Mary Collier’s Relation

From Mary Colliers relation concerning the first time Jan. 31 1795

She remembers Br Rogers as Curate of St Pauls, when he preached moral Sermons, like the other unawaken’d clergymen. But thro’ Br Okely and Delamotte’s coming he was awaken’d and changed his preaching entirely. He then preached with astonishing power both in his own church, and in all the Churches round about, in Oakley, Lydlington, Ridgemount, etc. and was followed by vast crowds. But he had many enemies who loved not the Gospel. The occasion of his losing his Curacy was his preaching at the Funeral of a minister, when a great number of clergymen were present, a very sharp sermon from Isai: 56. 10. 11. They are all ignorant, they are dumb dogs, they cannot bark etc., in which he reproved them severely. This embitter’d them so that they obliged him to give up his Curacy. He then preached more frequently on St Peter’s Green (from a Waggon or some other height), at the Windmill, standing on the Steps, to many thousands, who were oft drown’d in tears and very deeply affected. Once among others many of the Troop of horse then in the Town, were present, and were exceedingly moved, and said, they should rejoice to have such a Camp preacher. His voice was exceedingly distinct and clear, his manner simple and unaffected, and he had a tenderness and loving way, that gained all hearts. He preached likewise when he could to the prisoners. Once he begged the turnkey to let him into the jail, and preached from 9 to 12 in the forenoon to them. His voice was so loud, that the great multitudes, that gather’d in the Street (among whom was Mary Collier) could hear ev’ry word. When he had finish’d, the turnkey refused to let him and his friends, who had gone in with him, out, till he was releas’d by some respectable friends interfering. - But in those times, their zeal to do all that was right, and to conform in ev’ry thing, to what they conceived to be the meaning of scripture, sometimes misled them.