'ion I folemnly declare, that the fear of death alone induced me to this ignominious action—that it hath cost me many bitter tears that in my heart I totally reject the pope, and doctrines of the church of Rome-and that"

As he was continuing his fpeech, the whole affembly was in an uproar. Lord Williams gave the firft impulfe to the tumult; crying aloud, "Stop the audacious heretic." On which feveral priefts and friars, rufhing from different parts of the church, with great eagernefs feized him; pulled him from his feat; dragged him into the street; and with much inde-· cent precipitation, hurried him to the ftake, which was already prepared. Executioners were on the fpot, who fecuring him with a chain, piled-the faggots in order round him.

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As he ftood thus, with all the horrid apparatus of death about him, midst taunts, revilings, and execrations, he alone maintained a difpaffionate behaviour. Having now discharged his confcience, his mind grew lighter; and he feemed to feel, even in these circumstances, an inward fatisfaction, to which he had long been a stranger :- his countenance was not fixed as before, in abject forrow, on the ground; he looked round him with eyes full of sweetness and benignity, as if at peace with all the world.

A torch being put to the pile, he was presently involved in a burst of smoke, and crackling flame: but on the fide next the wind, he was diftinctly seen, before the fire reached him, to thrust his right hand into it, and to hold it there with aftonishing firmnefs; crying out, "this hand-hath offended! this hand hath offended!"-When we fee human nature ftruggling fo nobly with fuch uncommon fufferings, it is a pleafing reflection that, through the affiftance of God, there is a firmness in the mind of man, which will fupport him under trials, in appearance beyond his ftrength..

His fufferings were foon over. The fire rifing intenfely around him, and a thick smoke involving him, it was fup-pofed he was prefently dead.

The ftory of his heart's remaining unconfumed in the midft of the fire, feems to be an instance of that credulous zeal, which we have often seen lighted at the flames of dying martyrs.'

The word feems, in the laft fentence, is too great a conceffion to vulgar fuperstition.

The author informs us, that the works of Mr. Strype, an hiftorian of great integrity, have been his principal guide. As there are some points which are taken from other writers, we must confefs we should have been better pleased, if he had conftantly referred us to original authorities. This appears to

be

be abfolutely neceffary in all hiftorical and biographical narTatives, and is generally expected by every learned and inquifitive reader.

The Mystery bid from Ages and Generations, made manifeft by the Gospel-Revelation: or, the Salvation of all Men the grand Thing aimed at in the Scheme of God, as opened in the NewTeftament Writings, and entrusted with Jefus Chrift to bring into Effect. 8vo. 5s.. in Boards. Dilly.

S the Creator of all things is infinitely benevolent, it is not easy to conceive, that he should bring mankind into exiftence, unless he intended to make them finally happy. And if this was his intention, it cannot be supposed, as he is infinitely wife and powerful, that he should be unable to project, or carry into execution, a scheme, which would be effectual to fecure, fooner or later, its full accomplishment. From fuch principles as these it seems natural to infer, that all men will be finally happy. This is the great point, which the author of the treatise now before us labours to establish, on the authority of Scripture. He fuppofes, however, that this benevolent purpose may not be speedily fulfilled; that there may be other ftates of being befides the next, before the scheme of God will be perfected, and mankind univerfally cured of their moral diforders, and, in this way, qualified for his favour, and admitted into eternal happiness.

The feveral texts, which are fuppofed to contain this important doctrine, our author brings into view under the following propofitions:

Prop. I. From the time that fin entered into the world by the firft man Adam, Jefus Chrift is the perfon through whom, and upon whofe account, happiness is attainable by any of the

human race.

II. The obedience of Chrift, and eminently his obedience to death, when he had affumed our flesh, in the fulness of time, is the ground or reafon upon which it hath pleafed God to make happiness attainable by any of the race of Adam.

III. Chrift died, not for a felect number of men only, but for mankind univerfally, and without exception or limitation.

IV. It is the purpofe of God, according to his good pleafure, that mankind univerfally, in confequence of the death of his fon Jefus Chrift, fhall certainly and finally be faved.

V. As a mean in order to men's being made meet for falvation, God, by Jefus Chrift, will, fooner or later, in this ftate or another, reduce them all under a willing and obedient Subjection to his moral government.

K 3

⚫ VI. The

*ion I folemnly declare, that the fear of death alone inducee me to this ignominious action-that it hath coft me many bitter tears-that in my heart I totally reject the pope, and do trines of the church of Rome—and that”

As he was continuing his speech, the whole affembly " in an uproar. Lord Williams gave the firft impulfe to the mult; crying aloud, "Stop the audacious heretic." which feveral priefts and friars, rufhing from different par the church, with great eagerness feized him; pulled him his feat; dragged him into the street; and with much cent precipitation, hurried him to the ftake, which was prepared. Executioners were on the fpot, who fecuri with a chain, piled the faggots in order round him.

As he ftood thus, with all the horrid apparatus about him, midft taunts, revilings, and execrations, maintained a difpaffionate behaviour. Having now his confcience, his mind grew lighter; and he fee even in these circumstances, an inward fatisfaction he had long been a stranger :- his countenance was before, in abject forrow, on the ground; he looke with eyes full of fweetness and benignity, as if : all the world.`

A torch being put to the pile, he was pre in a burft of smoke, and crackling flame: next the wind, he was diftinctly seen, before him, to thrust his right hand into it, and to h aftonishing firmnefs; crying out, "this han this hand hath offended!"-When we fe ftruggling fo nobly with fuch uncommon pleafing reflection that, through the affiftar is a firmnefs in the mind of man, which under trials, in appearance beyond his ftre

His fufferings were foon over. The around him, and a thick fmoke involvi pofed he was presently dead.

The ftory of his heart's remaining midst of the fire, feems to be an inst: zeal, which we have often feen lighted. martyrs.'

The word feems, in the laft fentenc: fion to vulgar fuperftition.

The author informs us, that the hiftorian of great integrity, have As there are fome points which are we must confefs we should have bee conftantly referred us to original a.

If,

te to the laft de

dren, without any in any respect whather in heaven (who,. mers are, more or less, ppofe of any father on of the heart of a father?

at God, who calls manion, and himself their fa , without any intention to ed, as must be the case, in ery be true? Will not God men in the other world, as he them there, muft it not be in who defires their good, and co ion to promote it? No good reaSaviour's "Much more argument, give good things," founded on the een God and men, fhould be con

VI. The Scripture language, concerning the reduced or reftored, in confequence of the mediatory interpofition of Jesus Chrift, is fuch, as to lead us into the thought, that they are comprehenfive of mankind univerfally.'

It would earry us beyond our limits to mention those paffages of Scripture, by which he endeavours to prove these propofitions; and he himself defires, that they may be confidered not fingly, but in connection. We must therefore refer the inquifitive reader to his work at large.

However, notwithstanding all that he has offered, in proof that the final falvation of all men is a doctrine of the Bible, it ought not to be received as fuch, unless the contrary evidence can be fairly invalidated. He has therefore examined and answered all the objections which lie against the truth of the foregoing fcheme.

The firit and principal objection is derived from the words everlafting, eternal, and other fimilar terms, which are used in Scripture to point out the duration of future torments. This our author eafily removes by demonftrating, that these words are often ufed by the facred writers to denote a duration which is longer or fhorter, definite or indefinite, according to the nature of the fubject to which they are applied.

The Scriptures, as our author obferves, expressly declare, that the wicked fhall reap corruption; that they fhall be deftroyed; that they fhall perish; that they shall undergo death; and that this death which they fhall fuffer, is faid to be the fecond death. And it is remarkable that this fecond death is fpoken of as that which fhall be effected by the fire of

hell.'

His notion of the fecond death is this: The fouls of wicked men will, at the refurrection, be again related or united to particular fyftems of matter, adapted by the wisdom of God, to render them capable of communication with the world, in which they fhall then be placed. They will become fitted for fenfations of pain, more various in kind, and greater in degree, than at prefent; which yet they will be able to endure for a much longer continuance. But in time, the torments they muft fuffer will end in their death; that is, the diffolution of union between their fouls and bodies; upon which they will have no more concern with that world, than they have with this, upon the coming on of the first death. Afterwards their fouls, in God's time, fhall be united again to their respective bodies, and thus be put into another state of difcipline, till they are prepared for final and everlasting happiness.'