age. He is described by his contemporaries as a man of great excellence, and of an exemplary life, both as a minister and private Christian. It was his custom once a-year to withdraw from all the active duties of life, that he might give himself to devotion and contemplation. He used to retire to some cottage or hut in a wood, or other secluded place, where he refused all converse with the world. This unusual practice contributed, in all probability, to that eminent piety and extensive usefulness which are recorded of him. After his ejectment he retired to Preston, the scene of his first ministerial labours; and becoming deeply conscious of his approaching end, prepared for it with Christian fortitude, and met it with hopeful resignation. Some of his people from Garstang having come to visit him a short time before his death, he gave them much good advice, and discoursed of his death with unusual seriousness. He told them he was now ready whenever his Lord should call, and that he had finished all he ever designed to write, having only the night before sent off to press his Discourse concerning angels.' He then accompanied his friends to their horses, and on his return to his house, shut himself up in his parlour, the ordinary place of his retirement. Here he continued longer than usual. The circumstance awakened the anxiety of those about him, and at length they opened the door, and found him just expiring. He published several theological works, both in English and Latin: the most celebrated of these was entitled 'Looking to Jesus.' The whole were collected and published in 1674, and have been several times reprinted.

Joseph Allein.

BORN A. D. 1633.-DIED A. D. 1668.

JOSEPH ALLEIN, an eminent non-conformist minister, was born at Devizes, in Wiltshire, in 1633. At the age of sixteen he entered Lincoln college, Oxford, and in 1651 was admitted scholar of Corpus Christi. In 1653 he was elected to the chaplainship, which he is said to have chosen in preference to a fellowship. His college career was distinguished by great diligence in his studies, and faithful attention to the duties of his office. He usually allowed himself but three hours for sleep, and frequently gave away his 'commons' that his studies might not be interrupted. In 1655 he became assistant minister to Mr Geo. Newton at Taunton. In the labours of his ministry he was distinguished by energy, fidelity, and affection.

Before the passing of the act of uniformity in 1662, it was expected that he would have conformed; but when he saw the clauses to which his assent and consent were required, he determined to refuse submission. He was fully resolved, however, not to suspend his preaching until he should be prevented by violence. Accordingly, he even redoubled his labours-preaching sometimes seven, ten, or even fourteen sermons a-week, in Taunton and its neighbourhood. Such was the respect felt for him that he was permitted to continue these labours undisturbed till May 26, 1663, when he was committed to Ilchester jail. In August he was tried at the assizes for holding a riotous and seditious

assembly. The verdict was given against him, and he was sentenced to pay a fine of a hundred marks, and to be imprisoned till the fine was paid. On his recommitment to prison, he was confined with upwards of sixty others, mostly quakers and nonconformists, in one room, where they all suffered greatly from the closeness of the place, and were constrained to take out the glass from the windows and remove some of the tiles from the roof to obtain fresh air. He continued nearly a year in confinement, and upon his release, commenced his public labours again. He had large congregations in various places, who were much attached to him. In July, 1665, he was again arrested, and with seven other ministers, and forty private persons, was committed to the jail at Ilchester. During his imprisonments he laboured diligently both to promote the welfare of all his fellow-prisoners, and by his writings to serve those who had composed his flock. He died in 1668. He was a man of distinguished piety, and of a most exemplary deportment. A long and interesting account of him is given in Clark's Lives.' He published several works, amongst which the Alarm to the Unconverted' is best known, and has been most extensively circulated. He wrote in Latin a body of natural theology, in which he first laid down the Christian doctrines, and then added testimonies from the ancient philosophers. Soon after his death, an account of his life, labours, and sufferings, was published by Mr R. Allein, R. Fairclough, G. Newton, and his widow. Mr Baxter wrote the Introduction, and two conformist ministers gave it their sanction.

Anthony Tuckney, D.D.

BORN A. D. 1599.-DIED A. D. 1669.

THIS learned and eminent divine was born at Kirkton, near Boston, in Lincolnshire, in September 1599. His father was minister at that place. At fourteen years of age, he matriculated of the university of Cambridge, being admitted of Emanuel college. In 1620, he proceeded M.A., and was some time resident in the earl of Lincoln's family. In 1627 he took his degree of B.D., after which he became assistant to John Cotton, then vicar of Boston, afterwards a distinguished leader in the New England churches.

When the assembly of divines met at Westminster, Tuckney was one of the two representatives sent up from Lincolnshire. Soon after this, he accepted the rectorship of St Michael Querne, in Cheapside. In 1645, he succeeded Dr Holdsworth in the mastership of Emanuel college, and three years afterwards was chosen vice-chancellor. On the removal of Dr Arrowsmith to Trinity college, Dr Tuckney was chosen master of St John's, and two years after, regius professor of divinity.

After the restoration he resigned his mastership and professorship, but was allowed a retiring pension of £100 per annum. He died in London, in February 1670. Calamy bears this testimony to his merits, that he had the character of an eminently pious and learned man, a true friend, an indefatigable student, a candid disputant, and an earnest preacher of truth and godliness. His candour and liberality

are eminently manifested in his 'Eight letters concerning the use of reason in religion,' &c., addressed to Dr Whichcote. His other works

are Sermons,' and

Conciones ad clerum.'

Edmund Staunton, D.D.

BORN A. D. 1600.—DIED A. D. 1671.

DR EDMUND STAUNTON was of the family of the Stauntons in Bedfordshire. From his earliest years he was a diligent student, and while yet under-graduate, was chosen a probationer fellow of Oxford before eighteen of his seniors. He entered into orders early in life, and preached his first lecture at Witney in Oxfordshire. His first living was that of Bushy in Hertfordshire. In 1635, when the book of Sports came out, he was one among many who were suspended for not reading it. During his suspension he took the degree of D.D. at Oxford. On the meeting of the Westminster assembly, Dr Staunton was chosen a member, and appointed one of the six morning preachers.

In 1648, when the visitors discharged Dr Newlin from the headship of Corpus Christi college, Dr Staunton succeeded him, and introduced a very excellent code of discipline into that establishment. His government was in the highest degree beneficial to the interests of the college, over which he presided twelve years, until discharged from office in 1660. After this he devoted the remainder of his life to the preaching of the gospel in and around St Albans. He died on the 14th of July 1671. A few of his practical treatises have been pub lished.

Vavasour Powell.

BORN A. D. 1617.-Died A. D. 1671.

VAVASOUR POWELL was a native of Radnorshire, and educated in Jesus college, Oxford. He was descended, on his father's side, from the Powells of Knocklas, in Radnorshire; and, on the mother's, from the ancient family of the Vavasours. On leaving the university, he perambulated his native country, preaching the gospel wherever he could obtain an audience. It being objected to him, however, that he had not received any kind of ordination, he went to London and obtained, in 1646, a testimonial of his religious and blameless conversation, and of his abilities for the work of the ministry, signed by Mr Herle, and seventeen members of the assembly of divines. Thus furnished, he returned to Wales, where he became a most indefatigable and active evangelist: traversing the country in every direction, visiting the mountain hamlets, attending the fairs and markets, and preaching in every place where he could gain admittance either by night or day. In the midst of all this incessant labour, and of the personal privations to which it exposed him, he maintained the appearance and deportment of a gentleman. He was also exceedingly hospitable and

generous, and would not only entertain and lodge, but clothe the poor and aged, although his whole means of subsistence did not amount to £100 per annum.

At the dawn of the restoration, being known to be a fifth monarchy man, he was taken into custody, and was ultimately confined in the Fleet, London, where he died in October, 1671. His religious sentiments were those of a Sabbatarian Baptist, and he was the founder of upwards of twenty churches in Wales professing similar sentiments

Bishop Wilkins.

BORN A. D. 1614.-DIED A. D. 1672.

THIS ingenious and learned prelate was the son of Walter Wilkins, citizen and goldsmith of Oxford. He was born in 1614, at Fawsley, near Daventry in Northamptonshire. His earliest teacher was Edward Sylvester. At the age of thirteen he entered New-inn hall, Oxford, whence he removed to Magdalen hall, where he took his degrees in arts.

On obtaining orders, he became chaplain to William, Lord Say; afterwards he attended, in the same character, upon the count-palatine of the Rhine, to whom the proficiency which our young divine was known to have made in mathematical studies was a high recommendation. Upon the breaking out of the civil war, Wilkins took the league and covenant. He was afterwards made warden of Wadham college In 1648 he was created D.D. In 1656, he married Robina, widow of Peter French, and sister of the lord-protector. In 1659, he was made master of Trinity college, Cambridge, but was ejected thence the year following. He then became preacher to the society of Gray's inn, and was chosen a member of the royal society's council.

His eminent scientific talents, and the patronage of Villiers, procured for him some notice at court, and the bishopric of Chester was ultimately bestowed upon him, though not without considerable opposition from the primate Sheldon. He did not enjoy his preferment long. He died on the 19th of November, 1672. Burnet bears this testimony of him, that "he was a man of as great a mind, as true a judgment, as eminent virtues, and of as good a soul as any he ever knew." All the works which Bishop Wilkins published are learned and ingenious. His first was the famous piece entitled, 'The discovery of a new world; or a discourse tending to prove that it is probable there may be another habitable world in the moon; with a Discourse concerning the possibility of a passage thither.' This was a juvenile production, but the bishop in his old age adhered to the speculations of his youth, in spite of the ridicule to which they exposed him. The reader may be curious to know what the means of conveyance were which Wilkins proposed to employ in a journey to the moon; and we shall allow him to explain them in his own language:-" If it be here inquired," says he, "what means there may be conjectured for our ascending beyond the sphere of the earth's magnetical vigour, I answer: 1st. It is not, perhaps, impossible that a man may be able to flye by the application of wings to his oune body, as angels are pictured, and as Mercury and Dædalus are fained, and as hath been attempted by divers, particularly

by a Turke in Constantinople, as Busbequius relates. 2d. If there be such a great Ruck in Madagascar as Marcus Polus, the Venetian mentions, the feathers in whose wings are twelve feet long, which can soope up a horse and his rider, or an elephant, as our kites doe a mouse, why then it is but teaching one of these to carry a man, and he may ride up thither as Ganymed does upon an eagle. 3d. Or, if neither of these ways will serve, yet I doe seriously and upon good grounds, affirm it possible to make a flying chariot, in which a man may sit, and give such a motion into it as shall convey him through the aire." The mathematical and philosophical works of this enthusiastic projector were collected and published in one 8vo. volume in 1708. His theological works consist of discourses on preaching, on providence, and on prayer, also sundry sermons, and a posthumous work on 'the Principles and Duties of Natural Religion.'

Philip Nye.

BORN A. D. 1596.-died A. D. 1672.

He was

THIS celebrated nonconformist was a native of Sussex. born of a genteel family in 1596, and educated at Magdalene college, Oxford. In 1630 he was curate of St Michael's, Cornhill. In this situation he soon made himself obnoxious to the high church party, and to avoid Laud's persecuting measures, retired to Holland in 1633. While abroad, he chiefly resided at Arnheim. In 1640 he ventured to return home, and was soon after made minister of Kimbolton, in Huntingdonshire.

He was

In 1643 he was appointed one of the assembly of divines, and was sent by that body, in conjunction with Stephen Marshall, whose daughter he had married, to procure the assistance of the Scots. On his return, when parliament assembled to take the covenant in St Margaret's church, Westminster, he was the person who read it from the pulpit, and endeavoured to show its warrant from scripture. also one of the committee who drew up the preface to the Directory, which was to be substituted for the book of Coinmon prayer. When the presbyterian party insisted on establishing their own form of church-government, Nye left them, and threw the weight of his talents and influence into the independent side.

After the restoration, he was ejected from his charge, and it was even debated in council whether he should not be excepted for life, on the ground of the extraordinary share he had taken in promoting revolutionary measures and principles. He employed the declining years of his life in preaching the gospel as he had opportunity amongst the dissenters in the metropolis. He died in 1672. Nye wrote and published a considerable number of polemical and political tracts.