se name is holy and reverend, is spoken of
and to, and is there present, the presence of no other person is to be
regarded or dreaded, and under that impression, I forget who is present,
and who is absent."

Though he was bookish, and much intent upon the fulfilling of his
ministry, he turned his thoughts to marriage, and did marry a virtuous and
excellent person, Mistress Barbara Simpson,(104) daughter of Mr. James
Simpson, a minister in Ireland.(105) Upon the day on which he was to be
married, he went accompanied with his friends (amongst whom were some
grave and worthy ministers) to an adjacent country congregation, upon the
day of their weekly sermon. The minister of the parish(106) delayed sermon
till they should come, hoping to put the work upon one of the ministers he
expected to be there. But all of them declining it, he next tried if he
could prevail with the bridegroom, and succeeded, though the invitation
was not expected, and the nature of the occasion seemed to be somewhat
alien from his being employed in that work. It was no difficult task to
him upon a short warning to preach, having a prompt and ready gift. He was
never at a loss for words and matter, and having stepped aside a little
time to premeditate and implore his Master's presence and assistance (for
he was ever afraid to be alone in that work) he went immediately to the
pulpit, and preached upon 1 Pet i. 15 "But as he who hath called you is
holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." At which time, he was
so remarkably helped, that all acknowledged that God was with him of a
truth. And the people of the parish, who had come to hear their own
minister, (a truly pious and excellent man,) were so surprised and taken
with him, as if God, besides his ordinary resident (so Mr. McWard
expresses it) had sent them an extraordinary ambassador to negotiate a
peace between God and them, and a prompt paranymph unto, and a skilful
suitor of a spouse for Jesus Christ the blessed Bridegroom, that he might
present them as a chaste virgin to this divine Husband.

However he studied in his public discourses to condescend to the capacity
of the meaner sort of hearers, yet it must be owned, that his preaching
gift was not so much accommodated and suited to a country congregation, as
it was to the judicious and learned. (107) The subjects of sermons are so
numerous and various, and the order of men's disposing of their thoughts
upon these subjects so different