lowed Mr. Angier to E. Walworth's house, in Ringley-fold, and solicited him to be minister at Ringley; he deferred his answer until Monday se'nnight after; at which time he was to deliver the lecture at Bolton; many of the chapelry then heard him, and after the lecture, at one Widow Rothwell's, presented to him a paper, wherein were the names of the principal people in the chapelry, that vote in public concerns; he asked, whether the names of all were in that paper; they told him, the names of all that had votes; but if he pleased all the rest might readily be had. After Mr. Angier's return to Boston, a letter was sent to him with the names of all the families, masters, and others, and a letter was returned from him to the chapelry, informing the people, that if they would fetch him and his family, he might be theirs; whereupon, in the beginning of September, 1630, two good men were sent with horses and furniture, John Jackson, and Francis Critchley, who stayed several days at Boston. Mr. Cotton judged the call to be clear, Mr. Angier was well satisfied; the two faithful messengers brought Mr. Angier, his wife, his son, and his maid to Ringley, to the great joy of those that feared God in the place. The text he preached on, was Philemon 22, "But withal prepare me also a lodging, for I trust that through your prayer I shall be given unto you." Some time they had to lodge with another family, till a convenient house was made ready; his residence was in Ringleyfold, in an ordinary house, with which he was well content; when people came to repetition in his little house, and wanted room and seats, he said, Better want room than good company; people were kind and very helpful, and the word of God mightily succeeded, and prospered exceedingly, "much people was added to the Lord." Now Ringley had her day, a conversionday to not a few, an enlivening day to many of God's children, that flocked thither like doves to the windows, so that all the Christians that were capable and willing to attend private days and duties of prayer, could not meet in one place; two places were often appointed for that purpose, as some yet living testify; this was a time of God's signal appearance, the Lord casting many souls into the mould of the gospel, and a good impression remains to this very day, though many of that old description are fallen asleep.

With respect to his investiture in his ministerial office, he had episcopal ordination. Mr. Cotton having interest with Lewis Bayley, a bishop in Wales, (who published the Practice of Piety) he wrote to him, with Mr. Angier, and he ordained him without subscription: yet Mr. Angier continued a Nonconformist to the ceremonies, and therefore had some adversa

ries; for Dr. Bridgeman, bishop of Chester, lived at Great Lever at that time, to whom were brought various and heavy complaints against Mr. Angier for not conforming. The bishop sent for him, and expostulated with him, it being a kind of affront to preach so near him, only about two miles distant; he admonished him, and exhorted him to conform; he sent for him many times, yet usually gave him very good words, and professed his great respect for him. God ordered it so by his providence, that the bishop's wife being a pious woman, was at that time much afflicted in conscience, and Mr. Angier, by God's blessing, was an instrument of much good to her, by his counsels and prayers, which became a furtherance of his liberty; for the bishop would usually say, Mr. Angier, you must see my wife before you go, and she interceded for him; yet notwithstanding the bishop was not suffered to be quiet, but some or other inveighed strongly against Mr. Angier, insomuch that he was suspended twice in one year, but restored by the mediation of his friends. At last the bishop said," Mr. Angier, I am disposed to indulge you, but cannot; for my Lord's Grace of Canterbury (Archbishop Laud) hath rebuked me for permitting two Nonconformists, the one within a mile on one hand (good Mr. Horrocks at Dean Church) and another on the other, yourself; and I am likely to come into disfavour on this account. As for Mr. Horrocks, said he, my hands are bound, I cannot meddle with him, (it is thought he meant by reason of some promises to his wife :) but as for you, Mr. Angier, you are a young man, and doubtless may get another place, and if you were any where at a little further distance, I could better connive at you; for I study to do you a kindness, but cannot as long as you are thus near me," &c. Some judged that one reason was, the bishop's sons were at this time on the rising ground, and his connivance might be an obstacle in the way of their preferment. He did suspend Mr. Angier, who continued a while under that suspension; however he had been ordained, June 28, 1629, and a provincial license was obtained for him, at a provincial visitation at Manchester, Oct. 23, 1630. He continued, though not without some interruption, about a year and a half at Ringley chapel.

One circumstance I shall take the liberty of inserting as evidence of the grace of God accompanying Mr. Angier's ministry, while he was at Ringley:-A Richard Hardman of Ratcliffbridge having received good from Mr. Angier's ministry, a sister of his living near to Houghton chapel in Dean parish, came with her husband to his house at Ratcliff-bridge on the Saturday evening, the night before what is called Mid-Lent

Sunday, to be merry at the wakes; for on that day, Ratcliff wakes (which is a mad revelling or feasting time) began and continued most of the week following. But God had turned the bias of Richard Hardman's heart another way, and he plainly told his sister and her husband, they would have been more welcome at another time, but since they were then come, they must not expect his accompanying them, but he rather desired them to go along with him to Ringley; and after family duty, he went into a private place to pray, where he found so much of God's presence and assistance in a special manner for his sister, that he was satisfied God would do her good. They both went with him to Ringley to hear Mr. Angier, where God did lay hold on her heart by a sound conviction and deep humiliation; formerly she was wont to scoff at religion, but now she commenced the serious practice thereof, so far as could be judged; her husband also was much restrained, and both of them as they went home on the Monday, heard Mr. Angier at the lecture at Bolton; she being so overpressed in spirit, that she could not forbear but went to Mr. Angier at widow Norris's house, where she had some conversation with him and she continued stedfast in religion to her dying day.

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As for his removal from Ringley to Denton, it was thus:He continued suspended at Ringley for near half a year, and there was no hope of his restoration to his former liberty there. At this time, Denton chapel in Manchester parish was vacant, Mr. Broxholm being banished from thence also by a suspension: the people seeking for a pious minister, several were proposed; Mr. Hyde of Norbury and Mr. Hyde of Denton had pitched on Mr. Henry Root, but Mr. Holland of Denton did not consent. He told them of a little man at Ringley, one Mr. Angier, and, said he, I hear much good of him; if you will give him a call, you shall have my heart and hand. Accordingly they sent to him, he came and preached at Denton, they generally approved of him and chose him, and he came thither in the year 1632. 1632. He preached his first sermon on Easter Sunday when Mr. Holland, and Mr. Hyde of Norbury, and Mr. Hyde of Denton, brought him thither, he said, By God's grace he would attend to his work, but would look to them under God for maintenance: there he continued to his dying day, notwithstanding all public and personal vicissitudes, from which he met with various interruptions in the course of 45 years and 4 months. His removal to a greater distance from the bishop, did not serve him, even at Denton he found adversaries, but at the same time he found God his friend there, who raised up

for him many friends. Hear himself relating how the Lord had dealt with him, in his Epistle Dedicatory prefixed to his book, called A Help to better Hearts for better Times, printed A. D. 1647. Thus he saith: "Though in nine or ten years at Denton chapel, I preached not above two single years (to my best remembrance) without interruption, and in that time was twice excommunicated; though Sabbath assemblies were sometimes distractedly and sorrowfully broken up, and my departure from my habitation and people often forced, no means of return left in sight, yet through the fervent prayers of the church, God renewed liberty.

It was muttered that Mr. Angier had a hand in a certain book which reflected upon the bishop, in consequence of which he was much disturbed, and was in danger of being brought into the High-Commission Court. The book was found in Stockport, casting some reflections upon the archbishop's speech in the Star-chamber; and though Mr. Angier was suspected of it, yet he professeth his innocence in his diary. But pursuivants came to apprehend him, and this trouble occasioned him to sell the land at Dedham which his father left him, worth £40. a year, turning it into money, as being less visible, and so less subject to danger. God hid his person, as he did Jeremiah and Baruch. Some Lord's days he hath preached in his house, because he could not safely go into the chapel; afterwards he travelled into Essex, and abode there with his friends till the storm was blown over. R. R. a very stout man, once riding with him near to Huntingdon, they were in danger of being robbed, but he taking a pistol in his hand, gave Mr. Angier the case, and God disposed the thieves to withdraw from them. He once met a pursuivant on Delamere forest. Mr Angier knew the pursuivant at a great distance, and his wife was much afraid, but the pursuivant passed by and discovered him not. There was also one Starkey, an agent of the Spiritual Court in Cheshire, an adversary to Mr. Angier, who frequently came and disturbed him, whom God took away. Mr. Holland travelled to York for him once, if not oftener; where he had an old friend high in office, who told him he would do any thing for him he desired. Mr. Angier informed me that as he was once going to York to get off his suspension or excommunication, Providence cast him at Wakefield on the Lord's day: on hearing Mr. Lister, the vicar there, he was exceedingly pleased with his preaching, and perceiving that the Lord's supper was to be administered that day in the church, Mr. Angier stayed and joined with the assembly; he had his liberty of posture, and found the Lord graciously present with him in the ordinances

of that day; having got a good repast, he went on his journey, and prospered in his business. He often inquired after Mr. Lister, for whom he had a great respect; and indeed he had catholic principles, and loved aliquid Christi, any thing of Christ wherever he saw it, and continued this good old Puritan spirit to his dying day. Mr. Lister, when he died, had been vicar of Wakefield 50 years; he was buried there, Jan. 17, 1678. When these storms were blown over, and new confusions arose in the kingdom; when civil dissensions and open wars took place, he continued in his work and station: and though he adhered to the Parliament, yet his affectionate prayers for the king, temperate spirit, and faithful attachment to his principles, procured him good will from his greatest adversaries; he maintained a friendly intercourse with all sober persons of different persuasions in political and ecclesiastical affairs, instances whereof I could give, and testimonials of his inoffensive behaviour, even from such as differed much from him: but I forbear, his own works justify him before men. About this time his first wife died, Dec. 14, 1642, shortly after she had borne him a daughter. She had been exceedingly tender in her bodily constitution, and of a troubled spirit; she occasioned him some trials; though she was a gracious woman, yet being of a melancholy habit, Satan had a great advantage in casting his fiery darts into such combustible matter, which occasioned much affliction both to herself and her husband, though he bore it with unparalleled wisdom and patience. She died at the beginning of the wars, intimating to her husband, who she thought might prove a good second wife, and, according to her suggestion, about a year after he married Mrs. Margaret Moseley of Ancoats, a very prudent, pious gentlewoman: they were married very publicly in Manchester church, in the heat of the wars; which was noticed as an act of faith in them both. Mr. Horrocks and Mr. Root preached the marriage sermons, providence directing their thoughts to pitch both on one text, which was Gen. ii. 18, "I will make him a help-meet for him :" both presaging what indeed she proved, an excellent, suitable partner, a tender mother to his three children, and a useful mother in Israel; for though God denied her issue, yet she was very fruitful in good works, of excellent disposition and well ordered activity, of a public spirit and rare accomplishments for piety, charity, and sobriety; with whom he lived with abundant, mutual satisfaction, above 30 years. She died of a tympany, and was buried in Denton chapel, Oct. 31, 1675; after whose death he lived solitarily, till God translated him to her. Nor was the solemnity on his marriage, any result of vain-glory or