LANCASTER-PEACOCK. 203 Mr. Peacock was a very godly minister of Christ, and a rare example of humility and holiness in the religious education of his scholars, and in his extraordinary concern for both the bodies and souls of poor distressed christians. Notwithstanding his eminent grace and excellent piety, he endured, in his last sickness, the most remarkable spi- ritual conflict. He was brought even to the suburbs of hell, and thence plucked as a brand from the fire. The enemy of his peace was permitted to come upon him as an armed man ; but God restored comfort to his dejected soul, bound up his broken spirit, and poured the precious balm of Gilead into his wounded and bleeding conscience. For nearly three weeks after the commencement of his affliction, his time was almost wholly employed in serious devotion and holy converse with God, and he was full of most heavenly consolations. He said his hope was firmly fixed on the rock Christ Jesus. He hoped the Lord would give him a place among his saints, though it were in the lowest room. He thanked God, that he had no trouble of conscience ; and that the Lord did not suffer Satan to vex him. But afterwards calling to some of his friends, he addressed them as follows Peacock. I thought I had been in a good state, but I see it nowfar otherwise. My conscience lays these things against me. I brought up my scholars in gluttony, letting them eat their fill of meat when they lived with me. While I was talking, they did undo themselves. I did unad- visedly expound places of scripture at the table ; and for these things I now feel a hell in my conscience. I have procured my own death, by often eating like a beast. ,Friend. How do you do? P. Sin, sin, sin! F. What doth any lie on your conscience ? P. Yea, my inconsiderateness: I did cut too much meat to breakfast. But God be thanked there is no greater. As we must not extenuate, so neither must we too much aggra- vate our sin. Let drunkards' and gluttons have those terrible horrors. I thank God, I never continued in any known sin against my conscience.-(He afterwards with bitterness exclaimed,) Adamnable wretch. Oh, howwoeful and miserable is my state, that I must converse with hell- hounds. The Lord hath cursed me: the event sheweth it. I have no grace. I was a foolish, vain -glorious, hypocrite. It is against the course of God's proceeding to save me. He hathotherwise decreed : he cannot.
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