Easter day' he was desirous, being next morning (having found himself not well the day before), to receive the communion at Paul's, whither he went early in the morning, and communicated; and returning home, had little appetite to his dinner, eating little or nothing. He went yet to a sermon in the afternoon; but at night grew somewhat worse. And on Monday morning his father with all care and diligence went to a learned physician, who came and visited him, and gave him what he thought fitting; but he grew worse and worse. Then was another physician joined to the first. They consulted, and prescribed things for him, but he mended not; but with great patience and cheerfulness did bear his sickness, and was very comfortable in it to all that came to visit him, wholly referring himself to God's good will and pleasure; only telling his friends, and the bishop of Peterborough, doctor Towers, that loved him dearly, and came to visit him twice in that short time, that he was no way troubled to die, and to go to heaven, where he knew was only peace and quiet and joys permanent, whereas all things in the world were but trouble and vexation: and death must be the end of all men; and he that went soonest to heaven was the happiest man. The bishop would say, when he went away, and had a long time talked with him, that Nicholas Ferrar was 1 April 5. better prepared to die than he, and was a true child of God, and could comfort himself in God, without directions from him, or others: that his pious education under his pious uncle of blessed memory, his old and dear friend, was now shewed forth in these his so young years, that they had taken mighty root downward, and in his soul, and now sprang up with not only leaves and fair blossoms, but with good and ripe fruit of heavenly matters. It joyed his heart to see him so disposed to God-ward, and to so willingly leave the world, and the late testimonies of worth, that he had received from the best in the land. That sure he was too good longer to stay here. God would take him to heaven; and willed his father to prepare for his departure, and to take it with all thankfulness to God; and not look what himself he might think had here lost on earth, but to that crown which his good son, by the mercies of God, and merits of his Saviour, he was persuaded would soon enjoy in heaven. He is too good; he is too good, said he, to live longer in these ill approaching times. For there is much fear now that the glory of church and state is at the highest. For then tumults began: and the bishop of Canterbury's house at Lambeth' was one night assaulted "In the church-warden's accounts of the parish of Lam beth in this year, 1640, is the following entry: 'May 8th, Paide for trayning when the mutinie was in Lambeth againest the archbishopp, £1.'"-Dr. Wordsworth's note. me. by a rabble of lewd people; which when Nicholas Ferrar was told one morning, as he lay in his sick bed, Alas! alas! said he, God help His church, and poor England! I now fear indeed, what my dear uncle said before he died is at hand, that evil days were coming, and happy were they that went to heaven before they came. Can or will the insolency of such a rabble be unpunished? It is high time that supreme authority take care of these growing evils. God amend all! Truly, truly, it troubles And when at other times some friend would say to him, Good cousin, are you not grieved to leave this world; you are now so young, and in the flower of your youth and hopes? He would cheerfully answer, No, truly; I leave all to God's good will and pleasure, that is my best father, and knoweth what is best for me. Alas! I am too young to be mine own judge, what is best for me, to die or live; but let all be, as God's will is. If I live, I desire it may be to His further glory, and mine own soul's good, and the comfort and service, that I intend to be to my father, that loves me so dearly, and in his old age to be his servant. If I die, I hope my father will submit all to God's will and pleasure, and rejoice at my happiness in heaven, where by the merits of my blessed Lord and Saviour, I know I shall go out of this wretched life. In this manner, and upon the visits of friends, he would discourse; and the bishop came to him two days before he died, and found him most cheerful to die and to be with God, as he would say to him; who gave him absolution, and with many tears departed, saying to his father, God give you consolation; and prepare yourself to part with your good son. He will, in a few hours, I think, go to a better world: for he is no way for this, that I see, by his body and by his soul. Be of good comfort; you give him but again to Him, that gave him you for a season. And in two days after, God took him away; who died praying and calling upon God, Lord Jesus, receive my soul! Lord, receive it! Amen. 127. This following epitaph will more at large inform the reader concerning Nicholas Ferrar junior, his life and death, briefly thus expressed by a friend of his, Mr. Mark Frank', once fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge. 1 Peckard, probably on the authority of Sancroft's note (I think by Mr. Crashaw, Hearne, Caii Vind. 810), assigns the composition to Crashaw. The copy in the text (agreeing with Baker's MS. xxxv. 431) differs from Hearne's only in reading abstinentia for temperantia. . piissimi illius Nicolai, quem ipse orbis admiratur tanquam unicum integræ virtutis domicilium, charissimi nepotis : Londini, si patriam quæris, oriundi, Geddingæ Parvæ, juxta Venantodunum, educati. qui, inter privatas illas solitudines, Et tamen annorum numerum linguis duabus superavit : Ingenio quam annis major. Historia, Otio, For, end Philosophia, Studio, Cui fuit. Mathematica, Voluptati, Musica, Pietati, Theologia, Praxi, eleganti, admiranda potius, industria et doctrinæ simul et religionis specimen dedit. Qui Jejuniis crebris, Vigiliis Abstinentia perpetua vel a primo decennio Deo inserviit familiæ suæ et exemplum, et solatium pietatis ; summæ erga parentes obedientiæ, |