cations, banishments. Oh, what a blessed state have those above taken possession of; happy souls!' that are safely lodged in the arms of their dear Redeemer. It were worth while to stand still, and take a view of the spirits made perfect in the other world.*

Let us glance a little on their privative and positive happiness, described Rev. xxii. 3-5. 1. There shall be no more curse: that is, no more effects of God's displeasure upon man for Adam's sin, nor causeless curse by man's unjust censures. 2. But the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it: this is the beatific vision, which secures souls from sin and suffering, and who dare presume to arrest or annoy the king's favourites in his presence? 3. And his servants shall serve him whether devils or men will or not, these blessed attendants on the King of glory, shall never be interrupted in their delightful service. 4. And they shall see his face: that is, they shall not behold him in a glass darkly, as now they see God in ordinances, but then face to face, yea, they shall see him as he is, (which is a riddle to us here below,) immediately though not comprehensively. 5. And his name shall be in their foreheads: that is, they shall openly profess whose they are, and to whom they belong, as distinguished visibly from wicked men and hypocrites. They shall no more skulk in corners, or be thrust out of public places, but shall openly avow their Master. 6. And there shall be no night there: no works of darkness to lament or conflict with, no beasts of prey to creep forth and worry the saints, no secret plots against them, no ignorance amongst christian societies to create differences, jealousies, and animosities. 7. They need no candle, neither light of the sun: no need of ordinances, such as are used and useful here * Heb. xii. 23.

below; preachers shall study or preach no more, people need not hear sermons; neither preachers nor hearers shall stand in need of seals, the substance is present, shadows flee away. 8. The Lord God giveth them light: their enjoyment of God is immediate, uninterrupted and satisfying, in his light they see light; as the object will be clearer to be seen, so their eyes will be perfectly illuminated to behold him. 9. And they shall reign: though his servants shall serve him, yet it shall be no troublesome bondage, but a liberty and dominion; they shall sit with Christ in his throne as assessors, judge the world, and (it may be) judge their judges, approving the righteous sentence of their royal Master, the blessed Jesus, King of kings, and Lord of lords.* And if all this be meant of some glorious state of the church on earth, (as some will needs have it) yet, that is but a faint resemblance of a more happy state in heaven. And further, for the duration of it, it is added:-10. And they shall reign for ever and ever : earthly monarchs are but short-lived, kingdoms have their periods, but kings are of shorter continuance; of Christ's kingdom there is no end, and the reign of his subjects runs parallel with the life of God, and line of eternity. O blessed souls! O happy saints! that shall for ever be with the Lord and here we leave the soul of our dear brother, singing triumphantly the song of Moses and the Lamb on the heights of Zion, whilst we poor mortals are glad if we can only sing the song of degrees.

As for the solemn interment of that casket, once the receptacle, now the relict of a precious pearl; it was judged meet that the solemnity should be put off till Wednesday, Dec. 19, 1677; that distant friends might have seasonable notice; and on that day Mr. Starkey, *Rev. iii. 21. 1 Cor. vi. 2.

a Nonconformist minister, preached an excellent sermon in the parish church at Ormskirk, (no man forbidding him; nay, all that were any way concerned, consenting) on Col. iii. 4, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." There was a vast confluence of all descriptions of people at his funeral, great lamentation was made, and many signal demonstrations of universal love and respect he had, from the whole country; his body was laid in the chancel, in a burying place, which belongs to the ancient family of the Stanleys of Bickerstaff, knights and baronets; it was with their free consent and desire. The reverend minister that preached, after he had judiciously, learnedly, and profitably handled his text, gave a short but full account of the deceased, in his several capacities, as minister, husband, father, friend, and especially Godwards as a Christian; and the hearers in accordance with his discourse, gave testimony to the truth of what was spoken, while they discovered the sense they entertained of their irreparable loss. All the people of the town, in their different circumstances, doing him honour in their peculiar way: Mr. Constable, the chief officer in the town, of considerable authority, carried the staff, (like a mace) before the corpse, and the rest walked in due and decent order.

Now, although this was insignificant to the dead, and not much edifying to the living; yet decent burials have always amongst civilized nations been considered incumbent on the living, and an honour to the dead; and there is a special remembrance of this in scripture; for it is said of Hezekiah, that all Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, did him honour at his death. On the contrary, it is recorded as a perpetual disgrace to Jehoram, the wicked son of good Jehoshaphat, that he

departed without being desired; and of another wicked son of a good king, Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, it is said, they shall not lament for him, saying, "Ah my brother;" but he shall be "buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem."* But this good man honoured God whilst living, and God honoured him at his death; and advanced his soul to better, and eternal honour.

Mr. Heywood went to his grave in peace, after all his violent tossings upon the tempestuous sea of this world; he died in the forty-fourth year of his age, having lived long in a little time; and I find several excellent men taken out of the world about that age. So among the German divines, Strigelius died fortyfour years of age, and six months; Flinschpach, fortyfour; Simlerus died in his forty-fifth year; so we find Erpenius died at forty years of age; Mr. Robert Rollock died in the forty-third year of his age; the famous Dr. Whitaker in his forty-seventh; but to mention no more, our celebrated Mr. William Perkins lived but forty-four years.

And indeed we have frequently observed, that laborious ministers are short-lived; some are of weak constitutions, and spend their lungs with speaking; or by a sedentary life contract diseases, or are afflicted by the untowardness of their people; or God in judgment takes them away as a punishment to a wicked world; however, like a candle, they spend themselves to give light to others. Many gracious young men are very zealous, and make haste with their work; they get it quickly despatched out of their hands, and go to bed betimes; and God is not willing to be too long without having them in his immediate presence. Oh how many fine promising plants have been plucked * 2 Chron. xxxii. 33. xxi. 20 Jer. xxii. 18, 19.

up of late years, heavy laden with choice fruits; whilst some old withered trees, barren and fruitless, still stand cumbering the ground! But the sovereign Jehovah knows what is best, and does all things well.

A little while before Mr. Heywood died, he said to a friend, "I think this turning out of our licensed places will cost Mr. Yates and myself our lives. Oh this goes heavily! our casting out of our great places was not so much as casting us out of our little places ;" and indeed Mr. Yates of Warrington died shortly after.

Having thus nakedly given a brief account of Mr. Heywood's birth, life, employment, and death, and what is worthy of remark on these; I shall select some features of his character, pleasing to trace, and imitable by his surviving brethren, friends, and hearers: for the memory of the just is blessed. Possibly generations yet to come may reap benefit by what they find recorded of him; and I dare appeal to the God of truth, who searcheth the heart, that the description I shall give of him is true, which I have by personal knowledge, or creditable testimony.

1. As to his figure, physiognomy, and constitution, which is the case, or shell, that was engaging enough, no part lacking, crooked or deformed; tall and straight, with dark curled hair; not corpulent nor very thin, yet stouter in his body than might be supposed from his face of a healthful constitution, after he was past his childhood; which might have continued long, had not the vessel been shattered by impetuous dashings, inflamed with the love of God and zeal for souls, which made inroads upon his frame faster than nature could keep pace; and this over-driving took off the chariot wheels; for all agreed, that his excessive pains laid the foundation of those diseases, which at last wasted his spirits. He was an excellent footman, and could walk