John Sames, Coggeshall

Dale continues his annals by talking about John Sames one of the ejected ministers, already mentioned by Dale earlier on. He quotes Palmer in a footnote saying of Sames

After the loss of his living he and some of his people went to Church, but others of them not being satisfied to do so, and the minister at the same time reproaching them in public for not being present in time of divine service, he desisted and set up a separate meeting, and died pastor of a gathered church there. He was a man of good learning and valuable ministerial abilities, but melancholy to an excess.

With that footnote he adds
1656, July 2.— (Born) Deborah, daughter of John and Anne Sames, vicar. "
1672, Dec. 16.— (Buried) Mr. John Sames."—Par. Reg.
1689, Nov. 29.— I first heard old Mrs. Sames was lately dead."— Bufton's Diary.

Dale continues

Most of those who formed the congregational church of which he was previously pastor left the Parish Church, and met together elsewhere, as circumstances permitted, and were ministered to by Mr Sames, Mr Lowry, [more on him later] and others. He died soon after the Indulgence was granted, and his funeral sermon was preached by Mr Lowry.

"The notes of ye sermon preached at ye funerall of Mr John Sames, by Mr. Lourey, Dec. 16,1672. "Text — Isaiah lvii. 1-2. We have been burying the greatest riches of the town, the jewel of the town; but we do not know whether ever we shall outlive the following storm of judgments, to regain such a pearl again. It is the great sin of a people, that when the righteous are removed by death they think they have done their last duty; but their last duty is to sit down and consider their loss, and what will be the sad consequences of such a dispensation We must not be troubled upon the personal account of this man, for he is gone to rest and peace, from all the troubles of this world. Death to him is gain. . . So that we are not to lay to heart his loss, but our own loss. Such as sat under his ministry and were refreshed by his doctrine, should mourn and lay it to heart; and the town should lay it to heart; for he was the salt as it were of the town, and the light of the town. He shined among you in his doctrine and conversation. Some men's death is but a cipher, and a hundred ciphers signify nothing; but the death of some is as a figure, and a figure of 1 and three ciphers stand for a thousand. He was a messenger of a thousand, and ought to be laid to heart more than the death of a hundred or thousand wicked persons. . . . . . Some men are not at all affected with such a dispensation as this. They may persecute the righteous when they are alive; but when they die, they lay them in their graves, and hide them in the dust, and forget them, and their hearts are hardened it may be against their widows or children. A righteous man is excellent; but they are willing to have him buried out of sight. They do not see that a righteous minister in a place is the greatest advantage: nor foresee that such a hedge or fence is taken away that the judgment of God may take hold of them.

"But yet there are gracious souls that do see the feet of the righteous servants of God to be beautiful: they open their hearts and their doors to them: they see God in such messengers, and when they are removed they see that it is an irreparable loss, except God make it up. God will take care of such a poor flock, though they be a flock of slaughter. And though their shepherd is gone, yet God will provide them another. Is there no more in the world? Yes: but you must go to God for one by prayer. Those that are sorrowful to see so many congregations without a soul-saving ministry, the Lord has made a promise to comfort them; as in the third of Zephany, 12-17 Now doubtless this friend which we have been burying was a righteous man. I could not only judge him to be righteous, but eminently righteous. He had a rich propriety in God and Christ, and he had a gospel spirit in his prayers and preaching. He was spiritual in his worship and spiritual in his conversation, and he had that wisdom from above that made him pure and peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated: his wisdom did not carry him forth to strife, envy or contention. Again, he was of a plain spirit; he had a plain honest heart. And verily he was profitable to old, to young, to this company and that company, and he was communicative of any good he had. He did not handle the word of God in craftiness. He was patient: and of a free and public spirit. He was tender-hearted to his people, and to all; and he had a spirit of government in his family, and walked conscientiously. How careful was he! He ordered his family, and therefore was the more fit to order the church.

"Therefore our loss is great, now such a righteous man is taken away. You that are sinners have a great loss. He warned you of Hell, and of being drowned in the world. You that were his church have a great loss. He carried you in his warm bosom. Christ make it up to you. You young mm have had a great loss. He was kind to young men, and tender of their souls. The Lord make up our loss. And let us all endeavour to be righteous men and women; and then God will either take us from a day of trouble, or hide us in a day of trouble. And the Lord grant that we may be truly affected and humbled under this dispensation." — Bufton's MSS.