commissioned officers in those parts, by which they were required to declare, "That the times then were and would be happy;" he was in danger of losing the arrears of his salary, which amounted to above 100l. but providentially he escaped that loss. And upon Sir Hugh Pollard's being made governor of that island, when he came to be under the necessity either of conforming or quitting the place, he left Guernsey and came into England, where he was offered a living of some hundreds a year, if he would forsake his principles. But he chose rather to trust God's providence, than violate the tranquillity of his mind; and so he sailed again for NewEngland to his aged father, and there settled in the New Church, in the north part of Boston. He was ordained May 27, 1664, when his father gave him the charge. He married the daughter of Mr. John Cotton, by whom he had three sons, Cotton Mather, D. D. well known by his writ ings; Mr. Nathaniel Mather, who died at the age of nineteen, whose life is printed; and Mr. Samuel Mather, who had a small congregation at Witney, in Oxfordshire, and published several valuable writings. The old gentleman had also seven daughters; and he and his wife had this uncommon comfort and satisfaction, of having seven of their children receiving the Lord's Supper at the same communion with them. In 1680, when the Synod sat at Boston, and the confession of faith was agreed upon, Mr. Mather was the moderator, and drew up the preface to it.

In 1683 K. Charles, by a declaration, required from the inhabitants of New-England, a full submission, and an entire resignation of their charter to his pleasure; or else signified a quo warranto should be prosecuted. Mr. Mather being desired to be present at a public assembly of the freemen of Boston, to give his thoughts about that matter, complied, and publicly declared against their having a hand in their own ruin; persuading them rather to leave themselves in the hands of God, and submit to his will, in a faithful discharge of their duty, than deliver themselves immediately into the hands of men, by a full submission and entire resignation to their pleasure. The question was carried in the negative nem. con. And this had a great influence on the country in general. Some malicious people, in order to be revenged on him for this, forged a letter, full of impertinent as well as treasonable expressions, and dating it Boston, 10 M. 3d 1683, they subscribed his name to it, and sent it to a worthy person at Amsterdam. This letter being conveyed to London, was

read

read before the king and council; but it carried such evidence of its being a forgery, that tho' Sir Roger L'Estrange published some scraps of it, with his own comments, there was no prosecution of Mr. Mather. But judgment was entered against the charter of Massachusetts colony. K. Charles died soon after, and in 1686 K. James sent a governor, with a commission that enabled him, with three or four other men, to make what laws, and levy what taxes, they pleased.

But in a little time that king published a Declaration for liberty of conscience. Some of the ministers of New-England, and their churches, drew up addresses of thanks to him, for the benefit enjoyed by this Declaration; and Mr. Mather was desired to take a voyage to England and deliver them. A copy of the forged letter before-mentioned coming to New-England, Mr. Mather wrote to a gentleman that had it, to vindicate himself, and named a person whom he suspected to have had a hand in the contrivance. This person arrested Mr. Mather in an action of defamation, and 500l. damage, purely, as was apprehended, with a design to stop his voyage. But the jury cleared him, and ordered the plaintiff to pay costs of court, and he embarked for England, April 7, 1688.-He landed at Weymouth, and hastening to London, presented the addresses to the king; when he laid before his majesty the state of the country, and was favourably

received.

Upon the Revolution, he waited on the prince of Orange, and was instrumental in preventing the sending a letter to New-England (in common with the other plantations) confirming their old governor till farther order, which would have had pernicious consequences. After the coronation of K. William, Mr. Mather frequently waited upon him, and was very much assisted by Philip lord Wharton, and others. His great endeavour was to get New-England resettled upon the charter foundation ; but he was disappointed in his object by the unexpected dissolution of parliament. His next attempt was to get a writ of error in judgment, by which the case relating to the Massachusett colony might be brought out of Chancery into the King's-bench; but herein he also failed. All therefore he had left for him to do was, to petition the king for a new charter, containing all the old one, with the addition of new and more ample privileges; which, after some time, he obtained, and then, March 29, 1692, he set sail for New-England, in the company of Sir William Phips, whom his majesty sent over governor, and they ar

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rived

rived safe at Boston, May 14 following. Soon after, there being a meeting of the general assembly of the province, the speaker of the house of representatives, or commons, publicly returned him thanks for his faithful and indefatigable endeavours to serve the country.

He now returned to his more pleasing employment, the care of his church, and of the college, of which he was President, and was created D. D. But in 1701 he resigned his charge in the college, because the general assembly required the President to reside at Cambridge. He continued at Boston preaching to his beloved people. He had several fits of sickness, from which he was remarkably recovered; but till he was past 80 years of age, his intellects did not appear enfeebled. He at last expired (in the arms of his eldest son) Aug. 23, 1723; and was honoured by his church (who ever shewed a great esteem and veneration for him) with a more splendid funeral than ever had been seen for divine in those parts. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Foxcroft, on 2 Chron. xxiv. 15. And the ministers of Boston, for nine or ten weeks successively, supplied his pulpit, and expressed their condolence with his church. He kept a constant diary, in which he inserted remarks upon the most eminent dealings of God with him, both in a way of providence and grace.

any

WORKS. A Discourse on the Mystery of Israel's Salvation.The first Principles of New-England, on the Subject of Baptism and Communion of Churches.-A brief History of the War with the Indians in New-England, from June 24, 1675, to Aug. 12, 1676. -Some important Truths about Conversion.-The Divine Right of Infant Baptism.-Practical Truths, tending to promote Godliness in the Power of it.-Diatribe de signo Filii Hominis, et de secundo Messiæ adventu.-An Essay for the recording illustrious Providences.-The Mystery of Christ opened and applied, in several Sermons concerning the Person, Office and Glory of Jesus Christ. De successu Evangelii apud Indos in Nova Anglia. Epist. ad Cl. Virum, D. Joh. Leusdenum.-A Discourse on Comets, 1683.-A Call to the rising Generation.-A Funeral Sermon for Mr. John Bailey.-The Doctrine of Div. Providence.-Sermons on Ezek. ix. 3.-The Folly of Sin.-The Excellency of a public Spirit.-A Disc. on the Truth of the Christian Religion.-A Disc. concerning Angels...The Life and Death of Mr. Richard Mather, -A Sermon against Drunkenness.--The Day of Trouble, &c.., A Disc. on the Subject of Baptism, &c...The Wicked Man's Portion...The Times of Men in the Hand of God...A Relation of the Troubles of New-England from the Indians, from the Beginning,

Beginning...A Disc. on the Prevalence of Prayer...Renewal of Covenant, &c...Of praying for the rising Generation...The great Concernment for a Covenant People, &c...Heaven's Alarm to the World...The Church a Subject of Persecution... Against promiscuous Dances...The greatest of Sinners exhorted, &c...A Testimony against Superstitions...The Unlawfulness of swearing on a Book, &c...Several Papers relating to the State of NewEngland...The Revolution in New-England...The Blessing of primitive Counsellors...Cases of Conscience concerning Witchcraft, c...An Essay on the Power of a Pastor for the Adminis tration of the Sacraments...On the Case, whether a Man may marry two Sisters...Solemn Advice to young Men...A Disc. on Man's not knowing his Time...Concerning eating of Blood... David's serving his Generation...The surest Way to the highest Honour...Discourse on Hardness of Heart...The Order of the Gospel vindicated...The blessed Hope...Remarks on a Sermon of G. K. The Glory departing, &c...The Duty of Parents to pray for their Children...Gospel Truths...The Voice of God in the stormy Winds...Practical Truths to promote Holiness...Meditations on the Glory of Christ... A Disc. concerning Earthquakes.. A Testimony against Sacrilege...A Dissertation concerning a Right to the Sacraments... Meditations on Death...A Disquisition concerning the State of Souls departed...A Dissertation concerning the future Conversion of the Jews, &c...A Disc. concerning Faith and Prayer for the Kingdom of Christ...A Sermon at the Artillery Election...Awakening Truths...Meditations on the Glory of Heaven...Concerning the Death of the Righteous...The Duty of the Children of godly Parents...Burnings bewailed; Remarks upon an Answer, &c...Of Sanctification of the Lord's-day... A Disc. shewing who shall enter into Heaven...Believers gain by Death. -.Resignation to the Will of God;..Jesus Christ a Saviour...Disquisition concerning ecclesiastical Councils...There is a God in Heaven...The Duty and Dignity of aged Servants of God... The Duty of praying for Ministers...A Sermon at the Ordination of his Grandson...Sermons on the Beatitudes...An Ordination Sermon...A Birth-day Sermon...Advice to Children of godly Ancestors. A dying Pastor's Legacy...Besides several Prefaces to books written by divines in New-England, and to two of Mr. Flavell's.

JAMES FORBES, M. A. He was of an honourable Scottish family, and was pious betimes. He had his education at Aberdeen, and being Master of Arts there, was admitted at Oxford, ad eundem. When he came to England, he was full of serious thought; and most earnestly desirous that God would choose for him a useful station, and bless his ministry, to the conversion of souls. He entered upon

the

the pastoral office with extraordinary seriousness and fervent prayer. Not being satisfied to accept a parish that was offered him, he was in 1654 sent by the powers that then were, to the cathedral of Gloucester, where he preached with great success, but to the apparent danger of shortening his life. He gathered a church, which was chiefly made up of his own converts; and after six years he was ejected from the cathedral, when dean Brough took possession of it; but he still continued at Gloucester, ministering privately as he could. Dr. Frampton, who was first dean, and afterwards bishop of Gloucester, courted him to conformity in vain. In consequence of Farrington's plot, (or Packington's rather) he was committed to Chepstow castle, where he was long kept in a strait and dark room; as also was Col. Overton. When he was discharged, he returned to his pastoral care, in the pursuit of which he suffered several imprisonments in Gloucester, one of which was for a whole year.

In the reign of K. Charles II. he was indicted upon the Corporation-act, the penalty of which was imprisonment. He was also indicted on 23 Jac. I. the penalty of which was 20l. a month; and upon 35 Eliz. of which the penalty was to abjure the realm, or suffer death. At the same time also he was excommunicated, and the writ de excom. capiendo was ont against him. In Monmouth's time he retired to Enfield, in Middlesex, and there continued unmolested in his ministry. He was afterwards recalled, and returned to his own people, tho' to his disadvantage: and he continued with them to his death, living in a respectable manner, but mostly upon his own property. He was on the whole fiftyeight years minister in this city; abundant in labours, both there and in the country round about. In his judgment he was a strict Calvinist, and congregational, but of a catholic temper. He was a holy, humble, serious, learned man; blessed with much success in his younger days; deeply wounded at later decays of ministers and professing christians, and greatly concerned that the rising generation of ministers should adorn their doctrine by an excellent holy conversation. He was a man full of good works; liberal even beyond his ability in life; and at his death he left many gifts to charitable uses, especially his library, which was of considerable value. He died May 31, 1712, aged 83, and was buried under his own communion-table. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Isaac Noble, of Bristol.

WORKS.