in the Church-yard of St. Margaret's. As Dr. Twisse died in extreme poverty, the day after his burial the Parliament voted a thousand pounds to his children out of the public treasury, but they never received this bounty, through the unfaithfulness of those who should have paid it, nevertheless, God, by his Providence, made a competent provision for them.

The character of Dr. Twisse will be sufficiently understood from the circumstances of his life related above. He was a man of undissembled humility, entertaining the deepest sense of the depravity of his nature, and ever ready to confess his sins and imperfections, and instead of panting after the riches and honours of this world, he gave God unfeigned thanks that he had preserved him from the temptations and snares to which these would have exposed him. He was more exempt from envy than most men who ever lived, for he entertained a great regard for all good men, and was ever disposed to prefer them to himself, though in the opinion of all others, greatly his inferiors. He was strictly religious and conscientious, though not morose, but frequently facetious, as will be evident to those who are conversant with his writings. It was his custom to observe a monthly fast in his family, which he continued through life, and in his prayers on this and other occasions, he pleaded with God most earnestly for his divided and bleeding Church. Daily, morning and evening, the Scriptures were read in his family, and prayer offered at the throne of grace. He would also frequently expound, for the instruction of his family, the more difficult passages of Scripture.

It was a weakness in Dr. Twisse that he was of an easy disposition, which rendered him liable to be deceived by the designing, and especially by such as he esteemed to be pious.

As a theologian he was pre-eminent among his contemporaries, though in several points he differed from the more commonly received opinions. In regard to the order of the Divine decrees, a subject much disputed in his time, he adopted the views of

the Supralapsarians; but, at the same time assented, that the point of difference was "a mere logical nicety." He held also, contrary to the common opinion, "that God, by his absolute sovereignty could have forgiven sin without any satisfaction, had he not determined otherwise in his eternal purpose;" and in this, Calvin, Norton, and Rutherford, go with him; but Piscator, Lubbertus, and Dr. Owen, have strenuously, and we think conclusively, maintained the contrary. Dr. Twisse's zeal was ardent in defence of the doctrines of grace, against Arminians and Jesuits. He wrote most of his works in Latin, that they might be read in foreign countries, in consequence of which he is better known, and more highly appreciated, in other countries than in his own. He appears to be perfectly at home in the most abstruse controversies, and disposes of objections with an ease and playfulness which we have seldom seen equalled. The following is a list of his works:

1. A Discovery of Dr. Jackson's Vanity, &c. 1631. 2. Vindicia Gratiæ, Potestatis ac Providentiæ

Dei.

3. Dissertatio de Media Scientia.

4. The Morality of the Fourth Commandment.

5. An Examination of Mr. Cotton's Discourse on Predestination.

6. The Scriptures' Sufficiency to determine all matters of Faith.

7. The Riches of God's Love to the Vessels of Mercy, with his Reprobation of the Vessels of Wrath. 8. Fifteen Letters to Mr. Joseph Mede.

9. Prefaces to the learned works of others.

VALENTINE, THOMAS, B. D., a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, is said to have suffered much in the cause of non-conformity. He was suspended for refusing to read the "Book of Sports," and prosecuted in the High Commission court. Dr. Calamy says, "that he was a very popular and taking preacher." He was ejected from his parish in St. Giles Bucks, by the act of uniformity.

His writings are,

1. A Sermon before the House of Commons, from Zeph. iii. 8, at their fast, December 28, 1642.

2. A Charge against the Jews and the Christian World for not coming to Christ. John v. 40.

3. Christ's Counsel to Poor and Naked Souls, a Sermon before the Commons. Revelation iii. 18.

He appears to have been an able and a sweet evangelical preacher.

VINES, RICHARD, was born in Liecester, in the year 1600, and was educated in Magdalen College, Cambridge. When he had finished his course in the University, he taught a school in Hinckley, in Liecester county, whence he was called to be minister of the gospel, at Weddington, in Warwickshire. Here he laboured faithfully, and many from the surrounding villages attended his ministry. He also set up a weekly lecture at Nuneaton, a large market town in the county of Warwick, which was greatly frequented, and his reputation as a preacher rose very high. Both ministers and private Christians travelled many miles to hear him. When the civil war commenced, he was obliged to take refuge in Coventry, where he was not idle; but with other ministers set up a morning lecture; and the inhabitants were so affected with his preaching, that they earnestly entreated him to remain with them. But when the Assembly of divines was chosen, he was one of them, and went up to London to attend on this venerable synod; where he was much esteemed for his sound judgment, and masculine and nervous oratory. had several calls, but finally accepted an invitation to Lawrence Jewry, where he laboured with uncommon success. He was also chosen one of the lecturers at Michael, Cornhill. When the earl of Essex died, the Parliament appointed a public funeral for him, and Mr. Vines was chosen to preach on the occasion.

He

In 1644, he was made master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, by the earl of Manchester; for which

exalted station he was eminently qualified. He was one of the assistant divines at the treaty of Uxbridge, and he and Mr. Henderson defended the cause of Presbytery, against Dr. Steward and Dr. Sheldon, who plead for the divine right of Episcopacy.

In 1645, he was on the committee to prepare a Confession of Faith; and in 1648, was sent as an assistant to the commissioners to confer with the king, at the Isle of Wight. He had much conversation with the king, who appears to have respected him much.

When the king was under sentence of death, Mr. Vines and Dr. Calamy, and other ministers, tendered their services, to aid him in preparing for his end; but he politely declined their service, and chose Dr. Juxon for his spiritual adviser.

Mr. Vines was a thorough Presbyterian, and a very solid, judicious, and orthodox divine. He was mighty in the Scriptures, and an "interpreter, one of a thousand." He was a great disputant, and directed his great force against prevailing errors. Justification by faith was a favourite subject, and he had studied this doctrine with uncommon attention. The tendency of his preaching was to debase man, and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, and his finished righteousness; and also to promote holiness of heart and life.

In his latter years he was visited with great bodily affliction; pains in his head and eyes. After a while his eyes became so weak that he could not see the largest print. But as long as he could move he would still preach, desiring to die in the service, until at last his voice became so weak that he could not be heard. A few days before his death, when attempting to preach, a rude fellow said, "lift up your voice, for I cannot hear you." To which Mr. Vines instantly replied, "Lift up your ears, for I can speak no louder." The day before he died, he preached and administered the Lord's supper.

He was very averse, Dr. print any thing of his own.

Jacombe informs us, to

And Dr. Fuller observes,

"that many most able scholars have never appeared in print."

Mr. Vines' writings are,

1. Caleb's Integrity in following the Lord fully. A sermon before the House of Commons, at their solemn fast, November 30, 1642-Numbers xiv. 24.

2. The Impostures of Seducing Teachers Discovered. A sermon before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, at their anniversary meeting, from Ephesians iv. 14, 15.

3. A Sermon before both Houses of Parliament, on a Public Thanksgiving for the great victory obtained near York.

4. The Posture of David's Spirit when in a Doubtful Condition. A sermon before the House of Commons-2 Samuel xv. 25, 26.

5. The Happiness of Israel. A sermon before both Houses of Parliament and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, on a day of solemn thanksgiving.

6. The Purifying of Unclean Hearts and Hands. A sermon before the House of Commons—James iv. 8. 7. Funeral Sermon for the Earl of Essex-2 Sam. iii. 38.

8. The Authors, Nature, and Danger of Heresy. Before the House of Commons-2 Peter ii. 1.

9. Obedience to Magistrates Supreme and Subordinate. Three sermons, preached at the election for Lord Mayor, &c., in three successive years.

10. The Corruption of Mind-2 Corinthians xi. 3. 11. A Treatise of the Right Institution, Administration, and Receiving of the Lord's Supper; delivered in twenty sermons, at Lawrence Jewry.

12. Christ, the Christian's only Gain.

13. God's Drawing, and Men's Coming to Christ. 14. The Saint's Nearness to God.

6

He died, February, 1655, of a bleeding at the nose. Dr. Jacombe says, "He was a burning and shining light,' possessing very excellent parts; taller by the head than his brethren. He was an accomplished scholar; a perfect master of the Greek language, an