He was much in the mention of passages from the fiftyfirst Psalm, particularly of that verse, The sacrifices of GoD are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrile heart, O GOD, thou wilt not despise. To which he usually added, "That sacrifice, O my GoD, I offer to thee." Being visited by a student, and by him asked, whether he thought the Hebrew was the language spoke in heaven? He answered, "This is not revealed: Neither do I think that the language of heaven is known here on earth; but I judge we shall learn it in a moment, when GoD shall be all in all. This is that tongue of angels, which St. Paul mentions; and is as other things which GoD hath prepared for those that love him; and they are all of them such as eye haih not seen, nor ear heard, and which are not come into man's heart."

Having repeated those words, Psalm xxxii. 1, 2. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile, he added, "Thou knowest, Lord, that in sincerity, and without guile, I humble myself before thy face. I am a miserable sinner, and could not dare to lift up my eyes towards thee, did I not trust both in thy commandment and promise. Such as labour under a sense of their miseries, are those whom thou callest; for thou sayest, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. O then, let me come to thee. Draw me, O Lord, that I may run after thee. I am tired; I am quite weary of being absent from my Gov. My soul thirsteth for GoD, for the living GOD. When shall I come and appear before GOD? Alas, I am unworthy of it; for I was conceived in sin, and my whole life hath been a continued transgression. Yet far be it from me to doubt of God's power and faithfulness. Where sin aboundeth, his grace aboundeth much more. It is not for the righteous, but for repenting sinners that he hath given his Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have life everlasting. Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief. Increase and strengthen my faith. It is now weak and small, but it is true and unfeigned, and resteth upon Jesus Christ only. There is no salvation in any other. He is the way, the truth, and the life. None can come to the Father but by him. Away with all other intercessors. Away with all merit of works. All our righteousnesses are but pollutions. Ah, my GoD, I have no righteousness but thine; for I was conceived in sin, and never did any work so good

but

but it needed pardon. Mercy, Lord; mercy. Pardon me my sins, pardon me my unrighteousness. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sins. Purge me with hyssop, but let it be dipt in the blood of the Lamb without blemish and without spot, which taketh away the sins of the world. Thou knowest, O Lord, that I have loved thy holy truth, and that I have believed thy promises. They are the joy of my heart. They are the comforts which have kept up my heart from dejection. O GOD, perfect thy work in me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit." He was so humble and so vile in his own eyes, that when any thing was spoken in his praise, he rejected it with a kind of indignation: saying, "Away with this flattery, and pray to God to have mercy on me. His sickness was an inflanimation of the lungs, with a quotidian ague, which returned with double violence every day at the same hour. Coming out of a fit, he said, My GoD, how weary am I! When shall I rest in thy bosom? When shall I be filled with the true riches? When shall I drink of the river of thy pleasures? I am unworthy of it, O my GoD; but thou art glorified by doing good to the unworthy. It is not for them. who are whole, but for those that are sick, that thy Son,. the great physician, was sent. Whosoever believeth on him is passed from death to life." Being asked whether he did not perfectly hope in the grace of GoD, he answered, "I hope, but not perfectly; yet, as much as I am able. I suffer now the pains of death, but GoD will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for he shall receive me." When some comforting passage of Scripture was mentioned to him, by which he found himself strengthened, he took the hand of the person who uttered it, and kissing it, said, "The Spirit of GoD hath spoken by your mouth. The Lord bless you, and increase his graces in you." After an exhortation which had greatly affected him, he said, "These are excellent words. The Lord, by his grace, deeply imprinted them in my heart.”

Sometimes when those about him spake of the excellency of that glory he was going to enjoy, he seemed to be in an extacy, and said but little, and what he said was with long pauses between his words; as, "O what is it to see God's face in righteousness! O when shall I be satisfied with his likeness!" He often repeated the words

of

of David, Psalm xxxvi. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God: Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light shall we see light." And Psalm Ixv. "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts. He shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." He often repeated Psalm xxvii, lxiii, and lxxi; dwelling on those words in the last, "O GOD, thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also, when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not."

For the six last days of his illness, he was mostly in slumbers; against which he much strove, and said, "Rouse me, I should now watch. "Tis now no time to

sleep, but to die. Watch and pray, said my Saviour, lest ye enter into temptation. O Great GOD, abandon

me not to my infirmities; but so preserve and keep my spirit, that I may glorify thee when I am dying." He often said, lifting up his eyes and hands, "Lord, be merciful to me: Be gracious to me." Even when he seemed to be fast asleep, it appeared that his heart waked; for he now and then, in that circumstance, whispered out a short sentence, as, Death is swallowed up in victory! The Word was made flesh! He was therefore once asked, after he awoke, after such heart-wakings, whether he lifted up his soul to GOD? "Yes, he replied, continually." He often felt his own pulse, and then usually said, "O what a grief is this! I cannot die. My GoD, have mercy on me, and set my soul free. I am weary of being absent from my GoD. I desire to depart, and to be with Christ. O my GoD, come fetch me. Shorten the days of my combat. Let me die, I beseech thee. Into thy hands I commend my spirit; for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord GoD of truth. When many of his flock were got about him, and desired his blessing, he said, "The Lord bless you, and give you his fear, and the promised salvation." A little before his death, awaking about midnight, he said to a person attending him, "I shall now soon be eased. I am going to my Father and my GOD. He hath heard me indeed. I go to him with confidence, for he hath arrayed me with his robe." And then, in the greatest rapture, he said, "I see him. O

how

how beautiful he is! I renounce all earthly affections. I will no more love any thing in the world but thee, O GOD, who dost alone possess me." And then his eyes

were bright and sparkling, his mouth open and panting after the living God; his arms stretched out towards heaven; and there was a visible and wonderful effort in him to rise, and with his whole body to welcome, as it were, and embrace the beautiful object of his love. After which one who attended him said, Sir, will see your Redeemer with your own eyes.' He replied, "I believe it." And these were the last intelligible words he uttered. A few minutes after, he sweetly expired, and left on his countenance the features of joy. He died March 10, 1658, aged ninety.

you

As to his literary character, it was famous throughout all Europe, or (as De Vaux hath expressed it) throughout the Christian world. The learned reader may peruse, with much satisfaction, what the said De Vaux hath said of him in his prefatory epistle to the Thesaurus Theologia Sedanensis, Vol. I. Even Gerard Vossius mentions his old philosophic preceptor with due honour: And our own excellent Dr. Twisse writes concerning him: I do admire him upon the Eucharist and on Purgatory. He hath my heart, when I read in his Consolations to his Brethren of the Church of France, as also in treating of the love of GoD. I would willingly learn French to understand him only; and have a long time desired, and still do, to get any thing that he hath written.'

ROBERT HARRIS, D.D.

ROBERT HARRIS was born at Broad Cambden, in Gloucestershire, in the year 1578. At a proper age he was sent to the free-school at Chipping Cambden, where he met with much discouragement in his learning, partly through the frequent change of schoolmasters, the salary being small, and partly from the severe and cruel manner with which they treated the boys; which, he used often to say, was the bane of many scholars. He was at length removed to the school at Worcester, where he heard Dr. Robert Abbot, afterwards Bishop Abbot, preach every Sunday; and from thence to Magdalen Hall, in Oxford. But being neglected by his tutor, and having

a great

a great thirst for learning, he requested of his relation, the principal, to allow him to put himself under the tuition of a Mr. Goffe of Magdalen college, a good scholar, and a famous logician and disputant, but, as he was also reputed a puritan, his relation, who was a favourer of popery, endeavoured to dissuade him from it. However, the consideration of his progress in learning prevailed, and he was accordingly committed to Mr. Goffe's tuition. Mr. Goffe required Mr. Harris, with the rest of his pupils, to join in reading the Scriptures, repeating of sermons, and in using prayer; but this new and strange plan, as it appeared to Mr. Harris, gave him much uneasiness, observing that none of the seniors embraced that way; and yet it was such as he knew not how to oppose. This led him to pray to GoD, that he would discover to him the falsehood of his tutor, if he had any design of misleading or corrupting his mind; or, if it were the right way, GOD would make it plain to him, and confirm him in it. He likewise bought a Bible and some of the best books in divinity, which, being read with prayer and constancy, by the blessing of GoD and his tutor's instructions, brought about his thorough conversion. He then made such rapid progress in his studies, that, not long after, his tutor looked upon him not so much his pupil, as companion in his studies.

It hath been frequently observed, that grace not only informs and quickens the mind with respect to the things of GOD and the matters of eternal salvation, but often expands the natural faculties to the more acute and sensible observation of common affairs, insomuch that the Scripture is fulfilled in every sense, which declares that the law of God is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. Mr. Harris was now determined for the ministry, and purposing to take orders, he returned home, and preached his first sermon at Chipping-Cambden, from Rom. x. 1. which was much admired: "But (says he) I was a loser by it; for my heart swelled with pride, and my friends thought I need not go again to Oxford, because I had learning enough." His father, who had many more children to provide for, designed to breed him to the law, and had made some interest for his preferment; but he humbly intreated his father, that what he intended hereafter to bestow on him for his patrimony, he would at present allow to him for