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formed under the sanction of an act of parliament in 1646: and, by a collection made in all the parishes in England, there had been raised a sum sufficient to purchase an estate in land of between 5001. and 6001. a year. Upon the restoration of king Charles II. the charter became void, and colonel Biddingfield, a Roman catholic officer in the army, of whom a considerable part of the land was bought seized it for his own use; pretending he had sold it under the value, in hopes of recovering it upon the king's return. The society being re-established, at great trouble and expense, were again put in possession of the estate by a decree of chancery, which the honorable Mr. Boyle was very instrumental in obtaining. He was appointed the first governor of the company.*

On the 4th of June this year died, aged 81, Dr. William Juxon, archbishop of Canterbury, whose elevation to the post of lord high-treasurer of England and other early preferments has been mentioned before, (vol. ii. p. 275.) He was born in Chichester, received his grammar learning at Merchant-taylors school, became fellow of St. John's college Oxford in 1598, and batchelor of the civil law in 1603, being about that time a student in Gray's inn. Soon after he entered into holy orders, and in 1609 was made vicar of St. Giles, Oxford. In 1626 he executed the office of vicechancellor. After the death of Charles I. he retired to his paternal manor of Little-Compton in Gloucestershire, and devoted himself to liberal studies. On the restoration, he was advanced Sept. 4, 1660, to the see of Canterbury.— He was buried with great funeral pomp in St. John's college, Oxon. He is said to have acted at a very critical time with a prudence, moderation and integrity, which enmity could not impeach in his arduous office as hightreasurer. He left many monuments of his munificence and liberality. "The mildness of his temper, the gentleness of his manners, and the integrity of his life," says Mr. Granger, "gained him universal esteem; and even the haters of Prelacy, could never hate Juxon.”†

Mr. Henry Jessey, an eminent divine among the puri

Neal's History of New-England, vol. i. p. 262.

Granger's History of England, vol. ii. p. 109, 154. Wood's Athen. Oxon, vol. ii. p. 662-3, and Richardson de Præsulibus, p. 162.

tans, died also, on the 4th of Sept. this year. He was born on the 3d of Sept. 1601, at West-Rowton, near Cleaveland in Yorkshire, where his father was minister. At seventeen years of age he was sent to St. John's college in Cambridge; he continued six years at the university, where he commenced first bachelor, then master of arts. In 1623 died his father, who had hitherto supplied him according to his ability; which event left him in such strait circumstances, that he had not above 3d. a day for his maintenance, yet he so œconomically managed this small pittance, as to spare some of it for hiring books. He pursued his studies with diligence, and, not contenting himself with the ipse dixit of authority, he investigated science freely. He left the university well versed in the Hebrew and the writings of the rabbies, with a knowledge of Syriac and Chaldee. During this period his mind imbibed a strong sense of religion, and he determined to devote himself to the ministry. He spent nine years, after leaving the university, as chaplain in the family of Mr. Brampton Gurdon, at Assington, in Suffolk, improving his time, and, among other studies, giving his attention to physic. In 1627 he received episcopal ordination, but could not be prevailed upon to accept any promotion until 1633, when the living of Aughton, in Yorkshire, was given to him. But he was removed the very next year for not using the ceremonies, and for taking down a crucifix. On this he was received into the family of Sir Matthew Bointon in the same county, and preached frequently at two parishes in the neighborhood. In 1635, accompanying his patron to London, he was invited to be pastor of the congregation formed in 1616 by Mr. Henry Jacob; this his modesty led him to decline for some time, but, after many prayers and much consideration, he accepted the invitation, and continued in this post till his death. Soon after the sentiments of the baptists were embraced by many of this society. This put

him upon studying the controversy; and the result was, that after great deliberation, many prayers, and frequent conferences with pious and learned friends, he altered his sentiments, first concerning the mode, and then the subjects of baptism. But be maintained the same temper of friendship and charity towards other christians, not only as to

conversation, but church communion. When he visited the churches in the north and west of England, he labored to promote the spirit of love and union among them, and was a principal person in setting up and maintaining, for some time, a meeting of some eminent men of each denomination in London. He divided his labors according to the liberality of his temper. In the afternoon of every Lord's day he was among his own people. In the morning he usually preached at St. George's church. Southwark, and once in the week at Ely-house, and at the Savoy to the maimed soldiers. The master study of his life was a new translation of the bible; in this design he engaged the assistance of many persons of note. It was almost compleated, when the great turn given to public affairs at the restoration rendered it abortive. The benevolence of his exertions formed a most distinguishing trait in his character. He chose a single life, that he might be more at liberty for such labors. Besides his own alms, he was a constaut solicitor and agent for the poor, and carried about with him a list and description of the most peculiar objects of charity, which he knew. Thirty families had all their subsistence from him.

But his charity was not limited to his own congregation; and where he thought it no charity to give, he would often lend without interest or security. One of the most remarkable instances of his charity, which had scarcely a precedent, was what he shewed to the poor Jews at Jerusalem, who by a war between the Swedes and Poles, which cut off their subsistence from their rich brethren in other countries, were reduced to great extremities. Mr. Jessey collected for them 3001. and sent with it letters with a view to their conversion to christianity. In the year 1650 he had written a treatise to remove their prejudices, and convince them of the messiahship of Jesus, recommended by several of the assembly of divines, and afterwards translated into Hebrew to be dispersed among the Jews of all nations. He was exposed to a great number of visitors; which occasioned him to have it written over his study door; AMICE, QUISQUIS HUC ADES;

AUT AGITO PAUCIS, AUT ABI,
AUT ME LABORANTEM ADJUVA.

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When he went long journies, he laid down rules to regulate the conversation for his fellow travellers, which were enforced by small pecuniary mulets on the violation of them. He was meek and humble, and very plain in speech, dress and demeanor. He was so great a scripturist, that if one began to rehearse any passage, he could go on with it, and name the book, chapter and verse, where it might be found. The original languages of the Old and New Testament were as familiar to him as his mother tongue. He was several times apprehended at meetings for religious worship. Upon the restoration he was ejected from his living at St. George's, silenced from his ministry, and committed to prison. About five or six months after his last release, he died full of peace and joy; lamented by persons of different persuasions, several thousands of whom attended his funeral. Crosby's History of the Baptists, vol. i. p. 307-21. Palmer's Non-conformists Memorial, vol. i. p. 108-13. The Life and Death of Mr. Jessey, 1671; where are the letters written to the Jews, remarks on our translation of the bible, and rules for a new version. ED.]

The next judgment which befel the nation was the most dreadful plague that had been known within the memory of man. This was preceded by an unusual drought; the meadows were parched and burnt up like the highways, insomuch that there was no food for the cattle, which oceasioned first a murrain among them, and then a general contagion among the human species, which increased in the city and suburbs of London until eight or ten thousand died in a week. The richer inhabitants fled into the remoter

* Dr. Grey has introduced here a full and affecting narrative of the progress of this calamity, and of the mortality it produced; drawn up by the pen of Mr. Vincent, one who charitably gave his assistance at that time, as copied by Dr. Calamy, in his continuation, p. 33. It was usual for people, as they went about their business. to drop down in the street. A bagpiper, who, excessively overcome with liquor, had fallen down and lay asleep in the street, was taken up, and thrown into a cart, and betimes the next morning, carried away with some dead bodies. At day-break he awoke, and rising began to play a tune:

counties; but the calamities of those who stayed behind, and of the poorer sort, are not to be expressed. Trade was at a full stand; all commerce between London and the country was entirely cut off, lest the infection should be propagated thereby. Nay, the country house-keepers and farmers durst not entertain their city friends or relations till they had performed quarantine in the fields or out-houses. If a stranger passed through the neighbourhood, they fled from him as an enemy. In London the shops and houses were quite shut up, and many of them marked with a red cross, and an inscription over the door, Lord have mercy upon us! Grass grew in the streets; and every night the bell-man went his rounds with a cart, crying, Bring out your dead. From London the plague spread into the neighboring towns and villages, and continued near three quarters of a year, till it had swept away almost one hundred thousand of the inhabitants.

Some of the established clergy, with a commendable zeal, ventured to continue in their stations, and preach to their parishioners throughout the course of the plague, as Dr. Walker, Dr. Horton, Dr. Meriton, and a few others ;* but most of them fled, and deserted their parishes at a time when their assistance was most wanted; upon this some of the ejected ministers ventured to preach in the vacant pulpits, imagining that so extraordinary a case would justify their disregard to the laws. The ministers who embarked in this service were the reverend Mr. Thomas Vincent, Mr. Chester, Mr. Janeway, Mr. Turner, Grimes, Franklin, and others. The face of death, and the arrows that fled among the people in darkness at noon-day, awakened both preachers and hearers: Many who were at church one day were thrown into their graves the next; the cry of great numbers was, What shall we do to be saved? A more awful time England had never seen.

But it will amaze all posterity, that in a time both of war and pestilence, and when the non-conformist ministers which so surprized those who drove the eart, and could see nothing distinctly, that in a fright they betook them to their heels, and would have it they had taken up the devil in the disguise of a dead oran. Sir John Reresby's Memoirs, p. 10. 11. Ed.

* Baxter's Life, part iii. p. 2.

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