abatement at all but rather an enlargement that the addition to his estate procured an addition to his Charity And here give me leave to tell you that this next to my inexcusable Laziness is the true reason of retarding these Papers there was somewhat of Charity very singular and extraordinary about this time which he in his great Humility acquainted me with I will not say advised with me for he was fitter to advise me than I him this hath wholly slipt my Memory all but the undistinct Notions that there was such a thing though some Circumstances made it impracticable I confess I have made all the enquiry I can by Letters and other ways yet I cannot retrieve it if I could it would be the most considerable Instance in this confused Story but I must wave it After some years in this place he was morally forced to another the Arguments for his remove took hold of his Conscience and those that did so he was not able to resist tho' never so much against his Inclination There he continued till driven away by persecution not only from them but from the County Some while he wandered about from place to place like his Master he went up and down doing good and God was with him Could I hope that it would provoke to holy Emulation not to sinful Prejudice I would be more particular in naming the several Counties and the several Places in such Counties where he spread the Gospel to the apparent detriment of the Devil's Kingdom and advancement of Christ's and he comfortably saw a good Success of his Ministry where-ever he came But after many wearisome Journeys and tiresome Labours his ill frame of Health necessitated him to a more fixed Station near London where he was greatly importuned to exercise his Ministry to which he yielded upon these Conditions Namely to be at liberty three Sabbaths in the Month to preach where he should find need they being supplied by two other worthy Ministers and afterwards by one And this he did 'till bodily Distempers disenabled him tho' he was often told it was impossible to hold out such a Course of Labour yet his zeal was such that he could not forbear attempting beyond his strength tho' to prolong his life That lingring Distemper which brought him to his Grave first seized him upon a wet Journey about his Master's Work upon which he was so intent that he Acts 20.24 counted not his Life dear unto him It was his only joy to fulfil the Ministry which he receiv'd of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God Thus I have run over his Course of Life give me leave to be a little more particular in some I wish I might not say unparalelled Singularities Preaching His Preaching was remarkable both in what it was not as well as in what it was It was not with enticing words of Man's Wisdom He did as industriously avoid as others do industriously study Declamations for Sermons He took more pains for his Sermons both on his Knees and in his Study then most others that he might Preface all he said with thus saith the Lord. He constantly kept one day in the Week little other ways than a Fast for his lord's-Lord's-day's work He would never offer either to God or Man what cost him nought His Praying was always fervent his Preaching always clear and vehement his words well fitted to his Matter and his Matter well chosen for Conviction and perswasion for Conversion and Edification And when did he Preach any one Sermon without some of these Effects Bear with this Digression to give you a single Instance of Advice he some Years after gave to a young Preacher You will need a double Portion of the Blessed Spirit to guide and bear you up against the Temptations you will meet with from the snareling World 'T is hard to be lifted up by the Lord and not to lift up our selves your Watch must be constant and your Prayers frequent and fervent or you will forsake your first Love and wax careless and carnal and afterwards warned him against two extreams viz Pride and Diffidence saying if Ministers were to Preach before a learned and large Auditory they were too apt to be diffident more concerned at the Presence of Man than of God and on the other hand if the Assembly was popular and mean and did appear affected how hard do they find it to subdue Pride But to return God blessed his Labours where-ever he went a special Presence of God accompanied him ni all his Vndertaking For he Preach'd as well out of the Pulpit as in it It was seldom that any one could speak to him but he would hook in something of Religion ere they parted When he went into any House he quickly enquired what entertainment Religion met with there he scarce spake to any but he presently insinuated something of Practical Godliness for he always declined speaking of Christians different Practice as to Modes of Worship when any such things were ask'd him he would if possible put it off with something else or tell them other Mens Judgments rather than his own and thro' gracious exercise he had a notable Dexterity in putting by Tit. 3.9 unprofitable Questions i. e. Questions whereby we can profit nothing and taking occasion thence to inculcate something of real moment He did not this only in a customary way of Discourse as that which he was most habituated to but out of the abundance of his heart his mouth spake His general Conversation towards all was Pious and Pleasant he used innocent mirth as an inviting Vehicle to convey his pious Instructions He was plentifully stored with very useful Narratives of Men both good and bad he gathered up excellent Remarks upon the Temper and Carriage of Mankind which he made use of not only to divert but to instruct for he would sometimes pleasantly droll upon the Miscarriages of some which he thought would not digest a direct and plain Reproof he that told me this lived in the House with him and saith He diligently observ'd and doth not remember That ever he heard him rehearse so much as one Story without a manifest Design either to exhort or warn or gently to rebuke those to whom it was directed And this was not only an instance of his candid Temper but of his great Discretion for the Memory is more apt to retain affecting Stories than meer Precepts and the Conscience will make a direct Application of an indirect Reproof And if the Story be intended to excite Duty it doth not only imply a Precept but shews the Precedent which is a great Motive to Industry And tho' he was of too sweet a Temper willingly to displease any yet he could not but deal so plainly with those he conversed with that when he saw any thing to be reprov'd he would not in a Compliment forbear them but rebuke them sharply that they might be sound in the Faith
desirous he was of the Welfare of that Family in every sence was clearly seen in his joy when things went well there and his trouble if they did not I doubt not but the root and all the branches of that House are ready to make their grateful Acknowledgments thereof he being more concern'd for the Honourable Lady and her Children than for himself when any Trouble threatned He was not long there before his amiable Deportment and instructive Discourses insensibly drew in the best of the Neighbourhood into his familiar acquaintance that they might enjoy the Blessing of his Labours here he soon preach'd twice every Lord's-day and frequently a third time on the Lord's-day evening at two miles distance repeating his Sermons examining and instructing the Family and praying with them at his return All this he continued till he procured for them an excellent Preacher whose preaching was deservedly esteem'd by the Serious and above the Contempt of Scoffers This besides weekly Lectures at several places and a monthly Fast These Lectures were set up by him and carried on by him or by others of his procuring I forbear naming the places A zealous Minister for a Neighbour Corporation was procur'd and maintain'd by him and his Friends In short his Labours and Expences for Souls was abundant and thro' Grace his success was answerable many very many there will bless God for him to Eternity But all this while he durst not undertake the Office of the Ministry he had such awful thoughts of that tremendous Office and so low thoughts of himself that he durst not venture till Providence thrust him forward in this as in other things to undertake what he trembled at Now Reverend Mr. Pointall dying a door is opened for more public Service to which God and Man so call'd him that he is not able to withstand it Now tho' his stay was earnestly desired and affectionately urged by all in the Family who might say to him what was said of Jacob Gen. 30.27 I have learn'd by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake yet he was deaf to all Sollicitations being easily perswadable in any thing concerning himself but inexorable in the Cause of God But he did with great Conscience and Ingenuity introduce a worthy Successor whose great Piety and ministerial Abilities were beyond vulgar Much about this time not long before or after God sent him to a Burrough in Sussex where he hath occasionally acknowledged he met with peculiar assistance of the Spirit of God compassion to Souls in a case somewhat more then ordinary moved him to set up a Meeting there what Difficulties he grappled with I will not mention many wearisome Winter Journeys he had which were not tiresome to him thro' hopes of doing good which made all pleasant and he was not disappointed in his hopes The Lord was with him wheresoever he went and gave wonderful success to his Labours He procur'd eleven more Ministers to join with him to set up constant Preaching there Among many Remarkables there I 'll mention only this One Lord's-day being to Preach the Doors were no sooner open'd but the place was crowded full and many that cou'd not get in stood about the Door in his Prayer he had such a strong Impression on his Spirit with respect to the Multitude that Christ would have compassion on the Multitude and not send them empty away his Soul was so vehemently carried out in earnest Prayer for the Multitude that he had much ado to contain himself and some of the Hearers were sutably affected In short while there was Liberty and afterwards when Liberty was restored tho' he was removed at a great distance from them he ceased not to be mindful of them but his Care and Purse procured them one Minister after another till they were settled as they were before he died under the Guidance of a Master Work-man in the Lord's Vineyard But to return to Staplehurst about this time God lift him up above his sinking fears about Ordination He that to the Apostles question Who is sufficient for these things hitherto as it were answer'd not I Lord not I I would not be excused from being a Preacher for I love it yet would feign be excused from being a Pastor For I fear it Now answers God's question to the Prophet Whom shall I send here am I send me Isa 6.8 I think few ever undertook the feeding of a Flock of Christ with lower Thoughts of themselves yet with more humble expectation of Help and Success from the great Shepherd than he did The Lord Jesus spent the whole Night in Prayer before he ordained his Twelve Apostles compare Luke with Mark. Luke 6.12 Mar. 3.14 The manifold suspence of this Servant of Christ plainly implies that he spent a good part of many Nights and Days if not Weeks and Months perhaps Years in fervent Prayer and conscientious Thoughtfulness about his Ordination But now as he durst no sooner venture so he dares no longer delay Thus his wary entring into this Office presages a careful fulfilling of it He now studied the Necessities of his Hearers and did suit his Sermons accordingly to this end did he frequently converse with the most ignorant of his Neighbours that he might know what their Apprehensions Objections and Prejudices were about or against a serious Holy Life accordingly did he frame his Discourses to inform convince and perswade them He was Constant and Zealous in this weighty Work On those days when he had assistance in his own Congregation he would ride out and Preach where there was necessity A while after this when he was settled as much as in those times could be expected he was near marrying a young Gentlewoman but before the time appointed for the Marriage Christ took her to himself About two Years after that he married a gracious Widow by whom he had several Children but they all died young but her having living Children was a Mercy she never enjoyed by her former Husband but had only abortive Births The first living Child he had I have cause to remember the more then ordinary workings of his gracious Soul about its solemn Dedication to God by Baptism what the inward workings of his Soul were is only known to the Heart-searching God but so much burst out beyond his intention to be taken notice of that I never did see before nor ever expect to see the like again I have many a time reflected on it with admiration There you might have seen the Covenant improv'd and what might well make you more serious ever after in the Celebration of that Ordinance But I 'll say no more of this because I know not whether any besides my self took notice of it Some expected that now he had a Family to provide for his Charitable expences must be retrenched the Stream must run in another Channel but they were mistaken those that most narrowly observed his constant Charity could perceive no
as long for him as for any one God now puts them upon something more It is not enough to do only as the People that went to see Christ crucified Luke 23.48 They smote their breasts and returned A transient Pang of Passion is not so much as the least that God calls for Therefore III. Prop. III. When God takes away his Eminent Ministers there is more work devolves upon others both Ministers and People by it 1. The Work they did must be done by others that the Church of Christ may not be a looser by their death And this you 'll find to be hard work for many to perform what some one hath done whom God hath taken from us One Moses did more then the seventy chief of them who were to ease him of his burthen he did more with God and Man in Egypt and in the Wilderness by Sea by Land in Peace in War more by lifting up in hands in prayer than the whole by lifting up their hands in fighting Exod. 17.11 When Moses held up his hand Israel prevailed and when he let down his hand Amalek prevailed More for the quieting and satisfying of a murmuring People than any of them than all of them could do What is now therefore next to be done and by whose hands they might tremblingly enquire for Moses is dead and if the deliverance he begun be not carried on they must perish Who dare now undertake it But I 'll speak of Moses as a Minister and of such things wherein we are all concern'd 2. Repentance of the Sins they reproved which are not yet repented of and the Performance of the Duties they called to which they have not yet obeyed the Call Zach. 1.5,6 Your Fathers Where are they And the Prophets do they live for ever But my Words and my Statutes which I commanded my Servants the Prophets did they not take hold of your Fathers and they returned and said Like as the Lord of Hosts thought to do unto us according to our ways and according to our doings so hath he dealt with us q. d. Where are disobedient Fathers though the Prophets die that threatned them Did not the Threatnings pursue and overtake them and so the Word will have the same effect upon you though the Ministers that preach it do not live to see its Accomplishment 3. New Duties spring as it were out of their Graves There should be a Progress in the Knowledge and Practice of serious Godliness Can you think that God requires no more of you now than he did of our Forefathers when he first sent the Gospel amongst them that we should know no more now than those who had the first dawnings of Gospel-light out of worse than Aegyptian darkness that God expects no more fruits from you who have been so long cultivated than from those that scarce ever heard a Conscience-awakening Sermon Surely you cannot perswade your selves I hope all the Devils in Hell cannot perswade you to think so Besides every Age hath its peculiar Truth The Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 1.12 when he mentions his departure tells them he would have them established in the present Truth And the Apostle Jude tells those to whom he wrote Jude 3. that 't was needful for him to write unto them and exhort them that they should earnestly contend for the Faith which was first delivered unto the Saints Doth it not concern us diligently to enquire what may be the Doctrine of Faith which God calls us now earnestly to contend for Give me leave to propose it to your Enquiry Whether it may not be the Doctrine of the Kingly Office of Jesus Christ Mistake me not I urge no other Contentions than that which every one will grant to be a Duty namely strive with God in fervent Prayer for his fulfilling all the Promises that concern Christ's mediatory Kingdom in short that God would grant what Christ hath taught us first to pray for Thy Kingdom come that Christ's Kingdom may be advanced and Satan's Kingdom may be destroyed And strive with Men by the most forcible Arguments that the Scriptures furnish us withal to be Christ's willing People in this day of his Power And to strive with Enemies with the most piercing Convictions that those Arrows may be sharp in their Hearts to wound and heal them Christians pray let it be your great care to approve your selves to be the faithful Subjects of the Lord Jesus Christ without any reserve of either Sin or Duty 4. New Sins like new Diseases are peculiar to special times for the Cure of which we must apply proper Remedies We yearly speak of new Fevers when they are but the same with some peculiar Circumstances So in spiritual Diseases several times have their several dangers Acts 20.29 After my departing shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock v. 30. Therefore watch c. and v. 25. And now behold I know that ye all among whom I have gone Preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more When ravening Wolves can no more worry then Seducers will be busie to pervert and when watchful Shepherds are taken away 't is then time for the Sheep of Christ to be sensible of their danger that they may neither be frighted nor flattered out of the Fold of Christ Prop. IV. IV. While the Sense of the Death of any Eminent Minister is fresh upon us we should take that advantage of getting an abiding benefit When the Iron is hot then is time to strike to fashion it into that useful form that it must abide in till it is worn out Whose heart is heated and mollified by such a Providence as this let it not cool again without some powerful Improvement 1. The Circumstances of such a Providence which are most affecting will wear off if there be not great care to preserve them in their present vigor We are in many things more affected with the Circumstances than with the things themselves Do but observe it in those signal Passages of God's providence towards you which you did presently put down in writing to keep by you when some Years after you read them doth it not bring to mind those Circumstances that were forgotten 2. Several things of great moment fall out but once in our Life and perhaps you 'll find this to be such a Providence when you considerately consider of it I think every one that will but seriously reflect upon the Providences of his own Life will find himself furnished with instances of this kind both in the things of this Life and a better Some speak peremptorily that every one hath some time of his life some providential offers of worldly advantage which if it be let slip they never have a second offer like it Nay more they say there 's never any one under overwhelming pressures but if he had complied with some hints of Providence he might have prevented it I will not divert strictly to examine