as to spare part of it for hiring books. He continued six years in the university, and often used to recollect the benent of his well-spent time there, with great thankfulness to God. He became well versed in the Hebrew tongue, and the writings of the Rabbies. He also understood Syriac and Chaldee. He removed from Cambridge in 1624, (though he often went at term time till he took his degree of A. M.) and was first entertained by Mr. Brampton Gurdon, of Assington in Suffolk. In his family he conti nued about nine years, improving his time well; and among other studies, applied himself to physic. In 1627 he took orders from the bishop, but was afterwards much concerned for the engagements which he thereby came under. He preached about the neighbourhood as he was invited, and distributed a number of good practical books among the poor. He had several offers of a settlement, listened to none of them, till in 1633 he was called to Aughton, nine miles from York, to succeed Mr. Alder, who was removed from thence for Nonconformity. Mr. Jessey was not likely to continue there long, since he durst not conform even so far as Mr. Alder had done. Accordingly the next year he was ejected for not using the cere monies, and for taking down a crucifix. But he was not useless in God's vineyard, for sir M. Boynton, of Barneston, in Yorkshire, entertained him to preach there and at Rowsby, a place not far distant. In 1635 he removed with sir Matthew to London, and the next year to Hedgeley House, near Uxbridge, where he had not been long before he was earnestly importuned to take the charge of the congregation of which Mr. Henry Jacob and Mr. John Lathorp had been pastors, which was gathered by Mr. Jacob, in 1616. After much consideration and prayer, though he had formed a design of going to New England, he accepted their call about Midsummer, 1637, and continued among them till his death. Some of his church becoming Baptists, left it the year after his settling among them; and soon after, a greater number of persons, of considerable note, embraced the same opinion. This put Mr. Jessey upon studying the controversy, The result was, that he himself also altered his sentiments; but not without great deliberation, many prayers, and frequent conferences with pious and learned men of different persuasions. His first conviction was about the mode of baptism. Though he conVOL. III.-No. 53. H tinued tinued two or three years to baptize children, he did it by immersion. About 1644 the controversy about the subjects of baptism was revived in his church, when several of them gave up infant baptism, as did Mr. Jessey himself. How, ever, before he would absolutely determine on the point, and practise accordingly, he resolved to consult with several learned and judicious ministers, v. g. Dr. Goodwin, Mr. Nye, Mr. Burroughs, Mr. Craddock, &c. but these giving him no satisfaction, in June, 1645, he submitted to immersion, which was performed by Mr. Hanserd Knollys. And it proved no small honour and advantage, to the Bap tists to have such a man among them. But notwithstanding his differing from his brethren in this, or any other point, he maintained the same Christian love and charity to all saints as before, not only as to friendly conversation, but also in regard to church communion, and took great pains to promote the same catholic spirit among others. He divided his labours in the ministry according to the catholicism of his principles. Every Lord's day afternoon he was among his own people. In the morning he usually preached at St. George's Church, Southwark, and once in the week day at Ely House, and in the Savoy to the wounded soldiers. Besides his constant labours in the ministry, he took great pains for many years in making a new translation of the Bible, in which he called in the assistance of many learned men at home and abroad. This he made the master-study of his life, and would often cry out, “Oh that I might see this done before I die!" It was almost compleated, but the great turn to public affairs, at the restoration, caused this noble design to prove abortive. To shew the necessity of amending the common translation, he observed that, (as Dr. Hill declared in a great assembly,) archbishop Bancroft, who was a supervisor of this work, altered it in fourteen places to make it speak the prelatical language †. Mr. Jessey chose a single life, that he might Mr. Neale, in his account of the matter, (which differs from the above) remarks, "Thus a foundation was laid for the first Baptist congregation I have met with in England." Compare Crosbie's Hist. Bapt. vol. I. p. 147, &c. f Dr. Smith also, who was one of the translators of the Bible, who wrote the preface, and was afterwards bishop of Gloucester, complained to a minister of that county, of the archbishop's unwarrantable alterations. But (says he) he is so potent, there is no contradicting him." be be the more entirely devoted to his sacred work, and the better enabled to do good. Besides his own alms, he was a constant solicitor and agent for the poor with others, who, he knew, were, able to supply their wants. For this end he always carried about with him a list of the names of the greatest objects of charity known to him, with their afflictions, necessities, and characters affixed. Above thirty families had all their subsistence from him. Nor did he limit his charity to those of his own congregation or opinion; he did good to all. And where he thought it no charity to give, he would lend, without interest or security. One of the most remarkable instances of his charity, which was perhaps without precedent, was that which he shewed to the poor Jews at Jerusalem, who, by reason of a war between the Swedes and Poles, (A. D. 1657,) were reduced to great extremity; their chief means of subsistence, from their rich brethren in other countries being cut off by reason of that war. Mr. Jessey collected for them three hundred pounds, and with it sent letters with a view to their conversion to Christianity; the copies of which may be seen in his life. It is easy to suppose that a man of his character must be crowded with visitors of various kinds. He resolved however to have time for his devotions and studies; and as he hated idle talk and fruitless visits, he took all possible means to avoid them. One was this: he put over his study door, where he usually received his visitors, this writing: "Whatever friend comes hither, H. J. "Amice, quisquis huc ades; Aut agito paucis; aut abi; Aut me laborantem adjuva." During the time that episcopacy was laid aside in England Mr. Jessey was in high esteem, and free from the persecutions which the Baptists too generally suffered. But before and after that period, he shared the sufferings of the Nonconformists. On Feb. 21, 1637, he and a number of others being met together to worship God, the greatest part of thein were seized and carried away from Queenhithe by the bishop's pursuivants; and they met with the like disturbance, May following, in another place. In November, 1639, he was sent by the congregation into Wales to assist old Mr. Wroth, Mr. Craddock, and others, in gathering a church at Llanfaches in Monmouthshire. On April 21, 1640, he with a great number of the mem H 2 bers bers of several congregations, being met together upon Tower Hill, to seek God by fasting and prayer, were interrupted by the pursuivants, and imprisoned in the Tower by sir W. Balfore, who soon after released them; they being bound over by archbishop Laud to answer at the next sessions. They appeared there, but were never called, the prosecutors not thinking it adviseable to proceed. On Aug. 22, 1641, he, with five of his congregation, were seized by order of the lord mayor, and committed prisoners to Wood Street Compter, when they appealed to parlia ment, and were soon released. Upon the restoration he was ejected from his living at St. George's, Southwark, and silenced from his ministry. On Nov. 27, 1661, he was seized, and kept in the messenger's hands, but released by the privy council, after a month's wrongful restraint. Aug. 30, 1662, he was again apprehended, upon misinformation, and secured six months in the messenger's house, till by an order of council he was again released, on Feb. 20 following. About five or six months after his release, he fell into his last sickness; but neither he nor they that were about him apprehended his death to be so near as it really was. However, the good man fell presently to the trimming of his lamp, as diligently as if God had expressly told him of his approaching end. He spent his last days and nights in searching his heart, humbling his soul, extolling free grace, and exhorting all about him to keep close to God, to persevere in the faith, and prepare for trials: adding for their encouragement, the long experience he had had of the goodness of the Lord in all times and conditions. The last evening but one before his departure, having a mind to walk, he was led about the room, and often repeated this expression, "God is good: he doth not lead me whither I would not, as he did Peter: good is the Lord to me." Being soon tired, he sat down on his bed, and one who sat by him said, "They among whom you have laboured can witness, that you have been a faithful servant of Christ, making his glory your utmost end, for the good of their souls." But he replied, "Say no more of that; exalt God, exalt God." The last words he was heard to speak were these: "He counted me worthy." And when the sound of his words ceased, his lips were observed still to move, and he seemed to be inwardly adoring that God whom in his health he served, feared, and praised, praised, and made his boast of continually; whose law he preached, and whose goodness he proclaimed. Such was his habitual sense of the goodness of God, that when he met an acquaintance it was a common thing for him (after the usual salutations) to say, "Verily God is good, blessed be his name: stick to him.' He died Sept. 4, 1663, aged sixty-three, lamented by persons of different persuasions, several thousands of whom attended his funeral, from Woodmonger's Hall, Duke's Place. The following epitaph was placed on his tomb stone: "Post varios casus, et per dispendia vitæ Sub tumulo, invictus victor, sub pace triumphans Cymba fides, remique preces, suspiria venti Thus translated: "From storms of danger, and from seas of grief The grave's soft bed his sacred dust contains, Faith was his bark, incessant Prayers his oars, And Hope his gale; that from these mortai shores of Mr. Obadiah Wills, who wrote with great warmth against his particular opinions, speaks of him in the following terms: "That man of God, Mr. Jessey, an anti-pœdobaptist of long standing; as holy, I conceive, as any; good learning, and a very tender conscience; of a healing and uniting spirit: I wish there were more such anti-podobaptists as he." He was so great a Scripturist, that if one began to rehearse any passage, he could go on with it, and name the book, chapter, and verse where it might be found. The original languages of the Old and New Tes tament were as familiar to him as his mother tongue. He was author of, 1. "A Store House of Provision; in sundry Cases of Conscience."-2. " A Scripture Calendar, from 1645 to 1660, designed to restore the knowledge of the Scrip ture Hours, Days," &c.-3. "The Glory and Salvation of Judah and Israel, to reconcile Jews and Christians in the Faith of the Messiah; and a Descri, tion of Jerusalem."-4. "An Easy Catechism for Children; in which the Answers are wholly in the words of Scripture."-5. "The exceeding Riches of Grace in Mrs. |