great sources of his power. Alleine was at Taunton when the bells rang their merriest peal on the return of Charles 2nd. Charles, ever ready to promise, had assured one Mr. Arther Jackson, when he presented him with a Bible 'that he would make that blessed book the rule of his conduct,' and very soon began to show that this, with his Breda proclamation against debauchery and profaneness, and his promises to the dissenters, were never meant to be kept. There was the Act for the restoration of the sequestered clergy, in which it was decreed, 'that every sequestered minister who had not justified the late King's murder or declared against infant baptism shall be restored to his living.' Next followed an Act for the better regulation of corporations, which expelled all dissenters from the principal offices, and from the magistrates' bench. John Bunyan was watching all this, and has told us in his Holy War how Diabolus remodeled the captured town of Mansoul, turning out Mr. Conscience, the recorder, and bringing in a new set of aldermen and burgesses. The Independents and Baptists now petitioned for toleration; but the Presbyterians were in perpetual conference with men in power hoping by some modification still to remain within the pale of the state church. Then followed the Savoy Conference, which met March 25, 1661, and after four months ended in 'a conclusion in which nothing was concluded.' Then came the now notorious Act of Uniformity, which was to take effect on the 24th of August 1662. Two thousand men refused to give their unfeigned assent and consent to all and every thing' in a book which they had not yet seen. Some died broken-hearted; some left the country; some became physicians; others sank from comparative fame into obscurity as private tutors. Here and there gentlemen and scholars, to save themselves from starvation, became farm-servants and artisans. Many felt that they were not released from

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their ordination vows, and still preached, and so subjected themselves to fines and imprisonment. Joseph Alleine was one of the latter class. 'Before the Act of Uniformity came forth,' writes his heroic wife, 'my husband was very earnest night and day, with God, that his way might be made plain to him, and that he might not desist from such advantages of saving souls with any scruple upon his spirit. He seemed so moderate, that both myself and others thought he would conformhe often saying, that he would not leave his work for small and dubious matters; but when he saw those clauses of assent and consent, and renouncing the covenant, he was fully satisfied.' He preached his last sermon in St. Mary Magdalene, from the words Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. The Sunday after the ejection divine service was performed in the parish church according to the restored ceremonial. Crowds came to witness. Many were eager to show that they had no sympathy with the Nonconformists. The exciting scene is thus described in a letter which was sent the next day to the Mercurius Publicus :——

'Taunton, Monday, Aug. 25, 1662. The Parish of Taunton in Somerset

shire, being destitute of a minister to preach, &c., by the nonconformity of Mr. Newton,* a very worthy gentleman, Mr. Thomas James, (late of All Soul's College, in Oxford,) yesterday being St. Bartholomew's day, supplied his place. The neighbours, gentry, purposely were there present, and Mr. James being furnished with the Book of Common Prayer, church vestments, &c., according to the late Act of Parliament, read the whole service for Morning and Evening Prayer, and christened two children accordingly, and (I cannot but acquaint you) the whole town was present, behaving themselves as if their minister had carried away with him all faction and nonconformity. The church was so very full that several persons swounded with the heat; and to the honour of this town, I cannot but mind you, that 'tis very observable that a people that have been so ill-taught as they have been,

*Mr. Alleine was only an assistant.

'Setled' they were; but the church was closed for many weeks together, public service was held at rare intervals, and for nine months the parish had no resident priest.' Mr. Newton was insulted by name in a lampoon published by Butler, the author of Hudibras, with a view to ridicule the pretensions of Englishmen to liberty of conscience. He lost heart, and hid himself in London. Alleine, the Thursday after the farewell services in St. Mary's, held a service in his own house. Many of the timorous grew bold, and flocked to meetings, whether by day or night. Alleine continued with vigour, preaching, visiting, and catechising from house to house. Justices threatened, but did nothing more for the nine months following his ejectment. He preached fourteen times in eight days, ten often, and six or seven ordinarily,' writes Mrs. Alleine. The grandfather of John Wesley was his enthusiastic fellow labourer. He had been ejected from his benefice at Whitchurch, in Dorset. In May, 1663, Alleine was seized by a warrant from three justices and thrust in the Bridewell chamber over the common gaol. For four months in the same miserable apartment were fifty Quakers, seventeen Baptists, and thirteen ejected ministers, all taken, like himself for the high crimes of preaching and praying. The foul air, the want of privacy, the heat, the noise of curses and songs from the felons in the cell below, and the cavils and annoyances from the Quakers, who would come and work at their callings just by the ministers when they were preaching, praying,

or singing-made up the catalogu of their miseries. At Ilchester besides the fifty in the ward with Mr. Alleine, thirty-one were con fined in an old monastic building a the other end of the town; me taken from the highways, the plough their houses,-kicked, beaten, an wonderfully abused.' No provision were allowed to be brought them b their friends, and even their wive and children were refused permissio to see them. Alleine was mor fortunate. He was permitted curtain off a corner of his room and as Mrs. Alleine had resolved t share his imprisonment, this not a little luxury. After a fe weeks he was allowed to walk for mile or more into the country nigh and morning. His friends brough him money and plenty of wholesome provisions. His health continued to be good, and his spirit buoyant and the voice of rejoicing' often heard in the tabernacle of the righteous,'-Ilchester gaol.

We have already given in full Alleine's account of his trial Taunton Castle. After he dres off from the barre' he was sent back to Ilchester, and to his old chamber The ministers continued to presch as beforetime, generally through the window-grate. As winter dres on the cold of the Bridewell chambe became as hard to bear as formerly been its stifling There was no chimney, and china in the roof were likely to prom inlets for the drifting snow. T prisoners, after long petitioning were removed by order of magistrates into a more convenie ward. Alleine was now busy ɑnos more with his pen, wrote his Call be Archippus, an eloquent appeal Nonconformist ministers, if to preach; if in prison, to send the scattered congregations pastoral epistles; An Exposition of the Asse bly's Shorter Catechism: and Synopsis of the Covenant. He his companions held meetings ere week, to which hundreds cam The gaol chaplain falling ill, Allein dared to take his place, and un

I am not afraid to die.' He sat down, and only said, My life is hid with Christ in God; and then closed his eyes with his own hands, and died immediately. Shut thine eyes a little, old man, and immediately thou shalt see the light of God!' So it was said of Ananias, the martyr, as he knelt to lay his white head upon the block; and so it may have been said of Tobie Alleine.

In January 1668, (O. S.,) Alleine, while lying helpless in bed, had the news brought him that his brother Norman was dead. He now wishes to see old Taunton once more before he dies. He was borne thither in a horse litter, and the sight of friends flocking round him seemed to give him new strength. The result showed that this was deceptive. Bath was next tried; and again the journey was performed in a horse litter: the doctors were amazed he survived this journey of forty miles. Three weeks' stay here brought a marvellous restoration. It was but the last flicker of a dying flame; but its brilliance was undiminished. Every day, from five till seven o'clock in the morning, he was alone for prayer. At seven he was carried to the bath. Much grieved by 'the oaths, drinking, and ungodly carriage of the persons of quality there, says his memorialist, he did always give his faithful rebukes. His way was first to converse of the things that might be taking with them, for, being furnished by his studies for any company, he did use his learning

for such ends, and by such means hath caught many souls. There

*Paulisper O senex, occulos claude; nam statim lumen Dei videbis'.-Sozomen, lib. ii., cap. xi.

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At

was none but did most thankfully accept his reproofs, though close and plain, and showed him more respect after; the vilest one among them, as I was by several informed, saying of him that he never spoke with such a man in his life.' three he was carried in a chair to visit the schools and almshouses. He had a school of sixty or seventy poor children at his lodgings on Sunday to receive Christian instruction-perhaps the first Sundayschool known in history. This last novelty excited alarm. Men were threatened to be cited before the bishop to give an account of their implication in it. This unfortunately led to its dissolution. John Howe, the greatest of Puritan divines, and Mr. Fairclough, the ejected rector of Mellis, a very popular preacher, were then at Bath-homeless fugitives. Between them they conducted services on the Sunday in Alleine's lodging. These men were Alleine's chief companions while staying at Bath. His end was fast approaching. A friend who lived five miles from Bath-Mr. Baynard, invited him

over.

While visiting with him, Alleine's strength drooped rapidly. He was taken back to Bath. A few days of great suffering ensued, borne with Christian meekness; and all

was over.

Howe and Fairclough were among the mourners who followed him to the grave in St. Mary's chancel, Taunton. Old George Newton, leaning on the top of his staff, conducted the service. Beloved,'

said the old man, in his great grief,

'it is not rebellion for me to mourn. In Holy Writ you find an old prophet burying a prophet, and as he stood over his grave he melted and said, Alas, my brother!'

NOTES.

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their