more compassion for poor souls. Lord, say, Amen;

The following covenant engagement was entered into, Dec. 8th, 1673, at a time, when Mr. Heywood suspected the increase and prevalence of Popery in this country, and while it expresses his firm persuasion of the truth of the gospel, shows his willingness to endure any degree of persecution to which the profession of his faith might expose him.

"My glorious and gracious Sovereign! My parents presented me to thee in baptism in infancy, wherein I was enlisted as thy soldier, to fight under the banner of the Captain of my salvation, against Satan, the world, and the flesh. When I came to years of discretion, and was under convictions, which were, I hope, by thy Holy Spirit, I again personally renewed that covenant by a solemn self-resignation to the Lord, giving my hand, and therein I hope my heart, to that good God who gave his Son for me, and hath given himself, his Son, and Spirit to me; and I never had cause to repent of this engagement. The more I have tasted the Lord's goodness, the more have I been confirmed in my choice; and the more sincerely I have waited on God, the more hath my soul tasted his love. And now, being under sad apprehensions of approaching persecutions from popish adversaries, not knowing what things will befall me betwixt this and the grave, I here, once again, enlist myself as a volunteer under thy sacred colours, to war a good warfare. I do purpose, by thy grace, to adhere to the true reformed

Protestant religion, to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, yea, to resist unto blood, striving against sin. My full purpose of heart is, to cleave to the Lord, whatever it may cost me. Behold, I am ready, by the assistance of thy grace, to lose father and mother, wife and children, brethren and sisters, houses and lands, all my outward comforts, credit, liberty, and whatever is dear to me, for thy sake and the gospel's. Thou, who art the searcher of hearts, knowest that I count not my life dear to me, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. By the strength of God, I will keep on in my work and way, in the duties of prayer, preaching, and all christian exercises, and neglect no opportunity to serve my God, and save souls; and though I would do God's work prudently, yet God forbid, that a pretence of prudence should prevent faithfulness. Though I be not worthy of the high and transcendent honour of being a martyr for my dear Saviour, yet my present prayer and purpose are, that I may not deny his name; but, if he call me to it, may witness a good confession, by continuing in the things which I have learned and been assured of, knowing of whom I have learned them. I design, by thy grace, to hold fast and hold forth in my place the word of God's patience, let the Lord do with me what seemeth good in his eyes. Come life, come death, I am the Lord's. Welcome Christ with a cross! Welcome a fiery chariot to mount into my Father's palace! Welcome reproach for the sake of Christ! Let him be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or death. If I be offered as a sacrifice to serve the faith of the church, I shall rejoice let what will

come, so that I may enjoy my Lord Christ. As, through grace, I have thankfully suffered a short imprisonment for God, and, as I can say it sincerely, I have suffered joyfully the spoiling of my goods; so I hope, I can comfortably believe, my God will help me not to love my life unto death, for this gospel I have professed and preached. But, O my God, I am sensible of the frailty of my flesh, the treachery of my heart, and the temptations of Satan, and I am assured, if thou shouldst leave me, I shall certainly fall as Peter did; therefore I flee to thy all-sufficient grace; thou alone art able to make me stand. Support and strengthen this weak and worthless worm. It is not any measure of gifts, learning, resolution, or received grace that can support me, it is nothing but thy assisting and corroborating grace. Though I cannot dispute for the truth, yet thou canst make me both dispute and die for Christ. Though of myself I can do nothing, yet by the strength of Christ, I shall be able both to do and endure all things. Lord, support me with wisdom, courage, zeal, fidelity, and all heroic christian graces, to pass through dangers and difficulties, and, if called to such a trial, to seal thy truth with my heart's blood. So voweth and prayeth,

PART VI.

Licenses threatened to be taken away-Parliament prorogued-Licenses revoked-Mr. Heywood's conduct on the occasion-His Perseverance in Labours-Grateful Recollections-Parental anxiety -Death of Relatives, Mr. Rich. Heywood, Rev. John Angier, Rev. Nath. Heywood-Self-examination-Mr. Heywood apprehended at Shaw chapel-Thanksgiving day-Extracts from his Diary-Sickness of Mrs. and Eliezer Heywood-Covenant renewed-Another Excommunication-Ordination of Timothy Jollie -Mr. H's. successful Labours-Repeated illness of Eliezer Heywood-The death of an ungodly Preacher-Review of 1681Severities exercised-Spiritual Journeys-Visit to London-Deliverances from Dangers-Disinterested Labours-Mr. Heywood's Apprehension and Trial-His Perplexity—Imprisonment in York Castle-Prison Employment-His Liberation-Renewal of his Labours.

THE liberty enjoyed in consequence of the licenses, was considered by many of the Nonconformists as very precarious, and so it proved. The parliament was displeased with the king for granting them, because it was an unlawful stretch of the royal prerogative. In February 1673, the House of Commons voted the king's declaration illegal, and he promised it should not be brought into a precedent. "In this tickle juncture," says Mr. H. "God furnished his servants with a subject for prayer. The king to gratify the parliament, tore off the seal from the licenses, upon which our adversaries began to threaten us and execute penalties. Some ministers about Manchester gave over their public work, and most were at a loss what to do. The king called the judges to consult with them on

the case. They put him in mind of his promise to the parliament not to draw the practice into a precedent, yet told him all offices depended on him, and that he might show his displeasure at the severity of the justices by taking away their commissions. Accordingly when one Mr. Hicks,* a Nonconformist minister, was disturbed and fined, he rode up to the king, who not only granted an order for the recovery of his goods, but also for taking away the commissions of the justices who were active in the business. Upon this information the ministers went to their work again; blessed be God." Every sincere friend to the British Constitution must detest the servile spirit of these judges, and the arbitrary conduct of this monarch, yet we cannot wonder that the persecuted Nonconformists embraced the opportunity of exercising their natural rights, in their conscientious worship of God.

At this time, as Mr. H. justly observes: "All things were on the wheel of change, especially concerning the affairs of the nation. The parliament," he says, "hath been sitting at the stern above twelve years; but behold a strange and incredible alteration amongst them. Their late votes speak astonishing change in the members. They that were all for the king's prerogative have gone to the other extreme, have called some great men in question, have appeared violent against the Papists, and passed many votes for the poor Nonconformists. But while they were proceeding with most energy in making those unexpected changes in which they designed something for the good of the

* Mr. Hicks was a native of Yorkshire, and educated at Trin. Col. Dublin. He was ejected from Saltash, in Cornwall, and afterwards settled at Portsmouth, preaching as opportunity permitted. Unhappily he was induced to unite with the followers of the Duke of Monmouth, and thereby was brought to suffer on the scaffold. See the Nonconformist's Mem. vol. i. page 368–370.