deeply to heart the death of a faithful minister or gracious Christian, fearing it was a presage of some approaching evil. It troubled her much to hear of the misconduct of the children of pious parents, and she would pray earnestly for them, reckoning that somebody perhaps would pray for her wandering children, when she was dead and gone.

She was always engaged actively in the works of her general or particular calling, and could not endure idleness. Her heart was mounting heavenwards while her hands were busy in this work, making some spiritual use of all passages of her life. I have heard her often say, "she was never right except she could get some good thing into her mind, whether lying in bed or walking in the way, or engaged in employment." She took much pleasure in that scripture, John iv. 34, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me." She would often must be like Christ or Mary, the first was always doing good, the latter always receiving good."

say,

" we

She had a very low opinion of the world and its glory, profits, pleasures, and honours, and was much taken with a sermon preached on 1 John ii. 17. She was often repeating instances of the vanity and instability of the world, and drew good conclusions from thence to distrust it, to be weaned from it, and to lay up better treasures in heaven, where moth cannot corrupt nor thieves break in to steal. Her usual expressions were, “O what is this world good for! How little will these things do for us at death! What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Alas, what matter is it what becomes of the world, so that we have an interest in Christ!" She was weary of employments and enjoyments here below, and said "She did her domestic work rather from the sense of her duty than any delight therein, and she cared not how little she had to do in the world."

At last this choice piece of God's twofold workmanship of nature and grace was to be taken down; her tottering tabernacle was to be levelled with the ground, and her precious soul released that it might take its flight to eternal mansions. She that had been dying daily found it no strange thing to surrender her soul into the hands of him that gave it, and who had given himself to redeem it. The sting of death was plucked out, and this debt to nature became a sweet refreshing sleep. Solomon saith of the labouring man," that his sleep is sweet;" so weary steps through this tedious wilderness made Canaan more delightful. The exhausting of her spirits by fasting and prayer rendered her dissolution more easy, so that it was not a violent extrusion, but a composed resignation of her soul.

She had been weakly a considerable time, yet her body was a little recovered, and her strength recruited beyond expectation, and hearing of a distemper that was upon me she was desirous to come and see me. Before she came, (as she told a neighbour of ours) she dreamed she must go into Yorkshire, and die there: and, indeed, the Lord seemed to say to her, as he once did to Aaron, that she must go up to mount Hor and be gathered to her people. As soon as she came hither, she complained she was not well, and had violent pain in her head, though towards the last she became very drowsy, having a lightness and dizziness in her head. About two days before she died, we were at dinner, and though she could not eat any thing with us, she came and sat down with us, and began to discourse feelingly on the things of God, which were as meat and drink to her, and which might prove food to our souls. She gave us a distinct account of her conversion and conversation, and of several observable passages in her life, which she accompanied with expressions of admiration of God's free grace, and what an indulgent God she had found the Lord to be all her days, and did not question but we should find him to be the same to us if we walked in his ways.

On Tuesday, which was the day before she died, she rode to the chapel, and heard my father Angier preach at the baptism of my son Eliezer, his text was 2 Pet. i. 15, "Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance." His excellent sermon seemed to be, as it were, her funeral sermon, being a clear description of her life. It was her great care, not only to be helpful to the church of God while she was living, but to leave behind her something that might benefit it when she was gone, by her laying hold on the covenant for herself and children, furthering God's public worship, holy education of children, dedicating them to the Lord, and pouring out many prayers both for them and the church, by beating out an exemplary track for posterity to walk in, helping others' memories, transcribing the word and works of God for future generations, by frequently discoursing and making suitable applications; all which were applicable to her, as they that knew her can abundantly testify. This sermon and her life had the same aspect, and were coincident. That night she slept but little, yet in the morning she arose and would needs be going home towards Lancashire; before which time she would not be persuaded to return. She put on her riding clothes and prepared for her journey, but we saw she was in no fit posture for travelling, and that she was going apace to her long home. Her phlegm suddenly stopped, 2 Q

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her strength failed, her colour changed, and, as we thought, she was near expiring. We called my father Angier hastily to her, who prayed with her. He asked her, "if she understood;" she answered, "yes, very well;" he told her, "he must leave her;" "I am sorry for that," she said; he replied, “I have committed you into the hands of our Father, and must go, having stayed here beyond my intentions." Thus they parted, with sweet expressions of mutual affection and submission to God's will, and confident expectation of meeting in glory. She continued, as it were, slumbering without any great pain, that we could perceive, and, being carried up into the chamber, lay quietly on the bed an hour or two, and at last breathed out her precious soul into the hands of God, and took possession of that glory which Christ went to prepare for her.

She died at my house in Northowram, April 22, 1657, about one o'clock in the afternoon, aged sixty-three. She was interred in Dr. Holdsworth's chapel, on the south side of Halifax church, April 24th, in the same grave, in which Mr. Boys, a celebrated minister, and some time lecturer at Halifax, was long since buried; on either side of whom were laid two excellent men, who had been ministers at Coley, Messrs. Hurst and Clayton. Mr. Bentley preached her funeral sermon on Cant. ii. 16.

Memoir

OF

MR. JOHN HEYWOOD,

ELDEST SON OF THE

REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD.

MR. JOHN HEYWOOD, eldest son of Oliver Heywood, was born at Northowram, April 18th, 1656, and was called John, after his maternal grandfather, the Rev. John Angier, of Denton. He was early the subject of religious convictions, and encouraged his father to hope for his usefulness in the church of God. Both he and his brother Eliezer received the rudiments of their education in the neighbouring schools, and in May, 1672, were placed under the care and instruction of Mr. David Noble, of Morley, at which time Mr. Heywood made the fol

lowing remarks: "Though for the present I am deprived of the pleasant society of my dear sons in this house, yet I freely deny myself for their good, and hope and pray that my God will furnish them with learning in their heads, and grace in their hearts, for his work and service in after times. This was the place in which I first received them of my God, and here I resign them up again to him. Here they drew their first breath, and here my soul hath breathed out many a prayer and shed many a tear for their good. In this house their dear grandmother, my esteemed mother, breathed her last a few days after she had seen the younger born; and from hence it may be, they may bury their father. Lord, grant that they may inherit their ancestors' blessings, prayers, and covenant, as well as house and lands. Lord, they are devoted to thee; accept of them, speak to them, and meet with them when from their father's house, that they may not bring guilt but grace and learning home at their return." After they had been at Morley, they were a short time with Mr. Henry Hickman, who was ejected from the University at Oxford, and afterwards received pupils at his house near Stourbridge.

Mr. Heywood, perceiving, as he imagined, the beginning of the work of grace in the hearts of his two sons, and finding that their inclinations led them to prefer the work of the ministry, he appointed a solemn private fast to be held at his house, May 15th, 1673, at which time, in the presence of a few friends assembled on the occasion, they expressed their desire to be employed in the service of Christ, in the ministry of the gospel. The next week they entered as students in divinity at Mr. Frankland's academy, who had opened a private seminary at Rathmell, in Craven, and were among the earliest scholars received by that eminent Nonconformist tutor. They continued with Mr. Frankland at Rathmell, and afterwards at Natland, in Westmoreland, nearly three years, and then entered the University at Edinburgh. On their return from Scotland, April 18th, 1677, Mr. Heywood says: "Behold a Gad, a troop, comes of preventing and favouring mercies, all matter for praise. My sons were once in great danger, being at a conventicle, they were let down by a sheet through a window three stories high, and so escaped: "This was the Lord's doing and marvellous in our eyes." May 18th, I had a letter from their Regent in Scotland, informing me that their lives were irreproachable while there; a good hearing and a fruit of God's great kindness. At their Laureation, when the oath of supremacy was enjoined to be taken by them, they, with their companions fifty-eight in number, abandoned their degrees ra

ther than submit to it, except they might put their own construction upon it, which was not allowed. It was God's grace that helped them to be sufferers betimes for conscience' sake; this was extraordinary in youths naturally so eager for honour. Since their return home I find them religiously inclined, which is evinced by their sober conduct, their willingness to go to days of fasting and prayer, the feelings they manifest in the duty, their serious conversation, and their love of good company."

July 15th, 1677, Mr. John Heywood was admitted a member of the church at Northowram, of which his father was the pastor. He remained at home from the time of his return from Scotland, preaching occasionally as opportunities offered. He is said to have taught at a school in Kirkheaton, but it must have been during only a few months. He went to reside at John Hey's in Gisburn parish, Sept. 20, 1678, to preach to a few persons who assembled for worship in that retired neighbourhood as circumstances permitted ; "to a people," says Mr. O. Heywood," to whom I have a special relation." How long he continued in this situation is not certain, but probably only a short time. Afterwards he went to be chaplain to Lady Wilbraham in Cheshire, but on account of her death which took place a short time after his entrance on his office, he returned to his father's house. Here he followed his studies under his father's direction, preaching in various places as he had opportunity, to the great satisfaction of many of God's people.

Having expressed an earnest desire to be set apart to the work of the ministry in a regular manner by ordination, it was agreed that several ministers should meet for this purpose at John Hey's, being the place at which he had most frequently preached. Mr. O. Heywood has left the following account of the service: " Aug. 23, 1681, we went to John Hey's in Craven. Mr. Jessot began with prayer and continued about an hour. Then we appointed my son John to preach, who gave us a handsome, well compacted discourse on Matt. v. 14, "Ye are the light of the world." He prayed sensibly, and having gone through that service, Mr. Frankland examined him; first demanding his testimonials. He produced five. One from our christian friends at Coley, (of which church he is a member) subscribed by nine or ten hands. Another from Morley, by as many. Another from Warley, by as many. A fourth from Lidget, sent by James Armitage. Another from Nath. Bottomley in all which places he had conversed and frequently preached, testifying his ministerial abilities, soundness of faith, pious conversation, and therewith signifying their desires that he might be set apart to the work of the ministry; which Mr.