into deformity, and will ere long return to dust and corruption? But, thou wilt say, there was something more than this which was the ground of my affection, namely, a discovery of glory within and excellency of God's image stamped upon the soul. Suppose it were so, (as thou hast good ground to believe,) may not another be found as desirable? Thine eyes are dim, and thou dost not certainly know what is, and what is not a blessing. Moderate thy desires then, bridle thy affections, and put a curb upon thy roving imaginations. Come, my soul, let me lead thee in a rational way. Stay awhile and wait God's time, for he is waiting to be gracious to thee, when thou art prepared for the mercy. He will meet thee in his own time and way, and when it comes, it will be the surest and most seasonable blessing that ever thou hadst in thy life. In the mean time, if God cause thee to live more to him, and have more communion with him, it will be equivalent to the blessing itself."

If hope was for a season deferred, it was not finally disappointed; and if Mr. H. was not successful, in some instances, according to his wishes, it was because a greater blessing was in reserve. Miss Elizabeth Angier, who had enjoyed the advantages of a pious education, and had early been the subject of religious experience, was well known for the amiableness of her natural disposition, and her personal accomplishments. It was the happiness of Mr. H. not only to become acquainted with her, but to entertain an affection which originated in the purest motives, and met with the sincere approbation of all the parties concerned. had long been accustomed to venerate the piety and talents of the Rev. John Angier, and esteemed it a peculiar honour and privilege to be admitted into the relationship of son-in-law to this man of God. It

He

was Mr. Angier's opinion, that marriage should not only be publicly solemnized, but that it should be preceded by a mutual and religious contract. His daughter and Mr. H. therefore were pledged to each other, at the close of a solemn day of prayer and fasting, in Mr. Angier's study, when Mr. Nathaniel Rathband preached from Matt. i. 18, "His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph." This was about a month before their marriage, which took place at Denton Chapel, April 25th 1655, on which occasion, Mr. Harrison, of Ashton, preached from Eph. v. 31. Mr. Angier, was unable to attend the ceremony in person, being at that time indisposed by an attack of the gout, with which he was frequently troubled. Nearly a hundred persons were afterwards entertained in a decent and sober manner at his table; for he said, "he loved to have a marriage like a marriage," taking for his example, the attendance of Christ at the marriage at Cana, in Galilee.

Mr. H. was much attached to his amiable partner, not only on account of her personal excellencies, but because of her pious relatives. "She was not only religiously descended for many generations," he observes, "but her immediate parent was, and is, a distinguished preacher in these northern counties; so gracious, faithful, and successful a minister is Mr. Angier, that he is universally reverenced, none having occasion to open their mouths against such a man. It exceedingly pleaseth me to think that the partner of my cares and enjoyments is the daughter of a gospel preacher, whose employment I prize more highly for the greatness of the work and the transcendency of the object than the highest preferment in the world. What mercies, O my soul, hath God bestowed on thee, both spiritual and temporal, in answer to thy poor distracted prayers.

Among the rest this is not the least. A prudent wife is from the Lord; yea, he that finds a wife finds a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. This favour God hath showed me, he hath given me the desire of mine eyes, the companion of my youth. But this blessing as bestowed on me hath many attendant circumstances that heighten my comfort and gratitude. 1. It was given me as an answer to prayer, which multiplies the favour and gives it a sweeter relish. 2. It came in God's own time, which is always the best and most seasonable. My impatient spirit had fixed limits to the Lord, and I was loth to stay his time and wait his choice; but now I see God's time is better than mine, and his perfect wisdom better than my perfect folly. 3. It came in God's way. My wife is not carried off by me, but sent by God. How much sorrow would a clandestine marriage have produced! Blessed be my God, all parties were not only satisfied but rejoiced. 4. God hath given me the seed of the faithful. Her reverend and renowned father is as the Phoenix of the ministry, an angel of God for gravity, humility, wisdom, holiness, zeal, and all ministerial abilities; yea, he is a Jacob, a prince with God; a Moses, a man of God; an Aaron, a saint of the Lord. I prize the stock and treasure of the prayers and tears of a conscientious minister and Christian above the richest dowry, rarest beauty, costliest robes, noblest friends, largest revenues, and most exquisite accommodations in the world. I value the office of a good minister more than the magnificence of an emperor, and the counsel of my father more than the prince's favour. But many a corrupt branch hath come from a holy root: yet, 5. God hath given me a gracious companion, a daughter of Abraham, one that is a fellowcitizen with the saints, and of the household of faith,

whose name is written in the book of life; one that is accounted worthy of the kingdom of God, faithful and beloved, and a partaker of the benefits of the gospel. This is worth a world! to have a wife full of the fruits of righteousness, to go along with me heavenwards, to lead on others by a good example, to advise, instruct, and pray for others, to mourn over abominations, and to seek after reformation; O who am I, that I should be trusted with one of God's jewels? Every good woman is not indeed a suitable wife, but blessed be God, 6. I have a true help-meet. God hath given me an humble, prudent, frugal, ingenuous companion, of a mild, flexible disposition, with whom I may take sweet counsel, who is of my own sentiments, and with whom I can walk to the house of God. What an affliction hath many a man had in a wife that was religious, but whose principles or natural disposition were discordant. But God hath so framed our natures as if they had been cast in the same mould, whereby abundant peace and tranquillity are in the family, a good example is set to others, and much comfort to our own spirits; these are not our own deserts, but the gracious work of God for us. Blessed be the Lord for my wife! And I desire to bless her in the name of the Lord."

Great as Mr. Heywood's joy was in his union to Miss Angier, like all other earthly comforts, it was not free from alloy. Mrs. H. was of a weak habit of body and frequently indisposed; so that even on the morning of her marriage, it was at first supposed she would be unable to leave her room on account of indisposition. Mr. H. was thus early taught to "rejoice as though he rejoiced not." About a year after marriage their eldest son was born, whom they called John, from the respect they entertained for his grandfather Mr. John Angier. Some circumstances connected with the birth

of this child are thus gratefully noticed by Mr. H. "Recount, O my soul, what God hath done for thee! Though a wife, and such a wife, be a rich mercy, yet thou wouldst not have been well satisfied if he had not given thee issue; and herein God hath condescended to favour thee. I now see the desire of my heart, for this was a return of prayer. God also stood by the mother in the time of trouble. He heard before we had called; for when we had designed a day for seeking his face, he sent the mercy we intended to supplicate. I desire to dedicate the child all his days to the service of the church, as the best and highest office to which he can be advanced. Who am I, that God should set me over a family, make me a master, a husband, and a father, as if he purposed to heap on me all the mercies of which a creature is capable! Surely these are the Lord's doings and marvellous in mine eyes! Why did I not lose my dear wife as Jacob lost Rachel? Why gave she not up the ghost as the wife of Phinehas? Why had I no occasion to call my son Ichabod, in sorrowful lamentation? The free grace of God is the fountain of all this! Who would not be the servant of such a God, who keepeth covenant and reserveth mercy to thousands? He is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever, to them that fear him and keep his commandments."

This new relationship of a father brought with it its cares as well as its comforts. Mr. H. well knew the worth of the soul and the necessity of regenerating grace for all the sons of Adam. God having given him a son, he felt and thus expressed himself as a christian parent in what he calls, "Parents' groans," and "Affections compared:" "Whilst we are in this world we are always wanting something. The body and soul have their constant necessities, and we are never