parents should tell little children who had played all the day, that they must go to bed, they would be ready to cry But a labouring man is glad when night comes, that he might go to rest: So wicked men, death is unwelcome unto them; but a child of GOD, who hath laboured and suffered, is glad when death cometh, that he may rest from his labours,

When he had been long speaking to those who came to him, and used to ask him questions, and had been persuaded to spare himself, he would say, "Hear but

this one thing more: It may be I shall never speak "to you again, but if it should be so, Blessed is the "servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so "doing. Hearken to a few words more. God hath "heard all the words we have spoken, and considered "with what hearts and affections we have spoken "them."

He used to compare rebukes uttered in passion to scalding potions, which the patient could not take down; and his opinion was, that if we would do good unto others, we should labour for meekness of wisdom, whereby we shall be enabled to use soft words and hard arguments.

He allowed to husbands and wives only one contention; which was this, who should love one another best; and advised them, that when either of them were in a passion, they should not answer passions with passions, but with compassions.

He was very plain and familiar both in preaching and conference, yet very spiritual, and performed all with much gravity.

The chief things he sought God for, in his frequent secret fastings and prayers (as himself said) were, the knowledge of the Scriptures, and a blessing upon his ministry, in both which GoD answered him abundantly.

As for the Scriptures, GoD had so enlightened him, that he was able to give account of the drift and scope of the Spirit of GOD in the greatest part of them, with great clearness, and to open them in such sort and manner as proved very effectual for the bringing of Scripturelight into simple men's understandings, who were not able to reach the obscure and scholastic interpretations of many. His manner was, to compare Scripture with Scripture, seldom naming the dissenters, and but spar

ingly different readings, but making out the truth positively, or by necessary consequence.

In preaching, he usually took some portion of Scripture in order before him, opening a verse or two or more at a time, first clearing the drift and connection, then giving the sense and interpretation briefly, bút very plainly, not leaving the text till he had made it plain to the meanest capacity; then raising those doctrines that were most agreeable to the mind and meaning of the Spirit of GOD in that text, clearing and exemplifying his points excellently out of the word, opening his proofs, but not multiplying particulars, which oppress the memory, nor dwelling so long as to make all truth run through a few texts. He spake most largely and very home in application, mightily convincing and diving into men's hearts and consciences, and leaving them little or nothing to object against it.

He took great care to speak to the meanest capacity, and to feed the lambs, saying, "He must stoop to the "lowest capacity; and if he could reach them, others "might help themselves." He could not endure that ministers should use hard and unusual English; he said, that most ministers in England usually shoot over the "heads of their hearers."

He did not strive to speak all that might be said to a point, nor to shew variety, or please curiosity, but to speak to the heart; he would say that there were many tricks and devices that some men used in preaching, but they seldom did good; the pure gospel, and that preaching which the world calls foolishness, was that which works most kindly.*

He was very evangelical, striving first to make men see their lost condition clearly, and to be convinced of it, saying, "Sense of misery was a good step to the "remedy;" and then largely and excellently opening the promises, and the grace of GoD in Christ, according to the Gospel, looking at that as the most effectual preaching." Some (says he) labour still to keep men "under terrors, and load them with threatenings, &c. "lest they should not be humbled enough; but the "Gospel works true humiliation, not the law; it arises ❝ from

* Of the same mind was the late excellent Mr. Bostwick; witness his invaluable sermon upon 6 Self disclaimed, and Christ exalted,' which is perhaps the most searching and evangelical Concio ad clerum now extant. Printed for Mathews in the Strand.

"from sense of sin and misery, joined with hope of 66 mercy. The damned have terror and sense of misery "enough, but that doth not humble them."

He desired to speak distinctly, not giving the chil dren's bread to dogs, but to discover hypocrisy and sincerity by living characters and signs; but yet with tenderness to babes in Christ, striving to discover a babe from an hypocrite. He was excellent for practical divinity, for living by faith as to spirituals and temporals, and for self-denial; he was also very consolatary, rendering religion the most sweet and comfortable life, notwithstanding sufferings. He used to press much after the seeking of spiritual illumination, in hearing and reading, &c. and divine assistance in religious duties; not contenting ourselves with the use of parts and accomplishments, or grace received, but to look higher, saying," David that could preach excellently, and had "Nathan and Gad the prophets also to preach, yet cries "out for teaching; thereby shewing, that all teaching "would not do, unless GOD teacheth also. And "David cries, Open mine eyes; he had the light without, "but he must have light within, viz. sight, else he "could not see the wonders of the law, though he bad "the law."

He used to press much to meekness, and a sweet disposition to affability, charity, and cheerfulness; not to be rigid, sour, tart, nor sad, lest the world should think that we served an hard master.

Being above eighty years old, his pains were very great, yet not over-painful to him; though he preached almost all day long on the Lord's day, he said, "It was 66 no great matter to pay money, when one had it; all "the labour was to get it." He opened a chapter, and prayed in his family, afterwards preached twice in public, and in the interim discoursed all dinner time, but eat very little; he brought in many with him to dinner, besides his four or six constant widows. If his wife began to doubt of her provision at sight of so many, he would say, "Better want meat than good company;

At

there is something in the house, though cold; this "is not a day to feast the bodies but souls." first sitting down, he would bid them help themselves and one another, and see that none want; "Let me "(said he) bid you but once, for I would not speak a "vain word to-day." After both sermons the house would be filled, and he being sat in his chair, used to

say

say, "If any have a good question or a hard place of "Scripture to open, let them say on ;" and, when he was faint, he would call for a small glass of wine and beer mixed, and then would go to it again till night.

He was excellent in preaching occasionally upon the works of creation, as he walked or rode.

His ministry was so spiritual, and yet so plain, that poor simple people, who never knew what religion meant, when they had gone to hear him, could not chuse but talk of his sermon; it mightily affected poor creatures to hear the mysteries of Gon (by his excellent skill that way) brought down to their own language and dialect.

He was so holy and spiritual both in life and doctrine, that he silenced even desperate and devilish opposers of religion; it was a discredit for any to speak evil of him, because it must needs express much malice, and all men most generally (in his latter time at least) honoured him.

He was very successful in making peace, though between desperate and almost implacable adversaries, and some of them wicked; mightily convincing them with gospel-arguments, to the overcoming and quieting of their spirits.

He would answer any questions propounded, that were but fit for a divine to speak to; yet shewing his approbation or dislike of the question according to the worth and spirituality, or curiosity and lightness of it.

When mean inferior people came to speak with him, if he was walking in the church, where he used most to study, that he might have room to walk in, (being troubled with the stone) or elsewhere; if he thought them bashful, he would meet them, and say, "Would you speak "with me?" and when he found them unable to state their question, he would help them out with it, taking care to find the sore; but would answer and deal so compassionately and tenderly, as not to discourage the poorest soul from coming again to him.

If any questioned him about ceremonies, concerning which there were many disputes at that time, he was very wary in dealing, (not shy in speaking his judgment) but careful of advising them according to their strength; he would bid them take heed of being led merely by the imitation of any body, or other men's arguments, but look to their Scripture light, and see what arguments they had to bear them out; and whether

they

they could suffer alone in that case if they should survive their patterns; he would not have them make a business about less things, and then fall off from what they began to profess.

Being to advise a young man in his choice of a yokefellow, he bade him look principally after godliness: "Men talk of a portion, grace is the best portion : "The wise woman buildeth up the house, viz. the godly, "&c. not the rich. Some use to say there is a portion and civility, and we will hope for grace; but, saith he, "rather make sure of grace, and hope for riches: There "is far greater reason for it; for godliness hath the pro"mises, riches have none; a son or daughter of GoD "shall be provided for."

He would say, he that could answer two questions well, might have comfort in any place or condition, viz. "Who am I? and What do I here? Am I a child "of GoD? and, Am I in my calling or way? He "hath given his angels charge to keep thee in all thy ways. "And that the knowledge of two things would make "one willing to suffer or die, viz. What heaven is? "And that is mine.' Ay, (said one) if a man were sure. To whom he answered, " Truly, assurance is to "be had; and what have we been doing all this ❝ while ?"

He used to say, "They that hope to go to heaven (as most do) and had not good evidence for it, were "like a man, that, passing by a great house and estate, "would say, This is mine; but being bid to shew his "title, would say, Somebody must have it, and why not "I?-Such is most men's title for heaven."

During the time of his last sickness, it pleased the Lord to try him by grievous pains, most bitter and sharp, of the stranguary: But, when he had any intermission, he was breathing out such speeches as tended to the praise of GOD, and to the edification of those that attended him. He slept little all the night or day before his death, in which time he employed his attendants who were about him to read the Scriptures, which he expounded to them; and when his strength was spent with speaking, he retired himself to prayer and meditation. When he felt his pains returning, he would intreat those that were about him to pray to GOD for him, either to give him deliverance or patience. His temptations a little before his death, and his wrestlings with Satan, were great; and so were