WROTH. 469 able. Amidst the general consternation, Mr. Wroth .cast kway his violin,and falling onhis knees in the midst of the company, most fervently prayed for the blessing of God upon this alarming providence. It is further added, that from this time he becamea changed man, of which he gave full proof by his faithful ministry and exemplary life.* Mr. Wroth no sooner felt the power of divine grace, than he discovereduncommon concern for the souls of his people. He presently became a laborious and faithful preacher, and his labours were not in vain. He was instrumental in the conversion of, many souls ; among whomwas Mr. Walter Cradock, who became his excellent fellow-labourer in the vineyard of Christ. His way of preaching, however, soon roused the malice of his enemies, and rendered himobnox- ious to his superiors. It is recorded, that " the pious Mr. Wroth, with a great many devout and conscientious divines, severely telt the persecutions of the times, and were sus- pended from their livings for not reading the cursed Book of Sports on the Lord's day."t In the year 1655 theBishop of Llandaff preferred articles against him in the high com- mission court, threatening to punish him according to his deserts. His lordship calls him " a noted schismatic," and saysthat he led many simple people after him, and wilfully persisted in his schismatical course. The year following, the bishop complained of the slowness of the prosecution, and observed that this made him " persist inhis by-ways, and his followers judge him faultless." And in 1658 the good man was forced to submit, though it is not said what kind of submissionhe made.t In the year 1639 Mr. Wroth, with the assistanceof Mr. Walter Cradock, Mr. Henry Jessey, and some others, formed a church at Llanfaches, according to the model of the independents.l This society was a mixture of pTdo- baptists and antipxdobaptists. It was furnished with two ministers, as co-pastors; Mr.Wrothwas of the former deno- mination, and Mr. William Thomas of the latter. The two pastors were intimately acquainted with the indepen- dents and baptists at Bristol, by whom also they were highly respected, as appears from the records of the church in Broad Mead, Bristol. It is observed in these records, that when Mr. Wroth and other reforming ministers came from South Wales, the professors of religion used to run Thomas's MS. Hist. p. III. + Ibid. p. 112. -Wharton'sTroubles of Laud, vol. i. p. 537, 544, 555. Calamy's Continuation, vol. i. p. 47. ..marsatr.,,k.a
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