his word, that was all that was delivered?" and upon the Doctor's assurance that it was, the king said no more than, Doctor, I am satisfied, and you may be assured of my favour; but look to yourself, or else Hyde will be too hard for you.'

In 1662, he was deprived of his benefice, and imprisoned for his nonconformity, and was many ways a sufferer; yet kept up a considerable interest at court, and with men of note. The noble earl (afterwards duke) of Bedford, who had been his parishioner at Covent Garden, was his cordial friend till his death; so also was Lord Wharton, and many other persons of considerable quality. Mr. Baxter gives this character of him; "Doctor Manton, says he, who lately lay six months in prison, is a man of great learning, judgement, and integrity; and an excellent, most laborious, unwearied preacher, and of moderate principles." He generally sat in the chair in the meetings of the dissenting ministers of the city, who found the want of his prudence, activity, and interest joined together, when the Lord was pleased to call him from the world. His discourses were clear and convincing, so as to be effectual through grace, not only to raise a short commotion in the affections, but to make a lasting change in the life. His doctrine was the truth, according to godliness. He did not entertain his hearers with impertinent subtilties, empty notions, intricate disputes, &c. but preached as one, who had always before his eyes the glory of God and the salvation of men; both in respect to his matter and his expression, in which he had a singular talent. Dr. William Harris relates the following anecdote of him while he was at Covent Garden. "Being to preach before the lord mayor, the court of aldermen, and the companies of the city, at St. Paul's, the Doctor chose a subject, in which he had an opportunity of displaying his judgement and learning. He was heard with admiration and applause by the more intelligent part of the audience. But as he was returning from dinner with the lord mayor in the evening, a poor man, following him, pulled him by the sleeve of his gown, and asked him if he were the gentleman that preached before the lord mayor.

He an

swered, he was. Sir, says he, I came with hopes of getting some good to my soul; but I was greatly disappointed, for I could not understand a great deal of what you said; you were quite above me., The Doctor

Qq2

replied,

replied, with tears," Friend if I did not give you mon; you have given me one; and by the grace of I will never play the fool to preach before my lord may: in such a manner again."

In 1670, some indulgence being granted to dissenter the meetings were much attended. Soon after this indulic gence expired, the Doctor was taken prisoner on a Lord day in the afternoon, just after he had done his sermonic. and committed to the Gate House. This imprisonment by the kind providence of God, was more favourable an commodious, than could have been thought, or than hi enemies designed, or than he expected. The keeper of the prison at that time was Lady Broughton, who wa noted for her strictness and severity in her office; though she carried it quite otherwise towards the Doctor. Thu like Joseph (Gen. xxxix. 11, &c.) " he found favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison;" &c. In whatsoeve company he was, he had courage, as became a faithfu minister of Christ, to oppose sin, and upon proper occa sion to reprove sinners. The duke of Lauderdale, who pretended to behave with great respect to him, in some company where the Doctor was present, conducted himself very indecently; the Doctor modestly reproved him.. When the indulgence was more fully fixed in 1672, the merchants, and other citizens of London set up a lecture at Pinner's Hall. Dr. Manton was one of the six first chosen, and opened the lecture. He was much concerned at the little bickerings, which began there in his time: and when Mr. Baxter was censured by some for a discourse preached there, upon these words, "and ye will not come unto me, that ye may have life;" the Doctor, on his next turn, pretty sharply rebuked them for their rash mistakes and unbecoming reflections upon so worthy and useful a man. It was observed, that this reproof was managed with so much decency and wisdom, that (what is truly wonderful!) he was not by any reflected upon for his freedom in it. He has been heard to express his esteem of Mr. Baxter in the highest terms. He said, he thought him one of the most extraordinary men the Christian church had produced, since the apostle's days; and that he did not look upon himself as worthy to carry his books after him.

When he first began to grow ill in his health, he was,

after

fer much persuasion, prevailed with to spend some time Woburn with Lord Wharton, for the benefit of the nar: but finding little good by it, he returned to Town on the beginning of the week, with a design to administer the Lord's Supper the next Lord's day; of which he gave notice to his people, but he did not live to accomplish it. The day before he took his bed, he was in his study; of which he took his solemn leave, with hands and eyes lifted up to heaven, blessing God for the many comfortable and serious hours he had spent there; and waiting in joyful hope of a state of clearer knowledge, and higher enjoyments of his God. At night he prayed with his family under great iadisposition, desiring, "If the Lord had no further work for him to do in this world, he would take him to himself:" Which he expressed, with great serenity of mind, and an unreserved resignation to the divine good pleasure. At length finding his constitution breaking, he resigned himself to God's wise disposal, and being seized with a kind of lethargy, by which he was deprived of his scuses, to the great grief and loss of his friends who came to visit him. He died October 18, 1677, in the fifty-seventh year of his age, and was buried in the chancel of the church of Stoke Newington; leaving behind him the reputation of as excellent a preacher, as this city or nation hath produced.

He was author of, 1. "A practical Exposition on Isaiah liii."2. On the Epistle of James."-3." On the Epistle of Jude."4. "Smectymnuus Redivivus; an Answer to an humble Remonstrance."-5. "The Saint's Triumph over Death; a Funeral Sermon for Mr. Christopher Love."-6. "Four Sermons in the Morning Exercise against Popery."-7. "Several before Parliament on public Occasions.After his Death, 8. "Twenty Sermons on the Psalms, Acts, &c."—9. “ Eighteen on 2 Thessalonians ii. on the Growth and Fall of Antichrist."-10. "A practical Exposition on the Lord's Prayer," 8vo.-11. "Several Discourses tending to promote Holiness," 8vo.-12. “Five Volumes of Sermons" in folio.

MARLORATUS, was born in the dukedom of Lorrain, in 1506. His parents died when he was very young: and his relations, coveting his estate, thrust him, at eight years of age, into a monastery of Augustine friers; which proved the means of his obtaining a good education. He

was

was eager to learn the languages, and to improve in the study of divinity, which he afterwards devoted to the ser vice of the Protestant church, of which he became an eminent ornament and support. After a time, perceiving that the idleness of monks was but ill calculated to encourage the ardour with which he pursued his literary objects, he left the monastery, and studied in France; and from thence removed to the university of Lausanne, in the canton of Bern. Here he was brought to the knowledge of the truth; and here he made great proficiency in learning and in the critical knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Entering into orders, he was called to Rouen, in Normandy, where he gathered a large congregation, which he watched over and instructed with so much labour and fidelity, and conducted himself on all occasions with so much wisdom, prudence, and piety, that he baffled the opposition and malice of his adversaries. In 1561, he was present at the conference held at Poissy, between Beza and the cardinal of Lorrain, in which he distinguished himself by his ability and zeal on the side of the Protestants against the Papists. The year following, the civil wars broke out in France, when the city of Rouen was besieged, and at last taken by storm. Montmorency, the constable of France, after much abuse of Marloratus, cast him into prison, and coming to him the next day, with the duke of Guise, vehemently accused him of having seduced the people. To which Marloratus, answered immediately, "If they are seduced, it is God who hath seduced them, and not I; for I have preached nothing to them but divine truths." "Thou art a seditious person (replied the constable,) and the cause of this great city's ruin." answer to that charge, (said Marloratus,) I appeal to all that have heard me preach, both Papists and Protestants; and let them say, if they ever heard me meddle with human politics, or matters of state: on the contrary, I have confined myself, according to my abilities, to my proper sphere as a minister of that kingdom which is not of this world, laboriously instructing them out of God's word, and guiding them in the way to life everlasting." The constable rejoined, that he and his adherents had plotted together to make the prince of Condé king, admiral Coligni duke of Normandy, and Andelot duke of Bretagne. To this Marloratus answered, professing his own and the innocence of these no

ble

ble personages. But the constable turning away in a great rage, blasphemously cried out; "We shall see, in a few days, whether thy God is able to deliver thee out of my hands, or not." He was soon after indicted by Bigot, the king's advocate, and condemned for high treason; having been, as they said, the author of those great assemblies which had caused rebellion and civil wars. The court sentenced him to be drawn on a sledge, and to be hanged on a gibbet before Notre Dame church at Rouen, his head then to be cut off and set upon a pole on the bridge of the city, and his goods and inheritance to be confiscated. Touched with the worth of the man, and the injustice done him, some of Marloratus's adversaries wished to save him; but their motion was over- ruled, and he, (with four other chief citizens,) suffered on October 30, 1562, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.

As he went to the place of execution, drawn on a sledge, the constable and his son Monbrun, (who was soon after slain in the battle of Dreux,) behaved with great indecency: and Villebon added a blow with a stick to many reproachful speeches; all which Marloratus bore with patience and meekness. Before he was turned off, he made an excellent speech, so long as he was permitted; exhorting, strengthening, and comforting his fellow sufferers, who with himself, after glorifying God together in doing his will, now glorified him in suffering it.

His works shew how great a loss the church at that time sustained in the death of this learned and pious divine: 1." Novi Testamenti catholica expositio ecclesiastica: ex probatis theologis, quos Dominus ecclesiæ suæ diversis in locis dedit, excerpta, & diligenter concinnata: sive, Bibliotheca Expositionum Novi Testamenti; id est, expositio ex probatis theologis collecta, & in unum corpus singulari artificio confiata: quæ instar bibliothecæ multis expositoribusr efertæ esse possit .-2. "An Exposition of the Book of Genesis."-3. "An Exposition of the Book of Psalms."—4." An Exposition of the Prophecy of Isaiah."5." Thesaurus totius canonicæ Scripturæ, in locos eommunes, dogmatum, & phrasium, ordine alphabetico digestum." This work was printed under the inspection of William Fenguerius of

The fourth edition of this book was printed at Geneva, 1585. Of this work, Dr. Willet speaks very highly, and wishes that such another exposition had appeared in his time upon the Old Testament. Very happily for us of this land, we have now several upon both Testaments, of which that of Mr. Matthew Henry is to be named among the first.

Rouen,