BLAC1ERBY. St above period, he preached regularly at Henningham in Essex, or Stoke, or Hundon in. Suffolk.. Mr. Blackerby was a man of a most holy and exemplary character, as will appear from the account givenof him by Mr. Clark. " During his long life," says this author, " he never seemed to lose one moment of time in idleness. As a wise man, he spent all his leisure hours in providing for immortality. He rose early, both winter and summer, and spent the whole day in reading, meditation, prayer, and the instruction of others. Hewas remarkably punctualand con- scientious in the observance of family religion. He instructed his pupils daily in true christian piety and useful learning, and walked before them continually in wisdom, love, and true holiness. Young students, upon their leaving the university, put themselves under his tuition, tobe further pre-. pared for the public ministry ; to whom he taught Hebrew, opened the scriptures, read divinity, and gave excellent in- structions relative to learning, doctrine, and future life." In his public ministry, when he was suspended in one place, he fled to another. By this means, though he lived in hard times, he was seldom kept silent for any considerable period. His method in preachino- consisted chiefly in open- ing the meaning of scripture, and in making appropriate observations, followed with a close application. He studied hard to understand the scriptures, had great skill in the original, and lived much in holy converse with God. His preaching was accompanied with so abundant an out-pour- ing of the Spirit, that he had reason to believe God made him the spiritual father of above two thousand persons. Indeed, the word of God falling from his lips, soon became the savour of life unto life to those who heard it, or they became enraged against it. And though persons of seared con- sciences sometimes became violently outrageous against his preaching, the signal judgments of God commonly found them out. At Hundon he met with considerable opposition frommany of the principal persons in the place, who united together and procured his suspension, but who were after- wards blasted in their estates, some brought to beggary, and all, excepting one, died miserable deaths. The sabbath after his suspension, one of them boasting in the church- yard, that now they had got Blackerby out of the pulpit ; a woman standing by, and hearing him, replied, " Blackerby will preach in Hundon pulpit, when you are crying in hell.' Clark's Lives, last val. part i. p. 57, 58. VOL. III. Ji
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