LIFE OF RICHARD BARTER. 105 good. We, therefore, resolved that some of the abler ministers should often voluntarily help them'; but all the care was how to do . it without offending them. . " It fell out seasonably, that the Londoners of that county, at their yearly feast, collected about thirty pounds, and sent it to me by that worthy man, Mr. Thomas Stanley, of Bread-street, to set up a lecture for that year. Whereupon we covered all our designs under the name of the Londoner's Lecture, which took off the offence. We chose four worthy men, Mr. Andrew Tristram, Mr. Henry Oasland, Mr. Thomas Baldwin3 and Mr. Joseph Treble, who undertook to go, each man his day, one a month, which was every Lord's daybetween the four, and to preach at those places which had most need twice on a Lord's day. To avoid all ill con- sequences and offence, they were sometimes to go to abler mén's congregations ; and wherever they came, to say somewhat always to draw the people to the honor and special regard of their own pas- tors, that, how weak soever they were, they might see that we came net to draw away the people's hearts from them, but to strengthen their hands, and help them in their work. "This lecture did agreat deal of good ;. and, though the Lon- doners gave their money but that one year, when it was once set on foot, we continued it voluntarily, till the ministers were turned out, and all these works went down together. " So much of the way and helps of those successes, which I mention, because many have inquired after them, as willing, with their own flocks, to take that course which other menhave by ex- perience found to be effectual. "* Such was Baxter as a pastor ; and such were his successes. In answer to the inquiry how far theprogress of religion in other places might be supposed to correspond with what he testifies concern- ing Kidderminster, he, says, " I must bear this faithful witness to those times, that, as far as I was acquainted, where before therewas one godly preacher, there were then six or ten ; and, taking one place with another, I conjecture:there was a proportionable increase oftruly godly people, not counting heretics, or perfidious rebels, or church disturbers, as such. But this increase of godliness was not in all places alike. For, in some places where the' ministers'were formal or ignorant, or weak or imprudent, contentious or negligent, the parishes were as bad as heretofore. And in some places, where the ministers had excellent parts and holy lives, and thirsted after the good of souls, and wholly devoted themselves, their time, and strength, and estates, thereunto, and thought no' pains or cost too much, there abundance were converted to serious godliness. And *Narrative, Part I. pp. 83-9G. VOL. I. 14
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=