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THE

VERY SINGULAR LIFE

JOHN BRUEN, ESQUIRE,

BEUES STAPLEFORD, CHESHIEE:

BXHlBITINft A VAEIETT OF MEMOEABLE AND EXEMPLARY CIECTTMSTANOES,
¦WHICH MAY BE OF GEEAT TTTILITY TO ALL PEES0N8 ; BTTT PSINOI-
PALLT INTENDED A8 A PEECEDENT OP PIETY AND CHABITY
FOE THE INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTY OF CHESTER.

BY THE EEV. "WILLIj^M HINDE,
Fellow of Queen's College, Oxford, and Preacher of God's "Woed at BuNBtrEY
in the aforesaid County. Originally published in 1641, by the Author's
Son, Samttel Hinde ; revised, corrected, and republished, By "William
CODDINGTON, of CHESTER, 1799.

NEW YORK :
PRINTED BT EDWARD O. JENKINS,
No. 26 Fkahkfort Street.
18 5 7.

PREFACE
TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

Though so many years have passed away since
the subject of this memoir went to his reward, yet
the Editor found, on a late visit to Bruen Stapleford,
and tTie Old Church at Tarvin, the Scripture veri
fied, "that the righteous shall be had in remem
brance." StUl the Bruen chancel, where he gathered his
company around him, to sing the praises of God,
and where he was buried, is pointed out ; and the
parish clerk utters his praises, imitating his ancient
predecessor, who has left in Tarvin Church record
the following quaint memorial :
" Burials 25 Jany 1625
John Bruen of Stapleford Esquire
NuUi pietate secundus
An Israelite in whom no guyle
Or fraud was ever found
A Phoenix rare
Whose virtues fair
Through all our coasts do sound."

IV PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
Webb, in " King's Vale Eoyal," 1625, says," This
river now leads us by a fair and fruitful demesne,
in the midst of a fine Lordship, taking name from
a passage over the same water called Stapleford,
having been for an ancient continuance the seat of
gentlemen of great esteem in one well known name
of the Bruines. The owner now, and long hath
been, and long I would he might be John Bruine
Esqre., who might, if he affected praise, receive from
me some little remembrance."
Clarke, in his " Marrow of Ecclesiastical His
tory," 1650, says of him, "He was one of the few
individuals whose private virtues alone, in the rank
of a country gentleman, have obtained a place in
the annals of biography. His tenets were those of
the Calvinistic Puritans, but his goodness of heart
would have reflected honor on any rank and any re
ligion." We find also mention made of him in " Christo
pher Morton's Monument of the Fathers and Re
formers." Ormerod, in his " History of Cheshire," says that
Tarvin was for a long time after John Bruen's death
the seat of Puritanism, and that his son, Calvin
Bruen, was brought into trouble on accolPlit of his
attention to the famous Mr. Prynne, Avhen ectoveyed
through Chester to t]ie castle of Caernarvon.
To the Puritan party several of John Bruen's
children adhered.

PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. V
His son Obadiah and daughter Mary appear
among the New England pilgrims.
The former was entered a freeman of Plymouth
Colony in 1640. Afterwards he went to Gloucester,
the records of which place are for a time in his
handwriting. There he records the birth of two of
his children, Hannah and John, his only son. Before
1650, he was chosen seven times deputy to the Gen
eral Court.
From Gloucester he removed to Pequot Harbor,
(New London.)
" During the sixteen years in which he dwelt in
this young plantation," says the author of Hist.
New London, "he was perhaps more intimately
identified with its public concerns than any other
man. He was chosen a townsman for fifteen years
in succession, and, except the first year, uniformly
first townsman and moderator. He was usually on
all committees for granting lands, building meeting
houses, and accommodating differences. He was
Clerk or Recorder of the town all the time he was
an inhabitant; and, in 1661, on the organization of
the County Court, he was chosen Clerk of that
body. "In the charter of Connecticut granted by Charles
II., his name appears as one of the patentees of the
colony, and the only one from the town, which
is proof that he was then considered its most promi
nent inhabitant. He appears to have been a perscr

VI PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
vering, plodding, able and discreet man, who ac
complished a large amount of business, was helpful
to every body, and left everything which he under
took the better for his management." *
In 1667, as would appear by the deed of pur
chase of the Indians, to which his name with others
is subscribed, he removed with his son, John Bruen,
in company with an association of planters, to the
vicinity of the Passaic River, where they founded
what is now known as the city of Newark, first
called Milford, after the place from which a portion
of the planters had removed.
The book from which this present volume is re
printed, has been for many years in the Editor's
family, and he has no knowledge of any other copy
in this country.
To illustrate the character of our Puritan forefa
thers, and in the hope that it may excite some to
follow in the footsteps of this "ancient father in
godliness," it was thought well to accede to the wish
of many, and reprint the memoir.
A. M. BRUEN.
January, 1857.
* History of New London, by P. M. Canlkin^. See First Poritan Settlers,
E. E. Hinman; East Jersey, W. A. Whitehead; and History of Cheshire,
Ormerod, vol. 11., p. 172.

EDITOR'S PREFACE.
In order to obviate any objections that may be
started against this edition of Mr. JBruen's Life, on
the score of its not beiag literally copied from the
Original, the Editor informs his readers that some
of the Author's deviations from the course of the
Narrative are abridged, and others entirely omitted ;
and this is done, not with a view of imposing upon
the public, by vending a mere catch-penny, under a
specious title — ^but in order at once to fornish theni
with a cheap and complete Portraiture of the vener
able Mr. Bruen, and to do away the necessity of
sometimes looking over a page or two of dry, un
interesting matter, to come at a few lines which
treat upon facts.
The Publisher feels confident that a comparison,
between this and the original Work, is sufficient to
determine the public in favor of the present Edition ;
and that it may be made useful in promoting the
best of causes, is the sincere wish of
The Public's humble servant,
THE EDITOR.
Chester, 1799.

THE ORIGINAL PUBLISHER

THE EBADER.
This book is an orphan, having been long since
left fatherless, and kept under hatches: but now,
through His assistance in whom the fatherless find
mercy, it is brought to light. It was a rule of
Pythagoras, that his scholars be five years in school
before they were permitted to speak : but this work
has lain above twice five, before it could be suffered
to speak in the language of the press.
In order that both the Author and his subject,
like Demetrius' statues, may remain free from the
soil of envy and detraction, I wish to give thee sat
isfaction concerning them.
1. As to the Subject : He was a man so renowned
for piety, that the mouths of the most religious,
prudent and learned men, in their times, have bless
ed him, and praised God for him. The famous Mr.
Perkins, being- dead, yet speaketh of him thus :
" His house was none other than the house of God,
and for religion, he carried the top-sail of all Eng
land." To this I add the testimony of the Right

TO THE READER. IX
Rev. Father in God, the Lord Primate of all Ireland,
a man equally eminent for learning and piety : he
said; speaking of Mr. Bruen, " In him was the very
beauty of holiness ; and he was of so amiable and
cheerful a countenance, that when I beheld him, I
was reminded of Moses, whose very face shone, as
honoring some more than ordinary eminency of
grace in his heart."
2. As to the Author: Nearness of relationship
forbids me to say much here. I shall leave his own
works to publish his abilities, and among many
others the following. However, I dare be bold to
affirm, it was not ostentation, or the thirst of popular
applause, which induced him to enter upon this
undertaking; but a desire to perpetuate the memory
of a worthy gentleman, of whom he treats in such
a manner as might make best for thy example and
the Creator's glory.
Then, laying aside all prejudice, read the follow
ing tract ; peruse it thoroughly, before thou censure
it partially ; and if any, beholding his deformities
by means of this glass, should therefore break or
blemish it, let him know the disadvantage is his
own, not the Author's ; and for one foul face he saw
before, he will then discover twenty.
If the zeal of the Author, or his subject, outgo
thy expectation or practice, blame them not ; since,
as there is no pointing at any man's person, so there
is no conniving at any one's sins.
1*

X TO THE EEADER.
If, in the discountenancing and battering down of
particular errors, either of judgment or practice,
thou thinkest the narration mingled with, too much
bitter Merapicra — remember, sharp sauces best be
come the meat, and stimulate the appetite.
But if all this will not do — ^if Grallio hke, thou
carest for none of these things — yet be persuaded
to remember the rule of our Saviour, to do to others
as thou wouldst the-y should do to thee : deal not with
the good names of the Autiior and his subject as
Licurgus did with, the coins of his country, or as
Eehoboam did with Ms father's shields — which they
found of beaten gold, but left of brass. Rather
treat them as Augustus did the walls of Eome;
whicii he found of brick, but left of marble. And
whatsoever in them is virtuous, honest, just, lawful,
laudable, and of good report, that follow ; and while
thy charity is thus shown towards them, the bless
ing of God be with thee.
So prays the Subject's Kinsman, the Author's
Son, and thy Servant iu Christ,
SAMUEL HIKDE.
Prescott, May 20, 1641.

LIFE OF JOM BRUEN, ESQ.

John Beuejst, of Bruen Stapleford, in the county
of Chester, Esq., was born in the year 1560, and was
allied to many of the most ancient and worshipful
families in the country. His father, a respectable
gentleman, was descended from several worthy an
cestors, the Lord having continued their race, and
established that family, in their own name, place,
house, and state, for many generations : a blessing,
I acknowledge, of no extraordinary note — yet
rather remarkable, because, even in these parts, not
a few families, that have flourished in great pomp
and pride for a season, and have thought their
houses should be continued for ever, and their
dwelling-places to all generations, calling their lands
by their names, have had their hopes and their lives
cut off together, their posterity swept away as dung,
and their names overwhelmed with the ruins of
their habitations; their root being rottenness, and
their blossom vanishing into dust, as the prophet
speaketh. The elder Mr. Bruen was first married to a sister

12 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
of Sir John Done, of the house of Utkinton, by
whom he had no issue. She dying, he took to wife
the daughter of Thomas Holford, of Holford, Esq.,
by whom he had fourteen children ; so did the Lord
entrust him with a large portion of Ms own inherit
ance. Mr. John Bruen was the first-born of the male
children, and heir of the family.
Several of his brethren and sisters were holy per
sons, but especially that rare gentlewoman, Mrs.
Cath. Bretterg,* whose praise is in print, and whose
fame has been sounded forth, and proclaimed to the
churches of Christ, more than twenty years ago, by
two silver trumpetsf of the Gospel. Of her it
* This lady was studious of the Scriptures from her child
hood. She married Mr. William Bretterg, when she was about
twenty years of age, and died at the end of two years, leaving
one child. When in her last illness, she took up the Bible, and,
joyfully kissing it, said, " 0 Lord, it is good for me to be
afflicted, that I may learn thy statutes : the law of thy mouth is
better unto me than gold and silver." The day preceding that
of her death, she lay with a cheerful countenance, whilst her
husband read some portions of Scripture ; and when he came to
that passage, John xvii. 24, "Father, I will tbat they also
whom thou hast given me be with me where I am," &c., she said,
" O ! happy am I, that ever I was born to see this blessed day —
praise, 0 praise the Lord for his mercies I" On the evening of
May 31, 1601, her strength and speech beginning to fail, she
said, " My warfare is accomplished, and mine iniquities are par
doned ;" and immediately resigned her happy spirit iuto the
hands of her heavenly Father. [See her Life.]
t Mr. Leigh and Mr. Harris.

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 13
might be truly said, among her sisters, "Many
daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest
them all." So also may it be said of him, among
his brethren, as is recorded of Jabez among his, be
cause of his greater acquaintance with God : " Jabez
was more honorable than his brethren, because he
called on the God of Israel, and God granted him
that which he requested."
It was not Mr. Bruen's double portion, the privi
lege of the first-born ; nor his birth and blood, in
being so respectably descended ; nor his dignity, in
being so honorably allied : it was not all or any of
these things that he esteemed the ground of his
praise and honor, or the staff of his comfort and re
joichig in the world : he was otherwise taught of
God. "Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he
knoweth me, saith the Lord."
It would be well if the rich and great, like this
gentleman, would cease to admire themselves on ac
count of worldly grandeur; and esteem the re
proach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
of Egypt. For what is the flower of nature, without
grace, but a stinking weed of a fair colour ? What
is nobility, without piety, but an earthen pitcher, cov
ered with silver dross ? What is he that is rich in
the world, and not rich towards God, but a branded
fool, even by God's own sentence, though he have
goods laid up for many years, and say to his soul,
as if he had spoken to a swine, " Soul, take thine

14 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
ease; eat, drink, and be merry?" And what is a
gentleman, without the true faith of Christ in his
heart, and the holy fruits thereof in his life, but a
mere gentileman, an alien from the commonwealth of
Israel, and a stranger from the covenants of promise,
without hope, and without God ?
Notwithstanding Mr. Bruen wanted Timothy's
education, who was instructed in the Scriptures
from his childhood ; yet have I heard well of his
parents' care in bringing him up, with the rest of
their children, in an orderly, civil, and (as the times
then were) religious manner; and the Lord preserv
ed him, in his younger years, both from the poison
of popish superstition, and the contagion of gross
sins (which, for want of the light and life of the
ministry of the Gospel, then reigned in those parts)
as if he intended to reserve him as a vessel of honour
for' his own house, and so by httle and Kttle to fit
him for the purpose. I do not say, that he was at
that time altogether free from all savor and smell of
popish lees and, lies ; or that his heart, in the heat
of youth, had been entirely clear from youthful
lusts ; but that, to the glory of the grace of God, he
was not settled upon any popish dregs, nor addicted
to any of the common and cursed sins of the time.
When he was about seven years old, his father
having rebuked and corrected him sharply for the
commission of a fault, he, being in much grief on
account of his parent's displeasure, and desiring to

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 15
find some means of comfort and rehef, took up a
httle prayer-book, and went apart into his father's
chapel ; and there, in reading and praying, as weU
as he could, was comforted with inexpressible joys.
This he himself related ; and added, " But being
a child, I knew not what those joys meant ; the
next day I went to the chapel again, and used the
same means, but found not the like comfort."
What we ought to think concerning a child's
prayer, and such inexpressible joys thereupon, I
cannot well say ; yet I remember what Austiu says
of himself when a child, viz., that, observing others
pray to God, he learnt to conceive of In'm as some
great and mighty One, who, though he was not
known by sight, yet could both hear and help us at
his pleasure : " For, being but a child," saith he, "I
began to pray unto thee, my help and my refuge ;
and I prayed, with no httle affection, that I might
not be beaten at school." No doubt God doth
sometimes cause the holy and heavenly fire of
divine grace to break forth from the hearts and hps
of children, in prayer to hunself, when, through
weakness of understanding and want of judgment,
they neither knew whence it is, nor what is the
meaning thereof. Samuelj when a child, ministered
unto the Lord before Eli, though he knew him not,
neither had had a revelation of his word ; yea, he had
communion with the Lord, as recorded 1 Sam. iii.
10. "Samuel! Samuel! then Samuel answered,

16 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
Speak ; for thy servant heareth." I know we are
not to look for such things now a days ; yet, seeing
the Lord is not bound, though he bind us to the use
of his ordinary means, he may make sweet impres
sions of his Spirit and truth on the hearts of chil
dren, as I doubt not he did on the heart of Mr.
Bruen, when he was grieved on account of having
offended his father, patiently submitted to his se
vere correction, and had recourse to the Lord, by
such means as were in his power, both for the par
don of his sim, and the comfort of his soul under
that affliction ; which I am the rather inchned to
think was the case, because, being asked in his riper
years as to the beginning of his calling and conver
sion, his usual answer was, " Even of a child httle."
For want of a schoolmaster at home, Mr. Bruen
was in his tender years sent to his uncle Button's,
of Dutton, there to be trained up under James Eoe ;
where he continued three years : and here he learnt
something of grammar and a httle civility, but re
ceived no nurture and information in true religion,
his uncle's family being great, and of great liberty.
When he hved at this place, by means of musi
cians, and a chest of viols which was kept in the
house, he was drawn by desire and delight into the
dancing-school; where he profited so well in that
kind of youthful activity, that he not only pleased
himself therewith, but gave more delight to his
parents than was meet.

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 17
'The principal cause of his parents' error and his
own vanity, touching these things, was, as himself
acknowledgeth, the popish and profane state of the
people of the country round them in those days :
for " At that time," saith he, " the holy Sabbaths of
the Lord were wholly spent, in all places about us,
in May -games and May-poles, pipings and dancings ;
for it was a rare thing to hear of a preacher, or to
have one sermon in a year — all hving profanely in
ignorance and error."
Our eyes, God be blessed, have seen better days,
because of the day of grace ; and our ears have
heard of better things, by the Gospel of grace : and
shall we, then, that are called to be the children of
the light, remain in fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, as if we still loved darkness
more than light? God forbid. How shall we,
that are dead to such sins, hve yet therein ?
In a common contagion, when the inhabitants of
a place are in danger, men are wont to provide for
their health by removal to a better air ; if our vine
yards are overgrown with brambles and briars, and
we cannot get rid of them, we remove the best
plants to a better soil : so did the Lord put it into
the hearts of this gentleman's parents to deal with
him ; who transplanted him into the University of
Oxford, that vineyard of the Lord, when about 17
years of age ; where he probably first received the
love of the truth with an understanding mind. He

18 LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
was accompanied by his brother Thomas, and they
were both maintained there, as Gentlemen Com
moners, in Alban Hall, in an orderly and suflicient
manner, for the space of two years.
It appears that he brought with him to Oxford
some seeds and weeds of popish errors. He ac
knowledgeth, that, as St. Paul said of the men of
Athens, he was then very superstitious — Augustine
confesseth, he was a Manichee before he was a pro
fessor and preacher of the true religion ; and Paul
acknowledgeth he was a Pharisee before he was en
trusted in Christ's service. Every man, indeed, by
nature, is a Pharisee, and more or less a friend to
popery ; there being no religion so agreeable to car
nal reason and fleshly wisdom, nor so pleasing to
natural affection, as pharisaic devotion and hypoc
risy, popish superstition and idolatry ; which is not
said with an intention to lessen Mr. Bruen's fault,
or to draw a veil over the errors of his youth ; but
to magnify the grace of God, who found bim going
astray like a lost sheep, and was pleased to bring
bim back to the flock and fold of Christ.
The special instrument whereby the Lord did
work was his own word, first sounded in his ear by
one of his companions, a towardly young gentle
man, and afterwards applied by the Spirit to his
heart. The gentleman here alluded to was Mr.
John Brerewood, the son of an alderman of the
city of Chester ; who, being well grouuded in the

ESQ. 19
•
truth, and seeing Mr. Bruen infected with some
popish errors, as the forbearing of meats and
drinks for conscience sake, on Friday and other
days, the forbidding of marriage to ministers, and
divers other opinions of the like nature, being as
willing to shew himself an enemy to his errors as a
friend to his person, mounting God's great ordinance
against the popish canons and constitutions, taking
his shot and powder from the Scriptures, he fired
from the altar and battered down the strong holds
of Satan, laying level with the ground every papis
tical opinion that had exalted itself against the true
knowledge of God, and so brought every thought
into captivity to the obedience of Christ ; insomuch
that the word of God was ever after better esteerpipd
and entertained by him. The portion of Scripture
which he principally urged was, 1 Tim. iv. 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, against the doctrine of forbidding meats and
marriage. The ordinary .public means of conversion is, I
confess, the ministry of reconcihation by the preach
ing of the Gospel ; yet can it not be denied that
God doth sometimes use private persons for enhght
ening, convincing or smiting the consciences of sin
ners, or drawing them from the fellowship of their
old companions into the ordinances of God and the
communion of his servants. " The fruit of the
righteouS' is a tree of life, and he. that winneth souls
is wise," saith Solomon. Daniel also hath a saying

20 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
to the like purpose : " They that be wise shall shine
as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that
turn many unto righteousness, as the stars, for ever
and ever." St. James speaks yet more plainly, chap.
V. 19, 20. So was David drawn from his bloody
rage by Abigail's wholesome counsel. So was
Monica, Augustine's mother, reclaimed by her maid
calling her Meribibulam.* So did Augustine, in a
rhetoric lecture, convert Alipius, by a similitude
taken from the vain games, wherein he immoder
ately delighted.
What proficiency Mr. Bruen made during his
stay at the university, I cannot say, but I conjecture
it could not have been much, as the time was short,
the^ means for his aid but small, and the impedi
ments many ; especially these two, wliich are blocks
in the way of many, and great ones two, dulhng
the edge of desire and delight in the studies of a
college ; namely, idleness and remissness at home,
and ignorance of the true grounds of grammar,
which they should be thoroughly acquainted with
before they are sent thither. However, a scholar
cannot be made out of every piece of timber, neither
is every raan's metal of gold, but some of silver,
some of brass, &c. I will not say that the gentle
man of whom we speak was of the best nature for
making a scholar of, nor of the best disposition for
great employments; but I am well assured, that
* A wine-bibber.

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 21
upon suoh a nature, and such learning as he had,
the Lord was pleased to lay the foundation of a better
building (begun in his youth, and reared up in his
riper age) than all the gold and silver either of nature
or art could otherwise have provided for him. It is
the wisdom of our God, when he will furnish men
with his graces, and employ them in his service,
sometimes to pass by such as are noble by birth,
comely in person, and excellent for natural and ac
quired abihties, and make choice of such as are of a
middle or mean estate, of inferior parts and gifts, and
who are very unlikely, in the eye of reason, to com
pass any great matters, or perform any good ser
vices for God or man : and this he doth, that all
may know their sufiiciency, and the efiicacy and
fruit of all their desires, to be of God ; that he who
worketh all may have the glory of all, both now
and ever.
One egg is not more like another than this gen
tleman was to the admirable Galeacius Caracciolus,
Marquis of Vico, in Italy, as the sequel of this
story will show ; who, being young, a mean scholar,
and but lately entered into the school of Christ, was
assailed by the Arians and Anabaptists in those
parts, who endeavored to seduce him from the truth,
and entangle him in their gross errors and blas
phemous fancies. Notwithstanding many of his
opponents were men of learning, yet, by the sim
plicity and plainness of the truth of God, and the

22 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
inspiration of the Holy Ghost, he not only discover
ed the folly of their heresies, but even untied their
knots, brake their nets wherewith they would have
held him, and mightily confuted them.
In the year 1579, Mr. Bruen left the university,
and returned to the place of his nativity, his father
being desirous of settling him in the marriage state.
In the year ^following the daughter of Mr. Hard
ware, who had been twice Mayor of Chester, was
recommended to the father, and by him proposed to
his son : which proposal he entertained with rever
ence, well knowing that he was to him in God's
stead, as to the disposal of him in matrimony. Ac
cordingly, not long after, on the mutual love and
assent of the parties, and the joint consent of the
parents, they were married in the fear of God.
This was a pious entrance upon God's ordinance,
the matter being so warrantable on all sides : for in
this case the father doth not marry the son under
years of discretion ; nor doth the son, being of age
to judge for himself, steal from his father, and, by
wanton attempts, and rash and foolish contracts, pre
vent his father's choice, and bestow himself at his
pleasure. This is worthy the observation and imita
tion of parents and children, in their matrimonial
contracts, especially such as are higher iu rank than
ordinary. There are many gentlemen, and others
too, so earthly-minded and covetous, that no sooner
do their children peejj out of the shell, but they be-

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 23
gin to plot and provide a match for them, little
regarding where they set and sow, graft and plant.
It was far otherwise with- the couple of whom we
are speaking, who were united in the fear of God,
and continued together with much comfort and con
tent, he dwelhng with her as a man of knowledge,
and she with him as a faithful helper ; and they had
the blessedness of seeing their children as branches
of the vine, or as olive plants round about their
table, for the space of seventeen years.
In the early part of Mr. Bruen's matrimonial
state, being in the prime of life (about the twenty-
first year of his age), he was much addicted to the
ordinary exercises and recreations of hunting and
hawking, attending horse-races, and affecting the
company of such gentlemen of note as took pleas
ure in these things; insomuch, that, joining with
Ealph Done, Esq., grandfather to that worthy
Knight, Sir John Done, late High Sheriff of the
county of Chester, they kept between them fourteen
couple of great-mouthed dogs, for the purpose of
satisfying their humor and pleasure in the sports of
the field.
I have not much to commend him for in these
matters, but rather think him blame- worthy, for mis
spending his precious time in such carnal delights,
and wasting his estate upon brutes, to serve his lust,
which might have been much better bestowed on
his own family, or the poor members of Jesus

24 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
Christ : for if we must give an account, at the day
of judgment, of every idle word, how much more
shall we be accountable for every idle hour and
every idle worh! — and if, when we have plenty of
food, we are carefully to gather up the broken meat,
that nothing be lost, how much more ought we to
be careful that we be not guilty of so wicked and
wilful waste as to give the children's bread unto dogs,
when the cries of the poor cannot be heard for the
yelling of these animals. That which Judas spake
we may here repeat with propriety : " What need
of all this waste?"
"But what is meant by all this?" some may
inquire ; " will you condemn all hunting, &c., as
sinful and unlawful ?" I will tell you my opinion
respecting the question in a few words. Amongst
the creatures of God, since the fall of man, there
are some profitable and some noisome; and very
many of both kinds are at enmity amongst them
selves. There are not any of those which are
serviceable to man, but what groan under bondage.
This was not so from the beginning. Had it not
been for the sin of our first parents, there would not
have been any strife or variance in the brute crea
tion : the wolf would have dwelt with the lamb, and
the leopard have lain down with the Idd ; and the calf,
and the young lion, and the fatliug together ; and
a little child might have led them. From this we
may conclude, that, if the eagle fly after her prey.

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 25
the hound pursue the hare, and the hawk seize the
partridge in consequence of our sin, these things
cannot properly be delighted in. I therefore think
it unlawful to take pleasure in the pain and torture
inflicted by one brute upon another. God hath
given us hberty to take the lives of some of his
creatures, and the labor of others, for our use ; and
hath allowed us means, both natural and artificial,
to bring them to our hands ; so may we use, with
discretion "and moderation, the swiftness of the grey
hound to course the hare, the sight and flight of the
hawk to take the partridge, the scent and .sagacity of
the hound to hunt the deer, the nimbleness and sub
tlety of the tumbler to catch the coney ; yet we are
by no means to delight ourselves in the enmity of the
creatures, as I once observed a gentleman do, who,
being about to feed a hawk, took a live pigeon by
the wings, and with great violence rent them from
the body, and then plucked away the legs also, the
body of the poor creature trembhng in his hand,
while the hawk devoured the limbs, to the gentle
man's great satisfaction.
"Agood man is merciful to his beast," saith Solo
mon ; giving him a due allowance of pasture, fod
der, and provender, moderating his labor, and with
holding his hand from cruelly beating, spurring,
whipping and scourging him. The groans of the
horses used in hunting, racing, &c., should soften
the hearts of their foolish masters. If our enam.y's
2 .

26 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
ass lie under his burden, we are in duty bound to
relieve him : How much less ought we to lay intol
erable burdens upon our own beasts ! O that we
could learn to be raerciful as He is whose tender
mercies are over all his works ! — and that horse-
racers, rank -riders, and hot-spur hunters, would
moderate their pursuits after pleasure, in imitation
of the following example !
Mr. Bruen having spent sorae years of his life in
vain delights, as above related, lest he should trifle
away his time in carnal pleasures any longer, the
Lord awoke him to a sense of his error, and began
to prepare him for better employment.
In the year 1587 it pleased God to call for his
worthy father ; on which occasion, he, being much
perplexed, both in mind and estate, sorrow, fear and
care began to work within him ; and the Lord em
braced this opportunity for his effectual calling and
reformation. This he did by the rebukes of his
word and checks of his Spirit, convincing his judg
ment, and changing his mind from the love of base
things to a delight in those which are far better.
Now he began to search his heart and try his ways ;
and, calling himself to account for his former
courses, what he had felt in the pleasures of life he
measured by the line of the word, and weighed it
in the balances of the sanctuary ; and, behold, it all
proved vanity of vanities, and vexation of spirit.
Although the pangs of his copversjon, and the

LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 27
pains of his new birth, were not so violent as those
felt by Paul, Constantine, or Luther ; yet his expe
rience herein was not much unlike that ofthe pious
Austin, at the time of his conversion; who, being
weary of the ways of vanity, and grievously tired
with the weight of his sins, in a holy desire to cast
off the burden that pressed him down, and to shake
off the pleasing snares that entangled him, poured
out his very heart in prayers and tears before the
Lord, thus : " How long. Lord, wilt thou be angry ?
for ever ? Be not mindful of ray old sins. How
long ? how long ? To-morrow ! and to-morrow !
Why not to-day ? why is there not this hour an end
of my former filthiness?" Oh happy Austin! —
who wast thus humbled, that thou mightest be ex
alted.* I will not compare Mr. Bruen with St. Austin,
as to the measure of grace he possessed ; but with
respect to the manner, means, time, and truth of
his conversion, they may well go hand in hand.
Austin was about thirty-two years of age when
effectually converted; so was he. Austin had atthat
time raany combats between carnal reason and reli
gion, the flesh and the Spirit ; and so had he.
Austin had his heart full of prayers, and his eyes
*. . . .Wisdom smiles when humbled mortals weep,
When sorrow wounds the breast, as ploughs the glebe,
And hearts obdurate feel her soft' ning shower :
Her seed celestial, then, glad Wisdom sows.

28 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
full of tears, when he sought the Lord ; and so had
he. Austin held communion with God by collo
quies, soliloquies, holy and heavenly meditations ;
so did he. Austin, having once tasted the sweet
ness of the Lord, thought nothing so pleasant as to
forego his forraer vain dehghts, and esteemed it a
happiness to renounce those joys and toys which
before he was afraid of losing ; such was Mr. Bruen's
experience, when he had drunk more freely than
heretofore of the streams which flow from the Eiver
that maketh glad the city ofGod. Austin's conver
sion was very soon made a blessing to several of
his friends. Adz : Alipius, Nebridius, and Evodius,
who were likewise turned from darkness to hght ;
so was this gentleman's conversion attended with
the like unspeakable blessing on several of his
friends, viz : brothers, sisters, and neighbors.
Austin, after his conversion, sought and served the
Lord with great power and zeal, striving for the
truth of the Gospel ; so did he, according to his
situation, and the gifts and graces he possessed ;
and though in this respect he was much inferior to
Austin, yet was he superior to many of his rank. —
The truth of these- particulars will be seen in the
sequel. Some of the first, though not the fairest fruits of
his change, appeared when he fell heir to his father's
estate. He began to cast out all impediments which
might hinder, and to embrace all helps that might

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 29
farther him in running the race which the Lord had
set before him. The thoughts of two matters in
particular perplexed him, which were : 1. How
he might, with small beginning-s, provide fof his
family ; and, 2. How he should discharge the trust
reposed in him by his father, of paying the portions
of twelve children out of the produce of the lands.
In order to accomplish these things, he wisely
and conscientiously laid aside hawks and hounds,
and for ever cast off his wide-mouthed dogs ; and
further, having a goodly park at the back of his
house, well stored with fallow deer, he immediately
killed the game, and disparked the land, dra-n-ing
himself to a narrow compass, hving frugally and
contentedly, and yet very competently ; by which
means he provided sufficiently for his faniily, and
faithfully discharged the trust reposed in him,
paying his brethren and sisters their respective
portions. After the Lord had mercifully revealed himself
in his Son Christ unto him, causing the hght of his
countenance to shine upon his heart, he could not
rest till he had, with Obed-edom, brought the ark
of God into his house ; and this he did with much
comfort and rejoicing, raising an altar for the worship
of God in his family, and so making it a httle Bethel,
a house of God, a pledge of his presence, and a place
for his service. Though none of the neighbouring
gentlemen would join him, yet did he resolve with

30 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
Joshua, " I and ray house will serve the Lord."
With holy David, he " walked wisely in the midst
of his house," favouring the godly, but " not suffer
ing a wicked person to abide in his sight."
To be more particular: His principal care was
for his wife and cliildren ; that he might dwell with
her as a man of knowledge, and bring up them in
the nurture and information of the Lord; and
though he had sorae crosses, yet he had rauch
comfort in their well-doing.
Mrs. Bruen was well affected towards rehgion
before, and rauch exercised in the duties thereof ;
but now, by the instrumentality of her husband, she
was brought to a higher degree of knowledge and
grace, and became a helper in the best things,
drawing with him in the yoke of Christ, as a true
Christian, both as to doing and suffering the wiU. of
their heavenly Father.
A good example this for husbands ! — ^he not only
provides for his spouse temporal comforts and con
veniencies, but also those which are far more excel
lent. It is also worthy the imitation of such women
as would be found araong the number of good wives,
tractable to observe and obey their husbands, in the
Lord. ]
How miserable is the condition of those families
whose governors are unequfi,lly yoked, differing both
in opinion and affection touching religion, the
husband drawing one way, and the wife another !

LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 31
— Suppose the husband an Atheist, who calls not
upon God, returns no thanks at his table, nor reads
the sacred Scriptures ; the wife a blind Papist,
contenting herself with her beads and books in a
private chamber, so feeding and cherishing her
seduced heart and corrupted humour. Suppose the
husband a profane Esau, minding only earthly
things ; the wife a godly matron, with Martha's
care and Mary's choice. Suppose one of the parties
thinks very little too much in the service of God ;
the other, that all which can be done, in religious
duties of the faraily, is very insufSicient for testifying
his or her love to Alraighty God. Or suppose the
husband contents hiraself with a form of godliness,
putting a shag-haired serving-man to read a few cold
prayers, and a simple and silly child to say grace,
so slubbering over the morning and evening service
with as much content as though he had in his house
Micah's levite, or one of Jeroboam's priests, to assist
in worshipping the calf which is set up in the
family ; while the wife is very much censured, for
rejecting pharisaic formality, and desiring such a
powerful and effectual raeans of grace as raay be
instruraental in causing the whole household to
show forth the power and fruit of godliness in a
good conversation. — Alas ! what distractions and
contentions must needs be here ! — what disorders in
the government of such families ! The husband
and wife, although yoke-fellows, are yet unequally

32 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
yoked ; one draws forward, the other pulls back
ward ; one puts his shoulder to the burden, the
other withdraws, or stands in an open opposition
to the bearing of it ; or it may be one goes in the
broad way presumptuously, while the other travels
even in the same road devotionally.
The case was very different with Mr. Bruen's
family ; the governors whereof, being of one mind
and heart in the profession and practice of vital
godliness, were as lamps, shining forth in holy
example. They instructed their children in the principles of
religion by catechizing, and afterwards built them
up with such portions of Scripture as best suited
their ages, and might most easily make impres
sions of grace and truth on their hearts; and, as
a good father, who knew that sparing the rod
might spoil the child, Mr. Bruen seconded his
instructions with occasional corrections.
If at any time his heart were so over-heated,
by hatred of their sin, and zeal for the glory of
God, ~ as to speak unadvisedly, or deal too vio
lently with his hands, he was afterwards greatly
troubled and hurabled in his mind, to think that,
in going about to heal the souls of others, he had
wounded his own ; for which he could find no
better a remedy than to have recourse to his
heavenly Father by hearty prayer. As fruits of
his holy desires and endeavours touching this

LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 33
matter, he learnt to be more watchful over his
spirit and tongue on such occasions ; grew more
moderate in administering correction, keeping
within the bounds of prudence and compassion,;
and when his passions were very veheraent against
sin, he greatly asswaged the heat thereof by his love
and pity for the sinner. He lived to see those whom
he chastised effectually converted and reformed.
Having treated of the branches of his vine, I now
come to the plants of his vine-yard, namely, his
servants ; among whom there was not one idle or
unprofitable person.
His choice and ordering of them are worthy
coraraendation. When he heard of any who
began to set their faces towards Jerusalem, or
who had travelled many Sabbath-day journies
thitherwards already, his heart was presently towards
them ; and if he was in want of servants, he en
deavoured by fair means to draw such into his
employ, in preference to persons ofany other descrip
tion whatsoever ; so that in a short time he was
so well provided with honest, faithful, and godly
servants, both men and women, that, like Philemon,
he had a church in his own house.
A goodly family! — where parents and children,
governors and servants, are all either devoted to
God, or submissive to the duties of religion !
Those of his servants who were most pious, he
reckoned most faithful to himself ; and such he
2*

34 LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
esteemed as his fellow-servants under Jesus Christ.
He sometimes raade them his famihar companions,
counselling, conferring, consulting, and determining
with thera, in matters of conscience, and other impor
tant concerns ; and used them as his comforters in
affliction and temptation.
Among the rest, he had one servant of special
note, an old disciple, like Mnason, who was con
sidered as the father of his domestics. His name
was Eobert Pasfield ; but he was better known by
the appellation Old Robert.
This man was utterly unlearned, being unable to
read a sentence, or to write a syllable ; yet was he so
well taught of God, that by the Almighty's blessing
on his own industry, he grew in grace as he did in
years, and became ripe in understanding and mighty
in the Scriptures. He was so well acquainted with
the history of the Bible, and the contents of every
chapter thereof, that with very little ado he would
almost always tell an inquirer in what book and
chapter any particular sentence was to be found;
insorauch that he was a very profitable index to the
family, in reminding them of what they had heard,
but lost by slip of memory : he was also a godly in
structor and teacher of young professors, acquainting
them with the word, and exercising their hearts unto
godliness by the precepts and exaraples contained
therein ; which he frequently did, both at horae and
abroad, as opportunity served.

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 35
Now if that which I have heard be true, that a
good text-man is a good divine. Old Eobert was one,
in our country proceedings. He had a good gift in
prayer, was very wilhng as well as able to confer
upon good things, careful to hear the word preached,
and apt to refresh his own and others' memo
ries, by repetitions, and other means ; one of which
was a curious girdle, that he had contrived for the
purpose. Old Eobert's girdle being of a singular construc
tion, we shall give a particular description of it. It
was of leather, and long enough to encircle his body
twice : he divided it into several portions, as a car
penter's rule, allotting each book of the Bible to one
of those divisions ; as. Genesis to the first. Exodus
to the second, &c.— for distinguishing the chapters
of each book he annexed long points or thongs to
the respective divisions, on which he raade knots for
the chapters ; and he had other points or rushes, to
divide these again into their particular contents, or
verses, as occasion required.
This girdle he made use of for the same purpose
as some do their pen : which he did with so good an
effect, in observing the points of Scripture alledged
in any sermon, and binding them up in this extraor
dinary contrivance, that in handling tbe same
afterwards, and repeating what he had heard, he re
ceived great benefit himself, and administered much
comfort to others.

36 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
Such was Mr. Bruen's opinion of Old Eobert's
girdle, that he reserved it in his study, as a monu
raent of God's raercy, and his faithful old servant's
piety and industry.
This raan and his girdle will rise up in judgment
against many who have greater opportunities to
know the will of God, and to do it ; but yet are un
mindful of the things which raake for their peace,
and retain not in their memories, nor treasure up in
their hearts, the blessed truths which are set forth in
the preaching of the everlasting Gospel.
Old Eobert, though a mean servant, was highly
esteemed by his worthy master ; who would often
be in his company, frequently visiting him at the
hop-yard or threshing-floor, in order that they might
confer together, and that Mr. Bruen might take a
part in his labour.
Such is the nature of genuine humility and sin
cerity, that the master does not consider himself a
whit abased by stooping to the condition of his ser
vant ; nor is the servant a jot prouder, or raore pre
suming, for his master's kind dealing with him.
Mr. Bruen was very unlike too many, who think
they should lose much of their greatness, if they
were to speak kindly to, or talk familiarly with
their godly servants ; through which they are less
able to do good to others, and deprive themselves
of the opportunity of receiving benefit from
those who are desirous of rendering them essential

LIPE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 37
service. — It may not be amiss to remark, that there
was none of this stately stiffness between Abraham
and Eliezer, Moses and Joshua, Eli and Samuel,
Paul and his followers, Christ and his apostles : no ;
these served one another in love, seeking each
other's succour.
When nearly eighty years of age, having spent
about thirty of them in Mr. Bruen's service, Old
Eobert became unfit for country labour ; when his
^ood master did not cast him off, as some would have
done, hke a worn-out dog, but nourished and cher
ished him with some of the best morsels from his
own table, by his own hand, for many years ; per
mitting him to sit in the parlour, or in the buttery
not far from him, that even at meal- time they might
converse together. And thus he dealt with him,
in great love and corapassion, till the day of his
death. But leaving Old Eobert in rest and bliss with
God, we proceed to say something further concern
ing his master ; who, notwithstanding his great re
gard for this ancient professor, yet did he wisely
proportion his respect for the rest of his servants,
to their content and his own comfort. Some of the
most devout he made choice of to attend him, both
at home and abroad. These were more happy than
the others, as he was ever ready to impart to them
wholesorae admonitions and instruction, or to con
verse with them upon rehgious subjects, whilst they

38 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
served at table, or journeyed with him on the road.
He thought his table never better furnished than
when he had gracious and godly persons to sit with
and stand near him ; nor his meat better seasoned,
than when it was salted with such wholesome words
as might minister grace to the hearers.
How different from this is the conduct of those
whose heads are so shallow, that they cannot speak
of divine things ; their hearts so empty of grace
and goodness, that they can have no quiet in their
minds, if a good man be in their company ; and their
judgment so beclouded, as to imagine they cannot
be cheerful if God be retained in their thoughts !*
He was not forgetful concerning those of his
servants who were employed in husbandry, &c., pro
portioning their labor to their strength, their wages
to their labor, and always allowing them time to ac
complish the work they took in hand ; he hkewise
gave them such encouragement as might tend to
make them cheerful both in his own and God's
service. In his visiting of them, which was frequent, he
* Reader ! is this applicable to thee ? — if so, be assured that
thou art yet " in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity."
Eemember, the children of the Most High are in the possession
of that Which nothing earthly gives,
Or can destroy,
The soul 's calm sunshine, and
The HKARTFELI JOT.

ESQ. 39
sometimes took occasion to speak to them from the
nature of their callings, work, and wages; sometimes
frorathe creatures ofGod, their nature, end, and use ;
and sometimes from the seasons of the year — the
spring, seed-time, summer, harvest, winter, fair or
foul weather, and the like ; when he would refer
to those parts of Scripture which treated of these
things, for their further instruction and edification.
If their work was well done, he would commend
them ; if the contrary, he would admonish or re
prove them accordingly ; yet not with reviling
words, as ever I could hear ; but in such a manner
as became a holy man and a good master.
His servants usually exercised themselves in god
liness by mutual exhortations and admonitions,
praying together in their courses, in the evening,
for a blessing on their desires and labours ; which
they generally perforraed in the kitchen, after family
prayer in the parlor.
The master thus governing religiously, and the
servants thus obeying conscientiously, Mr. Bruen's
house became a common nursery for the churches
of God. Such of his servants as were inclinable
to marriage he provided well for, and sent thera
out in the fear of God, to establish divine worship
in their own houses ; and some who continued
unmarried he bestowed on other families, or suf
fered them to transplant themselves into those
houses where they raight join others of God's

40 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
servants in spreading abroad religion, and so en
larging the kingdom of Jesus Christ ; and he
supplied the places of these by taking such others
into his family as were fittest for being planted
or watered in that part of the Lord's vineyard.
Having shown how he ordered his family, as
to the discharge of religious duties, we are further
to observe his course and caniage in those ex
ercises of religion which he every moming and
evening performed with them, to their mutual
comfort and the glory of God. He well knew
that family duties were as goads and spurs in
the sides of godliness ; hke coals taken from
the altar, whereby iniquity is purged, and the
hearts of men are inflamed with holy affection
towards God and good things ; or hke the buckling
on of the whole armour of God, that so being
furnished with offensive and defensive weapons,
the Christian soldier may stand in the evil day, and
go through the duties of life with comfort and
satisfaction. From these and the like serious considerations,
he exercised himself and his family in the following
manner :
Eising early in the morning (between three
and four in the summer, and about five in the
winter ) he devoted an hour or two to private
prayer, praise, and meditation, before he Tang
the bell to awake the rest of the faraily ; en-

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 41
deavouring so to set the watch in the morning,
that it might go well all the day ; he likewise
usually embraced these opportunities to write
fair some part of such sermons as in a running
hand he had taken from the mouth of the
preacher, for renewing and increasing the benefit
and comfort he had already received by the same.
When the family were come together, on thc
ring of the bell, they all very reverently com
posed themselves to stand in the presence of
Alraighty God ; and then, lifting up his heart
with his hands to God in the heavens, he
began thus :

^1

Blessed Lord God, and our most merciful Father in Christ
Jesus, we thy poor children do humbly beseech thee graciously
to assist us by thy Holy Spirit in this our mormng exercise, that
we may faithfolly perform the same, to thy praise and our com
fort ; and that for Christ his sake, our only Saviour and
Eedeemer. Amen.
This short prayer I do the raore willingly insert,
that they may see their error, who hold him to have
been an enemy to all set forms of prayer ; which
mistake of theirs may be more clearly seen, by ob
serving his ordinary practice on the Lord's day in
the public assembly, where he with reverence ac
commodated himself to the prayers of the church.
For my part, I shall never blame a man for seek
ing to help his understanding, raemory, and affec
tions, by forms ; but if he rest in his book-prayers.

42 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
and never strive to speak to God out of his own
heart, by the Holy Ghost, whioh teacheth to say,
"Abba, Father," he is not much unlike one irapo
tent and weak, who, though he have means of re
covery tendered him, would rather use a pair of
crutches, borrowed of his neighbour, than betake
himself to his own legs and feet.
To proceed : After this prayer, he called on the
family to sing such of the psalms as he pointed out,
with grace in their hearts, to the Lord; which they
performed with such raelodious voices and sweet af
fections (himself beginning the tune) as if they
wished to sound forth the praises of God, not with
David's harp merely, but with David's heart also.
With this exercise he was much delighted; and not
unfrequently his spirit was so ravished therein, that
his heart would leap within his body, as John Bap
tist did in his mother's womb: yea, he was so great
ly affected in the act of praising God, that he chose
the word HaUelujah for his poesy, and usually
wrote it in the first leaf of all his books.
When the psalm was ended, he read a chapter in
the Bible, keeping a regular course in his reading,
to make his faraily acquainted with the order and
matter of the Scriptures, and to season their hearfs
with some portion of God's word in the morning,
as a preservative against all unsavory thoughts,
noisome lusts, rotten speeches, and ungodly works,
during the day.

LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 43
And now, because he knew all planting and water
ing were in vain, unless God gave the blessing of
increase, and that the prayer of faith availeth much
to that end, he and his family, bowing the knees of
their hearts as well as those of their bodies, before
the throne of grace, commended themselves to God
in humble and hearty prayer, making their requests
known to him in all manner of supplications, with
thanksgivings ; which Mr. Bruen usually performed
with such power and feeling, fervency and sincerity,
faith and humility (as the Spirit of grace gave hira
understanding and utterance, and as their several
necessities required), that he was often much ad
mired of those who heard him ; and by his holy pe
titions and gracious affections, he greatly refreshed
the hearts and cheered the spirits of his friends and
neighbours who joined with him. He would so
wrestle with God, by prayers and tears, Jacob like,
as to prev.ail with his heavenly Friend for the bles
sings he wanted. The fruits of these his holy desires
and endeavours were so reraarkable in his own fam
ily, that, whether he prayed against sins or sorrows,
or sought unto God for grace and good things, sel
dora did they meet again to worship, but they had
some fresh cause of praise and thanksgiving to Him
who is far more ready to hear than mortals are to
pray. He not only wisely considered what to ask
in prayer, but carefully observed how he sped after
wards ; like David, he made his requests known,

44 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
and then patiently waited, to see what success he
should have ; being thereby enabled to approach
the Divine Being with renewed vigour the next
opportunity. Thus did Mr. Bruen ordinarily exercise himself
and his family every morning ; and after their eve
ning repast he called thera to the like service and
sacrifice, which was performed much in the same
manner, saving that he then took more pains with
them, having more liberty and a better opportunity ;
for in the evening he generally instructed his femily
from a portion which he took in the chapter then
read, propoundiAg and applying some wholesome
doctrine ; it being his delight to edify his family in
faith and love, and to train them up in the know
ledge and fear of God, so acquainting them with
their duties towards him and their fellow-creatures,
that, living soberly, righteously, and godly, in the
world, they might beautify their profession, and
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
These his godly pains and practices, as a pastor
in his house, were greatly maligned, reproached, op
posed, and questioned, not only by the vulgar sort,
but even by some of our masters in Israel ; whose
negligence was reproved by his diligence, their pro
faneness checked by his holiness, the government of
their families obscured and blemished by the beau
tiful order observed in his, which was as far
advanced above some of theirs, as Bethel was above

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 45
Bethaven, Sion above Shilo, or the temple of God
above the temple of idols.
When he observed, and wisely considered, the
malignity and enmity of worldly persons against
godly duties, in order to justify his course, and stop
the mouths of these gainsayers, he fortified himself,
both as to judgment and practice, by painfully
collecting observations on the Scriptures, together
with the expositions, testimonies and examples
of good men, who were witnesses to the truth of
God, and favourable to the doctrines ofour Church.
I have read what he thus collected, in his
own hand-writing, which I not only approve of,
but like well ; the publishing of which, how
ever, in the body of this work, would not be
altogether pertinent.
The Lord having warmed the heart and house of
Mr. Bruen with the love of the. truth, there arose
out of this heat such a flame of holy zeal against
lying vanities, and for promoting the true worship
and glory of God, that, finding in his own cha
pel, being a part of Tarvin churc]^ many super
stitious images, and idolatrous pictures painted
on the windows, insomuch that scarce the breadth of
a groat of white glass could be seen, he war
rantably and peaceably took down the same,
and reglazed the windows witb white and bright
glass, at his own cost; well knowing, that these
painted puppets and dumb images obscured the

46 LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
light of the Gospel, as well as darkened the
church, however they might be considered by some
as Laymen's books. Being encouraged herein,
not only by the word of God, but by the in
junctions of the Queen (Elizabeth) and by a
commission sent down to the Earl of Derby,
the then Mayor of Chester, he proceeded from
the chapel to the rest of the church, and defaced
every image which he deemed dangerous or offensive
in any part thereof
He felt such enlargement of heart towards
God and his people, that he was not only careful
to abolish all provocations to idolatry and false
worship, but it was the very joy ofhis soul to bring
into the public assembly ( which he did almost every
Lord's day ) such godly and able rainisters as fed the
people with knowledge and understanding, such as
sowed the seeds of grace and truth among them ;
arabassadors of peace, who preached to sinners the
glad tidings of the Gospel by the word of reconcih
ation, beseeching thera, in Christ's stead, to be recon
ciled to God ; Aeralds at arms, lifting up their voices
as trumpets, to tell the house of Israel their trans
gression, and the house of Judah their sins, and de
claring God's righteous judgments against the same.
This he likewise did at his own cost, with a cheerful
and glad heart, honouring God with his substance, in
thus maintaining the Lord's harvest-raen.
In these his noble proceedings Mr Bruen was un-

ESQ. 47
daunted, though his care, cost, and labour of love,
were slighted by many, little regarded by the vulgar,
greatly opposed by the popish and profane, and too
much undervalued by all ; neither raocks, threats,
nor slanders, could divert him from his way, nor
cause the work of the Lord to cease in his hands ;
so the word of God grew mightily and prevailed ;
and, to use his own words, " Eeligion began to enter,
maugre the devil and his partakers ; for I was much
opposed." Eeader, contrast the example of this great man
with those of too many gentlemen ofthe present day.
He compassionately and liberally provided spiritual
food for a thoughtless multitude^Vho were willingly
wandering in the^wildernessjsf sin, as sheep without
a shepherd ; he rejoiced exceedingly to forward the
work of the Lord, and went on in his ways with
courage, constancy, and uprightness; while others,
rich in worldly goods, are yet poor, very poor, in
good works; and would rather lay out a hundred
pounds in decorating their own houses, than bestow
so many pence towards building the walls of Jeru
salem. He herein differed very much frora many,
that are entrusted with lands and livings, for main
taining the ministry, and so providing spiritual things
for the people ; but who, on the contrary, turn their
patronage into pillage, and their devotion into sacri
lege, cutting short the minister of his due, and the
people of their ;?)od

48 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
About the year ,1590, Mr. Bruen provided the
public congregation with a worthy preacher, who,
though he appeared to be rauch admired by thera
for his gifts, was hardly thanked for his pains ; inso
rauch that the minister grew unwilling to bestow
his labours among them any longer; on which _ Mr.
Bruen in policy withdrew him to his own housCj in
order to make thera raore sensible of his value. He
on this occasion erected a pulpit in a chapel which
he had at his house, and for a season maintained the
preacher there.
This no doubt was much to his cost as well as to
his comfort ; for, though some would come to the
chapel with good minds, to have their souls fed with
the bread of life ; yet others would be as ready to
press into the hall, to fill their bellies.
But he could not long confine the word to his own
family ; coraraon necessity, and the importunity of
some Christian friends, prevailed on him to give up
the preacher to the public assembly again : however,
he both raaintained hira, and others his successors,
till the death of the incumbent ; when God estab
lished a faithful preacher among thera.
The rainister flrst above mentioned being invited
to a wedding at the Peile, he preached in the parlour
there, and was greatly admired of his hearers.
" Then it was objected against me," says Mr. Bruen,
" that I had committed a great sin, in keeping such
a worthy preacher from the great congregation : to

LIPE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 49
which I answered, that none requested it, nor gave
him thanks when I brought him ; therefore he was
unwilling to come amongst them. But I was glad
to bring the word of God again unto them ; and it
has continued till now that God hath planted Mr.
Clark araongst us."
It raay not be impertirent here to produce the
testimony of the Eev. Mr. Cl.irk in favor of Mr.
Bruen : says he, " Mr. Bruen was the chief instru
ment in planting and establishing l';e Gospel in this
congregation : first, by providing di^-crs of God's
ministers to preach here often, when the incumbent
was grown old and decrepid ; afterwards by main
taining a preacher at his own cost ; and, lastly, by
being the raeans of obtaining the place for me in re
version, allowing me the greatest part of my main
tenance. So that this parish hath cause for ever to
acknowledge him a nursing father ofreligion amongst
thera, and a blessed instrument in bringing in the
light of the Gospel, when the people sat in darkness
and the shadow of death."
Being much stirred in his spirit against the vain
arauseraents called wakes, and vigils, practised and
kept in honor of certain popish saints, with riot and
excess in eating and drinking, dancing, gaming, &c.,
Mr. Bruen, in order to put a stop to such vanities,
in Tarvin, set up the arh of Ood, with great pomp
and power, when the people were engaged in these
matters ; whereby their Dagon was finally brake intq
3

50 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
pieces. " Against St. Andrew's day," saith he,
" (which is the time of Tarvin wake) and the week
following, I observed, for several years together, to
invite two or three of the best affected preachers in
the diocese, who spent the greatest part of three days
in preaching and praying in the church ; insomuch
that the pipers and fiddlers, bear- wards, players, and
gamesters, had no time left for their vanities, but
went away with great fretting ; and yet multitudes
of well affected people filled the town and church,
and that with much rejoicing, blessed be God."*
At these times he h^ a beef and a half made
use of in his house, in refreshing the bodies of reli
gious persons. — So great was his love to God and
his saints that, in comparison therewith, all other
things were esteemed as loss, and dross, and dung.
— How truly might he say, with David, " Away
from me, all ye workers of iniquity ; I will keep the
commandments of ray God. I hate all vain inven
tions ; but thy law do I love. All my delight is in
the saints, and in such as excel in virtue. I was
glad when they said unto me. Let us go up into the
house ofthe Lord ; our feet shall stand in thy gates,
0 Jerusalera !"
As to Tarvin wake, Mr. Bruen imitated the ex
ample ofour Lord, who at the feast of the dedication
took occasion to preach the Gospel of the kingdom
* It is remarkable, that there has not been a wake held at
Tarvin, from the time here alluded to, to the prjesent period ; 1799.

LIPE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 51
to such as were collected together to revel in carnal
delights. I mention these things, both for the commendation
of this worthy gentleman, and for the provoca
tion of other persons of rank to do all they can to
suppress wakes, and other festivals of this kind, the
celebration of which is so far from having the war
rant of God's word, that, on the contrary, they are
themselves the bastard brood of the man of sin.
Without doubt, such service, in commemoration of
departed saints, is no other than idolatry, hateful to
God, and hurtful to men. Indeed, the naraes of
sorne^tzmfe haye^een jnserted jii^ p^^pish calendars
for celebration, who either never Jiad any existenee"
at all,, as St. Cliristopher, St. George, St. Catharine,
&c., or who would have fared better had they never
had any, as Boniface the idol saint of Banbury, or
Dominic the bloody persecutor of the flock of Christ ;
or such as were not much better for their conversa
tion than beasts, as Medardus, and Lubinus, who
are adored as saints in these festivals and wakes,
though 'tis to be feared their souls are frying in hell.
Having thus planted and watered his own family,
and so well provided for the public assembly, Mr.
Bruen was greatly admired for his sincerity as well
as for his fervency in the profession of religion.
HLs name, being perfumed with a great variety of
graces, sent forth a most fragrant smell and savour
into all the farailies of the country round about ;

52 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
SO that several gentlemen of rank became desirous
of sojourning under his roof, for their better infor
mation in the way of God, and the more effectual
reclaiming of themselves and their families.
That worthy Knight, Sir Eichard Grosvenor,
Bart., when young, was by his parents placed in
this family ; in which he abode three years, and was
trained and nurtured in the knowledge and fear of
God. — The seeds then sown in his heart are now
bringing forth fruit, both in his person and calling ;
of which we have seen a fair increase already.
About the same time also came Mr. Hardware, of
the Peile, with all his family, and dwelt under this
blessed roof.
At first he could not bear wholesorae reproof ( in
which Mr. Bruen was very full and free ) any more
than sore eyes can endure the sun ; which this faith
ful servant ofthe Lord observing, and knowing that
the patient must be very sick who is impatient of
the means which might effect his cure, he cast about
how he might deal with him so as to be of use :
how he succeeded herein, let his own words de
clare :
" I remeraber my brother Hardware, Avhen he
was a tabler with us, at first would not be reproved ;
but after a while, having the 141st Psalm for our
evening exercise, divers of our family, who usually
gave notes on the Scripture, concluded that each
should speak of the 5th verse, ' Let the righteous

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 58
reprove me,' &c. I spoke last. After this time he
never resisted any raore."
He afterwards gave a better testimony concerning
Mr. Hardware and his family, under his own hand ;
" It pleased God," saith he, " so to work upon his
and their minds, that they went home with new
hearts, converted to God, and professed religion in
holy sincerity till their death. My brother, the first
evening he came home to the Peile, set up rehgion
in his faniily with great power and corafort ; singing
psalras, reading the Scriptures, praying, and cate
chizing ; which being ended, his wife ran to him and
kissed him, saying, ' O husband ! I thank God, and
bless his name, that ever you came to Stapleford !'
Afterwards being Mayor of Chester, he that year
shewed his religion very graciously in- his govern
ment. All praise to God."
Thus he took into his house sorae out of other
families, that were as rough stones from a quarry ;
whom he, by God's blessing, squared, sraoothed, and
polished, for the building of the Lord's teraple.
Mr. Bruen was not only studious to improve him
self and others in religion at home ; but he was wont
to frequent certain religious assemblies, both in
Cheshire and Lancashire, which were held monthly
for holy exercises ; on which occasions he sometiraes
had to take long and sore journies, with much toil
and cost, that he might be present where he knew
manna would be rained down from Heaven, where

54 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
he might glean after the Lord's reapers, and where
he might buy gold and white raiment, wine and
milk, without money, and without price.
At these tiraes he usually took down in writing
the substance of such notes, observations, and ser
mons, as he heard ; which he would repeat to such
rehgious persons as accompanied him in his journies,
for their spiritual refreshment. These things, when
come home, he wrote out fairly, for the use of him
self, his friends, and posterity.*
He continued the practice of writing and copying
what he heard of sermons, lectures, &c. about thirty-
six years, leaving behind him an incredible number
of manuscript volumes, which he carefully com
mended to the heirs of his body, requesting that the
same might be read by them at least once in their
lives respectively.
His kindness to God's ministers, at the above
meetings, was wonderful ; rejoicing with them, often
defraying their charges, encouraging, comforting,
counselling, admonishing, gently reproving, and
sometimes inviting them to his house.
How well would it be if gentlemen, and others of
inferior rank, in imitation of this worthy pattern,
would for holy ahd happy religious duties exchange
their vain and profane exercises of May-games and
sumraer-greens, foot and horse races, weekly and
alraost daily meetings and matches on the bowling
•Harleian MSS. Number 2006.

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 55
green, lavish betting of great wagers in such sorry
trifles, and the stout and strong abetting of such silly
vanities, amongst* hundreds, and sometimes thou
sands of rude and vile persons, to whom they should
give better examples, than encourage them to neg
lect their business, waste their substance, brawl and
quarrel, curse and swear!— 0. how great is the dif
ference between the holy exercises of religion, in
God's house, and these profane exercises of lust, in
the forest or field !
In the midst of the sweet comforts which he ex
perienced in the public and private exercise of reli
gion, the Lord was pleased to visit this his servant
with a grievous aifliction, by cutting off with a stroke
the desire of his eyes, his dear and faithful wife;
who, although well in the morning, was taken ill at
supper, and departed this life the same evening.
Though sudden death has frequently been a sign
of God's displeasure, as in the cases of Onan, Nadab
and Abihu, Corah, Dathan and Abiram ; yet it has
not always been a token of God's disapprobation :
for instance, good Joshua was slain by an arrow,
Eachael died on a journey, and Phineas's wife ex
pired suddenly on hearing that the ark of God was
taken. Hence let no one rashly judge, that, because
the messenger which fetched her home was hasty,
therefore Mrs. Bruen was not a gracious and holy
woman. This was a severe trial to Mr. Bruen; yet the

56 LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
Lord so sanctified the affliction, that, by the power
of divine grace, he moderated his grief in such a
manner as not to weep like a man without hope,
though he mourned for her death, as truly sensible
of his loss.
After a while, finding it necessary again to marry,
he sought another help-meet from the Lord by prayer.
God in his providence granted his request, in the
following manner :
Being at Manchester, on account of a rehgious
meeting held there, he cast his eye on a very amia
ble and beautiful young gentlewoman, who dili
gently frequented that assembly ; on the beholding
of whom, he confesseth that this thought arose in
his heart : " Lo ! this is the woman that the Lord
hath provided for me."
In order that he might not, however, please his
eye and affections merely, he acquainted one of his
most trusty servants with the matter, and desired he
would raake inquiry concerning the person in ques
tion. The man, being a native of the country, was
the better able to accomplish his master's wish ; and
he so furnished himself with information concerning
her, as to give an account to this effect, naraely, that
her name was Mrs. Ann Fox, sister to Mr. Fox of
the Ehodes, four or five miles from Manchester ;
that she was well descended both by father and
mother ; her father having filled the place of comp
troller to the Earl of Derby, when arabassador from

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 57
the Queen in France, and her raother being a godly
matron, a descendant of the ancient and respectable
farailies of the Addertons and the Lelands, of Lan-
caphire ; and that she herself was a virtuous and
gracious young woman, well esteemed in the church
ofGod. On this intelligence, Mr. Bruen embraced the first
opportunity to propose to her mother and friends a
marriage between him and Mrs. Ann Fox ; which
being approved by them, he became her suitor ; and
by his gracious discourse and godly carriage pre
vailing, they were happily united in holy matrimony.
The first year of his second marriage, Mr. and
Mrs. Bruen abode in her mother's house ; where he
and old Mr. Langley, a godly minister of Christ,
were so eminently useful, that frequently after, and
even at his death, he was enraptured with joy and
thanksgiving at the thoughts of the same.
He left the following testimony concerning the
goodness of God manifested at this time :
" My mother-in-law giving me table for a year,
we set up the exercise of religion in the house ; in
the course of which time, I trust, she got saving
grace; as well as my sister-in-law (now Mrs. Hinde)
another half-sister of hers, their brothers Wilham
and Thoraas Fox, a servant or two, and sorae neigh.
bours who joined with us in the evenings. Blessed
be God, who is pleased by weak raeans to express
his great power and mercy towards us !"
3*

58 LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
Atthe expiration ofthe year, he brought his wife
to Stapleford ; where they enjoyed each other's cora
pany in great peace and love, and established thera
selves in the usual exercise of religious and do
mestic duties.
In the course of some time, several gentlemen of
rank applied to hira, some for theraselves, some for
their children, and others for their friends, to
sojourn in his house, as was the case before ; his
habitation being still more famous than ever, as a
school of true religion, a nursery for the plants
of grace, a vineyard for trees of righteousnes and
fruits of holiness.
Among the rest was that worthily honored' and
accomplished gentleman, Thomas Wilbraham, of
Woodhey, Esq., the beauty and glory of that house,
and a peerless pillar of the country ; who, having
raarried his eldest daughter to Mr. John Done, heir
of the house of Utkinton (a young gentleman of
high birth and good parts, but much addicted to
the pleasures of the world and youthful lusts)
became very desirous that the young couple should
dwell in Mr. Bruen's house for a season, that they
might be more out of the way of evil, and obtain
some religious instruction. The proposal was ac
cepted, and they were taken into his house, with
their attendants.
Mr. Done could not well away with a strict observ
ance of the Lord's day ; on which Mr. Bruen, and

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 59
ten others ofhis family, conspired together to do him
good, speaking one after another on sanctifying the
sabbath ; after which he cheerfully comphed.
At another time, Mr. Bruen coming into this gen
tleman's chamber he found over the mantle-tree a
deck of new cards ; from which he took the four
knaves, and burnt them ; and he never knew hini
to play cards in the house afterwards. „
This last circumstance brought to Mr. Bruen's
recollection, that, about twenty years before, being
in one of his studies, he saw a pair of tables under
his feet; -which he took up, with the thirty men,
and all the dice and cards he could find, and put
them into a burning oven, that was then heating to
bake pies ; so great was his aversion against gaming.
This he did, no doubt, not to honor them as mar
tyrs, but to punish them as raalefactors ; for I find,
by sonie of his collections, that he held tables, cards,
and dice, to be very gross offenders, and such as
could not have their faults purged away but by
fire. Herein he agreed with several of the ancient
fathers, and others who have written on the sub
ject: as, Tertullian, who sraote them with a rod of
rebuke in general terms; Cyprian, who struck them
through as with the blow of a scorpion, writing a
whole book against them in particular ; Austin and
Jerome, who did not spare them as they came in

60 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
their way; Chrysostom, who cut and hewed them
to pieces, with other heathenish games, as Samuel
did Agag, and ground them to powder, as Moses
did the golden calf; Ambrose and Hilary, who
advised Christians to turn away their eyes from
beholding such worldly and ungodly vanities ; Gre
gory Nazianzen, who sharply rebuked such as
would seem to celebrate the feast of Christ's nativ
ity, and the feast of Pentecost, with the like heathen
ish customs, sports, and games; together with Lac
tantius, Arnobius, Bernard, Basil, Bede, Cassidore,
Isidore, Furgentius, Salvianus, CyrU, and-Oecume-
nius ; which last mentioned farther took occasion to
reprobate dicing in particular, from the word that
the Apostle useth against crafty and deceitful teach
ing \]cubeid\ which he says is taken frora the play at
dice, the property whereof is, by casting and hurl
ing here and there, to deceive by false dealing.
We shall conclude this point with a few observa
tions which Mr. Bruen collected, to strengthen his
judgment, and justify his detestation of these games :
"1. All games depending upon hazard or chance
(as many call it) are to be eschewed.
"2. The prince of devils first invented the same,
and the place was hell.
"3. Such gamesters were accounted infamous
persons, incapable of holding any office, and unwor
thy any benefit of law.

LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 61
"4. Dicers, harlots, and thieves, are of one cor
poration; and the more cunning in this art, the
more wicked in their lives and manners.
"5. All gain by gaming is plain thievery, worse
than usury.
"6. All play at dice is plain lottery, which to
use idly or triflingly is a sin against the third and
ninth coramandments.
"7. There is no recreation of body or mind in
these games, unless it be in the desire and hope of
gain by another man's loss, which is unlawful.
"8. Cards and tables seem to be less evils; but
neither of them banel better herrings ; there is such
and so much craft in pricking, packing, &c.
" 9. These are mixt games, consisting partly of
lottery, partly of wit and industry, and oftentimes
raaintained with tricks of cozenage and knavery.
" 10. The coat cards were in tinies past the images
of their idols.
" 11. We must abstain from such games, because,
1. They ' never have been, nor yet are, of good
report in the church; 2. In them there is great
appearance of evil ; 3. The comraand of the chief
magistrate forbiddeth thera, as unlawful games;
4. They do not tend to God's glory ; 5. They ars
causes of much hurt to our neighbour, and occasions
of many sins and sorrows to the gamester himself,
as well as to his faniily ; for thus many bring a cas
tle into a cap-case, a lordship into a cottage, a fee

62 LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
simple into a fee single, an estate of abundance and
superfluity to an estate of beggary and misery."
In order to prevent the mischiefs consequent on
making use of these things (which were by him
held in abhorrence) and to exercise the minds of his
faraily and others unto godhness, he had two goodly
Bibles, each placed on a desk in the parlour and
hall, a large one in the forraer place, and a smaller
one in the latter. A good method this, to cut off all
occasions of evil, and open a way to better things !
However, Mr. Bruen entertained a good hope
concerning Mr. Done, as well as his spouse ; behev
ing that she obtained saving grace, and expecting
the stamp of God's grace upon him, he being con
vinced in judgment. — His eldest son, four daughters,
and a daughter-in-law, also became pious. Mr.
Done was afterwards knighted.
There again happening a defect in the public
ministry at Tarvin, Mr. Bruen procured for the
great congregation that faithful servant of Christ,
Mr. Ar. St. (a preacher in whose ministry he
delighted) and maintained him and his family.
The following is the testimony of Mr. Ar. St. in
behalf of Mr. Bruen : " Good Mr. Hinde, I received
your letter; but I know not what to say of that
worthy servant of God, Mr. John Bruen, which you
do not know already. I think I may well say of
him, as it was said of Noah, that he was a just and
perfect man in his time, and walked with God.

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 63
Whilst I was preacher at Tarvin, I had little raain
tenance but what I had from him: and with much
cheerfulness did he minister both to rae and mine
that which was sufflcient, affirming oftentimes, that
he had not the less for that which we received from
him. For other matters, I know not what to say
of him, that you yourself know not as well or better
than I: for he was ever one and the same, at home
and abroad ; very faithful unto God, and loving unto
men ; walking in the uprightness of his heart in the
midst of his house. I am glad that God has put it into
your heart to write soraething of his life and death,
that the raeraorial of his virtues may be the better con
tinued, and the church of God receive good thereby."
The above is given by his own preacher, a faith
ful eye and ear witness of the truth thereof.
About this time, Mr. Perkins, that worthy man
of God, hearing much of Mr. Bruen and his house,
by credible witnesses, exclaimed, "Certainly this
is no other than the house of God, and for the prac
tice and power of religion, the very top-sail of all
England!" It pleased the Lord daily to crown this gentleman
and his house with honour, favour, beauty, and glory ¦
insomuch that his dwelling becarae not much unlike
a goodly tower built on a hill, which doth allure
and invite the doves of the valleys to take refresh
ment and repose : the nuraber of those of high rank
who wished access to him still increasing, who they

64 LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
were, and with what success they abode at his house,
let himself declare :
"Afterwards many more desired to table with
me: Lady Egerton, widow, daughter-in-law of the
Lord Chancellor, then being with her company;
and my cousin, Thomas Dutton, of Dutton, with his
wife, son, and daughter (now Lady Gerard) being
ten of faraily; four gentlewomen of Hatton, sisters
and a maid servant who attended them, called, 1
think, Mary Sherrington.
" God in his mercy began first with the last men
tioned female ; who, though she was at first froward
against religious duties, yet afterwards, being griev
ously afflicted in conscience, and soundly humbled,
had a most corafortable conversion, blessed be God.
"Two of the sisters had a more easy conversion;
and the other two, being honest, modest maids, were
convinced. " My cousin Dutton being pressed and charged by
some of great place to maintain his royalty of
minstrelsy for piping and dancing on the Sabbath
day, I and my family, together with my minister,
Mr. Eobert Watts (a reverend, worthy man of God,
whom we called Old Eli) were earnest against it,
and prevailed so far, that he promised all piping
and dancing on the Sabbath should cease, both
morning and afternoon: so his licenses were made,
and so they continue to this day. And we had
great peace and comfort together, blessed be God."

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 65
Now as it sometimes cometh to pass, that in a fair
calm there ariseth a sudden and violent storm, that
scattereth vessels which have for a long time rode
quietly in the harbour ; so did it please the Lord to
send another tempest of grief among the sweet en
joyments of this happy family, by taking to him
self ,Mr. Bruen's second wife ; in consequence of
which the whole company was dispersed not long
after. She had lived with him ten years, much beloved
and respected by those who had the happiness of
being acquainted with her, and bore nine children.
" Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her price
is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth
safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of
spoil. She win do him good, and not evil, all the
days of her life. She openeth her mouth with wis
dom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She
looketh well to the ways of her household, and
eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise
up and call her blessed ; her husband also, and he
praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously ;
but thou excellest them all." Prov. xxxi. 10-12,
26-29. Without fraud or flattery, it may be said, in a
good measure, such a woman, such a wife, such a
mother, such a governess, was this gentlewoman in
her family. She was also in herself of a gracious
and amiable disposition, having an humble heart.

66 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
and holy affections, beautified and adorned with
that ornament of the hidden man of the heart, a
meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is
of great price. Eipe in knowledge and rich in grace,
full of faith and good works, she held communion
with God and tbe godly, in all the duties of piety
and charity ; and so continuing faithful unto death,
she obtained what she desired and expected, ihe
crown oflife.
What were the heavy consequences of this afflic
tion, Mr. Bruen himself has set down in a pathetical
manner :
" When it pleased God to take away my wife,
then all raourned for the loss ; as also for that my
tablers must now part, being about twenty-one in
number, my son John and his being then with me.
But on requesting it, they thankfully continued with
me another quarter; in which time we had much
comfort together, but often mourned to think of the
quarter's end. — The last day sitting at dinner to
gether, we were all so ftdl of heaviness, that in effect
no meat was eaten. I was forced to hide myself,
being unable to take leave of them, all being so fuU
of grief"
When David and Jonathan were parting, they
kissed each other, and wept till the former exceeded.
The case was not very different here ; when the
company were about to be separated, they kissed,
and wept one with another, till Mr. Bruen exceeded.

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 67
He now began to frame his affections for a single
life, and to draw his family into a narrower compass,
resolving to live more privately, at least for a season,
for the sake of his relatives.
After this he continued unmanied about five
years and a half; two of which were spent in his
own house ; durhig which time a godly friend came
to see him, and inquiring as to his estate, he told hira
he owed about one hundred pounds, had four daugh
ters, and several sons; on which he advised Mr.
Bruen to leave his house for a while, and go to
Chester ; at which place Mr. Bifield * was then a
pious and powerful preacher of the everlasting
Gospel. He went thither, where he continued three
years, having the company of Mr. and Mrs. Bifield
to dinner every lecture-day, namely, Wednesdays
and Fridays.
During his residence at Chester, God stirred up
the hearts of many neighbours to join with hira in
evening prayer, and some attended at' moming
prayer also. — His sister Hardware, then a widow,
had a convenient way through her garden, and con
stantly attended with her family, frequently ac
companied by several of her many friends and
neighbours. These meetings did not escape the tongue of slan
der, being traduced by some, and excepted against
by others ; but the nature of them being better
• Neal's Puritans, vol. 1, p. 273.

68 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
known, they were canied on free from censure;
and the Almighty blessed them to the conviction
and conversion of sinners, and to the confirmation
of saints
While at this place, he paid all his debt, gave two
ofhis daughters in marriage, preferred one or two of
his sons, and maintained the poor 9f his own parish
in the country, allowing all the produce of his two
mills in Stapleford for that purpose. Besides this,
he was not slack in relieving those who craved alms
at his gates.
Leaving Chester, he' returned to his house at
Stapleford. — He married again, taking to wife Mar
garet, by whora he had one daughter, and a son.
It is observable, that, notwithstanding the Lord
was pleased several times to exchange Mr. Bruen's
comforts for crosses, yet himself was never changed,
nor moved from his stedfastness. In all his afihc
tions he was willing to be humbled, but would not
be dejected or discouraged ; having learnt, in what
ever state he was, therewith to be content. — Wher
ever he was, his desires and endeavours were bent to
do good. Wherever he went, whatsoever he did,
the presence of the Lord Jesus was with him, and
his good hand was upon him, to prosper him in all
his ways, and to strengthen his hand and heart in
well-doing. — In every place he became a nursing
father to the children of God, as well babes as young
men in Christ. — Notwithstanding his great expenses.

ESQ. 69
both at Chester and in the country, in maintaining
the poor, and entertaining the godly, his estate was
not impaired, but increased, the Lord enlarging his
substance, as it is written, " Godliness is profitable for
all things, having the promise both of this life, and
of that which is to come." — For all the blessings and
comforts, whether corporeal or spiritual, whether
received by himself, or conferred on others through
him as a means, his heart (tasting and relishing the
love of God therein) was marvelously enlarged in
rendering thanks to his holy name, even for the
least of his mercies.

Thus far has Mr. Bruen assisted us to spin out his
Life with his own fingers ; but as the curious work
manship of a cloth of arras is but little seen while
in the loom, or folded up, the beauty thereof, the
knots and flowers, the pomegranates and lilies, the
portraits of princes and great personages, being un
discernible ; so the history of this gentleman's
Life, thus woven and wrapped up together, though
it contains many excellent things, cannot fully dis
play the glory of his gifts and graces, duties and
services; it will therefore be necessary to take a
more particular view of some special passages of his
life ; which, for a raore orderly proceeding therein,
may be reduced to three general heads, namely :

70 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
I. His conversing with Qod ;
II. His conversation in the world ; and,
in. His departure out of the world.
I. His conversing with God.
When the Lord called Mr. Bruen out to work in
raising up a spiritual temple, as well in hiraself as
others, he in a great raeasure filled him with the
spirit of grace and wisdom ; so that he was enabled
to work either upon gold and silver (which may be
compared to persons of rank) or brass and timber
(which may resemble those of lower condition ;) and
as he gave him wisdom and grace, so did he
endue him with fortitude and strength to manage
the Christian life, and to fight valiantly under the
banner of the Prince of Peace, breaking through all
difliculties that rnight stand in the way of his duty.
Having found acceptance with God, and tasted
the sweetness of true religion, he laboured to main
tain communion with God in Christ, by a conscien
tious perforraance of four particular duties, daily,
viz. I. Meditation;
II. Observation of the Lord's ways and works,
mercies and judgraents ;
III. Invocation of God's name in prayer, and
praise for blessings received;
IV. Imitation of his heavenly Father.

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 71
I. Meditation.
As Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David,
Hezekiah, Paul, and many others, walked with
God, kept their hearts in his presence, sought the
light of his countenance, studied his word, and con
sidered his works ; so did he, every day, more or less,
set his head and heart a work, by serious medita
tion, to draw nearer to God, to grow in knowledge,
grace, and spiritual strength. This he knew was
the raark and character of a blessed man — to delight
in the law of the Lord, and therein to meditate day
and night. i
As a help to this duty, he usually canied with
him some part of the Bible, or his sermon note
book, when in the fields or on a journey. When
within doors, he gave himself much to reading the
word, making collections of promises, precepts, com
forts, mercies, judgments, marks of God's children,
brands of wicked men, &c. He likewise diligently
perused the works of divers learned and godly men,
and kept a commonplace book of what he found
worthy observation therein.
The gain which he got by this holy exercise was,
an increase of godhness ; and godliness, we know, is
great gain.
By this means many noisome lusts, that, like
caterpillars or canker-worms, are wont to breed in
the best trees, were destroyed; and many unsavory
thoughts dislodged: in short, he herein enjoyed
heaven upon earth.

72 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
II. Observation ofthe Lordes ways and works, mer
cies and judgments.
It was the ancient profession and practice of the
people of God to wait upon the Lord, and observe
his dealings with the just and with the wicked.
[See Isaiah xxvi. 7 — 10.]
Much in the same manner did this faithful ser
vant of Christ raise his thoughts and quicken his
soul to a due observation of the ways and works of
God, both as to his mercies towards the godly, and
his judgments against sinners.
The following instances, araong others, he has
left upon record:
"A few years before my brother Hardware died,
he had E. K. in hLs service, who is now an inn-
holder in Chester. The said E. K. was, as many
thought, bewitched, and waxed weaker and weaker.
My brother sent for me and my family to spend a
day with him in fasting and prayer. Good Mr.
Watts the preacher was then with me, and accom
panied rae and others of my family to the Pede. We
found E. K. exceedingly sick and weak, like an
anatomy, nothing to look at but skin and bones,
and not hkely to live a day, all hope of life being
gone. He was brought and laid in a bed in the
chamber where we prayed. The very same evening
he began to amend, the next morning he walked
abroad, and the third day he had so recovered his
strength as to be able to work, to the great rejoicing
ofthe family. All laud and praise to God.

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 73
"Anno Domini 1601, in the sumraer time, John
Eobinson, my servant, going with his cart, laden, he
fell, and the wheel went over his leg, but did not
hurt him at all. Laus Deo.
"Anno Domini 1602, in July, my son John, being
in Peak's-moor, took up a scythe, to try how he
could mow ; when it entered his stocking upon the
shin-bone, and following his leg, shaved the hair, and
came out at the back part thereof, without touching
the skin. Laus Deo.
"The same month, and in the same meadow, one
casting a pikel up and down, before and behind
him, the greins thereof fell on both sides of a per
son's leg who stood behind, and did not hurt hira.
Hallelujah. "Memorandura. In Anno 1613, in the hay har
vest, one Eichard Eogers, that dwelt in my farm at
Wimble Strafford, under Mr. Thomas Puleston, my
tenant there, seeing two godly persons going in the
way, said to one who was with him. Now I will dance,
and swagger, and swear, to anger and madden yonder
two Puritans; and he did so, to their great griev
ance : but presently the revenging hand of God was
upon him; this wicked fellow fell sick, was carried
home in a cart, and within three days died, most
fearfuUy." Mr. Bruen likewise notices a most remarkable
judgment inflicted on a poor boy at Northwich,
whose name was Thomas Harrison, his age eleven
or twelve. 4

74 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
This boy was so wonderfully afflicted, that many
deemed hira to be really possessed with a devil;
others thought he was bewitched; while some
ascribed the whole to natural causes ; few acknowl
edging (as this gentleman did) that, although Satan
might have a finger, yet God had the chief hand in
this judgment.
Almost with a continuance, the boy shewed him
self to have such extraordinary strength, that if he
folded his hands together, no man could pull them
asunder ; if he rolled his head, or tossed his whole
body, no man could stay or restrain him. To the
astonishment of his hearers, he would howl hke a
dog, mew like a cat, roar like a bear, froth and foam
like a boar.
When any prayed with him, his passions were the
strongest, and his rage and violence the greatest, he
being ready to fly in their faces, and to drown their
voices by his clamours, yells, and outcries. K one
came near him with a Bible, though ever so secretly
concealed, yet would he run and ramp upon him
with great violence, to get it from him and rend it
to pieces, as he did do by several.
Sometimes he would lie along, as if quite dead,
his colour gone, and his mouth so wide open, that
on a sudden he would thrust both hands into it at
once. Notwithstanding he was brought so low, weak,
and feeble, as to natural strength, that he was reduced.

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 75
as it were, to a mere skeleton ; yet would he skip
and leap up and down, from his bed to the table,
from the table to the window, from the window to
his bed again, and all with the agility of a professed
tumbler; and, what makes it more admirable, his
legs grew close to his buttocks, and were therefore
useless in these feats of activity.
Sometimes his chin was drawn up to his nose, so
that his mouth could scarcely be seen; at other
times, his chin and forehead were drawn almost
together, like a bended bow.
The Bishop, hearing of this wonderful affliction,
sent for the child, and prayed with him ; on which
occasion he became so outrageous, that he flew out
of bed, and affrighted the men-servants so, that one
of them fell into a swoon; and there was such a stir
about him, that the Bishop was glad to lay hold of
the boy, ramping at the window to have gotten out
that way. They could not find him a counterfeit,
as some imagined.
The Bishop, in compassion to the poor boy, granted
a licence, together with the High Commissioners, for
a private fast in his father's house, as a means to help
and release him. The hcence ran thus :
Having seen the bodily affliction of this child, and observed in
sundry fits very strange effects and operations, either proceeding
from some natural, unknown causes, or of some diabolical prac
tices ; We think it convenient and fit, for the ease and deliver
ance of the said child from the said grievous affliotion, that
prayer be made publicly for him by the minister of the parish

76 LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
&c. and that certain preachers, namely, these following, Mr.
Gerrard, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Pierson, &c. these and none other to
repair to the said child by turns, as their leisurewill serve, and
to use their discretion for private prayers and fasting, for the ease
and comfort of the afflicted, &c. EIC. CESTEEN.
DAVID TALE.
GEHTITH VAUGHAN.
HUGH BUBCHES.

Mr. Byuen says, that Mr. Harvey and Mr. Pier
son, two godly preachers, prayed and fasted mth
the boy, as well as himself, and twenty or thirty
other persons: but the Lord gave no deliverance at
that time.
The following strange speeches of this afflicted
boy, which he uttered when in his fits, without any
knowledge of what he either said or did, were taken
from his mouth by faithful witnesses :

" Jesus saith, The devil, when he comes, takes away my hear
ing, seeing, understanding, hands, legs, that I should have no
senses, nor limbs, to glorify God withal.
" Jesus saith. If they would have cast out the evil spirit, they
should have come better provided.
" Jesus saith, Some men did think that he that prayed had a
better faith than the other ; but he had not.
" Jesus saith, I have but three devils. It is like one of the
spirits will go ont of me, and go and take counsel of a great num
ber of foul spirits, and come again and trouble me worse.
" Jesus saith. Some folk will say that the witch will not look
one in the face, but she will look here a way and there a way :
[and so he turned his hands this way and that.]
" Josus saith, The witch says she hath done me no hurt that

ESQ. 77
she knows of. A witch may overlook a chOd ; but she cannot
make him in such a case as I am in.
" The devil is afraid when he hears any word that he must be
cast out, then he quakes.
" Jesus saith, Now the witch would fain undo that which she
hath done ; but now she cannot undo it.
" Jesus saith, Some say if I were bewitched or possessed, I
could neither move my tongue nor my lips : but the devil can
move both my tongue and my lips.
" Satan, I am bound to a hard 'prenticeship ; for thou wilt
not give me leave, neither holyday nor work-day, to eat a morsel
of bread.
" The Papist that brought the stinking weed and laid it to my
nose, if God had not had a stroke in this, would have cast out the
devil. And a boy was confederate with him. Now the devil is
possessed of their souls ; and he must continue a little*while with
me, but a great while with them.
" God pulls the devil back with a ring in his nose ; yet the
devil shakes my faith as if it would go out of me.
" They may know there is some ill thing in me ; for when I
would say my prayers, he would come up and stop me, and then
I must stay a little ; and then again, and he would stay me.
[Being in a sore fit of rage, biting his hands, gnashing his
teeth, foaming like a boar, and casting blood and filth out of his
mouth, he uttered these words :]
" Proud witch, witch proud ! I will tell you how these witches
work : all upon life, all upon life ; but they cannot take my life
from me.
" Well, these drunkards and whoremasters do not think upon
their sins : well, how then ? There is no drunkard, that doth
drink one spoonful or drop of drink more than doth suffice nature,
but the devil doth pen it down in his book : well, it is a great
book, and he doth keep it close until the day of judgment.
" And then he will lay it to their faces. At which time the
hills will tremble and quake, and the devil wiU quake ; yea, he
doth quake for fear now.
" Well, some would think it a great while to be bound with
the devil as I am, a twelvemonth or two years ; but it is better
to be so than to wallow in drunkenness, swearing, and whoring ;
for the devil doth work in their souls.
" Well, some will say, how can the devil lie in so little a room ?
Well, the devil is as the wind ; for when he did take a man away

78 LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
out of a charaber, he cariie in at a little hole. But how did he
take him away ? even out at the top of the chimney.
" Well, there are some Papists and some Atheists, and some
of no religion. Woe be to those that die suddenly, for they have
no time- to repent, and especially those that live in drunkenness,
or whoring, or swearing.
" Jesus saith, They say he shall not out of me, but when God
comes, he will strike home."
What has been said shall suffice concerning the
second duty which Mr. Bruen performed daily,
namely, a careful observation of the Lord's ways
and works, mercies and judgments, amongst the
sons of men.
III. Invocation of God^s name in prayer, and praise
for blessings received.
This duty he endeavoured to perform according
to tbe apostle's directions, "in every place lifting up
holy hands without wrath and doubting." He did
not content himself with worshipping God morning
and evening in the family, without opemng his
heart and pouring out his soul in private before the
Lord. His solitary devotions were not confined to any
particular place, either within or without doors ; but
he always embraced the fittest opportunity, both ag to
time and place; following herein the example of
Christ and many holy men : Sometimes he might be
found in the upper rooms, with Peter; sometimes
in the fields, with Isaac ; sometiraes on the mount,
and at other times in the garden, with our Lord;

LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 79
sometimes on ajourney, with Jacob; sometimes on
his bed, with David; sometimes in his closet, with
Cornelius. When at home, he had a variety of
places which he interchangeably used for private
intercourse with his heavenly Father; lest, by fre
quenting any place in particular, he should be sus
pected of vanity or hypocrisy: If in the house, he
had his closets, studies, chambers, &c. — if out of
doors, he had his gardens, orchards, arbours, groves,
woods, fields, walks, and shades, where he delighted
to hold communion with the Almighty, and to seek
his favour, which is better than life.
He conscientiously performed the duty of private
prayer seven times a day, viz.
1. In the morning, before any of the family wer'^
stirring ;
2. Before his breakfast, after family devotion ;
3. Immediately before dinner';
4. A little after dinner ;
5. A short time before supper ;
6. Not long after supper ;
7. Just before he took his bed to go to rest.
Nor was he more plentiful for the number, than
powerful in the manner, of these his devotions ; for,
being full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, he could
speak to God by his own Spirit, in his own words,
according to his own will, and in the narae of his
own Son : and so he could not but both speak and
speed well.

80 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
His prayers were usually fortified by faith, sup
ported by hope, inflamed with zeal, beautified mth
humility, purified by sincerity, and established by
constancy. To his private prayers he frequently added pri
vate fasting; which he observed with such a degree
of austerity, as greatly to weaken his body, as well
as to afflict his soul.
It is recorded of James the Just, that by the con
tinual bowing of himself before the Lord, in eamest
prayer, his knees became as hard as those of a
camel. I will not compare this John with that
James, either for sanctity of heart, or austerity of
life ; but for their affections and actions, prayers
and knees, they may well be likened one to the
other. In these his private devotions, his desires were
principally bent to search his own heart, to examine
his life, to confess and bewail his special sins and in
firmities, to crave the pardon of and power against
them. If he found any evil in his family, either
moral or natural, he here brought it before God to
procure the help of his healing hand. Here also
he mourned for the affliction of Joseph and the
desolations of Jerusalem ; for the gross sins of the
time, for the banenness or backslidings of many
professors, for their embracing of the world, and
forsaking of their first love.
Here also he rejoiced in the Lord, and praised his

LIPE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 81
holy name for the many temporal and spiritual com
forts he enjoyed, and sometimes for great deliveran
ces which had been wrought out for him.
And thus did he converse with God in the duties
of prayer and praise.
IV. Imitation ofhis heavenly Father.
Knowing it is the duty of all God's children to be
holy, even as he is holy, in all manner of conversa
tion. Mr. Bruen laboured to confirm himself to the
image of Him that had begot him to a lively hope
by the resurrection of Christ from the dead; he
panted after a renewal in knowledge, righteousness,
and hohness; well knowing, that the Christian is
called to a resemblance of Jesus Christ, in doing
good both to friends and enemies, and in rendering
evfl. to none ; in being wise, patient, faithful, hating
iniquity, and dehghting in the saints. Eespecting
these things, he set the Lord always before his eyes,
and in some degree followed his blessed pattern
with agood conscience ; and so beholding with open
face, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, he was
changed from glory into giory, even as by the Spirit
of the Lord.
Thus have we declared the first of the three gen
eral heads proposed, for the further opening of Mr.
Bruen's virtuous life, namely Ais conversing with God
We come now to,
II. His conversation in the world.
4*

82 LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
Socrates, being asked what countrjmaan he was,
replied, that he was a citizen of the world. This
venerable gentleman was, by generation, a fellow-
citizen with Socrates ; but, by re-generation, he was
a denizen of the holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem.
Though he lived amongst the children of a vain
world, yet his conversation was in heaven. He
greatly desired to follow the under-mentioned rules j
1. A holy resolution to use the world as not abu
sing it, nor being abused by it.
2. A full purpose always to keep his heart as in
God's presence, knowing that he heard all his words,
and beheld all his actions.
3. A constant and conscientious standing and
striving against all sin.
4. A godly desire in every company to do or
receive good.
5. A good intention to deal justly with all men.
6. An honest disposition to take doubtful things
in the best sense.
7. A careful watchfulness over his heart, tongue,
and spirit, that his words, being powdered with salt,
might minister grace, and not grief, to the hearers.
8. A great willingness to be slow to speak, and
swift to hear.
9. An utter renouncing of all the vain customs
ofthe world, neither following the fashions nor serv
ing the humours of foolish or vile persons, nor stay
ing longer than necessary in the company of such.

LIPE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 83
10. A good inclination to seek and follow peace
with all men, cutting off all occasions of strife and
variance Avith speed.
11. A contented mind and good courage in every
state, entertaining crosses with patience, and turning
them to their best use ; embracing all comforts with
thanksgiving, and bringing forth tho fruits thereof.
12. An unfeigned desire and endeavour to nour
ish his peace with God, walking humbly and
uprightly before him ; referring all that he thought,
spoke, or did, to the furtherance ofhis own reckon
ing, and to the praise and glory of his Maker.
According to these, and similar rules of righteous
ness and holiness, he was taught of God to order his
conversation aright, in the fear of the Lord.
As an instance of his peaceable disposition, we
give the following anecdote : A gentleman, who
lived in the neighborhood of Stapleford, conceiving
a dislike to Mr. Bruen on a sraall occasion, se^t his
servant with a message forbidding him or any of his
family to set a foot on any of his land. To which
Mr. Bruen replied, that if it pleased his master, or
any of his faniily, to come into his fields, or his
ho-ase, they should be kindly welcome. This had
such an effect on the gentleman as to melt him into
tears and tenderness.
It is true, he was by nature froward, fierce, angry,
and hasty ; but, by the renovating power of divine
grace, he was become calm in temper, and raild in

84 LIFE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
speech, easily persuaded to that which was good,
and with as great facility dissuaded from that which
was evil.
An honorable Judge in open court gave the fol
lowing testimony concerning him, when complaint
was made by a neighbouring gentleman of some
wrong sustained in consequence of a water-course
round Mr. Bruen's miUs : — " I cannot but think
you wrong Mr. Bruen ; I wfll undertake for him,
make him but sensible of any error, and he wfll
both acknowledge it, and make you double amends."
To sum up the excellencies of this gentleman, he
was pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated,
full of mercy and good fruits.
When he beheld any engrossed in heathenish
sports and idolatrous feasts, • he looked angry, and
spoke to them roughly ; yet he mourned for the
hardness of their hearts, and as it were bled inward
ly for the wickedness of their hves.
If he met with mockers, contemners of God, and
despisers of good things, he would not cast pearls
before swine, nor that which was holy unto dogs ;
but he would turn away his face from such, without
even saluting them.
But if he found any poor souls erring from the
right way, yet desiring a guide, he would rejoice to
do him good, by wholesorae instructions, loving ad
monitions, godly exhortations, and good dh-ections ;
to such as were poor giving Bibles, catechisms, and
other religious books,

LIPE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 85
His house was like a common inn, to such Israelites
as travelled between London and Ireland, and those
who came from several parts of Lancashire and
Cheshire to Chester fairs, &c..
The table which he ordinarily kept for hospitahty
was bountiful and plentiful, though not excessive
and superfluous, being furnished with a variety of
God's good creatures that were always ready to his
hands. His buttery was open and free for any gentleman,
serving-man, or countryraan, so long as they kept
within the bounds of moderation and sobriety ; but,
indeed, the order of his house was so well known,
that excessive drinking, quaffing, carousing, &c.,
were very rarely attempted there.
The necessities of the poor greatly afflicted his
heart ; and as he had a heart to pity, he had a hand
ready to reheve them.
He usually filled the belhes of great multitudes,
both of his own and other parishes, who resorted to
his house twice a week for that purpose.
His purse was the poor man's coffer ; and he
sometimes lent raoney to such, admonishing those
who borrowed to remember their promise, and to
pay again if they would borrow again. But he
would rather have forgiven a debt, than exact it
from such as were willing, but unable to pay.
In a certain time of great dearth, he invited the
poorest of his neighbours to his store-house, desiring

86 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
them to bring their bags with them ; on which oc
casion he distributed among them fourteen bushels of
corn. This he did when most of his famfly were at
a religious meeting from home.
As he was careful to fill the bellies, so was he to
clothe the backs, ofthe poor ; their loins blessed him,
being warmed with the fleece of his flock, or clothed
by the cost of his purse.
It was his custom, every year, against winter, to
send four or five pounds to Chester, to provide cloth
ing for the poor, wjiich he wisely divided among
several famihes, giving to some one year, and to
others another.
Mr. Bruen might truly say with Job, " I delivered
the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that
had none to help him. The blessing of him that
was ready to perish came upon rae ; and I caused
the widow's heart to sing for joy. I was eyes to
the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father
to the poor; and the cause which I knew not I
searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked,
and plucked the spofl out ofhis teeth." Job xxix.
12, 13, 15, 16, 17.
To those who had occasion for him in that capa
city, he was a counsellor, to defend their righteous
and just causes, pleading for the poor and the needy.
Though he abounded in the fruits of mercy to
wards rich and poor, professors and profane ; yet
did he in an especial manner show himself affection-

LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 87
ate and sympathetic towards the despised followers
of the Lord of life and glory.
He ever held a gracious harmony in judgment
with such divines and professors as were most sound
and entire in the knowledge and acknowledgraent of
the truth.
He esteemed the peace of Zion, and the prosperity
of Jerusalem, before his chief joy ; the care of all the
churches around lying continually upon him.
Whenever he heard of gloomy tidings from Bo
hemia, Hungary, Germany, &c., he sat down and
wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted and
prayed before the God of heaven ; herein imitating
good Nehemiah, when he heard that the remnant of
the Jews were in great affliction, that the wall of
Jerusalem was broken down, and the gates thereof
burnt. In visiting the afflicted, in mind, body, or estate,
he was careful and dfligent ; and he was reputed one
of the best spiritual physicians in the country. If
any were troubled in conscience, afflicted in soul for
sin, molested by Satan, or terrified by God's judg
ments, happy was he that could have Mr. Bruen to
come and see him ; his very presence afforded a de
gree of ease and refreshment ; but his godly exhor
tations, wholesome admonitions, divine instructions
sweet words of comfort, and especially his faithful
j and fervent prayers, were many times as so many
(remedies against their grievous miseries and mala-

88 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
dies ; the issue and success of his gracious endeav
ours being often effectual, either for rehef or release.
Knowing that the fashions of this world pass
away, with the lust thereof, he could not be brought
into a liking of the new fangled, vain and foolish
fashions and customs, as to attire, ridiculous ges
tures, and formal compliments ; on the contrary, he
heartfly abhorred and shunned them. — Being at a
High Sheriff's feast, at which were several Lords spir
itual and temporal, a health was begun by one ofthem
to the Prince, which was passed on with a deal of cer
emonial solemnity. It coming to his tum, he was
pressed to drink to the Prince's health ; to which
he rephed, " You raay drink to his health, and I
will pray for it, wishing you raay do the same for
yours." He was faithful in reproving sin, and would not
fafl to admonish his friends, either by word or by
writing. The following is an extract of a letter directed to
a cousin of his, to whom the Lord gave repentance
two or three years before his death :
"I have often compared you, cousin, to Thomas
Wilbraham, whom the people of God think to be in
heaven; for in many things you were like him;
but now you are broken off, and in many things
differ from him. As, 1. He loved the assembly of
God's people, on the holy Sabbath, both forenoon
and afternoon, though his body was as unwieldy as

LIPE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 89
yours; which you do not. 2. He loved often to
communicate ; which you do not. 3. He loved to
have the company of the godly in his house ; which
you do not, but rather glory to have your house
made a thoroughfare of by profane persons. 4. He
would have his famfly publicly catechized by a
godly minister; which you wfll not. 5. He had
every day a portion of holy Scripture read, and
prayer morning and evening, and often singing of
psalms; whioh you have not. 6. He abandoned
and kept out of his house all roguish players ; which
you do not. 7. He was usually at the public exer
cises of rehgion at Tarporley, and often at North
wich ; which you are not. 8. He had a liberal dis
position to relieve the godly in distress; which you
have not. 9. Although he had the world at wflh
as you have, yet he gloried not in it, but honored
God with his substance; which you do not. 10.
He grew in knowledge and holiness, with an hatred
of sin, and a love to God's children ; which you do
not. I fear, cousin, you are in a lethargy, or that
the alarum-bell of your conscience is sflenced. Take
heed; it is a dangerous thing to grieve the Spirit of
God;" &c.
The foregoing is at once a good instance of his
testimony against sin, and an honorable evidence in
the behalf of Thomas Wflbraham, of Woodhey, Esq.
Mr. Bruen was kind and tender-hearted to his
tenants. He did not grind their faces by great

90 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
fines, or crush their backs with heavy rents ; he did
not use their labour without hire, nor call for their
work without wages; it was the very joy of his
heart to see his tenants thrive under him. His
behaviour towards them was like that of Augustus
towards his subjects; he would not have any of
them come before him with fear and trembling, as
though they were approaching an elephant; nor
would he that any should leave his presence with a
sad heart, as though they had been with a tyrant.
Having taken notice of Mr. Bruen's life, as to his
conversing with God, and his conversation in the ivorld,
we come now to the last of the three general heads
proposed, viz. :
ni. His departure out of the world.
This head may not improperly be subdivided
into four articles, namely,
I. His preparation for death ;
II. His resolution to bear all afflictions attendant
on his departure ;
ni. His gracious confidence of a blessed change ;
IV. His happy constancy in the faith of Christ to
the end.
I. His preparation for death.
As his life was employed in meditating upon that
important change which is common to all men, so
was he continually preparing for the same: the
Lord had taught him so to number his days as to

LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 91
apply his heart unto wisdom. All his studies and
labours — all his holy duties and services — all his
prayers and tears — all his watchings and fastings —
all his desires and endeavours — were especially
directed to this purpose, namely, that he might run
so as to obtain, fight so as to overcome, and finally
to be more than a conqueror in Him that loved him
and gave himself for him. It was his care to hve
so as that he might not be afraid tq die.
To be more particular, he, by the grace of God,
endeavoured to set a due estiraation on the pleasures,
profits, honours, and favours ofthe world ; and, instead
of delighting in these transitory things, to fix his
affections on those that are above : he considered his
bodily inflrmities as indications of his departure, his
spiritual rejoicings as foretastes of everlasting feh
city, and that to the godly death is the gate of life,
which admits them into an inheritance free from sin,
sonow, temptation, and affliction, where there are
rivers of eternal pleasure, and a fullness of never-
ending joy: in short, he esteemed hiraself a stranger
and pilgrim on the earth, here having no abiding city,
but seeking one to come.
II. His resolution to hear all afflictions attendant on
his departure.
Being armed with the whole panoply of God, he
had courage to fight manfully, under his peaceful
Prince's banner, against temptations, afflictions.

92 LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
crosses, and losses. If caUed thereunto, he would
have been content to be cast into a burning fumace,
a lion's den, or a caldron of bofling ofl, for his Lord
and Master ; for he counted not his life dear to him,
so he might win Christ, and be found in him.
m. His gracious confidence of a blessed change.
It was observed by many friends, both at home
and abroad, that, when he saw he was dra^Adng
towards his journey's end, his faith was exceedingly
increased, his hope and rejoicing in God enlarged,
his love and zeal wonderfully inflamed; so that, as
it were, casting out the gauntlet of defiance against
all assaults of his eneraies, with the apostle he could
say, "Who shall separate me from the love of
Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or perfl, or sword?— I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate me from the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Being thus settled in his mind, it pleased God to
visit him with sickness ; an account of which is given
in the following letter from Mrs. Bruen:
"I call to mind some words whioh he spake to me
alone, at the time when it pleased the Lord to ^-isit
him, which was on the day after the Sabbath. That
morning he rose exceeding early, and, having been

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 93
in private prayer with God, as his usual manner
was, he afterwards performed the duty of prayer
with the famfly. This being done, he went into his
study, and continued there tfll dinner, as he was
wont to do; and after dinner he retired into his
study again. He had not been there more than an
hour or two when it pleased the Lord to visit him
with a sort of shaking ague ; on which he withdrew
thence, and laid himself down on his bed in the
little parlour. Then said I to him, 'I fear, Sir,
your early rising hath done you hurt.' To which
he replied, 'If you had seen, wife, such glorious
things as I saw this morning, being in private
prayer to God, you would not have said so; for
they were so wonderful and unspeakable, that, with
St. Paul, whether I was in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell. Thus it hath pleased the Lord,
lest I should be too much exalted by this glorious
sight, to give me a buffet in the flesh.' Which
things he spake to me with exceeding great joy."
A like report of ravishing sights (which he had
not long before) himself made to some of his friends,
after he had one day been at private prayer in his
grove ; the particulars of whioh he would not dis
close ; but only told them in general, with great ten
derness of heart, and tears both of joy and sorrow
in his eyes.
He now had a strong persuasion that he should
not live long, and that he should in a little time ex
change this world for a better.

94 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
His confidence was his corafort in all his sickness ;
during which he uttered many gracious and heaven
ly speeches, from several parts of the Old and New
Testaments, as the following, and such others •
"0 how great is thy goodness, [Lord,] which
thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, which Ihou
hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the
sons of men ! (a)
" How precious are thy thoughts unto me, 0 God !
how great is the sum of them ! If I should count
them, they are more in nuraber than the sand ;
when I awake, I am stfll with thee, (b)
"I trusted in thee, 0 Lord ; I said. Thou art my
God. My times are in thy hand. I am continually
with thee ; thouhast holden me by my right hand, (c)
" Thou shalt guide with thy counsel, and after
wards receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven
but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire
besides thee. My flesh and my heart fafleth ; but
God is the strength ofmy heart, and my portion for
ever, (d)
" I know whom I have believed ; and I am per
suaded that he is able to keep that which I have
committed unto him against that day. (e)
"0 love the Lord, all ye his saints : for the Lord
(a) Psalm xxxi. 19. (b) Psalm cxxxix. 17, 18.
(o) Psalm xxxi. 14, 15. and Psalm Ixxiii. 23.
(d) Psalm Ixxiii. 24, 25, 26.
(e) 2 Tim. i. 12

ESQ. 95
preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth
the proud doer, (f)
" As the hart panteth after the water -brooks, so
panteth my soul after thee, 0 God. My soul thirst
eth for God, for the living God ; when shafl I come
and appear before God ? (g)
" Let him kiss rae with the kisses of his raouth :
for thy love is better than wine. Because of the
savour of thy good ointments, thy name is as oint
ment poured forth ; therefore do the virgins love
thee. Draw me, [ and I ] wfll run after thee, (h)
" God is not unrighteous, to forget [our] work,
and labour of love, which [we] have showed toward
his name, (i)
" Eaithful is he that caUeth [us,] who also wfll
do it. (k)
" [Eemember me, 0] my God, for good, according
to all that I have done for [thy] people ; and wipe
not out my [kindness] that I have done for the
house of my God, and for the offices thereof Ee
member me, 0 my God, and spare me according
to the greatness of thy mercy." (I)
Some of these holy and heavenly sentences he ut
tered at his first awaking in the morning, some in
prayer with his faraily, sorae in ejaculations, some
(f) Psalm xxxi. 23. (g) Psalm xlii. 1, 2.
(h) Cant. i. 2, 3, 4. (i) Heb. vi. 10.
(k) 1 Thess. v. 24.
(1) Neh. V. 19. and Neh. xiii. 14, 22.

96 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
as the issue of his secret and sflent meditations, and
some in conference with such of his Christian friends
as came to visit him, to minister comfort or other
counsel. His heart was as a fountain full of the waters of
life, which being now broken up by affliction, the
rivulets of grace and truth issued out amain.
rv. His happy constancy in the faiih of Christ to the
end. Although his bodily infirmities increased, he
would by no raeans be kept from the house of God
on the Lord's- day, so long as he could walk or ride,
which was till within eight or nine weeks of his
death. He usuaUy went to the church on foot, which
stood about a mfle from his house ; and was accom
panied thither by all his famfly, except two or three
of the servants, who were left to take care of the
house. He called on such of his tenants as hved in
the way, who also went with him to church. He
marched on with a joyful and glad heart, as a leader
of the Lord's host ; the company singing psalms as
they went, particularly the 84th :
" How pleasant is thy dwelling place,
0 Lord of Hosts, to me !
The tabernacles of thy grace.
How pleasant. Lord, they be !" &c..

LIPE OP JOHN BRUEN, ESQ. 97
Which they sounded forth so harmoniously, that
many who heard them afar off were rauch refreshed
and delighted therewith ; and some, as they drew near
er, were brought to a greater liking of the society of
God's children.
His arrival at church was constantly before the
beginning of prayers, that so he and his company
might the more corafortably join in the worship of
Alraighty God ; whioh he did with such a reverent
attention, gracious affection, and holy carriage, as
greatly induced others to be more conscientious
therein. He seldom went to dinner after the prayers and
sermon, but continued in church till after the' even.
ing service, accompanied by others who were wfll-
ing to stay with him. During this interval of
public devotion, he repeated the sermon, (whioh he
had carefully taken down, as before has been
observed to have been his custom) and joined his
companions in singing psalms, and conferring on
the best things.
After the evening service, he and his goodly
company journeyed homewards, with much comfort
and joy in their hearts, endeavouring as they passed
along to increase each other's knowledge, faith, and
obedience, by repeating and conferring upon the
evening sermon, &o.
If any among them were afflicted, they would be
ready to counsel, comfort, and pray for such : and
5

98 LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
to those of them who were troubled in their con
sciences, Mr. Bruen would without delay act the
part of the good Samaritan, by pouring into their
afflicted spirits the wine and ofl of heavenly consola
tion. And in the evening exercise at his own house, he
was so full of hfe and zeal, that, as well as his faraily,
many of his tenants and neighbours greatly desired
and delighted to hear him repeat the sermons, press
the special points, urge the conscience, and pour out
his cries to God.
So great was the oomfort and joy which he expe
rienced in holy duties on that day which has not
improperly been called the Christian's market-day,
that he frequently expressed an eamest wish that
every day were a Sabbath or a fast-day !— When
the Sabbath was passed, he blessed God for having
given him one more of these happy days than he
looked for.
The week-days were rather tedious, his strength
decaying, and his bodily infirmities increasing;
however, he would not be dejected, but endeavoured
to raise up his heart by faith and hope, speaking to
his famfly and friends rauch in the following manner :
"The time is not long: I must shortly lay down
this my tabernacle, and then I shall get the start of
you all, and shall celebrate an everlasting Sabbath
before the Lord, ¦with his holy angels and blessed
saints, in the highest heavens."

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 99
This he spake rejoicingly, but yet with tears.
He every day grc'^ more and more weary of the
world, and was best contented when he could dis
patch worldly businesses with fewest words.
Like good Hezekiah, he set his house in order,
and made his wfll, so leaving all things in terms of
peace and love: and by this means his mind was
disburdened of many earthly cares, and felt greater
liberty to think and speak of spiritual and heavenly
affairs ; which he did not omit, but as he could stir
about in the house, either to the haU, parlour, or
kitchen, he would drop wholesome words of comfort
among such as he met with, and ceased not' to speak
of holy or heavenly things to the rest of his famfly.
When persons came to see him, he would fre
quently say,
"Alas! good souls, what are ye come td see? a
poor wretch, a worm, and no man, a poor dying
man. I may now say with Job, If I wait, the grave
is my house ; I have made my bed in the darkness.
I have said to conuption. Thou art my father; to
tbe worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
And yet I know that my Eedeemer liveth, and that
he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And
tbough after my skin worms destroy this body, yet
in my flesh shall I see God. Therefore we faint
not: but tbough the outward man perish, yet the
inward man is renewed daily. And so our conver
sation is in heaven, from whence also we look for

100 LIPE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shaU
change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like
unto his glorious body, aooording to the working
whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself."
To some who endeavoured to comfort him with
the hope of recovery, he would say,
"My time is in the Lord's hand, and it is not
likely it can be long: my days are' past, my pur
poses are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart;
my task is ended — the Lord hath no more work for
me to do; my warfare is accomplished, ray race is
run out; I now only hope and wait for the crown
of righteousness, which Christ has purchased for me,
and God has promised to me."
He exhorted such professors of religion as came
to see him, as well babes in Christ as young men
and fathers, to hold on and hold out, never to be
weary in well-doing, but to grow in grace, and in
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, to increase
in faith, and abound in love ; telhng them not to be
discouraged by taunts and mocks, raihngs and revil
ings, with other persecutions for the sake of Christ;
but to hp faithful unto death, that they might re
ceive the crown of life. And in order that his in
structions might make a deeper irapression on their
hearts, he recommended to them his own experience
and example, from the tirae he flrst embraced and
professed the Gospel. His words were much to the
following effect :

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 101
" When first I began to profess religion, there
was almost none in the whole shire that were ac
quainted with the power and practice of it.
" I [was, as the psalmist speaketh,] like a pelican
ofthe wflderness ; I [was] like an owl of the desert.
Mine enemies [did] reproach me all the day, and
[wrere] mad against me, (ra)
" I was a wonder ofthe world, yea a monster of
men, and many did bend their tongues like bows
for hes, and shoot out their arrows, even bitter
words. " And yet for all this that came upon rae, I did
not forget tbe name of my God, neither did I deal
falsely in his covenant. My heart was not turned
back, neither did my steps decline from his way.
But being strong in the Lord, and in the power of
his might, I found his grace was sufficient for me,
both to confirm me in the truth, and to preserve me
blameless and harmless, without rebuke, in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation. And
so, through the good hand of my God which was
upon me, I did overcome ; for the work of God did
prosper in my hand, and mine adversaries did not
prevafl against me.
"But now that may be said to this country which
the prophet spake unto the Gentiles: Sing, O
barren ! thou that didst not bear ; break forth into
singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail
(m) Psalm cii. 6, 8.

102 LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
with child ; for more are the children of the deso-
late|than of the married wife, saith the Lord, (n)
" How goodly are thy tents, 0 Jacob! and thy
tabernacles, 0 Israel ! As the valleys are they
spread forth, as gardens by the river-side,- as the
trees of lign-aloes, which the Lord hath planted, and
as cedar-trees beside the waters, (o)
' ' Now the borders ofthe churoh are much enlarged,
the number of believers wonderfully increased, and,
blessed be God, every quarter and corner of the
country is now fllled with the sweet savour of the
Gospel. " 0 how it doth refresh my spirit, and rejoice my
soul, to see or to think' upon their sweet faces, stand
ing before the Lord in the day of assembly, as an
army in holy beauty !
" Wherefore, my beloved brethren, fear none of
those things which you shall suffer. Watch ye,
stand fast in th'e faith, quit ye Uke men, be strong,
be ye stedfast also, and unmovable, always abound
ing in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know
that ydur labour is not in vain in the Lord."
With suoh like comfortable expressions did he en
courage and stir up the minds of professors who
visited him.
From this it is evident that Mr. Bruen was con.
stant in the profession and practice of true reUgion.
He was never unsettled in his course, nor diverted
(n) Isaiah liv. 1. (o) Num. xxiv. 5, 6.

LIPE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 103
frorh it ; no, not by the strongest oppositions. His
constancy, as was'ffieT^empeTSyThbseTwcT special
pillars, Boaz and Jachin,* was supported by his
confidence and patience.
This wfll further appear by noticing the last pas
sages of his Ufe.
Being grown very feeble and weak, much like a
dying lamp, the ofl wasting, and the Ught waning
dim, he yet breathed out savory words of grace and
peace, joy and comfort, whioh raight be compared
to the breaking open of a box of sweet odours, that
refreshed all who came near it.
About the 15tb of January, his strength was
greatly abated, and his weakness muoh increased, by
reason of a sore stoppage in his breast and throat,
which prevented him from taking even a spoonful
of syrup, or any kind of refreshment whatever.
About this time a worthy Knight, his cousin,
whom he greatly loved, for his fidelity, and his zeal
towards God's house and people, came to see him.
When he beheld Mr. Bruen in so much weakness,
he could not refrain from tears, but wept dver him
abundantly ; on which he endeavoured to comfort
his kinsman, thus : " Good Sir, weep not for me ;
for there is no cause of weeping, but of muoh rejoic
ing in my behalf ; turn your tears into prayers, and
let me enjoy that fruit of your love. Let them weep
¦-" Boaz, i. e. In it is strength. — Jachin, i. e. He shall
establish.

104 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
that have no hope but in this life only ; let them
weep that have no portion in the Lord, no part in
Jesus- Christ ; but as for you and me, let us, in every
state and condition, whfle we Uve, rejoice in the
Lord together. You are on your way ; I am at ray
journey's end; walk on as you have both begun,
and for a long tirae continued, and the Lord wiU be
with you, he will never fail you nor forsake you."
On the following day his son and heir came to see
him ; to whom he gave wholesome instruction and
gracious exhortations,, praying for and blessing bim
and the rest of his chfldren, and encouraging him to
be constant in religion; and to uphold the worship
ofGod both in the public assembly and in his
family. On the same day Mr. Langley and myself came
to see him ; and here, what shall I say ? — ^ray sor
row bleeds afresh ; I can now rather weep than
write : raine eyes drop tears as ray pen doth words,
and my writing rejoiceth, as it were, to mingle itself
with my weeping. But I wfll endeavour to refrain
myself, and relate a few things which I saw and
heard from hun at that time. — As soon as he saw
me, he seemed much comforted in his very soul, and
in broken sentences spoke to this effect: "Oh
brother Hinde, you are a welcome man unto me ! I
am here, you see, the Lord's prisoner, cast on a bed
of sickness, and in great afiUction; yet waiting on
the mercies of my God for a comfortable release in

LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 105
due season." And when he was asked as to the
state of his faith and hope in Christ, whether his
consolations abounded in the midst of his afflictions,
he replied, " Yes, I thank God, they far exceed
them. Yea, and what is more remarkable, the Lord
of his meroy hath given me so strong an evidence of
his love -and favour in Christ, that I ain not troubled
in my conscience with doubts and fears, nor any
other satanical molestations and ' temptations ; but
rest and wait in patience for the accomplishment of
his mercies."
Hereupon, though we were sorrowful in his sor
row, yet were we joyful iu his joy. Wishing not to
trouble him with raany words, we proposed to join
in prayer with bim. On which he seemed to rejoice
in his spirit, and intimated that he much desired it ;
and raising himself in his bed, and lifting his hands
to God in the heavens, he, as it were, reached "after
the petitions that were put up to God for him ; and,
joining in heart and spirit with him that prayed, he
could not contain himself; but oftentimes, with a
cheerful consent, said Ainen, Amen, to the supplica
tions whieh were made for his good and comfort in
Jesus Christ.
After this Mr. L. spoke to him a few words of
comfort, saying that he knew he would shortly be
released from all sin and sonow, from Satan, and
the present evil world : to which he replied, " I
know I shall, and be with Christ, which is best of
5*

106 LIFE OF JOHN BRUEN, ESQ.
all : and now the messenger of death is upon me ;"
referring to the hiccup, which had seized him. Mr.
L. rejoined, "I hope. Sir, death is no fear or terror
to you." "No indeed," said he ; "I thank God, it
is my way to life ; and I am now called of God
unto it."
Thus he continued in great pain of body, but in
creasing in consolations, and enduring his sickness
with admirable patience.
The same evening he desired rae to caU his fami
ly to prayer, and to perform the evening sacrifice in
the great parlour, commanding that the Uttle par
lour door be set open, that he might hear, and join
us in the worship of Almighty God.
I staid with him tfll the afternoon of the next
day ; when necessity calling me home, I and my
wife (his former wife's own sister) oame to take
leave of him ; on whioh his soul seemed to mel*
within him ; indeed our hearts, as well as his, were
fuU of grief, a,nd our eyes full of tears ; so ming
ling together our tears and prayers, we commended
each other to the graoe of God. Then falling on
his face, and kissing his cheek, we took our long
leave of him.
The following day he was supposed to be dying
by those that were near him, who asked his blessingj
which he wfllingly expressed, by lifting his hands
and heart to heaven for them, at the same time
uttering some words which were not inteUigible.

LIFE OP JOHN BEUEN, ESQ. 107
In the afternoon he overheard somebody speaking
of blacks, on which he said, " I will have no blacks;
I love not proud or pompous funerals ; neither is
there any cause for mourning, but rather of re
joicing in my particular."
After this he intreated a certain pious person to
pray with him, whicii he did, very wilUngly, again
and again, to his great satisfaction.
And now growing so weak, that he was scarcely
able to speak, some who were about him requested
that he would lift up his hand, if he wished them
to pray for him ? with which he readily compUed,
and was heard to say Amen.
Afterwards lifting up his hands, he uttered these
words, with others to the like effect :
" The Lord is ray portion, my help, and my trust:
his son Jesus is my Saviour and Eedeemer : Ainen.
Even so saith the Spirit unto my Spirit. Therefore
come Lord Jesus, and kiss me with the kisses of thy
mouth, and embrace me with the arms of thy love.
Into thy hands I commend my Spirit. 0 corae,
now, and take me to thine own self. 0 come. Lord
Jesus; come quickly: 0 come! 0 corae! Ocome!"
Having so said, his spirits fainting and his speech
faiUng, he lay quiet for a short time, and then meek
ly yielded up his precious soul into the hand^ of
God his Father who gave it, and the arms of his
Saviour who redeemed it with his precious blood,
in the year 1625, aged sixty-five.

108 LIFE OF JOHN BEUEN, ESQ.
Thus finishing his course, Mr. Bruen's happy
spirit sweetly passed through the gate of death into
the mansions of everlasting life and peace.
All
GLOEY,
THANKSGIVING, AND
Praise,
Be unto our gracious GOD, in and through his
Son JBSUS CHEIST, for ever and ever.
Amen.

INDEX.

A Short account of Mrs. Catherine Bretterg, . .12
Account of Eobert Pasfield, or Old Robert, oue of Mr. Bruen's
servants — an extraordinary character, . . 34
A description of Old Eobert's singular girdle, which he made
use of for the same purpose as some do their pen, . 35
A Sermon preached in the parlour at the Peile, by^the Minis
ter of Tarvin, . . . . . .48
An incredible number of volumes written or copied by Mr.
Bruen, . . . .' . . .54
An honorable testimony in behalf of Mr. Bruen's second
wife, . . . . . . .65
A miracle respecting John Eobinson, . . .73
A providential escape of John Bruen the younger, . ib.
Another providential escape, . . . . . ib.
An awful instance of God's indignation against contemners
of good men, . . . . . . ib.
A very extraordinary judgment inflicted on a boy at North
wich, . . . . . . ib.
A remarkable instance of Mr. Bruen's peaceable disposition, . 83
A speech of Mr. Bruen's, expressive of a hope full of
immortality, . . . . . .98
Another speech of Mr. Bruen's, . . . .99

110 INDEX.
A rsply to some who endeavoured to comfort him with the
hope of recovery from sickness, . . 100
An exhortation to professors who visited him, ' . ib.
Almost none of the inhabitants of Cheshire acquainted with
the power, and practice of religion, . . 101
A worthy Knight, weeping over Mr. Bruen, is comforted
by him, . . . . . . .103
A short dialogue betweeu Mr. Bruen and Eev. Mr. Langley, 105
Death of Mr. Bruen's first wife, . . . .55
Death of his secoud wife, ... .65
Eleven observations collected by Mr. Bruen against gaming, 60
Exclamation of the renowned Mr. Perkins, concerning Mr.
Bruen's house, .... 63

Mr. Bruen's jpirth, parentage, &c. . . . .11
great proficiency at the dancing school, . . 16
entrance in the University at Oxford, . . .17
departure thence, . . . . . .22
first marriage, . . . . . . ib.
fondness for hunting, hawking, horse-racing, &o. . 23
conduct herein reprovable, . . . . ib.
children effectually converted, . . .33
choice as to his servants, . . . . lb.
familiarity with them, . . . . .34
condescension unlike the stately stifi'ness of many, . 36
kind behaviour to Old Eobert, when unfit for labour, . 37
house a common nursery for the churches of God, . 39
ordering of his family as to religious duties, . . 40
early rising, .... ib
form of prayer, ..... 41

INDEX. ¦ 111
Mr. Bruen's delight in worshipping God by singing psalms
with his family, .... 42
regular course in reading, . . . . ib.
family prayer, . . . . . .43
propounding aud applying of the Scriptures, . . 44
painful collections, from the Scriptures, and other
writings of good men, . . . . .45
removal of idolatrous images and pictures out of Tar
vin church, . . . . . . ib.
bringing into the great congi'egation, at Tarvin, godly
aud able Ministers, . . . .46
example contrasted with those of too many gentlemen, 47
providing for the public congregation a worthy preacher,
and his policy to convince them of his value, . 48
singular and successful method of abolishing Tarvin
wake, . _ . . . . .49
wise manner of dealing with Mr. Hardware, of the
Peile  52
attendance at monthly religious exercises in different
parts of Cheshire and Lancashire, . . .53
taking down notes and observations, &c. . . 54
kindness to God's Ministers, . . . . ib.
second marriage, ... . . 57
residence with his mother-in-law, at the Ehodes, near
Manchester, . . . . . . ib.
testimony of God's blessing his pious endeavours
while at the Ehodes, . . . , . ib.
return to Stapleford with his second wife, . 58
house still more famous as a school of religion, . . ib.
abhorrence of cards, dice, &o. . . . .59
residence at Chester, . . . . .67

112 INDEX.
Mr. Bruen's endeavours blessed to the conviction and con
version of sinners while at Chester, . . .68
maintenance of the poor by the produce of the Staple
ford mills, . . . . . . ib.
return from Chester to Stapleford, and his third
marriage, . . . . . . ib.
stedfastness, &c. ... . ib.
meditation, ..... 71
observation of the Lord's ways, &c. . . .72
invocation of God's name, &c. . 78
times of private prayer, . . 79
power in private prayer, ... ib.
fasting, .... . 80
mourning for the alBictions of Joseph and the desola
tions of Jerusalem, . . . . ib.
rejoicing in the Lord, . . . . . ib.
imitation of his heavenly Father, . . 81
excellencies briefly summed up, . . 84
great concern for sinners, ... ib.
conduct towards mockers, &c. . . . . ib.
distribution of good books, . . . ib.
hospitality, . . . . . .85
great pity towards the poor shewn in several instances,, ib.
special regard for the godly, . . 86
harmony with the most sound divines, &c. . 87
esteem for the peace of Zion, . . . ib.
conduct on hearing gloomy tidings from Bohemia, &c. . ib.
diligence and great usefulness in visiting the affiicted, . ib.
abhorrence of foolish fashions and custom, formal com
pliments, .... 88
singular conduct at a High Sheriflf 's feast, 88

INDEX. 113
Mr. Bruen's faithfulness in reproving sin, exemplified in an
extract of a very pointed letter to a cousin of his, con
trasting his kinsman's experience with that of Thomas
Wilbraham, Esq. of Woodhey, . . .88
tenderness towards his tenants, . . . .89
preparation for death, ... .90
resolution to bear all afflictions attendant on his depar
ture, ...... 91
gracious confidence of a blessed change, . 92
heavenly speeches, ... .94
heart as a fountain full of the waters of life, . 96
constancy in the faith of Christ, . . ' . . ib.
examplary behaviour at church, . . .97
manner of continuing in church during the interval be
tween morning and evening service, . . ib.
tenants and neighbours delight to hear him discourse
aud pray, . ..... 98
great love for the Sabbath-day, &c. . . ib.
consolations exceed his afflictions, . . 105
strong evidence of God's love tohim, . . . ib.
wish that none should mourn, but rather rejoice, on ac-.
count of his deatb, . . . . .107
longing to be with Christ, . . . ib.
happy death, ..... lb.
Mr. BEUEN morally educated, . . . .14
preserved from gross sins, and in a gr.eat degree from
popish superstition, .... ib.
sent to his uncle Dutton' s, of Dutton, to be trained up
uiider James Eoe, . . .16
compared with the admirable Galeacius Caracciolus, Marquis
of Vico, in Italy, . . . . .21

114 INDEX.
Mr. Bruen and Ralph Done, Esq., keep a pack of hounds, . 23
compared with St. Austin, as to several particulars, . 27
and hia first wife shine as lamps in their family, . 32
shews hia concem for his servants, by visiting and con
versing with them of the best things, when at their
labour, . . . . . . .38
reproached and opposed by masters i-n Israel, . 44
and several others pray with the afflicted boy at North
wich, ..... .76
compared with St. James the Just, as to the hardness of
his kuees, &c. ... . . 80
naturally fierce, angry, and hasty, . . 83
a guide to poor erring souls, . . 84
his family and tenants go to church singing, . 96
and his goodly company confer on divine things, as they
return from church, . . . . .97
makes hia will, .... .99
recommenda to professors his own experience and
practice, . .... 100
like a pelican of the wilderness, or an owl of the desert, 101
supported by his eonfidence and patience, . 103
Lady Egerton ; Mr. Thomas Datton, of Dutton, with his
wife, &c. four gentlewomen of Hatton, with a. maid-
servap.t ; — reside at Mr. Bruen's, and several of them
become converts to the truth, . . , .64
Mr. John Brerewood, son of Alderman Brerewood, of Chester,
made useful to Mr. Bruen, • . . .18
Mr. Hardware and his family's residence under Mr. Bruen's
roof, . ..... 52
Mr. Hardware's eonversion, ... '53

INDEX. 115
Mr. John Done, of Utkinton, and his wife, reside at Mr.
Bruen's, . . . . . .58
Mr. Dutton puts a stop to piping and dancing on the Sabbath, 64
Observations on hunting, &o. . . . . .24
Prayer a remedy against anger, . . . .82
Religion's entrance, maugre the devil and his partakers, 47
Some of the first fruits of Mr. Bruen's change, . . 28
Sir Richard Grosvenor's residence iu Mr. Bruen's family, 52
Sudden death not always a sign of God's displeasure, . 55
Thoughts concerning the prayer of a child, with Rotations
from St. Austin, &c. to the purpose, . . .15
The Sabbath wholly spent in piping, dancing, &c. . . 17
The ordinary means of conversion, . . . .19
The Lord awakes Mr. Bruen to a sense of hia error, . 26
The miserable ^ndition of families whose governors are un
equally yoked, . . . . . .30
The natiire of genuine humility, . . . .86
The manner in which Mr. Bruen's servants apent their
evenings, . . . ^ . 39
Thoughts on set forms of prayer, . . . .41
Testimony of the Eev. Hr. Clark, Minister of Tarvin, in favor
of Mr. Bruen, . . . . . .49
Testimonies of several Fathers against cards, dice, &o . 59
Two goodly Bibles fixed up in Mr. Bruen's parlour and hall, 62
The Rev. Mr. Ar. St. procured for the great congregation,
and his testimony in behalf of Mr. Bruen, . . ib.
The Rev. Eobert Watts, or OW Si, a worthy man of God, . 64
The heavy consequences of the death of Mr. Bruen's second
wife, ....... 66

116 INDEX.
The Bishop's praying with the afSicted boy of Northwich,
and his Lordship' s servant affrighted into a swoon, . 75
The Bishop's licence for fasting and prayer at the boy's
father's, ... . . ib.
The boy's strange speeches, . . . . .76
The places of Mr. Bruen's solitary devotions, . . 78
Twelve rules which Mr. Bruen greatly desired to follow, . 82
Testimony of an Honorable Judge in favour of Mr. Bruen, 84
The beginning ofhis laat illness, in a letter from Mrs. Bruen, 92
Two heavenlj*visions, .... 93
The work of God prospers, . . . lol
The country filledwith the savour ofthe Gospel, . . 102
The last passages of Mr. Bruen's life, . . 103
The Rev. Mr. Langley, and the Eev. Mr. Hinde (ihe aitthor
of his Life) visit Mr. Bmen just before his ^ath, . 104
The Rev. Mr. Hinde and his wife's grievous departure from
Mr. Bruen, . . .106
Wakes and vigils censured, . , . . .51

3 9002