EXPERIENCES OF AN EXILED FAMILY 367 



He was never seen among his flock at feasts or entertain- 

 ments, but made it an invariabki rule to visit each family 

 twice in the year. He hastened to the sick and aillicted 

 as soon as their sorrows were made known to him. When 

 it was known he was praying with any sick person crowds 

 would flock to hear him. He was zealous and affection- 

 ate, of unusual attainments, having great learning, quick 

 and ready wit, clear and sonorous voice, and always used 

 the most chaste, elegant and appropriate language. He 

 was invited to take charge of a church at Rochelle, with 

 salary twice as large as that he was receiving, but refused 

 decidedly. He had not the heart to abandon a flock who 

 loved him so much. 



Ill 



James was born April 7, 1685. A nurse's carelessness 1685 

 lamed him for life. When only four he was so taken Early Life 

 with hearing his father read the Scriptures and pray with 

 the family, that he called together the servants and his 

 sisters and made them kneel while he prayed. He was 

 rather precocious, and early at six was placed in school. 

 When he came of age at twenty-five, after many trying 

 school experiences, he was possessed of the family estate, 

 and had an apparently prosperous outlook. First came Prosperity 

 the tribulations of his ministerial brother-in-law, who 

 was thrown into prison on a false charge of proselyting, 

 and was persecuted until finally he made his escape to 

 England, Then his brother Peter, who had succeeded 

 his father in the pastorate at Vaux, was seized and con- 

 fined in a prison, without charge or trial, while the 

 church was levelled to the ground. James now was sur- 

 rounded by neighbours who had no church privileges, 

 and he invited them to join him in his family devotions. 

 They came until the number reached 150. Then they a Benefactor 

 came two or three times a week, and he preached and 

 expounded the Scriptures to them. All possible was 

 done to escape observation which should draw persecu- 

 tion upon the people ; but at length a rumour got abroad 



