N. ROGERS. 239 instructions of his excellent parents, he feared the Lord from his youth ; and, as he grew up to the age of man, he trod in the footsteps of his honoured and worthy father. Though he was indeed a person of most exemplary piety ; yet it is related, that, through the hurry of business,he went one morning from home without attending to his usual private devotions, when his horse stumbled and fell, by which he lost much blood, and was exceedingly bruised. This event, however, taught him a valuable lesson. It awakened him to so deep a sense of his omission of duty, that, from that time to the dayof his death, no engagements whatever would hinder him from attending upon.the exercises of the closet. Mr. Rogers, having finished his studies at the university, became domestic chaplain to a person of quality, when he gave the first specimen of his ministerial abilities. After he had continued in this situation about two years, he became assistant to Dr. Barkam, at Bocking in Essex. The doctor being a high churchman, and particularly intimate with Bishop Laud, many people wondered that he employed for his curate the son of one of the most noted puritans in the kingdom. Mr. Rogers was much beloved by the people, and they were remarkably kind to him. Though the doctor treated him with civility, he did not allow him one-tenth of his benefice, amounting to many hundreds a year, when he did above three-fourths of the work. Mr. Rogers now began to examine the controversy about ecclesiastical matters, and, as the result of his inquiries, he became thoroughly dissatisfied with the ceremonies and discipline of the church. After wards, the doctor being present at a funeral, and observing that Mr. Rogers didnot use the surplice, he was so completely disgusted, that he advised-his curate to provide for himself, and so dismissed him. What a sad crime was it to bury the dead without a surplice ! After lie had preached about five years at Bocking, he was presented to the living of Assington in Suffolk, where the Bishop of Norwich allowed him to go on in the Lord's work, without molestation, for about five years. His preaching was highly esteemed, and greatly blessed among persons of all descriptions. Hehad commonly more hearers than could crowd into the church. The ignorant were instructed, the careless awakened; and the sorrowful comforted. He was a " fisher of men," and, by the blessing of God upon his endeavours, many were caught in the gospel-net. At length, the ruling ecclesiastics were resolved to stop the mouthi of
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