The tomb of Thomas Goodwin ... lies slightly to the south-east of Wavel's. During
a terrific thunderstorm a flash of lightning split the top,
and all that can now be deciphered is, "Thomas Goodwin,
D.D."
Inscription
Here lies the body of the Rev. Thomas Goodwin,
D.D., born at Rolesby, in the county of Norfolk. He had
a large and familiar acquaintance with ancient, and above
all, with ecclesiastical history. He was exceeded by none
in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. He was at
once blessed with a rich invention, and a solid and exact
judgement. He carefully compared together the different
parts of holy writ, and with a marvellous felicity discovered
the latent sense of the Divine Spirit who indited
them. None ever entered deeper into the mysteries of the
gospel, or more clearly unfolded them for the benefit of
others. The matter, form, discipline, and all that relates
to the constitution of a true Cliurch of Christ, he traced
out with an uncommon sagacity, if he was not rather the
first Divine who thoroughly investigated them. He was
eminently qualified, by the light of sacred truth, to pacify
troubled consciences, to dispel the clouds of mistake, and
to remove needless scruples from perplexed and bewildered
minds. In knowledge, wisdom, and eloquence, he was
a truly Christian pastor. In his private discourses,
as well as in his public ministry, he edified numbers of
souls, whom he had first won by Christ ; till having
finished his appointed course both of service and sufferings,
in the cause of his Divine Master, he gently fell
asleep in Jesus. His writings already published, and what
are now preparing for publication (the noblest monuments
of this great muse's praise), will diffuse his name in a
more fragrant odour than that of the richest perfume, to
flourish in those far distant ages, when this marble, inscribed
with his just honour, shall have dropt into dust.
He died February 23, 1679, in the 80th year of his age.
Dr. Thomas Goodwin, one of the most eminent of the
Puritan Divines, was born on October 5th, 1600. His
parents, wishing him to be devoted to the ministry, had him educated in a careful and thorough manner, and
being blessed with good natural abilities he so improved
by diligent study as to become noted even at the early
age of thirteen. He had strong impressions of religion
upon his mind from the time he was six years old, but
when at Christ College, Cambridge, to which he was sent
in 1613, he was much engrossed in ambitious designs,
and his whole desire was to obtain high offices and the
good word of man. When nineteen years of age he
removed to Katherine Hall, where his tutor was the famous
Puritan, Dr. Sibbes. " On Monday, the 2nd of October,
1620, in the afternoon," while going from Katherine Hall
to enjoy himself with his former friends of Christ College,
he heard a bell toll for a funeral, and one of his companions,
saying there was to be a sermon, pressed him to
hear it. The preacher was Dr. Bambridge, who was
accounted a witty man, and though his remarks, based on
Luke xix. 41, 42, were quite ordinary on this occasion,
they made an impression upon the mind of Goodwin.
Instead of going on with his companions he returned to
his college, having a most powerful sense of sin and a
dread of its consequences. It pleased God in a little
time gently to speak peace to his soul, and he now saw
very clearly how vague and empty had been his previous
profession. He had a very real yet peculiar evidence of
a true conversion, for he was led to search out the sins
which he had loved most, and was by grace enabled to
gain the victory over them.
In 1628 he was appointed lecturer at Trinity Church,
Cambridge, in spite of the opposition of the Bishop, but
in 1634, his conscience being disturbed with the terms
of Conformity, he resigned his preferment and left the
University.
When referring to this memorable event in after years
Goodwin said:
"I freely renounced for Christ, when God
converted me, all those designs of pride, and vain-glory,
and advancement of myself, upon which my heart was so
strongly set that no persuasions of men, nor any worldly
considerations, could have diverted me from the pursuit
of them. No, it was the power of God alone that prevailed
with me to do it. It was He alone that made me willing to live in the meanest and most afflicted condition,
so that I might serve Him in all godly sincerity. I cheerfully
parted with all for Christ, and He hath made me
abundant compensation, not only in the comforts and
joys of His love, which are beyond comparison above all
other things, but even in this world. What love and
esteem I have had among good men, He gave me. He
alone made my ministry in the gospel acceptable, and
blessed it with success, to the conversion and spiritual
good and comfort of many souls."
Goodwin was now a marked man, and Archbishop
Laud persecuting him, he left England and went to
Holland in 1689. Here he enjoyed liberty of conscience,
and became pastor of the English Church at Arnheim.
He, however, returned to England during the Long Parliament,
and became minister of an Independent Congregation
meeting in Thames Street. Being chosen a
member of the Assembly of Divines, which met at Westminster
in 1643, he took a leading part in the deliberations,
and won high esteem by his ability, modesty and
meekness. He afterwards published his notes of these
transactions, and was himself one of the Dissenting
ministers.
His first marriage took place in 1638, his second in
1649, and he was very happy in both. The great Protector,
who held him in high favour, appointed him in
1654 to the Presidency of Magdalen College, Oxford. He
formed a church in this university town, and his members
numbered amongst others, Thankful Owen, Theophilus
Gale and Stephen Charnock. Soon after the Restoration
he retired from the college and removed once more to
London, many of his fellow members and friends following
him. Another Independent Church was formed in
Fetter Lane, and he preached here until his death.
During the Great Fire of 1666 he lost a large portion
of his library, and he felt this blow to be a very
severe one. He, however, expressed his thankfulness that
his works of divinity were for the most part saved, and that
those lost were in the main books of human knowledge.
He continued to preach in spite of the Conventicle
and Five Mile Acts, and was for the most part unmolested. Except when preaching, he lived a very retired life,
dividing his time between prayer, reading and meditation.
He had his favourite authors, such as Augustine and Calvin,
but his son says,
"The Scriptures were what he
most studied. ... The love and free grace of God, the
excellencies and glories of our Lord Jesus Christ, were
the truths in which his mind soared with the greatest
delight."
The last scene of all was also described by his son as
follows :
—
"In February, 1679, a fever seized him, which in a few days
put an end to his life. In all the violence of it, he discoursed
with that strength of faith and assurance of Christ's love, with
that holy admiration of free grace, with that joy in believing,
and such thanksgivings and praises, as he extremely moved
and affected all that heard him. That excellent man, Mr.
Collins, praying earnestly for him, offered up this petition,
' That God would return into his bosom all those comforts
which he had by his ministry of free grace poured into
so many distressed souls.' My dear father felt this prayer
answered in the abundant comforts and joys with which
he was filled. He rejoiced in the thought that he was
dying, and going to have a full and uninterrupted communion
with God. 'I am going,' said he, ' to the Three
Persons with whom I have had communion: They have taken
me; I did not take Them. I shall be changed in the twinkling
of an eye; all my lusts and corruptions I shall be rid of, which
I could not be here ; those croaking toads will fall oft' in a
moment.' And mentioning those great examples of faith,
Heb. xi., 'All these,' said he, 'died in faith. I could not have
imagined that I should ever have had such a measure of faith
in this hour ; no, I could never have imagined it. My bow
abides in strength. Is Christ divided ? No, I have the whole
of His righteousness ; I am found in Him, not in mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but in the righteousness
which is of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, who loved
me and gave Himself for me. Christ cannot love me better
than He doth : I think I cannot love Christ better than I do
;
I am swallowed up in God.'
" Directing his speech to his two sons, he exhorted them to
value the privilege of the covenant. 'It hath taken hold on
me,' said he;
'my mother was a holy woman ; she spake
nothing diminishing of it. It is a privilege cannot be valued
enough, nor purchased with a great sum of money,' alluding to the words of the chief captain to Paul, Acts xxii. 28. Then he
exhorted them to be careful that they did nothing to provoke
God to reject them. 'Now,' said he, 'I shall be ever with the
Lord.' With this assurance of faith and fullness of joy, his
soul left the world, and went to see and enjoy the reality of
that blessed state of glory, which in a discourse on that subject
he had so well demonstrated. He died February, 1679, and in
the eightieth year of his age."
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