Whilst at Garson, Mr. J. Heywood occasionally preached for Mr. Grew at St. Alban's, to whose congregation his services were acceptable. On one of these occasions, three Justices, three constables, and four soldiers came to disturb the congregation. They attempted to gain admission at the front gate, but not being able, went round to a back part of the building in which the people were assembled. In the meantime, Mr. H. was let down by a trap-door to a place of concealment, and the people rushed out at the front and made their escape. He received a visit from his father in December this year, who was much pleased with his son's situation.

July 14, 1683, his father received a letter from him, in which he thus writes: "Dearest father, since by the decree of heaven our personal absence is continued, I cannot but be frequently sending to you (as by heaven's way) in prayer for a blessing upon you and your incessant labours, so also by these paper messengers. Here I am yet, though I almost long to be with you, unless Providence find me out some work; as who knows what God may do? He hath raised me up many friends that are very desirous of my settlement here, and are using all their interest, that if it be the will of God, I may continue near them. I cannot but with tenderness take notice how solicitous some are, whom I never knew before, far above my deserts or expectations. I desire to be at the disposal of a wise and gracious God. I preached last Lord's day for Mr. Grew, and we were quiet; blessed be God. I am to preach for him also next Lord's day. Men threaten and are highly incensed; what their rage may do and how it may vent itself, God knows. God help me to bear my witness, and to keep the word of his patience.

The above extract contains an intimation that there was some probability of his removal, which soon afterwards happened. Mr. Marsh, declining housekeeping, no longer needed Mr. Heywood's services, so that he remained at Garson not much more than a year, and in November 1683 became chaplain to Lady Hatton of London, a member of Mr. T. Watson's church. Mr. Rich. Stretton, who at this time was a prisoner in Newgate for preaching the gospel, earnestly recommended Mr. H. to accept this invitation. Several interesting letters passed between Lady Hatton and O. Heywood, concerning his son's settlement in her family, in one of which she says: "I find you are willing to have your son in my family.

I must

conclude with you, and believe there is more than an ordinary providence in it, because I am sure I have been offered twenty, and could never fix till now. All I have to desire of you is,

that you will add your good counsel and prayers that God may make him a blessing to me and mine, which I am sure is your hearty desire and ever shall be the earnest prayer of your loving friend, LUCY HATTON."

Mr. John Heywood entered Lady Hatton's family, Nov. 6, 1683. He was much respected by her, as appears from the following extract of a letter she wrote to his father, when he had been with her about three or four months: "Your great acknowledgments of my respect for your son, I thank you for; but you may be assured that his prudent deportment and good conversation merit respect both from me and mine. That large share which he hath in the affections of my children, is a great contentment to my mind; for indeed I have no greater joy than to find my children walking in the truth, and following the examples of wise and good men in the midst of this perverse and wicked generation. I hope the longer he continues in my family, the more experience I shall have of the benefit of his prayers and good advice." and good advice." His continuance, however, in this family was only about nine months, for attending her Ladyship on a visit to her son's in Cambridgeshire, where he was much exposed to company, he was on one occasion overcome by liquor. Having by this fall injured his character and influence, it was deemed most proper that he should leave the family. He returned home to his father for a few weeks, who became satisfied of the sincerity of his repentance.

Mr. Westby of Ravenfield near Rotherham, being in want of a tutor for his son, applied to Mr. John Heywood, who entered on his office Nov. 18, 1684, having been committed to the care and blessing of God, with many prayers and tears, by his father the evening before. In this family he acted not only as a tutor but chaplain, and occasionally preached in neighbouring places. When accompanying Mr. Westby to attend the high sheriff at York, in the March assizes 1692, he was taken so alarmingly ill that for a few days he was considered in a very dangerous state, but at length God blessed the means, and he returned to Ravenfield.

When the Dissenters at Rotherham, encouraged by the liberty of worship enjoyed under the Toleration Act, had taken a convenient place for their meetings, they united in an invitation to Mr. J. Heywood to become their minister, which he accepted in March 1693. During his ministry the congregation increased, and, as Ravenfield was only three miles from Rotherham, he continued to reside at Mr. Westby's till his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Stacey, Oct. 3, 1694.

About two years after he had become the minister at Rotherham, he received a pressing invitation from the Dissenting congregation at Pontefract, to which place he removed in the spring of 1695, and continued his ministry here till his death, which took place in his father-in-law's house, Balifield near Sheffield, Sept. 3, 1704, in the forty-ninth year of his age, and was buried at Hansworth. Mrs. Elizabeth Heywood remained a widow, and died April 15, 1720. They had three children. Timothy, who was born at Pontefract Dec. 13, 1695, commenced business as an apothecary in Sheffield, and died Sept. 24, 1717, only six days after his marriage. Elizabeth their daughter died March 21, 1718, and Bridget died young.

MEMOIR

OF

MR. ELIEZER HEYWOOD,

SECOND SON OF THE

REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD.

MR. ELIEZER HEYWOOD was born April 18th, 1657, exactly that day twelve-months after the birth of his brother. When about a year old, he was suddenly taken so very ill, that he was for a short time supposed to be dead, but speedily revived a little, and the next day the small-pox appeared. At a very tender age, he and his brother were, on special occasions, encouraged by their father to engage in prayer, in the family. When Eliezer was questioned by his father at a solemn meeting for prayer, what he desired God's servants should pray for, on behalf of himself and brother? he replied: "that God would give them grace and gifts, forgive their sins of childhood and loss of time, make them studious, and keep them from temptation and sinful company."

Eliezer and his brother were instructed by the same masters, were students together at Mr. Frankland's, and finished their education in Scotland. Whilst at Natland, under Mr. Frankland's instruction, Eliezer had a narrow escape from a watery grave whilst bathing with some of his fellow-students. He had gone into a deep place where he was taken over head, but lift

ing up his hand, part of which was seen above the water, Mr. Timothy Jollie came to his help and rescued him.

After he had completed his studies and returned home, he was received into church-fellowship at Northowram, Dec. 30th, 1677. He went to be chaplain to Major Taylor, of Wallingwells, Nottinghamshire, on the borders of Derbyshire, Sept. 9th, 1678, and though this gentleman died March 29th in the next year, Mr. E. Heywood continued tutor and chaplain in the family twenty-two years. On occasion of this settlement, his father made the following remarks: "My sons are now parted who have lived together as twins. It went sore with them to be separated, but being now grown men they better understand their work and interest, and so are willing to be parted, though with much difficulty and many tears. Blessed be God for this reciprocal working of fraternal love, so that herein that saying is not verified, Fratrum concordia rara est. God has knit their hearts together by nature, and I hope by grace. They are parted that lived as brethren; and death will part us all. Blessed be God for hopes of a delightful and satisfying meeting in heaven. They are parted; so did I and my dear brother part, though we had lived together at school, at Cambridge, and in one house some time when we were ministers at neighbouring places; at last we parted almost forty miles distant; and now we are parted by death, as will be the case with them. O how fresh doth this their parting bring to my remembrance those sad separations of my amiable brother and myself; for I may truly say, our hearts were extraordinarily endeared to each other. But how will our souls be transported at our next meeting! Blessed be God for this hope. My sons are gone from me, but not without my leave and approbation, nay, to my abundant content and satisfaction; it might have been otherwise. They are gone with my blessing and prayers."

In travelling to his father's house, Jan. 1680, he was suddenly taken ill with ague-fits, at Derby, and was obliged to remain there a short time, before he could be removed. In September also, the same year, he was so ill at Walling-wells, that he was occasionally insensible, and was for a time supposed to be near death.* This illness continued three or four weeks and left him in a very weak state; but after he had visited his father, he so far recovered as to be able to return to his work in the beginning of December. Still he did not recover his wonted strength, and in September the next year, he had a return of his complaint, though not so severe as the former. * See page 245.

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At the time his father, Mr. O. Heywood, was a prisoner at York Castle, he heard that his son Eliezer was very ill, so that when he wrote to enquire concerning him, he did not know whether the letter would find him dead or alive; but a few days afterwards he received the following intelligence from his son: 'My God hath done great things for me, and I desire to admire and adore him as a God hearing-prayer. He was pleased in a great measure to prevent fears, and though I had the symptoms of a malignant fever, by which many hereabouts have been snatched away, God was pleased of his goodness to direct to means which were successful soon after its beginning, and now, praise be given to his holy name, I am pretty well again, and was yesterday at the funeral of a lusty person who had died of the same disorder. O the distinguishing providences of God! I am not altogether without hope that God may have some work to do by me: blessed be God. That same day, Nov. 10th, 1685, I was enabled to pay my grateful vows."

During Mr. Eliezer Heywood's residence at Walling-wells, he occasionally preached elsewhere, besides his stated labours in the family, and when King James's declaration for liberty of worship came forth, he desired Presbyterian ordination. According to his wish, he with three others, was ordained at his father's house, June 1st, 1687, concerning which his father thus writes: "I had devoted my two sons, which was my all, to the work of the ministry, and desired nothing else for them but a principle of saving grace, useful gifts to fit them for that high calling, a regular entrance into it, a fit opportunity for faithfully managing it, and success therein. In most of these, God hath answered me according to the desire of my heart. I hope God hath given them grace, competency of gifts, and John a regular entrance into the ministry some years ago. June 1, 1687, my son Eliezer having been examined in all parts of learning, disputing in Latin, &c. was set apart to the ministry, with fasting, and prayer, and imposition of hands, to the great satisfaction of all present. Blessed, blessed be God, that he hath counted me and mine faithful, putting us into the ministry. It is more to me than if they had been made knights or created barons of the realm, with proportionable estates. God is welcome to them, to make what use he pleaseth of them, and though they are yet in gentlemen's houses, as chaplains, yet I humbly hope, and wait, and pray that the Lord will call them forth among his people, and bless their labours to the good of souls."

January 18, 1700, Mr. Eliezer Heywood was married at Hansworth, to Helen, daughter of Mr. John Rotheram, of