quite above the fear of death. It is no great matter. I
have nothing that troubles me, excepting the apprehension
of your grief. I am going to Him whom I love above
life." From this fainting fit the Lord was pleased to
revive him ; and for several weeks his soul was so devoutly
employed in the contemplation of Christ and heaven, that
he almost forgot his paijis and sickness. His faith, hi»



28i LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

love, and his joys exceedingly abounded. He frequontlj
exclaimed, " Oh that I could let you know what I feel !
Oh that I could shew you what 1 now see ! Oh that I
could express a thousandth part of that sweetness which
I now find in Christ! You would then all think it
worth your while to make reli-j:ion your chief business.
Oh, my dear friends, you little tiiink what Christ is worth
upon a death-bed ! I would not for a world, nay,
for a million of worlds, be now without a Christ and a
pardon, I would not for a world live any longer; and
the very thought of the possibility of a recovery makes me
tremble."

When it was said that the Lord might Jigain raise him
up to health and strength, so as to live many years, he said,
" And do you think to please me with that ? No, friend,
you are mistaken, it you think that life, and healtii, and the
world are pleasing to me. Tlie world hnth quite lost its
excellency. Ob, how poor and contemptible is it in all its
glory, wht-n compared with the glory of diat world which I
now live in sight of! And as for hie, Christ is my life. 1
tell you, it would please me incomparably more if you
should say to me, ' You cannot possibly hold out long.
Before to-morrow you will be in eternity.' I te!l you I do
so long to be with Christ, tl»at I could be content to be cut
in pieces, and to be put to the most exquisite torments, so I
jnight but die and be with Christ. Oh, how sweet is
Jesus ! Come, Lord J{ siis, come quickly. Death, do ihy
worst. Deyth hath lost its terrors. Through grace, I can
say, death is nothing (o me. I can as easily die as shut my
eyes. I long to be wilh Christ. 1 loiig to die."

To his mother he said, " Dear motherj I as earnestly
beseech you as ever I desired any thing tor you in my lile,
that you would cheerfully give me up to Chr-st. I beseech
you do not hinder me now I am going to glory. 1 am
afraid of your prayers, lest they should pull one wny and
mine another." Then, turning to liis brothers, he thus
addressed them : " I charg." you all do not pray tor my
life. Vou wrong me if you ilo. Oh tlie g'ory, the un-
speakable glory that I now behohl I My heart is fail, wy
heart is full! (Jlirist smiles, and I am conh<r;'inedto smile.
Can you find in your hearts to stop me, now I am going to
the complete asid eternal enj«»ymcnt of Christ ? Would
you keep me from loy crown ? 'I'hc arms of my blessi'd
Saviour are opifi to em br-<CH mc. The ang Is s^and ready
to carry my soul into hts bosom. Oh ! did you but sec



JANEWAY. 285

what I see, you would all cry out with me, Dear Lord, how
long? Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Oh, why are
bis chariot wheels so slow in coming !"

A minister having spoken to him of the glories of heaven,
he said, " Sir, I feel something of it. My heart is as full
as it can hold in this lower state. I can hold no more.
Oh, that I could but let you knov*' what I feel ! Who am
I, Lord ; who am I, that thou shouidst be mindful of me ?
Why me. Lord, why me! and pass by thousands to look
upon such a wretch as I ! Oh, what shall I say unto thee,
thou preserver of men ! Oh, why me, Lord, why me ! Oh,
blessed, and for ever blessed be free grace! How is it,
Lord, that thou shouidst manifest thyself unto me, and not
unto others ? Even so, Father, because it seemed good in
thy sight. Thou wilt have mercy, because thou wilt have
mercy. And if thou wilt look upon such a poor worm, who
can hinder ? Who would not love thee, oh blessed Father !
Oh, how sweet and gracious hast thou been to me ! Oh,
that he should have me in his thoughts of love, before the
foundations of the world !"

Thus he continued admiring and adoring the sovereignty
of divine grace. As he experienced the intermissions of
triumphant joy, he thus cried : *•' Hold out, faith and
patience, yet a little while, and your work is done. W hat
is the matter, oh ! my soul ? What ! wilt thou, canst thou
thus unworthily slight this astonishing condescension of
God ? Doth it seem a small matter, that the great Jehovah
should deal thus familiarly with a worm ? And wilt thou
pass this over as a common mercy ? What meanest thou,
oh my soul, that thou dost not constantly adore and praise
this unspeakable love ! Doth God deal graciously and
familiarly with man, and are his love and praise too good
for him ? Why art thou not, oh my soul ! swallowed up
every moment with his free, unparalleled, and everlasting
love ? Stand astonished ye heavens, and wonder ye angels,
at this infinite grace! Was ever any one under heaven
more beholden to this grace than I ? Oh, help me to praise
the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever !"

One of his brothers having prayed with him, his joys
became unutterable; and "I believe," says our author,
*'that it exceeds the highest strains of rhetoric to set forth
to the life what this heavenly man delivered." He broke
out in such words as these : " Oh, he is come! he is come!
Oh, how sweet, how glorious, is the blessed Jesus ! How
shall I speak the thousandth part of his praises ! Oh, for



286 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

"vvords to set fortli a little of tliat excellency ! Bat it is in*
expressible. Oti, how excellent and gloi lous is the preciou.'}
Jesus ! He is aliOi>eilicr lovely. OIj, my ^'rieneis, stand
and wonder! Come, look upon a dy uii^ man and wont'er.
Was there ever greater kindness ? Were there ever more
sensible manifestations of rich grace ? Oh, why me, Lord ?
why me? Surely this is" :ikin to heaven. And if I were
never to enjoy more than tins, ii is more than a suffii lent
recompence for all the torments that men and devils could
inflict. If this be dying, it is swe>'t. This bed is solt.
Christ's arms, and sniiles, and lov â– , surely would hirn hell
into heaven. Oa that you did but see and teel what I do !
Behold a dying man, more cheeiful than you ever saw a
man in health aud in (he mid^t of his sweetest worldly
enjoyments ! Oh, siis, worldly pleasures are poor, pititul,
sorry things, when compared with this glory now in my soul.
Why should any of you be so sid, when I am so glad?
This is the hour that I have waited for."

Mr. Janeway took his leave of his friends every evening,
hoping that he should sec them no more tdl the morning of
tiie resurrection. He exhorted them to make sure of a
conifbrtable meeting in a better world. He entnated (hose
about him to assist him in pra'ses. " Oh," said he, " help
me to praise God ! Henceforth, to eternity, I have nothing
else to do but to love and praise the Lord. 1 have my
soul's desires on earth. I cannot tell what to pray for
which fs not already given me. T'he wants capable of
being supplied in tlus world are suppli* d. 1 want only one
thing, and that is a speedy lift to heaven. I expect no
more here. I desire no mor(\ I can bear no more. Oh,
praise! praise! praise! that boundless love, which hath
wonderfully lookvd iljjoii my soul, and hath done more for
me than for thousands of his childrm. ' Bless the Lord, O
my soul ; and all that is within me, bless his holy name !' O
my friends, help me, help me, to admire and praise him,
who hath done such astonishing wonders for my soul ! He
hath pardoned all my sins, and hath filled me with his
goodn'ss. He hath given me grace and glory, and no good
thing hath he withholden from me. All ye mighty angels,
help me to praise God. Let every thing that hath being-
help me to praise him. PraisQ is my work now, and will
be my work tor ever. Hallelujali, hallelujah, hallelujah!"

During his sickness he fouiul the word of God sweet to
Lis soul, especially the fourteenth, fifieenth, sixteenth, and
sevcateentli chapters of John's gospel, and the filty-fourth



JANE WAY. 287

of Isaiali. He often, with abundant joy, repeated those
words : PFUh great mercies will I gather thee. A short time
before his death, lie said, " I have almost done conversing
with mortals. I shall presently behold Christ himself, who
loved me and washed me in his blood. In a few hours I
shall l)e in eternity, singing the song of Moses and the Lamb.
I shall presently stand upon mount ,S'?o?7, with an immmerable
companj/ of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect^
and J E^m the mediator of the new covenant. I shall hear
the voice of much people, and be one amongst them, saying,
Hallelujah ! salvation, glory, and honour, and power be unto
the LoKD our God ! Vet a little while, and I shall sing
unto the Lamb, TForth?/ art thou to receive praise, who hast
redeemed us to God hy thy blood, out of every kindred, and
tongue, a7id people, and nation, and hast made us kings and
priests unto God, and we shall reign with thee for ever and
ever. And who can help rejoicing in all this ?"

The day before his departure, his brother James having
been praying for him, he said, " I thank thee, dear brother,
for thy love. I know thou lovest me dearly ; but Christ loves
me ten thousand times more. Dear brother, come and kiss
me before I die." Having kissed his cold dying lips, he
said, " I shall go before thee to glory, and I hope thou wilt
follow after." A few hours before his happy exit, he called
together his mother, and sisters, and brethren, to give them
one more solemn warning, and pray for them before he
departed.

His affectionate mother being first called, he thanked her
for her tender love to him ; and desired that she might see
Christ formed in the hearts of all her children, and meet
them all with joy in the day of judgment.

He prayed that his elder brother might be wholly taken
up with Christ and love to souls, and be more holy in his
life, successful in his ministry, and finish his course with joy.

For his brother Andrew, living in London, he prayed that
God would deliver him from the sins of the city, make him
a fellow-citizen of the saints, and of the household of God.
*' O that he may be," said he, " as his name is, a strong man,
and that I may meet him with joy."

To James he said : " Brother James, I hope Crod hath
given thee a goodly heritage. The lines have fallen to thee
in pleasant places. The Lord is thy portion. Hold on,
dear brother ; Christ and heaven are worth striving for.
The Lord give thee abundance of his grace."



S88 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

To his brother Abraham, he said : " The blessing of the
God of Abraham rest upon thee. The Lord make thee the
father of many spiritual children."

To his brother Joseph he said : " Let him bless thee, O
Joseph, who blessed him that was separated from his
brethren. My heart hath been workmg towards thee, poor
Joseph ; and I am not without hopes that the arms of the
Alm.ghty will embrace thee. The God of thy father bless
thee."

To his sister Mary he said : " Poor sister Mary, thy body
is weak, and thy days will be tilled with bitterness. The Lord
sweeten all with his grace and peace, and give thee health of
«ouI. Be patient; make sine of Christ; and all is Mell."

To Sarah he said : " Sister Sarah, thy body is strong and
healthful. O that tliy soul may be so too ! '^Ihe Lord make
thee a pattern of modesty, humility, and holiness."

To ijis broiher Jacob he said: " The Lord make thee an
Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. O that thou
mayest learn to wrestle with God, and not go without a
blessing !"

And of his youngest brother Benjamin, then an infant, he
said : " Poor little Benjamin ! O that the Father of the
fatherless would take care of thee ; and that thou who hast
never seen thy father on earth, may see him with joy in
heaven. The Lord be thy father and thy portion."

He then said to them all : " O that none of us may be
found among the unconverted in the day of judgment ! O
that we may all appear, with our honoured father and dear
mother, before Christ Milh joy; and that they may say,
* Lord, here are vve, and the cliildren whom thou hast given
us !' O that we may live to God here, and live \^ ith God
hereafter. And now, my dear mother, brethren, and sisters,
farewell. I leave you a short time. / coiumend yoii to God,
and to the icord of his grace, K'hich is able to build ^ou np, and
to give you an inheritance among them ichich are sanctijied.
And now, dear Lord, my work is done. / have fought a
good Jight, I have fnished my course, I have kept the faith;
henceforth there is laid up for me the crorcn of righteousness.
Come, Lo7xl Jesus, come quickly ;"" and he presently departed.
He died in the month of June, 1657, i" the twenty-fourth
year of his age ; when his remains were interred, in Kelshall
church, where his father had been minister.

The foregoing account of this extraordinary young man
was originally published with the recommendatory testimonial



LANGLEY. 289

of four eminent presbyterian ministers, giving their attestation
to the truth of the narrative.* A late popular writer observes,
that, if ever moital lived the life of an angel while upon the
earth, Mr. Janeway seems to have been the man. And he
adds, '' diat his death-bed scene, above ail others 1 have
either read or seen, appears to have had in it the largest share
of divine communications. "f Wood denomniates Mr. Jane-
way u zealous presbyterian. t His three l)rothers, William,
Ja nes, and Abiuham, were all ejected nonconformists in
16624



John Langley, A.M. — This celebrated scholar was
bor i near Banbury in '.Oxfordshire, and educated in Mag-
dale.i-hail, Oxford. Afterwards he was prebendary of
Gloucester, where he was master of the college school
about twenty years; and, in ihe year lf^40, he succeeded
Dr. Gill as chief master of St. Paul's school, London. In
both these situations many persons were trained up under his
tuition, who became eminently distinguished characters in
church and state. Among the number of his learned pupils
was Mr. Richard Cumberland, afterwards bishop of Peter-
borough. || He was a judicious divine, a universal scholar,
and so celebrated an antiquarian, that his delight in, and ac-
quaintance with, antiquities deserves the highest commendation
that can be given.H He was highly esleemed by men cele-
brated for literature, but little regarded by the clergy, because
he was a puritan, and a witness against Archbishop Laud at
his trial .»»

Mr. Langley was indeed called as M'itness against the
archbishop; when he deposed, that, m the year l6l6, his
lordship, then dean of Gloucester, came down to the cathe-
dral of that place, intending to turn the communion-table into
an altar, and to place it altar-wise at the east end of the choir,
removing it from its former situation in the midst of the
church. Dr. Smith, bishop of Gloucester, opposed the
innovation, and warmly protested to the dean and the pre-
bends, that if the communion-table should be removed, or

* Janeway's Life of Mr. John Janeway. Edit. 1673. — Clark's Lives,
last vel. p. 60—81.

+ Simpson's Plea for Religion, p. 308, 310. Edit. 1810.
J Athenae Oxon. vol. ii p. 385.

^ Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. ii. p. 308. iii. 311, 313.
B Biog. Britan. vol. iv. p. 558. Edit. 1778.
1 Reynolds's Fun. Ser, for Mr. Langley.
** Wood's Athena Oxon. vol. li. p. 135,
VOL.111. U



290 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

any such innovation brought into the cathedral, as Dean Laud
then intended, he would never come within the walls of the
cathedral any more. But the dean was so violent, that, in
direct opposition to the order and appointment of the bisliop,
he caused the Lord's table to be removed and placed altar-
wise, from north to south, at the east end of the choir, with
popish furniture upon it, bowing towards it himself, and
commanding the various officers of the church to do the
same. He further deposed, that the bishop was so much
oft'ended at these innovations, that he, according to his pro-
testation, came no more into the cathedral to the day of his
death. This is the substance of what Mr. Langley teslitied,
which \A as further confirnied by other evidence.*

Mr. Langley, being a most Celebrated scholar, was chosen
one of the licensers of the press for the philosophical and
historical department.t A minister of his name, but, accord-
ing to Wood, a different person, was chosen one of the
assembly of divines.t He died at his house adjoining Paul's
school, September 13, 16.57. Di"- Edward Reynolds, after-
wards bishop of Norwich, preached his funeral sermon,
which was afterwards published. Fuller calls Mr. Langley
" the able and religious schoolmaster." Archdeacon Echard
denominates him " an excellent theologist of the puritan
stamp, a great linguist and historian, and a nice and exact
antiquary ; for which he was highly esteemed by the famous
Selden and other learned men."$ Mr. Strype says, " he
was a general scholar, and a great antiquary, especially in
matters relating to his own country, the stories and curiosities
of which he, during his travels, made a considerable collec-
tion." His aw ful presence and speech produced uncommon
respect and fear among his scholars ; and such was his
behaviour towards them, that they both feared and loved him.
His remains were interred, with great funeral solemnity, in
Mercer's chapel, Cheapside; when all his scholars attended.
And, as he died a single man, they walked before the corpse,
having white gloves, and being hung with verses instead of
escutcheons, from the school through Cheapside to Mercer's
^chapel. He was so much in favour with the worshipful
company of mercers, that they accepted his commendation
of a successor.jl Mr. Langley was author of " Totius

* Prynne's Cant. Doome, p. 75 — 78.

+ Neal's Puritans, vol. iii. p. 4B. t Wood's Athenae, vol. ii. p. 135,

^ Echard's Hist, of Eng. vol. ii. p. 811.

t| Knight's Life of Colet, p. 379, 380. Edit. 1794.



GUMBLEDEN— FROST. 291

Rhetoricae adumbratio in usum Scholse Paulinae," l644—
" An Introduction to Grammar" — And some other pieces.

John Gumbleden, A. M. — This person was born in
Hampshire, in the year 1598, and educated lirst at Broad-
gate-hall, then in Christ's church, Oxford, where he took
his degrees in arts. In 1632 he was admitted to the reading
of the sentences. After completing his studies at the uni-
versity, he preached for several years at Longworth in Berk-
shire. When the civil wars broke out, he espoused the cause
of the parliament, became chaplain to Robert, earl of
Leicester, and afterwards, for some time, rector of Coyt-
church in Glamorganshire. In this situation he died about
the month of October, 1657, aged fifty-nine years. His
remains were interred in the chancel of the church at that
place.*

His Works. — 1. A Sermon on Gen. vi. 5 — 7., 1626. — 2. A Sermon
on Gen. xxii. 1, 2., 1627.— 3. God's great Mercy to Mankind in
Jesus Christ, a Sermon at Paul's Cross, on Isa. iiii. 6., 1628. — 4. Two
Sermons before the University of Oxford, 1657. — 5. Christ tempted,
the Devil conquered ; or, a short Exposition on r. Part of the Fourth
CJiapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, 1657. — 6. A Sermon on Acts i.
1—5.



John Frost, B. D. — This pious minister was son oii
Mr. John Frost, the ancient and pious minister of Faken-
ham in Suffolk. During his childhood and youth, he dis-
covered a sweet and amiable disposition, and was ever
harmless and affectionate in his behaviour. He received his
school learning first at Thetford, then at Bury St. Edmund's,
where he made uncommon proficiency, especially in Greek
and Latin. But that which added the greatest lustre to his
character was his early piety, and a zealous attachment to
the word of God. Even in the days of his youth he diligently
searched the scriptures, constantly attended upon the word
preached, and spent much time in the duty of private prayer.
He was desirous, from a child, to be employed in the work of
the ministry; therefore, he earnestly and constantly prayed
that God would fit him for that important work.

At the age of sixteen he entered St. John's college, Cam-
bridge, where he continued thirteen years, and was chosen

* Wood's Athenae Oxon. to), ii. p. 135.



292 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

fellow of the house. During this period, he made amazing
progress in all kinds of useful learning ; but, liaving the chris-
tian ministry constantly in view, he directed his studies chiefly
to those branches of literature which were likely to be most
serviceable in that holy office. At the university, on account of
the acuteness of his mind, the mildness of his behaviour, his
intense application to study, and his great proficiency in use-
ful knowledge, he was greatly lieloved by men of learning and
piety. He entered upon his ministerial work during his
abode at Cambridge ; and afterwards became pastor at
St. Olave's, Hart-street, London ; where he remained to the
day of his death.

In this situation he continued many years, and gained a
distinguished reputation. As he lived highly respected, so
he died greatly lamented. And having lived a most pious
life, he died a most peaceable and happy death. During his
last sickness, he discovered a becomuig submission to the
will of God, being willing to die, if his heavenly Father had
so determined ; or willing to live, if most for the glory of God
and the advantage of his church. When he was asked how
he did, he replied, " Full of peace and sweet submission to
God my Saviour, and in dependence upon him." The pangs
of death evidently approaching, he called his family together
and engaged in prayer, for the last time, with much liveliness
and affection. And having received something to drink, his
affectionate wife reclining upon his bosom, he exclaimed,
" We have overcome, we have overcome!" and spoke no
more, but resigned his pious soul to God, and immediately
entered upon tiie joy of his Lord, November 2, 16.57-

Mr. Crofton, who preached and published Mr. Frost's
funeral sermon, gives the following account of his excellent
qualitications : — " He was sound in the faith, well studied in
polemical divinity, and able to defend the truth, holding fast
the doctrines of the gospel, and establishing the minds of his
people in the faith, especially against the fancies of armini-
anism and popery. He was singularly excellent in practical
divmity, pressing the observance of duties, rebuking sin with
wisdom and affection, and prudently directing persons into all
necessary christian conversation, as becometh the profession
of the gospel. He was a thorough puritan in principle and
practice, but highly esteemed the unity and peace of the
church. He studiously laboured to promote concord among
the episcopal and presbyterian divines. He was ever soli-
citous to perform ail the duties of his office, by preaching,
administering the sacraments, catechizing the youth, and



EVANS. 293

visiting the sick. He was zealous and fervent, circumspect
and wise, and always deeply affected with the Morth of
souls.

" His excellent n)inisterial endowments were manifest to
all. What he delivered to the people was first deeply im-
printed on his memory by an easy method, and deeply
engraven on his own heart by serious meditation. He ex-
pressed himself with great power and plainness, and enforced
the great truths of the gospel with strong arginnents and
pathetical affections. In his daily conversation he was cour-
teous and affable to all men, whether his superiors, inferiors,
or equals. He was meek and grave, holy and exemplary, as
was obvious to all who knew him."* He was the author of
•* Select Sermons," 1657-



Hugh Evans Mas born in Radnorshire, but removed in
his youth to the city of Worcester, where he lived some years.
About the commencement of the civil wars, he left that city
and went to reside at Coventry. There he found a society
of baptists, when he soon embraced their sentiments, and
was admitted a member of their church. This was about
the year 1643. He approved himself a very pious, sensible,
and hopeful young man. His brethren soon perceived that
' he was endowed with promising gifts for the ministry, and
encouraged him to cultivate and exercise them; which he
did to their abundant satisfaction. He now began to pity
the state of his native countn ; and, considering its deplor-
able condition as overspread with gross darkness, and desti-
tute of the means of knowledge and salvation, he felt a strong
desire to devote himself to the laudable, but arduous work of