486 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. and was ever abstemious in eating and drinking. When the countenance of a minister at any time appeared to indicate too much indulgence, he thus addressed him : " Study mor- tification, brother; study mortification !" These pointed reproofs came from him with a becoming majesty and solemnity, and rarely gave offence. His liberality was as a star of the first magnitude in the constellation of his excellent virtues. His bounty to public and private charities far exceeded his annual income. The poor esteemed him as their common father ; and every object of distress found him to be a brother and a friend. He was . constantly zealous in promoting family religion, But the loss of his wife made no common impression oil his mind. They lived together, in the enjoyment of great. happiness,. upwards of half a century ; but, a few years before his death, he followed her remains to the grave with great lamentation and many tears. They were usually called Zacharias and Elizabeth. Their family was a Bethel. They brought up their children G0 in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They commanded their children, and their house, hold after. them, that they should keep the way of the Lord." Mr. Elliot was a considerable scholar, especially in his knowledge of the Hebrew. He was eminently qualified for the ministerial work. He took great care to distribute to all their portion in due season. It was food, not froth, with which he fed the souls of the people. His method of preaching was very plain, but remarkably powerful. His sermons contained much of Christ; and he constantly laboured to bring sinners to the Saviour. To young preachers: he frequently said, " Pray let there be much of Christ in your ministry." And having heard a sermon which greatly. savoured of ,Christ, he would say, " Blessed be God, that we have Christ so much and so well preached in poor New England." He was a .great friend to sermons well studied, always commending those which discovered close thought- and much reading. Yet he wished to perceive something more in a sermon than mere human study. His frequent complaint was, " it is a sad thing, when a sermon wants that one thing, the Spirit of God." In his views of church discipline, Mr. Elliot was a thorough puritan, but peaceable in his separation from all usurpations over men's consciences. , He was a -modest and' humble nonconformist to the unwarrantable inventions and impositions of men ; and was deeply afflicted to see that
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