from his people, and inflicted many indignities upon one of whom the world was not worthy, and whose pen has done so much to enrich the Church. Then JOHN HOWE was ejected from his living at Torrington, in Devonshire, where he preached those Discourses on "the Blessedness of the Righteous" and on "Delighting in God" which have elevated so many souls in spiritual gratitude. He had many years of trial, and hardship as a consequence. Then, too, THOMAS MANTON, who shortly before had been made chaplain to Charles II., and had declined a deanery, and who had contributed five folio volumes to theology, had to leave his rectory. Then the saintly PHILIP HENRY had to leave his rural parish, and retire to his wife's inheritance, where he trained up his family to be so large a blessing to the Church of God. Then, too, FLAVEL was ejected from Dartmouth, where he wrote his "Navigation Spiritualized" for the benefit of his nautical hearers-a book which we have perused lately on the mighty deep. But time would fail to tell the names or describe the characters of those renowned confessors, who took cheerfully the spoiling of their goods in 1662, for conscience sake. They were the authors of the Confession of Faith, and the Catechisms which have since their day been the Standards of Presbyterians. They rendered a service to literature, not surpassed by any age of the Church, and their writings are the spiritual bread of millions still. They took their stand on the ground of conscience, and obedience to God rather than man, when man imposed a law contrary to the word of God. They had long harassing trials, persecutions, and penalties. "Some died broken-hearted; some left the country; some became physicians; others, famous once,

became private tutors, and were heard of in the world no more. Many with their families had to exchange a life of refinement and competency, for a life on the verge of starvation, gentlemen and scholars as they were. Many had to adopt the calling of farm servants or artizans. Let one instance be accepted as a specimen. The lady of a country squire was dangerously ill. The clergyman was sent for, but returned word that 'he was going out with the hounds, and wonld come when the hunt was over.' 'Sir,' said one of the servants to the afflicted husband, our shepherd, if you will send for him, can pray very well; we have often heard him pray in the field.' The shepherd was immediately summoned to the side of the sufferer, and prayed with such astonishing pertinency and fervour, that when he rose from his knees the gentleman said to him, 'I conjure you to inform me what you are, and what were your views and situation in life before you entered my service?' Upon which he told him ‘that he was one of the ministers ejected from the Church, and that having nothing of his own left, he was content for a livelihood to submit to the honest and peaceful employment of keeping sheep.' The good man was an Oxford Master of Arts; in better days he had been much noted as a Hebraist, and had been revered by his brethren for his various excellences of mind and life."

In Ilchester jail Mr. Alleine found brother ministers in bonds, who, with him, preached every day in turn through the prison bars, to the people who flocked from great distances to hear them. From the prison he sent weekly a pastoral letter to his flock at Taunton, who assembled to hear it read. His confinement, though it

tried his health, did not give him rest. He devoted his

spare time to writing, and, like Bunyan, sent forth from his cell some of his imperishable works.

The first of these was his "Call to Archippus," addressed to his suffering fellow-ministers. The next was his admirable "Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism; with an affectionate Letter annexed, and Rules for Daily Self-examination." He sent a copy of this to every family of his flock in Taunton. He prepared in the jail for them, "A Synopsis of the Covenant." Amidst much discomfort, close confinement, and impure air, with an oppressed heart and a feeble frame, Alleine fulfilled his ministry in the prison of Ilchester, and made his preaching by the press extend to a greater number of persons than could have assembled in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene to hear him.

On May 20, 1664, he was released, but it was only to be put in greater peril than before, by reason of the Conventicle Act, which prohibited the people from assembling to hear the Puritan ministers. But, notwithstanding bodily disease and legal prohibitions, he continued to preach until his strength consumed away. After partial recovery he resumed his work, but was interrupted in July 1666, by an armed company acting under the law against conventicles. Mr. Alleine, his wife, his aged father, seven ministers, and forty persons were taken away to Ilchester jail. Spiritual exercises sanctified their captivity; but Mr. Alleine's malady was increased by confinement, and when he was liberated at the end of sixty days, he was very weak. He retired to his native Devizes to recruit. On the day after his arrival his aged father died. In July he was laid upon his bed with fever, but he had not long recovered till he was obliged to go

to Dorchester to consult Dr. Foss. In that city he was suddenly bereft of the use of all his limbs. Under this affliction he maintained the same serene and happy frame. As he had been wont to hold a thanksgiving service before his imprisonment, so now, when he looked at his powerless limbs, he said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Though utterly helpless-so much so that two men were required to turn him, which they sometimes did forty times in a night, he was able to speak, and addressed those of his Taunton flock who came to see him with much fulness and fidelity.

His pains and paralysis had a brief alleviation in the carly part of 1668, and he was removed in a horse-litter to Taunton, and thence to Bath. At the latter place, "the doctors were amazed to behold such a wasted object, professing they never saw the like, much wondering how he was come alive, and on his appearance at the baths some of the ladies were affrighted as though death had come among them." The effect of the change was great, and he rallied wonderfully. He was able to visit in a chair the almshouses and schools, to distribute books and catechisms, and to give addresses. He also taught a Sabbath school of sixty or seventy poor children at his own lodgings-the first Sunday school in history. His last effort was the transmission of six thousand copies of the Assembly's Catechism to the ministers in Wiltshire and Somersetshire, at the joint expense of himself and a brother minister, as "a thank-offering to God."

At Bath he had the fellowship of John Howe and the Puritan divines, which was a great comfort to him. At last his time came when he had to die. His pains and

convulsions were overwhelming for a season, but ere he died he spoke for nearly sixteen hours together, to the great comfort of his sorrowful wife. A temptation from Satan tried him at the end; but he uttered these words of triumph :-" Away, thou foul fiend, thou enemy of all mankind, thou subtle sophist, art thou come now to molest me-now I am just going-now I am so weak, and death upon me? Trouble me not, for I am none of thine ! I am the Lord's; Christ is mine, and I am His; His by covenant. I have sworn myself to be the Lord's,

and His I will be.

Therefore, be gone!" Thus victorious he dies on the battle-field.

On a brass plate over his resting-place this record was inscribed, "HIC JACET DOMINUS JOSEPH ALLEINE, HOLOCAUSTUM TANTONENSIS ET DEO ET VOBIS."

Thus passed away the saintly Puritan, a true martyr of Jesus Christ to the Act of Uniformity. But being dead he yet speaketh. His works survive to preach the gospel which, when living, he proclaimed. His "Alarm to the Unconverted" had an extensive circulation in the seventeenth century, and many were led by it to the strait gate. In the end of last century a Highland minister read a translation of it to his flock, and a great awakening ensued. It is still reprinted and read with profit. His letters and his life have passed through many editions; and his sayings have adorned many a cottage wall, and have been the spiritual bread of thousands.

Must I be driven from my books?

From house and goods and dearest friends?

One of thy sweet and precious looks,

For more than this will make amends!

As for my house it was my tent,

While there I waited on Thy flock;