The poor doubting Christian drawn to Christ. Wherein the main hindrances, which keep men…

'The Joy of the People in this Light, was but for a Season: The conscientious Nonconformity of Mr. Hooker, to some Rites of the Church of England, then vigorously pressed, especially on such able and useful Ministers as were most likely to be laid aside by their scrupling those Rites, made it necessary for him to lay down his Ministry at Chelmsford, when he had been about four Years employed there, in it. Hereupon, at the Request of several eminent Persons, he kept a School at his own hired House, having our Mr. John Eliot ^‖for his Usher, at Little-Baddow, not far from Chelmsford: Where he managed his Charge with such Discretion, such Authority, and such Efficacy, that he did very great Service to the Church of GOD in the Education of such as afterwards themselves proved not a little serviceable. In a Manuscript written by our blessed Eliot, he gives a very great Account of the little Academy then maintained in the House of Mr. Hooker; and among other Things, he says, To this Place I was called, through' the infinite Riches of GOD'S ⟨p. 6⟩Mercy in CHRIST to my poor Soul: For here the LORD said to my dead Soul, Live; and through' the Grace of CHRIST, I do live, and I shall live for ever! When I came to this blessed Family, I then saw, and never before, the Power of Godliness in its lively Vigour and Efficacy. While he continued thus in the Heart of Essex, and in the Hearts of the People there; he signalized his Usefulness in many other Instances: The godly Ministers round about the Country would have Recourse to him, to be directed and resolved in their difficult Cases; and it was by his Means that those godly Ministers held their monthly Meetings, for Fasting, Prayer, and profitable Conferences. He was indeed a general Blessing to the Church of GOD. And that which made the silencing Mr. Hooker more unaccountable, was, that seven and forty conformable Ministers of the neighbouring Towns, understanding the Bishop of London pretended Mr. Hooker's Ministry to be injurious or offensive to them, subscribed a Petition to the Bishop for his Continuance in the Ministry at Chelmsford: Yet all would not avail. The spiritual Court sitting at Chelmsford about 1630, had not only silenced him, but also bound him in a Bond of Fifty Pounds, to appear before the High Commission.

'The Joy of the People in this Light, was but for a Season: The consciencious Nonconformity of Mr. Hooker, to some Rites of the Church of England, then vigorously pressed, especially on such able and useful Ministers as were most likely to be laid aside by their scrupling those Rites, made it necessary for him to lay down his Ministry at Chelmsford, when he had been about four Years employed there, in it. Hereupon, at the Request of several eminent Persons, he kept a School at his own hired House, having our Mr. John Eliot