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eminent professor of the Puritan stamp, who was much vexed in the days of the former bishops, and put to great expences in the ecclesiastical courts. He had several sons, but John was the flower of the family, who was educated with great care, both at school and in the university. He exercised his ministry for some time at Walmsley chapel; but when Mr. Henry Fairfax quitted the living of Ashton, Sir George Booth gave him the presentation, which he resigned in 1662. Lord Delamere continued his kindness to him, and offered to put his son Maurice, who was a conforming minister, into his place; but Mr. Harrison, fearing his son might not be fit for that charge, and preferring the advantage of his people's souls to the advancement of his own family, he conscientiously waved it, and made use of his interest on the behalf of Mr. Ellison, a man of great worth and a good preacher, who enjoyed the living till his death. Mr. Harrison, living privately, was his usual auditor, till he was banished by the Oxford act, when he retired to Salford; where he was soon afterwards deprived of the use of his limbs, which was thought to be the consequence of his indefatigable labours, fastings, and night studies. Finding some benefit at Bath, he returned to Ashton, but his disorder increased, till it put a period to his life, in 1669, aged 57. He was an excellent preacher, and a man of great devotion. He constantly kneeled in prayer in the pulpit. He was eminent for holiness, humility, industry, zeal for God, and stedfastness in his principles. When some gentlemen of the episcopal party opposed the classis at Manchester, and wrote several papers, the ministers of that presbytery appointed Mr. Harrison to answer them, which he did very largely and learnedly, in a piece entitled, Censures of the Churh revived, 4to, 1659. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Ellison, who gave him a great character, but not beyond his desert. Tho his merits were great, his circumstances were nican; but his spirit was always easy.

ASHTON in Macclesfield. Mr. JAMES WOODS. An indefatigably laborious man, who was in his study, even to the last, both early and late. He died in 1688, aged 63. He was an excellent preacher, and had great success. § As a proof of the estimation in which he was held, the following anecdote is related. On the sabbath after Bartholomew-day, the new minister preached: when the people came out of

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the church, a good old woman remarked "I think if Mr. Woods had only gone into the pulpit and shook his grey beard over us, it would have done us more good."

J. O.

BILLING. JOHN WRIGHT, M. A. Of the college in Dublin. Dr. Calamy produces a testimonial of this, signed Nath. Hoyle Vice præc. Gilbert Pepper: dated 1641. The testimonials of his ordination, by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands, Aug. 13, 1645, (when he was about 28 years of age) are signed by Mr. James Hyet, Mr. Alex. Horrockes, Mr. Isaac Ambrose, and eight others. When he was silenced he lived privately, prayed much, but preached little, having but a poor state of health. In the time of K. Charles's Indulgence, in 1672, he lived at Prescott, and preached at the house of Mary Lyon, which he had licensed for that purpose. Being gone one morning, according to his common custom, to walk in a field near his house, and not returning at his usual time, à person sent to look for him found him dead; it was supposed of an apoplexy: Feb. 1, 1685, when he was 70 years of age. His life was exemplary, and he did much good in his place. He left a son, Mr. James Wright, who was educated at Oxford, where he took his degree of B. A. as he afterwards did that of M. A. at Cambridge. Dr. Samuel Wright, of Carter-lane, London, was son to the latter, and grandson to the former.

BIRCH Chapel. Mr. ROBERT BIRCH. After his ejectment he commenced physician and surgeon.

BLACKLEY. Mr. THOMAS HOLLAND. A gentleman by birth, but an able and diligent preacher. He was some time minister at Ringley chapel. When he was silenced at Blackley he removed to a house of his own, and lived privately, [tho' not without preaching occasionally.] He had sore afflictions in body and estate, and was laid aside from his work some years before he died, in 1675, aged 57. He left several children. There was a Mr. Robert Holland, of whom there is some account in Mr. Matth. Henry's life; who died in 1709, aged between 50 and 60, probably a relation.

BLACKRODE. Mr. RICHARD ASTLEY. Born near Manchester, and brought up in the public school there. His early good inclinations and solidity, were very observable where he boarded, so that when his father came to take him

VOL. II-NO. XVIII.

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from school, intending him for trade, some discerning persons in the family earnestly recommended his continuance at school, expressing their hope that he might be useful in the ministry. His father yielded to their advice, and found his son's proficiency in learning answer his expectation. Upon his going to the university, some of his pious friends met together, without his knowledge, to seek a divine blessing upon his studies. One of them, a good solid christian, when prayer was over, said, "I believe God will do great things for this lad, tho' I shall not live to see him leave the university. When he returns, acquaint him with what I say, to excite his thankfulness." They accordingly did so and Mr. Astley, upon giving them a sermon in private, fully satisfied them that the expectation was just. He proved an excellent preacher. After his ejectment from Blackrode he became pastor of a dissenting congregation in Hull, where he died about the year 1691. Mr. Astley of Chesterfield is a descendant of his.

BOLTON [V.] Mr. RICHARD GOODWIN, M. A. Of Eman. Col. Camb. He was born in Sussex, and was very providentially brought into this country, where God had much work for him. He was ordained by Bp. Bridgman at Great-Leaver, and preached some time at Cockey chapel; but in the civil war, when the town of Bolton was taken by prince Rupert, 1645, he fled to Hull, and from thence to London, where he was recommended to a parsonage at Hargraves in Northamptonshire, which was a pleasant and advantageous situation. But the temper of the people not suiting him, he had not much satisfaction among them, and therefore in a little time he removed back into Lancashire, and accepted the vicarage of Bolton, where he continued preaching with great success for twenty years, till he was ejected in 1662. He afterwards lived publicly or privately, preaching to many or few, as the times would allow. When the Five-mile-act took place he removed to Manchester, and there lived retired, studying chemistry, in which he was a great proficient. In 1672 he took out a license, and preached twice every Lord's-day at a private house in Bolton, where he died, Dec. 12, 1685, aged 72. He wrote much, but printed nothing. One of the MSS. which he left was, on the lawfulness of eating blood. He was a plain practical preacher, and had an excellent gift in prayer. Such was his usefulness, that he will have a great retinue of souls to present

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Samuel Mather

form an original Painting in the Refusion of M. Sunsent. Millers.

Published by Button & Son, Paternoster Row.

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