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 â—ad remove the hardness of heart and that lukewarm frame of spirit that hath â—ized upon us return O Lord to the many thousands of those that are seeking thee in â—hese Nations how long Lord wilt thou â—e angry with thy people in these Nations â—nd deny to answer their prayers O Lord thy poor people have been many â—ears pleading with thee for the Kings Maâ—esty make him indeed a Josiah a Nursing Father to thy Church make him a terror to â—vil doers and an encouragement to them â—hat do well Father thy people are waitâ—ag on thee when wilt thou return to thy â—oor broken scattered flock Lord humâ—le them for sin that hath provoked thee to â—is great heat of thy wrath thou hast â—ercy in store and waitest to be gracious â—t we are not fit for mercy But Lord â—ake thy people fit thou hast bid us ask â—at we will in thy sons name and thou wilt â—ve it Lord encrease our faith and work 〈◊〉 thy great Name and thy own Glory â—vance thy Sons Kingdom and bring down â—e Kingdom of Satan purge and purify thy Church but destroy it not thou haâ— 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 thaâ— stood in the gap to turn away thy wrath from us Lord revive conversion-work leâ— not the Womb of thy Church be barreâ— and unfruitful is thy work quite done 〈◊〉 O Lord art thou resolved to leave this Nation hast not thou many elect Souls yeâ— to be brought in dear Father hear thoâ— the Prayers of Parents for their poor Chiâ—dren do not cast off the seed of thâ— Church let them not be as unfruitâ—â—â— Branches that are fit for no use but to buâ— Lord prevent Popery and Idolatry let 〈◊〉 not leave our Children worse than our Pâ—rents left us let there be pure Doctriâ—â— Worship and discipline in thy house accorâ—ing to thy mind continue the priviledâ—â— purchased with the blood of thy Son 〈◊〉 the use of thy Church which thy peâ— 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 pâ—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 â—he was restless and in several postures one said Sir are you not sore pained he said â—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 timâ— in such a place He was at present somethinâ— abashed and loath to Answer but beinâ— further urged said Sir I wisht it wouâ— Rain Learning Why said his Father whâ— Profession wouldst thou be of he Answeâ— ed I would be a Preacher Come Beâ— said the Father what didst thou wish 〈◊〉 would Rain he answered Wool Whâ— said he what Calling wouldst thou chuse he answered I would be of your calling a Clothier Samuel said the Father whâ— hadst thou a mind it should Rain He aâ— swered Money for I have a mind to be 〈◊〉 Merchant And lastly calling Edmund dâ— manding the same he answered that he dâ— sired it might Rain Plumbs for he would chuse to be a Grocer The Father beiâ— an intelligent considerate man thus obseâ— 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 â—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
20 Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto it would have done ones heart good to hear him an hour together reckoning up the mercies of God in Infancy Childhood Youth riper Age in all Estates Relations Conditions Afflictions and then magnifying the free grace of God in giving his Son for us his Spirit to us promises priviledges Gospel-ordinances c. and then the great kindness of God to his particular congregation in publick liberty for which he kept many days of thanksgiving and for national mercies yea there was not any of his Relations or in his Congregation under any Affliction Temptation but as he prayed for them so he gave God thanks for their deliverance he knit his Breast to every ones heart and case he mourned with such as mourned rejoyced with such as rejoyced God had given him a sympathizing heart 2 Cor. 11.29 he might say Who is Weak and I am not weak But especially he was deeply concerned for the Church of God both at home and abroad he gave God no rest but was the Lords dayly remembrancer standing betwixt the living and the dead in the breach that sin had made to hold off wrath He had great interest at the Throne of Grace and notably improved it by a believing prayer and filling his mouth with Arguments he had skill and will for his work often was he in the Mount and conversed with God as a Man with his Friend he had an excellent Art in humble expostulation with God surely the Church-militant parted with a Friend when he was translated to Glory it appeared in the congregation that God had set him over what weight he bore up by the dreadful consequences attending his death for thereby the people lost their priviledges for from the day of his Funeral to this day never did Non-Conformist preach in his Pulpit so that it appears for whose sake the liberty was maintained Denton hath found the smart it s well if England feel not the fatal fruits of the removal of such Pillars Methusalem dyed that year the deluge overspread the World Hippo was sacked by the Vandals immediately after Augustines death there Heedleberg taken after Pareus's death Luther dyed a little before the Wars in Germany Lord prevent temporal evils threatned that the prediction may not be accomplshed that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come Isa 57.1 this Worthy fallen in Israel speaks heavy things to England Mr. Earnestness â—n prayer Angier was very solemn and grave in all his addresses to God or in his delivering messages from God it was his usual manner before he spoke a word in prayer to pause a considerable while looking upwards composed his thoughts possessing his heart with awful apprehensions of the Divine Majesty and by mental ejaculations imploring Gods quickning presence and after a season he arrived gradually to a great degree of zeal and warmth in prayer agonizing in the duty with sweat and tears which rendered his speaking at some seasons both painful and difficult yet was he not only made up of zeal and affection but had proper and pertinent matter exact method and apt expressions Mr Harrison was wont to call him a ponderous man for every word had its weight and emphasis he had no waste words either in prayer or preaching but as his affections were Boiling so his Words were few and well weighed He did not use to be long in prayer except upon extraordinary occasions and then not tedious because variety of matter and patheticalness in the manner rendered his prayers acceptable to the joyners he propounded this Question Whether the spirit of God did ordinarily dictate matter of prayer he did conceive it might from Rom. 8 26. the spirit helpeth for we know not what we should pray for Yet he was far from Enthusiasm nor was he altogether against forms of prayer nor joyning in publick with the Liturgy though he judged that inconvenient modes of worship must be our affliction but may not be our sin when we are not in a capacity to remedy nor did he think that meer presence doth signify consent or approbation of every thing we hear As for the Lords prayer his judgment was that it was delivered chiefly by our Saviour as a pattern or platform of prayer to which as to several heads all our prayers must be referred He seldom insisted long upon a Text except when he took a Scripture before him because as he used to say a Minister may have frequent occasion in the course of his Pertinence in Preaching Ministry to return again to the same subject therefore he needs not to say all that can be said upon it at once but extract the marrow of the Text and pick out what at present he judgeth proper to the principal occasion for which he chose it and drive that Naile home yea tho a Minister should say all that he can find out upon such a Text or Subject yet he will be forced to leave some gleanings that he may return again to gather up and those as pertinent and useful as he pressed as at his first Vintage-reaping so true is that of Tertullian Adora scriptura plenitudinem I adore the fulness of the Scriptures He had a notable observation from Heb. 11.32 For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon hence he observed That a Minister must have respect not only to what he is to say but to the time he is to speak or write it in all things cannot be spoken at one time Christ taught as people were able to hear people yea the best people have but a measure of attention memory or affection good old Mr. Horrocks was wont to say I would rather leave my hearers longing than loathing And as Mr. His Catichising Angier constantly preached so he carefully Catechized the youth of his Congregation according to the Assemblies Shorter Catechism and explained it opening the principles of Religion in a plain and â—amiliar way sometimes taking an account of their proficiency and if he heard of the breakings out of sin in any of his hearers he faithfully admonished them privately and sometimes publickly sometimes sending for the persons and pleading with them with much gravity humility and Bowels of compassion Ordinarily when strangers came to settle under his Ministry â—e sent for them discoursed with them counselled instructed exhorted them thus he dealt with new Married Persons and indeed God brought several from other places to fix themselves under his Ministry for the benefit of the Ordinances His usual saying was His self-denial in receiving If God will help me to take care of my duty I will leave him to take care of my comfort his main design was to bring Glory to God in the conversion of sinners and edification of Saints the attaining of these ends was his reward when any sent him tokens of their respects he lookt at God in it and was
in thâ— Oxford Act that commenced Mar. 24. 166â— by which Ministers were banished 5 milâ— from the place where they had formerly preached it was judged expedient that 〈◊〉 also should at present withdraw from 〈◊〉 House upon that Act he begun to Traveâ— and his son-in-law with him amongst 〈◊〉 friends in Cheshire and visited several persons of quality lodging with them soâ— Weeks being kindly treated and lovingly entertained being also of very greâ—â— use and leaving his good counsels aâ— blessing where ever he came notwithstanding in that time he seemed to be out of 〈◊〉 element and longed to return home 〈◊〉 was compelled to return for wearing 〈◊〉 Boots dayly a goutish humour seizâ— on his foot he then said Come son 〈◊〉 trust God and go home so he returned to his own house and continued there without further trouble 3. He was very much afflicted with Bodily distempers and at his stomach which sorely oppressed him and he could not find ease of it by any means he could use he was advised to take Tobacco but could never deal with it 4. His very dear Wives death about two years before his own His second wivs death was a grievous and bitter affliction to him whom he had injoyed 32 years to his abundant content every way and indeed she was a dear and desirable companion very helpful in spirituals and temporals drawing evenly in the same yoke of a truely Christian temper one thing further I shall add of her noted to my hand as a peculiar privilidg and rare amongst Christians That God gave her early assurance of his love and she said also not long befor her death he had never withdrawn it from her all her time this was very observable and far different from Gods dealings with his former Wife of whom Mr. Angier faith in some remarks left in writing upon her life that tho God moved her heart to seek him from 8 years of age yet he never gave her settled assurance of his love while she lived Behold the arbitrary dealings of God with his own dear Children but God is infinitely wise in these cases But the great affliction the very accent and quintescence of his affliction was the sin and miscarriage of some of his Children this this did cut him to the very heart and lay as a continual pressing load on his Spirit his Son his only Son devoted to God not only in Christian profession but Ministerial function miscarrying under such education with such aggravations this went so near him that such words dropt from Mr. Angiers lips of bitter complaint to one related to him as shewed his heavy resentment of some burdens of that nature Tho he had paid for his Son 400 l. In a few years to the prejudicing of his own estate yet he saw it did no good and yet that was all nothing in comparison of the dishonour to God by his extravagancies his friend said Sir God hath given you much grace and He is resolved to exercise it Ah said he but it is hard very hard to bear a strange word from such a man but he could bear any thing better than sin But especially in so near a relation as the Angel of the Ephesian Church to whom it is said Rev. 2.23 Thou canst not bear them which are evil yet hast born and hast patience and for my name sake hast laboured and hast not faeinted oh sin sin in dear relations against his dearest Heavenly father cut him to the quick and Souls of a sensible spirit know what this means but God bore up this good mans heart as he did Davids with hopes and confidence in the blessed Covenant that sure and well ordered Covenant this he stuck to this he pleaded and depended upon living and dying still he spoke well of God and exercised himself in praising his name both in duties and discourses owning the hand of God in all crosses to whom he had devoted his all these various experiences helped him to compassionate and incouraging counselling of others for as was said he could speak a word in season to quiet and qualify others spirit under pressing burdens he still said hold up faith and patience wait on God and fear not for he will issue all to the best to his own Glory and your best good His usual practice was upon the evening before a fast-day His care to reform his Family to put his Children and Servants upon it to set themselves seriously about the work of preparation to search out and confess their sins he used such means as might by Gods help prove effectual for reformation both of himself and his Family and upon all such occasions of fasting or thanksgiving it was his way to inquire concerning fatherless and Widows and such as were in necessity that something might be sent to them for whom nothing was provided as he often said Not long before he fell sick His review of his life he said to one that lay with him that he slept very little in the nights adding when I lye waking in my Bed I sometimes run through the course of my whole life and if a Pen-man were ready by me I could relate many observable passages of Gods Providence about me his friend said Sir you may do well to write them down as they come into your thoughts he made no answer to that When money lent by him came in seasonably Money lent repayed he acknowledged though it was his own yet he admired and thankfully owned Gods Providence in it as if it had been a gift and said it is all one whether it was a debt or a gift so God send it in a needful time the paying of a debt is as great a mercy from God as sending a gift I must now hasten to the last scene of this holy man life His sat sickness he longed to be with Christ and our Lord had been long ripening him for Glory he loved his Masters work and his Master indulged him in his work when others were taken off he was wonderfully maintained in his lot he did not of late years preach that day he administred the Lords Supper the last Supper-day was August 12 1677. and the next Lords-day after he preached one part of the day August 19. but when he came into his house he laid his hand upon his breast and said Ah this will not do I must give over preaching which yet cut him to the heart to think of he was very weary that Night as usually he was the next day but one after he begun to have some Aguish fits and had six or seven of those fits from that time he began to decline apace when this his last sickness begun he ordered his kindsman in the house to write letters to Mr. Case his brother in law Mr. Tuckney his brother Bezaleel and others to acquaint them with his condition hoping for and desiring their prayers he expected his own Sons coming dayly out of
doors to come to that place to sin nothing but sin and sinful compliance could I think it to be and this was much set upon my heart that if I did hear it thus I should never have peace in my Conscience more and the consideration of that great loss by sâ—inning against light did much increase and aggravate my perplexity I called in a godly kinswoman and shewed her of my trouble we both considered whether it might not be a Temptation but could not find it so she said if it were a sin in me my staying from it would occasion more that the Lords day would be profaned by the wrath and bitter words of a Superior But while I could get no satisfaction they stayed for me my nearest Relation bad me never go except I was better satisfied several Messengers were sent by some that it seems would not go without me so to satisfie them I went but did not hear any of it I wish it were but it is not possible for me with my Pen to express what I felt in my Spirit in this half hour No my Tongue is not able to utter it and still its fresh upon my thoughts of conforming in this thing it s brought to my remembrance I am as it were bid to remember my terrors at such a place on this account All this put together and duly considered these Queries I make 1. Whether I ought to hear it as some press that it is a sin to forbear or whether it be not sinful in me to hear it Or whether I may sometimes as seldom as I can to avoid the penalties hear Or 2. Whether upon these accounts of my forbearance I may comfortably suffer what may be inflicted and expect support Or 3. If you grant the hearing whether may it be heard as something by the by without giving much attention or with imploying my heart with other thoughts and Ejaculations more edifying Thus have I stated my particular Case owning many Arguments that others use keeping only to my own case which may differ from others not judging what 's fit for others to do or censuring them for what they do and I should never have put the Question upon this but upon 2. accounts 1. Because divers say it is sin not to go and then my Case is sad that must sin either way 2. The other reason which was first in my thoughts before I ever heard or thought any would have held it a Duty to hear whether I could comfortably suffer in such a cause Thus I must say I have not been without many serious thoughts about it sin I would avoid Prayers and Tears and not trouble I find in my Spirit upon forbearance tho I diligently observe and I have such a Conscience that will not let me run on in the least sin but would be telling me oft of it without leaving me till I have left it at least endeavoured and prayed against it neither do I find any convenience in staying away but the sending and waiting in expectation till that 's done and loss of the Scriptures which I read at home at the same time that of separation weigh not with me it being not total but only from that which is questionable with me whether it be Worship and coming to Singing and publick Sermon Prayer however it is some comfort that Mr. Ball calls them Our Brethren of the Separation Dear Sir The Case you sent me enclosed calls aloud to the Father of Mercies and all hâ— Children for compassion and relief whicâ— in his own time he will manifest through ouâ— Lord Jesus Christ According to your desire I shall by the favour and assistance 〈◊〉 the Father of Lights freely communicate 〈◊〉 you my thoughts in this sad Case I do not apprehend any solid Argument to convince the Conscience in the grounds of dissatisfaction concerning hearing Common-Prayer mentioned in the Paper Not in the first ineffectualness of forms upon the heart 2. No hope of good by this 3. She cannot hear it without sin 4. The influence the intent of hearing had upon her heart To make these firm grounds for conscience to rest and act upon must be proved That set forms in their own nature are the proper causes of the grievances mentioned which the judgment of this good Woman doth not deny in the first ground viz. I do not deny the lawfulness of forms and the Paper it self doth clearly manifest their natural causes I conceive therefore with submission that there is much of strong temptation in the Case propounded which hath met with a double great advantage 1. The Irresolution of the judgment touching set forms whether they be lawful or unlawful obedience or sin for tho there hath been some apprehensions of lawfulness as in the first ground yet the reasons have not been of such weight as to bring the Scales of the Judgment to the ground in the case of lawfulness and there to hold them but they have been wavering and by the strong touch of dissatisfaction to forms the Scale hath been hurried down on the side of unlawfulness and fixed there which is the true cause of so great trouble mentioned in and for hearing Common-Prayer Because the good Woman hath been drawn by some external motive to act contrary to the present Sentence of Conscience or at best with a doubting Conscience which makes an action lawful in it self unlawful to him that doth it Rom. 14.5 14 19. The second great advantage this temptation hath met with is a strong prejudice deeply rooted in the affection and by length of time nourished and grown to that strength that it is become like an old grown disease too strong for the Physick made use of so that when any thing of reason is offered to the judgment tending to the health of the Soul in this Case prejudice in the affection like distempers in the Stomack doth rise up and forcibly reject it this is too manifest in the second ground and is the cause of what 's expressed in the third The remedies which by the blessing of God will be effectual to this good Woman must be suitable to the advantages given to temptation and such as may take them away As 1. to endeavour in the use oâ— Gods means with dependance upon him tâ— resolve the judgment concerning the lawfulness of joyning in forms in such Societiâ— where God calls us to attend upon his publicâ— Worship To this end I conceive there 〈◊〉 sufficient light and weight of Reason 〈◊〉 Mr. Ball 's judicious Tryal of Separation but that will not be enough unless the mind be prepared by Prayer for the guidance of the Spirit of Truth to receive that Light and by serious Meditation it prevail to scatter that darkness which causeth doubts and to dwell there as a guide this alone will Answer all the Queries If publick Worship be lawfully performed in that way then it 's a duty to joyn and the heart must be kept with all diligence
that the way of Communion between God and our Souls be not stopt 2. The cure of the old grown disease of Prejudice will need the skill of the heavenly Phisician the cause of this Prejudice was the inward Corruption of the heart which would not suffer to take gains in Gods way but inclined to flightness and weariness this corruption was much advantaged by the neglect of it at first and want of clear Conviction in the point of set-forms which was its shelter together with an opinion of serving God better The means of cure must be gradual to discern the Corruption of heart which lies at bottom the neglect of it so long a time the advantage given to it to lay them to heart humbly to confess them before the Lord to crave pardon through the Blood of Christ through purging of the heart and setling of the judgment which obtained prejudice will be prayed out and the heart and head return to soundness Whilest this cure by the blessing of God is in working special care must be taken to prevent Relapses by acting with a doubting Conscience Besides the main spoken to I observe some subtil Temptation insinuated viz. 1. That when the heart hath been in the best frame and most sensible they have been worst 2. Find no trouble of Spirit upon forbearance no wonder whilest the judgment is unresolved so great a prejudice remains and an apprehension of sin in joyning 3. Find no inconvenience in staying away but sending and waiting till that 's done and loss of Scriptures which we can read at home the same time Is loss of part of the publick Prayers of the Church no loss and is private teaching to be compared with publick reading by an Officer of the Church when they stand in competition Rom. 16.20 The God of peace bruise Satan under our feet shortly Sir I have made it my first week-days work to answer this Case and hearing of this Messenger have sealed it up which will necessitate your trouble of procuring me a Copy at your leisure for I want time to transcribe and am too weary if your thoughts differ from mine upon the Case deal freely with me The Lord accept and bless our poor endeavours remove aâ— stumbling-blocks and give light and peace to his dear Servants Pray for Yours John Angier Other instances I might add that his Counsel was asked in many important Cases and his advice was savoury and usually safe being grounded upon the Word of God having the advantage of an holy heart a clear head and long experience one only I shall subjoyn of his advice to a Minister who desired his Counsel about removing to another place of more advantage for the World and greater probability of doing good His Answer by Letter was in the Negative saying I bless God that such temptations do drive you and your people to God the establisher of Zion It was an Expression of Dr. Tuckneys to me It is ill transplanting a Tree that thrives in the Soyl. Think upon our Saviours Speech When I sent you without scrip or staff lacked you my thing and they said nothing Be not solicitous about your means or the certainty of it but set your Soul to the work and Gods secret shall be upon your Tabernacle The Minister fixed his staff where he was according to Mr. Angiers Example and Advice and never repented it Thus I have briefly given an account of Mr. Angiers solid and grave Answers to some Cases of Conscience and but a small tast for it were easie to fill a Volume with his various Letters upon like occasions to several Persons I Hasten to the part he acted upon the Stage of this World in the last Scene of his Life I mean in his Sickness the gracious words that proceeded from him for as he lived so he died his discourses were Holy Heavenly Ministring Grace to the hearers His mouth spake wisdom his tongue talked of judgment Psal 37.30 31. for the law of his God was in his heart The nearer approaches he made to Heaven still the more he breathed of Heaven and tho many yea most of what he then spake escapt the memory of Spectators or Bystanders yet some gleanings they committed to writing which are as follow Upon Thursday August 16. 1677. being in a shaking fit he was more free in discourse than ordinarily he had been and said I find my self weak and feeble and now think as much on my dear Wife as at the very first but God took course to wean me by her long Afflicton To a Mother he said Be not sharp or rash with your Children lest their affections be alienated when they commit a fault stay a while till your anger be over and then counsel and admonish them maintain love in them as well as your authority over them If it please God I could be glad to live to see the good of the Church and of my Children if not I shall dye in the faith of it that God will remember them when I am gone it may be then they will bethink themselves when they have not me to depend upon God can soon alter their temper if he please To a young Woman that lived in his Family he said As you have lived here many years and by Gods help have been of some use I am glad you are to be disposed of unto so good a Family that have been Children of the Covenant for the mercy of the Lord is upon thousands of them that fear him and though you may meet with afflictions yet I hope God will do you good and help you to bear them this was a true prediction for God laid an heavy hand of affliction upon her husband and then pluckt him away by death under some astonishing and aggravating circumstances known to the neighbourhood yet God supported her very graciously Concerning himself he said God hath made my condition comfortable in the World I have lived comfortably and have kept that which my Father left me he left me a good Portion thinking it may be that I should never be likely to get much in the world and I have left it or what is equivolent to my Children and if they make it away the will of the Lord be done This is my comfort I have left no means unused that I thought might be for their good and it may be God may bring them into straits when I am gone and when he hath brought them into the wilderness speak to their hearts My good child Betty God took away poor Betty but why should I call her poor She is rich being with her best friend I have had much grief for the loss of my dear Wife she was dear to me but her happiness I could never yet envy God hath in some measure given me an humble heart and hath helped to carry humbly in my place to Children and to servants let God have the Glory in whom alone I have comfort One said to him Sir what