sorrow to his good father, and that he hoped he should die without an enemy.

He, in this retirement, had the Church prayers read in his chamber twice every day; and at nine at night some prayers read to him, and a part of his family, out of "The Whole Duty of Man."

The day before he took his bed, (which was three days before his death), he, that he might receive a new assurance for the pardon of his sins past, and be strengthened in his way to the new Jerusalem, took the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of his and our blessed Jesus, from the hands of his chaplain, Mr. Pullen, accompanied with his wife, children, and a friend, in as awful, humble, and ardent a manner as outward reverence could express. After the praise and thanksgiving for this blessing was ended, he spake to this purpose; "I have now, to the great joy of my soul, tasted of the all-saving sacrifice of my Saviour's death and passion; and with it received a spiritual assurance that my sins past are pardoned, and my God is at peace with me: and that I shall never have a will or power to do any thing that may separate my soul from the love of my dear Saviour. Lord! confirm this belief in me, and make me still to remember, that it is Thou, O God, that tookest me out of my mother's womb, and hast been the powerful protector of me to this present moment of my life: thou hast neither forsaken me now I am become grey headed, nor suffered me to forsake Thee in the late days of temptation, and sacrifice my conscience for the preservation of my liberty or estate. It was not of myself, but grace, that I have stood when others have fallen under my trials, and these mercies I now remember with joy and thankfulness; and my hope and desire is, that

I may die remembering this; and praising Thee my merciful God."

After this, taking his bed, and about a day before his death, he desired his chaplain, Mr. Pullen, to give him absolution: and at his performing that office, he pulled off his cap, that Mr. Pullen might lay his hand upon his bare head. After this desire of his was satisfied, his body seemed to be more at ease, and his mind more cheerful; and he said often, "Lord, forsake me not now my strength faileth me, but continue thy mercy, and let my mouth be ever filled with thy praise."

He continued the remaining night and day very patient and thankful for any of the little offices that were performed for his ease and refreshment; and during that time did often say to himself the 103rd Psalm, (a psalm that is composed of praise and consolation fitted for a dying soul,) and say also to himself these words, "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed where true joy is to be found." And now his thoughts seemed to be wholly of death, for which he was so prepared, that the King of Terrors could not surprise him as a thief in the night, for he had often said, "he was prepared and longed for it." And as this desire seemed to come from heaven, so it left him not till his soul ascended to that region of blessed spirits, whose employments are to join in concert with his, and sing praise and glory to that God who hath brought him and them to that place into which sin and sorrow cannot enter.

Thus this pattern of meekness changed this for a better life: it is now too late that mine may be like his (for I am in the 85th year of my age, and God knows that it hath not), but I most humbly beseech Almighty God that my death may; and

I do as earnestly beg, that if any reader shall receive any satisfaction from this very plain, and as true relation, he will be so charitable as to say, "Amen

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REFLECTION. -The higher a Christian ascends above this sinful world, the more that religion prevails within, the more evidently shall he then find himself in a clear heaven, in a region that is calm and serene, and the more will those dark affections of fear and despair vanish away, and those clear and bright affections of love and joy, of hope and peace, break forth in strength and lustre upon the soul.

He was a divine of some reputation as a scholar and a man of genius, a Fellow of Magdalen Col

2 Life of Dr. Robert Sanderson, by Izaak Walton, in Wordsworth's Eccl. Biog., vol. iv.

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lege, Oxford, one of the chaplains to King Charles the First, and subdean of Westminster.

In his sickness, he most zealously glorified God's name with praises and thanksgivings for his mercies towards himself and family, earnestly praying for them, and often commending them to God's heavenly care and protection; at the same time he left a little book of prayers for Mrs. Heylyn's devotions, being a selection of many Collects out of the Common Prayer, to every one of which he had added a most fervent prayer of his own composition. "That little book," she said, "should be the prayer-book of her devotion while she lived." Finally, as his time grew shorter and shorter, he prayed with more vehemency of spirit, rejoicing exceedingly that he should live to Ascension-day, uttering forth most heavenly expressions to the sweet comfort of others, and principally of his own soul, with a full assurance of his salvation through Christ Jesus. At which time his soul, now ready to depart, and be with Christ his Saviour, he presently called to his bedside Mr. Merrol, a verger of the church, who had come into his chamber to see him, and said to him, "I know it is church time with you, and I know this is Ascension-day; I am ascending to the Church triumphant: I go to my God and Saviour, unto joys celestial, and to hallelujahs eternal" with which and other like expressions he died upon Holy Thursday, A.d. 1663 3.

REFLECTION AND CONSOLATION.-" For this cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by

3 Life of Peter Heylyn, D.D., Subdean of Westminster, by Dr. Barnard, Rector of Waddington, p. 290.

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day for our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

AT the Restoration he succeeded Bishop Lesley in the see of Down and Connor. In zeal, devotion, eloquence, and learning, Dr. Jeremy Taylor was an ornament to the Church. At the close of life the bishop began a discourse on the beatitudes; but he, who with such moving accents had forewarned the world of the incessant march of death, by the uncertainty of life was now to ratify his word by his own example. Thus engaged, whilst his mind was intent upon those gracious words of his Saviour, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," he was summoned to practise his own advice; "Say no more, but when

4 2 Cor. iv. 16, 17.