being able to swim he went to the bottom; but finding a tuft of grass on the side of the bank near to which he was, he raised himself up, and his life was preserved. Soon after these deliverances he became deeply exercised in religion, and was hopefully renewed in the spirit of his mind. When he had taken his degree of Master of Arts, his father gave him his choice of the three learned professions, upon which he chose the ministry, saying, "that he esteemed turning souls to righteousness the most desirable work in the world, and that it would have the greatest reward hereafter, though the other professions bring in more wealth and honour in this world."

. He first exercised his ministry at Witney, Oxfordshire, where he had souls given to him for his hire; and his preaching was so popular that people flocked from all parts to hear him. The incumbent, who read prayers in the morning, was no how pleased to see so many people coming to hear Mr. Staunton, and would not honour the sermon with his presence, for when prayers were ended he would hasten away. Mr. Staunton, for a while, preached a succession of sermons on "buy the truth and sell it not." When the old parson met any one coming in he would say, "ah, are you going to buy the truth?"

From Witney he removed to Bushey, where he was cordially welcomed by all who had any sense of religion, and here also his labours were blessed. Dr. Seaton wishing for the parish of Bushey for himself, his attorney found some flaw in Mr. Staunton's settlement, and ousted him, but afterwards resigned to him his right to the parish of Kingston on the Thames, in Surrey. Here he remained for twenty years, labouring with untiring assiduity and fidelity, and was the means of producing a general reformation in the town, both among the high and low; many persons acknowledged him as their spiritual father.

One day while preaching in London, a man whose house was near, ran home and brought his wife, saying, that there was a man in the pulpit who prayed like an angel. The sermon which followed this prayer

was the means of the conversion of this woman, which she gave evidence in all her after life.

of

His preaching was remarkably plain, affectionate, and practical. His manner was so affectionate that he seemed ready to impart, not the gospel only, but even his own soul to his hearers; his applications were full of life and animation. He was called "the searching preacher;" for seldom did he deliver a sermon in which he would not have some marks of trial or examination. He was desirous to be ever at work, fearing above all things lest he should at last hear Christ say, "thou wicked and slothful servant." And when he visited his brethren he would say, "is there no work here for a preacher ?" By his second wife he had ten children, who were all buried before him in one grave, and when he died he left but one son.

In 1635 he was cast out of his living for refusing to read the book of sports. During the vacation which he now enjoyed, he went and took his degree of Doctor of Divinity in honour, he said, of his afflictions.

Doctor Staunton was an active and useful member of the Westminster Assembly, and was frequently called upon to preach before the Parliament, and was one of the six lecturers appointed to preach in Westminster Abbey in the morning.

In 1648, when the visiters of the University of Oxford dismissed Dr. Newlin from the headship of Corpus Christi College, Dr. Staunton was put in his place, where he continued for twelve years, and until he was ejected by the king's commissioners, after the restoration in the year 1660. While president of this College he greatly promoted piety and good order, and wherever he resided, preaching was his delight; and he would often go out into the country and preach to the destitute parishes. He held a weekly meeting at his own house for prayer and spiritual conference, to which serious persons of other Colleges resorted. He was constant in his attendance at the worship of the College chapel morning and evening, and by his efforts and example greatly promoted the sanctification of the Lord's day. While in the University he

was of great service to serious young men who were seeking the ministry, and many who were afterwards eminently useful were trained under his ministry and instructions, one of whom may be mentioned, Mr. Joseph Alleine, so well known by his excellent practical discourses. When dismissed from the University, he sought places where he could be useful in the exercise of his ministry; and even after the passing of the act of uniformity he laboured in private, and almost every week attended a fast in his own house or that of some other person. After this he did not remain long stationary, but went from place to place, as he found opportunities of doing good. His motto was, "woe is me if I preach not the gospel;" and as if he could not preach to multitudes in the church he would preach to a few in the chamber, and did much good by the distribution of religious books.

Doctor Staunton's natural disposition was uncommonly sweet and amiable, and when embellished by the grace of God he was exceedingly pleasant and useful in his conversation. He was much given to self-examination, and was very careful to ascertain the true state of his own heart, and had the happiness of finding, upon the closest and most impartial scrutiny, that he had the witness in himself.

Like many other pious men, Dr. Staunton kept a journal or diary of God's dealings with him, and of the state of his heart from day to day. From this his biographer, Mr. Mayo, has been able to derive many particulars of his interior life; but he was intimately acquainted with him, and gives this testimony, "that he was the most given to prayer of any Christian that he was ever acquainted with, and when he prayed, whether in private or socially, he very commonly wept. It was his custom always to pray kneeling, however inconvenient it might be, for he was wont to say "the humblest posture was the most suitable for prayer." His observance of the Lord's day was so strict that many censured him; but he would say, "we must always be good husbands of time, especially of holy time; we must not spend that which is

not our own about our own business." "Spiritual pride," he said, "was the besetting sin of young ministers;" and he relates an instance in which he was himself greatly endangered by it, but by betaking himself to fasting and prayer he obtained the victory. The study of the Scriptures was his constant employment, so that he was perfectly familiar with the sacred volume, and could immediately turn to any passage which was referred to. In nothing, however, did. this eminent servant of Jesus Christ more excel, than in religious conference; for this he had a peculiar talent, as was experienced by those who had the pleasure of his conversation. He seldom met any one casually on the way without saying something which might be spiritually profitable. His patience under afflictions was truly admirable; he suffered considerably but was never discomposed, nor uttered a single complaint. When in health his conversation was often facetious, that he might attract people to him and have the opportunity of instructing them. His last sickness was the palsy, which affected one side and prevented him from talking much; but he said to a friend, "I neither fear death nor desire life, but am willing to be at God's disposal." He died on the 14th of July, 1671, in the 71st year of his age. His modesty was such that he was always unwilling that any production of his pen should be published; He did, however, consent that his "Christian Conference" should be put to press, and the Parliament ordered several of his sermons preached before them to be published. As far as can now be ascertained, Dr. Staunton's published writings are the following:

1. Rupes Israelis-The Rock of Israel; before the House of Commons at their monthly fast; Deut. xxxii. 31; April 24, 1644.

2. Phineas' Zeal, or a Divine Remedy for England's Misery; preached before the House of Lords, October 30, 1644.

3. A sermon at the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson.

4. A Treatise of Christian Conference.

5. A Dialogue between a minister and a stranger about soul-affairs.

STERRY, PETER, B. D., one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, was born in Surrey, England, and educated in Emanuel College, Cambridge, where, in 1636, he was chosen fellow. Having finished his studies in the University he entered the ministry; during the civil war he was a strenuous advocate of the cause of the Parliament. In the year 1643, he was called up to the Assembly of Divines, and is said to have given constant attendance; on some occasions he preached before the Parliament.

He was intimate with Sir Henry Vane, and is said to have been deeply tinctured with mysticism. In the year 1654, he was appointed one of the Triers of ministers. The protector not liking that the Presbyteries should have the sole power of examining and judging of candidates for the ministry, appointed triers of his own selection. These commissioners 'were thirty-eight in number, among whom were eight or nine laymen; any five were sufficient to approve, but it required nine to reject a candidate.

Mr. Sterry's only writings are,

1. The Spirit's Conviction of Sin Opened. 2. The Clouds in which Christ comes.

STRICKLAND, JOHN, B. D., was born in the county of Westmoreland of an ancient and honourable family, and was educated at Queen's College, Oxford. After taking his degrees in the arts he entered the holy ministry, and became chaplain to the Earl of Hertford. In 1632, he took his degree of Bachelor of Divinity, and was presented to the rectory of Middleton in Somersetshire. He was chosen one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and seems to have been constant in his attendance. Wood reviles him exceedingly, but Dr. Calamy defends him. He became, after the Assembly was over, pastor of St. Edmund's Church in Salisbury. He is said to have been eminently distinguished as an expositor of Scripture,