Proud of his various beauties, wings his way,
And spoils the fairest flowers, himself möre
fair than they.

And deems, weak man, the future promise vain;
When worms can die, and, glorious, rise again!
the dead raised up?" &c.
"But," if still, " some will say, How are
We reply, and
demand, Why should it be thought a thing
incredible, that GOD should raise the dead?"
"Is any thing too hard for the Almighty?"

Printed at the Conference-Office, 14, City-Road; By THOMAS CORDEUX, Agent.

THE

METHODIST MAGAZINE,

FOR MAY, 1813.

BIOGRAPHY.

A MEMOIR OF THE REVEREND JOHN HOWE, A. M.

MR. JOHN HOWE was born at Loughborough, in the county of Leicester, on May 17, 1630; of which place his father was, for some time, the worthy Minister. But Archbishop Laud, who had settled him in that parish, afterwards ejected him, on account of his attachment to the Puritans. By the rigour of that prelate, and the ecclesiastical courts, several worthy and excellent men were driven into exile; among whom was the father of the subject of this Memoir, who went into Ireland, taking his son with him, who was then but a child. After a short residence there, they were obliged to quit that country upon the account of the war, which continued for some years after the execrable massacre of 1641: and returning into England, they settled in Lancashire, where Mr. Howe went through the first rudiments of learning, and the study of the languages; in which he made so great a progress, that he was sent pretty early to Christ College in Cambridge. Here he became acquainted with several persons who were famous in the learned world; particularly Dr. Cudworth, author of a celebrated work, entitled, The Intellectual System of the Universe. He continued at Cambridge till he took the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and then he removed to Oxford.

In this celebrated University, he made so considerable a progress in learning, and acquired so great a reputation for many excellent qualities, that he was duly elected Fellow of Magdalen College, of which the famous Dr. Thomas Goodwin was at that time President. Of Mr. Howe's wisdom, piety, prudence, and catholic spirit, even at that comparatively early part of his life, we may form a tolerably correct idea from the following anecdote, recorded by Dr. Calamy: Doctor Goodwin had gathered a Church VOL. XXXVI. MAY, 1813.

among the Scholars of that House, (the College of which he was President,) and finding Mr. Howe, who had an established reputation among them, did not offer to join with them, he took au occasion, when they were alone, to speak to him about it: and signified his surprise, that one of his character for serious piety, should not embrace such an opportunity for Christian fellowship, as might be likely to have many good consequences attending it. Mr. Howe, with great frankness, told him, that the true and only reason why he had been silent upon that matter, was, because he understood they laid a considerable stress upon some distinguishing peculiarities among them, of which he had no fondness; though he could give others their liberty to take their own way, without censuring them or having any unkind thoughts of them; but that if they would admit him into their Society upon catholic terms, he would readily become one of them. The Doctor, embracing him, told him he would do it with all his heart; and that, to his knowledge, it would be much to the satisfaction and edification of all concerned: and he therefore became a member of that Society."

Mr. Howe's promotion and reputation in the College, and through the University, added new spurs to his diligence and application; which were so great, that he furnished himself with a large fund of rational and theological learning, the fruits of which were very conspicuous in his future life. In 1652, he took the degree of Master of Arts; having gone through a course of philosophy, studied the heathen moralists, read over the accounts we have remaining of the pagan theology, the writings of the schoolmen, and several systems of the Reformers, and the Divines who succeeded them: but, as he signified to a friend, he had thoroughly studied the Sacred Scriptures, and from thence had drawn up a body of divinity, for himself and his own use, which he saw very little reason afterwards to vary from, in compliance with the schemes of others.

After taking his last degree, Mr. Howe became a Preacher, and was ordained by Mr. Charles Herle, at his Church of Winwick in Lancashire. In his parish there were several Chapelries, and the Ministers who officiated in them, assisted at the ordination, and joined in laying hands upon Mr. Howe; which made him often say, that few, in modern times, had so truly primitive an ordination as he had.

In a little time, he was called to Great Torrington in Devonshire, where he exercised his ministry with much diligence and success. There he had a numerous congregation, and a very flourishing Christian Society under his care; and thought of no other than of living and dying with them. But, notwithstanding his very great labours among them, he found time to keep up a good correspondence with the Ministers in the neighbourhood,