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

Yet he did not think it sufficient to Teach his people on the Lords Day, but the Town being very populous, and the Parish large, and he rendered thereby uncapable of going from house to house) on the Week-days he laid out himself in the service of his Lord, for the henefit of his Parish. Every Thursday their Market-day he preached a Lecture, to which many Ministers came, and with much delight sat under him. On Fridays he met in private with as many of his people as would come together, when sometimes he expounded the Scripture to them, sometimes preached and always sung and prayed with them. And also Mondays or Thursdays, for his day was altered as he saw occasion) he appointed a Conference in the public Meeting place, where the question being before propounded and known, (ex gr. what was the nature of repentance or faith, or what the sighness, or what the means, or what the motives to it) his people prepared to speak to it, and he by his wise courteous carriage and language won their hearts, and drew them to Study the ⟨p. 32⟩Scriptures and good Books, that they might be able to speak to the purpose. As they spake when he saw occasion he would help and assist them, yet still take care to keep them in the way of Truth, and that none did go beyond their bounds, or encroach upon the Ministry. After they had spoken, he would gather together their scattered notions, bring them into an orderly method, apply to them suitable Texts of Scripture, add what of his own he thought necessary, and so render the meeting exceeding profitable and comfortable to his flock. I have heard him at one of these Meetings, when the question was about one of the petitions in the Lords Prayer, to my great advantage and delight, for Christian Communion, managed with prudence, is that which keeps our Religion in breath, and without which it would be ready to die.