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

He used no Notes in his Preaching to the very Last. Though in Committing to his Memory, the Sermons which he wrote in Quarto-Volumes, he would write an Octavo-Page or two, of Texts and of Words, which he carried in the Beginning of his Bible, to help him in case he were at a loss, yet he never looked upon it. Once in his Old Age he did; but presently wrote a Remark upon it, as a Symptom of a Decay, which told him, he was to Die immediately. He was indeed a Friend unto the Using of Notes in Preaching: [The Roman Orator himself did sometimes, De Scripto recitare:] But he Distinguished That from the Reading of Notes. He wished, there were more Speaking, ⟨p. 217⟩and less Reading, in our Sermons: and would have had the Preacher to be more of a Speaker; even so much, that the Necessary Vigour and Address, of proper Preaching, might not be lost, with any that were at all Capable of Preserving it.

He used no Notes in his Preaching to the very Last. Though in Committing to his Memory, the Sermons which he wrote in Quarto-Volumns, he would write an Octavo-Page or two, of Texts and of Words, which he carried in the Beginning of his Bible, to help him in case he were at a loss, yet he never look'd upon it. Once in his Old Age he did; but presently wrote a Remark upon it, as a Symptom of a Decay, which told him, he was to Dy immediately. He was indeed a Friend unto the Using of Notes in Preaching: [The Roman Orator himself did sometimes, De Scripto recitare:] But he Distinguished That from the Reading of Notes. He wished, there were more Speaking, ⟨p. 217⟩and less Reading, in our Sermons: and would have had the Preacher to be more of a Speaker; even so much, that the Necessary Vigour and Address, of proper Preaching, might not be lost, with any that were at all Capable of Preserving it.

I may not pass it over, That his Ministry was carried on, with continual Supplications over it. On his Days of Prayer, a common Article of Petition with him, was, Direction what Subjects to Preach upon. He perpetually went from his Knees unto the Pulpit, and before his going forth to Preach a Sermon, the last Thing with him, was, A Secret Prayer for a Gracious Presence of GOD with him, in the Work before him. And when he came home, the First Thing with him was, A Secret Prayer, to give Thanks for the Help he had enjoyed, and ask a Blessing on the Truths Delivered. I find him sometimes Importunate in these Prayers. Once particularly when he was a very Young Preacher, I find this Passage in his Diary; After I came home, in my Study I was much affected and carried out, in Prayer for the Conversion of some of those Young Merchants that usually hear me.