HOOKER. 69 One instance it may not be improper to mention. A neighbour of his havinc, ' sustained some damage ; when Mr. Hooker meeting a boy notorious for such mischief, warmly accused and censured him. The boy denied the charge, but he continued his angry lecture. " Sir," said the boy, see you are in a passion ;_ I'll say no more to you;" and then ran off. Mr. Hooker finding, upon inquiry, that the boy could not be proved guilty, sent for him, and humbly confessed his fault, which, with the good council he gave him, made a deep and lasting impression on the mind of the boy. Notwithstanding Mr. Hooker's great condescension, he did not in the least degrade or depreciate his holy function. When he mounted the pulpit, he appeared with so much majesty and independence, that it was pleasantly said of him, He would put a king in ,his pocket. Judges, princes, and peasants equally shared in his pointed reproofs and solemn admonitions. He possessed an excellent talent for solving cases of conscience, and set apart one day in the week for anyof his people to come to him and propose their scruples and difficulties. Though his own preaching was generally very practical and experimental, he recommended young ministers, when first settled, as well for their own benefit as that of their people, to preach the whole system of divine truth. He had a happy method in the government of the church. He wouldpropound nothing to the church assembly till it had been previously considered by several of the prin- cipal brethren; and if at any time he saw an altercation beginning to rise in the church, he would put off the vote till another opportunity ; previous to which, he would visit, and generally gain over, those who objected to what appeared the most proper to be adopted. He Used to say, " The elders must have a church within a church, if they would preserve the peace of the church." This holy and heavenly divine desired not to outlive his work. His last sickness was short, and he said little. When his opinion was asked concerning certain important points, he replied, " I have not that work now to perform. I have declared the council of God." One of his brethren observ- ing to him, that he was going to receive his reward, " Brother," said he " I am going to receive mercy." After- wards, he closed his eyes with his own hands, and, with a smile on his countenance, he expired, July 7, 1647, aged sixty-one years.. He was justly styled " thegrave, the godly, * Morse and Parish's Hist. of New Eng. p. 76-78.
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