AndDissentersdidthelikealso,andevenintheverychurcheswheretheparishministerswereeitherdeadorfled;norwasthereanyroomformakingdifferenceatsuchatimeasthiswas。
Itwasindeedalamentablethingtohearthemiserablelamentationsofpoordyingcreaturescallingoutforministerstocomfortthemandpraywiththem,tocounselthemandtodirectthem,callingouttoGodforpardonandmercy,andconfessingaloudtheirpastsins。Itwouldmakethestoutestheartbleedtohearhowmanywarningswerethengivenbydyingpenitentstoothersnottoputoffanddelaytheirrepentancetothedayofdistress;thatsuchatimeofcalamityasthiswasnotimeforrepentance,wasnotimetocalluponGod。IwishI
couldrepeattheverysoundofthosegroansandofthoseexclamationsthatIheardfromsomepoordyingcreatureswhenintheheightoftheiragoniesanddistress,andthatIcouldmakehimthatreadsthishear,asIimagineInowhearthem,forthesoundseemsstilltoringinmyears。
IfIcouldbuttellthispartinsuchmovingaccentsasshouldalarmtheverysoulofthereader,IshouldrejoicethatIrecordedthosethings,howevershortandimperfect。
ItpleasedGodthatIwasstillspared,andveryheartyandsoundinhealth,butveryimpatientofbeingpentupwithindoorswithoutair,asIhadbeenforfourteendaysorthereabouts;andIcouldnotrestrainmyself,butIwouldgotocarryaletterformybrothertothepost—