confessing his sin, begging pardon, getting his heart nearer to God, and seeking counsel in this difficult case. He consulted his christian friends, and, at last, resolved to make his appeal to the class-presbytery of ministers and elders meeting at Bury: There the matter was debated a considerable time, and though the classis was dissatisfied with the eldership of Bolton, yet they, being loth to censure them, only desired they would pass it by and admit him to the Lord's supper again. But they trifled about it and did nothing, so he made his appeal from the classpresbytery at Bury to the provincial assembly at Preston. When the business had been stated and debated there, they made an order that the congregational eldership at Bolton should revoke the sentence of suspension publicly, and admit him again into fellowship, exhorting both sides to mutual accommodation; and, as I remember, about this time the occasion of this contention was laid aside. When this order came to the ministers and elders at Bolton, they somewhat demurred at his restoration without submission. However, they were bound to obey the order of the provincial assembly, and at length framed a paper which was read in the church, in which they freed R. H. from his suspension, but gave some hints therein as though he had submitted, which he did not; so it was not all satisfactory, and I think he never joined with them in the Lord's supper afterwards, but was received at Cockey chapel, a mile nearer him than Bolton, and at all other places about, and maintained private communion in days of fasting and prayer, in Bolton parish and elsewhere.

This is a faithful account of that unhappy difference. Behold how great a flame a little spark may kindle! I wrote many papers for him in 1648, as replies to the eldership at Bolton, and some appeals which I have now forgotten. This controversy continued some years, occasioned many animosities amongst good people, and opened the mouths of those who hated religion. It divided the whole society into parties, and greatly affected the heart of his good wife, who was all for peace and submission: but he insisted upon his integrity, and often alleged Job xxvii. 2-6. It was indeed a great affliction to his spirit, which he bore with unconquerable fortitude, and managed with great wisdom and moderation. Few would have been found so capable of defending christian liberty at the same rate. Whether it was well done in them to impose, or in him to oppose, I leave; be and they are gone to appear before the impartial Judge. It is very rare but in such a controversy both sides may be wrong in the mode of conducting things; I hope God hath pardoned, accepted, and saved the souls of the good.

It were endless to relate all the troubles R. H. went through, and the remarkable deliverances he had during his 14 years of distress, from 1662 to 1676. But God put an end to his difficulties several years before he died, so that he lived quietly and comfortably with his second wife, Margaret Brereton. He was a man of excellent natural genius, large capacity, tenacious memory, with a speculating head, always contriving something. It has been observed that as God prospered him exceedingly in the middle of his days, in every thing; so towards the latter part of his life God frustrated his designs, and disappointed him in all that he undertook: doubtless it was to take his heart off from the world, and to prepare him for heaven.

He was of a strong, vigorous, and healthful constitution, naturally very cheerful, and of an affable, sociable, and amiable temper. About two years before he died, when he was 79 years of age, he took a journey to London as witness for one Rich. Watts in a trial for about £500. Most of his relations knew nothing of his journey till he sent a letter signifying that he was well, and kindly entertained by his cousin Mr. Nath. Hilton, whom he had employed as a factor, and who was grown very rich.

He had not such strong religious affections as some Christians, but was sober, solid, and well fixed in the principles and practices of religion; very judicious in his answers to questions at stated conferences, and in discourse with ministers and christian friends. Many days of prayer I have known him keep with God's people, yea, I remember a whole night in which he, Dr. Bradshaw, and several excellent men, were engaged in prayer, on account of King Charles demanding the five members of the House of Commons. It was such a night as I was never present at in all my life; the case and work were extraordinary. Bolton parish considered R. H. as a man of some judgment, capacity, and interest, when in the year 1644, on the death of Mr. Gregge vicar of Bolton, the parishioners sent him into the low countries with a message to Mr. Robt. Park, formerly vicar of Bolton and then preacher to the English congregation at Rotterdam, to solicit his return to them. He went and succeeded. When my father landed at Hull, he heard the astonishing tidings of Prince Rupert's taking Bolton, killing man, woman, and child, as represented to him, and when he came by Halshaw-moor, after the battle there, he beheld a most lamentable spectacle of multitudes slain and plundered. When in London, he furnished himself with the best books, the most plain, practical, and experimental treatises in divinity, such as

Calvin, Luther, Perkins, Preston, and Sibbs, in reading which he took much pleasure. When Prince Rupert's forces took Bolton and ravaged all the country, my sisters had the books conveyed away into a coal-pit house, and laid under piles of wood; but they found them, carried them away, and, it is said, burnt them on Cockey-moor.

R. H. had enjoyed a great measure of health most of his days. He had often said he would visit his two sons, and continue a month with each; but kept putting it off. His son Nathaniel came over to him at Christmas, stayed a fortnight in the neighbourhood, and lodged several nights with him; he conversed familiarly with him, preached in his house on the Lord's day, and remained longer with him than he had done above twenty years, and was much affected with his company. About this time, he got several ministers to spend the Lord's day in his house, in preaching and prayer. The Lord's day before he died, Mr. Aspinall preached; he prayed and discoursed with him that day and the Monday morning, and had great satisfaction from him. Several months before his death he was much impressed with a sense of God's great goodness to him, and in his prayers was greatly drawn out in thankfulness to God. He appointed several days of solemn thanksgiving, at which he desired the help of christian friends and neighbours, and was much enlarged on those days. A good man told me, that the last day he was with him on that occasion, he praised God with so much feeling and so many tears, as much affected his heart and others that united with him.

I came to him, Feb. 22, 1677, and found my dear and honoured father ill in bed. I was much agitated with fear, and suspected, as it proved, that he was sick unto death. He had been abroad on the Monday, and thought he had got some cold, I visited him on the Thursday. He had a bad cough, and told me he was extremely weak, and that however God might deal with him, he was never in such a condition before, and was waiting God's pleasure. I asked him, how it was with him as to the state of his soul? He cheerfully answered in these words: "It is now threescore and two years since God shewed me my woful condition by nature, and helped me to lay hold on Christ; and though I have had many failings in the course of my life, yet I hope I can say, I never took my leave of Jesus Christ." These words so sensibly spoken, did greatly melt my heart. He lamented that of late God had much withdrawn himself from him in secret addresses. "In my family," said he," and with others, God doth in some measure assist me, but I find not

his presence by myself as I desire; and I have been guilty of many sins, but I will cleave to my Lord Jesus and lie at his feet, let him do with me as seemeth good."

I put him into God's hands by prayer, and he slept much, yet in the morning I perceived his strength was much abated, and that his memory failed him, repeating often the same things. I told him I was obliged to leave him. God did more than ordinarily assist me in prayer, and in expounding part of Job. xxxiii. My sisters, Esther and Alice, and several other friends and relations were present. There was a solemn parting and a flood of tears. Seldom hath my heart been in such a frame, reflecting on his more than ordinary care of me and prayers for me, when I could not or did not pray for myself. With much difficulty I parted from him about two or three o'clock in the afternoon, Feb. 23; lodged at Rochdale that night, preached at home on Lord's day, at Warley on Tuesday, at Idle on Wednesday, and, immediately after my return home on Thursday night, a messenger came to acquaint me with his death that morning, March 1, 1677. On Friday I went back with the messenger. They told me how he died, just as he had foretold, for he had often said, he thought he should die without much sickness or pain, as it proved. He slept quietly most of the night before, and about break of day called for something to wet his mouth, which while his wife was fetching, he opened his lips twice as if yawning, and breathed his last, without noise, groan, or the least struggle. On Saturday, his funeral was solemnized at Bolton, according to the decent custom of the country. His son Nathaniel met us there from Ormskirk. Mr. Tilsley, who kept his station at Dean church, preached the funeral sermon in Bolton church, from 2 Tim. i. 12, "I know in whom," &c. These words, a beloved sister of mine observed, our good father had frequently repeated, and recommended them to him as the subject of his discourse. Mr. Tilsley very cheerfully complied. The day after, being Lord's day, I preached at Cockey chapel on Rev. x. 6, "There shall be time no longer." O that it would please God to bring in some soul of our relations to fill up this vacancy, to do our dear Lord some acceptable service!

R. H. passed through a variety of circumstances and dispensations with such equanimity of spirit as I have seldom known, not being lifted up in prosperity beyond what was meet, nor too much cast down in adversity. He bore all his troubles with an invincible courage, for God wonderfully upheld him, and I doubt not sanctified his afflictions for the bettering of his heart; he had a good report of all men and of the truth itself. He lies

buried in the middle of Bolton churchyard, with a handsome tombstone over him, and this inscription:

Here lyeth the Body of

RICHARD HEYWOOD,

of Little Lever,

Who had followed the Lord 64 years, in Christian Profession and Practice, through various Conditions.

At last fell asleep March 1, 1677, in the 81 Year of his Age.
There the weary be at rest.

Particulars

OF THE

LIFE OF MRS. ALICE HEYWOOD,

OBSERVED AND COLLECTED

BY HER SON, O. HEYWOOD.

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ALICE HEYWOOD was born at Longworth, near Walmsleychapel, in Bolton parish, Lancashire, about the year 1594. She was the only daughter of her father, and had four brothers-William, Francis, Hugh, and Ralph Critchlaw. Most of these having been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth while she was young, she wondered at their zeal, and the frequency of their attendance on religious duties, yet she became more attached to them for their forwardness in the ways of God, though she had little sense of such things as yet upon her own heart. She has often told me, "she was as careless, worldly, and froward as any till about nineteen years of age, at which time it pleased God to take to himself her gracious mother, whom she tenderly loved, and for whose death she felt excessive sorrow." This heart-breaking providence was seconded by a heart-convincing ordinance and God's blessing. At that time, there lived a pious young minister at the place, Mr. Joshua Hill, whom the Lord used as an instrument to open her blind eyes, to convince her of her dangerous state by nature, and of the dreadful guilt attending the commission of every actual sin; so that her heart was overwhelmed under sad apprehensions of divine wrath. She was brought next door to despair, and continued two full years suffering God's terrors