He had some fearful apprehensions of death, and no wonder, when God was so dark to him. I observed him often to make use of the saying of a godly man in his Town (I think it was on his death-bed) To dye is a work by it self. When his turn came to go off the Stage, I observed, his frame was very heavenly; several times, as I sate by, he would cry out, O glorious Redemption! but for that full assurance, and joys, which some, that had not the tenth part of his grace, have expressed, he found not, as I understood by discoursing with him; but that which he so much feared, he was not sensible of, for the Disease taking his brain, in a fit he went off, and fell asleep. I have wondered sometimes to see and hear, how joyfully some weak, poor Christians have entertained death, what assurance they have expressed, when men of great parts, and eminent in grace, have been more timorous: and as for some I have not much delighted to ⟨image 9⟩hear their Assurances, nor their Joys; there can be no more in the Conclusion then was in the Premises, if there be, the Syllogism is fallacious. A mans life doth but lay down the Premises, for death, the Conclusion: And to find great joys, and great assurances of Gods love in death, when a mans life hath not expressed grace proportionable, I much suspect such joys and assurances. I do value at a far higher rate blessed Austin's broken and repenting heart, with the Penitential psalms about his bed, than the joys and raptures of these kind of Christians, where grace in their life time hath been but low: I hope the Reader will not be offended at the little account I give of this man so eminent in parts and grace. As for that description of Faith which that holy man, Mr. John Rogers, hath given in his Book, the first that ever I heard opposed it in his own Pulpit, was his own Son, Mr. Nathaniel Rogers, a man so able, and so judicious in Soul-work, that I would have betrusted my Soul with him, as soon as with any man in the Church of Christ: when his own Son thus in his Fathers own place opposed it, (as I have been informed) his reverend old Father, who dearly loved him, stood by and heard him with great attention; the people, they heard him with some amazement, and got him to preach over the Sermon again the next Sabbath.
He had some fearful apprehensions of death, and no wonder, when God was so dark to him. I observed him often to make use of the saying of a godly man in his Town (I think it was on his death-bed) To dye is a work by it self. When his turn came to go off the Stage, I observed, his frame was very heavenly; several times, as I sate by, he would cry out, O glorious Redemption! but for that full assurance, and joyes, which some, that had not the tenth part of his grace, have expressed, he found not, as I understood by discoursing with him; but that which he so much feared, he was not sensible of, for the Disease taking his brain, in a fit he went off, and fell asleep. I have wondered sometimes to see and hear, how joyfully some weak, poor Christians have entertained death, what assurance they have expressed, when men of great parts, and eminent in grace, have been more timorous: and as for some I have not much delighted to ⟨image 9⟩hear their Assurances, nor their Joyes; there can be no more in the Conclusion then was in the Premises, if there be, the Syllogisme is fallacious. A mans life doth but lay down the Premises, for death, the Conclusion: And to find great joyes, and great assurances of Gods love in death, when a mans life hath not expressed grace proportionable, I much suspect such joyes and assurances. I do value at a far higher rate blessed Austin's broken and repenting heart, with the Penitential psalms about his bed, than the joyes and raptures of these kind of Christians, where grace in their life time hath been but low: I hope the Reader will not be offended at the little account I give of this man so eminent in parts and grace. As for that description of Faith which that holy man, Mr. John Rogers, hath given in his Book, the first that ever I heard opposed it in his own Pulpit, was his own Son, Mr. Nathaniel Rogers, a man so able, and so judicious in Soul-work, that I would have betrusted my Soul with him, as soon as with any man in the Church of Christ: when his own Son thus in his Fathers own place opposed it, (as I have been informed) his reverend old Father, who dearly loved him, stood by and heard him with great attention; the people, they heard him with some amazement, and got him to preach over the Sermon again the next Sabbath.
