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extraordinary degree. He was not a novice, but an old 'established and tried Christian, when he was called to teach and edify the church of God: and God blessed him with singular success. Very few ministers have been honoured with a larger spiritual progeny, to whom his name and memory was long endeared. He came into the mimistry with a single eye to God's glory, and left a lucrative business in the world, to make others, through grace, both rich and wise to salvation. He began his ministry as curate to the late memorable Mr. Hervey at Weston Favell, continued with him till his death, and was promised by the patron to succeed him in one of his livings, but which was not fulfilled. He continued, however, at Weston Favell till November, 1760, whence he went to the curacy of Weldon, where he continued but ten months; the Gospel being too offensive there. His next ministrations were at Kettering, which he began August 16, 1761; and here he continued till June 28, 1770. In his private and public life, during all this period, he met with many sorrows and afflictions. He had, indeed, "without fightings, and within fears." The malice and craft of some very base and wicked people contrived to remove this faithful man at this time from his duty here. In September, 1773, he removed to Guilsborough, and entered upon the curacy of Creaton a neighbouring village, which was the last stage of his ministry. Here he laboured "in season and out of season," with all zeal and diligence, for twenty pounds a year. At Creaton he began with his favourite theme; "God is Love," 1 John iv. 16. And the love of God crowned his labours and his life, at this favoured village. He was not attacked with any particular disease; but, being advanced in years, and long oppressed with troubles, he seemed to fall into a gradual decay of nature, which, however, did not prevent him from the discharge of his duty, but for one Sunday before he died. The last performance of his ministerial office was a very laborious one. He preached twice, after twice reading prayers, administered the sacrament to a numerous congregation, and buried a corpse. In this respect, he fully enjoyed his desire of remaining here no longer, than he could work for his Master and the good of souls. Upon asking his pious nephew, who attended him with medical assistance during his last illness, whether he saw any hope

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of his recovery, and upon being informed that it was very doubtful; he immediately uttered with thankfulness, "Glory be to God on high!" As he was going up stairs a night or two before his death, his clerk wished him a good night, and added, "the Lord comfort you, Sir!" He instantly replied, "I don't want comfort, John." Two of his people, who stood by his bed side as he was dying, being in tears, and lamenting, he called to them and said, "You are poor soldiers indeed!" He quitted this vale of tears on Sunday morning, about six o'clock, July 17, 1785, in the seventy-second year of his age, and was buried in the church yard of Creaton, by his own de-1 sire, July 21, following; when a sermon was preached, to a very large and much affected congregation, by the rev. Mr. Scott, of Olney, upon Acts xiii. 36.

MAISTERS, JOSEPH, was born at Kingsdown, in Somersetshire, Nov. 13, 1640. He went to Magdalen College, Oxford, 1656, and there continued till, upon the Restoration, the commissioners were sent to the university. The ceremonies of the church of England being brought into that as well as other colleges, he removed to Magdalen Hall; and at that time standing for his degree of B. A. it was denied him purely because of his refusing conformity; for there are extant some certificates of his diligence, piety, and learning. In this respect he was one of the first sufferers. After such usage, he had little heart to stay any longer in the university, and therefore quitted it, and followed his studies in private, preaching occasionally as he had opportunity. At length he settled with a society of Christians, at Theobalds in Hertfordshire, being ordained Oct. 30, 1667; and continued exercising his ministry there, and in the city of London, sometimes more publicly, and sometimes more privately, as the times would allow. For some years before his death, which was en April 6, 1717, he was pastor of the Baptist Church at Pinners Hall. He was interred in Bunhill Felds, and his funeral sermon was preached by Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Jer. Hunt, on Prov. xiv. 32.

MANTON, THOMAS, D. D. was born at Laurence Lydiard, in Somersetshire, in 1620. His father, and both his grandfathers, were ministers, He was educated at

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Tiverton free school in Devonshire, and at the age of fifteen, was entered at Wadham College, Oxford. Here he applied himself to divinity, and by a course of unwea ried diligence, he was early qualified for the work of the ministry; and took orders sooner than was usual, and than he himself approved. "I have been in the ministry, says he, these ten years, and yet not fully completed the thirtieth year of my age: the Lord forgive my rash intrusion." But the excellent Joseph Hall, bishop of Exeter, afterwards of Norwich, who ordained him, having taken particular notice of his gifts and qualifications, did not think him too young, but expressed his apprehensions, "That he would prove an extraordinary person." The times, when he first entered into the ministry, were full of trouble, the king and parliament being at variance, and hostilities breaking out on both sides. He was confined to Exeter when it was besieged by the king's forces. After its surrender he went to Lime. He preached his first sermon at Sowton near Exeter, from these words, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." He entered first upon his ministerial labours at Culliton in Devonshire, where he preached a weekly lecture, and was much attended and respected. At his coming to London he was soon taken notice of, as a young man of excellent parts and growing hopes. Here he neither wanted work, nor will to perform it; but applied himself with great diligence and pleasure, for which he was remarkable all his life. About this time, he married. He had not been above three years in the ministry before his first settlement, which was at Stoke Newington near London. He was presented to this cure by colonel Popham, in whom he had a most worthy and kind patron, and was highly esteemed by his pious lady. It was here he began and finished his excellent exposition of the epistle of St. James. An exposition that has been thought by good judges, to be one of the best models of expounding Scripture. Some time after, he went through the epistle of Jude. He continued seven years at Newington, and possessed the general respect of his parishioners; though there were many persons of different sentiments from himself. He was often invited to preach in London on the week days: and other weighty affairs sometimes called for his attendance there. The custom of preaching to the sons of the clergy

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began in his time; Doctor Hall, son of the famous bishop Hall of Norwich, preached the first sermon to them, as Mr. Manton did the second, from Psalm cii. 28. He was several times, though not so often as some others, cailed to preach before the parliament, and received their order, in course, for printing his sermons; in all which his wisdom and judgement, in the suitableness of the subject to the circumstances of the times, and the prudent management of it to the best advantage, were very visible. Particularly after he had given his testimony, aniong the London ministers, against the death of the king, he was appointed to preach before the parliament; his text was Deut. xxxiii. 4. 5. "Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob; and he was a king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people, and the tribes of Israel were gathered together." When they were highly offended at this sermon, some of his friends advised him to withdraw; for some in the house talked of sending him to the Tower; but he would not leave his post, and their heat abated. His generous constancy of mind in resisting the current of popular humour declared his loyalty to his master.

Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick of St. Paul's Covent Garden, being grown old, several worthy persons were proposed to succeed him; yet could he not be prevailed with to resign, till Mr. Manton was mentioned; and to that he readily yielded. The then earl, afterwards duke, of Bedford, was Mr. Manton's patron, who greatly esteemed him. Here he preached to a numerous congregation of persons of rank, with great success; of which number was often archbishop Usher, who used to say of him, "That he was one of the best preachers in England-and that he was a voluminous preacher;" not that he was tedious for length, but he had the art of reducing the substance of volumes of divinity into a narrow compass. Mr. Charnock used to say of him, that he was "the best collector of sense of the age." About this time the Doctor was made one of the chaplains to the Protector, and appointed one of the committee to examine persons who were to be admitted to the ministry, or inducted into livings; as he was afterwards appointed one in 1659, by an act of that parliament, in which the secluded members were restored. And though this proved troublesome to him, considering VOL. III.-No. 63.

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his constant employment in preaching; yet he has been heard to say, "That he very seldom absented himself from that service, that he might, according to his power, keep matters from running into extremes;" for there were many in those days, as well as in these, who were forward to run into the ministry, and had more zeal than knowledge; and perhaps sometimes men of worth were liable to be discouraged *.

He was in great reputation at the time of the restoration, and was very forward in 1660, to promote the king's restoration. He was one of the divines appointed to wait upon the king at Breda, and afterwards sworn one of the king's chaplains by the earl of Manchester, lord chamberlain, who truly honoured him. He was one of the Savoy commissioners, and very earnest in his endeavours to get the king's Declaration passed into a law; which would have gone a great way towards uniting the princi pal parties in the nation, and laying the foundation of a lasting peace, and would have determined him in accepting the deanery of Rochester, that was then offered him.

In the interval between the restoration and his ejectment, he was greatly esteemed by persons of the first quality at court. Sir John Barber used to tell him, that the king had a singular respect for him. Lord chancellor Hyde was always highly civil and obliging to him. He had free access to him upon all occasions, which he always improved, not for himself, but for the service of others. Upon the Doctor refusing the deanery, he fell under Lord Clarendon's displeasure; so fickle is the favour of the great; and he once accused him to the king, for dropping some treasonable expressions in a sermon. The king sent for him, and ordered him to bring his notes; which when he read, the king asked, "Whether, upon

• An instance of this kind happened respecting a grave and sobe man, who appeared before them, and was little taken notice of, but by himself: he seeing him stand, called for a chair, in respect to his age and appearance; at which some of the commissioners were displeased. This person appeared to be of a Christian and ingenuous temper; for, after the restoration, he was preferred to an Irish bishopric, perhaps an archbishoprie; for he used to charge bishop Worth, whose business often called him over to England, that on his first coming to London he should visit doctor Manton, give his service to him, and let him know, "That if he was molested in his preaching in England, he should be welcome in Ireland, and have liberty to preach in any part of his diocese undisturbed."

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