began to suspect that both these were the delusions of the devil, because they tended to take off from a necessary duty. O the depths of Satan's cunning, and his enmity to heart-searching! Through God's infinite grace and mercy, returning to the work, and examining my heart about the soundness of my conversion, I could not satisfy myself, that in all the operations of the Spirit I had experienced, either in the voyage, or in New England, I was effectually wrought upon sincerely to close with Christ in the promise, and thereupon I passed sentence upon myself as a Christless wretch. This was on a Saturday evening. The night following was a night of the greatest horror that ever I endured; but the next day God directed Mr. Rogers to preach pertinently to my case, about the greatness of the sin of unbelief, and I was convinced that my immediate duty was to believe, and not to stay in the condition wherein I was. Hereupon, on the Monday morning, rising early, and laying aside all private study, I spent several hours in prayer, with the greatest fervency and flowing of tears that I had either before or since. A little before noon, wrestling exceedingly with God to give me faith, I found myself enabled, by the grace of God, to throw my weary, thirsty soul into the arms of God's mercy in Christ: relying on the promise in the gospel, that "He that believeth shall be saved;" and had that peace in believing, which through the grace of God I have not wholly lost to this day (1685), though more than forty-eight years since." In his return from New England he takes notice of a remarkable deliverance, when through the infatuation of the seamen they got among the rocks at St. Michael's Mount. Upon his return home, 1639, he entered upon his ministry in Northamptonshire, living with that excellent Christian Mrs. Elms. From thence he went into Huntingdonshire, and from thence to North Glenhain in Suffolk, where his ministry was accceptable and useful. He was ordained at London, Sept. 18, 1645, and settled at Combe, in the same county, in 1647, where he contiraued till 1662. At which time, says he, "I was in debt One hundred and sixty pounds, and had but little coming in for myself, wife, and children; and was also some years after unjustly forced to discharge a bond of fifty pounds. And the educating and disposing of my three sisters stood me in two hundred pounds. Yet, by God's merciful pro

vidence,

'vidence, by degrees I discharged all my debts." He con tinued in the parsonage house till 1678, when he went to London. He spent the latter part of his life with three pious widows at Clapham, where he died Sept. 12, 1709; He was a man of unaffected piety; a considerable scholar; of a good invention, and a strong memory. He retained his juvenile learning to an advanced age, and was able to preach without notes at ninety-two. He passed through the world without noise and ostentation, and without ever appearing in print.

JEPHCOT, JONATHAN, was born at Ansty near Coventry, in 1577, and was taught grammar in the free school in that city, whither he used to go every morning, when very young, so early as to surprise the master. Through the instructions of his pious mother, he discovered a deep sense of religion when he was but five or six years of age. His parents were desirous to educate him for the ministry, but being in low circumstances, could contribute little to it. He however vigorously pursued his learning, and discovered extraordinary sobriety and seriousness. At seventeen years of age he entered himself in the university of Oxford, and then taught a school in the country for a year, with the recommendation of his master; after which he went to reside at Oxford; where he maintained himself with the money his school had brought in, together with what his father could allow him; and when it was gone, he taught school again for more. Thus he held on for some years. Notwithstanding these difficulties, by his diligence he made considerable improvements, and was thought competently qualified for the ministry by all that knew him. His friends were very earnest for his fixing at Shilton, (a small living in the next parish to Ansiy,) to sup ply the place of the vicar, of whom the people were weary, and who consented to the proposal, though he still kept the title. Hereupon Mr. Jephcot applied to bishop Moreton for ordination, who examined him himself, and readily -ordained him, though he rejected several others, being very severe in examining candidates. He then preached con stantly at Shilton, on the Lord's day, and often on holidays, besides occasional sermons; and went every day two miles to teach school; all which labour brought him in but twenty pounds a year. Upon the death of the minister in

the

the neighbouring parish of Buckington, (which was a better living,) the inhabitants were very desirous of having Mr. Jephcot in his room. This living being in the king's gift, he at the people's earnest desire, took a journey to London, with proper recommendations, in order to obtain the presentation; but failed of success. However, that he might not wholly lose his labour, the lord keeper gave him a presentation to St. Mary's in Swaffham. The people there were at first dissatisfied, because he was an utter stranger to them; but after a short trial, they were extremely pleased and thankful that they were so well provided for. He preached twice on the Lord's day, catechized in the afternoon, (according to the canon,) and repeated at night. When the "Book of Sports" came out, he read it according to order, and then preached for the sanctifying of the day. When the minister of the other parish (Mr. Payne) died, leaving his widow in debt, Mr. Jephcot did her inuch service. Not being able to live upon his income, he removed to a free school in Thurlow, intending to resign his vicarage in Swaffham, to any worthy man who could get the other united to it. But the people, being exceedingly desirous of his continuance with them, made such interest, that they got the other vicarage united to his, with an augmentation. They have been since united by act of parliainent. Upon an unanimous call, he returned to them, and gave himself wholly to the work of the ministry; in which he took extraordinary pains, in preaching, repeating, catechizing, and visiting. Nor were his labours without success; for he was a mean of converting many. He was an instrument of much good to several in the family of Roger Rant, esq. and useful to all the serious people of those parts. Yet he had much uneasiness from the carnality and bitterness of some of his parish, and the giddiness of several others. He was also greatly troubled with some people who pretended to visions and revelations. While he lived in the vicarage, he was one night robbed of his plate, money, and watches, by four men, three of whom broke into the house, while the other held the horses. When he perceived them coming up the stairs, he said, "The will of the Lord be done." But he afterwards took courage to expostulate with them, and reminded them of the judgement day, &c. when they answered, "We are gentlemen, and must live." He viewed this event, as well as all others, VOL. III.-No. 52.

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with

with a pious regard to providence, and having written an account of this singular robbery, and of the persons proved to be concerned in it, he expresses his thankfulness to God, who restrained them from offering any violence to himself or his family, and closes thus: "All the passages of God's providence in the thing were very remarkable; but the sanctifying them to my soul is never to be forgotten." He was earnestly desirous of settling some Christian discipline in the church, for promoting knowledge and holiness. With this view, he had stated meetings with the neighbouring ministers. They agreed upon many things which they should practise in their respective congregations, and promised to help one another by mutual advice in any emergent difficulties. Finding that many would not be at the pains of learning the "Assembly's Catechism," they drew up one much shorter, for the use of the most ignorant in their parishes. In 1661, the former incumbent, who had been put out as scandalous, came again into one of the livings in Swaffham; upon which Mr. Jephcot knowing that the other would not be sufficient to maintain his family, and foreseeing that he should be in danger of having his conscience straitened by ecclesiastical impositions -finding also many in the place altered for the worse, and turning with the tide, determined to remove the first opportunity. Bishop Wren, who was restored with the king, was much incensed against him, because he had concurred with other ministers in ordaining several persons to the ministry, who were chiefly such as had been fellows of colleges. The free school of Boston being offered him, on the recommendation of Dr. Tuckney, he accepted it, and removed thither. On his application to bishop Sanderson for a licence, he treated him very respectfully; told him, it was a pity a man of his worth should be confined to the drudgery of a school; and offered him his choice of two livings, of about sixty pounds a year each. He thanked his lordship, but waved acceptance, because, as things then went, he apprehended he should quickly be turned out of a living; but hoped he might be suffered to continue in a school. He was however turned out of that at Bartholomnew tide, when he was but just settled in it, to the great loss of the town. Some of the aldermen urged him to conform, that he might continue in the school; but he said, If he could conform, he would not do it merely to teach boys. Agar other considerable persons were desirous of his staying

in the town after he quitted the school; but he rather chose to be near his friends in Cambridgeshire, and therefore settled at Ousden near Bury in Suffolk. Here he constantly went to church on Lord's days, and also to the sacrament. But he kept up a weekly lecture among a small company of honest well-meaning people. In the latter part of his life he set up a boarding school, and trained up youth in learning and piety. Nine or ten persons of fortune had engaged, upon his ejectment, to raise him two hundred pounds a year; which they did for a time; but some who lived at a distance discontinued it, and others died before him, so that he had but a scanty subsistence in his old age, from his school, and a small estate of about twelve pounds a year. He used to spend much of his time in writing letters to persons on spiritual accounts. Indeed his whole heart seemed set upon promoting the work of grace in himself and others. He was distinguished for his unusual accuracy in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, philosophy, and some part of the mathematics. He also often practised dialing and surveying for his recreation. His abilities for the ministry were great, and he was very laborious in it. When he was reduced to a more retired life, he reaped what he had been sowing; having as much of the comfortable presence of God, and settled assurance of his love, as can well be supposed attainable in this life. In a painful and tedious sickness, he was wonderfully supported by the comforts of God's spirit, even to his death; in the view of which he continued the most devout addresses to Heaven, and serious discourse to those about him, as long as his strength permitted him to speak. He died Nov. 1673, at the great age of ninety-six. Mr. Jephcot succeeded Mr. Calamy at St. Mary's in Swaffham, Cambridgeshire, in 1633.

It doth not appear that Mr. Jephcot published any thing. But he left in MS. some small pieces, written in Latin; viz. 1. "A curious Account of an unusual Meteor which appeared at Swaffham in May, 1646." — 2. "A Copy of Verses, presented to several of his friends who contributed to his Support when he was silenced."-3. "A Character of a true Son of the Church of England."

JEROM OF PRAGUE, (the lay Reformer,) was the companion and co-martyr of Dr. Huss, to whom he was inferior

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