68 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. together a vast concourse of people. When he came to preach, he found himself so entirely at a loss what to say, that, after a few shattered attempts to proceed, he wasobliged to stop, and say, that what he had prepared was altogether taken from him. He therefore requested the congregation to sing a psalm while he retired. Upon his return, as our author observes, he preached a most admirable sermon, holding the people two hours, in a most extraordinary strain both for pertinence and vivacity. After the public service was closed, some of his friends speaking to him of the Lord's withholding his assistance, he meekly replied, We daily confess that we have nothing, and can do nothing, without Christ; and what if Christ will make this manifest before our congregations ? Must we not be humbly contented ?". Mr. Hooker wished to be abased, and the Lord alone to be exalted. He dreaded outward ease and prosperity, as that which was most likely to bring the Lord's people into spiritual adversity. When at the land's end, taking his final leave ofEngland, he said, " Farewell, England; I expect now no more to see that religious zeal, and power of godliness, which I have seen among professors in that land. Adversity has slain its thousands, but prosperity its ten thousands. I fear that thosewho have been zealous christians in the fire of persecution, will become cold in the lap of peace." He was highly celebrated as a man of prayer. He used to say, " Prayer is the principal workof a minister; and it is by this he must carry on the rest." Accordingly, he devoted one day in every month to private prayer and fasting, besides the observance of many such days publicly with his people. It was his settled opinion, that if professors neglect these duties, " iniquity will abound, and the love of many wax cold." His prayers in public were fervent, but not long, and singularly adapted to the occasion. As he proceeded his ardour usually increased;. and, as the last step in Jacob's ladder was nearest heaven, the close of his prayer was mostlya rapture of devotion; and" his people," it is said, " were often surprised with the remarkable answers to his prayers." Though Mr. Hooker's natural disposition was irascible, he acquired a wonderful command of his temper. He was always ready to sacrifice his own apprehensions to the better reasons of others. The meanest of his' brethren, and even children, were treated by him with endearing condescension, Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b. iii. p. se, 62.
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