieved at thy absence, and rejoice in thy presence; I love those that are like thee; I love the place and duties where thou art wont to meet thy people; I am grieved when thou art dishonoured by myself or others; I would have a heart to love, and look, and long for thy coming and appearing in glory."
His particular actions he examined by the twelve questions in Mr. H.'s Communicant's Companion, eh. 4. which he transcribed and enlarged upon, concluding : *' I have, to the best of my knowledge, examined myself upon these queries, and find that in many things I have fallen short, through negligence and human frailty ; but in some things, conscience witnesseth for me, that according to my ability, I have kept my integrity; and I trust for the time to come, that, through the assistance of Almighty God, I shall walk more circumspectly."
YI. His contentment with his lot, and gracious contempt of this world.
Though he lived upon a rack-rent, yet he was very well pleased with the little he had of this world. Thus he writes: '* It hath been my great happiness, through the goodness of God to me, that my passage through the world, thus far, hath been mostly pleasant and plentiful; I have had Agur's desire, neither poverty nor riches, being ever content with what God appointed for me. I always had a very grateful esteem of my own condition, and have not been subject to murmur and repine."
" It is my trouble, that the care and business of the world doth often take my thoughts off from better things ; but I am endeavouring to bring my worldly affairs into less compass, that I may hang the world loose about me, may use it as if I used it not; setting my affections on things above, and seek-in;, first, the kingdom of God, not doubting, but that then other things shall be added."
There is not one day of entire peace in these things; but either something troubles, or nothing satisfies. We may be happy without riches and honours, but cannot be happy without grace. It is madness in men, to lose their immortal souls for the dross and dung of this world. He that sets his heart upon this world, can never seek the-world to come as he ought; therefore, O my soul, use all the care and diiigc Dce imaginable, to take thine affections off from the vanities of this worid." Thus little do the things of time appear to those, to whom the great things of eternity are revealed by faith.
Archbishop Tillotson says, " Nothing doth so besot the mind, and extinguish in it the sense of divine things, as sensual pleasures do; if we fall in love with them, they will steal away our hearts from God. Let my soul therefore despise the world, and devote itself wholly to the fear and service of God."
Worldly things often hinder the good designs of good men, and as for bad men, they carry them headlong to ruin; for they swim down the stream of pleasure, not considering what account they have to make, nor how it will be with them, when they lie gasping and groaning on tiieir death-beds."
He had but little (in comparison) of the good things of this present time; yet he often said," I have enough of this world, and as much as I desire:" and that he would not thank any one to give him 100/. per annum : For, *' I have enough to maintain me, and am content with it; and if I had such an addition to what I have, instead of doing me good, it might perhaps do me hurt." Thus godlinets with contentment is great gain; it is all the wealth in the world. They who think what they have enough, have enough ; and who would desire more ? Happy they who bring their mind to their condition.
VII. His private devotions.
It appears, by his papers, that he conversed much with God in solitude. Thus he writes in 1698: '< It is my desire, my real purpose and full resolution, to do these two things for the future, as God shall enable me: I. To fall down upon my knees three times a day to pray, and give thanks to God ; so Daniel did, and-David, evening, and morning, and at noon. 2. That the first and last thoughts of every day shall be of God ; and that as soon as I lie down lsleep, I will call to mind the passages of the day: afd how can I spend my time better, when I lie awake in the night, than in communing with God and my own heart. I know the fittest posture for prayer is upon my knees; yet, I believe, God will accept of prayers and ejaculations from his people, at any time, in any place, if they come from an upright heart."
I bless God, according to my abilities, I frequently make my addresses to my great Creator, though I am unworthy to take his holy name into my polluted lips: I am sensible of my insufficiency for prayer, yet, I hope, my merciful Father will accept me; for he regards not so much the words of prayer, as the heart and the spirit of prayer; and he rejects no bumble faithful suppliant, be his speech ever so weak; even broken words will serve, if they come from a broken heart. Prayer without sincerity is a lie to God. Lord, give me wisdom from above, and teach me to pray,' so that my prayers may be acceptable to thee, my God ; that every prayer may come warm from the heart, may be an effectual fervent
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prayer, which availeth maoh. If we employ both head and heart in the service of oar prayers, then we may pray at all times, and in all places. Whenever we have a heart to pray to God, he has an ear to hear. It is the heart God requires in this duty; for a dead, dull, heartless prayer is an abomination unto the Lord.'*
He much esteemed a book, called *'The Liberty of Prayer," written by Mr. Jencks of Harley, read it much, and wrote many excellent passages out of it He was for praying always with ail prayer; and despised neither prayers by a form, nor extempore prayers, thinking each to have their excellences at several times ; and that he who truly loves prayer, will truly love both.
In his family be prayed daily, and usually read the Scriptures, or caused them to be read, and sung psalms. There he used mixed prayers, as Dr. Fuller calls it; partly a form, which he wrote down in his book, containing the essential parts of prayer, which always remained unaltered; butaddingmany movable petitions to it, as the Spirit of God enabled him, and as there was occasion.
A prayerless family (says he) is no better than a beast-house, and indeed a den of thieves, where God is robbed of his tribute, and their jiouls of the benefit. He that will undertake to prove that prayer is needless in families, shall oblige them to be his humble servants, or any one's, but his that made them."
VIII. His worship of God in public.
He attended the public worship of God in his parish church every Lord's day, and was sure to come early, though he was near two miles distant from it; yet he could say, he had never been absent from it any Lord's day for seven years, except twice, and then his occasions called him to other parish churches. In the afternoon, when he lived in the country, he often staid at home that he might send all his family to church, because he thought he could spend his time better at home than any of them could; but when he came to live in the town, he constantly went to church both parts of the day; and, at noon, on the Lord's day, a chapter was read to his family, a psalm sung, and concluded with prayer.
He wrote down, when he came home, the text, and what he could remember of the sermons he heard, that he might have the benefit and comfort of reviewing them afterwards.
But he was in a special manner exemplary, for his diligent and serious attendance on the ordinance of the Lord's supper; which he rarely omitted whenever there was an opportunity for it in his parish, which usually was eight times a year; and he made very solemn preparation for it. Miich of what he has left behind him in writing, is sacramental meditations, partiy.his own, and partly gathered out of good books; Mr. Gouge's, Mr. Flavel's, Mr. ShoverV and others.
According to the dying charge of my Lord a&s Saviour Jesus Christ, (says he,) I do freqaeetlj attend at the Lord's table, and do that is rewkm-hrance of him, as he hath required. Lord, I dislilt none of thy commands, they are all good and reasoc-able; but I find fault with my own wicked heart, that I do not more heartily love, and more readilj obey, them. I bless the Lord, I have b«en seldom absent from his table these many years, and btfc found great benefit by frequent communion. I an sorry when 1 see but a small appearance at the Lord's supper. Some are absent, becaoae they lore their sins and will not part with them, and so slif;bt their souls; others, because they oxercbaige tbeir hearts with the cares of this world. Mr. Jenks out minister told us, * All worldly business is either lawful or unlawful: that which is unlawful, ia tke name of God, renounce it; that which is lawful, aod used with moderation, rather fits a man for the sacrament than otherwise.' Others are absent apoa a mistake, that they can never be well prepared to receive."
He usually spent one day in fasting and prayer ia secret, before the Lord's supper; and sometimes two. ''These two days, (says he,) I desire to set apart for the worship and service of God, with a fall purpose to make what preparation I can, by tke grace of God, for receiving the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper. To that end, I will, as God shall enable me, humble myself, and with sorrow sod shame confess my manifold sins to my merciful Father, who is a sin-pardoning God ; I am ashamed, and do repent, of all my sins; and it is my heart's desire not only to confess them,but to forsake, detest, and abhor all manner of sin whatever. Lord, grant that I may not bring one beloved sin to thy table. Thou hast promised pardon to all that truly repent, and eternal life to all that believe in thy Son. Behold, O Lord, I heartily repent of my sin, and sted-fastly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, puttins: my whole trust in him alone for salvation. ' Enable me.
0 Lord, by thy grace, to persevere to the end, that
1 may be blessed for ever, through Jesus Christ. Amen."
Thus he writes; " To-morrow is a day of great concern, not for our bodies, but our souls, for we are to meet the Lord at his own table. O with what humility, reverence, repentance, faith, charity, oaght we to appear there ! I have endeavoured to prepare myself, setting this day apart for prayer and meditation, especially on the sufferings of my dear Saviour for my sins, both in bis life and at his death. I hope that my striving and struggling is a sign that I am not dead in trespasses and sins; for a dead man strives not. I beg of God often, and faeartilj, that I maybe upright in all my duties.'*—Bat be
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1116 afterwards wriles; ''At this sacrameDt my beart was bat doll and sluggish, which is my greatjtro Qble; I thoagbt I took some pains with my hard heart in my preparations, yet my endeavours proved ineffectual at this time. God be merciful to me a sinner, for the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked."
Another time he writes: " I did appear at the Lord's table, and receive the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper, I hope to the benefit and advantage of my precious and immortal soul; I found much joy and comfort in the ordinance, and it was very delightful to my soul. Lord, bless and sanctify it to me, and grant, O God, that I may ever bear upon my heart those promises and resolutions which I make at thy holy table."
And thus: " O Lord, I dare not approach thy holy table in my own strength or merits, but in the strength and merits of my dear Saviour Jesus Christ; for I know, when I have done all that I can, to fit and prepare myself for thy table, my endeavours will be found imperfect; yet, I will hope and trust in thee, my God, for thy help and assistance, and the free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins, through the mediation of my dear Saviour, and this I beg for Jesus' sake, and for thy mercy's sake. Amen, Amen."
And thus: " I often call to mind that memorable saying of Mr. Flavel: * The Lord's supper and the point of death require equal seriousness; we should go to that ordinance, as if we were going into another world.' O what need is there of an awful, composed spirit, when we approach the Lord in this ordinance. O that I could humble myself at this time, and examine myself, and search and try my beart and ways, that I may find out my errors, and where my unfitness lies, that I may repent and amend ! O how unsuitable is a dry eye, and a hard heart, to such an ordinance as this! Now would I free myself from all my cares of this world, be in perfect charity with all, and be affected in prayer and meditation. The chief things this vain world affords, are honours, riches, and pleasures: I desire no greater honour than the love and favour of God'; no riches, but an interest in the unsearchable riches of Christ, and benefit by him; nor value any pleasure like communion wilh God: Lord, grant me these, and I desire no more."
" Lord, I stretch out the weak arm of my faith towards thee; O stretch out the mighty arms of thy power and mercy, and come and save me. I am fearful that I am not rightly prepared, but I hope this is an error on the better hand; then are we most fit, when we are most humble and ashamed in the sense of our own unfitness. I will, by the grace of God, use my best endeavours, acknowledging my own insufficiency. The spirit is willing, but the flesh weak; therefore will I beg of my heavenly
Father, that he will direct, assist, and accept of me, through Christ my Saviour. Let this unspeakable love of thine constrain me to obedience."
Once when he was prevented from this ordinance by an unexpected throng of worldly business, which he thought did for the present unfit him for it, he writes, " It was a great trouble to me that I lost such an opportunity; Lord, pardon this great neglect, this sin of omission, and prepare me, by thy grace, to embrace the next opportunity."
His prayer, sometimes, after the receiving was, " O most glorious Lord God, let me now sing praise to thy great name; for blessed are they that dwell in thy house, and are fed, though it be with the crumbs that fall from thy table; and now I have tasted and seen how good thou art, and that thou hast heard my prayers, and granted my request: O that I might never depart from thee, or be weary of thy service. Strengthen me, O Lord, against all manner of sin, that I may say, with the princely prophet, / have sworn and will perform it, that I will heep thy righteovs jvtfffments. Direct me, O Lord, by thy Holy Spirit, and carry me through this rale of tears, this valley of the shadow of death, for Jesus' sake. Amen."
When he received the Lord's supper, upon the account of his office, he writes, " I doubt there are many who come upon this occasion, and neglect the duty at other times, which is a sad thing; but let me begin at home, and not judge other men, but examine myself."
IX. His thankfulness to God for the mercies he had received.
He often expresses himself much affected with the goodness of God to him, the memory of which he abundantly utters. In August 1097, he thus writes: ** This being the 00th year of tny age, I thank my God, who hath spun out my days to this length. I praise the Lord, that he hath made me a reasonable creature, a man, and not a beast; a Christian, and not a heathen; that he hath planted me in a pro-testant nation, blessed me with the light of the gospel, which I value above all things: Come, be hold the worhs of the Lord, what he has done for my soul! I have a competency to live upon ; though it seems but little in the eyes of some, yet, I bless my God, I think it sufficient, and am therewi'h very well content. I have enough to keep me while I live, and bury me when I am dead, and that is sufficient. Naked came I into the world, and brought nothing with me, and naked shall I return, and carry nothing away with me."
If I look back, and review the mercies of my life, they are innumerable. I shall only name some: I never was arrested or imprisoned in all my life; never had a joint put out, or a bone broken ; never received any great hurt or wound, to use a surgeon; have been long in the militia, yet never was in one
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battle, so peaceable have our days been. I have had mach dealing in the world, yet never had a trial in any court, which has made my life the easier. I never was assaulted by thieves, nor had my pockets picked. I have lived in repute and credit, and never ifnder any disgrace or scandal; and what false reports have sometimes been raised of me, never turned much to my prejudice. I have had many creature-comforts, good wives, good children, hopeful grand-children, kind friends, and loving neighbours, &c. My lot is cast in a fruitful soiF, where the gospel flourisheth, and is frequently preached, when many, more deserving than I, have lived in poverty and affliction, or have been grieved with wicked relations, that have brought down their gray hair» with sorrow to the grave* My passage through the world has been very pleasant"
How may this good man's thankfulness to God shame those who, instead of caring and working for a livelihood, and paying a great rent, as he did, live at case, receive great rent, and deliver all their care and business upon the heads and hands of others, and have every thing about them pleasing to a nicety, and yet seldom think of their obligations to the God of their mercies, or give him praise for his favours to them.
But see how he was affected with these mercies: *' Lord,*' (says he,)*' it is owing to thy goodness, not to any desert of mine, that my life has been so comfortable. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits i I will acknowledge his goodness to me, and praise him while 1 have a day to live in this world. O that I could in some measure walk answerably to the goodness of God to me! Lord, thou hast given me abundance of temporal good things, give me spiritual grace, and I ask no more. Yet (be adds) the present pleasures of my life shall never extinguish in me the thoughts of death, because the one is certain, the other uncertain."
He often expresses his thankfulness to God for public mercies; for peace, and plenty, and health in the nation, especially our happy enjoyment of the gospel; that not only our civil rights and liberties, but our religion, is secured to us by law; that our land is not a seat of war. And he writes with great compassion concerning those countries that are so: ** Sure no nation under the sun enjoys more mercies than we in England do at this time. I am obliged to praise God, not only for particular mercies to me and mine, but for his common mercies to the land wherein we live. Blessed be the God of heaven for them; and again, I say, blessed be his great and holy name for evermore. How great is the patience and forbearance of God towards us, though our sins cry. aloud for vengeance; and we are very oograteful for the mercies we receive. Some do not like the present government; others grudge at the taxes; others are highly offended at the toleration; and some are scarce content with any thing, not gob-sidering the calamities of other nations. How bar-barously the poor protestants of France have beei used by their tyrannical prince, and what dcsoli-tions he has made with fire and sword in many of his neighbouring countries, though of his own religion !"
X. The sense he had of his afllictions.
Undertaking in his old age to give an account of his troubles, thus he begins: ** My greatest trouble is for the sins that I have committed." Which he took all occasions to reflect upon with godly sorrow, abhorring himself, groaning under the bortheo of corruption, longing for deliverance, and crying to heaven for help. His books are full of passages to this purpose: wondering at those fools who cas make a mock at sin ; who plead for it, laugh at it, turn it into a jest, and glory in it; forgetting the nature of God, the worth of their souls, and the awful eternity they are so near. Though such may have the name of Christians, it is but the name. O what heart-piercing thoughts will such have of eternitj shortly ; and they will be themselves astonished to think, how they could possibly make so very light of these great things.
His next trouble was, worldly care and business ; " Which" (says he) ** is often a great hinderanee to my devotion, distracts my head, disturbs my mind, and makes me unfit for holy duties. An affable temper hath been injurious to me: I have been always ready to serve my neighbour or friend in any business that I was capable of, whereby I have lost much time; but I have therein endeavoured to do good, and show that I love my neighbour as myself. But I earnestly desire, that I may desist from worldly business one year or two before my death, that I may have the more time to prepare for it."
His next trouble was, the painful infirmities of old age; stone or gravel in the kidneys, sciatica, arid the like. " Though I live (says he) with much content, yet not without a thorn in the flesh ; scarce a night passes without smarting pain; but it is God's goodness that it is not worse. I have reason to bear it patiently; for it is less than my sins have deserved. Though the outward man grows weaker, I hope the inward man grows stronger. Lord, cast me not off in the time of old age.*' A book written by Mr. Corbitof Chichester, when he was grievously afflicted with the stone, was of great use to him, and he collected much out of it; concluding, " Lord, put thy Spirit of grace and meekness into my heart, that I may bear with patience whatever thou art pleased to lay upon me, and help me to follow this good example. I can truly say, my pains and distempers have very much drawn my mind off this world. // is good for me I have been afflicted.'* He wrote down divers passages of Scripture, to comfort himself witlt under his pains: Happg is the man whom God cor-
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he makeih tore, and bindeth up. Whom i Lord loveth he ehtuteneth. Bletted is the man \om thnu ehastenesif O Lord, and teaehest. And iny the like.
Being once wonderfully delivered from hurt by a ngerous fall from bis borse, bis foot banging in e stirrap, so tbat be bad been in all likelibood lied, if bis sboe bad not bappily come off, be writes as of it; *' In my distress,! said, Lord, bave mercy my soul, for 1 see tbat my life is gone; my bope ks in God, to wbom I cried for deliverance, and ! heard me according to bis word: Call upon me the iitne of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou alt glorify me. God granted mc deliverance; and lall not I now endeavour to glorify tbee, O tbou reserver of men ? O let this for ever engage me to &ep close to Christ my refuge; and make me say, ith Ezra, Since tbou. Lord, bast given me sach a eliverance as this, should I again break thy commandments? Lord, grltnt that I may never forget ly goodness." He failed not to give thanks to rod for the mercy, upon the yearly return of the av.
XI. His zeal for the suppression of vice and pro-.ineness.
When the minister of his parish, and others of his leighboars, (well affected to religion and virtue,) oined in a society to promote the design of her ^lajpsty:) pioa:» proclamatioa,/or the preventing and vvoiishing of vice, profanenets, and immorality, by nforming against offenders, in order to the putting »f the laws in execution, be was an active man iinong them. Though many opposed this good MTork, and reproached them that acted in it, yet be knew be bad the law of God and the land on his side, and was not discouraged in it. This good design was countenanced and encouraged by the Archbishop of Canterbury's circular letter to the bishops of his province, dated April 4, 1699, the printed sermons of the Bishops of Ely, Salisbury, Chester, Chichester, Dr. Stanhope, Dr. Willis, Dr. Ken net, and other dignitaries of the church. The Lord Bishop of Oxford thus addresses himself to those societies: ** Ye brave and truly heroic souls, who have entered into a holy confederacy, not only ajainst flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, &c. your adversaries are numerous and powerful; the prince of the power of the air, with his rulers and companies, and the children of disobedience upon earth, in whom he worketh, all evil spirits, and all wicked men; and from these you '^iiist expect the most vigorous and obstinate opposition. Dot be not afraid oi their terrors; remember tliatthe battle is not yours, but God's," &c. Much to the same purpose is collected in the Account of the Progress of the Reformation of Manners, the thirteenth edition. It is therefore a great surprise ^lid grief to all good men, to find those societies represented quite otherwise by Dr. Sacheverell, in bis assize sermon at Derby, Aug. 15, 1709. Where be says,'' That under the sanctified pretence of reformation of manners, they turn informers, assume an odious and factious office, arrogantly intrench upon others' Christian liberty and innocence, and under the show of zeal and purity, the most infallible token of a dexterous and refined hypocrite and knave, turn the world upside down. And these troublesome wasps erect themselves into illegal inquisitions; and whatever godly and fallacious glosses they may cast upon their actions, they are doubtless the unwarrantable effects of an idle, encroaching, impertinent, and meddling curiosity, the base product of ill-nature, spiritual pride, censori-ousness, and sanctified spleen, pretending to carry on the blessed work of reformation, by lying, slan-dering, whispering, backbiting, and tale-bearing, the most express character of the devil, who is emphatically styled. The grand accuser of the brethren. No wonder then, that St. Paul has so severely stigmatized these busy-bodies in other men's matters, by ranking them with murderers and thieves, as the most proper persons to keep one another company.**
When this good man was told, be would be accounted a busy-body for joining to this society; be said he valued it not, so tbat he was doing good, and were honouring God. He gives this account of it; '* We met about twenty of us at our minister's bouse, the last Lord's day in the month, after evening prayer, to consult about carrying on the good work of the reformation of manners in the parish ; and we bad pretty good success, many were restrained from open profaneness, the poor relieved; but we met with discouragement from some, wbom we hoped would bave encouraged us."
Once comingilnto a public bouse, and bearing a gentleman most profanely swearing, though a stranger to him, he desired him to forbear. Said be, *' Thou art some presbyterian, I warrant tbee." Said the lieutenant, ** Praysir, what church are you of?" '' Of the church of England," said be. Then said the lieutenant, *' I am sorry you are of the same church that I am of, for you are a disgrace to it."
I once" (says be) *' heard a friend of mine talk atheist-like, very profanely. I reproved him, saying, *< Sir, why do you talk so wickedly ? Do you think there is neither God nor devil, heaven nor hell ?" He answered, ** It may be there are such things, but I know not where they are." I answered, ** Sir, in time you may know, to your own sorrow and amazement." By this time be doth, for be died lately.
XII. His charity, especially for the teaching of poor children.
He was very liberal to the poor, according to bis ability. A worthy knight giving away many of Mr. Gouge's tracts, entitled, Surest and safest wag
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of thriving, one of them came into his hand. After he had read it, he wrote down his resolution, which was, from that time forward to double his charity. He lo Ted to employ poor workmen, and was kind to them, saying, they worked hard for a little money.
He wrote down such passages as these, to stir up himself to charity: '< It is not he that possesses wealth, and keeps it by him, that is rich, bnt he that distributes it in charity, which will make men rich for ever. When thou givest to the poor, then securest to thyself; and what thou withholdest another shall possess. Give to the poor, and it shall be given thee; it is lent to the Lord, and God twice repays it; in this world by a blessing on thy wealth, and in heaven he repays it over again. Thou shalt have in grace, what thou partest with in money.^*
He contribnted very cheerfully to the teaching of poor children, and bought divers, of that little book, called. The puide to heaven to give away, and had a great esteem for that book; generally carried one about him to read at his leisure. He much rejoiced in the increase of the charity schools, and was pleased to see the children taught at those schools carry themselves reverently at church, and hear them say their catechism. When hedied, out of his little, he left ten pounds to the charity-school in Wibunbury parish.
XIII. His respect to good ministers, and his grief concerning those who were otherwise, and his lamenting our unhappy divisions.
As he had a reverence and love for God, so he had for all bis; his day, his people, his ordinances, his ministers. He was, in judgment and practice, for the church of England, as by law established ; '* for*' (says he) " it is my belief that a man may, by the grace of God, live as holy a life in this church as in any." He does in his books bless God for the learned and pious clergy of the cl Brch of England. It rejoiced him to hear (a few days before he died) the present Lord Bishop of Chester preach so excellent a sermon at Nantwich, that had the marrow and substance of the gospel in it, on 1 Tim. i. 15. and to hear of that excellent charge he gave his clergy, to teach their people the necessity of divine revelation, the divine authority of the Scripture, and the divinity of our Saviour, and to pressholinessof life; and that they should set a good example, and deny themselves in lawful things for the good of their people: and refrain from public houses: and as to those pro-testant dissenters, that carried it humbly, and as they ought, they should not be behind-hand with them in love and kindness. He rejoiced that the church had many such.
He had a great value for Mr. Jenks, who was minister of Wibunbury, and died July 19, 1700. ** I got much benefit to my soul (says he) by his good preaching, and exemplary living. He was a man of a good natural temper, an ingenious preacher, sober and temperate, very charitable, and of a public spirit. He used his best endeavours to promote religion in the parish. I have heard him reprove sin and idle talk very boldly. He was diligent in tbe duties of a minister. He was a constant reader of the prayers, and frequently administered the Lord's supper; carefully catechised tbe children and servants in the summer time; visited the sirk in all quarters of his parish, both poor and rich; would go to any part of the parish to baptise children that were sick, and not fit to be brooght to church; took a deal of pains to get subscriptions for the maintaining of petty schools, to teach children to r«ad. He did his utmost towards the suppression of vice, particularly the punishing of the filthy sio of fornication in the parish ; but herein he was opposed by some, to his great grief, which made him often say, that Christianity was come to a Tery low ebb among us, when men that profess Christianity hinder the punishment of vice and debauchery. I asked him once to spend his two-pence with me: says he, " I never went to an ale-house on purpose to spend two-pence, in all my life." For repairini: the vicarage-house, and improving the glebe, he exceeded most men, and endeavoured all that in htm lay, to promote all the concerns of the church. Mr. Lancaster preached his funeral sermon, on Acts xx. 20. 1 have taught gou puhlielg, and from hoase to house ; and gave him a very high character, which he well deserved." After the funeral, Mr. Lancaster came to Lieutenant Illidge, took him by the hand, and said, " You were none of those that grieved your minister." '* In the time of our vacancy," (says he,) '* it wa.< my frequent prayer to Almighty God, that he would be pleased to send us a minister that truly feared God and loved religion." He also took the boldness, in his great zeal, to write to my Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, who is patron, beseeching him, for Christ's sake, the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, to provide for this great parish (being eighteen townships) such a minister as may answer the great chaise and trust he undertakes; one truly religious, laborious, and an able preacher, that may bring honour to God, and our holy religion, &c. praying God to direct his Lordship in the choice. And when his lordship had presented Mr. Bromfield, the present incumbent, and he had had some trial of him. he writes, *' What great cause have I to thank and praise the Lord, who hath beard my prayers, and sent us such a good minister." Some time after be wrote to Mr. Bromfield, expressing his great satisfaction in him as his spiritual guide, and begging his pious advice and instruction in his spiritual concerns ; " for it is from your mouth (saith he) that I receive the good word of God, and from your hand I receive the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper, and according to your counsel I purpose to proceed, as God shall enable roe." He prayed earnestly for bis minister, that he might live long to the glory of
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God, and might be an instrument of the converison and salvation of many souls.
Concerning the divisions among us, he thus writes: ** I own myself to be a member of the church of England, which, I think, is not exceeded by any other in parity: I was baptized, and have continued in that communion all my days, yet have great charity for protestant dissenters, that truly fear God, and love religion*. I am much troubled when I hear such abused, and reproached, and scorned by wicked and profane wretches, that will swear, and curse, and be drunk, and stick at no manner of debauchery ; and yet boast that they are chnrch-of-England men. God knows, these arc a disgrace to our church, and a great scandal to religion. . These are the men that undermine the church, and are drawing down judgments on themselves and the whole nation. And some of our high clergymen Will preach against pro-faneness in the pulpit, but allow it, and laugh at it, in the ale-house ; and will rather reproach and persecute an honest dissenter, for truly serving God, than make complaint of, or endeavour to punish, a profane swearer, a drunkard, or a debauched wretch, that blasphemes the great God. We have good laws against profaneness, but not put in execution : it is as the prophet Hosea says, like people, like prieit, I once reproved a minister for sitting in idle company, and hearing a deal of obscene and wicked talk. He answered, *' I am not to reprove such things out of the pulpit.'^ So careless and lukewarm in religion are many of them. They live loose lives themselves, and grow envious at those who serve God after a more serious manner, though of their own communion, and true sons of the church. Doubtless it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Si-don in the day of judgment, than for such men, especially those that persecute and reproach the servants of God; whoso offends one of these, better he were thrown into the sea with ai millstone about his neck. Good Lord, in mercy turn the hearts of those blind guides, who call themselves the ministers of Christ, but discover the contrary, by their ambition and pride, and seeking revenge upon their poor dissenting brethren, rather promoting animosities than using means for peace.''
" Another time '' (says he) " I was in company at dinner, where there were many that count themselves of the high church, and abundance of cursing and swearing there was among them; and though there were some clergymen at table, they showed no dislike of it, nor gave one word of reproof to the swearers. I very much suspect that such men are no ministers of Christ, who can stand by, and hear their Master abused, and have nothing to say on his behalf. Indeed of late, there is a generation of young clergymen among us, who are proud, and idle, and loose, and fitter to go to school than to the PDlpit."
Let none blame him for his zeal in this matter, since he himself knew, by sad experience, what influence the ill examples of the clergy have upon others; for he remembered with grief, that above twenty years ago, when he himself lived a careless life, he sat up one sabbath night, drinking till the next morning, and two clergymen were in company with him all that time; one that had preached that day, and the other the minister of the parish. Towards morning, when they had drunk the house dry, one of the ministers gave money, to knock up another house to get more drink. When he came home, his wife asked him, how he could answer his mispending the evening of the Lord's day so; he replied, he had been with two ministers, and he did but as they did.
Then when he lived at large himself, he was very severe against the dissenters; but when he saw the errors of his ways, he was troubled for it, and became very moderate towards them. Hearing them often reviled by those, who themselves led bad lives, he set himself to inquire concerning tfiem, acquainted himself with some of them, and looked into their books, and found they were not the men they were represented to be, but men worthy to be loved; and then, though he continued in full and constant communion with the church to his dying day, he was himself reproached as a presbyterian; which very much confirmed him in his good opinion of them: « For" (says ne) " our high churchmen will scarce admit of hue serious Christian among us ; for if a man begin to have that character, he is branded with the title of a presbyterian.'' Certainly they cannot do the Presbyterians a greater kindness, nor the church of England a greater diskindness, than using such language.
It grieved him to hear some make such a noise against those whom he knew to be good Christians, calling them schismatics, when they themselves who made that noise, he thought unfit for so great a charge of souls, by reason of their immoralities, their small qualifica Uons, or their envious, unchristian, malicious tempers. He wondered how men could make so light a matter of souls, as by their unnecessary impositions, to force men either to a sinful compliance, or (as they call it) a '* damnable schism." Upon his reading the conference at the Savoy, between the bishops and the ministers, commissioned by King Charles II. he told his minister his judgment was, that the fault of our divisions lay at those bishops' door, who had power, and might have prevented them.
He prayed often for the healing of our divisions, and comforted himself with those words of the learned Bishop Stillingfleet; ''God will one day convince men, that the union of the church lies more in the unity of faith and affection, than in uniformity of doubtful rites and ceremonies."
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XIY. His spiritaal improvement of common oc-corrences.
Some of the many occasional good thoughts which we meet with in his papers we shall set down.
No?. 1st. 1609. " This, I understand, is my birthday. I now enter apon my climacteric year sixty-three, a year in which it has been observed that many die: I have found, in reading lives, that TertuUian, St. Bernard, Luther, Melancthon, Justus, Jonas, and many others, died in that year of their lives. Death is a debt I ewe, and must pay ere long, whenever the great God demands it Lord, I am willing to submit to thy holy will; do with me what thou pleasest. My time is short, my work is great, my strength is small. Lord, help me to improve that short minute of time which yet remains."
'' I have lately set my house in order; and, I hope, have made an honest and equal distribution of that worldly estate my good God hath given mc, endeavouring, in all things, to die with a good conscience, which will be comfortable in a dying hour."
" I have now past one month of the doubtful year, and am so much nearer my end. I endeavour to stand upon my guard, and to watch, because I am uncertain when my Lord cometh/*
At the latter end of the following summer he writes, ** Now the days begn to shorten, an emblem of my estate; my days decline; winter and death are coming on ; wise men provide for both. Most men take care of their bodies and earthly concerns; but most wise and happy is that man that takes due care of his soul, and his eternal concerns, that in health prepares for sickness and death.''
At the return of the year he writes: " I have now out-lived the doubtful year; and, I praise God, have meditated more of death this year than formerly; and, I hope, shall continue to do so all the days of my life. Death will come, and that ere long. The young may die, but the old must die. A friend of mine, not long since, said, rejoicingly,'' Now I have outlived my climacteric year, I hope I may live a great while;" but he died the year following. And I know death hath the same power over me this year that he had the last, only waits for a commission from him, in whose hand are all men's lives; nay, I cannot assure myself of one day, so uncertain is the life: and the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night I hope I shall never live out of the expectation of death, while I continue on earth. Lord, help me to watch and pray. My glass is still running, my dissolution draws near, but the time is uncertain; therefore I must wait the Lord's leisure, whose creature I am, and to whom I owe all possible obedience,—his time is the best time."
When he entered upon his seventieth year, he writes, " I may very well expect death may seise me before this year be ended: I find great decays in myself of late, so that the time of my dissolution must of necessity draw near. Should I oattive year, and God should add more days and yean my life, I am sensible they would be bat labour sorrow, as Moses speaks; but I will refer all to merciful Father, and resign myself wholly lo his and pleasure. It is high time to bestir myself; the day is far spent and the night is coming, I must work oo more. I am now arrived near end of my journey: I have almost done ^th world, and the world with me: I have hitherto p«» ed without any signal troubles; and if now, in close of my days, God gently lays his afflicting ha: upon me, I have no reason to complain; but own it is what I have deserved, and it is good me that I have been afflicted. No mail is miserable than he that has no adversity."
" Such a time there was great cock-figfating aal horse-races about the town; but I saw none of tbea, having a more serious concern in hand, to prepaii for my geat change. What will all the pleasaic of this world avail us, when we come to lie up<« i death-bed ?"
When he had completed his seventieth year. " Lord," (says he,) ** make me wise to salvation: teach me so to number the few minutes of my tine that yet remain, that they may be spent to thy gl«ry. and the benefit of my own immortal aoal. I hart lived much longer than ever I expected. Lord, as thou hast given me length of days, with much comfort and contentment grant me the joys and coo-forts of thine everlasting kingdom for Christ's sake ** Jan. 1st '* Lord, as thou hast given me life and health to enter upon a new year, so I pray thee pjt me a new heart renew a right spirit within me, order all my affections according to thy will, that I may love what thou lovest and hate what thoa hatest; that I may abominate all my old sins, tDd may become a new creature in Jesus Christ; that I may spend the ensuing year to thy plory, and the good of my own soul. One year passeth away, sod another comes; and still I am nearer the time of my dissolution: as the old year is expired, Lor grant that all my sins may expire; as thcnew year is begun. Lord, give me a new heart and new and earnest desires, to persevere in godliness all the days of my life."
" Old Mr. Henry desired, that if it were the will of God, he might live no longer than he was usefal • and my desire is, that I may not live so long as to be troublesome."
Now autumn is come. The days grow short, so doth my life ; it declines every day, and is nar expiring, n is the gatest wisdom, in time of health and strong, to prepare for sickness and death : he that really doth so, his business of djinf is half done. A diseased, pained body will unfit ibe mind for holy duties; therefore it is good to laboor in health, and make our peace with God then. 6raj
THE LIFE OF LIEUT. ILLID6E.
1121 hairs tells ns, as the golden lea Tes on the trees in aatamn, that our fall is near, and it is highly dan-herons to defer onr repentance to the last. Many on their death-bed are sorely handled ; some seized in their heads, and rendered insensible; and how can the geat work be done then ? A virtaoos life never thought ill of death. A good conscience, and a well-gronnded hope of sa Wation, will encoorage a d>-ing man: yet good men may be oppressed with doubts and fears upon a death-bed, and go to heaven even by hell-gates.''
One year he writes: '' There is a great show of a plentiful crop this year; which yet our God, if he pleaseth, can deprive us of. The famous Mr. Hooker, (as I have read in his life,) when he was offered a benefice in London, desired rather to have a country parsonage, where he might see the blessings of God spring out of the earth. And a pleasant thing it is to see the fruits of the earth spring up, grow, and in a little time come to maturity. O that we may not set our hearts too much upon those things, so as to neglect the main business."
Another year he writes: ** We have had a plentiful crop, and good harvest wither: What shall we render to the Lord for his mercies ? Lord, with these, give ns thy gprace, and peace, and truth, in our days."
He records an awakening providence, which fell oat to his great grief: *^ This day a dear friend of mine was suddenly killed by a fall from his horse. He was well and dead in a moment. O how uncertain is the life of man! Lord, imprint this upon my heart, that I may bear it in my mind, while I have a day to live; and may watch and pray, because I know not at what hour my Lord comes. O that I may from henceforward be more diligent than ever in making preparation for death, that whether it be natural or violent, sudden or slow, it may be happy."
About the same time, a young man wickedly set himself to driojc brandy to that excess, that he died upon the spot, a self-murderer. And another lusty young man suddenly fell down dead in his master's shop, and never spoke a word more. These three sad accidents happened in and about Nantwich, in less than three weeks' time. On which he writes,
" How foolish are they that set their hearts upon this world, which we are to look upon as an enemy, that will flatter us with its pleasures, but will deceive us, will kiss, and kill. We have heard of many that have spent their time very ill, yet, at their death, have had their ejes opened, and their consciences awakened; one crying out, 'Call time again I'
Another, ' Alas! my life is done, and my work is undone!' Another, ' O that God would try me once again!' O that men were of the same mind now, that they will be of then! and do that which they will wish they had done, when it is too late!"
Such a time Mr. Bromfield preached excellently
4 c of repentance, and the danger of delaying it, at the funeral of a young man struck dead with lightning, in a moment, in his full strength. It was indeed p thunder-clap, for warning to us all that are left behind, to watch always; for who knows what a day, what an hour, what a minute may bring forth."
Though death doth not come suddenly to all, yet it comes unexpected to many, and unwelcome to most: but, as Archbishop Tillotson saith of Mr. Gouge's death, * To him no death could be sudden, because the constant employment of his life, was the best preparation for death;' so that it was rather a favour and blessing; the more sudden, the more easy."
Such a day my mother-in-law died, (in 1708,) the only person, save one, that has died in my family of thirty-six years; and now it has pleased God, by death, to make a breach in my family; how it may proceed, the only wise God knows, who doth all things well, to whom I humbly submit myself, trusting in him, that he vrill give me strength and patience to bear whatever he is pleased to inflict upon me, living or dying; for he is my merciful Father."
O let me not lose one moment of this precious time; let me not waste it in idle trifles and folly, but employ every moment of it in doing that work, which my Father hath sent me to do. If I do this, my time, how short soever, will be long enough; but if I squander it away in doing nothing, or nothing to the purpose, I shall find the want of it when it is too late."
As he thus improved the occurrences of his own time, so he delighted very much in reading church-history, especially the lives of good men, both ancients and modems, and made large collections out of them. *' It is my delight to read the lives of good men, and my earnest desire to imitate their good examples: the Lord enable me so to do."
He read with much affection the lives of the martyrs, admiring what they suffered for their dear Lord and Master. ** Methinks, (says he,) I that have lived to a sufficient age (then near sixty-two) should embrace a natural death willingly, when so many, in the midst of their days, have, with great joy and satisfaction, suffered cruel and violent deaths, and have declared they would rather die than live. A well-grounded.hope of salvation will make a deathbed easy." He gathered many things that were very helpful to him out of the life of Mr. Philip Henry.
Having collected many excellent passages out of Mr. Burghal's book, called, '' The perfect way to die in peace." He adds, *< I knew Mr. Burghal of Acton very well: he was a serious godly divine, was cast out of his living at Acton on black Bartholomew-Day, 1602, among a great number of his pious brethren all England over. The more the pity. I have heard him preach often; once in Nant-
THE UFE OF LIEUT. ILLID6E.
wich church a soul-searching sermoiiy that did much affect me."
XY. His desire of retiring from the hurry of worldly business.
When he grew near se?enty years of age, he grew very weary of the hurry of the world. '* It hath been my desire (says he) several years, to desist from business, and retire into privacy, that I might gve myself wholly to the great work of preparing for the world that is to come. I have often wished, and am still of the same mind, that I were in some private place, where I knew none, and none knew me, provided it were a place where piety was practised; I would fain make an end with the world, before death thrusts me out of it."
He had designed it several years before, but it was not till a little more than a year before his death, that he removed from his dwelling in the country into the town of Nantwich,that he might be free from .the encumbrance of the world, which he found had been an hinderance to him in his soul's concerns, and that he might be near the church. He was sensible the town had more temptations of another kind, which had formerly been sometimes too hard for him; but he put his trust in the grace of God, to deliver him from them, and armed himself with these considerations: '* If I should now relapse, and return with the dog to his vomit, how miserable would my condition be! I should account myself a cast-away, and undone to all eternity, and it had been better I had never known the way of righteousness ; If any man draw backy my soul shall have no pleasure in him* The backslider in heart shaU hef Ued with his own ways, I must daily watch and pray, lest I enter into temptation: and happy they, whose last days are their best days, and their last good works more than the first.*'
He reserved but very little to maintain himself; but said, *' I have enough of this world, and as much as I desire; and now I hope not to remove again, till I am removed by death; which, I suppose, will be in a very short time. Lord, thy will be done in all things, whether life or death."
Some time after his removal into the town, he wrote thus: '' I praise the Lord, I find much comfort and satisfaction in my late removal: I am quit from a great deal of worldly care and trouble, which I have been a long time cumbered with. O then, (my soul,) since I am retired into privacy, according to my desire, let me strive and endeavour, all that in me lies, to make the best use of it, that I may more and more contemn the things of this vain world, and set my affections on things above."
Yet still he found his tru rest was not in this world. All our removals, while we are on this side
Canaan, are but from one wilderness to another. It. is in the future state, not in this, that there is a true and everlasting rest remaining for the people of Ood.
XVI. His advice to his grandchildren.
He directs one of his little books to his three grand-daughters. ** My blessing (says he) I freelj give you; and my earnest prayers are to Almightj God, that he will bestow his blessing and grace upoB you, that you may live holy and die happy. This is the earnest desire of your poor aged gnindfather. I am not capable to give you that adrioe that I fain would; however, I will do my best, and hope voa will all take notice of it, and observe it, when I lie rotting in the dust.
'' In the first place, and above all things, serve the Lord in spirit and in truth; love him with all your heart; count all things here below of no valoe, in comparison of God and Christ; be careful to keep God's holy laws and commandments; be frequent in prayer, and hearing the word. He that will taste Uie love of God, most be no stranger to meditation and prayer, and must not be cold or inconstant in them, but dwell and walk above with God. He must be wholly addicted to improve the talent he is intrusted with. His design and trade on earth must be to do all the good he can, and to keep his soul clean from the flesh and woridiy vanities, and to such a soul, God will make known bis love. Good children, I entreat you again and again to serve God, and then he will bless you ; live religious lives, then you will be happy here and here-after too. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth; for godliness is great gain ; as you sow, yon will be sure to reap. Think not to do ill, and yet hope that all will end well. I love both yoor bodies and souls, and would have yoo do well for both, by living in the fear of God."
Have a special care of your repatation; for it is better than precious ointment, and rather to be chosen than great riches. Remember the verse yoo learned;
Thy credit wary keep, its quickly gone; By many actions got, but lost by one.
it
The way to get and keep a good name, is to lire in the fear of God; to be modest, and chaste, sod virtuous, will please your God, rejoice your friends, and turn to your own comfort. I charge yon all, in the name of God, to take heed of the society of vain, loose young fellows; let not such come into your company, nor scarce into your sight, or thoogbts, but ilee from them as from a lion or a bear.^
" Earnestly implore divine grace to guide, counsel, an^'establish yon; for without that we can do nothing. Remember, God's eye is ever and every where upon you. Endeavour to live in godly families ; dwell where God dwells, and be in such company as you hope to be with in heaven; then at death you will only change your place, not your company. As death leaves us, judgment will find us. Nothing flies so swiftly, as the soul out of the
THE LIFE OF LIEUT. ILLIDGE.
1123 body. Eternity hangs on a moment, for such is our life. Ask your hearts every night what you have done this day, because any night may be your last: ^rork, pray, believe, repent, get assurance of heaven, and be happy for ever. Earthly comforts are shortlived ; riches have wings, beauty is but skin-deep; all is but vanity. A frothy wit and a vicious life -will carry directly to atheism, which is the master-mischief of this age. Thoughts are not free, nor vrords kind; they will both judge us another day. Get ready for death; it is a great word to say upon seed grounds, / dare die. Redeem time, for how cutting will the remembrance of good hours ill-spent be!
Be obedient, loving, and dutiful to your father; take his advice in all your concerns, both spiritual and temporal. O that you would all of you be as great a comfort to your father as he hath been to me. He is now above forty years of age, and I can truly say he never vexed or grieved me in his life, bat was always dutiful, loving, and obedient to me. I naust own that he hath been a great assistance to me in my spiritual warfare: be you sure that you all strive to rejoice and comfort your father's heart, as he hath rejoiced and comforted mine.''
As to your mother, you had but little knowledge of her. It pleased God to take her out of a troublesome world, when you were but infants. She was a pious, modest, good woman. I pray God you may be like her; and that her virtues may, by the grace of God, be stamped upon all your hearts. She was a pattern of piety and patience. From a child she was discreet and serious, not in the least given to pride or vanity. In disposing of herself, she took the advice of her pious and judicious parents. She was of a solid, serious disposition, and mighty cautious what company she entertained, or came into.
Good children, as yon tender your own good, or expect the blessing of God, and comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter, do not slight or despise the advice or counsel of a poor dying grand-father. Though I yet live, it cannot be long, this being the sixty-seventh year of my age; therefore I am daily expecting and preparing for my great change, which you may observe, if you will take the pains to read over the following weak meditations; and as I wrote them for my private use, I desire they may not be exposed to the scorn of bad people."
Dear children, I shall conclude my weak advice with some few profitable texts of Scripture. Rom.
viii. \^Ifye live after the flesh, ye ekall die: but if ye, through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, ye ihatl live. Heb. xiii. 16. To do good, and to eommunieatef forget not. Ps. 1. 22. 'Now consider this, ye that forget God. Dent xxxii. 29. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end,
'' Now the God of all mercy, power, and love, bless you all, and keep you in his true faith and fear, in the knowledge of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, for evermore. Amen."
XVII. His expectation of, and preparation for, death.
This was indeed the chief subject of the papers he wrote. One might collect a little volume of his serious thoughts about death, and the passages he wrote referring to this. It was the sense he had of death approaching, that put him upon all this concern about his soul, and he had the comfort of it in his dying hours.
Sept. 6,1698. It is my serious thought, and heart's desire, to note down, or compose, something in way of preparation for my approaching dissolution. I am now above sixty, my head hoary, my eyes dim, my strength fails, tiie chips fly off, and the tree must fall. It is great wisdom in all to prepare for death, especially the aged. The young ituiy, the old must, die. It is an unwelcome messenger to most men; but it is great folly to strive against such a stream, and neglect a work that must be done. Death is most certain, and nothing more necessary than a due caring for the soul, and a serious preparation for the hour of death, and the day of judgment, which is my real purpose. Good Lord, for thy mercy's sake, direct and assist me in this most great and necessary work, by thy Holy Spirit, that I may persevere in this my duty, all the days of my life, till my change come. To this end, it is my design to collect some texts of Scripture that treat of death and judgment; also the sayings of some good men, and my own weak sentiments adapted to my own condition: If I regard iniquity in my heart, tJie Lord will not hear my prayers. Cast me not off in the time of old age. Be not far from me, O my God, mahe haste to help me. Now, when I am old and grayheaded, forsahe me not. Whom have I in heaven but thee ? Job xiv. 14. If a man die, shall he live again? &c. Rev. xiii. 14. Blessed are the dead that die in tlte Lord, &c. Ps. Ixxxix. 48. What man is he that lives, and shall not see death? Gen. iii. 19. Dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return, Isa. Ix. 6. All flesh is grass. Jam. iv. 14. What is your life but a vapour ? Ps. xxxix. 5. Every man at his best estate is vanity. Matt. xxiv. 44. Watch therefore. Few days and full of trouble. Lord, mahe me to know my end. Heb. ix.27. After death, thejudg-ment. Eccl. xii. 14. God shall bring every work into judgment. 2 Cor. v. 10. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ.*'