chamber, and many worthy servants of God come out of the city to pray and discourse with me. Blessed be God."

During the former part of Mr. Heywood's confinement in York castle, he was much annoyed by the dissolute and riotous behaviour of a papist confined for debt in a neighbouring apartment; but after a short time he was removed. Considering all circumstances, Mr. H. was as comfortable as could be expected; his time was much occupied in the improvement of his mind by study, or in the promotion of the spiritual welfare of others, as he had opportunity. The manner in which he usually spent the day, when not disturbed by company, was this: "After our rising, we kneeled down and I went to prayer with my wife. She in her closet, and I in the chamber, went to secret prayer alone. Then I read a chapter in the Greek Testament while I took a pipe.-Then a chapter in the Old Testament with Poole's Annotations.-Then wrote a little here, (diary) or elsewhere.-At ten o'clock, I read a chapter and went to prayer with my wife as family prayer. Then wrote in some book or treatise I was composing till dinner.—After dinner, Mr. Whitaker and I read in turn for an hour in Fox's Acts and Monuments of Martyrs, Latin edition. Then went to my chamber; if my wife were absent, I spent an hour in secret prayer, and God helped usually.-After supper, we read in the book of Martyrs, studied, went to prayer, read in Baxter's paraphrase on the New Testament." Besides dence in the choice of their calling, but with this character of the ministry: "that though it had cost him so dear, yet he had served a good Master, and was never ashamed nor weary of his work." See "Memoriæ Sacrum," by Timothy Jollie, and Preface, by Thomas Bradbury, to the Sermons, published after his death. His funeral sermon was preached by Thomas Dickenson, of Northowram, from 2 Sam. iii. 38. Mr. Thomas Bradbury also preached on the same occasion, from Acts xx. 32.

the occasional visits of friends from the country, many of Mr. H.'s acquaintances in the city were permitted to visit him, particularly on the Lord's day. Mr. Whitaker and he usually preached alternately in each other's room, when some of the prisoners and the jailor's wife often composed a part of the congregation. He might have adopted the language of the apostle Paul when writing to the Philippians: "The things which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel."

After an expensive confinement during nearly twelve months, and after many fruitless attempts had been made to obtain his release, a friend prevailed with the newly-appointed sheriff to grant his liberty, provided the fine was paid at the assizes. This was granted, and Mr. H. took his leave of York castle, Dec. 19th, 1685. "At last," he says, "God hath graciously answered the incessant prayers of his church for my deliverance out of prison. The particular mercies in my enlargement were many, which I have great reason to review. 1. It came after long expectation and frequent disappointments, so that our hopes were almost converted into despair; when God turned back my captivity, I was like one that dreamed. 2. The person whom God employed to obtain it had sometimes failed me, and I had reason to fear he had forgotten me; but when the time came, he set himself resolutely about it. He went to the high sheriff and found him at home. He was treated with kindness and his request granted, though the sheriff is a high man, and rebuked Mr. G. at the assizes for interceding for such a one as I was. 3. It was much wondered at, that Mr. Ash the under-sheriff, who is now jailor also, did not dissuade the high sheriff from it, being so much against his profit, which is the main thing such men

look at. 4. It was the more remarkable that the high sheriff should consent, as it was quite optional and indeed not strictly legal; but such men's oversights are easily overlooked. 5. It is a strange thing he did not send for me and bind me over to good behaviour, or require me to promise not to keep conventicles. 6. The day after I was set at liberty, I received a letter from London, concerning the improbability of my friends there getting my fine compounded. 7. I am in a sort a prisoner yet, till my fine is paid, and under the sheriff's protection, yet liberty is sweet and my own house comfortable. Thus my dear Lord keeps us still in dependance upon him, exercising our faith and prayers; for if we had all our mercies at once, we should be in danger of taking our leave of God: a waiting posture is needful, and we never have so much of God but we need more of him while here below. 8. The bond that was procured was only for the payment of the fine at the assizes. 9. My great care and solicitude during my imprisonment were for my people, that their souls might be provided for. God took care of them, and sent persons to administer ordinances, so that I found them in a good and hopeful situation for soul's affairs on my return. Blessed be God."

His return home excited the abundant thanksgivings of many, and was the cause of much praise from himself. He set apart two days for thanksgiving and prayer, and renewing his engagements to serve the Lord. On the latter of these occasions he thus writes: "God carried me to York, that there he might show great and marvellous things to my soul which I knew not; he quickened me, instructed and comforted me more than ever before. He gave my body health be-' yond expectation, increased my credit amongst his people, and added to my estate considerably by tripling

my former income: thus what men devised for my hurt, hath turned to my advantage; yea, I now perceive my sufferings have tended to the furtherance of the gospel. Let God have the glory."

At the spring assizes he appeared at York, but the jailor said he could not legally receive him; he therefore returned home, convinced that nothing was now expected but the payment of his fine, which he hoped would be mitigated. At this time there was an act of grace, or gaol delivery, in which it was expected his case would have been included; but being a fine on execution it was not. At the summer assizes some advised him to petition the judges, but his friend who had obtained his release attended with him, and offered the under sheriff £30; which he agreed to accept, and returned the bond for £50. "Thus," he observes, "we are quit of this business: blessed be God. All my intelligent friends look on it as a good termination."

All

In the interval between Mr. Heywood's release and the payment of his fine, he was assiduously employed in his Master's service, in which he enjoyed much of the divine presence. "March 24th, 1686. That very day twenty years," he says, "on which the banishing act took place, and when I left home with a sad heart, despairing of ever settling again at Coley, on that very day the Lord brought a considerable number of my people together under my roof, when God helped me in praying and preaching, and Mr. Dawson in prayer. We also celebrated that delightful ordinance, the Lord's supper, and had something of the Lord's presence. Who would have thought of such a thing after a year's intermission! In this God hath exceeded our hopes, and counteracted our fears. Blessed, for ever blessed be his holy name! From this time it shall be said, 'What hath God wrought! How excellent is thy name

in all the earth! I take this mercy as a pledge of more."

He embraced an early opportunity of visiting his native place, and on his return says: "I rode many miles, lodged at nine or ten places, and preached thirteen times. I had much mutual comfort with my relations, it being the first time I had seen them since my imprisonment. They were glad of my company, and God graciously preserved me. One passage I must not forget in this journey: I preached at my cousin J. L's, on the nature of conversion, from Matt. xviii. 3, and A. Smith of Bolton spoke to me afterwards, and said it was a gracious providence that she should hear me again on that text, for by a sermon I had preached from it many years ago, God had wrought on her heart; she is an excellent Christian. Let God have the glory. Another remarkable thing was, that that morning one Davis of Bolton, a bad man, was seen coming towards the place where I had been preaching but was too late; the people met him as they went back. Howbeit, he threatens to inform against them unless they give him money."

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When Mr. Whitaker, who had been detained a prisoner in York Castle, longer than Mr. Heywood, had obtained his release, he came to visit his fellow prisoner, and unite in mutual praises to God for their deliverance. 'Aug. 9th, 1686," Mr. H. say, "my fellow prisoner, Mr. Whitaker came to my house, and remained with me a week, which God helped us to improve to his glory and his people's good. On Tuesday he preached at Warley to a great number. Wednesday, he and I had exercises in my house. In the evening he preached at T. Priestley's, and next morning at W. Naylor's. After that we kept a day of prayer and praise, when I preached: it was a good day. Friday,