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Rochester
the Christian Hero
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Upon
my first visit to [Rochester], (May 26.) just at his
return from his journey out of the West, he most gladly received
me, shewed me extraordinary respects 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;
acknowledging 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 learnt how to value
them; that he esteemed them the servants of the most High God,
who were to shew him the way to everlasting life... I never (said
he) was advanced thus far towards happiness in y life before,
though upon the commissions of some sins extraordinary I have
had some checks and warnings considerable from within, but still
struggled with 'em, and so wore them off again... 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 53rd Chapter of Isaiah
was read to him... 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 Passion appeared so clear and plain to him, as ever
anything did that was represented in a glass.
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Robert
Parsons, A Sermon preached at the Funeral of the Rt Honorable
John Earl of Rochester, 1680
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[Rochester]
said he was now persuaded both of the truth of Christianity and
of the power of inward Grace, of which he gave me this strange
account. He said Mr Parsons, in order to his conviction, read to
him the 53 Chapter of the Prophecy of Isaiah... He said to me
that as he heard it read he felt an inward force upon him,
which did so enlighten his mind and convince him that he could
resist it no longer: For the words had an authority which did
shoot like rays or beams in his mind, so that he was not only
convinced by the reasonings he had about it, which satisfied his
understanding, but by a power which did so effectually constrain
him that he did ever after as firmly believe in his Saviour as
if he had seen him in the clouds.
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Gilbert
Burnet, Some Passages of the Life and Death of the Right
Honourable John Earl of Rochester, 1680
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