though posthumous, was, that he followed the advice of the
Apostle to Timothy, studying to shew himself approved to
God, a workman that need not be ashamed, righllj/ dividing
the ii)ord of truth. He made preaching his work. He was so
much taken up in this work, that to my knowlediie he was
often in watchings a great part of the night, besides his
pains in his day studies. Jjut, besides that very great
diligence and travail of head and heart, and that unseason-
able and hard study, that he laid out in his sermons, he had
a special faculty ot keeping close to his text and business in
Land: which, as it is very requisite in a preaciier, so it is
very advantageous to commend a discourse to the most
judicious ear. That which further contribute I to his
excellency in preaching, was his skill and deep insight into
the mvstery ot godliness, and the doctrine of the free grace
of God. And as to the mystery of iniquity within us, he
was well studied in the soul's anatomy, and could dexterously
he, *' a man could not teU what they aimed at, except it was to advanca
Quakerism, or make wav for Mahometism." — NeaCs Puritans, vol. iy.
p. 103.— Kennefs Chronicle, p. 714.
» See Art. Dr. William Twisse. + Strong's Funeral Sermon.
19S LIVES OF TEIE PURITANS.
dissect the old man. He understood well the mystery of
uiiquity without us, of Satan and antichrist ; and, by his
knowledge of these mysteries, he was able to advance the
kingdom and honour of our Lord Christ in the hearts and
lives of his hearers ; to discover Satan's depths, and to dis-
appoint his plots and devices. There was one thing more
which added very much unto him and to his labours m
preaching, and made him successful in clearing dark places,
and searching further into the deep mines of the word, arid
that was his constant recourse to the originals, in whul- lie
had good skill. By these means he went beyond mos) ot I, is
brethren in the work of the ministry ; so that his sermoiis had
always something above the ordhiary reach, and a ceituin
strain answering the advantage and happiness of the age in
which he lived. There was so great a wtight, boih of words
and sense, in this our author's seimorss, and so nuich of
worth, that they appeared as good upon a nariovv disquisition
as they seemed to be when tlsey weic dehvered. T. he igno-
rance or want of a clear kn()v\kflge of the doctrine of the
covenant of grace, God's rich and free grace in the business
of our salvation, was formerly, and is still, the cause of many
errors in the church. The author of these sermons had
arrived to an excellency and height in this doctrine, beyond
the most that I ever read or knew. Had he lived to have
perfected his labours about the covenant of grace, I pre-
sume 1 may say they had surpassed all that went before.
Though his adversaries did very much endeavour to asperse
him, yet he proved them to be unjust and false. He was as
happy in the purity and innocency of his life as he was for
the fervour which, through grace, he erected in his preach-
ing."*
Mr. George Griffith, in his preface to Mr. Strong's
sermons, entitled, " The Heavenly Treasure," 1656, gives
the following account of the author : " It is abundantly mani-
fest to most of the godly through the nation, but more
especially in the city of London, with what singular ability,
strong affection, and good success, Mr. Strong employed and
spent himself in the service of the gospel. He did the work
of him who sent him while it was day ; because, as he often
said, the night was coming when no man can work. While
he had the opportunity, neither the flatteries nor the frowns of
men could hinder him from his beloved exercise. He-
preached the word with much freedom and boldness, and
• Wilkinson's Preface to Mr. Strong's Thirty-one Sermons.
STRONG. 199
iivithout fear or partiality. He was not of them who corrupt
the word of God, but declared all the divine counsel. He
often told me that one chief object of his study and prayer to
God was, that he might be led into all truth, and teach the
same both seasonably and profitably. God appointed him to
labour in those places where all his abilities might be exer-
cised, and shine forth in all their lustre. Though he com-
monly preached four times a week, and frequently oftener,
his sermons were not tilled with empty notions ; but were
well studied and enriched with substantial matter, the com-
position being close, elaborate, and pithy. And while he
laboured more to profit than to please, he never failed to
please as well as profit those who heard him. What he
delivered harmonized one part with another, and was ever
supported M'ith strong arguments. He compared spiritual
things with spiritual; yet not with the enticing words of
man's wisdom, but in full demonstration of the Spirit. Being
filled with the Spirit, he was enabled to do much work in a
little time. He did not wear out with rusting, but with using.
He exhorted professors of the gospel, however they might
differ about matters of discipline, to maintain good zcorks,
and bring forth the fruits of righteousness. He laboured to
bring all parties to live a holy life. Indeed, he well knew
that persons zealous about external matters, might shew with
â– what party they sided ; but by the holiness of their lives only,
could they know that they were on the Lord^s side. Hence
he pressed the duties of self-examination and self-denial with
great earnestness and exactness, lest any persons should pro-
fess Christianity out of faction, carrying a pagan heart under a
christian name."*
The learned Mr. Theophilus Gale, who published Mr.
Strong's " Discourse of the Two Covenants," in 1678, gives
him the followins; character : " He was a wonder of nature
for natural parts, and a miracle of grace for deep msight mto
the more profound mysteries of the gospel. He iiad a spirit
capacious and prompt, sublime and penetrant, profound and
clear; a singular sagacity to pry into the more difficult texts
of scripture, an incomparable dexterity to discover the secrets
of corrupt nature, a divine sapience to explicate the mysteries
of grace, and an exact prudence to distribute evangelical
doctrines, according to the capacity of his auditors. He was
a star of the first magnitude in the right hand of Christ, to
diffuse the resplendent light of the gospel. And as he
• GriflSth's Preface to Mr. Strong's Hcarenly Treasure.
fOO LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
transcended most of tliis age in the explanation of evangelical
truth, so, in his intelligence and explication of the Two Cove-
nants, he seems to excel himself: this being the study of his
life, and that whereon his mind was mostly intent. The
notices I received from his other works gave me a great
impression of his divine wisdom ; but what mine eyes have
seen, and my thoughts iinbided of his incomparable intel-
ligence, from his elaborate Discourse of the Tico Covenants^
assures me, that not the half zeas told me by his works for-
merly published. He was, indeed, a person intimately and
familiarly acquainted wiih the deepest points in theology ;
but especially those which relate to the covenant of grace."*
The learned Dr. Thomas Manton styles him '* an eminent
and a faithful servant of God, a man eloquent and mighty in
the sciiptures, and a burning and shining light in the church,
of Chnst."t
His Works. — 1. Thirty-one Select Sermons, preached on special
Occasions, I66G. — 2. The Heavenly Treasure. 1056. — 3. Commnnion
witli God, tlie Saint's Privileji^e and Duty, 1656. — 4. A Treatise on
the Subordination of Man's Will to the Will of God, 1657.— 5. Ilell
Torments, 1672. — 6. A Discourse of the Two Covenants, 1678.J-*
7. The Parable of the Prodigal.
Thomas Gataker, B. D. — This celebrated divine wa*
the son of Mr. Thomas Gataker, another puritan divine, the
pastor of St. Edmund's, Lombard-street, London. He was
born in the metropolis, September 4, 1574, and educated in
St. John's college, Cambridge, where he had Mr. Henry
Alvey for his tutor. He greatly distinguished himself by his
assiduous application; and he is mentioned among those
ardent students who attended the private Greek lectures
given by the learned Mr. John Boys, in his chamber, at four
o'clock in the morning.^ He was afterwards chosen fellovr
of Sidney college, in the same university. He entered with
great reluctant e on the ministerial work while he was at the
university, when he engaged with Mr. William Bedell, after-
wards Bishop of Kilmore, and some others, in the pious and
laudable work of preaching every Lord's day in the adjacent
« Rale's Summary, prefixed <o Mr. Strong's " Discourse of the CovC'.
Bants."
+ Manton's Preface to Mr. Strong's Heavenly Treasure.
% This is very evanfrclical, and uncommonly judicious. — TVilliams^s
Christian Preacher, p. 44S.
^ Aikin's Lives of Seldeu and Usher, p. 408.
T. GATAKER, Jun. SOI
country, where their labours M'ere most wanted. Having
continued these exercises some time, he removed to London,
and became domestic chapkiin to Sir V\ ilham Cook, to wliose
lady he was nearly related. His admirable talent for preach-
ing soon gained him so great a reputation, that, in the year
1601, he was chosen preacher to the honourable society of
LincolnVinn ; where, for the space of ten years, he laboured
with great acceptance, popularity, and usefulness. Previous
to Mr. Gataker's settlement in this situation, Mr. Ley, after-
wards Earl of Marlborough and lord treasurer, having been
present, with his lady, when Mr. Gataker preached at
St. Martin's in the Fields ; on their return home she asked an
old servant how he liked the preacher. " Why truly," said
the man, " he's a pretty pert boy ; and he made a reasonable
good sermon." Not many weeks after, Mr. Ley, returning
from Lincoln's-inn, said to his lady, " I will tell you some
news. That young man, whom you heard at St. Martin's, is
chosen lecturer at Lincoln's-inn." The old servant standing
by and hearing this, said, " What ! will the benchers be
taught by such a boy as he i" Mr. Gataker having observed
in one of his sermons, that it was as lawful for the husband-
man to cultivate his ground as for counsellors to confer with
their clients and give advice on the Lord's day ; the appro-
priate admonition was well received, and occasioned the
alteration of the time of public worship ; for, instead of preach-
ing at seven o'clock in the morning, as had been the constant
practice, he was desired to preach at the usual hour of morn-
ing service. He did not, however, entirely leave Sir William
Cook's family, but in the vacations went down to their seat
in Northamptonshire, where, during his stay, he preached
constantly, sometimes in their domestic chapel, and some-
limes in the parish church. In this he acted purely from the
motive of christian piety, uninfluenced by any worldly consi-
derations, as very clearly appeared from the following circum-
stance, peculiarly honourable to his memory: our author, after
stating this fact, innnediately adds, " And this he did w ith an
apostolical mind, not for filthy lucre, but freely making the
gospel a burden only to the dispenser. Yet such was the
devotion of that religious pair, (Sir William and his lady,)
that they would not serve God without cost; for they after-
wards, in consideration of those pains, freely taken, settled
upon Mr. Gataker an annuity of twenty pounds per annum,
which he indeed received a few years ; but afterwai ds he
remitted it unto the heir of tliat family, forbearing to use
the right he had, and forbidding his executor to claim any
202 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
arrears of that annuity. This is mentioned to shew the
generous temper of his christian soul."*
Mr. Gataker's learned preaching to the above society, as
it gave him much satisfaction, so it gained him great reputa-
tion ; and, if it had accorded with his views, would have pro-
cured liim considerable preferment. But when various valuable
benefices were offered him, he refused to accept of them, con-
cluding that the charge of o//e congregation was sufficient for
one man. He therefore chose to remain in his present situa-
tion, in which, though his salary was small, his employment
was honourable, and his condition safe. Moreover, it airorded
him great leisure for the pursuit of his studies, in which he
was very assiduous, particularly the holy scriptures in the
original languages, the fathers of the chufch, and the best
Writers among the Greeks and Romans.
In the year I6II, he was prevailed upon, not without
some difficulty, to accept of the rectory of Rotherhithe iu
Surrey, a living of considerable value, with which he was
much importuned to hold his former office ; but that being
inconsistent with his principles, he absolutely refused. In
this situation, notwithstanding an almost perpetual head-ache
with which he was afflicted from his youth, he continued for
many years to discharge his numerous pastoral duties with
unremitting and indefatigable industry, and to feed the flock
of Christ over which the Holy Ghost made him overseer,
God greatly blessing his labours. Although he had not com-
mitted any of his learned productions to tJie press ; yel his
celebrity for erudition was so great, that he held a regular
correspondence with the learned Dr. Usher, afterwards the
celebrated primate of Ireland. Some of his epistles are still
preserved, and afford sufficient testimonies of the nature and
extent of his studies, and of his unremitting care to pre?rerve
the unpublished works of some of the ancient divines. These
letters contain very shining proofs of his modesty and humi-
lity, which do not always accompany profound literary acquire-
ments. Mr. Gataker's iirst letter is dated from Rotlierhithe,
March IS, \6\G, in which he informs Usher, that he had in
his possession a manuscript, containing certain treatises
which he could not learn ever to have been printed; among
which was " Guielmus de Santo Amore, de pericuiis novissi-
morum temporum," and an oration delivered in writing to the
Pope at Lyons, by Robert Grosdiead, formerly Bishop of
Lincoln.
• Clkrk's Livci annexed to Martyrologie, p. 148 — 131.
T. GATAKER, Jux. 203
" Some of these," says he, " peradventure, if they be not
abroad aheady, might not be unworthy to see the light, nor
should 1 be unwilling, if they should be so esteemed, to bend
my poor and weak endeavours that way. But, of that oration to
the pope, certain lines, not many, are pared away in mj
copy, though so as the sense of them may be guessed and
gathered from the context; and in the other treatises there
are many faults that cannot easily, or possibly some of them
without help of other copies, be amended. My desire is to
understand from you, whether, at your being in England, for
I wot well how careful you were to make inquiry after such
monuments, you lighted upon any of these, and where, or in
whose hands they were."
In another letter to Usher, dated from Rotherliilhe, June
24, 1617, he writes thus: — " I esteem myself nuich beholden
unto you, as for your former love, so for this your late kind-
ness, m vouchsafing me so large a letter, with so full instruc-
tions concerning this business, that I was bold to break unto
you, though the same, as by your information appeareth, were
wholly superfluous. True it is, that though not fiilly pur-
posed to do ought therein myself, willing ratlier to have
offered mine endeavours and furtherance to some others."
Having mentioned two of the manuscripts, he adds, " But
I perceive Viow, by your instructions, that the one is out
already, and the other perfect and fit for the press, in the
hands of one better furnished and fitter for the performance
of such work than myself, whom I would therefore incite to
send what he hath perfect abroad, than by his perfect copy,
having pieced out mine imperfect one, to take his labours out
of his hand. I have heard, since I wrote to you by Mr. Bill, -
that Sir Henry Savile is about to publish Bishop Grosthead's
epistles, out of a manuscript remaining in Merton college
library. If I meet with your countryman Malachy, at any
time, I will not be unmindful of your request. And if any
good office may be performed by me for you here, either
about the impression of your learned and religious labours, so
esteemed and desired, not of myself alone but of many others
of greater judgment than myself, or in any other employment
that my weak ability may extend itself unto, I shall be ready
and glad upon any occasion to do my best therein."*
Dr. Usher and iMr. Gataker had an ardent predilection for
publishing the remains of ancient divines, which introduced
them to an acquaintance with each other, and occasioned their
* Parr's Life of Usher, p. 3T— 76.
204 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
friendly correspondence. The letters of our divine, it is said,
shew his true genuis and disposilion, and will account for that
hot and eager opposition which his writings met with, when
he ventured to publish his opinions fiom ihe press. As he
never wrote upon any subject which he had not fully studied,
and thoroughly examined what had been said upon it by men
of all ages and ail parlies; so his penetrating skill in distin-
guishing truth, and his honest zeal in supporting it, laid him
continually open to the clamours of those Vvho had nothing iu
view, but the maintenance of those systems to which they
were attached from their education, or the magnifying of such
notions as were popular in those times ; and, by defending
which, they were sure to have numeious admirers, though
their want of learning, and the weakness of their arguments,
were ever so conspicuous. But in these kind of disputes,
such furious opponents were sure to have the worst ; and ho\T
considerable soever they might be, either in figure or number,
they served only to heighten the lustre of his triumph. For,
It IS added, as the modesty of his nature vA'ithheld him from
printing any thing till he was forty-five years of age ; so by
that time his judgment was so contirmed, and his learning,
supported by an extraordinary and almost incredible memory,
so greatly extended, that he constantly carried his point, and
effectually baffled all the attempts to envelope again in dark-
ness and obscurity any subject that he had once proposed to
enlighten.
The great regularity of his life, his unblemished character,
and the general esteem in which he was held by the greatest
and best men in the nation, fortiiied him sufficiently against
all those low and little artitices by which a w riter, deficient iu
any of these respects, would certainly have suffered. He had
not the least tincture either of spleen or arrogance in his
nature ; and though it be true that he gave no quarter to the
arguments of his adversaries, notliing could provoke him to
strike at their persons. He always remembered that the prize
contended for was truth, and that, for the sake of obtaining it,
the public undertook to sit as judges: he was cautious, there-
fore, of letting fall any thing that was unbecoming, or that
might be indecent or ungrateful to his readers to peruse.
He was not, however, so scrupulous as to forbear disclosing
vulgar errors, through fear of giving the multitude offence.
His modesty might, indeed, hinder his preferment, but it
never obstructed his duty. He understood perfectly well
how easily the people may be wrought either to superstition
or profaneness ; and no man could be more sensible than h«
T. GATAKER, Juir. 205
was, that true religion was as far distant from the one as from
the olher. He was well acquainted with the arts of hypo-
crites, and thought it as necessary to guard against them as
to avoid the allurements of open libertines. He understood
that souls might be ensnared, as well as seduced ; and that
canting words, and a solemn shew of sanctity, might enabls
presumptuous or self-interested persons to put a yoke upon
the necks of christians, very different from the yoke of Jesus
Christ.*
This is certainly a very high character of our learned divine.
He was very careful, in the exercises of the pulpit, to preach
not only sound, but suitable doctrine, such as might edify anj
christian congregation ; and was particularly appropriate to
the people of his charge. His desire to discharge his dutj
induced him, among other subjects, to discourse on one both
curious and critical, which he applied to common use. Tliis
was the ficiture of lots, about which much had been written,
and more spoken ; from which, in the opinion of the learned
Gataker, some very great inconveniencies had arisen. He,
therefore, thought, that, by a minute investigation of the sub-
ject, it might give his congregation clear and correct views of
the nature, use, and abuse of lots, and might prove very
beneficial to them. This induced him to handle the matter,
as he did all subjects, freely, fully, and fairly ; without sus-
pecting, however, that this would oblige him to have recourse
to the press, and involve him in a long and troublesome
controversy. Some ill-disposed persons reported that he
defended dice and cards, with other groundless stories ;
which induced him to publish his thoughts on the subject in
a small treatise, " in which," says my author, " it is hard to
say whether the accuracy of the method, the conclusiveness
of his reasoning, or the prodigious display of learning, de-
serves most to be admired." He dedicated his work to
Sir Henry Hobart, bart. chief justice of the common-pleas,
with all the benchers, barristers, and students of Lincoln's-inn,
as a mark of his gratitude and respect for their past favours.
This piece made a great noise in the world, and gained the
author great reputation.
The title of this learned treatise is, " Of the Nature and
Use of Lots, a Treatise Historical and Tlieolcgical, written
by Thomas Gataker, B. of D. sometime Preacher at Lin-
coln's-inn, and now Pastor of Rotherhithe," I619. In the
preface to the judicious and ingenuous reader, he observes,
• Biojf. Britaa. toI. iy. p. 8160.
208 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
that how backward he had ever been to publish any thing
from the press, they knew best who had olien pressed him
thereto, but had never till that time prevailed. " A twofold
necessity," says he, " is now imposed upon me of doing
somewhat in this kind, partly by the importunity of divtr?
christian friends, religious and judicious, who having either
heard, being partakers of my public ministry, or heard of by
the report of others, or upon request seen some part of this
weak work, have not ceased to solicit the further publishing
of it ; as also partly, and more especially, by the iniquity of
some others ; who, being of a contrary judgment on some
particulars therein disputed, have been more forward than
was fit, by unchristian slanders, and uncharitable censures,
to tax and traduce both me and it." He then remarks, that,
if any should surmise that these kind of writings might occa-
sion too much liberty, a thing not necessary in that licentious
age; he answers briefly, " First, that it is unequal, that, for the
looseness of some, the consciences of those that be godlj
should be entangled and ensnared ; and, secondly, that who-
soever shall take no more liberty than is here given shall be
sure to keep within the bounds of piety and sobriety, of
equity and of charity, than which I know not what can be
more required. For no sinister ends, I protest before God's
face, and in his fear, undertook I this task ; neither have 1
averred or defended any thing therein but what I am verily
persuaded to be agreeable to God's word."
The first chapter describes what a lot is, and treats of
lottery in general ; tlie second, of chance or casualty, and of
casual events ; the third, of the several sorts or kinds of lots ;
the fourth, of ordinary lots ; the fifth, of the lawiulness of
such lots, with cautions to be observed in the use of them ;
the sixth, of ordinary lots lusorious, and of the lawfulness of
them ; the seventh contains an answer to the principal objec-
tions against lusorious lots ; the eighlh, an answer to the
lesser aigumen'is used against them ; the ninth, of cautions
to be observed in the use of them ; the tenth, of extraor-
dinary or divinitary lots ; the eleventh, of the unlawfulness of
such lots ; the twelfth contains an admonition to avoid them,
with an ausv.jer to some arguments produced in the defence
of them, and the conclusion of the whole. The second
edition of this treatise, revised, corrected, and enlarged by
the author, was published in 162?.