and all over the country, by whom he was greatly esteemed; but especially by Mr. George Hughes of Plymouth, whose daughter he married in 1654.

Some time after, Mr. Howe, having occasion to take a journey to London, was detained there longer than he intended. He had the curiosity to go, one Lord's-day, (and it was the last he intended to continue in town,) to be an auditor at the Chapel at Whitehall. Cromwel, who generally had his eyes every where, espied out Mr. Howe in the auditory, and knew him, by his garb, to be a country Minister; and thinking he discerned something more than ordinary in his countenance, he sent a messenger to him, to desire to speak with him when the worship of God was over. Upon his coming to him, Cromwel requested him to preach before him the Lord's-day following. Mr. Howe was surprised with the unexpected invitation, and modestly desired to be excused. But Cromwel told him, it was a vain thing to attempt to excuse himself, for he would have no denial. Mr. Howe pleaded that, having despatched what business he had in town, he was tending homewards, and could not be absent longer without inconvenience. Cromwel inquired, what great damage he was liable to sustain, by tarrying a little longer? Mr. Howe replied, that his people, who were very kind to him, would be uneasy, and think he neglected them, and slighted their respect. Cromwel promised to write to them himself, and send one down to them to supply his place, and actually did so; and Mr. Howe stayed, and preached as he was desired. But when he had given him one sermon, Cromwel pressed for a second, and after that, a third; and, at last, after a great deal of free conversation in private, nothing less would serve him, (who could not bear to be contradicted, after he had once got the power into his hands,) than to have Mr. Howe to be his domestic Chaplain. In vain did Mr. Howe do all in his power to be excused, and return to his people at Torrington, for no denial would be admitted. At length, though with great reluctance, he was prevailed upon to comply, and remove with his family to Whitehall, where several of his children were born. In this difficult station, he endeavoured to be faithful, and to keep a good conscience. And, as an argument of his uncommon conduct and caution, it was observed by several, that there was hardly any other man, who was in an eminent public station in these critical times, and was admitted to the knowledge of so many secrets, who was so free from censure in the changes which followed. He did not improve his interest in those who then had the management of affairs in their hands, either to the enriching of himself, or the doing of ill offices to others, though of known different sentiments; but readily embraced every opportunity * 2 S2*

that offered, of serving the interest of religion and learning, and in opposing the errors and designs, which at that time threatened both. There were many to whom Mr. Howe was very serviceable while he continued at Whitehall; and never was he known to be backward in assisting any of the royalists or episcopalians in distress, if they were persons of real merit. He befriended several also with his advice and interest, upon their being obliged to appear before the Triers, in order to having their approbation before they were allowed to officiate in public as Ministers. In short, so generous was Mr. Howe on the behalf of persons of any worth who applied to him, that Cromwel, it is said, once freely told him, that he had obtained many favours for others; but, says he, I wonder when the time is to come, that you will move for any thing for yourself or your family. A plain argument that he took him for a disinterested person, as free from selfishness as he was from partiality.

Whilst he continued in Cromwel's family, he was often put upon secret services; but they were always honourable, and such as, according to the best of his judgment, might be to the benefit of the public, or particular persons. And, when he was once engaged, he used all the diligence, secrecy, and despatch, he was able. In a word, he behaved so well in this station, that he had the ill-will of as few as any man; and also the particular friendship of the great and amiable Dr. Wilkins, who was afterwards Bishop of Chester, and several others, who were great supports of real piety and goodness in those times, and afterwards eminent under the legal Establishment. And though it is acknowledged that, in some degree, he lost the favour of Cromwel, yet that will redound to his honour, when it is considered, that it was owing to his firmness and integrity, in maintaining what he thought was for the honour of God, and the Christian religion; in opposition to a certain kind of enthusiasm, which was become very fashionable at court: but which, notwithstanding Cromwel's being its chief favourer, honest Mr. Howe openly and manfully opposed.

On September 3, 1658, Oliver died; and was succeeded by Richard, his eldest son, as Lord Protector. Mr. Howe stood in the same relation to the son as he had done to the father; but meddled no more with state affairs. How long he continued as Chaplain at court, is not certain; but it is probable not more than three months after Oliver's death. On leaving Whitehall, he returned to his people at Torrington, and continued his labours among them till the. Restoration of Charles the Second. This memorable event, it is well known, occasioned a general madness, as well as universal joy, in the nation. The king being restored, made, for some time, more use than was usual of the Lords Lieutenants, and their deputies, to keep the several

Counties of the kingdom in awe.. Many were made offenders for a word, and the most cautious Preachers were accused and censured, if they were not intoxicated to the same degree with their neighbours. Among the rest, Mr. Howe, though very cautious of giving cause of complaint to any, met with some trouble in the year 1660, a few months after the Restoration; which appears to have been given him by persons, who wished to recommend themselves, though by unjustifiable means, to the favour of those in authority.

He was informed against by two men, as having delivered somewhat that was seditious, and even treasonable, in two sermons, preached from Gal. vi. 7, 8. But Mr. Howe purged himself by no less than one and twenty witnesses, who were judicious men, and enjoined upon oath, on his Majesty's behalf, to declare the truth of the matter; and they all cleared him from the guilt in the accusation, and the Court accordingly discharged him. It is remarkable, that one of the accusers soon left town, and was seen there no more; and the other cut his own throat, and was buried at a cross-road.

When things were thought sufficiently prepared for it, at length, in 1662, the Act of Uniformity passed the two Houses of Parliament; and it took place on August 24, that year. On that ever-memorable day, Mr. Howe preached two sermons to his people at Torrington, who were all in tears; and then quitted his public station in the Church of England, and became a silenced Non-conformist.

In the year 1665, when one of the terrible judgments of God was abroad in this nation, and made dreadful havock in our capital, the higher powers thought proper to embarrass the Nonconformists more than ever by the famous Five Mile Act, as it is usually called; that Act, which, to the credit of our Government, has been recently repealed, together with every other opposed to complete religious toleration. Happy would it have been for this nation, at that time, if, while many persons endeavoured to flee from the pestilence which wasted at noon-day, they had guarded also against a more dangerous plague, that of persecution and uncharitableness! Mr. Howe, with some others, took the oath required by the Five Mile Act, and so preserved his liberty to travel or reside where he pleased; but still continued in the western counties, visiting the families of his friends and acquaintance, being ready, wherever he came, to do any service he was

able.

The first piece which Mr. Howe published, was a sermon from Eccles. vii. 29, upon MAN'S CREATION IN AN HOLY, BUT MUTABLE STATE, printed in the Morning Exercises, 1660. But in the year 1668, he was prevailed upon to publish that famous work,

entitled, THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS.* This treatise has been well received, and greatly valued, by the most serious and judicious of all persuasions.

Some time after this, he was earnestly invited, by a person of considerable quality, into Ireland, and had generous offers made him. He accepted the invitation with the greater readiness, and looked upon it as the more providential, because by this time he was reduced to narrow circumstances; which is not at all to be wondered at, considering that he had, for some years, been out of any settled employment, and had but a small income to support a large family. In the beginning of April, 1671, he set sail for Dublin; and, after some time, had his whole family with him in Ireland, where he lived as Chaplain to Lord Masserene, in the parish of Antrim, and was treated there with all imaginable respect. His great learning, and truly Christian temper and conduct, together with that nobleman's influence and interest, procured him the particular friendship of the Bishop of that Diocese; who, together with his metropolitan, without demanding any conformity, gave him free liberty to preach in the Church in that town, every Lord's-day in the afternoon. And it is said, that the Archbishop, in a pretty full meeting of the clergy, told them frankly, that he would have Mr. Howe to have every pulpit, where he had any concern, open to him; in which, at any time, he should have liberty to preach.

While he continued here, he manifested a truly peaceable and Christian spirit, both in his preaching and conversation; and his public and private labours were blessed, to the profit of many. But Divine Providence did not suffer him to continue long in those parts, but soon gave him an opportunity of exercising his uncommon talents in a larger sphere. For, upon the death of Dr. L. Seaman, he had an invitation given to him to come and settle in London, and was earnestly pressed to accept of the call, which he had received from a part of Dr. Seaman's congregation. There was some difference of opinion about the person whom they should choose; some being for Mr. Charnock, and others for Mr. Howe, who resolved to make a visit to London, that he might view and judge of things on the spot. Accordingly, with his mind greatly exercised about the event of this affair, which he piously committed to the determination of Divine Providence, he entered upon his voyage, and arrived safe at London, after having been five years in Ireland. Upon mature consideration, he accepted of the call that was given him, and settled there; and made a quiet and peaceable use of King Charles's indulgence,

A new edition of this invaluable Work, revised and corrected, has been recently published at the Conference Office. To every reader of sense and piety, the perusal of it will be highly pleasing and profitable.

preaching to a considerable and judicious auditory, by whom he was singularly respected. And he was much esteemed, not only by his brethren in the ministry among the Dissenters, but also by several eminent Divines of the Church of England; as Dr. Whitchcot, Dr. Kidder, Dr. Fowler, Dr. Lucas, and others. With these he often conversed, and that with great freedom and familiarity. Joining charity with orthodoxy, he went quietly on in a course of truly evangelical preaching, paying due attention to the foundation and superstructure of true religion; and he was very useful in forwarding many in their way to heaven.

In the year 1664, he published his treatise, OF DElighting IN GOD; which was the substance of some sermons he had preached twenty years before to the people of Torrington, with additions and enlargements. He dedicated them to his old friends, the inhabitants of that town, by a masculine, but, at the same time, most tender and affectionate epistle: in which he gives such an account of himself, as may well make every good man wish, that such a noble and catholic spirit as his may prevail among all the parties, into which the Christian world is divided. How would the manly and generous soul of Howe have rejoiced, had he witnessed the sweet spirit of Christian love and forbearance manifested towards each other in our day, by sound Christians of various denominations!

The Popish Plot had a happy tendency to open the eyes of some, who found they had greatly hurt the Protestant religion, by persecuting the Non-conformists with so much severity. This inspired them with more moderate sentiments in general. The House of Commons brought in a Bill for uniting his Majesty's Protestant subjects; and though they were not able to go through with it, yet, before they rose, they came to this remarkable conclusion, that, "The prosecution of Protestant Dissenters, upon the penal laws, is, at this time, grievous to the subject, a weakening of the Protestant interest, an encouragement to popery, and dangerous to the peace of the kingdom."

Mr.Howe, in his frequent conversations with the Clergy, and with persons of quality and distinction, in these critical times, discovered at all times a very peaceable and healing spirit; often giving it as his sense, that an accommodation of matters between the Church, and Protestant Dissenters, would be the most lectual way to keep out popery. And, indeed, this being a seasonable time to bring about so desirable a work as an union mong Protestants, there was a serious talk of a comprehension, and of accommodating matters between the Church and the Dissenters. But all soon came to nothing. But all soon came to nothing. The famous bill of exclusion being thrown out, there was suddenly a strange turn of efairs. The Clergy, (says Bishop Burnet,) struck up with zal for the Duke's succession; as if a popish King had been