learning and moderation; on account of which, and the facetiousness of his conversation, many persons of quality had a great esteem for him. He had a large heart and an open hand. He devised liberal things, and often gave in charity beyond his ability. His own and his wife's relations, as also his brethren in the ministry, who were in low circumstances, had a large share in his bounty. Towards the latter end of his life he was much afflicted with the gout; yet would he not neglect his work, but often preached in his own house as he sat in his chair.

The affairs of the church and people of God lay near his heart. On the death of Charles II. the dismal prospect of the return of popery, upon James's declaring himself a Papist, made a very deep impression upon his spirit, and was supposed to have hastened his death, which happened March 28, 1685, aged 59. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. George Trosse.-Such was his modesty, that notwithstanding his great stock of learning and ministerial abilities, and the repeated importunity of his friends, he could never be prevailed upon to print so much as one single discourse. Great numbers of his sermons however were transcribed, and handed about among his friends, of which six were afterwards published, On the sin and danger of Popery. Alsó his Farewell-sermon at St. John's.-An aged and worthy clergyman expressed a high idea of the author, in the follow ing Letter to the Editor of them.

"I am willing to give encouragement for the publishing "the Rev. Mr. Atkins's works, because he was my cotemporary in Wadham College, though six years my senior "and he was then esteemed a person of eminent parts, of "exemplary piety, and an excellent preacher. But I wish "the person who undertakes to publish his sermons would “not omit one which I heard him preach before the mayor "and aldermen, on Mat. vii. 12. with great approbation; nor another, on 2. Cor. iii. 6.-able ministers of the new "testament, a few days before the fatal Bartholomew, when Bishop Gauden and a multitude more were his hearers. I yet well remember he affirmed, and by 1 Cor. iv. 15. proved, That those ministers who beget converts to Christ may most properly be called Fathers in God."

After his

ST. SIDWELL'S THOMAS POWEL, M, A. ejectment here, he removed to London. He was a good preacher, very active in the ministry, and much esteemed for his piety. He was of the congregational persuasion.

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ST. MARY'S in the Moor. Mr. JOHN BARTLET. Brother to Mr. William Bartlet of Bideford. When he was at the university, Dr. Sibbs was his intimate friend. He was a great student in anatomy, till observing the straitness of the passage in the throat, he grew so melancholy as to be almost afraid to eat or drink; he therefore, on the advice of his physician, laid this study aside. He was a very laborious constant preacher, and had an excellent copious gift in prayer. His voice was low, but his matter very solid and acceptable. In his younger days he was minister of St. Thomas's near Exeter, and was then much beloved by Bishop Hall. He was chosen by that good Bishop to preach an assize sermon before the judges, when the plague was in that city. His text was Numb. xvi. 46-48. The sermon much affected the auditory; and was owned, by an ancient religious person, many years after, to have been the means of his conversion. When the Book of sports was sent down, he was prevailed on by the Bishop (who was naturally very timorous) to read it; and at the same time (as his lordship also advised him) he preached on the fourth commandment. He continued in Exeter after his being silenced, and preached there as he had opportunity. He died in a good old age.

WOKKS. Meditations.-An Explication of the Assembly's Catechism.-The Duty of Communicants.---The Use and Profit of Afflictions.---The Practical Christian; or a summary View of the chief Heads of practical Divinity.---Directions for right receiving the Lord's Supper, in Question and Answer, for the benefit of the young.

ST. MARY ARCHES. FERDINANDO NICOLL, M. A. A man of considerable learning, a grave divine, and a laborious minister in this city about forty years. Though he wrote his sermons he commonly preached without using his papers, but always took them with him into the pulpit. Being once called to preach before the judges, he went to church without his notes. But perceiving his mistake before he began, he went back and fetched them, as the very thought of being without them, he said, would have thrown him into confusion; but he preached with great freedom, without once looking upon them. At one time, while he was preaching, he saw several of the aldermen asleep, and thereupon sat down. Upon his silence, and the noise that was presently made in the church, by the people getting up, they awoke, and stood up with the rest. Upon which he

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rose up again, and said, "The sermon is not yet done, but now you are awake, I hope you'll hearken more diligently;" and so went on. He often expressed a great desire to die in sight of his congregation, to which he had so long been pastor: and he had his request. For in the November after his being ejected and silenced, going towards his church on a Lord's-day in the afternoon, he met a brother minister in the street, with whom he exchanged a few words, and took a solemn farewell of him. He was observed to walk towards the church more briskly than usual. He found the people singing, and he joined them with a louder and more chearful voice than ordinary, but stopped on a sudden. Some who observed this, went up to him, and found him dead before the psalm was done.-There is no writing of his extant, but The Life of Ignatius Jordan,, a pious alderman of that place, which was transcribed into Mr. Clark's Lives.

ST. EDMUND'S. THOMAS Down, M. A. He was a diligent and useful preacher, and eminent for zeal and affection. He had the parish of St. Mary Step united with this, both of which were the most ignorant and profane part of the city; but he wrought a great reformation among them. He was grievously afflicted with the stone and gout, which he bore with wonderful patience. Under severe fits, when asked how he did, he would say, "I am upon my father's rack." He at last died of these disorders, just before the Oxford act took place. A young minister taking his leave of him, said, "Sir, you are now going into the haven, and we into the storm;" referring to the Oxford act. "No; (said he) you are in the haven, and I in the storm: Oh! my pain and grievous torments! but the Lord will end them speedily." He died an hour after. He had two daughters, the one of whom married Mr. Whidden of Totness; and the other, Mr. Flavel of Dartmouth.

ST. PETROCK'S, MARK Down, M. A. Brother to the former. He was a judicious preacher, and remarkable for introducing texts of scripture, not commonly thought of, but most aptly applied, and clearly interpreted. He generally insisted on the most heavenly and melting subjects, and had an excellent gift in prayer. He died, and was buried at Exeter, in Oct. 1680; but his reason was impaired some time before.

ST. THOMAS'S. ALEXANDER HODGES, M. A. Some time Fellow of Wadh. Col. Oxf. Mr. Gould, his

patron, had such a respect for him, that he obliged his successor to pay him 20l. per ann. for seven years. Soon after his ejectment he went to Holland, to visit some relations of his wife. Having spent some time there, he took shipping with a view to return to his family; when a violent storm arose, which made such an impression upon him, that he resolved to spend the remainder of his life in whatever country he should first be set on shore, and not expose himself to the danger of the sea again. The ship was driven back to the haven from whence it set out. His friends rejoiced at his return, and he was soon after invited to Delf; from whence, after preaching a while, he removed to Amsterdam, where he continued minister of the English church to the day of his death, in Dec. 1689.

FINITON. SAMUEL HIERON, M. A. Of Merton Col. Oxf. He was grandson to Mr. Samuel Hieron, minister of Modbury, and was born at Honiton. He was a good scholar, a very agreeable preacher, and an excellent expositor. He was ejected soon after the Restoration, and the former incumbent was restored. Upon which he returned to Honiton, and preached publicly as he had opportunity, till August 1662. He was a man of peace, and of great moderation; he kept a good correspondence with the conforming minister of the town, and frequently attended the public worship, When that was over he preached in his own house gratis, but he was often disturbed, and suffered greatly for Nonconformity. At one time his house was violently broke open, by the order of several justices, when his goods were seized, his plate and his very bed were taken from him; and they would have rifled his study, had not his mother interposed, and produced her own plate to satisfy their demands. His goods were exposed to sale in the public market-place, but he employed a friend to buy them. He was excommunicated for baptizing some children, and was imprisoned upon the Five-mile-act in Exeter jail, with Mr. F. Soreton, but was released by the order of Sir W. Courtney, high sheriff of the county.-He was a very charitable man, kept many poor children at school, and gave them books, as he did to many other persons; nor was he confined to a party, in this or any other of his charities. Wherever he saw real want, he was ready to shew his compassion.

passion. His house was a common receptacle of poor ejected ministers and private Christians, who were forced from their homes by the rigor of the times. He was ready to his utmost to compose differences between neighbours, and always free to give his advice when desired, either in spiritual or civil matters; and all his carriage was so obliging, that it forced the good word of many who were enemies to his cause. A female neighbour of his, who was zealous enough. for the church, seeing Mr. Hieron's house so closely beset by the officers that he could not escape them, invited them to her house, with the offer of a treat, and then sent him notice to make his escape.-Though he suffered much, he still kept on preaching, taking nothing for his services, till after the Indulgence in 1672, when he assisted Mr. Soreton, the ejected minister of the town; and then he gave away his whole stipend in charity; as he had been accustomed to do, when he was in the living of Finiton. He was a man of great temperance, and yet was sorely afflicted with the gout. He often preached and prayed when he was not able to stir out of his place, not so much as to hold a book in his hand; but he was eminent for his patience.-He kept very good order in the family; and though his mother was a shop-keeper, and had great business, the house and shop were shut at eight o'clock on Saturday night, and all business laid aside. He continued in Honiton till about the time of the duke of Monmouth's landing, when he was forced out of the country. He offered all the yearly income of his estate, which was 'considerable, (reserving but a competency for himself), to be disposed of for the common benefit of the town and parish as the price of his peaceable continuance at home; but the offer was rejected. He therefore removed to London, and soon afterwards died at Newington.

FREMINGTON [V.S.201.] Mr. JOHN BARTLET, of Exet. Col. Oxf. Son of Mr. Wm. Bartlet, ejected from Bideford. He was a man much respected by all parties, for the sweetness of his temper, his affability and courteousness; but most of all for his ministerial abilities. He was a most acceptable preacher, and had a surprising felicity of address in persuading sinners, and winning souls to Christ, which God eminently succeeded. His very enemies spoke well of him, and owned him to be an accomplished man. But this could not screen him from the fury of the times; in which he suffered considerably by bonds and imprisonments, and other har

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