HIGGINSON. 371 ministry, vowed revenge against him. Accordingly, he resolved on a journey to London, to complain against him in the high commission court. All things being ready for his journey, as he was mounting his horse, he was seized with insupportable pain of body, and most dreadful horrors of conscience; and being conducted into the house, died in a few hours.. During Mr. Higginson's abode at Leicester, a clergyman lived in the townwho was a doctor in divinity, a prebendary in a cathedral, and chaplain to his majesty; but very seldom preached. Indeed, when he did preach, he dis- covered so much ostentation, that the people mostly attended upon Mr. Higginson's edifying preaching, rather than his affected and empty harangues. This greatly displeased the, doctor, who embraced every opportunity of expressing his resentment and indignation against Mr. Higginson ; and declared he would certainly drive him out of the town. This doctor was nominated by the sheriff to preach the assize sermon, and had three months notice to make preparation. During the whole of this period, he was, however, unable to provide a sermon to his own satisfaction. About a fortnight before the time was expired, he expressed his feats of ever being provided ; when his friends urged him to attempt it again ; and sig- nified, that, if there was no other alternative, Mr. Higginson, being always ready, might be procured. The doctor, being exceedingly averse to the last proposal, studied with all his might to prepare an agreeable sermon, but without success. So the very night preceding the assize, he got a friend to prevail upon Mr. Higginson to supply his place; which he did, to the great satisfaction of the audience. Afterwards, when all the circumstances were known, and become the common topic of conversation, the doctorwas so mortified and confounded, that he left the town, declaring he would never come into it any more. While Mr. Hig- ginson, therefore, continued highly respected in the place, the learned doctor was driven out.t Mr. Higginson was afterwards chosen by the mayor and aldermen to be the town-preacher. He thanked them for the honour which they conferred upon him; but, because he could not with a good conscience conform, he declined the offer, recommending to them Mr. John Angel, then a * Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b. iii. p. 71, 72. + Ibid. p. 72, 73.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=