Parentator. Memoirs of remarkables in the life and the death of the ever-memorable Dr.…

IN the Year, 1676. he had a strange Impression on his mind, that caused him, on Nov. 19. to Preach a Sermon on those Words, Zeph. III. 7. I said surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive Instruction; So their DWELLING SHOULD NOT BE CUT OFF; and Conclude the Sermon, with a Strange Prediction, That a Fire was a coming, which would make a Deplorable Desolation. After he came home, as he was Walking in his Study, he was Exceedingly moved and melted in such a Soliloquy; O Lord GOD, I have told this People, that thou art about to cut off their Dwellings; but they will not believe it. Lord, who has believed! Nevertheless, O Lord GOD, I beseech •hee to Spare them: If it may stand with thy Holy Pleasure spare them, Spare them! So did he walk Weeping before the Lord! At the same time, he Earnestly urged upon his Consort, a Speedy Change of Habitation; which could not be Accomplished. On the next Lord's Day, he Preached, [Not aware of its being so!] a Farewell-Sermon, on those Words, Rev. III. 3. Remember how thou hast Received and Heard. And the Conclusion of the Sermon was, That Predictions of Evil to come ought to be Remembered; And, that when the Lord JESUS is about to bring any heavy Judgment upon His People, He is wont to ⟨p. 79⟩stir up the Heart of some Servant of His, to give Warning of it; which Warning should be Remembered, that so People may be ready to entertain what must come upon them. His last Words were, People won't Remember, nor Mind these Things. But, as Jehu said unto his Captain, Remember how the Lord laid this Burden, so, when the Evil is come, you will Remember what you heard concerning it. The very Night following, a Desolating Fire broke forth in his Neighbourhood. The House in which he with his Flock, had Praised GOD, was Burnt with the Fire. Whole Streets were Consumed in the Devouring Flames, and laid in Ashes. His own House also took a part in the Ruins: But by the Gracious Providence of GOD, he lost little of his Beloved Library: Not an Hundred Books from above a Thousand; Of those also he had an immediate Recruit, by a Generous Offer which the Honourable Mrs. Bridget Hoar made him, to take what he Pleased from the Library of her Deceased Husband. In less than Two years also, he became Owner of a Better House;