and in praising of God for enabling him to go, in any measure, through it; with petitions for the good success of his labours. He then would come down to his family-worship, wherein he spent some hours instructing of the family, and performing of other duties; and when his wife desired him to abate of his excessive pains, his answer would be, "Tis better to be worn out with work, than to be eaten out with rust." It was indeed his joy to be spending his life unto the uttermost for God and for his people; yea, he would say, though he should have no temporal rewards. Accordingly, when any that had been benefited by his ministry sent him any tokens of their gratitude, he would (like Luther) beg of God "That he might not have his portion in such things:" and he desired of his grateful friends, "that if they had gotten any good of him, they would give unto God alone the glory of it." Moreover, if he had understood that any had gained in the concern of their souls by his labours, he would mention it, in some of his private devotions, with this expres sion, "Lord, of thine own have I given, take then the glory unto thy self: as for me, let my portion be in thy self, and not in the things of this world." But when he was debarred of his liberty to preach, he was even "like a fish out of the water;" and his very body languished through a sympathy, with the resentments of his mind; saying, "That his preaching was his life; and if he were laid aside from that, he should quickly be dead.” § 7. It was not on the Lord's day only, but every day, that this good man was usually, "in the fear of the Lord all the day long." He might say with the Psalmist, "When I awake, I am still with God:" for at his first awaking, he would bless God for the mercies of the night, and then pray, "that he might so number his days, as to apply his heart to wis dom" and if he awaked in the night, it would commonly be with some thanksgivings unto Heaven. Rising in the morning, he would repair to his beloved study, where he began the day with secret prayer before the Lord: after this, he would read a chapter in the Old Testament, spending some time in serious, and solemn, and heart searching meditations thereupon: he would then come down into his family, where, with his prayers, he would then read and expound, and apply the same chapter unto his own folks, and such of the neighbours as would come in to enjoy his medits tions at the usual season of them. Retiring then to his study again, be would continue there, till called unto his dinner; and if none came to speak with him after dinner, he would, after some diversion for a while with his children, return to his study, where he would then have a time to pray with his wife; but if at any time he were invited unto a dinner abroad, he would have a time for that service in the forenoon, before his going out. As the evening drew on, after the like manner, he would read a chapter in the New Testament, making his family partakers of his reflections, with his prayer upon it. And before his going to bed, he usually walked up and down the room, for half an hour or more, pondering upon something, which his wife, desiring to know, "what it was?" he replied, "Seeing thou art so near me, if it may do thee good, I'll tell thee: First," he said, he called himself unto an account, "how he had spent the day?" and what sinful commissions or omissions he had been overtaken with; for which he then begged pardon of God. Secondly, he reckoned up the particular mercies he had received in the day, rendring of praises to Heaven for those mercies. Lastly, he made his petitions to God, that he might be prepared for sudden death: unto which third article in his thoughts, that which gave more special occasion was the sudden death of his brother, an eminent and excellent Christian, whom, he said, he could never forget. § 8. When he travelled abroad, he thought long to be at home again, through his dissatisfaction at his not having elsewhere so convenient seasons for his communion with God. And when he took any journeys with his friends, it was his manner to enquire, "What good had been done, or gained therein?" and "what good examples had been seen?" and "what good instructions had been heard?" and that there might be no loss of time in the journeys, he would be full of profitable discourse, especially by way of occasional reflection upon things that then occurred unto observation. What he was in a journey, the same he was at the table; even like the fire, (what was once writ of Athenodorus) 'Ear T W V πάντα τα παρακείμενα.* So that they who would bear no part in a gracious communication, would be dumb where-ever he came; and some of the roughest and rudest hearers would have tears fetched from their eyes at the soul-melting expressions that passed from his mouth. Moreover, at a frast he would eat more sparingly than at another time, giving us his reason for his temperance, the advice of the wise man: "Put a knife to thy throat;" and he would say, "Where there are many varieties, there are many temptations." § 9. It was his wont, before the Lord's Supper, to keep a day of solemn fasting and prayer alone, with his wife, as well to prepare themselves for that sacred ordinance, as to obtain the manifold blessings of Heaven upon his family and neighbourhood. Such was his piety. And as for his charity, he seldom visited the poor, but with spirituals he communicated also temporals unto them: for which, when some of his friends intimated. that he might err, in reserving no more for himself, he would answer, "I often think of those words, he that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly." It was also remarkable to see how much his own personal joys and griefs were swallowed up in the sympathy which he had with the condition of the whole church abroad: when he heard it was well with the church, he would say, "Blessed be God, that it goes well with them, whatever becomes of me!" But if ill, none of his own private prosperity kept him from feeling it, as a true member of that mystical body. Finally, all • Which touches every thing near it. the graces which thus rendred him amiable to those that were about him, were attended with such Mosaic meekness as made him yet further amiable: he would be zealous when he saw dishonour cast on the name of God, but patient under injury offered unto himself. If he were informed that any thought meanly of him, he would not be moved at it, but say, "I think as meanly of my self, and therefore may well be content that others think meanly of me:" and when evil hath been charged on him, he has replied, "If men see so much, what does God see?" Disgraceful and unworthy speeches bestowed upon him, he would call his gains; but it was his trouble to find himself applauded. His friends might indeed have said of him, as Luther of Melancthon, Mihi plane videtur saltem in hoc errare, quod Christum ipse fingat longius abesse à Corde suo, quàm sit re vera: certè nimis Nullus in hoc est noster Jonathan.* § 10. This bright star must move westward. He, with many fellowsufferers for the "testimony of Jesus," being silenced in England; and foreseeing a dismal storm a coming upon the nation, till the overpassing whereof he saw many praying saints directed unto America for chambers of safety; and willing to forego all worldly advantages for the enjoyment of gospel ordinances, administered without the mixtures of humane inven tions; he removed into New-England, having his three children with him, and his wife big with a fourth, in his remove; where arriving, it refreshed him not a little to see the escaped people of God, with "harps in their hands," there singing the "song of Moses." He came into New-England at a time when there was not so much want of lights as of golden candlesticks wherein to place the lights; but he was not long there before he was invited by the church of Dorchester to be an assistant unto the wellknown Mr. Richard Mather. § 11. The evil one, disturbed at the happiness of Dorchester, very strongly endeavoured a misunderstanding between Mr. Mather and Mr. Burr; and the misunderstanding did proceed so far as to produce a paroxism. It was judged by some of the brethren in the church that Mr. Burr had expressed himself erroneously in certain points, then much agitated throughout the country; and Mr. Mather, upon their desire, examining the propositions which this good man had written, thought he could not altogether clear them from exceptions. Hereupon grew such alienations, that they could not be well re-united without calling in the help of neighbouring churches in a council; which council directing both Mr. Mather and Mr. Burr to acknowledge what misunderstandings were then discovered in this business, those two good men set apart a day for the reconciliation: and with such exemplary expressions of humility and affection rectified all that had been out of joint, that God was exceedingly glorified, and the peace of the church effectually restored and maintained. * It is evident to me that he errs in pretending that Christ is farther from his heart than is really true. Surely in this my Jonathan seems to depreciate himself to an unreasonable extent. § 12. This true Barnabas was not only to give the churches of NewEngland a consolatory visit in his passage unto glory, that he might leave them an example of that love, patience, holiness, and fruitfulness, which would make them an happy people. Though he had not persecution to try him in this wilderness, yet he was not without his trials; for, as 'tis well observed in the discourse, De Duplici Martyrio,* which goes under the name of Cyprian, Si deest Tyrannus, si Tortor, si Spoliator, non deerit concupiscentia, Martyrii Materiam quotidianam nobis exhibens.† The next year after he came to New-England, he was taken sick of the small-pox; out of which he nevertheless recovered, and came forth as "gold that had been tryed in the fire." He then renewed and applied the covenant of grace, by the suitable recognitions of the following instrument: “I, Jonathan Burr, being brought in the arms of Almighty God over the vast ocean, with my family and friends, and graciously provided for in a wilderness; and being sensible of my own unprofitableness and self-seeking; yet of infinite mercy, being called unto the tremendous work of feeding souls, and being of late with my family delivered out of a great affliction of the small-pox; and having found the fruit of that affliction; God tempering, ordering, mitigating the evil thereof, so as I have been graciously and speedily delivered; I do promise and vow to Him that hath done all things for me; First, That I will aim only at his glory, and the good of souls, and not my self and vain glory: and that, Secondly, I will walk humbly, with lower thoughts of my self, considering what a poor creature I am: a puff of breath, sustained only by the power of His grace; and therefore, Thirdly, I will be more watchful over my heart, to keep it in a due frame of holiness and obedience, without running out so far to the creature; for I have seen that he is mine only help in time of need; Fourthly, that I will put more weight upon that firm promise, and sure truth, that God is a "God hearing prayer;" Fifthly, that I will set up God, more in my family, more in my self, wife, children and servants; conversing with them in a more serious and constant manner; for this God aimed at in sending his hand into my family at this time. "In Meipso Nihil; in Christo Omne."} "MEMENTO MORI. Nor was his heavenly conversation afterwards disagreeable to these grateful resolutions of his devout soul. By the same token, that the famous Mr. Thomas Hooker, being one of his auditors when he preached in a great audience at Charlestown, had this expression about him: "Surely, this man wont be long out of heaven, for he preaches as if he were there already." And the most experienced Christians in the country found still in his ministry, as well as in his whole behaviour, the breathing of such a spirit as was very greatly to their satisfaction. They could not but call him, as Dionysius was once called, IIerevov s 'oupavs,-the bird of heaven. Had it not been old Adam's world, so innocent, so excellent, so heavenly a person, could not have met with such exercises as he and others like him. then sometimes did, even from their truest brethren. § 13. Having just been preaching about the redemption of time, he fell •Twofold martyrdom. [martyrdom. If there be no tyrant, no torturer, no robber, there will still be evil passions, furnishing daily occasions for into a sickness of ten days' continuance; during which time, he expressed a wonderful patience and submission upon all occasions. His wife, per ceiving his willingness to die, asked him, "whether he were desirous to leave her and his children?" Whereto his answer was, "Do not mistake me: I am not desirous of that; but I bless God that now my will is the Lord's will: if he will have me to live yet with my dear wife and children, I am willing. I will say to you, my dear wife and children, as the apostle says, 'It is better for you, that I abide with you; but it is better for me to be dissolved and to be with Christ.'" And perceiving his wife's disconsolation, he asked her, "if she could not be willing to part with him;" whereupon, when she intimated how hard it was, he exhorted her to acquiesce in that God who would be better than ten husbands: adding, "Our parting is but for a time; I am sure we shall one day meet again." Being discouraged by finding himself unable to put on his clothes, one of his friends told him "his work was now to lie still:" at which he complained, "I lie slugging a bed, when others are at work!" But being minded of God's will that it should be so, that quieted him. Observing how diligently his wife tended him, he said unto her, "Don't spend so much time with me, but go thy way and spend some time in prayer: thou knowest not what thou mayst obtain from God; I fear lest thou look too much upon this affliction." A day or two before his death, he blessed his children; and the night before he died, he was overheard sometimes to say, "I will wait until my change come;" and "Why art thou so loath to die?" A few hours before his death, it was observed that he had a sore conflict with the "angel of death," who was now shooting his last arrows at him; and when one of the standers-by said, "The sting of death is taken away; the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome death for you; this is one of Satan's last assaults; his work is now almost at an end; though he be a subtil enemy, and would, if it were possible, deceive the very elect;" he presently laid hold on that last expression "if it were possible!" said he, "Blessed be God there is no possibility!" After this, he requested the company might withdraw, that so he might have an opportunity to pray for a while by himself; but seeing the company loth to leave the room, he prayed in Latin as long as he had strength to do it. When he was to appearance just expiring, he called for his wife; and stedfastly fixing his eyes upon her, he said, "Cast thy care upon God, for he careth for thee." About half an hour after this, when death had been for some while drawing the curtains about him, his last words were those unto his wife, "Hold fast, hold fast!" So he finished his pilgrimage, on August 9, 1641. § 14. Unto that vertuous gentlewoman his wife, he expressed himself with great confidence, "That God would certainly provide well for her;" and that gentlewoman, shortly after being honourably and comfortably married unto another gentleman of good estate, namely, Richard Dummer, Esq., once a magistrate of the colony, lived with him near forty years; |