Baxter - BX5207 B3 A2 1696

16 Eliíña)s G N T' in Rutland-Houfe (where I then lived, and hadgotten it to be Licenfed"for Preach- ing-work ) and., beftowed his Minifterial-Ailifance gratis upon me. Thereupon he attended every Lord's-Day in the P4orning; and every other ThurfdayMorn- ing at a Weekly LeEnre. Thus were we yoked together in our Minifterial Work and Trutt, to our great Mutual Satisfa&ion : and becaufehis Refpe&s to Ate Li- ving and Dyitik were very great ; I cannotbut the more refent the Lofs. I had the benefit and pleafüre of always free accefs to him, and infant Converfation with him ; And by whom could I profit, more than by himfelf? So ready washe to Communicate his Thoughts tome, and fo clearly would he reprefent them; as that I may truly fay, itwas greatly my own fault, if he left me not wifer than he found me at all times. When after about four years and a halfhe had continu'd with me, he was then difabled from going forth any more to his Miniftei ial-Work . fo that what he did, he perform'd it all the rehdue of his Life, in hie own FTired-houfè: where he open'd his Doors Morningand Evening every day to all that svould come to joya in Family-Worthip with him: to whom he Read the Holy Scriptures, fromwhence he Preached the Kingdomof God, and Taught thofe things which concern the Lord 7efus Cbrift with all confidence, no man forbidding him i even as one greater than himfelf had done before him, Aft. xxviii. 3o, 35. Butalas his growing Diftempers and Infirmities took himalfo offfrom this; confining him firft to biz Chamber, and af- ter to his Bed. There, thoughpain ( for he had a very great Stone in his Kid- ney ) and Sicknefs, his Body waited ; but his Soul' abode rational, ftrong in Faith and Hope, arguing it felf into, and prefervingit felf in, that Patience, Hope, and Joy, through Grace, which gave hint great Vppott, and kept out Doubts and Fears concerning his Eternal Welfare. On Tuefdsy Morning about Fourof the Clock Decemb. R. 1691, he Expired , thoughhe expe&ed anddefired his Diilòlution to nave been on the Lord'sDay be- fore, which with Joy, tome, he call'd an High Day, becaufe of his defired Change Expefred then by him. He had frequently 'afore his Death, own'd to me, his continuance in the fame Sentiments that hehad difcover'd to theWorld before, in his Polemical Difcourfes, efpecially about Jaftification , and the Covenants of Works and Grace, &c. And being ask'd at my requelt, whether he had changed his former thoughts about thole' things ; his Anfwer was, That he had told the World fuffícientlly his Judgment concerning thera by Words and Writing, and thither he referr'd M.en. And then lifting up his eyes to Heaven, he uttered thefe words; Lord, pity,pity, pity the Ignorance of thispoor City. On Monday the day before, about Fis'e in the Evening, Death fent his Har- binger to Summon him away. A great trembling and coldnef awaken'd Nature, and extorted Strong Cries fromhim for Pity and Redrefs from Heaven : which Cries and Agony continu'd for fonte time, till at length he ceas'd thofe Cries : an&fo lay in an Obfervant, Patient Expe&ation of his Change. And being once asked by a Grave Matron, and his Faithful Friend, and Conftant Attendant upon him in his Weaknefs (Worthy and Faithful Mrs. Bufhel his Houfe keeper) Whe- ther he knew her or no, Requefting fome Signification- of it if he did: he foftly Cryed , Death, Death And now hefelt the benefit of hisformer Preparations for fuch a Trying-Time as this. And indeed, the laít words that he fpake to me ( being inform'd that I was come to fee him) were thefe, O I thank him; I -thank him : and turning his Eye tome, he faid, The Lord teach you to dye. He, a few days before, Si, had thus exprelt his heart tome: I have done what I could for you. Should I recover ( which I expe& not ) I Ihould Stiltedly give my Pains to none before you. He ( truly) judg'd my Flock to be Sober, Peacea- ble, andLoving, and far from Fa&ioufnefs and Cenforioufnefs. Thus Liv'd and Dy'd this Excellent,andHoly Perfon: fo eminently farnifh'd for, fervent in, intent upon, and faithful to, his Minifterial Trutt and Work Wherein his Labours and Saccefs were very great. His Perfonwas Tall and Slen- der, and -dtooped much : his Countenance Compos'd and Grave, fomewhat incli- ning to Smile. He liada piercing Eye, a very Articulate Speech, and his Deport, ment rather Plain than Complemental. , He had a great Command over his Thoughts. He had that happy faculty, fo as to anfwer the Chara&er that was given of him by a Learned Man Diffenting from him, after Difcourfe with him ; which was, that,He couldfaywhat he would, and he couldprove what hefaid.He was usft intent

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