2 Mr Mayor of the University Library, Cambridge, informs me that there was a ' printed catalogue' of Brooks's Library issued for the sale. I have not been so fortunate as to trace it. — G.
3 Benjamin Woodbridge, M.A., was the venerable 'Ejected' of Newbury in 1662. See Palmer's • Nonconformist's Memorial,' vol. i. pp. 290, 291. — G.
lxxxii APPENDIX TO MEMOIR
that is now in the hand of Master Shepheard he delivered into the hands of my honoured Father ' Master Thomas Cartwright And that the money upon that Bond to pave in as he is able into the hands of my Father Master Thomas Cartwright And my Will is that this Money so paid in be by my Father Cart- wright and my Couson Ford and my Couson Henry Goodman distributed amongst such ministers and ministers Widows as they think meete Item I give to my deare and honoured Mother Mistress Patience Cartwright my Sedan : And all the rest my real and personal Estate I give unto my deare and honoured Wife | in] whom God hath made all relations to meet in one.2 I doo ordaine my said Wife to be solo Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and my honoured Father Master Thomas Cartwright the only Overseer and Assistant to my Executrix In witnesses hereof I putt my hand and seale the day and year under written — Thomas Brooks — March the twenty seventh one thousand six hundred and Eighty — Witness Edward Wylde — Henry Chandler — Tho. Cart- wright.—
Probatum apud London fuit hujusmodi Testamentum coram Venerabili viro Domino Thoma Lyton Milite, Legum Doctore, Surrogato Venerabilis et egregij viri Domini Leolini Jenkins Militis, Legum etiam Doctoris, Curirc Praerogativae Cantuariensis Magistri Custodis sive Commissary legitime con- stitute decimo quinto die mensis Octobris Anno Domini Millesimo sexcentesimo Octogesimo ; Juramento Patienciae Brooks Relictae dicti defuncti et Executricis in hujusmodi Testamento nominat; Cui commissa fuit Administratio omnium et singulorum bonorum, jurium et creditorum dicti defuncti, de bene et fideliter Administrando eadem ad sancta Dei Evangelia in debita Juris forma Jurat.
1 Father-in-law. — G.
2 Mrs Brooks. In accord with this loving mention of his second as before of his first wife, 1 .add here the second ' Dedication' of Brooks's funeral sermon by John Reeve, M.A. [See ante page xxxv.] It is as follows :—
* To my honoured and worthy friend, Mrs Patience Brooks, the relict of that faithful pastor deceased, J. R. wisheth external, internal, and eternal happiness. The loss of a Christian friend is a great loss, much more of a Christian relation, and yet more of such a near relation, most of all of such a relation as was both a loving husband and a spiritual guide. These twisted sorrows, like a four-fold cord, are not easily broken loose from. 1 cannot hut condole with you in your affliction, and pray for great supports for you under so great a trial. You have need of patience, and that patience itself should be more patient. It is a Father's rod in a Father's hand, and, though smarting, yet instructive and medicinal. Let not time but grace overcome your sorrow. Then will you approve yourself a Christian indeed, and do more than others. I need not use arguments to you that are so well skilled in your duty through grace. The indefatigable pains you have taken to write from your husband's mouth such large and frequent meditations and divine truths which were continually dropping from his lips under his weakness, they cannot but make an extraordinary deep impression of themselves upon your heart. You are much admired — I don't flatter you, but commend you — for your excessive love and tenderness to him under all those infirmities he so quietly submitted himself to, your cheerfulness under the hardest services, that none but yourself could have gone through with so much content to him ; and your perseverance in it to the last, speaks a rejoicing to your con- science, and may be an alleviation of your grief. And it is to be observed that God fore- said what must be provided him, a loving wife, and a skilful and careful nurse, to be his consort and comfort. And now he is at rest, be you at rest ; and let the love you bear him rejoice in his present discharge from sin and sorrow. We must not dispute Provi- dence, but submit. I have been bold, without your leave, to affix your name to your husband's memorials. Accept the service as from one that honours you, and shall upon all occasions approve himself your very entire friend and servant in the Lord, John Reeve.'
The editions of ' Precious Remedies,' from its original publication in 1G52, have been very numerous. The '2d ' was issued in 1653, 'corrected and enlarged.' For many years reprints followed in rapid succession, more numerous indeed than at first sight appears, e.g. those of 1661 and 1669, though distinct impressions, being without designation as new editions. The '7th' appeared in 1671, the ' 8th ' in 1676, and the '9th' in 1682. Our text is that of the ' 8th,* collated with the l*t and 2d. The ' 8th ' was chosen, as having been the last during the author's own lifetime : but the collation was found necessary, inasmuch as Brooks, after a ' 2d ' and usually 'corrected' and 'enlarged' edition, seems to have allowed his books to be reprinted without further oversight. Thus in our text (page 11) for 'Dan's adder' it misprints ' Pan's adder,' and so on in a multitude of like cases in all the after- editions of all his writings. Hence the later editions prove much more incorrect than the earlier, especially in the textual and marginal references, &c, and a recur- rence to the original or early 'corrected' edition often enables us to see the source of the error. The title-page of the ' 8th ' edition is given below. G.
Being a Companion for those that are in Christ, or out of Christ; that slight or neglect Ordinances, under a pretence of living above them ; that are growing (in Spirituals) or decaying ; that are Tempted, or Deserted ; Afflicted or opposed; that have Assurance, or that want Assurance, $c.
By Thomas Brooks, formerly a willing Servant unto God, and the Faith of his People, in the glo- rious Gospel of Christ at St. Margarets Fishstreet-hill.
Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be
able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.
Printed for John Ilancock, and are to be sold at the
three Bibles, the first shop in Popes-head
Alley, next to Cornhill. 1676.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
To his most dear and precious ones, the sons and daughters of the Most High God, over whom the Holy Ghost hath made him a Watch- man.