Memoria Wilsoniana. Or, Some dues unto the memory of the truly Reverend & renowned…

S. 15. In his Younger Time, he had been used Unto a more Methodical way of Preaching, and was therefore Admired above many, by no Less Auditors than Dr. Goodwin, Mr. Burroughs, and Mr. Bridge, when they Travelled from Cambridge into Essex, on purpose to observe the Ministers in that County; but after he became a Pastor, joined with such Illuminating Teachers, he gave ⟨p. 23⟩himself a Liberty, to Preach more after the Primitive Manner; without any Distinct Propositions, but Chiefly in Exhortations and Admonitions, and Good wholesome Councils, tending to Excite Good Motions, in the Minds of his Hearers; (but upon the same Texts that were Doctrinally handled by his Colleague instantly before:) and yet sometimes his Pastoral Discourses had such a Spirit in them, that Mr. Shepard would say, Methinks I hear an Apostle, when I hear this Man! Yea, even One of his Ex Tempore Sermons, has been since his Death, counted worthy to be Published unto the World. The Great Lecture of Boston, being disappointed of him, that should have Preached it, Mr. Wilson Preached that Lecture, on a Text occurring in the Chapter that had been read that Morning in his Family; Jer. 29.8.—Neither hearken to you• Dreams, which you cause to be Dreamed; from whence he gave a Seasonable Warning, unto the People against the Dreams, wherewith sundry Sorts of Opinionists, had been Endeavouring to Seduce them. It was the Last Boston Lecture that ever he Preached (Nov. 16. 1665.) and one, who writ after him, in Short hand, about a Dozen years after Published it. But his Last Sermon he Preached at Roxbury Lecture, for his most Worthy Son in Law, Mr. Danforth; and after he had read his Text, which was in the Beginnings and Conclusions of sundry of the Last Psalms, with a ⟨p. 24⟩Seraphical Voice, he added, If I were sure this were the Last Sermon that ever I should Preach, and these the Last Words that ever I should Speak, yet I would still say, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord! Thus he Ended his Ministry on Earth, thus he Began his Possession of Heaven, with Hallelujahs.