To whom should such a truth, in such an extremity, betake herself for relief among all her children rather than to yourself, or such as you can prevail with? and judge, if you can justly, any more fit than yourself, even yourself, who have such a name in the learned and Christian world already, as that your very appearing might be sufficient vindication. May I not charge you in Christ's name to rise up once more for Christ, and for this part of his truth, also as in a former Church case, Esther iv. 14? What account can be given, but that God, foreseeing how useful you might be in such a juncture for relief of his truth now abused, did choose to set yourself in that signal place at Oxford, even for so signal a service, for such a signal portion of truth? And can you forbear to extend your hand in such a cause, who can dispatch so noble a work with such ease and facility?
It is justly observed by Mr. Maurice, that Mr. Beverley was a man of great zeal for the cause of God, guided by that wisdom which is from above. This zeal was expressed in his own personal labours for Christ, in the place and among the people where Providence had fixed him; in his great concern for those places within his knowledge where the Gospel was not preached; and then in his earnest endeavours to stir up his fellow-labourers to be found forward in all their duty to Christ and his house.
When Mr. Beverley was removed by death, the Church at Rowell was "young and tender"; yet its members had been so well instructed in the things of the Gospel, and in their connexion with each other as a Christian society, that they exhorted each other and prayed together, and went constantly to Desborough for a time, two miles distant, to attend on the ministry of Mr. Browning, who, being afterwards ejected from his living, became pastor of the Church at Rowell.
Of Mr. Browning's early life, conversion to God, and entrance on the ministry, some account has been preserved, from which we obtain the following information:—That he descended from pious parents—was a child of many prayers—that his parents early dedicated him to God with a view to the ministry of the Gospel, and sent him to Oxford with this design; but his conduct was such as to cause great grief to them, and to involve himself in distress. After some years he was brought, by the divine blessing on the faithful preaching of the Gospel, to deep conviction of sin, and a real return unto God. He became united to a Church at Coggeshall, in Essex; his pastor and friends encouraged him to devote himself to the ministry. He went with Mr. Simms, his pastor, to a commencement at Cambridge, where he met Mr. Beverley, of Rowell, and Mr. Beverley was the means of introducing him to the people at Desborough; who, after hearing him preach, gave him a unanimous invitation to become their pastor, in the year 1657. He laboured successfully amongst them during five years, when, on the passing of "the Act of Uniformity," he gave up the living, rather than comply with the terms required.
He then received an invitation to become the pastor of the Church at Rowell, which had been under the care of Mr. Beverley; and then the pious people at Desborough united with those at Rowell to form one society, under Mr. Browning's ministry. Though it was a stormy day, and scenes of trial, opposition, and suffering were before them, yet this worthy minister undertook the charge, dwelt amongst them, and preached the Gospel unto them; maintaining with great fervour and clearness the doctrines of divine grace, with the purity of God's worship, and the interests of holiness. In these trying days, his labours were successful in bringing, during his ministry at Rowell, about 135 persons to be united to the Church, many of whom came from different places around. In the year 1684, we have a brief statement in the records of the Church of this nature:—"From this time dates a sore persecution and scattering which lay upon us, that we hardly got together, much less obtained Church-meetings." A note to this statement observes, "This proceeding condemned afterwards by the Church." Again: "Kept a night in prayer to God, humbling ourselves before him. We partook of the Lord's Supper, and admitted two members." So anxious were they to be faithful to their God and to their principles in this time of trial.
Mr. Browning was for some time confined in Northampton gaol for preaching the Gospel. From thence he wrote several letters to his flock in different places where they were resident. There is one published addressed to the Church at Rowell, another to the brethren of the Church at Broughton. From the former we give the following extract, as showing Mr. Browning's spirit, and the wise and pious counsels he gave to his people.
He addresses them as "his dear brethren and beloved," and in one part of the letter observes:—
You are under the awe of that word, Heb. x. 23—25. A suffering day is the trial of our love to Christ. When there is no opposition it is easy. Do not hypocrites do so? But this is the commendation of Christ's followers; they "follow him whithersoever he goeth." "These are they that came out of great tribulation; they are before the throne, and serve him night and day; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them; the Lamb in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall wipe away tears from their eyes." Come, my brethren, you weep now. Our tender Father has a handkerchief in his hand to wipe away our tears, ere long. Do not offend with weeping; too many tears may defile. "Woman, why weepest thou?" was our Lord's inquiry. Tears of joy become the saints, and there is no danger in them; they will be sure to drop into his bosom, and draw out, it may be the like in him; for he rejoices over us with singing, he rests in his love. Oh, my brethren, methinks I am with you, weeping with you, joying with you, praying with you, and hearing with you. It is true fellowship my soul has with you at a distance. I long after you much in the Lord; yet rejoicingly stay his good pleasure. I would not come out a moment before his time. I would not take a step without his direction. I am wonderfully well, better and better. The cup of affliction for the Gospel is sweeter, the deeper; a stronger cordial, the nearer the bottom—I mean death itself. Oh the joy, unspeakable and glorious, the dying martyrs of Jesus have had! How full freight have been their souls in their passage to their port! I tell you, if you knew what Christ's prisoners some of them enjoyed in their gaols, you would not fear their condition, but long for it; and I am persuaded, could their enemies conceive of their comfort, in mere vexation of heart they would stay their persecutions. "Therefore, my brethren, my joy, my crown, stand fast in the Lord;" rejoice greatly to run your race; fear not their fear; sit loose from the world; allot yourselves this portion, that God has allotted you, "through many tribulations to enter into the kingdom of heaven." Come, the worst is death, and that is the best of all. What, do we stick at dying for him, who stuck not at it for us? Do we find difficulty in that, which will be an entrance into glory? Do princes dread their coronation days? or any loath to come to their nuptials? Foolish hearts! why do we err, not knowing, rather, not believing the Scriptures? I must stay my pen to dry my eyes, because of the overflowing of God's love upon my soul. And now I see, if I had not something to keep me down, I could not bear the loads of God's favour. Blessed be God, blessed be God! "let every one that hath breath praise the Lord." "Oh, love the Lord, ye his saints!" My brethren, do not budge. Keep your ground: the Scripture is your law, God is your king. Your principles are sober; your practices are peaceable; your obedience to superiors known, in all those things wherein your obedience is required. If men have nothing against you but in the matters of your God, rejoice and triumph in all your persecutions.
The following entry we find in the records of the Church relating to the death of Mr. Browning:—Mr. Thomas Browning, pastor of this Church, was gathered to his Father's house in peace, in an evil, persecuting day, May 9th, 1685, having served his Lord in this house with much pains and many tears, with much presence and success, about 23 years.