Lord's will be done; only as it is sin in me, so it is matter of humiliation."

The labours of Mr. H. at this time were very abundant, his ministry was numerously attended, and was crowned with much success. . On one Lord's day this summer, he mentions: "There was a multitude of people in the forenoon, and God graciously affected my heart in prayer. In the afternoon the numbers were so increased that many were obliged to stand out of doors; and though there came a heavy shower, and the people were very wet, yet they continued at the window. The rooms were excessively crowded, so that the people trod one upon another. We want room exceedingly." Besides his stated ministrations to the congregation that assembled at his own house, he embraced every opportunity of preaching elsewhere, both in the neighbourhood of Coley, and in distant places, for which he obtained various licenses. The following is a literal copy of the license he procured for preaching at John Butterworth's in Warley :*

CHARLES by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all Mayors, Bayliffs, Constables, and other Our Officers and Ministers, Civil and Military, whom it may concern, Greeting. In pursuance of Our Declaration of the 15th of March, 167. We do hereby permit and license Olever Heywood of ye Presbyterien Perswation to be a Teacher of the Congregation allowed by Us in a Roome or Roomes in the house of John Butterworth in ye parish of Hallifax in ye County of Yorke for the Use of such as do not conform to the

* A Fac-simile of the Original will be found prefixed to the second volume.

Church of England, who are of the Perswasion commonly called Presbyterien-With further license and permission to him the said Oliver Heywood to teach in any other place licensed and allowed by Us, according to Our said Declaration. Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the 25th day of July-in the 24th year of Our Reign, 1672.

By His Majesties Command.

ARLINGTON

Faint as the hope was, that the liberty enjoyed by the Nonconformists at this time would be of long continuance, there were several young men in various places, whose hearts were so much set on the work of the ministry, that they embraced the earliest opportunity of entering the Lord's vineyard by the solemn ite of ordination. Such conduct under present circumstances was a pleasing evidence of their faith and zeal, and a sacred pledge to the ejected fathers, that the cause of the Redeemer would be maintained in the world, when they had entered the joy of their Lord. At the close of this summer we find Mr. H. attending one of these pleasing solemnities. "Oct. 28th, Mr. Dawson and I went into Lancashire. The day after according to appointment we kept a private fast on an extraordinary occasion, in my cousin Eaton's study in Deansgate, Manchester.* It was for ordaining and setting apart to the work of the ministry, Mr. Jos. Daw

* Mr. Eaton was ejected from Walton in Lancashire in 1660. Afterwards he became chaplain to Lord Delamere, and when the liberties of the Dissenters were established by law, he preached at Stand near Manchester. He died in Aug. 1710, aged 54. Mr. Matt. Henry mentions his death, and observes, that in him the church of God lost a person of great learning and integrity; that he was very much superior to most of his brethren; but that he was a most humble, condescending, and affectionate friend.

son, Mr. Sam. Angier, and Mr. John Jollie. Cousin Eaton began with prayer, and Mr. Finch followed.* Then I went to prayer, wherein my heart was exceedingly affected, confessing ministerial sins, and begging mercy for the persons to be ordained, ourselves, and children devoted to God. My father Angier required Mr. Dawson to make a confession of his faith, and asked him the usual questions; after which he prayed over him with imposition of hands. Mr. Newcome did the same to my cousin Angier;† and Mr. Eaton to Mr. Jollie. Then Mr. Newcome spoke from 1 Tim. iv. 12, and gave them a solemn charge; he afterwards prayed and pronounced the blessing. It was a sweet and solemn day; a hopeful budding of Aaron's rod after a sharp winter. Blessed be the Lord."

The zeal of the pious Nonconformists in this respite from suffering, could not fail to excite the rage and enmity of their opponents, who gnashed with their teeth, and sought every possible opportunity to trouble and vex those, they could not now openly persecute. Dr. Hook, vicar of Halifax, had frequently manifested a violent spirit of hostility against Mr. Heywood, and his disposition did not alter with time or change of circumstances. "He desired," says Mr. H. "to have a sight of my licenses, and I sent them by J. Priestley. He made excuses and endeavoured to pick a quarrel;

Mr. Finch on his ejectment retired to Warrington, and afterwards to Manchester, which not being a corporation was a common resort for many ejected ministers. In 1672 he preached at Birch chapel, and continued his labours in that neighbourhood till his sickness which terminated in death, Nov. 13th, 1704, in the 72nd year of his age.

+ Mr. Newcome was ejected from the Collegiate church at Manchester by the Bartholomew act. He was a man of the most eminent character and abilities. Mr. Henry calls him, the prince of preachers. See his life and sermons in Select Nonconformists' Remains.

but seeing that would do no good, he said, tell Mr. Heywood, I want my dues for nine or ten years. He said also, I had nothing to do with preaching; but if I would preach I might go abroad where there was work, for there was no need here. He charged us with setting up altar against altar, making separations, and rendering their preaching contemptible. He told many egregious falsehoods concerning us, saying, we would not hear him, or if we did, it was to catch his words; he said also that in my meeting place some walked, others talked, and some slept, &c. May the Lord rebuke this accuser of the brethren." Many instances are noticed of the vicar's persecuting spirit, among which is the following:-" Mr. Horton having erected a meeting-place at Sowerby, and having procured a license, desired me to begin a weekly lecture on Tuesday, May 6th, 1673, which accordingly I did. He purposed obtaining the help of some other neighbouring ministers. I preached on Psal. lxxxvi. 17, 'Show me a token for good.' The Lord affected many hearts, which I considered as a token for good; but Satan is always busy when any good work is carrying on. Dr. Hook was so much offended, that on the Saturday following he sent Mr. Horton the following letter:

*

Sir, I hoped to have met you with your minister on Wednesday at our church, and afterwards with your brethren the Feoffees of Mr. Nathaniel Waterhouse at the Lecturer's; but I suppose you were so full with your four hours' exercise at the dedication of your new built cottage (as you formerly called it,) now turned into a synagogue, that you could not digest the prayers

* Mr. Horton was formerly one of Mr. Root's church at Sowerby, but had lately joined the church at Northowram. Mr. Heywood in the Northowram Register speaks of him "as a pious man, a justice of the peace, who had £1000 a year."

of our church, and a sermon there the next day. Had I seen you then, or foreseen your designed meeting, I should have been so bold, (as my pastoral duty binds me,) to have asked your authority. To that end I intended to wait on you at your inn to-day, but your being gone home, I have sent after you this messenger on the same errand. If you have authority I desire you to show it, and that before the next meeting, which I hear is to be on Tuesday next; and then I have done: but if you have not, I require you to desist. Your act, however you judge it, is a sin, a scandal, a schism, a danger, and so you will find, perhaps sooner than you expect. If you should please in thankfulness to God, who hath increased your estate, to express your pious charity, you may do it more piously in making an addition to the chapel at Sowerby. I give you this timely intimation and caution in christian charity, and expect your present answer.'

"This honest gentleman, being a member of our society, and the Lord's supper being administered the day after, at night, when all was done, he read this letter, and begged our advice. We thought it was best to show his license to Justice Farrer, and send an answer which he had written; it was indeed a very sober reply to so angry a letter. How it will take, God knows, but certainly there is little reason to find fault with his slighting public ordinances, for he attends daily at Sowerby, except when he comes to us about once a month; and he is not behind in his contribution, for he gives Mr. Booker, the minister there, £8. a-year, besides ten shillings a sermon to the ministers who preach the lecture at his meeting-place. Blessed be God that hath raised up any to consult and promote the welfare of souls in this evil time. May the good hand of our God be upon us for good, that