A guide to Christ. Or, The way of directing souls that are under the…

Saul (afterwards Paul) had a terrible Conversion, although' he was not long in the pangs of the New-birth. The like has been noted of Luther. Famous Mr. Rogers ^*of Dedham had been very extravagant in his Youth. Mr. Richard Rogers of Weather […] who was his Kinsman, helped to maintain him at the University, where he Sold his Books, and spent the Money, so that his Kinsman and Patron would have utterly cast him off, had not the entreaties of a near Relation prevailed with him, to try him once again. When he saw what a wonderful change Converting Grace had made in his young Kinsman, he would often say, I will never despair of a man for John Roger's sake. God designed, that this very Ungodly Youth, should be made a great Instrument of Glory to his Name, and of good to many of his Elect. He was bruised to purpose under the hand of the Almighty. Great were the terrors of his Soul for some time, when he would get alone under bushes in the Field, praying, & crying to God for mercy. When he was Converted, 'tis thought he was an Instrument of Converting more Souls, than any one Minister in England. He was inspired with an extraordinary zeal; […] ⟨p. ix⟩a way of delivering himself in his Sermons, which in any other Man would have been Ridiculous, but in him was very becoming, and awful; which made Bishop Brownrig say to Mr. Ward, John Rogers will do more good with his wild note, than we shall do with all our set Music. But this is God's usual Method, with such of his Elect, as have fallen into great Sins; he brings them home by great Terrors For the Confirmation of this, I might have instanced in Mr. Bolton, whose excellent Books have made him famous in the Church of God. Before his Conversion he was very Wicked He loved Stage-Plays, Cards and Dice; was an horrible Swearer, Sabbath-breaker, a Boon Companion, that neither Loved God, nor Good Men; he hated Puritanical Preaching. Hearing the same of Mr. Perkins, he went to Cambridge to hear him Preach, and having heard him, said, he was a Barren Empty Fellow, and a passing mean Scholar. This Man, after his Conversion, was an Eminent Saint, and a successful Minister of Jesus Christ. But the manner of his Conversion was terrible. His Sins were so heavy upon him, that he Roared for anguish of heart, would sometimes rise out of his Bed in the night for very anguish of spirit;

Saul (afterwards Paul) had a terrible Conversion, altho' he was not long in the pangs of the Newbirth. The like has been noted of Luther. Famous Mr. Rogers