He advifed his friends to beware of felf-conceitedness, as a fin that was likely to ruin this nation: And faid, "I have written a book against it, which I am afraid "has done little good."

Being asked whether he had altered his mind in controverfial points, he faid, "Thofe that pleafe, may know my mind in my writings: And what he had done was "not for his own reputation, but the glory of GOD." I went to him with a very worthy friend, Mr. Mather, of New England, the day before he died, and speaking fome comforting words to him, he replied, "I have "pain, there is no arguing against fenfe, but I have I have peace." peace, I told him, You are now ap

proaching to your long-defired home.' He anfwered, "I believe, I believe." He faid to Mr. Mather, "I "blefs GOD that you have accomplished your business; "the Lord prolong your life."

He expreffed a great willingness to die; and during his ficknefs, when the queftion was afked, how he did, his anfwer was, "Almoit well." His joy was remarkable, when in his own apprehenfions death was nearest And his fpiritual joy at length was confummated in eternal joy. Thus lived and died that bleffed Saint. I have, without any artificial fiction of words, given a fincere fhort account of him. All our tears are below the just grief for fuch an invaluable lofs. It is the comfort of his friends, that he enjoys a bleffed reward in heaven, and has left a precious remembrance on the earth.'

Thus far Dr. Bates. To this may be added from Mr. Sylvefter a fhort account of his Perfon. He was tall and flender, and ftooped much: His countenance compofed and grave, fomewhat inclining to fmile. He had a piercing eye, a very articulate fpeech, and his deport→ ment rather plain than complimental. He had a great command over his thoughts. He had that happy faculty, fo as to answer the character that was given of him by a learned man, diffenting from him, after a difcourfe with him; which was, That, he could fay what he would, and he could prove what he said.'

It is impoffible to read the account he gives of himself in his Reliquie without emotion. The ficknefs and languors he underwent almost from his childhood, and which he has fo pathetically defcribed, render it matter of admiration, that fuch a frame fhould hold out for feventy-fixyears, when, before twenty, he complained of a præmatura fenectus, and all the fymptoms of fourfcore.

The

The ftone, which was generated in his kidneys, and which he fuftained there above fifty years, is preferved in the British Mufeum. It is a large blue pebble, very much refembling the shape of a kidney itfelf.

We cannot difmifs this memoir of fo extraordinary a Perfon, without affixing that memorial of gratitude which Dr. Bates renders for Mr. Baxter to Sir Henry Aburst, Bart. his pious patron and friend.

To the right worfhipful, and his much-honored friend, Sir Henry Afhurst, Baronet.

SIR,

"Your noble and conftant kindness to Mr. Baxter living, and your honorable refpect to him dead, have induced me to infcribe the following memorial of him to your name. He was most worthy of your higheft efteem and love, for the first impreffions of heaven upon your foul, were in reading his unvalued book of the Saints. Everlafting Reft. This kindled a mutual affection in your breats: His love was directing, counfelling, and exciting you to fecure your future happinefs: Your love was obfervant, grateful, and beneficent to him. The fincerity and generofity of your friendship was very evident, in your appearing and ftanding by him, when he was fo roughly and unrighteoufly handled, by one who was the difhonour of this age's law, chief justice Jefferies; whofe deportment in a high place of judicature was fo contrary to wifdom, and humanity, and juftice, that there need no foul words to make his name odious. Of this and your other favors Mr. Baxter retained a dear and lafting fenfe; and in his dying hours declared, that you had been the best friend he ever had. He has finished his courfe, and received his crown: His name will thine longer than his enemies fhall bark.

I cannot omit the mentioning, that Mr. Boyle and Mr. Baxter, thofe incomparable perfons in their feveral ftudies, and dear friends, died within a fhort space of one another. Mr. Boyle was engaged in the contemplation of the defign and architecture of the vifible world, and made rare difcoveries in the fyftem of nature: Not for curiofity and barren fpeculation, but to admire and adore the perfections of the Deity in the variety, order, beauty, and marvellous artifice of the creatures that compofe this great universe. Mr. Baxter was converfant in the invifible world: His mind was conftantly applied to underftand the harmonious agreement of the divine attributes,

in the economy of our falvation, and to restore men' to the image and favor of GOD. They are now admitted into the enlightened and purified fociety above: Where the immenfe volumes of the divine witdom are laid open, and, by one glance of an eye, they difcover more perfectly the glorious and wonderful works of GOD in heaven and earth, than the moft diligent inquirers can do here, in a thousand years study, though they had the fagacity of Solomon. By the light of glory, they fee the face of GOD, and are fatisfied with his likeness for ever.

It is a high honor to you, that Mr. Boyle and Mr. Baxter fhould by their laft will nominate you amongst their executors. It was the faying of a wife Roman, Malo divi Augufti judicium, quam beneficium: I had rather have the esteem of the emperor Auguflus than his gifts: For he was an understanding prince, and his efteem was very honorable to a perfon. That two, who fo excelled in wifdom and goodness, fhould commit to your trust the difpofal of their eftates, for the uses of piety and charity, is a more noble teftimony of their efteem of your prudence and inviolable integrity, than if they had bequeathed to you rich legacies.

It is a fatisfaction to me, that I have complied with Mr. Baxter's defire in preaching his funeral fermon, and with your's in publifhing. I fhall unfeignedly recommend yourself, your excellent lady, and virtuous children, to the divine mercies, and remain with great refpect,

• SIR,

Your humble and faithful fervant,

• William Bates"

M

JOHN

FLAVEL.

R. JOHN FLAVEL was born in Worcesterhire. He was religiously educated by his father, and, having profited well at the grammar fchools, was fent early to Oxford, and fettled a commoner in Univerfity College. He plied his ftudies hard, and exceeded many of his contemporaries in univerfity learning.

Soon

Soon after his commencing bachelor of arts, Mr. Walplate, the minifter of Deptford in the county of Devons was rendered incapable of performing his office by reason of his age and infirmity, and fent to Oxford for an affiftant; Mr. Flavel, though but young, was recommended to him as a perfon duly qualified, and was accordingly fettled there by the ftanding committee of Devon, April 27, 1650, to preach as a probationer and affiftant to Mr. Walplate.

Mr. Flavel, confidering the weight of his charge, applied himself to the work of his calling with great diligence; and being affiduous in reading, meditation and prayer, he increased in minifterial knowledge daily, fo that he attained to an high degree of eminency and repu tation for his ufeful labors in the church.

About fix months after his fettling at Deptford, he heard of an ordination to be at Salisbury, and therefore went thither with his teftimonials, and offered himself to be examined and ordained by the prefbytery there: They appointed him a text, upon which he preached to their general fatisfaction; and having afterwards examined him as to his learning, &c. they fet him apart to the work of the miniftry, with prayer and impofition of hands, on the 17th day of October, 1650.

Mr. Flavel, being thus ordained, returned to Deptford, and after Mr. Walplate's death fucceeded in the rectory. To avoid all incumbrances from the world, and avocations from his ftudies and minifterial work, he chofe a perfon of worth and reputation in the parish (of whom he had a good affurance, that he would be faithful to himfelf, and kind to his parishioners) and let him the whole tithes much below the real value, which was very well. pleafing to his people. By this means he was the better able to deal with them in private; fince the hire of his labors was no way a hindrance to the fuccefs of them.

Whilft he was at Deptford he married one Mrs. Joan Randal, a pious gentlewoman, of a good family, who died in travail of her firft child, without being delivered. His year of mourning being expired, his acquaintance and intimate friends advised him to marry a fecond time, wherein he was again very happy. Her name was Elizabeth Morrice. Some time after this fecond marriage, the people of Dartmouth (formerly under the charge of the reverend Mr. Anthony Hartford, deceafed) unanimoufly chofe Mr. Flavel to fucceed him. They urged him to accept their call, (1.) Because there were exceptions made VOL. IV.

E

against

against all the other candidates, but none against hit (2.) Becaufe, being acceptable to the whole town, he was the more like to be an inftrument of healing the breaches among the good people there. (3.) Becaute Dartmouth, being a confiderable and populous town, required an able and eminent minifter, which was not so neceffary for a country parifh, that might befides be more eafily fupplied with another paftor than Dartmouth.

That which made them more preffing and earneft with Mr. Flavel, was this: At a provincial fynod in that county, Mr. Flavel, though but a young man, was voted into the chair as moderator, where he opened the affembly with a moft devout and pertinent prayer: He examined the candidates who offered themfelves to their trials for the miniftry with great learning; ftated the cafes and queftions propofed to them with much acutensis and judgement; and in the whole demeaned himfelf with that gravity, piety, and ferioufnefs, during his precedency, that all the minifters of the affembly admired and loved him. The reverend Mr. Hartford, his predeceffor at Dartmouth, took particular notice of him, from that time forward contracted a strict friendship with him, and fpoke of him among the magistrates and people of Dartmouth, as an extraordinary perfon, who was like to be a great light in the church. This, with their having feveral times heard him preach, occafioned their importunity with Mr. Flavel to come and be their minister; upor which, having prayed over the matter, and fubmitted it to the decifion of his neighbouring minifters, he was prevailed upon to remove to Dartmouth, to his great lofs in temporals, the rectory of Deptford being a much greater benefice.

Mr. Flavel being fettled at Dartmouth by the election of the people, and an order from bitchall by the commiffioners for approbation of public preachers, of the 19th of December 1656, he was affociated with Mr. Allen Gear, a very worthy but fickly man. The minifterial work was thus divided betwixt them; Mr. Flavel was to preach on the Lord's day at Townfall, the mother church, ftanding upon a hill without the town; and every fortnight in his turn at the Wednesday's lecture in Dartmouth. Here GOD crowned his labors with many converfions. One of his judicious hearers expreffed himself thus concerning him: I could fay much, though not enough, of the excellency of his preaching; of his feafonable, fuitable, ← and fpiritual matter; of his plain expofitions of scripture; his taking method, his genuine and natural de• duetionsy