At the desire of several persons, he intended to have preached in a place called the _Church Green_, where were assembled, a large company to hear him. But while his hands were lifted up in prayer, there came one Mr. _Mortimer_, a presbyterian, and with him several hundred persons, who taking hold of him by the breast, pulled him with violence to the ground. They hauled him thro’ the mob, and had well nigh choaked him, when one Mr. _Biers_ freed him from the hands of him who held him. But for this he was soon struck to the ground himself.
Being got free, it grieved him exceedingly to see such a willing multitude disappointed; so he went to a place at some distance from the former. But here likewise, by the time he had begun, the same persons pursued him. Perceiving therefore that it was vain to attempt preaching, he retired to a little house in a garden, at some small distance. But neither here could he be at rest; the mob followed, and to avoid their fury, he was obliged to wade thro’ wet meadows, and then climb over the mountains, till ‘wet and weary, we (he had one person with him) came to the house of one Mr. _Ambey_, who supplied us with all we wanted.’ His tender, broken constitution could not however, endure this fatigue, without feeling its effects. He was obliged in a few days to take to his bed, where a fever confined him for some time.
It need not be dissembled, that the authors of this outrage towards a stranger, chargeable with no crime save that of endeavouring to save souls from death, were a company of _Presbyterians_! But alas! what are names? “Liberty of conscience, and right of private judgement,” are good and specious words. But how reconcilable they are to such conduct as this let all the world judge.
The state of his heart, on that occasion, he expresses thus. “In the midst of it all, my mind was calm. I had no remarkable consolation, or fear, or sorrow. I prayed for them, and do still pray God to forgive them, and not lay this sin to their charge.”
I pass over a number of other instances of the opposition he met with, of a private as well as public nature; and only mention these, as a specimen of the malice which _Satan_ bears to God’s kingdom, and servants.