R. HARRIS. 305 themwith airy notions, and dry speculations, but with " the sincere milk of the word;" and in a method ;dapted to those of the meanest capacity. And God is said to have so won- derfully blessed his endeavours, that there wasnot one prayer- less family in Hanwell, nor one person who refused his examination and instruction previous to receiving the Lord's supper. In this situation he continued about fortyyears, blessed in himself, and made a blessing to his people, until the com- mencement of the civil wars. The bloody battle of Edge- hill, only a few miles distant, was fought October 23, 1642, being the Lord's day ; yet, the wind being contrary, he did not hear the least noise of it till the public exercises of the day were over; nor could he believe the report of a battle till soldiers, besmeared with blood, came to make it known. From this time his troubles increased. Rude soldiers were quartered upon him, some calling him round-head, others malignant; but he continued to attend upon his numerous duties as at other times. One company that was quartered upon him was so outrageous in swearing, that he could not forbear preaching from James v. 12. " Above all things, my brethren, swear not at all." This so offended them, that they swore they would shoot him if he preached again from the same text. Undismayed by their threatenings, lie ventured to preach from the same words the following sabbath ; when, as he was preaching,he observed a soldier preparing his firelock, as if he meant to shoot; but Mr. Harris went on without fear, and finished his discourse without interruption. He, indeed, endured the storm till he had suffered very material injury, and was at length driven from the place. Mr. Harris, being forced from his flock, fled to London, when he was chosen one of the assembly of divines, and preached at St. Botolph's church, Bishopsgate. He was one of the preachers before the parliament. In the year 1646, he was appointed one of the six preachers to the university of Oxford ; and, the year following, one of the visitors. Dr. Walker, with his usual slander, observes, that when the visitors proceeded to open their visitation, they began, as they did all their other distinguished wickedness, and according to their usual hypocrisy, with prayers and a sermon! The sermon was preached by Mr. Harris.t He, at the same time, took his doctor's degree, was made presi- Clark's Lives, p. 321. f Walker's Attempt, part I. p. 127. VOL. III.
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