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

HE was of a noble disposition, very free upon the occasions, to communicate knowledge to others, not like a Whirlpool that sucks all to it self, but as a Fountain to disperse its streams for the refreshment of many. Seldom were any in his company, but they might (if it were not their own fault) receive good by him. He was neither vain in ostentation, nor niggardly in reservation, some might think he did ill to take so much pains on the Lords Days, and on the Week-days constantly, and on all occasions, to the shortening of his life; but he was sensible he could never labour enough for his Lord, and that God make no difference between nequam & nequaquam, an idle and an evil servant. Hence it was that when he was often advised by his friends to be mindful of his body, and ⟨p. 34⟩not to work it so hard, he was deaf to all those advice, and was ready to say with Calvin (when counselled by his friends to take care of his health) Would you have my Lord when he comes, to find me idle; and with Dr. Reynolds of Oxford (when the Doctors persuaded him not perdere substantiam propter accidentia) Noc propter vitam vivendi perdere causas. I met him once at night at a friends house, when he had travelled near forty miles that day, yet notwithstanding his great weariness, he would spend some time in expounding Scripture to the Family, beside singing and prayer (which he never omitted) before he went to bed.

HE was of a noble disposition, very free upon the occasions, to communicate knowledge to others, not like a Whirlpool that sucks all to it self, but as a Fountain to disperse its streams for the refreshment of many. Seldom were any in his company, but they might (if it were not their own fault) receive good by him. He was neither vain in ostentation, nor niggardly in reservation, some might think he did ill to take so much pains on the Lords Days, and on the Week-days constantly, and on all occasions, to the shortning of his life; but he was sensible he could never labour enough for his Lord, and that God make no difference between nequam & nequaquam, an idle and an evil servant. Hence it was that when he was often advised by his friends to be mindful of his body, and