342 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. ' himself. He laboured under many fears and great distress, lest he did not experiehce the influence of those truths on his own heart which he zealously enforced upon others. He trembled to think of his own heart remaining unim- pressed with those important doctrines and pathetic expres- sions, by which others were moved and affected. It very much increased his affliction, that he had not one serious friend in that part of the kingdom, to whom he could communicate the troubles of his mind. His wounded spirit was so deeply afflicted, that he resolv: d to take a journey into Essex to obtain the advice of his brother at Wethers- field, or his cousin, Mr. John Rogers of Dedham. Upon his arrival at the latter place, it was the lecture day ; and, instead of consulting his kinsman, as be intended, he went to hear him preach, entering the assemblyjust before the sermon. To his great surprise, the subject was perfectly suited to the state of his afflicted spirit ; and, before the close of the sermon, all his perplexing doubts and fears were fully resolved. Having obtained the desired peace and comfort, he returned to his stated ministerial exercise with fresh courage, and a remarkable success attended his future labours.. Being naturally of a lively spirit, and having a feeble body, his animated- discourses Often ex- hausted his strength. This induced him to study physic, in which he obtained considerable skill. By the encouragement or connivance of Archbishop Matthews of York, the lectures or prophesyings, put down in the days of Queen Elizabeth, were again revived. These lectures were the means of diffusing,the light of the gospel into many dark corners of the land, particularly in York- shire. The ministers within a certain district held their monthly assemblies, when one or two of them preached, and others prayed; before a numerous and attentive congrega- tion.+ Mr. Rogers took an activepart in these exercises as long as the archbishop lived. From one of ' these public lectures, a vile accuser waited upon the archbishop, and chargedone of the ministers with having prayed, " that God would shut the archbishop out of heaven." The worthy prelate, instead of being offended,as the slanderer expected, only smiled and said, " Those good men know well enough M;ther's Hist. of New Eng. b. iii. p.101, 102. + There are monthly lectures, when two ministers usually preach, still held by the independent ministers in the West-Riding of Yorkshire. These periodical associations, which are often very numerouslyattended, most probably originated in ihe above exercises,
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