West Port Experiment

“He was about eight years, from first to last, labouring in the word and doctrine at Worthenbury, and his labour was not altogether in vain.  He saw in many of the travail of his own soul to the rejoicing of his heart, but with this particular dispensation, which I have heard him sometimes speak of, that most or all of those in that parish, whom he was, through grace, instrumental of good to, died before he left the parish, or quickly after; so that within a few years after his removal thence, there were very few of the visible fruits of his ministry there; and a new generation sprung up there, who knew not Joseph. Yet the opportunity he found there was of doing the more good, by having those that were his charge near about him, made him all his days bear his testimony to parish order, where it may be had upon good terms, as much more eligible, and more likely to answer the end, than the congregational way of gathering churches from places far distant, which could not ordinarily meet to worship God together.’ From this experience here, though he would say, we must do what we can, when we cannot do what we would, he often wished and prayed for the opening of a door, by which to return to that order again.”

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