It is needless to speak in his commendation, His works praise him in the gates. They that know him, know he had as real apprehensions of the things of God, and lived as much with God, and with his own heart, and more then the most of Christians do. He had his education at Immanuel-College in Cambridge. The Conversion and Change of his heart was wrought betimes when he lived in the University, and enjoyed Dr. Prestons Ministry, whereby God had the very best and strength of his parts and years for himself. When he was first awakened to look after Religion, having before swam quietly in the stream of the times, he was utterly at a loss which way to take, being much molested with suggestions of Atheism, (in the depths whereof Junius was quite lost for a time) and moved and tempted to the ways of Familism also; some advised him in this condition to go to Grindlestone, & to hear Mr. Brierley, and being informed that the people were wont to find a mighty possessing, over-powering presence and work of the spirit when they heard him, he resolved upon the journey; but God in mercy diverted him, having reserved him for better things, Yet he read what they said, and the books of H.N. ⟨image 3⟩amongst the rest, where meeting with this passage, That a Christian is so swallowed up in the spirit, that what action soever the spirit moves him to, suppose whoredom, he may do it, and it is no sin to him; this was enough: for being against the light of his natural conscience, it bred in him an utter abhorrency of those loose and vile ways and principles ever after. This advantage also he had, that Doctor Tuckney was then his Tutor, whom he acquainted with his condition, and had his direction and help in those miserable fluctuations and straits of his soul. Happy is the man whose doubtings end to establishments, nil tam certum, quàm quod de dubio certum. but when men arrive in Scepticism, as the last issue and result of all their debates and thoughts of heart about Religion, it had been good for such if they had never been borne.
It is needlesse to speak in his commendation, His works praise him in the gates. They that know him, know he had as real apprehensions of the things of God, and lived as much with God, and with his own heart, and more then the most of Christians do. He had his education at Immanuel-Colledge in Cambridge. The Conversion and Change of his heart was wrought betimes when he lived in the Ʋniversity, and enjoyed Dr. Prestons Ministery, whereby God had the very best and strength of his parts and yeares for himself. When he was first awakened to look after Religion, having before swam quietly in the stream of the times, he was utterly at a losse which way to take, being much molested with suggestions of Atheisme, (in the depths whereof Junius was quite lost for a time) and moved and tempted to the wayes of Familisme also; some advised him in this condition to go to Grindlestone, & to hear Mr. Brierley, and being informed that the people were wont to finde a mighty possessing, over-powering presence and work of the spirit when they heard him, he resolved upon the journey; but God in mercy diverted him, having reserved him for better things, Yet he read what they said, and the books of H.N. ⟨image 3⟩amongst the rest, where meeting with this passage, That a Christian is so swallow'd up in the spirit, that what action soever the spirit moves him to, suppose whoredom, he may do it, and it is no sin to him; this was enough: for being against the light of his natural conscience, it bred in him an utter abhorrency of those loose and vile wayes and principles ever after. This advantage also he had, that Doctor Tuckney was then his Tutor, whom he acquainted with his condition, and had his direction and help in those miserable fluctuations and straits of his soul. Happy is the man whose doubtings end to establishments, nil tam certum, quàm quod de dubio certum. but when men arrive in Scepticism, as the last issue and result of all their debates and thoughts of heart about Religion, it had been good for such if they had never been borne.
