The life and death of that old disciple of Jesus Christ and eminent minister…

June 29th. 1629. I was ordained Deacon, and the next day, June 30th. I was ordained Presbyter by the Bishop of Peterborough, having Preached above 16 Sermons before I would be Ordained, by way of Trial of my Ability for that great Work of the Ministry.

June 29th. 1629. I was ordained Deacon, and the next day, June 30th. I was ordained Presbyter by the Bishop of Peterborow, having Preached above 16 Sermons before I would be Ordained, by way of Tryal of my Ability for that great Work of the Ministry.

After my Ordination, the Bishop of Lincoln gave me a small Living at Humberstone, where I preached twice every Lords Day, and once every Holy-day: That which made me strict and Laborious in Preaching, was partly the Work of Conviction upon my Conscience, but more especially a Providential Acquaintance, that I had gotten with a very godly old Widow ⟨p. 5⟩in Gainsborough, where I taught the Free-School, before I came to Humberstone, who told me of one called a Brownist, who used to pray and expound Scriptures in his Family, whom I went sometimes to hear, and with whom I had Conference, and very good Counsel. Whilst I was at Humberstone, there lived a very Religious Widow, who falling sick, sent for me, and charged me that I would not depart her House on the day-time until she ended or mended, least Satan should tempt her above her strength. The Doctor of Physic had given her over, some godly Ministers, Friends and Relations did take leave of her as a Dying Woman. She received nothing for several days, but a little Julep, which was put into her Mouth with a Spoon, and ran most of it out again, lay speechless two or three days; her Family mourning over her, and expecting her Death every Hour: I had brought some of my Books to her House, and was studying her Funeral Sermon: and when I had almost finished the same, the Devil set upon me with a violent Suggestion, That the Scriptures are not the Word of God; He had suggested this Temptation to me divers Times before, but prevailed not: ⟨p. 6⟩Now the Tempter assaulted me with this Argument; Whatever you ask in the Name of Christ, God will do it, but that Scripture was not true; and if I would put it now upon Trial, I should find it not to be true, for if I would ask the Woman's Life in the Name of Christ, God will not do it, and thereby I should know, the Scriptures are not true, nor are they the Word of God, for his Word is true. To which I answered, Satan, thou art a Liar, a Deceiver, and a false Accuser. The Holy Scriptures are the Word of God, and the Scriptures of Truth: And seeing thou hast often tempted me in this kind, and now dost assault me again, that I may for ever silence thee, thou wicked and lying Devil, I will trust in God, and act Faith in the Name of Christ in that very Word of his Truth which thou hast now suggested.