Recovery from Spiritual Declension - Pike & Hayward / Christian Audio Book (1755) "What method must a Christian, in declining circumstances, take to recover a healthful and vigorous frame of soul, so as to be able to maintain real and close communion with God amidst the hurries and business of this world? "Through the reputed importunities of our friends, and from satisfactory evidenees of usefulness, we have been prevailed upon to commit to public view a select number of these answers, though somewhat contracted. And we hope, that those into whose hands they may come, will read them with Christian candour. And may the Spirit of God, without whose peculiar blessing all attempts will be ineffectual to answer any saving purposes, make these a powerful means or bringing them nearer to Christ, and of making them more lively and active in his service! If this happy end be but in the least answered, we shall rejoice, and give God all the glory, disregarding all the little contempt that may be cast upon us and our imperfect labours." http://www.puritanaudiobooks.net/ SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/stack45ny SUPPORT MINISTRY: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=5022374 Pike was born about 1717 at "Ramsey, Wiltshire" (Wilson), which may mean Ramsbury, Wiltshire, or Romsey, Hampshire[citation needed].He was educated for the independent ministry, receiving his general training from John Eames of the Congregational Fund academy, and his theology from John Hubbard at Stepney academy. His first settlement was at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, about 1740. He moved in 1747 to succeed John Hill (1711–1746) as pastor at the Three Cranes meeting-house in Fruiterers Alley, Thames Street, London. Early in his London ministry Pike established, in his house on Hoxton Square, an academy for training students for the ministry. He adopted the principles of John Hutchinson (1674–1737), and defended them (1753) in a long work. In 1754 he succeeded Zephaniah Marryat, D.D. (1684?–1754),.[1] as one of the Tuesday lecturers at Pinners' Hall. About the same time he joined Samuel Hayward (1718–1757), independent minister at Silver Street, Wood Street, Cheapside, in a Sunday-evening lecture, dealing with "cases of conscience", at Little St. Helen's, Bishopsgate Street.