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

§. 22. He had a singular Ability, at Giving Answers to Cases of Conscience; whereof happy was the Experience of some Thousands: And for this Work he usually set apart the Second Day of the Week; wherein he admitted ⟨p. 32⟩all sorts of persons, in their Discourses with him, to Reap the Benefit of the Extraordinary Experience, which himself had found of Satan's Devices. Once particularly Mr. Hooker was Addressed by a Student in Divinity, who Entering upon his Ministry was, as the most Useful Ministers, at their Entrance thereupon, use to be, horribly Buffeted with Temptations, which were become almost Intolerable: Repairing to Mr. Hooker in the Distresses and Anguishes of his Mind, and Bemoaning his own overwhelming Fears, while the Lion was thus Roaring at him, Mr. Hooker answered, I can compare with any man Living for Fears! My Advice to you is, That you Search out and Analyse the humbling Causes of them, and Refer them to their proper places; then go and pour them out before the Lord; and they shall prove more profitable to you than any Books you can Read. But Mr. Hooker in his Dealing with Troubled Consciences, observed, that there were a sort of Crusty and Guileful Souls, which he would find out with an Admirable Dexterity; and of these he would say, as Paul of the Cretans, They must be Reproved Sharply, that they may be Sound in the Faith; Sharp Rebukes make Sound Christians. Indeed, of some he had Compassion, making a Difference; and others he Saved with fear, pulling them out of the Fire.

§. 22. He had a singular Ability, at Giving Answers to Cases of Conscience; whereof happy was the Experience of some Thousands: And for this Work he usually set apart the Second Day of the Week; wherein he admitted ⟨p. 32⟩all sorts of persons, in their Discourses with him, to Reap the Benefit of the Extraordinary Experience, which himself had found of Satan's Devices. Once particularly Mr. Hooker was Addressed by a Student in Divinity, who Entring upon his Ministry was, as the most Useful Ministers, at their Entrance thereupon, use to be, horribly Busseted with Temptations, which were become almost Intollerable: Repairing to Mr. Hooker in the Distresses and Anguishes of his Mind, and Bemoaning his own overwhelming Fears, while the Lion was thus Roaring at him, Mr. Hooker answered, I can compare with any man Living for Fears! My Advice to you is, That you Search out and Analyse the humbling Causes of them, and Refer them to their proper places; then go and pour them out before the Lord; and they shall prove more profitable to you than any Books you can Read. But Mr. Hooker in his Dealing with Troubled Consciences, observed, that there were a sort of Crusty and Guileful Souls, which he would find out with an Admirable Dexterity; and of these he would say, as Paul of the Cretians, They must be Reproved Sharply, that they may be Sound in the Faith; Sharp Rebukes make Sound Christians. Indeed, of some he had Compassion, making a Difference; and others he Saved with fear, pulling them out of the Fire.