Johannes in eremo. Memoirs, relating to the lives, of the ever-memorable, Mr. John Cotton,…

§. 18. Mr. Hooker, that had been Born to Serve many, and was of such a Public Spirit, that I find him occasionally Celebrated, if the Life of Mr. Angier Lately Published, for One, Who would be continually Inquisitive, how it Fared with the Church of God, both at home and abroad, on purpose that he might order his Prayers and Cares accordingly: He never took his Opportunity to Serve himself; but Lived a sort of Exile all his Days, except the Last Fourteen Years of his Life, among his own Spiritual Children at Hartford; however, here also, he was an Exile. Accordingly, wherever he came, he Lived like a Stranger in the World! When at the Lands End, he took his last sight of England, he said, Farewell England! I expect now no more to see that Religious Zeal, and Power of Godliness, which I have seen among Professors in that Land! And he had Sagacious and Prophetical Apprehensions of the Declensions which would attend Reforming Churches, when they came to Enjoy a place of Liberty: he said, That Adversity had slain its Thousands, but Prosperity would stay its Ten Thousands! he feared, That they who had been Lovely Christians in the Fire of Persecution, would soon become cold in the midst of Universal Peace, except some few, whom God by ⟨p. 27⟩sharp Trials, would keep in a Faithful, Watchful, Humble and Praying Frame. But under these Preapprehension, it was his own Endeavour to beware of Abating his own First Love! And of so Watchful, so Prayerful, so Fruitful a Spirit was Mr. Hooker, that the Spirit of Prophecy it self, did seem to grant him some singular Afflations. Indeed, every Wise man I• a Prophet; but one so Eminently acquainted with Scripture and, Reason, and Church History, as our Hooker, must needs be a Seer, from whom singular Prognostications were to be expected. Accordingly, there were many things Prognosticated by him, where in the Future State of New England, particularly of Connecticut, has been so much concerned, that its pity they should be forgotten. But I will in this History, Record only Two of his Predictions. One was, That God would punish the wanton Spirit of the Professors, in this Country, with a sad went of Able Men in all Orders. Another was, That in certain places of great Light here Sinned against, there would break forth such horrible Sins, as would be the Amazement of the World.

§. 18. Mr. Hooker, that had been Born to Serve many, and was of such a Publick Spirit, that I find him occasionally Celebrated, if the Life of Mr. Angier Lately Published, for One, Who would be continually Inquisitive, how it Fared with the Church of God, both at home and abroad, on purpose that he might order his Prayers and Cares accordingly: He never took his Opportunity to Serve himself; but Lived a sort of Exile all his Dayes, except the Last Fourteen Years of his Life, among his own Spiritual Children at Hartford; however, here also, he was an Exile. Accordingly, wherever he came, he Lived like a Stranger in the World! When at the Lands End, he took his last sight of England, he said, Farewel England! I expect now no more to see that Religious Zeal, and Power of Godliness, which I have seen among Professors in that Land! And he had Sagacious and Prophetical Apprehensions of the Declensions which would attend Reforming Churches, when they came to Enjoy a place of Liberty: he said, That Adversity had slain its Thousands, but Prosperity would stay its Ten Thousands! he fear'd, That they who had been Lovely Christians in the Fire of Persecution, would soon become cold in the midst of Universal Peace, except some few, whom God by