earned after the way of this world,
that his message and work he sent him to do might come with less
suspicion, or jealousy of human wisdom and interest, and with more force
and clearness upon the consciences of those that sincerely sought the way
of truth in the love of it. I say, beholding with the eye of my mind,
which the God of heaven had opened in me, the marks of God's finger and
hand visibly in this testimony, from the clearness of the principle, the
power and efficacy of it, in the exemplary sobriety, plainness, zeal,
steadiness, humility, gravity, punctuality, charity, and circumspect care
in the government of church-affairs, which shined in his and their life
and testimony, that God employed in this work, it greatly confirmed me
that it was of God, and engaged my soul in a deep love, fear, reverence,
and thankfulness for his love and mercy therein to mankind: in which mind
I remain, and shall, I hope, through the Lord's strength, to the end of
my days.

II. In his testimony or ministry, he much laboured to open truth to the
people's understandings, and to bottom them upon the principle and
principal, Christ Jesus the light of the world; that by bringing them to
something that was from God in themselves, they might the better know and
judge of him and themselves.

III. He had an extraordinary gift in opening the scriptures. He would
go to the marrow of things, and show the mind, harmony, and fulfilling of
them, with much plainness, and to great comfort and edification.

IV. The mystery of the first and second Adam, of the fall and
restoration, of the law and gospel, of shadows and substance, of the
servant's and Son's state, and the fulfilling of the scriptures in Christ
and by Christ the true light, in all that are his, through the obedience
of faith, were much of the substance and drift of his testimonies: in all
which he was witnessed to be of God: being sensibly felt to speak that
which he had received of Christ, and was his own experience, in that
which never errs nor fails.

V. But, above all, he excelled in prayer. The inwardness and weight of
his spirit, the reverence and solemnity of his address and behaviour, and
the fewness and fulness of his words, have often struck even strangers
with admiration, as they used to reach others with consolation. The most
awful, living, reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, I must say, was his
in prayer. And truly it was a testimony he knew and lived neare