EXTRACT APPENDIX, I.: FROM A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FUNERAL OF JOHN EARL OF ROCHESTER, BY ROBERT PARSONS, M.A. UPON my first visit to him, (May 26., just at his return from his journey out of the West,) he most gladly received me, showed me extraordinary respect, upon the score of mine office; thanked God, who had, in mercy, and good providence, sent me to him, who so much needed my prayers and counsels; and, acknowledged how unworthily, heretofore, he had treated that order of men, reproaching them that they were proud, and prophesied only for rewards: but now, he had learned how to value them; that he esteemed them the servants of the Most High God, who were to show to him the way to everlasting life. At the same time, I found him labouring under strange trouble, and conflicts of mind: his spirit wounded, and his conscience full of terrors. Upon his journey, he told me, he had been arguing, with greater vigour, against God and religion, than ever he had done in his life-time before; and that he was resolved to run them down, with all the argu convert St. Paul, he found it hard to kick against the pricks. For God, at that time, had so struck his heart by his immediate hand, that, presently, he argued as strongly for God and virtue, as before he had done against it. That God strangely opened his heart; creating in his mind, most awful and tremendous thoughts and ideas of the divine majesty, with a delightful contemplation of the divine nature and attributes, and of the loveliness of religion and virtue. I never,' said he, was advanced, thus far, towards happiness, in my life before: though, upon the commission of some sins extraordinary, I have had some checks, and warnings considerable, from within; but still struggled with them, and so wore them off again. The most observable that I remember, was this: one day, at an atheistical meeting, at a person of quality's, I undertook to manage the cause, and was the principal disputant against God and piety; and, for my performances, received the applause of the whole company upon which, my mind was terribly struck, and I immediately replied thus to myself:..Good God! that a man, that walks upright, that sees the wonderful works of God, and has the use of his senses and reason, should use them to the defying of his Creator!' But, though this was a good beginning towards my conversion, to find my conscience touched for my sins, yet, it went off again : nay, all my life long, I had a secret value and reverence for an honest man, and loved morality in others. But, I had formed an odd scheme of religion to myself, which would solve all that God or conscience might force upon me; yet, I was not : ever well reconciled to the business of christianity, nor had that reverence for the gospel of Christ, as I ought to have.' .. Which estate of mind continued, till the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah was read to him, (wherein there is a lively description of the sufferings of our Saviour, and the benefits thereof,) and some other portions of scripture; by the power and efficacy of which word, assisted by his HOLY SPIRIT, God so wrought upon his heart, that he declared, that the mysteries of the passion appeared as clear and plain to him, as ever any thing did that was represented in a glass: so that, that joy and admiration, which possessed his soul upon the reading of God's word to him, was remarkable to all about him; and he had so much delight in his testimonies, that, in my absence, he begged his mother and lady to read the same to him frequently; and was unsatisfied, (notwithstanding his great pains and weakness,) till he had learned the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, without book. At the same time, discoursing of his manner of life from his youth up, and which all men knew, was too much devoted to the service of sin, and that the lusts of the flesh, of the eye, and the pride of life, had captivated him, . . he was very large and particular in his acknowledgments about it; more ready to accuse himself, than I, or any one else, can be; publicly crying out, O blessed God, can such an horrid creature as I am, be accepted by thee, who has denied thy being, and contemned thy power?' Asking often, Can there be mercy. and pardon for me? Will God own such a wretch 'Shall the unspeakable joys of heaven, be conferred on me? O mighty Saviour! never, but through thine infinite love, and satisfaction! O never, but by the purchase of thy blood!' Adding, that, with all abhorrency, he did reflect upon his former life; that, sincerely, and from his heart, he did repent of all that folly and madness which he had committed. Indeed, he had a true and lively sense of God's great mercy to him, in striking his hard heart, and laying his conscience open, which hitherto was deaf to all God's calls and methods; saying, if that God, who died for great, as well as lesser sinners, did not speedily apply his infinite merits to his poor soul, his wound was such, as no man could conceive or bear; crying out, that he was the vilest wretch, and dog, that the sun shined upon, or the earth bore; that he now saw his error, in not living up to that reason, which God endued him with, and which he unworthily vilified and contemned; wished he had been a starving leper, crawling in a ditch, that he had been a link-boy or a beggar, or, for his whole life, confined to a dungeon, rather than thus to have sinned against God. How remarkable was his faith, in a hearty embracing, and devout confession, of all the articles of our christian religion, and in all the divine mysteries of the gospel: saying, that the absurd and foolish philosophy, which the world so much admired, propagated by the late Mr. Hobbes and others, had undone him, and many more of the best parts in the nation; who, without God's great mercy to them, may never, I believe, attain to such a repentance. I must not omit to mention his faithful adherence to, and casting himself entirely upon, the mercies of Jesus Christ, and the free grace of God, declared to repenting sinners, through him; with a thankful remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection: begging God to strengthen his faith, and often crying out, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.' His mighty love and esteem of the holy scriptures, his resolutions to read them frequently, and meditate upon them, if God should spare him, having already tasted the good word; for, it having spoken to his heart, he acknowledged all the seeming absurdities and contradictions thereof, (fancied by men of corrupt and reprobate judgments,) were vanished, and the excellency and beauty appeared, being come to receive the truth in the love of it. His extraordinary, fervent devotions, in his frequent prayers of his own, were most excellent and correct; amongst the rest, for the king, in such a manner as became a dutiful subject, and a truly grateful servant; for the church and nation; for some particular relations; and, then, for all men: his calling frequently upon me, at all hours, to pray with him, or read the scriptures to him: and, toward the end of his sickness, he would heartily desire God to pardon his infirmities, if he should not be so wakeful and intent, through the whole duty, as he wished to be; and that, though the flesh was weak, yet the spirit was willing, and he hoped God would accept that. His continued invocation of God's grace, and holy |