PREFACE.

FAITHFUL ministers are styled the chariots and horsemen of Israel; these are the watchmen of the city that give warning of danger, intercede with the Lord; and doubtless the church of God must receive great detriment, by the removal of such worthies. It is a saying of the Jewish Rabbins, Quando luminaria patiuntur eclipsin, malum est signum mundo, When the heavenly luminaries are eclipsed, it is a dreadful presage of approaching evil to this lower world. The church in these districts hath been successively blessed with famous ministers, and gracious Christians, whose praise is in the churches of Christ; many of whom now sleep in the Lord; yet through God's wise care for the preservation of the churches, not a few are springing up in their room as hopeful slips; on whom and the people surviving, I would here take occasion to drop a word of counsel.

1. You that are expected to succeed this old stock of preachers, worn or wearing out, look to your planting in Christ; let your own souls be duly engrafted into the true vine; presume not to be ministers before you be Christians; get experience of divine truths in your own hearts, and transcribe them in your daily practice; believe, repent, obey yourselves, or you will teach these things badly and unconcernedly; whatever your gifts be, see you have sincere grace, and dedicate your all to God; you serve a holy God, you preach a holy gospel, you have before you holy examples, be you also holy in every change, in all circumstances. Aaron's ornaments signified nothing, if holiness to the Lord was not written upon his forehead on a plate of gold; if you had profound genius and learning, tenacious memories, extraordinary elocution, so that you could speak with the tongues of men and angels, all is of no worth without grace within, and universal sanctity; one allowed sin will wormeat the goodliest trees, and blast the most pleasant fruits. Some ministers are eminent for one rare gift, others for different accomplishments; all have some, few have all; some modest young men look upon themselves as much behind others, and are apt to be discouraged; my advice to such is, to make up their deficiency in diligence, in holiness, and in faithfulness. When nature or art denies any thing, seek after an equivalent from additional supplies of grace. Grace within, vigorously

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exercised, the assisting grace of God procured by faith and prayer will avail much; be faithful to what you have, if you cannot attain much; that is, a fine saying of Luther's, and shall be my motto, "I desire to be found a faithful minister of Christ and his church, if I cannot be wise or skilful." Let not inability discourage you; some ordinary men of humble gifts, may honour God more than some famous learned doctors. Be industrious in your studies; daily improve your talents, you have more helps than your predecessors; give not occasion for the complaint of that Hebrew Rabbi, that the father had plowed, sown, reaped, winnowed the wheat, and set bread on the table, but that the children had no appetite. The greatest abilities may rust away from idleness; but the feeblest grow bright and useful by diligent improvement; the diligent hand with God's blessing makes rich; but be sure you keep humble, despise not, but reverence your forefathers; if you surpass their attainments in literature in some points, it will be well if you fall not below them in real worth, as to the power of godliness; read their lives in Mr. Clarke's collection, especially the last volume printed since his death, and be dissatisfied with yourselves, and excited to a holy emulation in true piety and zeal; get into retirement, mourn to see yourselves thus outstript, and implore more grace from heaven.

I have but a word to say concerning this narrative, the life of this holy man of God; I confess many discouragements lay in the way of this undertaking, not necessary now to be named; the principal was: That we were not capable of doing any thing worthy of him, and it is better do nothing at all, than not to the purpose, or not adequately; but my answer is, that of the Poet Lucan,

"Quod si digna tuâ minus est mea pagina, laude,

At voluisse sat est."

And, "difficilium facilis est venia:" if I am not able to make a fine portrait, exhibiting all the features gracefully; it may be, this rough sketch may exceed some of our attainments, may excite us to imitation, and some way tend to the glory of our great Master; and then I gain my object. If any say, it is imperfectly done, and might have been done better; I confess it, and let them contribute something to mend it; but this is the best we can produce, according to our information; and if we cannot bring a lamb, our two turtle doves may be accepted both by God and man. May the infinite, omnipotent, faithful God, send labourers into the harvest, supply vacancies, second his servants' efforts with his blessing, and continue his church, ministry, and presence with these nations to the end of the world. Amen.

A

NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE AND DEATH

OF THE

REV. JOHN ANGIER,

Minister of the Gospel, at Denton.*

MR. JOHN ANGIER was born at Dedham, in Essex, of pious parents, and was baptized there, October 8th, 1605. He was carefully instructed by his parents betimes, in the principles of religion, and educated in school learning in the same place; being apt and capable from his childhood, he was much inclined to his book, and very desirous of being trained up for the ministry, which he made his early choice, as appears from the following anecdote, which I have heard confidently related by credible persons. As this John, (who was the first-born son, named after his father,) with his three brethren, Bezaleel, Samuel, and Edmund, were coming from school to their father's house, there fell a shower of rain; they all ran under a tree in a hedge for shelter; standing there and seeing it rain apace, they began to make their several wishes: one wished it would rain learning; another, wool; another, money; and another, plums: thus pleasing themselves with their juvenile fancies; which options, manifested their different inclinations, and became presages of their future disposal. For a neighbour overhearing them, acquainted their father, who calling them to him, examined them one by one, saying, John, what did you wish it might rain at such a time, in such a place? He was then something abashed and loth to answer, but being further urged, said, Sir, I wished it would rain learning. Why? said his father, what profession wouldst thou be of? he answered, I would be a preacher. Come, Beza, said the father, what didst thou wish it would rain? he answered, wool. Why? said he, what calling wouldst thou choose? he answered, I would be of your calling, a clothier. Samuel, said the father, what hadst thou a mind it would rain? He answered, money, for I have a mind to be a merchant. And lastly, calling Edmund, demand• This Life of Mr. Angier, was written by Mr. O. Heywood.

ing the same, he answered, that he desired it might rain plums, for he would choose to be a grocer. The father being an intelligent, considerate man, thus ascertained every one's genius; and being furnished with a competent estate, adapted their callings according to their wishes. Bezaleel was a rich clothier in Dedham, and a gracious man; he died October, 30, 1678. Samuel, the third son, being brought up a merchant, lived in good repute in Holland, and there died in March, 1667. Edmund, the youngest, being bound apprentice to a grocer at Cambridge, went into New England, and is the only survivor; he has many years kept a grocer's shop in that country, and I suppose is living at present.

But to return to the eldest son John, the subject of this memoir. Being trained up a scholar, he proved of singular service as an instrument in advancing the glory of God, and promoting the spiritual welfare of others in his generation. And thus they all answered the purpose of their education, and were successful; a good admonition to parents in disposing of their children, rather to consult their children's capacities and inclinations, than their own humours and conveniences; things do always best when voluntarily chosen; when the stream of natural inclination runs through the channel of an adopted vocation, it bears down all opposition, and attains the desired object in the most arduous enterprises; hence Dr. Harris saith, he never attempted any thing within the verge of his calling, though it seemed difficult at the entrance, but with God's blessing on his industrious prosecution, he found it feasible and easy; but nil invitá Minerva, that which is attempted against the heart, or without an adequate capacity, goes on heavily, and seldom renders a man fit to manage his calling to purpose, or arrive at any eminence in it, because it goeth against the grain; Athenians therefore acted wisely, who brought their youth into a place where utensils for every calling were laid up, that making their choice from them, each might have the calling he, in this way, had chosen.

And as his proficiency at school was according to his time, so divine grace did early begin to touch and affect the heart of our young Timothy, who from a child had known the holy scriptures;* for at twelve years of age, the Lord reached his conscience, with some rays of illumination and darts of conviction, which produced more effect through Mr. Rogers' ministry after his father's death; but from his first convictions, he had much trouble upon his spirit, which he kept in a great measure to himself, and often retired privately, being ashamed that any one should

2 Tim. iii. 15.

know of his distress of mind. His mother being an excellent and gracious Christian, often spoke to him of soul concerns, wept and prayed much for him. At a competent age his father sent him to the University of Cambridge; he was admitted in Emanuel College, where, notwithstanding his pious education, and hopeful impressions, before mentioned, he fell off to vain company and loose practices, (see the slipperiness of youth!) to the great grief of his parents, and his own present guilt and subsequent bitterness in the review. There he continued, and commenced Bachelor of Arts, before his father's death; who being sick, sent for him to come home from Cambridge, but he came so late, that in the afternoon as he approached towards Dedham he met the people going from his father's funeral, which made a very deep impression upon him; and God took hold of this occasion more effectually to awaken his conscience, and alarm him respecting his duty.

Mr. Angier was kept a season at his mother's house, followed his studies, and attended to Mr. Rogers' ministry this Mr. John Rogers, of Dedham, was a prodigy of zeal and success in his ministerial labours; it was wont to be said, Come, let us go to Dedham to get a little fire. He was lecturer there, and preached once on the Lord's day, and a lecture on the Tuesday, to which multitudes of people flocked from the parts adjacent; and his plain preaching was blessed with a large harvest. However, some expressions and gestures he used, would now seem unbecoming; yet the gravity of the man, and the general reverence people had for him, rendered them not only not offensive, but sometimes they produced wonderful effect: his taking hold of the supporters of the canopy over the pulpit with both hands at one time, and roaring hideously, to represent the torments of the damned, had an awakening force attending it. Mr. Thomas Goodwin, afterwards Dr. Goodwin, when a Fellow at Cambridge, and an eminent preacher, occasionally hearing Mr. Rogers, fell under such convictions, that he afterwards professed, that he looked on himself neither as a Christian, nor a preacher before. The following relation Mr. Angier hath often repeated, Mr. Rogers being called to preach a marriage sermon, I think insisted on the wedding garment; God made the word so effectual, that the marriage solemnity was turned into bitter mourning, so that the ministers who were at the marriage were employed in comforting or advising those whose consciences had been awakened by that sermon. O blessed espousals between Christ and souls! such sorrow was better than carnal mirth, and laid a solid foundation for spiritual joy. A gentlewoman who had travelled ten miles to hear plain and