Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	body_n	sin_n	soul_n	13,963	5	5.3517	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43584	A narrative of the holy life, and happy death of that reverend, faithful and zealous man of God, and minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Mr. John Angier, many years Pastor of the Church of Christ at Denton, near Manchester in Lancashire wherein are related many passages that concern his birth, education, his entrance into the ministry, discharge of his trust therein, and his death.	Heywood, Oliver, 1629-1702.	1683 (1683)	Wing H1772; ESTC R177987	61,863	136

of them and desired a Psalm to be sung and he said sing it chearfully Psal 45. It contains Christs love to the Church and the Churches love to Christ Then he appointed his Grandson to read a Chapter Jer. 23. it concerns saith he slothful Shepherds Gods Soul abhorred them and he will curse their labours they shall not profit the people they are fit for no use adding God will make a Besome and sweep all such out of his house no man said he will have a tenant that will not Till his land but let house and ground go to ruin God will take special care of his house Then he said John take counsel at your best friends they will give you good Counsel and set you good Example meddle not with wicked light and vain persons remember the words of your dying Grandfather then he desired the 14th of John to be read concerning Christs sending the Spirit Then he prayed earnestly for the Church that God would hear the Prayers of his people and return to these nations and set at liberty his Ministers and People Oh said he that God would magnify the riches of his Grace for his poor Church for the sake of Christ for we are an unworthy people but thy Son dyed to purchase the pardon of sin and reconciliation and is set at thy right hand pleading our cause Father hear him for us and be at peace with us Remember what hath been done and suffered for reformation and the precious Blood of thy Saints which hath been shed this is the seed of thy Church remember the prayers of such as are now with thee and of such as are yet alive in the behalf of their seed and the seed of thy Church and setch in such as are going astray from thee and put a stop to their course of sin rebuke that profane spirit that is gone out in the Nation revive the work of reformation of tenderness of conscience and brokenness of heart that sometimes thy people have ●ad remove the hardness of heart and that lukewarm frame of spirit that hath ●ized upon us return O Lord to the many thousands of those that are seeking thee in ●hese Nations how long Lord wilt thou ●e angry with thy people in these Nations ●nd deny to answer their prayers O Lord thy poor people have been many ●ears pleading with thee for the Kings Ma●esty make him indeed a Josiah a Nursing Father to thy Church make him a terror to ●vil doers and an encouragement to them ●hat do well Father thy people are wait●ag on thee when wilt thou return to thy ●oor broken scattered flock Lord hum●le them for sin that hath provoked thee to ●is great heat of thy wrath thou hast ●ercy in store and waitest to be gracious ●t we are not fit for mercy But Lord ●ake thy people fit thou hast bid us ask ●at we will in thy sons name and thou wilt ●ve it Lord encrease our faith and work 〈◊〉 thy great Name and thy own Glory ●vance thy Sons Kingdom and bring down ●e Kingdom of Satan purge and purify thy Church but destroy it not thou ha● appeared for thy Church many times when it hath been very low and thy people have sinned grievously against thee as we have done and thereby brought themselves into straits yet thou hast heard their cryes and wrought for thy name that it should not be polluted Zion lyes in the dust thy Church is sore broken many of thy servants are gathered to thy self 〈◊〉 they are not to be seen or heard any more in the World their prayers are ceased tha● stood in the gap to turn away thy wrath from us Lord revive conversion-work le● not the Womb of thy Church be barre● and unfruitful is thy work quite done 〈◊〉 O Lord art thou resolved to leave this Nation hast not thou many elect Souls ye● to be brought in dear Father hear tho● the Prayers of Parents for their poor Chi●dren do not cast off the seed of th● Church let them not be as unfruit●●● Branches that are fit for no use but to bu● Lord prevent Popery and Idolatry let 〈◊〉 not leave our Children worse than our P●rents left us let there be pure Doctri●● Worship and discipline in thy house accor●ing to thy mind continue the priviled●● purchased with the blood of thy Son 〈◊〉 the use of thy Church which thy pe● stand in so much need of that we and our posterity may praise thee and future generations may set their hope in God and declare what thou hast done And for the Congregation he said Thine they were and thou hast committed them to me thy p●or servant for this 46 years I have been labouring among them according to my poor ability thou hast bestowed on me I have endeavoured to bring them over to thee now I am no more to be with them Father I commit them to thee again as I have done many a time take thou the charge of them see to them provide for them double thy spirit on thy servant bless his labours among them let many Souls be brought into thy Kingdom of Grace and made fit for the Kingdom of Glory let thy word abide with them Lord tarry with thy people here send down thy Spirit so freely so plainly so sully these last words he often repeated These were the workings of his gracious heart vented Godwards in Heavenly ejaculations and utter'd in such broken expressions ●he was restless and in several postures one said Sir are you not sore pained he said ●o blessed be God I feel no pain but the flesh will stir On Wednesday Night about two a clock Aug. 29. 1677 he begun to speak after this manner I commit my self into the hands of that God who gave me my being who hath been a good God and a loving Father to me and into the hands of Jesus Christ my Saviour who loved me and gave himself for me and bare the burden of my sins and into the hands of the Holy Spirit who hath sanctified me throughout in Soul Body and Spirit And for my Children that have been a great grief of heart to me that have been very sinful good Lord pardon their sins in the Blood of thy own Son For my Son that hath greatly played the Prodigal hedg up his way with thorns and make a stone-wall bring him into such straits that he may begin to bethink himself and say In my Fathers house is Bread enough That at last he may return For my Childrens Children Lord I commit them into thy hands and all my dear Friends and their Children And for my People whom I received from thy hands to take care of and instruct to Preach thy word unto and pray for Lord thou knowest in some measure of uprightness of heart I have done it and in some measure my life hath been according to my doctrine Lord forgive the sins of my life the sins of my ministry and the sins of my People I desire to

might Rain such a tim● in such a place He was at present somethin● abashed and loath to Answer but bein● further urged said Sir I wisht it wou● Rain Learning Why said his Father wh● Profession wouldst thou be of he Answe● ed I would be a Preacher Come Be● said the Father what didst thou wish 〈◊〉 would Rain he answered Wool Wh● said he what Calling wouldst thou chuse he answered I would be of your calling a Clothier Samuel said the Father wh● hadst thou a mind it should Rain He a● swered Money for I have a mind to be 〈◊〉 Merchant And lastly calling Edmund d● manding the same he answered that he d● sired it might Rain Plumbs for he would chuse to be a Grocer The Father bei● an intelligent considerate man thus obse● ving every ones genius and being furnished with a competent estate suited to them Callings according to their wishes Bezaleel was a rich Clothier in Dedham a gracious man he died October 30. 1678. Samuel the Third Son being brought up a Merchant lived in good repute in Holland beyond Sea and there died in March 1666 7. Edmund the youngest being bound Apprentice to a Grocer went into New-England and is the only survivor hath many years kept a Grocers Shop in Cambridg there and I suppose is living at the writing hereof But to retun to the Eldest Son John the subject of this discourse Being trained up a Scholar proved a notable instrument of Glory to God and good to souls in his generation And thus they all answered the ends of their education and had good success a good Item to Parents in disposing their children to Callings rather to consult their Childrens capacities and inclinations than their own humours and conveniencies things do always best when voluntarily chosen when the stream of natural affections runs to the channel of an adapted Vocation it bears down all oppositions and attains the desired Port of a sutable success in the most arduous enterprises hence Dr. Harris saith he never attemtped any thing within the verge of his Calling ●hough it seemed difficult in the entrance but with Gods blessing on his industrious prosecution he sound it feasible and facile but nil invitâ Minervâ that which is attempted against heart or without an adequate capacity goes on heavily and seldom renders the professor of his Calling fit to manage it to purpose or arrive at any eminency in it because it goeth against the grain wisely therefore did the Athenians who brought their youth into a place where the Utensils for all Callings were laid up that making their choice thereof each might have the Calling he had thereby chosen And as his proficiency at School was according to his time so divine grace did be times begin to reach and touch the heart of this our young Timothy 2 Tim. 3.15 who from a child had known the holy Scriptures for at Twelve years of age the Lord dealt with his conscience by some rays of illumination and darts of conviction which more effectually were fastened in him by Mr. Rogers Ministry after his fathers death but from his first conviction he had much trouble upon his spirit which he kept much to himself and often retired into a corner being ashamed that any one should know of his heart-grief his Mother being a choice and gracious Christian often spake to him of Soul concerns wept and prayed much for him At a competent age his Father sent him to the University of Cambridg he was admitted in Immanuel Colledge where notwithstanding his pious education and hopeful impressions before mentioned he sell off to vain companie and loose practices see the slipperiness of youth to the great grief of his parents and his own present guilt and after bitterness in the review There he continued and commenced Batchellor in Arts before his fathers death who being sick sent for this his son to come home from Cambridg but he came so late that in the afternoon as he approached towards Dedham he met the people going from his fathers Funeral which had a very deep impression upon him God took hold of this occasion more effectually to awaken his conscience and Alarum him to his duty Mr. Angier was kept a season at his mothers house followed his studies attended on Mr. Rogers Ministrie this Mr. John Rogers of Dedham was a mirrour and miracle of zeal and success in his Ministerial labours it was wont to be said Come let 's go to Dedham to get a little fire he was Lecturer there and preached once on Lordsday and a Lecture on the Tuesday to which multitudes of people flock'd from the parts adjacent and his plain preaching was blessed with a large Harvest however some expressions and gestures he used would now seem indecent yet the gravity of the man and general reverence people had for him rendered them not only not offensive but sometimes very effectual his taking hold with both hands at one time of the supporters of the Canopy over the Pulpit and roaring hideously to represent the torments of the damned had an awakening force attending it Mr. Thomas Goodwin after Dr. Goodwin when he was a Fellow in Cambridg and an eminent Preacher much followed and honoured occasionally hearing Mr. Rogers fell under such convictions that he after professed that he lookt on himself neither as a Christian nor a Preacher one passage Mr. Angier hath oft mentioned That Mr. Rogers being called to Preach a Marriage Sermon I think insisted on the Wedding garment God did so set in with the word that the Marriage-Solemnity was turned into bitter mourning so that all the Ministers that were at the Marriage were imployed in comforting or advising consciences awakened by that Sermon Oh Blessed espousals betwixt Christ and Souls such sorrow was better than carnal Laughter and laid a solid foundation of Spiritual joy A Gentlewoman that Travelled ten Miles to hear plain and powerful Mr. Rogers being in great troubles of conscience desired some conference with him and after she had related her condition telling long and sad stories of her had heart sad state Gods wrath due to her danger of dropping into Hell c. the good old man hearing all this at last started up and fetched some frisks on the floor and cried out God be thanked God be thanked the Gentlewoman thought the old man mad and was strangely surprised to see him rejoyce in her sorrow But he knew what he said and rejoyced in that sorrow that was the seed-plot of so blessed an harvest for that Gentlewoman proved an eminent Saint and a lovely Consort in exile and tribulation to a very holy and eminent Minister of Christ as her own sister hath told me Mr. Angiers manner was when he attended Mr. Rogers Lecture after Sermon when others staid discoursed dispatched business he for his part went home to his chamber meditated prayed work'd the Sermon upon his heart for about an hour and thereby imprinted it so lastingly upon his memory that

expect his accompanying them but rather desired them to go a● long with him to Ringley and after Family duty he went into a private place to pray where he found so much of Gods presenc● and help in a special manner for his Sister that he was satisfied that God would do he good they both went with him to Ringl● to hear Mr. Angier where God did la● hold on her heart by a sound conviction an● deep humiliation formerly she was wont t● scoff at Religion now she set upon th● serious practice thereof so far as coul● be judged and her Husband was much restrained and both of them as the● went home on the Monday heard M● Angier at the Lecture at Bolton she being soeverpressed in Spirit could not for bear but went to Mr. Angier at Widow Norris's house and had some talk with him she stuck stedfast in Religion to he● dying day But I shall forbear relatin● any more particulars As for his remove from Ringley to De● ton it was thus he continued suspended at Ringley near half a year and the● was no hopes of his restoration to 〈◊〉 former liberty there and at this time De● ton Chappel in Manchestor-parish was vacant Mr. Broxholm being banished thence also by a suspension the People seeking for a Godly Minister several were proposed Mr. Hyde of Norbury and Mr. Hyde of Denton had pitched on Mr. Henry Root but Mr. Holland of Denton consented not he told them of a little man at Ringley one Mr. Angier and saith he I hear much good of him if you will give him a call you shall have my heart and hand Accordingly they sent to him he came and preached at Denton they generally approved of him chose him he came thither in the year 1632. Preached his first Sermon on Easter-Sunday when Mr. Holland and Mr Hide of Norbury and M. Hide of D●nton brought him thither he said by Gods grace he would take care of his work but would look to them under God for Maintenance there he continued to his dying day notwithstanding all the publick and personal vicissitudes by which he met with varions interruptions which was 45 years 4 months His remove to a greater distance did not serve him but even at Denton ●he found adversaries and withall he found God his Friend there who raised up for him many friends hear himself relating how the Lord dealt with him in his Epistle Dedicatory befor his book called An help to better hearts for better times Pinted Anno Dom. 1647. Thus he saith Tho in Nine or Ten years at Denton-Chappel I preached not above two separated years to my best remembrance withont interruption and in that time was twice excommunicated tho Sabbath-assemblies were sometimes distractedly and sorrowfully broken up and my departure from habitation and people often forced no means left in sight of return yet through the serven● prayers of the Church God renewed liberty It was muttered that Mr. Angier had an hand in a certain Book that reflected upon the Bishop upon which he was much hazzarded being in danger of being brought into the High-Commission Court I find that the Book was found in Stockport importing some reflections upon the Arch-Bishop Speech in Star-Chamber and though Mr. Angier was suspected of it yet he professet● his innocency in his Diary But Purse vants came to apprehend him and this trouble occasioned him to sell the Land at Ded●ham which his Father left him worth 40 l. year turning it into Money as being less● visible and so lesse subject to danger Go● hid his person as he did Jeremiah an● Baruk some Lords-days he hath preach● in his House because he could not safely go unto the Chappel sometime he travelled into Essex abode there with his friends till the storm was blown over R. R. a good stout man once riding with him near to Huntington they were in danger of robbing but he taking a Pistol into his hand gave Mr. Angier the Case and God moved the Thieves to withdraw from them He once met a Pursevant on Delamere Forrest Mr. Angier knew the Pursevant at a great distance and his Wife was much afraid but the Pursevant passed by and discovered him not there was also one Starkey ●n agent of the Spiritual-Court at Chester ad●erfary to Mr. Angier who frequently came and punished him whom God took Mr. Holland Travelled to York for him once if not oftener where he had an old Friend in great office who told him he would do any ●ny thing for him he desired Mr. Angier ●old me as he was once going to York to get ●ff his suspension or excommunication ●rovidence cast him at Wakefield on the ●ords day hearing Mr. Lister Vicar there ●ked his Preaching exceeding well and ●erceiving that the Lords-Supper was to be ●dministred that day in the Church Mr. Angier stayed joyned with the Assembly ●ad his liberty of gesture found the Lord ●aciously present with him in the ordinances that day having got a good repast he went on in his journey prospered in his business he often enquired after Mr. Lister to whom he bore a great respect and indeed he had Catholick Principles and loved Aliqui● Christ● any thing of Christ wherever h● saw it and continued this good old Purita● spirit to his dying day Mr. Lister thoug● his Senior succeeded him being 80 years 〈◊〉 age had been Vicar of Wakefield 50. yea● was buryed there Jan. 17. 1678. When these storms were blown over an● New confusions arose in the Kingdom of C● vil dissentions and open Wars he kept in h● work and station and tho he adhered to th● Parliaments part yet his affectionate pray● for the King temperate spirit and continuing faithful to his principles procure him good will from his greatest adversarie he maintaining a good correspendence wi● all sober persons of different persuasions 〈◊〉 politicks and Ecclesiasticks instances where● I could give and testimonials concerning him of his inoffensive behaviour even fro● such as much differed from him but forbear his own works justify him before men About this time his first Wife dyed D● 14. Anno Dom. 1642. shortly after she h● born him a Daughter she had been exce●ing tender in her constitution of body 〈◊〉 of a troubled spirit he had some exce● with her though she was a gracious woman ' yet being of a melancholy constitution Satan took great advantage in casting his fiery darts into such combustible matter which occasioned much affliction both to her self and her husband though he bore it with unparallel'd wisdom and patience she died in the beginning of the Wars giving intimation to her husband who it was she desired might succeed her which in convenient time he complyed with and about a year after did ●arry her it was Mrs. Margaret Moseley of Ancots a very prudent gracious Gentlewoman they were married very publickly in Manchester Church in the heat of the Wars which was much taken notice of as a great act of faith in them both Mr.

could not but enquire now it went with the Church of God at home and abroad that he might accordingly order his prayers and for this reason its said reverend Mr. Hooker of New Englan● was a great inquirer after News and h● said he did it upon the same account and thus did holy Nehemiah make inquiry no● out of Athenian curiosity but Christian conscientiousness to sympathize with the Church of God he had no hand in public● revolutions hence it was that he injoyed 〈◊〉 much peace and that all parties had an hig● esteem of him in the Lord Delamere appearance for his Majesties Interest Mr● Angier stayed at home though his hear● and prayers were that way yet he foresa● the event and in that God graciously hear● his prayers for preventing the effusion o● blood and bringing in the King in so 〈◊〉 markable a manner the year following fo● which Mr. Angier kept solemn days 〈◊〉 thankfulness though he also predicted a● approaching storm on many of the Minister of Christ that could not run the same lengt● that others complyed with and at an e●ercise at Eccles he gave remarkable hints o● what was coming on from Exod 14 1● in a full assembly of several sorts of hearen but so wisely that the most malicious Mo● could not take advantage from his Sermo● and indeed he might be allowed to spea● what others could not his integrity an● loyalty his uprightness and peaceblen● being deeply engraven in the Conscienc● of all that knew him and his name bei● precious to all that heard of him when the Act of Uniformity came out he preached very plainly on Esther 4.1 It was very admirable to observe what pat and proper Scriptures he chose pertinent to publick or personal occasions and how sweetly and sutably he accommodated his matter thereto His most natural Genius led him to be a Son of Consolation he had a peculiar gift in opening the sweet promises of the Gospel and pouring oil into wounded consciences incouriging drooping Spirits answering sad objections to abundant satisfaction yet he could and sometimes did act the part of a Boanerges to thunder out the menaces of the Law against secure and sturdy Sinners and the Lord blessed his Ministry both ways for levelling high Mountains and lifting up valley-Valley-Souls He was an excellent Text-man a solid Expositor his way was comparing one Scripture with another wherein he had a singular art shewing the main scope of the Holy Ghost therein raising pertinent doctrins therefrom though he had consulted with Expositors of which he had store of choice ones yet he made no ostentation of his acquaintance with them by numerous quotations but extracted the marrow out of them and pitcht upon what semed to him most proper He did not concern himself with controversies in the Pulpit but preached the most plain practical experimental truths and often inculcated the Essentials of Religion still teaching the people knowledg insomuch as the Christians that were bred under his Ministry were solid substantial knowing and peaceble professors few warping off to the errors of the times and i● he had occasion to deal with the petulan● S●epticks or D●gmatizers of this age h● rather laid down positive truths and solidly confirmed them than follow the wil● vagaries of Erratick Spirits by disproving them judging with Zuinglius Veris intellectis falsa etiam haud difficulter agnoscunter when truth is discovered errour is detected and is ether acknowledged o● falls of it self But indeed he loved no● disputes nor did his studieis or genius carry him out to controversies except Gods glory and the necessary defence of truth required it and then also he managed things so calmly fairly that he won adversaries and won credit to his cause Dissentions were his burden unity his delight and God gave him his desire for the Divisions of Reub● he had sad thoughts of heart and for disputes among Divines was ready to breath● out with honest Summerh●ld that sad word quis me tandem liberabit ab ista rixosa Theologia who at length will set me free fro● this brawling kind of Theology For Mr. Angier still expressed a sad regret upon such unwelcome occasions of dispute and conten●ion his usual expression being This is ●edious work and goes on wearily 'T is true he was a great peace-maker in sacred or civil broises if any of his neighbours had quarrels with one another the matter was brought before him and his wisdome sound out some expedient to reconcile ●hem and his grave exhortations usually prevailed for accommodation if not he laid ●t deeply to heart and still made it the matter of his prayer but God ordinarily blessed him with success and gave him the bles●ing pronounced to peace-makers to be called one of the Children of God in some cases of difference I have known him said ●ne that had reason to know it and is faithful ●n the relation give Money out of his Purse to compose some quarrels and ●tho those days were most grievous to him yet when his successe answered his designs the issue and the review were sweet to his spirit and he did not repent his weary labours Mr. Angier did not offer to the Lord that which cost him nothing he ingaged his whole man in that which he went about not doing the work of the Lord negligently he took great pains in studying his Sermons and they were elaborate full fraught with Spiritual marrow very exact no waste word or repetitions but went on smoothly pertinently sententiously though he studie● matter rather than words and never use notes in all his life but took pains to comm● his Sermon to memory which he had before diligently penned he stood not to loo● proofs but repeated the words of the Scriptures he quoted exactly yet memoriter 〈◊〉 improving them to the present occasion holding up his hands all the time of his Sermon speaking with an even audible voice with much ardency and intention both 〈◊〉 Spirit and Speech his Sermons were n● long nor full of heads but well compact● and me hodical which is an help to memory and under those few particulars he ha● pertinent and plain inlargements he preached longer in his younger days and in his old age about an hour scarce any more 〈◊〉 less and it exceedingly spent him usually sweating at his coming out of the Pulpit warming a Scarlet Cloth and laying it on his Breast for he was very subject to catch cold after preaching and I have hear● him speak of old Mr. Rogers that in his younger days when he came out of the Pulpit one must have stayed him to have discoursed with him then another in the open air when the pores are open but he found sensible prejudice by it and learned to take more care of himself for people did not consider it It was littel less than a Miracle that a man of such a weak constitution as Mr. Angier was could bear up so long under such day●y and indefatigable labours his constant preaching

grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctifyed it was an excelent seasonable and pathetical discourse and well worthy to be annexed to this present relation if the worthy Author ●ad judged it fit however the solemnities of that day will not easily be forgot●en Thus the best must die Zech. 1 5. ●our Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever the holi●st men cannot plead for an exemption or expect Enochs priviledg of a Translation only to the godly deaths sting is pluckt ●ut this swelling Jordan is driven back the passage is rendred easy and safe to the heavenly Pilgrim God brought this ●aithful watchman through his long and boysterous sea to a safe harbour in a ●asonable time and if we imbark in the ●ame ship of the Church and have our Lord Jesus with us as our faithful and skilful pi●t though in storms and tempests he be as it were asleep yet believing prayer will awake him and he will rebuke 〈◊〉 Winds and Sea and there shall be calme and the Ship shall presently be at land and the passengers shall b●●afe I have now dispatched the History 〈◊〉 Mr. Angiers life as far as matters o● cur to our present observation a● have drawn it thus far on till this Thre● of his life be cut off and lets hi● drop into the Grave and so cuts o● the line of our Historical account 〈◊〉 him THere are yet two things behind which shew something of the breathings o● his gracious soul living and dying 1. The first is some observables gather● out of his own Diary under his own hand 2. His dying Speeches prayers counsel● and admonitions to those about him in 〈◊〉 last sickness Both these declare much of Gods Grace ●nd manifest the Holy exactness of his serious and savoury Spirit The first is a considerable paper respecting his frame of spirit in his younger days and reviewed and revsied in his elder years 〈◊〉 runs thus I do now seriously resolve between God and my own Soul to read his word diligently morning and evening before private prayer thereto adjoyned and do purpose to be constant in respect of time there●o to be allotted to wit in the morning before Chappel if it may be with convenience or otherwise without delay when return from the Chappel at Night between 5 and 6 of the Clock if extraordinary occasions hinder me not because my spirits being fresher than after supper I shall 〈◊〉 the fitter to do God acceptable service 〈◊〉 do likewise resolve to be diligent in my ●udy every day for the space of 6 hours ●t least no day to be overflipped without ●he full accomplishment of them I likewise promise faithfully to God and my own Soul ●o refrain as from the common sins of the ●me to wit Drunkenness Licenciousness 〈◊〉 the like so to strive against those sins 〈◊〉 am by nature most addicted to and for ●e prevention of the like faults to shun 〈◊〉 the occasions thereunto leading enticing or provoking as bad company l●scivious talk or excess in the use of th● Creature the which that I may perfor● according to Gods will and pleasure I d● dain all my own abilities and fly to his infinite mercy desiring his special help an● assistance his spirit to instruct me his spirit to direct me his spirit to sanctify me th● I may be kept blameless being without sp● till the day of his appearance my des● hath been is and shall be upon my bended knees for the furtherance of these motion begun and kindled by his holy spirit which I hope will cherish them till th● flame into an holy fire of Heavenly conversation the Life of Virtue the Glory 〈◊〉 Grace Written with my own hand April 6. 16●● John Angier Perused with comfort May 1. 165● July 19. 1657. I found a paper in 〈◊〉 study of May 9. 1626. A Bill for Phys● when I was in a Feaver in Cambridg abo●● 31 years since so long hath God lengthened out my life My going to New England was ve● forward Mr. Newman earnestly invited 〈◊〉 I received Letters from Bristol April 〈◊〉 1630. That I was expected there to ta● Shipping for N. E. this April and had m●● kindness offered me yet the Lord over-ruled it Upon the coming on of troubles I had comfort from Zeph. 2.3 It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Josiahs mercy was not to see the evil Jeremiahs mercy was to be secured in the midst of sight My Wife dyed December 12th One Night after her death the Children were in the Parlour Praying together and hearing a noise I went to the door and heard my Son at Prayer with his Sister he acknowledged to God that they had despised Father and Mother contrary to Gods command and therefore God hath taken away their Mother he desired God that they might not provoke him by their sin to take away their Father also which did much affect me Upon a recovery from a sickness unexpectedly I was much affected with Isa 33. ult and in prayer the Lord brought to my mind Matt. 8.9 affliction is Gods servant if he bid it come it comes if he bid it go it goes At Bolton I was sent for to visit a godly man that was sick at Great-Leaver found him in a comfortable condition he told me he received his first comfort by my Ministry ●at Denton Preaching on 1 Cor. 5.7 Christ ●ur passover is sacrificed for us ten years ago Blessed be God who gave me this encouragement He notes in the margent The fruits of my labours manifested ten years after Nov. 30. 47. A day of thanksgiving was kept with some friends for the recovery of a Child that had been sick it should seem they were in the journey and had small hopes of recovery the very same day they prayed the Child revived at night and gathered strength in the journey sensibly● they were by the sickness of the Child detained against their own minds and the minds of the people but God had a special hand in it for God sent the Pestilence into the Family where they were ●o sojourn and had they gone at the time purposed they had gone into an infected house and had been shut up there June 18 71. God gave rest to our aged afflicted Mother about 3 in the afternoon it being Lords day it is observable that the day after God took away our Mother and that supply from her sailed God se● me notice of some supply out of my own estate as he had formerly done when the rent of my Land fell in Essex Phil● 4.19 Novem. 19. 72 Died good Bishop W●kins of the Stone a great loss he d●ed comfortably and rejoyced in his moderation whilst he was Bishop his deat● was much lamented in the City of Chester Aug. 22. 73. upon hearing that Mr. Case going from home 4 or 5 days they returning found themselves Robbed to a great value he