formed, that " his sense of religion and love of holiness were early and deep. God sanctified all his powers in his tender years, and so made him shine with a double lustre and this solemn regard to piety and the good ways of God, lived with him, and grew all along, aud was not a little apparent in the whole tenor of his conversation."

It is not known where Mr. Jollie had his academical learn ing, except that it was in one of those private seminaries which were established among the Nonconformists, after they were excluded from the English Universities. Undoubtedly, he had signal advantages for improvement, both in holy graces and in literary acquirements, from his valuable father, who was of Trinity College, Cambridge; and as, before his settlement at Sheffield, he was a member of a church in London, under Mr. Griffyth (ejected from the Charter-House) it seems probable that he was a student under some one of the celebrated Nonconformist divines; most likely Mr. Doolittle, or Mr. Morton. A church of the congregational order had been gathered at Sheffield, by the exemplary and useful Mr. James Fisher, who was ejected from the vicarage of that town in 1662; and, after long imprisonments, with some uncommon circumstances of cruel treatment, died at Hatfield, near Doncaster, in 1666. He was succeeded by Mr. Robert Durant, ejected from Crowle, in Lincolnshire, who died greatly beloved and lamented, even by Conformists, in 1678. Some of the dying words of this venerable man were, "The Lord has made good this his promise to me; he hath satisfied me with length of life, and given me to see his salvation *."

Such were the predecessors of Mr. Jollie in the great work of Christ; and he was a follower of their faith, and a close imitator of their conversation. He was solemnly set apart to the pastoral office over the church at Sheffield, April 28, 1681. As it may be interesting to observe the mode adopted in those memorable days for the ordination of ministers, this event will be related more particularly.

The ministers assembled in the house of Mr. Abel Yates, early on Wednesday morning, the 27th of April. Though a convenient place of worship had been erected for Mr. Durant, yet such was the danger and distress of the times, that this important service was obliged to be held in a private house. Mr. Oliver Heywood, the ejected minister of Coley, whose memory and whose praise are still precious in the churches, was chosen Moderator. The people assembled, and the public service began at ten o'clock. The Moderator spent an hour in prayer. Mr. Jollie then preached his trial-sermon, from Isaiah lix. 1, 2. after which the congregation was dismissed. The ministers then examined the candidate in languages, logic,

Psalm xci. 16.

philosophy, and divinity; in which they spent three hours.. Through an oversight, no subject for a Latin Thesis bad been assigned to Mr. Jollie; but, instead thereof, he maintained an ex tempore disputation: An Infuntes omnes Baptizatorum, etsi scandalizantium, sint Baptizandi? i. e." Whether Baptism is to be administered to all the Infants of baptized Persons, even though the Parents be scandalous Characters?" At six o'clock the examination and disputation were ended; and the meeting adjourned to the next morning at seven.

On Thursday morning the ministers, church, and spectators being again assembled, Mr. Hancock, ejected from Bradfield; and Mr. Bloom, ejected from Sheffield, both engaged in prayer. The Moderator proposed suitable and important questions to Mr. Jollie; which he answered so as to give great satisfaction. His excellent father then gave him up to the Lord, in a most pathetic prayer, for the work and service of the sanctuary, as he had before given him up in holy baptism. The ordination-prayer followed; which was very solemnly and affectionately offered up by the Moderator, with imposition of hands by the ministers present. The Moderator then gave the charge, from 1 Tim. iv. 15; and concinded with prayer. The spectators were desired to withdraw; and one of the ruling elders read Mr. Jollie's dismission from Mr. Giffyth's church to that at Sheffield, and expressed, in the name of the people, their call of Mr. Jollie to the pastoral office; to which they signified assent by lifting up their hands. Mr. Jollie declared his acceptance of this charge over them in the Lord. His venerable father then preached a discourse on the mutual duties of pastors and people; and the newly ordained minister himself concluded the whole solemn work by a judicious and moving prayer. The service closed at eight o'clock at night, having continued the whole day with no other intermission to the church and ministers than about half an hour.

In the following year Mr. Jollie became the victim of persecution. Under the inhuman acts of the legislature of Charles II. he had his goods distrained for a penalty; and was thrown into rigorous confinement in the castle of York. "He took a prison joyfully," says Mr. De la Rose," for the cause of Christ, though the manner of his abode there endangered and impaired his constitution, and threatened his death. Even the bloom of his youth and prime of his days, in which he was capable of the highest gust for the whole circle of inoffensive enjoyments that this world could afford him, he readily, he joyfully, submitted to spend in a gloomy and noisome confinement. Though thereby both his righteous soul was greatly afflicted, bearing so much of the language of Hell there, the dreadful oaths and curses of the criminals round about him; and the life of his body, by more circumstances than one, ren

dered very obnoxious: yet, for Christ his Lord, how did his soul dilate with joy, and triumph in a prison !"

The happy Revolution, and the legal toleration of Protestant Dissenters, were a welcome relief to Mr. Jollie and his people, as to many thousands besides. The work of the Lord greatly prospered in the success of his abundant and zealous labours. The meeting-house in which his people assembled, proving insufficient for them, they built, in 1700, a very large and noble place, now called the Upper Chapel, from its local situa tion. Here Mr Jollie statedly laboured, with much acceptance and usefulness, during the remaining years of his life. He had also a commodious chapel at Attercliffe, where he resided.

The usefulness of this valuable character was not confined to his labours in the pulpit and the pastoral care. An institution for the instruction of youth, in such studies as were immediately proper for the Christian ministry, and other liberal professions, had been maintained for some years amongst the Nonconformists of the north. Mr. Richard Frankland, ejected from Bishop's Auckland, in the county of Durham, a man of very superior learning and abilities, set up and presided over this academy. It was founded at Rathmill, in Yorkshire; but from the severity of persecution, it was obliged to be repeatedly · removed to various stations, and Attercliffe among the re-t. It was, however, brought again to Rathmill before Mr. Frankland's death, in 1698. On the removal of that good man, who had sent out in his t'me about 300 pupils, Mr. Jollie was invited to the charge of the institution; and, on his acceptance, it was again established at Attercliffe: a pleasant village, one mile from Sheffield.

Mr. Jolie served the cause of Christ upon a truly extensive scale of usefulness, in his capacities of a minister and a tutor. In conjunction with his assistant Mr. De la Rose, and by the occasional aid of his pupils, he not only exercised the ministry in his numerous flock at Sheffield, but supplied the smaller, though very respectable, congregation at Aftercliffe. It is a great loss, that no list of his pupils, or minute account of bis academical course of tuition, can be obtained; and perhaps they are irrecoverabie. It is, however, certain, from the high literary reputation afterwards possessed by many of his pupils, that ir advantages, under his care, must have been very considerable. Among them were the following eminent characters: Mr. Thomas Bradbury, minister at Fetter Lane, and afterwards at New Court; Dr. Samuel Wright, for whom the meeting-house in Carter Lane was erected; Dr Thomas Secker, who, after preaching on probation to a Dissenting congregation at Bolsover, in Derbyshire, conformed to the Establishment, and became Bishop of Oxford, and, lastly, Archbishop of Canterbury; Dr. Nicholas Saunderson, the cele

brated Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, and blind from his infancy.

Mr. Jollie died in the year 1713. On the frame of his mind, when in dying circumstances, Mr. De la Rose remarks, "Thus died in the Lord this man of God, your dear aud worthy pastor. His soul was bottomed," he said, " upon Christ, the Rock of Ages: his views of Christ, as thus considered, were clear and distinct he seemed to have no clouds upon his mind, no darkness about it; nor did he labour under doubts and fears of his being interested in him thus, but what was all calm and serene in the firm and inwrought persuasion of it. As Christ was dear to him, and exceedingly precious in his lifetime, so now, in his dying season, he found Christ near to him: his left hand was underneath him to support him; and with his right hand he embraced him. He dealt familiarly with him; for, in his frame and taik both, there appeared a great (shall I say an unusual) steadiness and composure of spirit as to the state and world before him, and his saving relation to Christ: be dwelt upon the theme with pleasure; and in his last illness, and even in the dark valley of Death itself, he rather triumphed in it than anywise questioned it. As his "heart was fixed, trusting in the Lord," whilst living, so here his heart was fixed, steadfastly fixed, when dying too "He died in the Lord, he slept in Jesus;" and thus dying in the Lord, you may write him blessed!"

The following description of his character is from the same authentic source: "As to the constitution of his body, it was remarkably strong, fine, and florid; and in the air of his countenance there appeared a just temperature of admirable sweetness and majesty: his voice answered his countenance, and awed or won all who heard it.

"His genius was masterly and grand, elevated and curious; and as to his natural temper, it was serene, cheerful, active, open, and generous: his composedness of spirit, his mirth, his majesty, were all unaffected and natural to him; and continued with him in a very conspicuous degree, even to the very last.

"As to his capacity and powers, they were unquestionably great aud extensive; and as Nature bad moulded them, and given them some advantageous casts and touches, he appeared very much of an original. I cannot omit what I have often thought and spoken; and that is, that his quick apprehension, his amazing invention, his diction, his elocution, and the vast but even flow of his affections, together with his uncommon presence of mind, and the agreeableness of his person, all conspired to make him one of the most consummate orators of the age. I shall not except any of those that I have yet met with, even of that nation that probably not only equals, but exceeds, in this way, the admired productions of Rome and

of Greece; that is, I shall not except either the Bourdaloues, nor the Cheminaises, nor the Flechiers of the age.

"His works and labours of love to Christ, and to souls, that were many and eminent in his own house and in God's house, are ripened already into a great harvest here upon earth, and are all upon the file in Heaven;" for God is not unrighteous to forget his work and labour of love which he shewed (upon all occasions) towards his name, in that he ministered to the saints" (and that in a diffusive manner, for instrumentally he ministered to many communions of them up and down in this nation) as well as ministered personally to you here, and that with great assiduity and readiness, till his natural strength abated, and pains and indispositions grew upon him, and checked him.

"As God had rendered him capable of very great usefulness, he accordingly pursued it: he was frequent in his offices of kindness, both more publicly and privately, and always instilling into all about him something for the benefit of their souls.

"As he was richly versed in the language of Canaan, so he was ready to speak it upon all occasions: he was bold and skilful in using this sword of the spirit, and very successful. As he could bring "out of his treasure things new and old," so he readily did it; and as he manifestly aimed at the good of souls in it, so he obtained it; and this, I believe, contributed to the lengthening out of his vivacity and cheerfulness, - for usefulness was his delight and his element!

"You have seen his delight in catechizing. With what pleasure he served the lambs of his flock! How watchful over you too, in scason and out of season! and how jealous over you with a godly jealously! And here, from this place, how often has he broken the bread of life to you! and with what zeal and concern! How faithfully has he declared to you the whole counsel of God! How did he set before you Life and death! and with what earnestness did he beseech you, in the name of Christ, to be reconciled to God! How did he feed you in the strength of the Lord, and " reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine!

"In prayer how mighty and eminent! What a continual Row and surprizing variety of matter! What high adorations! What strong supplications, and what Israel like wrestlings with God! Here his soul mounted to God in a flame of love, and with an unbounded scope. All his rich expressions and graceful turns were as free and easy as his breathing was, and yet were as cultivated and accurate as the elaborate composures of the age. When did he recal a word? When was there any need of it? ·

"Go, thon great, thou surpassing genius! Thy memory shall live here, thy name shall be precious! Thou hast done