INTRODUCTORY ESSAY

ON

THE FAMILY OF THE JANEWAYS AND THE TIMES IN

WHICH THEY LIVED.

BY ТОВ

REV. F. A. COX, D.D. LL.D.

THE family of the Janeways is greatly distinguished in the annals of nonconformity for the number of its members who were devoted to the Christian ministry. Nearly all of them were eminent on account of their piety, zeal, and usefulness; and though we have reason to regret the scantiness of the materials which furnish information respecting their lives and habits, enough has been spared by time to supply a few interesting details, and to suggest important lessons to posterity. Of such men the fragments should be gathered, that nothing be lost.

The father of the more celebrated individuals, to whom we refer, was William Janeway, originally of Lilley, in Hertfordshire, but afterwards a resident in the village of Aspeden, or, as it is now called, Harpenden, to which place he removed about the year 1644. At length he became minister of Kelshall, where, after a severe spiritual conflict, he died in holy triumph, leaving a widow and eleven children. As we have not the means of tracing the particulars of his life and labours, a valuable page from the record of his dying hours, in the biography of his son John, may be introduced with advantage, and will be appreciated by the pious reader. Being under dark apprehensions of mind in his last illness, he expressed himself in the following manner to his son:"Oh, John! this passing into eternity is a great thing; this dying is a solemn business, and enough to make any one's heart ache, that hath not his pardon sealed and his evidences for

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heaven clear. And truly, son, I am under no small fears as to my own estate for another world. Oh that God would clear his love! Oh that I could say cheerfully, I can die; and upon good grounds be able to look death in the face, and venture upon eternity with well-grounded peace and comfort!" His son, after making a suitable reply, which, however, did not restore his peace, retired to solitary prayer, earnestly imploring that his beloved father might be filled with joy in believing, as a token for good in leaving the world. These intercessions were manifestly heard and answered by a very bright beam of the divine countenance. Upon returning to his father, the son inquired how he felt himself. No answer was given; but the departing saint, though little subject to such emotions, wept for a long time, in an extraordinary manner, till at last he broke forth in the language of impassioned exultation—“ Oh, son! now it is come, it is come, it is come. I bless God I can die: the Spirit of God hath witnessed with my spirit that I am his child. Now I can look upon God as my dear Father, and Christ as my Redeemer: I can now say, This is my Friend, and this is my Beloved! My heart is full; it is brim full; I can hold no more. I know now what that sentence means, 'The peace of God which passeth understanding.' I know now what that white stone is, whereon a new name is written, which none know but they who have it. And that fit of weeping which you saw me in was a fit of overpowering love and joy, so great, that I could not for my heart contain myself; neither can I express what glorious discoveries God hath made of himself unto me. And had that joy been greater, I question whether I could have borne it, and whether it would not have separated soul and body. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name, that hath pardoned all my sins, and sealed the pardon. He hath healed my wounds, and caused the bones which he had broken to rejoice. O help me to bless the Lord! He hath put a new song into my mouth. O bless the Lord for his infinite goodness and mercy! Oh, now I can die! it is nothing; I bless God I can die. I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ."

The eldest son was also named William Janeway. He was admitted to the university of Cambridge about 1650, and in all probability succeeded his father at Kelshall, as he resided there,

and was a preacher, in 1657. He does not appear to have possessed the rectory; if he did, it was only for a short time.

John Janeway, the next brother, was a most remarkable man. A tolerably full account of his life, and the circumstances of his death, written by his brother James, was some years ago republished, with a preface by the Rev. Robert Hall. He was born October 27, 1633, at Lilley, and was successively educated at Paul's School, Eton College, and King's College, Cambridge, of which he afterwards became a fellow. His reputation was so great at the period of his admission, though only seventeen years of age, that the electors contended for the honour of being his patron. Greatly advanced, however, as he was in literature, and equally distinguished for the modesty and courteousness of his deportment, the crowning excellence of his character, decided religion, was not attained till the following year. "The Lord was pleased," says his fraternal biographer, "sweetly to unlock his heart, by the exemplary life and heavenly and powerful discourse of a young man in the college, whose heart God had inflamed with love to his soul. He quickly made an attempt upon this hopeful young man, and the Spirit of God did set home his counsels with such power, that they proved effectual for his awakening, being accompanied with the preaching of those two famous worthies, Dr. Hill and Dr. Arrowsmith, together with the reading of several parts of Mr. Baxter's "Saints' Everlasting Rest."

No sooner did he become converted to God than he manifested the deepest interest in the spiritual condition of his brethren and friends, speaking and writing to them in terms of extraordinary urgency and power. As a fellow of a college, he used his utmost efforts to promote religion in the minds of all with whom he came in contact, and over whom he could exert the influence of a natural or official superiority. One who was intimately acquainted with him was accustomed to say that he was like deep waters that were most still—a man of hidden excellency.

Upon the recommendation of the provost of his college, he engaged for a time in the service of a family as private tutor, but ill health compelled him to relinquish his situation, and he retired to live in the country with his mother and brother. Many apprehensions were entertained that he would not live;

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ESSAY ON THE FAMILY AND

but not only did he enjoy a perfect peace himself, he was the consoler and instructor of others around him, and of some at a distance, by his fervent pen, winged with holy words and heavenly pleadings. After he had in some measure recovered, the author of the following treatise states his renewed earnestness in the discharge of every duty, especially prayer and meditation. "His time," says he, "for that was commonly in the evening, when he usually walked into the field, if the weather would permit; if not, he retired into the church, or any empty solitary room, where (observing his constant practice, that, if possible, I might be acquainted with the reason of his retiredness) I once hid myself, that I might take the more exact notice of the intercourse that I judged was kept up between him and God. But, oh! what a spectacle did I see! Surely a man walking with God, conversing intimately with his Maker, (and maintaining a holy familiarity with the great Jehovah. Methought I saw one talking with God;-methought I saw a | spiritual merchant in a heavenly exchange, driving a rich trade for the treasures of another world. Oh, what a glorious sight it was! Methinks I see him still. How sweetly did his face shine! Oh, with what a lovely countenance did he walk up and down; his lips going, his body oft reaching up, as if he would have taken his flight into heaven! His looks, smiles, and every motion spake him to be upon the very confines of glory. Oh, had one but known what he was then feeding on! Sure he had meat to eat which the world knew not of! Did we but know how welcome God made him when he brought him into his banqueting-house. That which one might easily perceive his heart to be most fixed upon, was the infinite love of God in Christ to the poor lost sons and daughters of Adam. What else meant his high expressions? What else did his own words to a dear friend signify, but an extraordinary sense of the freeness, fulness, and duration of that love? To use his own words: God,' said he,' holds mine eyes most upon his goodness, and the promises which are most sure and firm in Christ. His love to us is greater, surer, fuller, than ours to ourselves. For when we loved ourselves so as to destroy ourselves, he loved us so as to save us.'

At the age of twenty-two, he devoted himself to the

fied, not only by his intellectual attainments, but more especially by the depth of his religious experience, and the ardour of his love for souls. It is remarkable, however, that he lived to preach only two sermons, the subject of which was--both being from the same text-on communion with God. But in reality, almost every day was with him a Sabbath, and every conversation a sermon. The intensity of his sympathy with the spiritual condition of others, and the moral courage which impelled him onward in the path of duty and devotedness, were such, that he never hesitated to avow whatever he deemed right, or to rebuke whatever he considered wrong. He exhibited those extremes of excellence in character which, to men of the world, appear paradoxical, but which Christianity is fully capable of displaying in perfection; the 'amb-like grace of humility, with the lion-like virtue of fearlessness.

That dreadful scourge of humanity, consumption, which had been long insidiously undermining his constitution, at length brought him to the grave in June 1657, at the early age of twenty-three. His last sickness brought out in rich and beautiful manifestation those heavenly graces that adorned his character. His death-bed was a field of triumph; and as his ardent soul approached eternity, it seemed to catch the splendours of the invisible world, and reflect their glories around the dark valley, and upon every spectator of the rapturous scene. Never, perhaps, was piety more exalted, or victory over death more complete. He could not rein in the unwonted vehemence of his affections and joy as his race was terminating, and the chariot wheels seemed, as it were, to burr for the goal.

"When one came to visit him,* and told him that he hoped it might please God to raise him again, and that he had seen many a weaker man restored to health, and that lived many a good year after: And do you think to please me,' said he, "by such discourse as this? No, friend, you are much mistaken in me, if you think that the thoughts of life, and health, and the world, are pleasing to me. The world hath quite lost its excellency in my judgment. Oh, how contemptible a thing is it in all its glory, compared with the glory of that invisible world which I now live in the sight of! And as for life, Christ

* The quotations are from his brother James's narrative.