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

§. 5. Whether it will be thought any Retainer to the former Paragraph, I know not: But I have a Paragraph before me, about which I have a Thousand Struggles in my mind, whether I shall ⟨p. 189⟩proceed in it, or no. If I do, it will be an Effectual Demonstration of the Impartiality, the Fidelity, the Integrity, with which our History is carried on. But That which finally Determines me to do it, is, The Regard which I Owe, and which, I hope, I shall ever Pay, to that more Substantial PIETY, which we are forever to insist upon.

What, what is the meaning of that Particular Faith, about Future Events, with which the Prayerful Servants of GOD, sometimes find their Minds Irradiated, and Marvellously persuaded and Comforted, in their Prayers before Him? There is a Praying in Faith, which is the Duty of every Christian in all his Prayers; An entire Satisfaction in the Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness, and Faithfulness of the Glorious GOD, and in the Mediation of the Blessed JESUS; and so an Hopeful Expectation of such Blessings as our Advocate in the Heavens will please to Procure and Order for us. But then, there is a Particular Faith, which is not so much the Duty, as the Comfort of them that have it; and which is Granted, but here and there, but now and then, unto those whom a Sovereign GOD shall Please to Favour with it. The Devout Believer cannot cause himself to Believe What and When he will; but under the Energy of some Superior Cause, when he is on his knees, [or Perhaps, Prostrate in the Dust,] before the Lord, there is a Strong Impression made upon his mind; which Dissolves him in a Flood of Tears, and Assures him, Thou shalt have the Petition which thou Desirest ⟨p. 190⟩of thy GOD. The Impression is born in upon his mind, with as clear a Light, and as full a Force, as if it were from Heaven Angelically, and even Articulately declared unto him; The Lord has given thee, thy Petition which thou hast asked of Him. Upon the Voice of the Weeping which he finds himself melted into, he cannot but say, The Lord hath heard my Supplication; the Lord will receive my Prayer. It may be, he was of a Sorrowful Spirit before, and full of Anxiety about the matter, but now he is no more sad. The Impression at the same time fills him with all Holy Dispositions, and Holy Resolutions, and Produces an Heavenly Temper, and leaves him with the Lustre of an Excellent Spirit upon him. [Reader, I am only carrying on the History now on the Anvil, in all of this!] It were perhaps as easy for me to give unto a Man born Blind, an Idea of Light, and of the Colours made by it, as for me to Describe in Words unto the Understanding of a Stranger—How it is! But you may have some Illustration of it in what our Martyrology has related concerning that Blessed Martyr, Mr. Holland.