CHAPTER XI.

A short Account of some of his Friends, especially his Brethren in the Ministry, that died before him.

WE think ourselves obliged to add this account out of his own papers, partly as an evidence of the great esteem he had of the gifts and graces of others, to whom he delighted to do honour; (an instance of that humility which he was in all respects a great example of ;) and partly that we may preserve the remembrance of some in that country, whose names ought not to be buried in oblivion. It is part of that honour which we owe to them that fear the Lord: to mention them with respect when they are dead and gone, that we may contribute something to the fulfilling of the promise,-That the righteous, and especially they who turn many to righteousness, shall be had in everlasting remembrance. While their glorified souls shine as the stars in the firmament of our Father, it is fit that their embalmed memories should, in these lower regions, go forth as a lamp that burneth. The Jewish Rabbins read, Proverbs, x. 7, as a precept,-Let the memory of the just be blessed. We will take them in the order wherein we find them in his Diary, according to the time of their death, premising only this note of his, occasioned by a particular instance,-"Such a day I read the life of old Mr. Bruen,* of Stapleford, in which I met with some things that shame me, some things that confirm me, and some things that quicken me. Blessed be God for that cloud of witnesses we are compassed about with.

[1661, January 14. At Wrexham, died my friend Captain Gerard Barber, he was a pious, prudent Christian, and had the good word of all, even the vilest.

On the 17th I went to Wrexham, where I performed the last office of my love to my dear deceased friend, Captain Barber, the saint of the Lord, accompanying him to his grave, where he rests, as in a bed of spices, till the day of the restitution of all things. I hope to see him again, and so we shall be together for ever with the Lord.

Duod. 1641.

Mr. R. W. said he could better have parted with his youngest son, than with his Captain; the week after, it pleased God, his youngest son died suddenly.*]

Mr. John Machin was buried at Newcastle, September 8, 1664, a worthy instrument in gospel work. Laborious, faithful, and successful above his fellows; taken away in the midst of his days. The first candle I have heard of put out by God, among the many hundreds put under a bushel by men.† An account of his holy, exemplary life, was printed many years after, drawn up, I think, by Mr. Newcome.+

Mr. Heath, late minister of [St.] Alkmond's Church, in Salop, was buried, May 28, 1666. He was of Christ's College, in Cambridge, where he was much valued for his great learning, especially in the Oriental tongues, § in which he was one of the greatest masters of his age. He was employed to correct the Syriac and Arabick of the Polyglot Bible, which was sent down to him in sheets for that purpose, for which Bishop Walton gave him a copy. He read the liturgy till August 24, 1662, and then was silenced, because he could not come up to the imposed terms of conformity. When the Five Mile Act commenced, March 25, 1666, he removed to Wellington, and there, within a few weeks, died, and was buried. When he lay upon his death-bed, Mr. Lawrence asked him what reflections he had upon his nonconformity. Truly, said he, I would not but have done as I did for a thousand worlds. He had great confidence, that God would provide for his widow and children, according to promise. The character Mr. Baxter gives of him is, that he was moderate, serious, quiet, and religious.

Much about the same time, Mr. York died in Salop, a holy good man, and well approved in the ministry, who wasted his own candle in giving light to others,¶ even after he was removed out of the candlestick. Lord! Is this the meaning of Revelations, xi. 12, concerning the witnesses?

Mr. Thomas Porter,** late minister of Whitchurch, died at

P. Henry. Orig. MS.

+ See Job, xviii. 6. Matt. v. 15.

See Tong's Life of Matt. Henry, pp. 108. 273, ut supra. Mr. Newcome published Mr. Machin's Mem. in 1671. duod. It was reprinted by the Rev. George Burder. See also Clark's Lives of Eminent Persons, p. 81, ut supra.

Especially by his fellow-collegiate, Mr. Shelton, who sent him down the Biblia Polyglotta, in sheets. He was trium linguarum peritissimus, the best Hebrician in these parts of England. Life. Orig. MS. ut supra.

Qu. In what capacity did Mr. Shelton act?

Reliq. Baxter. Part iii. p. 94, ut supra.

¶ He was a burning and a shining lampe, spending himselfe like a candle, and making tapers of his owne marrow to give others light. Hieron's Works, p. 425, ut supra.

Another worthy drily remarks;-There are multitudes that grumble at the expense of a penny for the maintenance of those divine candles that waste themselves to give light to them. Brooks's Unsearchable Riches, p. 322, ut supra.

** See Reliq. Baxter, part iii. p. 94, ut supra.

Salop in a good old age, June 19, 1667. He was born in Northamptonshire, bred in Cambridge. He was settled minister of Hanmer, in Flintshire, long before the wars, by the means of Sir John Hanmer, the patron, who was a very worthy pious gentleman, and a great promoter of religion in that parish, but died in the midst of his days. Here Mr. Porter's ministry was blessed with wonderful acceptance and success, both in that and the neighbouring parishes, and a great harvest of souls was there gathered in to Christ. After the wars were over, during the heat of which he was forced to withdraw, he procured Mr. Steel for Hanmer, and he removed to Whitchurch, where he continued an instrument of much good, till the King came in, and then he gave way to Dr. Bernard, a worthy, moderate man. He preached his farewell sermon at Whitchurch, August 28, 1660, on Colossians, i. 24, and spent the rest of his days in silence and affliction. He was exercised long with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain. If this be done to the green tree, what shall be done to the dry? His dying counsel to the Lord's people, was to stick to Christ, and not to let him go, come life, come death.

The worthy Colonel Thomas Hunt, died at his house in Shrewsbury, April 12, 1669, a true Nathanael, an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile. One that, like, Caleb, followed the Lord fully in difficult trying times. He was a member of the long parliament for Shrewsbury, and very active for God in his generation, abounding in good works, and his memory is blessed. I was going to Shrewsbury upon an appointment of his, and by the way met the sad news of his death, which was sudden, but not surprising to one that was always ready. He was twice at publick ordinances the day before, being Lord's day; worshipped God with his family in the evening; went to bed well as at other times; but, about two or three o'clock in the morning, waked very ill, and before five, fell asleep in the Lord. Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth.

[15. He was buried. Mr. Roberts preached. Text, Numbers, xxiii. 10. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his. Amen.

16. Fast kept in his house, now he is no more. The Lord fill up his place to all his relations, and to thy poor church in these parts, that hath lost a pillar.*]

Mr. George Mainwaring, a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, and my worthy friend, died in a good old age, March 14, 1669-70, gathered as a shock of corn in his season. He was born in Wrenbury parish, in Cheshire, supported at the University, by Mr. Cotton, of Combermere,† where he had the reputation of a good scholar; he was brought acquainted with the ways of religion by means of Mr. Buckly, his uncle, a strict puritan. He was first

• P. Henry. Diary. Orig. MS.

+ See Ormerod's Hist. ut supra. v. 3. pp. 211, 212.

chaplain to Sir Henry Delves, afterwards rector of Baddely, and chaplain to Sir Thomas Manwaring. After the wars, he was removed to Malpas, whence he was ejected upon the King's coming in. His conversation was exemplary, especially for plainness and integrity; he was eminent for expounding Scripture. While he was at Malpas, he constantly gave all the milk which his dairy yielded, on the Lord's day, to the poor.*

Mr. John Adams, of Northwood, was buried at Ellesmere, April 4, 1670; he was a faithful minister of the gospel.

Mr. Zechariah Thomas, my worthy friend, died of a consumption, at Nantwich, November 14, 1670, in the forty-first year of his age. He was bred up for a tradesman in Suffolk, but always addicted to his book, and was ordained a minister after the King came in, and entertained curate at Tylstock, under Dr. Bernard, but by reason of his nonconformity, could not continue there long. On the Monday before he died, he said to those about him, that towards Wednesday he should take his leave of them, and did so. He was buried at Acton, Mr. Kirkes, Vicar of Acton, preached, and gave him a worthy character, and such as he deserved, for uprightness, humility, moderation, prayer, faithfulness in reproving, patience under affliction. And in saying he was an Israelite indeed without guile, he said all. The Lord make me a follower of him, and of all the rest, who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.

[1671, May 15. This day died Cousin John Madocks, of Llynbedith, in a good old age. I prayed with him, and about an hour or two after, he composed himself into a posture wherein, about five o'clock, he sweetly gave up the ghost, and fell asleep in Jesus. I hope heaven grows rich by it; by it, I am sure, Hanmer parish grows poor in men of piety and integrity. Help, Lord, Psalm, xii. 1. On the 18th I accompanied him to his grave. Mr. Green preached. Text, Colossians, iii. 4.+]

Mr. Joshua Richardson, my truly worthy friend and brother, died at Alkington in Whitchurch parish, September 1, 1671. Blessed be God for his holy life, and happy death. He was several years minister of Middle, in Shropshire, and was turned out thence for nonconformity. He was a holy, loving, serious man. Dr. Fowler preached his funeral sermon at Whitchurch, on Daniel, xii. 3, highly praising him, as he deserved, for wisdom, piety, and peaceableness.

Mr. Samuel Hildersham died near Birmingham, in April, 1674;

The learned historian of Cheshire, quoting this account from Calamy, insinuates that it is incorrect. He adds, however, The question of its accuracy is only hinted at, from its being strongly opposed by local tradition." Hist. ut supra. v. 2, p. 340. It may be remarked, that Mr. Henry, who was a near neighbour and an intimate friend, mentions it as a fact.

↑ P. Henry. Diary. Orig. MS.

the only son of Mr. Arthur Hildersham,* of Ashby, whose works praise him in the gates: Fellow of Emanuel College, in Cambridge; Batchelor of Divinity, 1623; settled Rector of West-Felton, in Shropshire, in the year 1628; and continued there till silenced by the Act of Uniformity. He was one of the Assembly of Divines; a father to the sons of the prophets in and about Shropshire. He was learned, loving, and charitable, an excellent preacher, an eminent expositor, and very much a gentleman. He was about fourscore years of age when he died. He ordered by his will this inscription upon his grave-stone;-Samuel Hildersham, B. D. Rector of West-Felton, in the County of Salop, 34 years, till August 24, 1662.

Mr. Richard Sadler, my worthy friend and fellow-labourer, died at Whixhall, in Prees parish, April —, 1675. He was born in Worcester; went when young, with his father into New England; after the wars he returned into England; was ordained at Whixhallchapel, May 16, 1648, and was removed thence to Ludlow. Being turned out there upon the King's coming in, he spent the rest of his days in privacy, at Whixhall. A man of great piety and

moderation.

Mr. Rowland Nevet died at his house near Oswestry, December 8, 1675, and was buried at Morton Chapel. I preached his funeral sermon at Swinny, on 2 Peter, i. 14, Knowing that I must shortly put off this my tabernacle. Thence showing that the ministers of Christ must certainly and shortly die. He was born in Hodnet parish, ann. Dom. 1609, brought up at Shrewsbury School, was afterwards of Edmund Hall, in Oxford, commenced Master of Arts in the year 1634. He was episcopally ordained; and anno 1635, he was presented to the vicarage of Stanton, in Shropshire, where he continued many years, with great success in his ministry. While he was single, he kept house, judging that more for the furtherance of his work among his people, than to table. After the war, he removed to Oswestry, where he laboured abundantly in the work of the Lord; and even after he was silenced for nonconformity, he continued among his people there to his dying day, doing what he could when he might not do what he would. He would say, he thought most of his converting work was done at Oswestry, the first seven years of his being there. He loved to preach, and to hear others preach, concerning the great things of religion, redemption, reconciliation, regeneration, &c.; for these, said he, are the main matter. When the plague was at Oswestry, he continued with his people, and preached to them, and it was an opportunity of doing much good.

His conversation from his youth was not only blameless, but holy

A divine of great worth, and of royal descent;"Yet he was not," says Fuller, "like the proud nobles of Tecoa, who counted themselves too proud to put their hands to God's Work." Worthies. Cambridgeshire, p. 158, fol. ut supra. Nat. Oct. 6, 1563. Ob. Mar. 4, 1631. See Clarke's Lives annexed to Martyrologie. 114, ut supra.