150 LIVES OF PRE PURITANS. the popish ceremonies, were-suspended and brought into other troubles. Among the numerous sufferers from this intolerant prelate was Mr. Rogers. It does not appear how long be continued under the ecclesiastical oppression, or whether he ever obtained his lordship's favour. In the year 1643, one of his name, a godly and orthodox divine, became rector of Green's Norton in Northamptonshire, the living being sequestered from the Bishop of Oxford for his malignancy against the parliament. This was most pro- bably the same person, but Ile did not enjoy the benefice any long time, resigning it into the hands of those from whom he received the presentation."' But whether this was, indeed, the same person, or another of his name, it is certain Mr. Rogers spent his last years among his beloved people at Wethersfield. . He was a man of great parts, great grace, and great infirmities. He had a natural temper so remarkably bad, tarnishing the lustre of his eminent graces that time fa; nous Mr. John Ward used to say, " My brother Rogers hath grace enough for two men ; but not enough for himsek." Though he was a mane of most distinguished talents, and received the high applause of all who knew him, yet he enjoyed so large a portion of the grace of God, that he was never lifted up in his own eyes, but always discovered a very low opinion of. himself. During the last year of his life, says our author, he exclaimed, in my. presence, "O cousin ! I would exchange circumstanceswith the meanest christian in Wethersfield, who hath only the soundness of grace in him."f Afterwards, he was seized with a quartan ague, which greatly affected his head; and though he recovered, he continued to be exercised with painful appre- hensions about the safety of his own state. He often said, " To die is work by, itself." But as the hour of his depar- ture approached, the frame of his mind became more serene and happy ; and, upon a review of the work of Christ, he often exclaimed, 46 0 glorious redemption." He died in the moue., of September, 1652, about eighty years of age.4 Crosby intimates that Mr. Rogers was inclined to the peculiar sentiments of the baptists ; and that he candidly declared that he was not convinced, by any part of scripture, in favour of infant baptism.im Prynne's Cant. Dome, p. 373. + Kennet's Chronicle, p. 809. Firmin's Heal Christian, Pref. MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 435. (12 I 4.) Crosby's Hist. of Baptists, vol. i. p. 167.,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=