Piscator evangelicus, or, The life of Mr. Thomas Hooker the renowned pastor of Hartford-Church, and pillar of Connecticut-Colony in New-England / essay'd by Cotton Mather.

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Piscator Evangelicus.

THE LIFE OF Mr. THOMAS HOOKER.

§. 1. VVHEN Toxaris met with his Countryman Ana∣charsis in Athens, he gave him this Invitati∣on, Come along with me, and I will shew Thee at once all the Wonders of Greece: whereupon he shewed him Solon, as the Person in whom there Centered all the Glories of that City or Countrey. I shall now Invite my Reader to Behold at once the Wonders of New-England, and it is in one THOMAS HOOKER that he shall behold them: Even in that Hooker, whom a Worthy Writer would needs call, Saint HOOKER, for the same Reason, (he said)

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and with the same Freedom, that Latymer, would speak of Saint BILNEY, in his Com∣memorations. Tis that HOOKER, of whom I may venture to say, that the famous Romanist, who wrote a Book, De Tribus THOMIS, or, of Three THOMASes, meaning THOMAS the Apostle, THOMAS Becket, and Sir THOMAS MORE, did not a thousandth part so well sort his THOMAS's, as a New Englander might; if he should write a Book, De Duobus THOMIS, or, Of Two THOMAS's; and with THOMAS the Apostle, joyn our Celeb••ious THOMAS HOOK∣ER: my One THOMAS, even our Apostoli∣cal HOOKER, would in Just Ballances weigh down two of Campians Rebellious Archbishop••, or Bigotted Lord-Chancellours.

§ 2. This our HOOKER, was Born at Marfi••ld in Leicest••r shire, about the Year 1586. of Parents that were neither Unable, nor Un∣willing, to bestow upon him a Liberal Edu∣cati••••; whereto the Early and Lively Sparkles of Wit observed in him, did very much En∣courage them ••is Natural Temper was Cheerful and Courteous, but it was accom∣panied with such a sensible Grandeur of Mind, as caused his Friends, without the Help of Astrology, to Prognosticate that he was Bor•• to be Considerable. The Influence which he had upon the Re••ormation o•• some Growing

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Abuses, when he was one of the Procters in the University, was a Thing, that more eminently Signalized him, when his more publick Appea∣rance in the World was coming on: which was attended with an Advancement unto a Fellowship in Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge; the Students whereof were Originally Design∣ed for the Study of Divinity.

§▪ 3. With what Ability and Fidelity he acquitted himself in his Fellowship, it was a Thing sensible unto the whole University. And it was while he was in this Employ∣ment, that the more Effectual Grace of God, gave him the Experience of a true Regenera∣tion. It pleased the Spirit of God very Pow∣erfully to break into the Soul of this person, with such a Sense of his being Exposed unto the Just Wrath of Heaven, as fill'd him with most unusual Degrees of Horror and Anguish, which broke not only his Rest, but his Heart also, and caused him to cry out, While I suffer thy Terrors, O Lord, I am Distracted! While he long had a Soul Harassed with such Distres∣ses, he had a singular Help in the Prudent and Piteous Carriage of Mr. Ash, who was the Sizer, that then waited upon him; and attended him, with such Discreet and Proper Compassions, as made him afterwards to Re∣spect him highly all his Dayes. He after∣wards

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gave this Account of himself, That in the time of his Agonies, he could Reason himself to the Rule, and Conclude that▪ there was no way but Submission to God, and Lying at the Foot of his Mercy in Christ Jesus, and waiting humbly there, till He should please to perswade the Soul of his Favour: nevertheless when he came to apply this Rule unto himself in his own Condition, his Reasoning would fail him▪ he was able to Do nothing. Having bin a considerable while thus Troubled with such Impressions from the Spirit of Bondage, as were to fit him for the Great. Services and Enjoy∣ments, which God intended him; at length he Received the Spirit of Adoption, with well-groun∣ded Perswasions of his Interest in the New-Covenant. It became his manner, at his Lying down for Sleep, in the Evening, to Single out some certain Promise of God, which he would Repeat, and Ponder, and Keep his Heart close unto it, until he found that satisfaction of Soul where∣with he could say, I will Lay me down in Peace, and Sleep; for thou, O Lord, makest me •• well in Assurance. And he would afterwards Counsel others to take the same Course; telling them, That the Promise was the Boat, which was to carry a Perishing Sinner over unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

§. 4. Mr. Hooker being now well got through the Storm of Soul, which had Helped him unto a most Experimental Acquaintance with the Truths

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of the Gospel, and the way of Employing and Appl••ing those Truths, he was willing to Serve the Church of God in the Mini∣stry, whereto he was Devoted. At his first leaving of the University, he Sojourned in the House of Mr. Drake, a Gentleman of great Note, not far from London; whose worthy Consort being Visited with such Di∣stresses of Soul, as Mr. Hooker himself had passed through, it proved an unspeakable advantage unto both of them, that he had that opportunity of being Serviceable; for, indeed, he now had no Superiour, and scarce any▪ Equal, for the Skill of Treating a Trou∣bled Soul. When he left Mr. Drakes Family, he did more publickly and frequently Preach about London; and in a little time, he grew famous for his Ministerial Abilities, but es∣pecially for his Notable Faculty at the wise and fit management of Wounded Spirits. How∣ever he was not Ambitious to Exercise his Ministry among the Great Ones of the World, from whom the most of Preferment might be expected▪ but in this, Imitating the Ex∣ample and Character of our Blessed Saviour, of whom 'tis noted, that according to the Prophesie of Isaiah, by Him, The Poor had the Gospel Preached unto them; he chose to be where great numbers of the Poor might Re∣ceive the Gospel from him.

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§. 5. About this time it was, that Mr. Hooker grew into a most intimate Acquaintance with Mr. Rogers of Dedham; who so highly valued him for his Multifarious Abilities, that he used and gained many Endeavours to get him Settled at Colchester; whereto Mr. Hooker did very much Incline, because of its being so near to Dedham, where he might Enjoy the Labours & Lectures of Mr. Rogers, whome he would some∣times call, The Prince of all the Preachers in En∣gland. But the Providence of God gave an Obstruction to that Settlement; and, indeed, it was an Observation, which Mr. Hooker would sometimes afterwards use unto his Friends, That the Providence of God often Divirted him from Em∣ployment in such Places, as he himself Desired, and still Directed him to such Flaces, as he had no thoughts of. Accordingly, Chelmsford in Essex, a Town of great Concourse, wanting one to Break the Bread of Life unto them; and hear∣ing the Fame of Mr. Hooker's Powerful Mini∣stry; Addressed him to become their Lecturer: and he accepted their Offer about the Year 1626. becoming not only their Lecturer, but also on the Lord's Dayes, an Assistent unto one Mr. Mitchel, the Incumbent of the Place; who though he were a Smaller, yet being a Godly Person, gladly Encouraged Mr. Hooker, & Liv'd with him in a most Comfortable Amity.

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§. 6. Here his Lecture was exceedingly Fre∣quented, and proportionably Succeeded; and the Light of his Ministry shone through the whole County of Essex. There was a rare mixture of Pleasure and Profit in his Preaching; and his Hearers felt those penetrating Impres∣sions of his Ministry upon their Souls, which caused them to Reverence him, as, A Teacher sent from God. He had a most excellent Facul∣ty at the Applications of his Doctrine; and he would therein so Touch the Consciences of his Auditors, that a Judicious Person would say of him, He was the Best at an Use that ever he Heard. Hereby there was a great Reformation wrought, not only in the Town, but in the Adjacent Countrey; from all parts whereof they came to Hear the Wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His Gospel, by this worthy man Dispensed: and some of great Quality among the rest, would often Resort from far to his Assembly; parti∣cularly the truly Noble Earl of Warwick, whose Countenance of Good Ministers, procured more Prayers to God for him, than most Noble Men in England.

When he first Set up his Lecture, there was more Prophaneness than Devotion in the Town: and the Multitode of Inns and Shops in the Town produced one particular Disorder, of Peoples filling the Streets with unsuitable Beha∣viours,

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after the Publick Services of the Lords-Day were over. But by the Power of his Mi∣nistry in Publick, and by the Prudence of his Carriage in Private, he quickly cleared the Streets of this Disorder, and the Sabbath came to be very visibly Sanctified among the People.

§. 7. The Joy of the People in this Light was but for a Season. The Conscientious Non-Conformity of M. Hooker to some Rites of the Church of England, then vigorously pressed, especially upon such Able and Useful Ministers, as were most likely to be Laid aside by their scrupling of those Rites; made it necessary for him to Lay down his Ministry in Chelmsford, when he had been about four years there, Em∣ployed in it. Hereupon, at the Request of several Eminent Persons, he kept a School, in his own Hired House, having our Mr. John Eliot for his Usher, at little Baddow not far from Chelmsford; where he managed his Charge with such Discretion, such Authority, and such Effi∣cacy, that, able to do more with a Word, or a Look, than most other men could have done by a Severer Discipline, he did very great Service to the Church of God, in the Education of such, as afterwards proved themselves not a little Serviceable. I have in my Hands, a Ma∣nuscript, written by the Hands of our Blessed ELIOT, wherein he gives a very Great Account

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of the Little Academy then mentained in the House of Mr. Hooker; and among other things, he says, To this place I was call'd, through the In∣finite Kiches of Gods Mercy in Christ Jesus to my poor Soul: For here the Lord said unto my Dead Soul, Live; and through the Grace of Christ, I do Live, and I shall Live for ever! When I came to this Blessed Family, I then saw, and never before, the Power of Godliness, in its Lively Vigour and Efficdey.

§. 8. While he continued thus in the Heart of Essex, and in the Hearts of the People there, he signalized his Usefulness in many other Instan∣ces.

The Godly Ministers round about the Coun∣trey, would have Recourse unto him, to be Di∣rected and Resolved, in their Difficult Cases: and it was by his means that those Godly Ministers held their Montbly Meetings for Fasting and Pray∣er, and profitable Conferences. 'Twas the Effect of his Consultations also, that such Godly Mini∣sters, came to be here and there Settled in several parts of the County; and many others came to be better establish'd in some great points of Chri∣stanity, by being in his Neighbourhood and Ac∣quaintance. He was indeed, a General Blessing to the Church of God! But that which bin∣dred his Taking his Degree of Batchelour in Divinity, must also it seems hinder his being a

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Preacher of Divinity; namely his being a Non-Conformist unto some things, whereof true Divi∣nity could not approve. And indeed that which made the Silencing of Mr. Hooker, more unaccountable was, That no less than Seven and Forty Conformable Ministers of the Neighbour∣ing ••own, understanding that the Bishop of London, pretended Mr. Hookers Ministry, to be Injurious or Offensive to them, Subscribed a Petition to the Bishop, for his Continuance in the Ministry at Chelmsford; i•• which Petition, though he was of a Perswasion so Different from them, yet they Testify in so many words, That they esteem and know the said Mr. Thomas Hooker, to be for Doctrine, Orthodox; for Life and Conversation, Honest; for Disposition, Peaceable, and in no wise Turbulent or Factious. And yet all would not a••ail: Bonus vir Hook∣erus, sed ideo malus, quia Puritanus.

§ 9. The Ground work of his Knowledge and Study of the Arts, was in the Tables of Mr. Alexander Richardson, whom he closely followed, admi••ing him for a man of Transcondent Abi∣lity, and a most Exalted Piety; and would say of him, That he was a Master of so much Under∣standing, that like the Great Army of Gideon, he was too many to be Employed in Doing what was to be Done for the Church of God. This most Emi∣nent Rishardson, Leaving the University, Lived a

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private ••i••e in Essex, whither many Students in Cambridge Resorted unto him▪ to be Illuminated in the abstruser parts of Learning; and from him it was that the Incomparable Doctor Ames Imbibed those Principles both in Philosophy and in Divinity, which afterwards not only gave clearer Methods and Measures to all the Li••eral Arts, but also Fed the whole Church of God with the choicest Marrow. Nevertheless, this Excellent Man, as he Lived, so he Dyed in a most Retired Obscurity; but so far as a Metem∣psychosis was attainable, the Soul of him, I mean the Notions, the Accomplishments, the Disposi∣tions of that Great SOUL, Transmigrated into our most Richardsonian Hooker.

§ 10 As his Person was thus Adorned with a well▪ grounded Learning, so his Preaching was notably set off with a Liveliness Extraor∣dinary: insomuch that I cannot give a fuller, and yet briefer Description of him, than that which I find given of Bucholtzer, that Pattern of Preachers, before him; Vivida in eo omnia fuerunt, vivida vox, vividi oculi, vivida manus, gestus omnes vividi: he was all that he was, and he did all that he did, Unto the Life! He not only had that which Quintilian ••••lls, A Natural Moveableness of Soul, whereby the Distinct Images of Things would c••me so nimbly, and yet so fitly, into his mind, th••t

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he could utter them with such fluent Expressi∣ons, as the old Orators would usually Ascribe unto a special Assistance of Heaven, [Deum tunc Adfuisse, veteres Oratores aiebant] ••nd counted that men did therein THE••OS LEGEIN, or Speak Divinely; but the Rise of this Fluency in him, was the Divine Relish which he had of the things to be spoken, the Sacred Panting of his holy Soul after the Glorious Objects of the Invisible World, and the true zeal of Religion giving Fire to his Discourses. Whence, though the Ready and Noisy Performances of many Preachers, when they are as Plato speaks, THEATROU MESTOI, or Full of the Theatre, Acting to the Height in the Publick for their Applause, may be ascribed unto very Mechanical Principles; yet the vigour in the Ministry of our Hooker, being Raised by a Coal from the Altar of a most Real Devotion, touching his Heart; it would be a wrong unto the Good Spirit of our God, if He should not be Acknowledged the Author of it. That Spirit accordingly gave a wonderful and unusual Success, unto the Ministry wherein he Breathed so Remarkably. Of that Success there were many Instances; but one par∣ticularly I find mentioned in Clark's Examples, to this purpose. A profane person, Designing therein only an Ungodly Diversion and Merri∣ment, said unto his Companions, Come, Let us go Hear, what that Bawling Hooker will say to

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us; and thereupon with an Intention to make sport, unto Chelmsford Lecture they came. The man had not been long in the Church, before the Quick and Powerful Word of God, in the mouth of His Faithful Hooker, pierced the Soul of him; he came out with an Awakened and a Distressed Soul, and by the further Blessing of God upon Mr. Hooker's Ministry, he arrived unto a true Conversion; for which cause he would not afterwards Leave that Blessed Mini∣stry, but went a Thousand Leagues to Attend it, and Enjoy it. Another Memorable Thing of this kind, was this; It was Mr. Hooker's manner once a year to visit his Native County: and in one of those Visits, he had an Invitation to Preach in the Great Church of Leicester. One of the chief Burgesses in the Town, much Op∣posed his Preaching there; and when he could not prevail to hinder it, he set certain Fidl••rs a work to Disturb him, in the Church-porch, or Church••yard. But such was the Vivacity of Mr. Hooker, as to proceed▪ in what he was about, without ei••her the ••amping of his Mind, or the Drowning of his Voice; whereupon the Man himself went unto the Church•• Door, to ove••-hear what he said It pleased God▪ so to accompany some words ••••ered by Mr. Hooker, as thereby to procure, first the Attention, and then the Conviction of that wretched man; who then came to Mr. Hooker, with a penitent

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Confession of his Wickedness, and became indeed so penitent a Convert, as to be at length a sincere Professor and Practiser of the Godliness, whereof he had been a Persecutor.

§ 11. The Spiritual Court, Sitting at Chelmsford, about the year 1630. had not only Sileneed Mr. Hooker, but also bound him over in a Bond of Fifty Pound, to appear before the High Commissi∣on, which he could not now attend, because of an Ague then upon him. One of his Hearers, namely Mr. Nash, a very honest Yeoman, that Rented a great Farm of the Earl of Warwick, at Much-Waltham, was Bound in that Sum for his Appearance; but as Paul was advised by his Friends, that he would not venture into the Theatre at Ephesus, thus Mr. Hooker's Friends advised him to Forfeit his Bonds, rather than throw himself any further into the Hands of his Enemies. Wherefore, when the Day for his Appearance came, his honest Surety being Reimbursed by several good People in and near Chelmsford, sent in the forfeited Sum into the Court; and Mr. Hooker having, by the Earl of Warwick, a courteous and private Recess pro∣vided for his Family, at a place called Old Park, for which I find, the Thanks of Dr. Hil afterwards publickly given in his Dedi∣cation of Mr. Fenners Treatise about Impenitency; He went over to Holland. In his Passage

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thither, he quickly had Occasion to Discover himself, when they were in Fminent Hazzard of Shipwrack, upon a Shelf of Sand, whereon they Ran in the Night; but Mr. Hooker, like Paul again, with a Remarkable Confidence, Aslu∣red them, that they should be all Preserved; and they had as Remarkable a Deliverance. I have also heard, that when he fled from the Pursevants, to take his Passage for the Low-Count treyes. at his Last Parting with some of his Friends, one of them said, Sir, What if the Wind should not be fair, when you come to the Vessel? whereto he instantly replyed, Brother, Let us Leave that with Him, who keeps the Wind in the Hollow of his Hand: And it was observ'd, That although the Wind was Cross, until be came Aboard, yet it immediately then came about fair and fresh, and he was no sooner under Sail, but the Officer arriv'd at the Sea-side, hap∣pily too Late now to conie at him: which minds me, of what besel Dr. Goodwin, not Long after. That Great man, Lay Wind∣bound, in hourly suspicions that the Purse∣vants would stop his Voyage, and Seiz his Person, before the Wird would favour his getting away for Holland. In this Distress, Humbly Praying to the Lord Jesus Christ, for a more propitious Wind, he yet said, Lord, If thou hast at this time, any poor Servant of thine, that wants this Wind, more than I do another, I do not ask for

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the Changing of it; I submit unto it. And imme∣diately the Wind came about, unto the Right Point; and carried him clear from his Pursu∣ners.

§. 12. Arriving in Holland, he was Invited unto a Settlement with old Mr. Paget; but the Old man being secretly willing that Mr. Hooker should not Accept of this Invitation, he con∣trived many wayes to render him suspected that he favoured the Brownists; unto whom he had, indeed, an extream Aversion. The Misunderstandings Operated so far, as to occasion Mr. Hooker's Removal from Amsterdam; notwithstanding he had so fully expressed himself, when in his Answer to one Mr. Paget's Questions, he declared, in these words, To Separate from the Faithful Assemblies and Churches in England, as no Churches, is an E••ror in Judgmetn, and Sin in Practice, held and mentained by the Brownists; and therefore to Communicate with them in their Opinion or Practice, is sinful and afterful unlawful: and care should be taken to prevent Offence, either by Encouraging them in their way, or by Drawing others to a further Approbation of that way than is meet. Going from - Amsterdam, he went unto Delft; where he was most kindly Received by Mr. Forbs, an Aged and Holy Scotch Minister, under whose Ministry many English Merchants

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were then Settled. The Text whereon he first Preached at his coming thither, was Phil 1. 29. To you it is given not only to Believe, but also to Suffer; and after that Se••mon, Mr. Forbs ma∣nifested a strong De••re to Enjoy the Fellowship of Mr Hooker in the Work of the Gospel; which he did for about the space of two years: in all which time they Lived so like Brethren, that an Ooserver might say of them, as they said of Basil and Nazianzen, They were but One Soul in two Bodies; and it they had been for any litde while asunder, they still met with such Friendly and Joyful Congratulations, as Testified a most affectionate satisfaction in each others Company.

§. 13. At the end of two years, he had a Call to Rotterdam; which he the more heartily and ••ea••ilv Accepted, because it Renewed his Acquaintance with his Invaluable Dr. Ames, who had newly Left his Place in the Frisian University. With him he spent the Residue of his Time in H••lland, and Assisted him in Composing some of ••i Discourses, which are, His Fresh Suit against the Ceremonies: for such was the Regard which Dr. Ames had for him, that notwithstanding his vast Ability and Expe∣rience, yet when it came to the Narrow of any Question about the Instituted Worship of God, he would still profess himself Conquered by Mr.

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Hookers Reason; Declaring, that though he had, been Acquainted with many Scholars of divers Na∣tions, yet he never met with Mr. Hookers Equal, either for Preaching or for Disputing. But having tarried in Holland long enough to see the State of Religion in the Churches there, he became satisfied, that it was neither Eligible for him to tarry in that Country, nor Convenient for his Friends to be Invited thither after him. I have at this time in my Hands, his Letter from Ro∣terdam to Mr. Cotton, wherein are these words;

The State of these Provinces to my weak eye, seems wonderfully ticklish and miserable. For the better part, Heart Religion, They con∣tent themselves with verv Forms, tho' much Blemished; but the Power of Godliness, for ought I can see or hear, they know not; and if it were thoroughly pressed, I fear least it will be fiercely opposed. My Ague yet holds me; the wayes of Gods Providence, wherein He has walked towards me, in this long time of my Sickness, and wherein I have draw•• forth many wearyish Hours, under His Al∣mighty Hand (Blessed be His Name) toge∣ther with Pursuits and Banishment, which have waited upon me, as one Wave follows another, have driven me to an Amazement: His Paths being too secret and past finding out by such an Ignorant, Worthless Worm as my self. I have Looked over my Heart and

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Life, according to my measure; aimed and guessed as well as I could: and Entreated His Majesty to make known His Mind, wherein I missed; and yet methinks I cannot spell out readily the Purpose of His Proceedings; which I confess have been wonderful in Miseries, and more than wonderful in Mercies to me and mine.

Wherefore, about this time, un∣derstanding that many of his Friends in Essex, were upon the Wing, for a Wilderness in America; where they hoped for an Opportunity to Enjoy and Practice the Pure Worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, in Churches Gathered according to His Direction, he readily answered their Invitation to Accompany them in this Undertaking.

§. 14. Returning into England in order to a further Voyage, he was quiokly Scented by the Pursevants; who at length got so far up with him, as to knock at the Door of that very Chamber, where he was now Discoursing with Mr. Stone; who was now become his Designed Companion and Assistent for the New English Ente••orize. Mr. Stone was at that Instant Smoking of Tobacco; for which Mr. Hooker had been Reproving him, as being then used by few p••r••ons of Sobriety; being also of a sudden and pleasant Wit, he stept unto the Door, with his Pipe in his mouth, & such an Air of Speech and Look, as gave him some Credit with the

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Officer. The Officer Demanded, Whether Mr. Hooker were not there? Mr. Stone replyed with a braving sord of Confidence, What Hooker? Do you mean Hooker that Liv'd once at Chelms••o••d! The O••ficer a••swered, Yes, He! Mr. Stone imme∣diately, with a Diversion like that which once helped Atbanasius, made this true answer, If it be he you Look for, I saw him about an Hour ago, at such an House in the Town; you had best hasten thither after him. The Officer took this ••or a sufficient Account, and went hi•• way: but Mr. Hooker, upon this Intimation concealed himself more carefully and securely, till he went on Boa••d, at the Downs in the year 1633. ••he Ship which brought him, and Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Stone to New England: Where none but Mr. Stone was owned for a Preacher, at their first coming Aboard; the other two Delaying to take their Turns in the P••••lick Worship of the Ship, till they were got so far into the Main O••••an, that they might with safety Discover Who they were.

§ 15. Amongst Mr. Fenn••rs Works, I find some Im••erfect and Shattered, and I believe In••uri us Notes, of a Farewel Sermon upon Jer. 14. 9 We are Call••d by thy Name, Leave us not Which Farewel Sermon was indeed, Mr. Hookers at his Leaving of England. There are in those Fragments of a Sermon, some very Pathetical, &

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most Prophetical Passages, whereof some are these.

It is not Gold and Prosperity, which makes God to be our God; there is more Gold in the West Indies, than there is in all Christendom; but it is Gods Ordinances in the virtue of them, that show the Presence of God.

Again, Is not England Ripe? Is she not weary of God? nay, she is fed fat for the slaughter.

Once more, England hath seen her Best Dayes, and now Evil Dayes are befalling us.

And, Thou England, which hast been Lifted up to Heaven with Means, shall be Abased and brought down to Hell; for if the mighty works, which have been Done in Thee, had been Done in India or Tur∣key, they would have Repented ere this.

These Passages I quote, that I may the more effectually Describe the Apprehensions, with which this Worthy man took his Farewel of his Native Countrey.

§. 16. Mr. Hooker and Mr. Cotton were, for their different Genius, the Luther and Melancthon of New-England; at their Ar••ival unto which Countrey, Mr. Cotton Settled with the Church of Boston, but Mr. Hooker with the Church of New Town, having Mr. Stone for his Assistent. Inexpressible now was the Joy of Mr. Hooker, to find himself Surrounded with his Friends, who were come over the year before, to prepare for

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his Reception; with open arms he Embraced them, and uttered these words, Now I Live, if you stand stast in the Lord. But such multitudes flocked over to New England after them, that the Plantation of New-Town became too straight for them; and it was Mr. Hookers Advice that they should not Incur the Danger of a Sitna, or an Esek, where they might have a Rehoboth. Acco••dingly in the Month of June 1636. they Removed an Hundred miles to the Westward, with a purpose to Settle upon the Delightful Banks of Connecticut River: and there were a∣bout an Hundred Persons in the first Company that made this Removal, who not being able to Walk above ten miles a Day, took up near a Fortnight in the Journey; having no Pillows to take their Nightly Rest upon, but such as their Father Jacob found in the way to Padan-Aram. Here Mr. Hooker was the chief Instru∣ment of Beginning another Colony, as Mr. Cotton, whom he Left behind him, was, of Preserving and Perfecting that Colony where he Left him; for, indeed each of them were the Oracle of their several Colonies.

§ 17. Though Mr. Hooker had thus Remo∣ved from the Massachusett-Bay, yet he sometimes came down to visit the Churches in that Bay; But when ever he came, he was Received with an Affection, like that which Paul found among

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the Galatians; yea, 'tis thought, that once there seemed some Intimation from Heaven, as if the Good People had Overdone in that Affection. For on May 26. 1639. Mr. Hooker being here to Preach that Lords Day in the Afternoon, his great Fame had gathered a vast multitude of Hearers from several other Congregations, and among the Rest, the Governour himself, to be made Partakers of his Ministry. But when he came to Preach, he found himself so unaccoun∣tably at a Loss, that after some shattered and broken Attempts, to proceed, he made a full stop; saying to the Assembly, That every thing▪ which be would have spoken, was taken both out of his Mouth, and out of his Mind also; wherefore he Desired them to Sing a Psalm, while he withdrew about half an Hour from them: Re∣turning then to the Congregation, he Preached a most admirable Sermon, wherein he Held them for two Hours together in an extraordina∣ry Strain, both of Pertinency and Vivacity.

After Sermon, when some of his Friends were speaking of the Lords thus Withdrawing His Assistences from him, he humbly replied, We daily confess, that we have nothing, and can do nothing, without Christ; and what if Christ will make this manifest in us, and on us, before our Con∣gregations? what remains, but that we be humbly Contented? and what manner of Discouragement is there in all of this? Thus Content was he

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to be Nullified, that the LORD might be Magnified!

§ 18. Mr. Hooker, that had been Born to Serve many, and was of such a Publick Spirit, that I find him occasionally Celebrated, in the Life of Mr. Angier, Lately Published, for One, Who would be continually Inquisitive, how it Fared with the Church of God, both at home and abroad, on purpose that he might order his Prayers and Cares accordingly: He never took his Opportunity to Serve himself; but Lived a sort of Exile all his Dayes, except the Last Fourteen Years of his Lite, among his own Spiritual Children at Hartford; however, here also, he was an Exile. Accordingly, wherever he came, he Lived like a Stranger in the World! When at the Lands-End, he took his last sight of England, he said, Farewel England! I expect now no more to see that Religious Zeal, and Power of Godliness, which I have seen among Professors in that Land! And he had Sagacious and Prophe∣tical Apprehensions of the Declensions which would attend Reforming Churches, when they came to Enjoy a place of Liberty: he said, That Adversity had slain its Thousands, but Prosperi∣ty would stay its Ten Thousands! he fear'd, That they who had been Lively Christians in the Fire of Persecution, would soon become cold in the midst of Universal Peace, except some few, whom God by

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sharp Tryals, would keep in a Faithful, Watchful, Humble and Praying Frame. But under these Preapprehensions, it was his own Endeavour to beware of Abating his own First Love! And of so Watchful, so Prayerful, so Fruitful a Spirit was Mr. Hooker, that the Spirit of Prophecy it self, did seem to grant him some singular Afflations. Indeed, every Wise man is a Prophet; but one so Eminently acquainted with Scripture and Reason, and Church-History, as our Hooker, must needs be a Seer, from whom singular Prognostica∣tions were to be expected. Accordingly, there were many things Prognosticated by him, where∣in the Future State of New England, particularly of Connecticut, has been so much concerned, that its pitty they should be forgotten. But I will in this History, Record only Two of his Predictions. One was, That God would punish the wanton Spirit of the Professers, in this Countrey, with a sad want of Able Men in all Orders. A∣nother was, That in certain places of great Light here Sinned againss, there would break forth such horrible Sins, us would be the Amazement of the World.

§ 19. He was a Man of Prayer, which was indeed, a ready way to become a Man of God. He would say, That Prayer was the principal part of a Ministers Work; 'twas by this, that he was to carry on the Rest. Accordingly, he still Devoted

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One Day in a Month, to Private Prayer with Fasting before the Lord, besides the Publick Fasts which often occurred unto him. He would say, That such Extraordinary Favours, as the Life of Religion, and the Power of Godliness, must be preserved by the frequent Use of such Extraordinary Means, as Prayer with Fasting; and that if Pro∣fessors grow negligent of these Means, Iniquity will Abound, and the Love of many wax cold. Never∣theless in the Duty of Prayer, he affected Strength, rather than Length; and though he had not so much variety in his Publick Praying, as in his Publick Preaching, yet he alwayes had a seasonable Respect unto Present Occasions. And it was Observed, that his Prayer was usually like Jacobs Ladder, wherein the nearer he came to an End, the nearer he drew towards Heaven; and he grew into such Rapturous Pleadings with God, and Praysings of God, as made some to say, That Like the Master of the Feast, he Reserved the best Wine until the Last. Nor was the wonderful Success of his Prayer upon special Concerns, unobserved by the whole Co∣lony; who Reckoned him the Moses, which Turned away the Wrath of God from them, and obtained a Blast from Heaven upon their Indian Amalekites, by his Uplifted Hands, in those Re∣markable Deliverances which they sometimes experienced. It was very particularly observed, when there was a Battel to be Fought between

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the Narraganset, and the Monbegin Indians, in the year 1643. The Narraganset Indians had Complotted the Ruine of the English, but the Monbegin were Confederate with us; and a War now being between those two Nations, much notice was taken of the prevailing Impor∣tunity, wherewith Mr. Hooker, urged for the Accomplishment of that Great Promise unto the People of God, I will Bless Bless them that Bless thee, but I will Curse him that Curses thee. And the Effect of it was, that the Narragansets Re∣ceived a wonderful Overthrow from the Mon∣begins, though the former did three or four to one, for Number, exceed the latter. Such an Israel at Prayer was our Hooker! And this Pray∣ing Pastor was Blessed, as indeed such Ministers use to be, with a Praying People; there fell up∣on His pious people, a Double Portion of the Spirit, which they beheld in him.

§. 20. That Reverend and Excellent Man, Mr. Whitfield, having spent many years in Stu∣dying of Books, did at length take two or three years to Study Men; And in pursuance of this Design, having Acquainted himself with the most Considerable Divines in England, at last he fell into the Acquaintance of Mr. Hooker; concerning whom, he afterwards gave this Te∣stimony; 'That he had not thought there had been such a man on Earth; a man in whom

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there Shone so many Excellencies, as were in this Incomparable Hooker; A man in whom Lear∣ning and Wisdom, were so Tempered with Zeal, Holiness and Watchfulness. And the same Ob∣server, having exactly Noted Mr. Hooker, made this Remark, and gave this Report, more par∣ticularly of him, That he had the best Command of his own Spirit, which he ever saw in any man whatever. For though he were a man of a Cholerick Disposition, and had a mighty Vi∣gour and Fervour of Spirit, which as Occasion served, was wondrous useful unto him, yet he had ordinarily as much Government of his Choler, as a man has of a Mastiff Dog in a Chain; He could Let out his Dog, and put in his Dog, as he pleased. And another, that observed the Heroical Spirit and Courage, with which this Great man, Fulfilled his Ministry, gave this Account or him, He was a person, who whi••e Doing his Masters Work, would put a King in his Pocket!

§. 21. He was indeed of a very Condeseending Spirit, not only towards his Brethren in the Ministry, but also towards the Meanes•• of any Christians whatsoever. He was very willing to Sacrifice his own Apprehensions into the Con∣vincing Reason of another man; and very rea∣dy to acknowledge any Mistake or Failing in himself. I'le give one Example; There hap∣pened

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a Damage to he done unto a Neighbour, immediately whereupon, Mr. Hooker meeting with an Unlucky Boy, that often had his Name up, for the doing of such Mischiets, he fell to Chiding of that ••oy, as the ••oer of This. The Boy denied it, and Mr. Hooker still went on in an angry manner, charging of him; whereup∣on said the Boy, Sir, I see you are in a passion, I'le say no more to you! and so ran away. Mr. Hook∣er, upon further Enquiry, not finding that the Boy could be proved Guilty, sent for him; and having first by •• calm Question, given the Boy opportunity to Renew his Lenial of the Fact, he said unto him, Since I cannot prove the contra∣ry, I am bound to believe, and I do believe what you say; and then added, Indeed I was in a Passion, when I spake to you before; it was my Sin, and it is my Shame, and I am truly sorry for it: and I hope in God, I shall be more Watchful ••ereafter. So giving the Boy some good Coun••el, the poor Lad went away extrean••ly affected with such a Carriage in so Good a man; and it proved an Occasion of Good unto the Soul of the Lad all his Dayes.

§. 22. He had a singular Ability, at Giving Answers to Ca••es of Conscience; whereof hap∣py was the Experience of some Thousands: And for this Work he usually set apart the Second Day of the Week; wherein he admitted

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all sorts of persons, in their Discourses with him, to Reap the Benesit of the Extraordinary Ex∣perience, which himself had found of Satan's Devices. Once particularly; Mr. Hooker was Addressed by a Student in Divinity, who En∣tring upon his Ministry was, as the most Useful Ministers, at their Entrance thereupon, use to be, horribly Buffered with Temptations, which were become almost Intollerable: Repairing to Mr. Hooker in the Distresses and Anguishes of his Mind, and Bemoaning his own overwhelming Fears, while the Lion was thus Roaring at him, Mr. Hooker answered, I can compare with any man Living for Fears! My Advice to you is, That you Search out and Analyse the humbling Causes of them, and Refer them to their proper places; then go and pour them out before the Lord; and they shall prove more profitable to you than any Books you can Read. But Mr. Hooker in his Dealing with Troubled Consciences, observed, that there were a sort of Crafty and Guileful Souls, which he would find out with an Admirable Dexteri∣ty; and of these he would say, as Paul of the Cretians, They must be Reproved sharply, that they may be Sound in the Faith; Sharp Rebukes make Sound Christians. Indeed, of some be had Com∣passion, making a Difference; and others he Saved with fear, pulling them out of the Fire.

§. 23. Although he had a Notable Hand

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at the Discussing and Adjusting of Controversal Points, yet he would hardly ever handle any Polemical Divinity in the Pulpit; but the very Spirit of his Ministry lay in the points of the most Practical Religion, and the Grand Concerns of a Sinner's Preparation for, Implantation in, and Salvation by, the Glorious Lord Jesus Christ. And in these Discourses he would frequently Intermix, most affectionate Warnings of the Declensions, which would quickly Befal the Churches and Christians of New-England.

Many Volumns of the Sermons Preached by him were since Printed; and this Account is to be given of them.

While he was Fellow of Immanuel. Colledge, he entertained a special Inclination to those Principles of Divinity, which concerned, The Application of Redemption; and that which emi∣nently fitted him for the Handling of those Principles, was, That he had been from his Youth Trained up, in the Experience of these Humiliations and Consolations, and Sacred Commu∣niont, which belong to the New Creature; and he had most critically compared his own Expe∣rience, with the Accounts, which the Quick and Powerful Word of God, gives of those Glorious Things. Accordingly, he Preached, first more briefly on these ••oints, whilst he was a Catechi•••• in Immanuel Colledge, in a more Schclastick way; which was most agreeable to his present Station;

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and the Notes of what he then Delivered were so Esteemed, that many Copies thereof were Transcribed and P••aeserved. Afterwards, he Preached more largely on those Points, in a more popular way at Chelmsford, the Product of which were those Books of Praeparation for Christ, Contrition, Humiliation, Vocation, Union with Christ, and Communion, and the rest, which go under his Name; for many wrote after him in Short-Hand; and some were so bold, as to Publish many of them, without his Confent or Knowledge; whereby his Notions came to be Deformed••y misrepresented in multitudes of Passages; among which I will suppose that Crude Passage, which Mr. Giles Firmin, in his 〈…〉〈…〉 Christian, so well confutes, That if the Soul be rightly Humbled, it is content to bear the State of Damnation. But when he came to New England, many of his Church, which had been his Old Essex Hearers, desired him once more to go over the Points of God's Regenerating Works upon the Souls of His Elect; until, at last their Desires prevailed with him to Resume that pleasant Subject. The Subject hereby came to have a Third Concotion, in the Head and Heart of One, as able to Digest it, as most men Living in the World; and it was his Design to perfect with his own Hand his Composures for the Press, and thereby Vin∣dicate both Author and Matter, from the

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wrongs done to both, by Surreptitious Editions heretofore. He did not Live to finish what he intended; yet a Worthy Minister, name∣ly, Mr. John Higginson, One richly able himself to have been an Author of a not unlike Matter, Transcribed from his Manuscripts, near two Hundred of these Excellent Sermons, which were sent over into England, that they might be Published; but, by what means I know not, scarce half of them have seen the Light unto this Day. However, 'tis possible, the valuableness of those that are Published, may at some time or other awaken some Enqui∣ries after the Unknown Hands wherein the rest▪ are as yet concealed.

§. 24. But this was not all the Service, which the Pen of Mr. Hooker, did for the Church of God! It was his Opinion, That there were Two great Reserves of Enquiry, for this Age of the World; the First, Where•••• the Spiritual Rule of our Lord's Kingdom do•••• Consist, and after what manner it is, Internal∣ly Revealed, Managed, and Maintained in the Souls of his People? The Second, After what Order the Government of our, Lord's Kingdom is to be Externally Managed and Maintained in his Churches? Accordingly, having done his part for Delivering the Former Subject from Pharisaical Formality, on

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the one Hand, and from Familistical Enthu∣fiasm on the other; he was by the sollici∣tous Importunity of his Friends prevailed withal to Compose a Treatise on the Other Subject also. Upon this Occasion, he Wrote his Excellent Book, which is Entituled, A Survey of Church Discipline; wherein, having in the Name of the other Ministers in the Country, as well as his own, professed his Concur••ence with Holy, and Learned, Mr. Rutherford, as to the Number and Nature of Church Officers; The Right of People to call their own Off••cers; The Unfitness of Scandalous Persons to be Members of a Visible Church; The Unwarrantableness of Separation from Churches for certain Defective Circumstances; The Lawfulness, yea, Needfulness, of a Con••¦sociation among Churches; and Calling in the Help of such Consociations, upon Emerging Difficulties; and the Power of such Consocia∣tions to proceed against a Particular Church, pertinaciously offending, with a Sentence of Non-Communion: He then proceeds to consi∣der, a Church-Congregational compleatly constitu¦ted with all its Officers, as having full power in its self to Exercise all Church-Discipline, in all the Censures thereof; and the Interest, which the Consent of the People is to have in the Exercise of this Discipline. The first fair and full Copy of this Book, was Drowned in its

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Passage to England, with many Serious and Eminent Christians, which were then Buried by Shipwrack in the Ocean: for which cause there was another Copy lent afterwards, which through the Pre mature Death of the Author, was not so perfect as the former; but it was a Reflection, which Dr. Goodwin made upon it, The Destiny which hath attended this Book, hath visited my Thoughts with an Apprehension of something like Omen to the Cause it self: That after the Overwhelming of it with a Flood of Obloquies, and Disadvantages and Misrepresen∣tations, and injurious Oppressions cast out after it, it might in the time, which God alone hath put in His own Power, be again Emergent. He adds, I have Looked for this; That this Truth, and all that should be said of it, was Ordained, as Christ of whom every Truth is a Ray, to be us a Seed-corn, which unless it fall to the Ground and Dy, and this perhaps together with some of the Persons that profess it, it brings not forth much Fruit. However, the Ingenious Mr. Stone, who was Collegue to Mr. Hooker, ac∣compained this Book, with a little Epigram, whereof these were the concluding Disticks.

If any to this Platform can Reply
With better Reason, Let this Volumn Dy;
But better Arguments, if none can give,
Then Thomas Hookers Policy shall Live.

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§ 25. In his Administration of Church-Dis∣cioline there were several Things, as I mitable, as Observable. As he was an hearty Friend unto the Consociation of Churches; and hence all the time, that he Lived, the Pastors of the Nighbouring Churches, held their frequent Meetings for mutual Consultation in things of common Concernment; so, in his own particular Church, he was very careful, to have every thing done with a Christian Mo∣deration, and Unanimity. Wherefore he would have nothing publickly propounded unto the Brethren of the Church, but what had been first privately prepared by the Elders; and if he feared the happening of any Debate, his way aforehand w••s, to visit some of the more Noted and Leading Brethren, and hav∣ing Engaged Them to second what he should move unto the Church, he rarely missed of a full Concurrence: to which purpose he would say, The Elders must have a Church in a Church, if they would preserve the Peace of the Church. But if any di••ficult or divided Agitation was Raised in the Church, about any matter offered, he would ever put a stop to that publick Agitation, by Delaying the Vore, until another Meeting; before which time, he would ordinarily by private Confe∣rences, gain over such as were unsatisfied. As

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for the Admission of Communicants unto the Lord's Table, he kept the Examination of them unto the Elders of the Church, as properly belonging unto their Work and Charge; and with his Elders he would order them to make before the whole Church a Profession of a Repenting Faith, as they were able, or willing to do it. Some, that could unto E∣dification do it, he put upon thus Relating the manner of their Conversion to God; but usually they only answered unto certain pro∣batory Questions, which were tendered them; and so after their Names had been for a few weeks before signified unto the Congre∣gation, to Learn whether any Objection or Exception could be made against them, of a∣ny thing Scandalous in their Conversations, now Consenting unto, The Covenant, they were Admitted into the Church Communion. As for Ecclesiastical Censures, he was very watchful to prevent all Proceedures unto Them, as far as was consistent with the Rules of our Lord; for which cause (except in grosser Abomi∣nations) when Offences happened, he did his utmost, that the Notice thereof might be extended no further, than it was when they first were laid before him; and having Re∣conciled the Offenders with sensible and con∣venient Acknowledgments of their Miscarriages, he would let the Notice thereof be confined

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unto such as were aforehand therewith ac∣quainted; and hence there was but one per∣son Admonished in, and but one person Ex∣communicated from, the Church of Hartford, in all the fourteen years, that Mr. Hooker Lived there He was much troubled at the too frequent Censures in some other Church∣es; and he would say,

Church Censures are things, wherewith neither we, nor our Fa∣thers have been acquainted, in the practice of them; and therefore the utmost Circum∣spection is needful, that we do not spoil the Ordinances of God, by our management thereof.

In this point he was like Beza, who defended the Ordinance of Excommunication against Erastus; and yet, he with his Collegues, were so c••utelous in the use of it, that in eleven years, there was but one Excommuni∣cation passed in all Geneva.

§ 26. He would say, That he should Esteem it a Favour from God, if he might Live no Longer, than he should be able to hold up Lively in the Work of his Place; and that, when the Time of his Departure should come, God would shorten the Time: and he had his Desire. Some of his most Observant Hearers, obser∣ved an astonishing sort of a Cloud, in his Congregation, the last Lords Day of his pub∣lick Ministry, when he also Administred

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the Lord's Supper among them; and a most unaccountable Heaviness and Sleepiness, even in the most Watchful Christians of the place, not unlike the Drowsiness of the Disciples, when our Lord was going to Dy; for which, One of the Elders publickly Rebuked them. When those Devout People afterwards per∣ceived, that this was the Last Sermon and Sacrament, wherein they were to have the Presence of their Pastor with them, 'tis In∣expressible, how much they bewailed their Unattentiveness unto his Farewel Dispensations; and some of them could Enjoy no peace in their own Souls, until they had obtained Leave of the Elders, to confess before the whole Congregation with many Tears, that Inadvertency. But as for Mr. Hooker himself; an Epidemical Sickness, which had proved mortal to many, though at first small or no Danger appeared in it, Arrested him. In the time of his Sickness, he did not say much to the Standers by; but being asked, that he would utter his Apprehensions about some Important Things, especially about the State of New England, he answered, I have not that Work now to do; I have already De∣clared the Counsel of the Lord: and when one that stood weeping by the Bed side said unto him, Sir, You are going to Receive the Reward of all your Labours, he Replyed, Bro∣ther,

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I am going to R••ceive Mercy! At Last, he Closed his own Eyes, with his own Hands, and gently stroaking his own Forehead, with a Smile in his Co••ntenance, he gave a little Groan, and so Expired his Blessed Soul into the Arms of his Fellow Servants, the Holy Angels, on July 7. 1647. In which Last Hours, the Glo••ious Peace of Soul, which he had Enjoyed without any Inter∣ruption for near Thirty Years together, so gloriously accompanied him, that a worthy Spectator then Writing to Mr. Cotton a Relatio•• thereof, made this Reflection, Truly Syr, the sight of his Death, will make me have more pleasant Thoughts of Death, than ever I yet had in my Life!

§ 27. Thus Lived, and thus Dyed, One of the First Three. He, of whom the Great Mr. Cotton gave this Character, that he did, Agmen ducere et dominari in Concionibus, gratia Spiritus Sancti et virtute plenis; and that he was, Vir Solertis et Acerrimi Judicij; and at Le••gth uttered his Lamentations in a Funeral Elegy, whereof some Lines were these.

'Twas of Geneva's Worthies said with Wonder,
(Those Worthies Three) Farel was w••nt to Thunder,
Viret like Rain on tender Grass to show'r,
But Calvin, Lively Oracles to pour.

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All These in Hooker's Spirit did Remain,
A Son of Thounder, and a Show'r of Rain;
A Pourer forth of Lively Oracles,
In Saving Souls, The Summ of Miracles.

This was He, of whom his Pupil Mr. Ash, gives this Testimony; For his great Abilities, and glorious Services, both in This, and in the Other England, he Deserves a Place in the first Rank of them, whose Lives are of Late Record∣ed. And this was He, of whom his Reve∣rend Contemporary, Mr. Ezekiel Rogers, ten∣dered this for an Epitaph; in every Line whereof, methinks the Writer deserves a Re∣ward equal to what Virgil had, when for every Line, referring to Marcellus in the end of his Sixth Aeneid, he received a Sum, not much less than Eighty Pounds in Money, or as ample a Requital as Cardinal Richleu gave to a Poer, when he bestow'd upon him two thousand Sequins for a witty Conceit in One Verse, of but seven words, upon his Coat of Arms.

America, al••hough She do not Boast,
Of all the Gold and Silver from that Coast,
Lent to her Sister Europe's Need or Prid••;
(For that's Repaid her, with much Gain beside,
In one Rich Pearl, which Heaven did thence afford,
As Pious Herbert gave his honest word;)