492 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. to heaven, exclaimed, " He is overcome, overcome, through the strength of my Lord and only Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom I am now going, to keep a sabbath in glory." The next morning, being the Lord's day, March 28, 1644, he entered upon the joy of his Lord, aged sixty-two years. " He was a pious man," says Fuller, " and a painful and useful preacher, but disaffected to the discipline of the church. Mr. Clark denominates him " a hard student, a solid and judicious divine, and a workman who needed not to be ashamed. He was, one of whom the world was not worthy; a messenger one of a thousand, and a faithful minister of Christ. Hewas a Boanerges to brawny-hearted sinners ; and a Barnabas to broken-hearted saints. His sweet elocution pleasantly set forth his holy and judicious sermons. His sermons delivered to the congregationwere printed in his actions. In doctrine, he shewed uncorrupt- ness, gravity, sincerity; and in life, he shewed himself a pattern of good works. He was a conscientious noncon- formist, and an avowed enemy to the pride and power of the prelates ; for which he cheerfully and courageously bore his share of sufferings."t Mr. Herring was eminently distinguished for meekness and love to his worst enemies. This will appear from the following anecdotes :-Dr. Lamb, a violent persecutor of the puritans, especially of Mr. Herring, being on a journey in the country, and having the misfortune to break his leg, was brought to the same inn where Mr. Heiring was stopping all night. The good man was called upon that night to exercise in the family, and prayed so fervently and affectionately for the doctor, as greatly surprised those who were present. Being asked why he manifested so much respect towards a man so unworthy of it, he replied, " The greater enemy he is, the more need he bath of our prayers. We mast prove ourselves to be the disciples of Christ by loving our enemies, andpraying for our persecutors."-On another occasion, Archbishop Laud having said, " I will pickle that Herring of Shrewsbury," the good man meekly replied, " If he will abuse his power, let it teach Christians the more to use their prayers : that the enemies of the non- conformists may see they have a God to trust in, when trampled upon by ilhdisposed men."$ 4t Fuller's Worthies, part iv. p. 47. + Clark's Lives, p. 163-168. t Ibid. p. 163.
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