to their society, whenever the profession of
Divinity should become vacant.

He was, considering his age, a prodigy of learning, for before he had
arrived at the 26th year of his life, he had such a large stock of useful
knowledge, as to be philologus, philosophus, and theologus praestans,(103)
and might well have been an ornament to the most famous and flourishing
university in Europe. This was the more astonishing, if we consider his
weakness and infirmity of body, not being able to read much at one time,
or to undergo the fatigue of assiduous study. But this was well supplied,
partly by a memory that retained every thing he heard or read, and partly
by a solid penetrating judgment, whereby he digested it well, and made it
his own, so that with a singular dexterity, he could bring it forth
seasonably, and communicate it to the use and advantage of others, drained
from the dregs he found about it, or intermixed with it; insomuch that his
knowledge seemed rather to be born with him, than to have been acquired by
hard and laborious study.

From his childhood he knew the Scriptures, and from a boy had been under
much deep and spiritual exercise, until the time (or a little before it)
of his entry upon the office of the ministry, when he came to a great calm
and lasting tranquillity of mind, being mercifully relieved of all those
doubtings which had for a long time greatly exercised him, and though he
was of a tender and weakly constitution, yet love to Christ, and a concern
for the good of precious souls committed to him, constrained him to such
diligence in feeding the flock, as to spend himself in the work of the
ministry. It was observed of him, that he was not much averse at any time
from embracing an invitation to preach before the most experienced
Christians, even the learned professors of the university, and the
Reverend ministers of the city, and when one of his most intimate friends
noticed herein a difference from that modesty and self denial, which
appeared in the whole of his way and conduct, he took the freedom to ask
him, how he came to be so easily prevailed with to preach before persons
of so great experience and judgment, whose eminent gifts and graces he
highly valued and esteemed? He made this excellent reply, that when he had
a clear call to mention his blessed Master's name in any place, he had no
more to say, but, "Here am I, send me. What am I that I should resist his
heavenly call? And when he, who