aged fifty-five years; when his remains were interred in St. Christopher's church. His WORKS.-1. The Tears of Ireland, wherein is represented a list of the unbeard-of Cruelties of the blood-thirsty Jesuits and the Popish Faction, 1642.-2. An Exposition on the Prophesies of Daniel, 1644.-3. Hæresco-Machia; or, the Mischief which Heresies do, and the Means to prevent them, 1646.-4. A Confutation of the Anabaptists. He wrote also numerous Prefaces to other men's works. THOMAS BLAKE, A. M.-This pious servant of Christ was born in the county of Stafford, in the year 1597, and educated in Christ's Church, Oxford. Having finished his studies at the university, he entered upon the ministerial work, and obtained some preferment in the church. He became a faithful steward of the manifold mysteries of.. God. He was zealous in the work of the Lord, and his labours were made eminently useful. He was the faithful and laborious pastor of St. Alkmond's church, Shrewsbury, but it is doubtful whether this was the first place of his settlement. When the parliament prevailed, and episcopacy was abolished, Mr. Blake took the covenant; but was afterwards turned out for refusing the engagement. In the year 1647, he accepted an invitation to Tamworth in his native county, where he continued in the ministerial work all the rest of his days. Here he was appointed one of the assistant commissioners of Staffordshire, for ejecting ignorant and scandalous ministers and schoolmasters. He died at Tamworth, aged sixty years, and his remains were interred in his own church, June 11, 1657. He was a man of great piety, good learning, and a constant and excellent preacher. Mr. Anthony Burgess, afterwards ejected in 1662,+ who preached Mr. Blake's funeral sermon, gives the following commendations of his character:-He was a man of many excellent qualifications. He possessed good natural talents, much improved by diligent application, and sanctified by the grace of God. The most eminent feature in his character was his great piety, for which he was highly esteemed. And as he was a man of considerable learning, * Calamy's Account, vol. ii. p. 124. and that learning being directed to proper objects, he was enabled to do more work in the vineyard of Christ than many of his brethren. He did not overlook the younger part of his flock. Being well persuaded of the importance of early religious instruction, he discovered great diligence in catechizing the youth of his congregation. He possessed a peculiar tenderness of spirit, which fitted him in a more eminent degree for this part of his work. As a true shepherd over the flock of Christ, he sought not theirs, but them: not any worldly advantage, but the salvation of their souls. He was a wise and prudent counsellor. Persons under trouble of soul sought his advice, and he gave it with great ability and readiness. But, while he administered consolation to others, God sometimes left him to walk in spiritual darkness; yet, at length, he dispelled those. gloomy fears, and caused him to rejoice in his salvation. Upon his death-bed he found the comfort of the doctrine he had preached. He had not the least doubt of the truth of it; and he left the world in full assurance of eternal life.* : Mr. Samuel Shaw, afterwards silenced at the restoration,+ who delivered Mr. Blake's funeral oration, addressed the people as follows:-" While he lived, it was as impossible for him not to love you, as it is for you to make him an adequate return of love and his care was answerable to his love. His writings were not read without satisfaction; and his sermons were never heard without approbation, and seldom without following advantage. His awful gravity and commanding presence could not be considered without reverence, nor his conversation without imitation. To see him live was a provocation to holy life: to see him die might have made us weary of life. When God restrained him from this place, he made his chamber his church, and his bed his pulpit; in which I heard him offer up many prayers to God for you. His death made him mindful of you, who have been too unmindful of his life. I did not see that any thing made him so backward to resign up his soul to God as his unparalleled care for you. His death seemed little to him in comparison of your happiness. I sat by him, and I only, when, with a flood of tears, he prayed: Lord, charge not me with the ignorance of this * Funeral Sermon for Mr. Blake. + Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. ii. p. 404. people. His wisdom, justice, and tenderness, were such predominant graces, that it is as much my inability to describe them as it is my unhappiness not to imitate them.' His WORKS.-1. Birth's Privilege; or, the Right of Infants to Baptisme, 1644.-2. Infants Baptisme freed from Antichristianisme. In a full Repulse given to Mr. Ch. Blackwood, in his Assault of that Part of Christ's Possession which he holds in his Heritage of Infants, entitled, by The Storming of Antichrist,' 1645.-3. A Moderate Answer to the two Questions, 1. Whether there be sufficient Ground from Scripture to warrant the Conscience of a Christian to present his Infants to the Sacrament of Baptism?-2. Whether it be not sinful for a Christian to receive the Sacrament in a mixt Assembly? 1645.-4. An Answer to Mr. Tombes his Letter in Vindication of the Birthprivilege of Believers and their Issue, 1646.—5. Vindicia Fœderis. A Treatise of the Covenant of God with Mankind, 1653.-6. Infant Baptisme maintained in its Latitude, 1653.-7. The Covenant Sealed; or, a Treatise of the Sacrament of both Covenants, 1655.-8. Postscript to the Rev. and Learned Mr. Rich. Baxter, 1655.-9. Mr. Joh. Humphrey's Second Vindication of a Disciplinary, Anti-erastian, Orthodox, Free Admission to the Lord's Supper, taken into Consideration, 1656-10. Answer to Mr. B. Cox about Free Admission to the Sacrament.-11. Living Truths in Dying Times.-12. Several Sermons. After JOHN JANEWAY.-This extraordinary person was the son of Mr. William Janeway, and born at Lilley in Hertfordshire, October 27, 1633. He was educated first at Paul's school, London, under the care of the excellent Mr. Langley, where he made great progress in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, mathematics, and astronomy. wards, he was sent to Eton college, where the eyes of many were upon him, as the glory of the school and the wonder of the age; and at the period of seventeen he entered King's college, Cambridge, when the electors contended for the patronage of so admirable a youth. He afterwards became fellow of the college. In addition to his great learning, he was endowed with many excellent ornaments of nature. His deportment was candid and agreeable, courteous and obliging. Though he was exceedingly admired and caressed, he did not discover the least vanity or pride. His learning was mixed with much modesty and prudence; and he had great command of his passions, by which he was preserved from the follies and vices of youth. But, hitherto, he was wholly uncon * Funeral Oration for Mr. Blake, cerned about his best interests. He did not trouble himself about religion, or the salvation of his soul. But God, who had chosen him to shine as the sun in the firmament of glory for ever, was pleased, at the age of eighteen, to enlighten his mind by the power of his grace, convincing him of sin, and his need of a Saviour. Mr. Baxter's "Saints' Everlasting Rest" was principally the instrument of promoting his conversion to God. The important change soon became manifest to all. His time and his talents were now so much employed in the pursuit of future happiness, that he found little leisure, and less delight, in the contemplation of the moon and stars. He now tasted the sweetness of studying the mind of God in his word; and was most concerned to please and to enjoy him for ever. He pitied those who were curious in their inquiries about almost every thing except the knowledge of themselves and Jesus Christ. "What things were once gain to him, he now counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, he counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus; and did count them but dung, that he might win Christ." Though he did not look upon human learning as useless, but exceedingly profitable when suitably employed; yet, when fixed on any thing short of Christ, and not employed to his glory, he considered it as a sword in the hand of a madman. In this state of mind, Mr. Janeway began to think how he could best improve his present attainments, and direct all his future studies in the most proper channel. He was particularly concerned to express his love and thankfulness to God, who had called him out of darkness into his marvellous light. He, therefore, addressed many letters to his relations and friends, in which he wrote so judiciously and profitably upon divine subjects, that they were more like the productions of old age than a person of his years. He could not help announcing to others what he had seen, and heard, and felt. To plead the cause of God, to exalt his dear Redeemer, and to bring sinners to Christ, was the only object he had in view. But his uncommon gravity, his striking majesty, his pathetical expressions, his vehement expostulations, and his close applications, can be seen only in his own words. Before he was arrived at the age of nineteen, writing to his father, who was then in great distress of mind, he thus addressed him:-"The causes of your desponding and melancholy thoughts, give me leave, with submission, to guess. The first, I think, is your reflecting upon your entering into the ministry without that reverence, care, and holy zeal for God, love to Christ, and compassion to souls, which is required of every one who undertakes that holy office. It may be there was a respect to your living in the world, rather than your living to God. Be it thus, be it not so bad, or be it worse, the remedy is the same. These have in them a wounding power, which will be felt to be grievous, when felt as they are in themselves. But continual sorrow and sad thoughts keep the wound open too long, and are not available to produce a cure. Wounds, indeed, must first be opened, that they may be cleansed. They must be opened, that their filth may be discovered, in order to their being purged and healed. But no longer than till the Balm of Gilead is applied, that they may be healed. When Christ is made use of aright, he leaveth joy and comfort; yet a constant humility of spirit is no way inconsistent with this peace with God. "A second cause of your heaviness may be, a sense of the state of the people committed to your care. And, indeed, who can help mourning over people in such a condition? Objects of pity they are, especially because they pity not themselves. I have often wrestled with God, to direct you in the path of duty concerning them, which, I am persuaded, is your request also. Now, after seriously examining yourself, what your conscience doth conclude to be your duty, do it; and be sure you do it: you are then to rest upon God for his effectual working. And this is no more the cause of heaviness to you, than the opposition which the apostles found was to them, who, notwithstanding, rejoiced in tribulations. You may have some thoughts and cares concerning your family when you are gone. Let faith and former experience teach you to drive away all such thoughts. Your constitution and solitary habits may also be some cause of melancholy. But there is a duty which, if properly observed, would dispel all. This is heavenly meditation, and the contemplation of those things to which the christian religion tends. If we walk close with God in this duty, only one hour in the day, oh, what influence would it have on the whole day; and, if duly performed, upon the whole life! I knew the nature and usefulness of this duty in some measure before, but had it more deeply impressed upon me by Mr. Baxter's "Saints' Everlasting Rest;" for |