Invisibles, realities, demonstrated in the holy life and triumphant death of Mr. John Janeway, Fellow of King's Collegde in Cambridge. By James Janeway, Minister of the Gospel

CHAP. I. (Book 1)

An Account of him from his Childhood to the se∣venteenth year of his Age. (Book 1)

MR. John Janeway was born Anno 1633. Octob. 27. of Religious Parents, in Lylly, in the County of Hertford. He soon gave his Parents the hope of much comfort, and the symptoms of something more than ordinary quickly appeared in him, fo that some which saw this Child much feared that, his life would be but short, others hoped that God had some rare piece of work to do by or for this Child before he died; he shewed that neither

of them were much mistaken in their conjecture concerning him. He soon out-ran his superi∣ours for age in learning. And it was thought by no incompetent Judges that for pregnacy of wit, solidity of judgment, the vastness of his intellectuals, and the greatness of his memory, that he had no superiours, few equals considering his age and education.

He was initiated in the Latine tongue by his own Father; afterward he was brought up for some time at Pauls School in London, where he made a considerable proficiencie in Latine and Greek under the care of Mr. Langly When he was about eleven years old he took a great fancy to Arithmetick and the Hebrew tongue.

About this time his Parents removing into a little Village called Aspoden, had the opportuni∣ty of having this their Son instructed, by a learn∣ed neighbour who was pleased to count it a plea∣sant diversion, to read Mathematicks to him, be∣ing then about twelve years old; and he made such progress in those profound studies; that he read Oughthred with understanding, before he was thirteen years old. A person of quality, hearing of the admirable proficiency of this Boy, sent for him up to London, and kept him with him for some time, to Read Mathematicks to him; that which made him the more to be ad∣mired was, that he did what he did with the greatest facility. He had no small skill in Mu∣sick, and other concomitants of Mathematicks.

In the year 1646. he was chosen by that Learned Gentleman, Mr. Rous, the Provost of Eton Colledge one of the foundation of that Shool being examined by provost and posiers in the Hebrew tongue, which was thought was be∣yond president. Where he gave no unsuitable returns to the high expectations that were con∣ceived of him.

After a little continuance at Eton he obtained leave of his Master to go to Oxford to perfect himself in the study of Mathematicks, where being owned by that great Scholar Dr. Ward, one of the Professors of the University, he at∣tained to a strange exactness in that study, no∣thing being within the reach of a man, but he would undertake and grasp. That great Doctor gave him great help and incouragement, and looked upon him as one of the wonders of his age, loved him dearly, and could for some time after his death scarce mention his name without tears. When he had spent about a quarter of a year with Dr. Ward at Oxford, he was commanded to return again to Eton, where he soon gave proof of his great improvement of his time while he was absent; by making an Almanack, and calculating of the Eclipses for many years before hand; so that by this time he had many eyes upon him as the glory of the School. That which put an accent upon his real worth was that he did not discover the least affectation or self-conceit, neither did any discernable pride attend these excelencies. So that every

one took more notice of his parts than himself.

At about seventeen years old he was chosen to Kings Colledge in Camebridge, at which time the Electioners did even contend for the patro∣nage of this Scholar. He was chosed first that year, and an elder brother of his in the sixth place; but he was very willing to change places with his elder brother; letting him have the first, and thankfully accepting of the sixth place.

Besides his great learning, and many other ornaments of nature, his deportment was so sweet and lovely, his demeanour so courteous and obliging, even when he seemed unconverted, that he must be vile with a witness that did not love him. Yea many of them which had little kindness for morality, much less for grace; could not but speak well of him. His great wisdom and learning did even command respect, where they did not find it: he had an excellent power over his passions, and was in a great mea∣sure free from the vices which usually attend such an age and place.

But all this while it is to be feared, that he understood little of the worth of Christ, and his own soul; he studied indeed the heavens, and knew the motion of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, but that was his highest; he thought yet but lit∣tle of God, which made all these things, he pried but little into the motions of his own heart; he did not as yet much busie himself, in the serious observation of the wandring of his spirit; the Creature had not yet led him to the

Creator; but he was still too ready to take up with meer speculation; but God, who from all e∣ternity, had chosen him to be one of those, who should shine as the Sun in the Firmament for ever in glory; did when he was about eighteen years old, shine in upon his soul with power; and did convince him what a poor thing it was to know so much of the heavens and, never come there. And that the greatest knowledge in the world without Christ, was but an empty dry business. He now thought Mr. Bolten had some reason on his side, when he said;

Give me the most magnificent glorious worldling, that ever trod upon earthly mould, richly crowned with all the Ornaments and excellencies of na∣ture, art, policy, preferment, or what heart can wish besides; yet without the life of grace, to animate and ennoble them; he were to the eye of heavenly wisdom, but as a rotten car∣case, stuck over with flowers; magnified dung, guilded rottenness, golden damnation.

He began now to be of Anaxagoras's mind, that his work upon earth, it was to study Heaven and to get thither, and that except a man might be ad∣mitted to greater preferment than this world can bestow upon her favorites, it were scarce worth while to be born.