The life and death of Mr. Tho. Wilson, minister of Maidstone, in the county…

RESP.

I deny holding of Conventicles, and using exercises of Religion by Law prohibited, and the name, nature or number of Proselytes; but this hath been my practice with my Family in my own house, to examine them what they remembered, and to help them where ⟨p. 70⟩they could not remember, and I did teach Gods Word unto them diligently, as I conceive I was and am bound by Gods Word, Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thy House, Deut. 6 6, 7. Uses, moreover I took it to be my duty, as I could to teach by way of exhortation and conference from house to house what I had taught in public, that I might keep back nothing that was profitable, as I am instructed to do, Acts 20. 20. Paul bids the Minister look to his duty, in private towards every member of the Church by his example, as Junius de natura Ecclesae citet Libro cap. 2. de Officio Pastoris, Acts 20. 20. So that what I had delivered in public, I might as occasion was offered deliver in private. This is not prohibited by any Law, either Statute or Cannon that I know, but is commanded of God, as I am a Christian in his Word to teach others, Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly, Teaching and Admonishing one another, Col. 3. 16. And it is enjoined by Authors, and Fathers, Zanchy in Col. 3. 16. That the duty of teaching is not only in the Church publicly, but to be much set by, and used in houses privately, and Christians be bound to teach mutually and privately, Chrysostom Archbishop of Constantinople on Gen. Hom. 2. commands, let