many inquired of our servant, who rectified the mistake; but I was afraid lest my son John was meant, on which I was much distressed and prayed again for him. On Friday night a boy brought me a letter written by himself, signifying his recovery, and that he had preached the Lord's day before. O what a revival was it to my spirit! Blessed be God for this seasonable answer of prayer."

"March 12th, 1701," he says, "I staid at home and set myself solemnly to spend all that forenoon in secret prayer in my chamber, because my baptismal day happens on the last day of the week. Accordingly, after I had performed my usual chamber devotions and family duty, at nine o'clock I went into my chamber and began my exercises; read Psal. li. fell on my knees, humbled my soul for sin, pleaded for pardon and grace about an hour, and God graciously helped; then I read Isaiah lxiv, prayed for the church and nation, and God helped; then read Psalm cii. prayed again for the interest of Christ abroad in the world, and was assisted; then I read 1 Timothy, iv, pleaded for my sons, my congregation, and relations, till twelve o'clock; it was a delightful forenoon; blessed be God. O what abundant cause have I to admire the gracious providence of God to me cases of greater importance. What cause have I to admire the good hand of Providence which hath kept me alive thus long, when I daily hear of others younger than I being snatched away by death? O that this may quicken and rouse up my spirit to be more active for God as one raised from the dead, that henceforth more good may be done by me than ever, and that it may appear God had glorious ends in sparing my life more than I yet see! Such a report as this, though false, should leave a real impression on my spirit to mortify my corruptions, wean my heart from this world, work up my soul to heavenly objects and to prepare for death-for one day it will be a true report-he is dead."

this last year on many accounts! This day, I desire to contemplate the seventy-first year of my life, longer by far than I expected to live, longer than my mother, brother, or sisters have lived, or most of my relations, except my poor father, who lived to be above eighty years of age. O what have I been doing? What doth the Lord spare my life for, from year to year? I cannot but wonder that I should be kept alive, when so many of my age and under have this year been laid in the silent dust. It hath been a year of great mortality. This time twelve months I was taken very ill; my sons and their wives came much alarmed to see me, and I was considered in great danger; but I am better now than before."

Mrs. Heywood was again visited by severe indisposition of body this year, so that for a time she was supposed to be near death; but God graciously restored her in answer to fervent prayer, after an illness of about eight weeks. "Sept. 20th, 1701," Mr. H. observes, "my wife and I being in the house alone, we spent some time in prayer, and God gave her much enlargement of heart as formerly: blessed be God. This is the first time she engaged with me since her sickness. Both my sons came and preached in my chapel Sept. 24th, and kept it as a day of thanksgiving for her. It was a good day: blessed be God."

Having surpassed the usual limits of a man's life, Mr. Heywood was looking forward to the time of his departure, and longing for its approach, and in the review of the last year of his life he thus expresses himself: "I have had multiplied mercies this year. My life is still prolonged notwithstanding my many infirmities, especially my short-breathing, which hath so increased upon me that I could not walk to my chapel, but my friends have provided me a chair in which two

men carry me; and when I get into the pulpit am enabled to preach audibly. My dear Lord has been with me all along. My wife had a long and dangerous fever which kept her ill eight or nine weeks. She wished to be gone, and desired me not to pray for her life. I gave her into God's hands and begged her again in submission to his will. He answered my desire, though she is yet weak and tender, and hath not been at chapel this February, 1702, but she is very helpful to me and others, though nearly seventy years of age. There have been many deaths about us, but death hath not broken in upon me and mine these forty years, except a little son of my son Eliezer's which they called Oliver, about seven days old: blessed be God. But who knows what this next year may bring forth?* I have a capacity for studying sermons, and writing much. I sleep, eat my meat well, have a good digestion, and much ease, except fits of coughing which are soon over: blessed be God."

* This was written only two or three months before his death.

PART VIII.

Mr. Heywood's last Sickness and Death-His Character as a Son -Husband-Father-Master of a Family-Relative—Friend— Subject-His Religion-Spirituality of Mind-Spirit of Prayer -Gratitude to God-Self-Examination-Watchfulness-Humi

lity-Faith-Liberality-Talents-Simplicity of Manner-Fer

vour of Spirit-Conscientiousness-Disinterestedness-Doctrinal Sentiments-His Views of Church Government-His Diligence in his Work-The Success of his Ministry.

REAL religion appears beautiful in every age and condition of life, but especially when its possessor is drawing very near to eternity. The patriarch Jacob was an illustrious character, but never appeared more dignified than when he strengthened himself on his bed, called his children around him, told them what should befall them in the last days, and declared that he had waited for the salvation of God. Moses, the servant of the Lord, never spoke more eloquently in addressing the tribes of Jacob, than when he was a hundred and twenty years old, and had received the command of God to ascend mount Nebo and die there. When David sat on the throne of Israel, invested with all the grandeur of his office, he did not appear half so glorious as when he assembled the princes of his people in his dying chamber, collected all his remaining strength, stood up on his feet, gave Solomon and the princes a solemn charge to build the house of the Lord, and concluded the interesting scene by blessing the glorious name of Jehovah, and praying that the whole earth

might be filled with his glory. We have traced, with some degree of minuteness, the eventful course which the subject of this memoir thought it his duty to pursue, and not a little of the power of religion as displayed in the active, holy, and devoted life of O. Heywood, may be learnt from the preceding pages, and it remains for us to observe its influence on the closing scene of his life.

When Mr. Heywood was unable to bear the fatigue of walking to his chapel, though but a short distance from his dwelling-house, his people were unwilling to be deprived of his services, especially as he wished to continue his ministerial labours to the last, and, when carried into the pulpit in his chair, he was able to conduct the services with his accustomed energy. It must have been peculiarly delightful to see this faithful servant of the Lord Jesus, whose days had been devoted to the cause of Christ and the good of souls, spending his last moments in recommending that gospel to others which had been his support and consolation through life. He delivered to others what he had seen and handled of the word of life, with all the earnestness of a man on the brink of eternity. He had no secret fear that he was deceived himself, or that he was deceiving others, when extolling the glories of Christ and the wonders of redeeming grace; but living and dying he was "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ," knowing that it was "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." The subject on which he discoursed several Lord's days, immediately preceding his dissolution, was in accordance with the solemn event: "Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity," 2 Tim. ii.