For several Years after he came to live at Broad-Oak, he went constantly on Lords days to the public Worship, with his Family, at Whitewell-Chapel (which is hard by) if there were any supply there, as sometimes there was from Malpas, and if none, then to Tylstock, (where Mr. Zachary Thomas continued for about half a Year, and the place was a little Sanctuary) and when that string failed usually to Whitchurch; and did not Preach for a great while, unless occasionally, when he visited his Friends, or to his own Family on Lords days, when the Weather hindered them from ⟨p. 108⟩going abroad. He comforted himself, that sometimes in going to public, he had opportunity of instructing and exhorting those that were in company with him, by the way, according as he saw they had need; and in this his Lips fed many, and his Tongue was as choice Silver; and he acted according to that Rule which he often laid down to himself and others, That when we cannot do what we would, we must do what we can, and the Lord will accept us in it. He made the best of the Sermons he heard in Public; It is a Mercy (saith he) we have Bread, though it be not as it hath been, of the finest of the Wheat. Those are froward Children who throw away the Meat they have, if it be wholesome, because they have not what they would have. When he met with Preaching that was weak, his Note is, That's a poor Sermon indeed, out of which no good Lesson may be learned. He had often occasion to remember that Verse of Mr. Herbert's:
The worst speaks something good, if all want sense,
God takes the Text, and preacheth Patience.
Nay, and once he saith, he could not avoid thinking of Eli's Sons, who made the Sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred: Yet he went to bear his Testimony to public Ordinances; For still (saith he) the Lord loves the Gates of Zion, more than all the Dwellings of Jacob, and so do I. Such then were his Sentiments of things, expecting that God would yet open a door of return to former public Liberty, which he much desired and prayed for, and in hopes of that was, backward to fall into the stated Exercise of his Ministry otherwise, (as were all the sober Nonconformists generally in those parts) but it was his grief, and burden, that he had not an opportunity of doing more for God. He had scarce one Talent of opportunity, but that one he was ⟨p. 109⟩very diligent and faithful in the improvement of.
For several Years after he came to live at Broad-Oak, he went constantly on Lords days to the publick Worship, with his Family, at Whitewell-Chapel (which is hard by) if there were any supply there, as sometimes there was from Malpas, and if none, then to Tylstock, (where Mr. Zachary Thomas continued for about half a Year, and the place was a little Sanctuary) and when that string fail'd usually to Whitchurch; and did not Preach for a great while, unless occasionally, when he visited his Friends, or to his own Family on Lords days, when the Weather hindred them from ⟨p. 108⟩going abroad. He comforted himself, that sometimes in going to publick, he had opportunity of instructing and exhorting those that were in company with him, by the way, according as he saw they had need; and in this his Lips fed many, and his Tongue was as choice Silver; and he acted according to that Rule which he often laid down to himself and others, That when we cannot do what we would, we must do what we can, and the Lord will accept us in it. He made the best of the Sermons he heard in Publick; It is a Mercy (saith he) we have Bread, though it be not as it hath been, of the finest of the Wheat. Those are froward Children who throw away the Meat they have, if it be wholsome, because they have not what they would have. When he met with Preaching that was weak, his Note is, That's a poor Sermon indeed, out of which no good Lesson may be learned. He had often occasion to remember that Verse of Mr. Herbert's:
The worst speaks something good, if all want sense,
God takes the Text, and preacheth Patience.
Nay, and once he saith, he could not avoid thinking of Eli's Sons, who made the Sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred: Yet he went to bear his Testimony to publick Ordinances; For still (saith he) the Lord loves the Gates of Zion, more than all the Dwellings of Jacob, and so do I. Such then were his Sentiments of things, expecting that God would yet open a door of return to former publick Liberty, which he much desir'd and prayed for, and in hopes of that was, backward to fall into the stated Exercise of his Ministry otherwise, (as were all the sober Nonconformists generally in those parts) but it was his grief, and burthen, that he had not an opportunity of doing more for God. He had scarce one Talent of opportunity, but that one he was ⟨p. 109⟩very diligent and faithful in the improvement of.
