"intermissions: he will turn it to thy good, and at length

put an end to all; none of these can be expected in "hell." In the greatest agonies, he would say, Well, "yet in all these there is nothing of hell, or God's wrath." He would often make mention of the extent of obedience, which, he said, "Was not only to endeavour to do what "GOD requireth, but also patiently to bear what GOD's "will is to lay upon his creature; as Christ himself, "though he were the Son, yet learned obedience by the things "which he suffered." In his greatest pangs he often used this speech of Job, "Shall we receive good from the hands of GoD, and not evil?" He often commended his soul unto Christ, and would say, "I am persuaded that he is "able to keep that which I have committed to him against "that day." When any of his friends went about to comfort him in those gifts which GoD had bestowed on him, and those works which he had wrought by him, he would answer, "I dare not think of any such thing for comfort; "Jesus Christ, and what he hath done and endured, is. "the only ground of my sure comfort." Many that came to visit him in his weakness, professed that they went away better than they came, by reason of those savoury and gracious expressions that proceeded from him.

Though, towards his latter end, his fits of the stone were frequent and sharp, having sometimes four or five in an hour, yet such was his desire to finish that so much desired commentary of his upon the Epistle to the Hebrews, that, so soon as the bitterness of the pain of a fit was over he returned to his work, and made some progress therein: And thus he continued labouring at his work, through much pain, till Tuesday the sixth of December 1653: About which time, as his natural strength was exceedingly decayed, so his intellectuals began to fail; and for the three following days drowsiness seized upon him, insomuch that he could not hold up his head to look into a book, but slumbered away his time in his chair; and, upon the Friday, being the third day after he had given over his studies, inquiring what day it was, he cried out, "Alas! I have lost three days." The day following, being Saturday, he had no desire to arise out of his bed, neither indeed could, in regard of his weakness, which was such, as he said, "Now I have not long to live in "this world, the time of my departure is at hand; I am "going to my desired haven :" the apprehension whereof was no little joy unto him; for he had often said to such of his friends as came to visit him in his sickness," I

"am most willing to die, having, I bless GoD, nothing "to do but to die." Indeed, he seemed sometimes to be in St. Paul's state, between life and death, having a desire to depart, that he might be with Christ, which was far better; but yet very desirous to finish his commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, which he knew would be useful to the church of God, and in that respect was willing to live; and GoD so far answered his desire in that particular, that he lived to finish it within half a chapter. But when he perceived that his time in this world would not be long, O! how sweet and joyful was the apprehension of death unto him, which he often termed, his best friend, next unto Jesus Christ. And that Saturday, though he kept his bed through weakness, yet was he more wakeful, and his spirit more lively and cheerful, than for several days before; which no doubt was from his joyful apprehension of his approaching departure. His speeches that day were more than ordinarily heavenly, speaking much in admiration of the freeness of God's grace, and riches of his mercy in Jesus Christ.

As while he lived, he led an heavenly life, so, about the time of his death, by those comforts and joys that he found in his soul, he seemed to be in heaven while he was upon earth; and thus continued full of sweet comfort and heavenly expressions to the last of his understanding and speech, which continued till Monday morning, when both failed him; from which time he lay breathing, but shorter and shorter, till eight o'clock that night; about which time, in the presence of all his children and friends, he quietly slept in the Lord, making an happy change from earth to heaven, December 12, 1653, being seventy-nine years old, having served God faithfully and painfully in his generation.

Who

In the laborious life of this faithful minister, (as Mr. Jenkyns said of him) was not worn out with rust, but with whetting,' we see the love and care of Jesus, the Bishop of souls, to his church, in fulfilling his own promise, "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, "who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. O! how ought we to love and praise our heavenly shepherd for this! May the parish of Blackfriars see their present mercy, in having the sound of the gospel continued among them! May they love and pray for him who is set over them in the Lord! and while they praise the Lord for this distinguishing mercy, may they be deeply

concerned

concerned to receive the truth as it is in Jesus, in the love of it, and to walk worthy of it in their lives and conversations!

As a specimen of his style and spirit, we will subjoin the Epistle Dedicatory of his book, entitled, "The "Whole Armour of God."

"To the right honourable S. Sebastian Harvey, Knt. Lord Mayor of the honourable City of London, and to the right worshipful Aldermen and Sheriffs, his brethren, and to the right worshipful Mr. Recorder, together with the whole estate of the said City, all true happiness.

Right Honourable, Right Worshipful;

Your honour and worships being, (by the good guiding providence of GoD) the general, captains, and lieutenants of this metropolis, this chief city and castle of the kingdom, wherein (by the same providence) I am, though one of the meanest, yet one of the watchmen; To whom ought I rather to present these fruits of my watchman's function, than unto your honour and worships? As duty, in regard of your places, so gratitude also in regard of your kindnesses, require as much. My father, grandfather, and other predecessors, have of old, from time to time, been beholden to this honourable city: The kindness which they formerly received is still continued to me: Which, as I do, with all humble thankfulness, acknowledge, so from my heart I desire the Almighty to remember your honour and worships, together with the whole estate of this honourable city, in goodness; and not to wipe out the kindness which is shewed to the ministers of his word, and to poor distressed people.

"Long hath the gospel been purely, powerfully, plentifully preached in this honourable city, and great countenance and maintenance hath, by many therein, been given thereunto. Good orders have, in these later years, been taken for the better sanctifying of the Lord's Sabbath. Much relief is from time to time given to the poor. These, and such like works of piety and charity, are the beauty, honour, strength, and wealth of this city.

"I deny not, but that in the outward politic government of this great corporation, and the many dif ferent companies therein, London may be accounted the glory of the earth. But the things which make it exceed in glory, are, the fair houses of prayer and preaching the word; the great assemblies of God's people frequenting the same to worship GOD; the spacious hospitals and places of charity, together with the liberal provision

provision therein made for relief of poor children and orphans, of aged and impotent men and women, of lame and maimed soldiers, and of many other like succourless persons; and the thrones of justice and judgment, with the like, wherein London may be compared to Zion, the city of GOD, of which great and excellent things are spoken. Right honourable and right worshipful, go on this way, which is the only right way, to procure the peace and prosperity of your city. Let the ministry of God's word be more and more promoted: Let the Lord's Sabbaths be duly observed: Let the poor be relieved, and the oppressed be succoured: Let profane persons, and all evil doers (the enemies of Christian policies) be punished: In a word, let God's ordinances be advanced, and right judgment executed, and so shall London be accounted the "city of the great King," where he will delight to dwell, and bestow his blessing. For in these things is GoD highly honoured. Now God, who can and will perform it, hath said it, Them that honour me will I honour.

"It lieth much in the power of magistrates to procure or hinder the blessing of GOD, in those cities and places over which they preside. For they being public persons, their good deeds are by the wise GoD publicly rewarded, and their evil deeds publicly revenged.

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Right honourable and right worshipful, accept, I pray you, the duty, and pardon the boldness of your watchman. And, O Lord of lords, do good to this city of thine; continue the peace and prosperity thereof: So prayeth

"Church-court,

"Your honours', and worships',

in Blackfriars, London, December 31st, 1618.

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❝in all duty for ever bounden, "WILLIAM GOUGE."

Mr. Leigh calls him a learned and pious divine,' and says he was a good textuary, and often honourably mentioned by Voetius, and other eminent foreign divines. He also adds, That he would begin his prayer very audibly and distinctly, which was the more commendable, because of his great congregation at Blackfriars.' See his Treatise of Religion and Learning, p. 211.

His WORKS. I." Of Domestical Duties, on Eph. v. and vi. II. The Whole Armour of GoD, on Eph. vi. III. Of the Sin against the Holy Ghost, on Matth. xii. 31, 32. Mark iii. 28, 29. IV. Upon the Lord's Prayer; or, A Guide to go to God. V. Gon's Three Arrows, Plague, Famine, and Sword, on Numb. xvi. 44, &c. 2 Sam.

2 Sam. xxi. 1. Exod. xvii. 8. VII. The Extent of GOD's Providence, November 5, on Matth. x. 29, 30, 31. VIII. The Dignity of Chivalry, on 2 Chron. viii. 9. IX. The Saints' Sacrifice, or a Comment on Psalm cxvi. X. Two Treatises; 1. The Sabbath's Sanctification; 2. Of Apostacy, on Luke xv. 31. XI. The Saint's Support: A Sermon before the Commons in Parliament, on Nehem. v. 19. XII. Mercies' Memorial, November 17, on Exod. xiii. 3. XIII. The Progress of Divine Providence: A Sermon before the House of Lords, on Exod. xxxvi. 11. XIV. A Funeral Sermon, on Ezek. xxiv. 16. XV. The Right Way: A Sermon before the Lords, on Ezra viii. 21. XVI. Two Catechisms. XVII. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews," in two volumes folio; which (says Mr. Jenkins) after many years preaching, he went through in his sermons at Blackfriars, and which he fully prepared for the press before his death, excepting one half chapter; a work of excellent worth, both considering the subject (noble and difficult) and the great pains and dexterity of the commentator; and which, I am confident, when published, will be useful.'

JEREMIAH WHITAKER.

JEREMIAH WHITAKER was born at Wakefield in Yorkshire, in the year 1599. At the age of sixteen he was entered a sizer in Sydney college, Cambridge, where he was inuch admired for his pregnant parts and learning. At twenty years of age he took his bachelor of arts' degree, and then went to Okeham in Rutlandshire, as master of the free-school there. About four years after this event, he married the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Peachy, rector of Okeham, a pious man, an eminent linguist, and a laborious preacher of the Gospel, who dearly loved and highly valued Mr. Whitaker, from his first acquaintance with him to the end of his life. He began very early to seek Gon, and very early discovered a lively disposition and promising talents for the ministry; often saying, "He had rather be a preacher of the Gospel than an emperor. And when a motion was once made to him for his acceptance of the mastership of a college; he gave this answer: My heart doth more desire to be a constant preacher, than to be master of any college in

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the