19. He was spared to complete a course of sermons on this text, and with it he closed his public ministry, the Lord's day but one before his death. No particulars of his death are preserved, except that he died in peace, May 4th, 1702, in the seventy-third year of his age, and fifty-second of his stated ministry. In the absence of other information, the concluding part of his diary, which he continued till within five days of his death, may be acceptable. "April 26th, Lord's day. In the morning I was little fit for the work of the day; yet made a venture. Read Job xiv; did pray, but was short; preached on 2 Tim. ii. 19. Finished that text. Some came in at night. I was very weary. 27th. Morning, I was ill, and had much ado to get into my chamber.* Came down, and kept down all day; began to write, but was not able. Mr. B. came and went to prayer with me. Was something better in the afternoon. 28th. I was not able to go up into my chamber, but prayed below. Was a little assisted in the afternoon to pray in my parlour. 29th. Morning, I had help to get up, and my wife left me for prayer in the parlour. We went to family prayer. God helped. I had many visitors, and W. Clay came and went to prayer with me. Young J. P. came; his father went to prayer with me." This was

written on Wednesday, and he died on the Monday following. It is generally supposed he was interred in his mother's grave, on the south side of Halifax church, called Holdsworth's chapel; but though no stone points out the place of his interment, and no monument records his name and excellencies, yet his memory is still revered in the neighbourhood where he

Chamber, was a term by which he frequently meant his

study.

+ His Will bears date this day.

was born, and in the places where he dispensed the word of life; and his record is on high.*

The chief end of biography is to instruct and improve mankind. On this account the history of persons, who by their natural or acquired abilities, have arisen so far above the common standard, that they have attracted the general gaze, as if belonging to a superior order of beings, or who by birth or accident have been exalted to stations which very few can expect to occupy, is not so calculated to be productive of benefit as that of individuals who have moved in a sphere of life more resembling the ordinary circumstances of men. It is true that there are some incidents in the life of Mr. Heywood, and in the history of the times in which he lived that have contributed to his celebrity; but in the preceding narrative, which contains much of his own language, we have become acquainted with him as a man of like passions with ourselves. He has told us of his dangers, and trials, and labours as an ejected minister, and he has also made us familiar with his conduct and feelings as a man, and a Christian. He has often introduced himself as occupying the relations and engaged in duties common to ourselves; and that we may the better estimate his worth, and be excited to imitate his excellencies, we shall endeavour to

* Mr. Heywood was succeeded at Northowram, a few months after his death, by the Rev. Thomas Dickenson, who was ordained at Gorton Chapel, in Lancashire, May 24, 1694, and continued there till his removal to Northowram, in 1702. He died Dec. 26, 1743, having been minister at Northowram upwards of forty-one years. He is said to have been "an eminent, useful, and faithful minister of God's word; a meek and humble Christian; an affectionate, tender parent; a kind husband; a sincere friend; a social neighbour; a cheerful companion'; very temperate; had an uncommon memory; lived well; and died looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."-Northowram MS. Register.

describe his CHARACTER. To give a full length portrait, and a striking likeness of this distinguished man of God, would require a personal knowledge of the individual, and the hand of a skilful artist, neither of which the writer of these pages can pretend to claim. Nothing more must be expected than the faint outlines of an imperfect sketch, filled up by a few quotations.

As a Son, he appears an illustrious example of dutiful affection. It was his happiness to have parents who cared for his soul as well as his body, and their endeavours being crowned with the divine blessing, he considered himself as laid under a double obligation to love and obey them. As long as he lived he entertained sentiments of cordial esteem for their memory, and he never mentioned them but in the language of kindness. When his father was in difficult circumstances he travelled many miles, and cheerfully relinquished a part of his own right to satisfy the claims of creditors and preserve his father's reputation. His pious mother was very dear to him. He considered it a great honour that she took her leave of the world when on a visit at his house. In the account of her life he leaves this memorial of her piety and his affection: "I owe much to her as the instrument under God of that saving good I at first received; and I hope I shall never forget the instructions of a mother."

It might naturally be expected that he, who was so affectionate as a son, was not less so as a Husband. His affection for Miss Angier, having originated in the purest motives, and being fostered by christian principles, was ardent and of long continuance. He frequently made mention of her many years after her decease in the most affectionate manner. In his second wife he found a suitable companion for himself, and a

kind mother to his sons. Her temporal and spiritual welfare he endeavoured to promote by every possible means. If any little unpleasant circumstance transpired, and such there will occasionally be in domestic life, his custom was to flee to a throne of grace. On one such occasion he remarks: "This is my old remedy and it never fails."

When he became a Father he showed himself feelingly alive to the best interests of his children. He dedicated them to God in infancy, not only in the solemn rite of baptism, but by earnest and importunate prayer, and afterwards by frequent and solemn covenant engagements. On the birth of his first-born he thus expresses himself; "I desire not great things for him in the world, but good things for his soul, in order to another and a better world." As his children advanced in life, so, if possible, he increased in holy anxiety for their welfare. Aware of the many temptations to which they were exposed, he watched over them with godly jealousy, encouraging every hopeful appearance of grace, and strenuously opposing their propensities to evil. Many a sleepless night did he spend on their account when absent from him. On one occasion when he had heard an unfavourable report of one of them, he says: "I could not sleep one wink that night; but in the morning God melted my heart, and gave me some relief. I wrote letter upon letter, not knowing where he was, and fearing further snares and temptations which added new vigour to my repeated prayers.' At length he received a letter from his son, by which his heart was much comforted. On another and different occasion he thus describes his feelings: Many a time I have poured out my soul to the Lord for my two sons, that God would grant them special grace and ministerial gifts, and make use of them.

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God hath gone a considerable way in answering these prayers. I hope he hath given them a principle of saving grace, and employed them in families and congregations where their labours have been acceptable. Blessed be God for mercies thus far." His affectionate concern for his sons did not consist in mere expressions, but was evident throughout the whole of his conduct towards them, and he had the pleasure of seeing them comfortably settled in life, and usefully employed in the church.

As the Master of a family, he was very zealous in maintaining family religion. Besides the stated worship of God with his household morning and evening, he adopted other means to prove his determination that he and his house would serve the Lord.* Every individual in his family was, at family worship in the evening, expected to give an account of the sermons preached on the Lord's day. Sometimes he devoted special seasons for the purpose of family-covenanting, when each person was required in rotation to engage in the duty of prayer. The following is a description of the manner in which he conducted these services: "Oct. 18th, 1672. I resolved to spend some time in family exercise, as I had preached the week before from Zech. xii. 12, And the land shall mourn, every family apart.' Accordingly we set ourselves to it. I spoke something of family covenants to affect our hearts. My son Eliezer began, and prayed sweetly

It is greatly to be lamented that family religion is so much. neglected amongst professors of religion in the present day. The early Nonconformists were eminent for their attention to this important christian duty, and when properly observed it was crowned with remarkable success. See a beautiful picture of Family religion as described in the "Life of Philip Henry, enlarged edition, by J. B. Williams," page 73-86: and see the blessed effects in the history of the lives of his children.