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and beloved by most that knew him. He often acknowledged the presence of God with him thro' the whole of his life. About five years before his death, he had a severe stroke of the palsy, which produced a continued weakness in his rightside, and disabled his right-hand, which he bore with great patience and resignation; blessing God that he was able to do any thing in his work, and desiring to live no longer than he might be useful: in which God granted his request. About two months before his death he told Mr Tallents he was preparing his own funeral sermon on 2 Tim. iv. 7. upon which he preached several discourses; and the last on the Lord's-day in the morning before his dissolution, under great weakness, which rapidly increased, and he expired on the Thursday following.

Alkman's. Mr. RICHARD HEATH. Of Christ's Col. Camb. An ancient minister; moderate, sedate, quiet, and religious. He was much valued at the university for his great learning, especially in the Oriental languages, in which he was one of the greatest masters of the age. He was employed to correct the Syriac and Arabic of the Polyglott Bible, for which purpose the proof-sheets were sent down to him; and Bp. Walton gave him a copy for his trouble. At the persuasion of that prelate, he continued a few Lord's-days after Aug. 24, 1662, reading the liturgy; but was soon silenced, because he could not come up to the imposed terms of Conformity. When the Five-mile-act commenced, March 25, 1666, he removed to Wellington, and there died on May the 28th following. When he lay upon his death-bed, Mr. Laurence asked him what reflections he had upon his Nonconformity?"Truly, (said he) I would not but have done as I did for a thousand worlds." He had a great confidence that God would provide for his widow and children, according to the promise. Tho' he was so learned and able a man, he printed nothing.

St. Mary's. FRANCIS TALLENTS, M. A. Of PeterHouse, and Magd. Col. Camb. He was born at Pelsley, near Chesterfield, in November, 1619, and brought up at the public schools at Mansfield and Newark. About 1642, he travelled as tutor to the sons of the Earl of Suffolk. He often said, that what he saw abroad of the Popish religion, and what conference he had with its advocates, added much to his conviction of the falshood and wickedness of it, and confirmed him in protestantism. Upon his return he was chosen Fellow

Fellow of Magd. Col. and was afterwards Senior Fellow, and President. He was a noted tutor there; and Sir Robert Sawyer and Dr. Burton were amongst his pupils. He was ordained at London, Nov. 29, 1648, by the 3d classical Presbytery in that province. In 1652 he left the university, and went to Shrewsbury, where he became minister of St. Mary's: and his labours were well accepted and useful. In 1656 he was moderator at a public dispute about Baptism in the parish church of Ellesmere, between Mr. Porter of Whitchurch and Mr. Haggar, a Baptist. He began and ended with prayer, and directed the progress of the dispute with great prudence and candour. At the Restoration he was not a little pleased, and made some advances towards a compliance in ecclesiastical matters. But when he saw how things were fixed in 1662, he was necessitated to quit his living, which was his only support. He remarked, that before the war, the Puritans generally made a shift to come into the church, notwithstanding the hard usage they foresaw they were likely to meet with; but to prevent this afterwards, new barriers were erected by the Act of uniformity to keep them out. As long as he lived he observed Bartholomew-day, as a day of humiliation and fasting. He was a man of great inoderation, who loved good people of every denomination, and took all occasions to witness against bigotry on all sides. For the most part he attended the public ministry and the liturgy a great while, morning and afternoon; and undertook no stated work for some years.

In 1670 he travelled into France as tutor to two young gentlemen, Mr. Boscawen and Mr. Hampden, the former of whom died at Strasburgh of the small-pox. Having spent about two years and a half abroad, he returned to Shrewsbury, and joined with Mr. Bryan in preaching to a congregation of Dissenters in that town. In 1685, when the Duke of Monmouth was in the West, he was sent prisoner to Chester castle; but upon his defeat was released, when he retired to London, and there lived privately. While he was there, in 1686, he was maliciously calumniated as a Popish priest. A desk which he had left at Shrewsbury, being opened, in which, among other things, was a piece of an old white damask bed scolloped, and a book containing the names of his pupils in Magdalen College, a malicious fellow reported, that he saw, in a desk of Mr. Tallents's, such vestments as priests say mass in, full of crosses and images; and a book, in which were the names of such as were admitted into the order

order of the Jesuits. When Mr. Tallents returned, and found this base slander spread to his prejudice, he took the man before the Mayor, produced the things in question, and so convicted him of falshood and malice; but because he was a poor man, he gave him no other trouble than a reprimand from the Mayor. And yet there were those who did all they could to support the slander, one of whom Mr. Tallents was advised to prosecute; which he did with success. Upon the liberty given the Dissenters in 1687 he returned to Shrewsbury, and continued his ministerial service there, in conjunction with Mr. Bryan.—In K. William's time, when overtures were made towards a comprehension, some gentlemen who greatly valued his judgment, sent for him to London to discourse with him about it; particularly concerning the re-ordaining of such as were ordained by Presbyters. Upon mature deliberation he declared that he could not submit to it; and drew up his reasons at large. But he was much for occasional Conformity, as a token of charity towards those whom we cannot statedly join with.-In 1691 he entered into his new place of worship, and preached his first sermon there on Is. lvii. 15. He caused it to be written on the walls of the meeting-place, "That it was built not for a faction or party. "but for promoting repentance and faith, in communion "with all that love our Lord Jesus Christ, in sincerity," He added that scripture with which the French churches usually begin their worship: "Our help standeth in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." He died on Lord'sevening, April 11, 1708, in the 89th year of his age, and was buried in St. Mary's church. A paper was found after his death, appointing what epitaph should be inscribed on his grave-stone, and expressing the year of his life then current; intimating, that he did not expect to out-live that year.

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Reliquiæ D. Francisci Tallents. Olim Col. Magd. Cant. Sen. Socii. Postea Concionatoris Publici in hâc Ecclesiâ ab An. 1652, ad Aug. 24, 1662. Qui post various Labores, expectans misericordiam Domini nostri Jesu Christi in Vitam Æternam, tandem decessit Anno Ætatis suæ 89. Mense Die

Mr. Baxter says, "He was a good scholar, a godly blameless divine; most eminent for extraordinary prudence and moderation, and peaceableness towards all." [Mr. Mat. Henry, at his desire, preached his funeral sermon, on Jude 21, Being forbidden to say any thing in his praise, he afterwards

drew

drew up an account of him, which was printed at the end of the sermon; from which the foregoing account is taken, as is also the following addition respecting his character and death

In all his address and converse he was, in the highest degree, respectful and complaisant. His politeness was a great ornament to his learning and piety.-In his old age he retained the learning both of the school and the academy to admiration. He had something to communicate to those who conversed with him concerning all sorts of learning; but his masterpiece, in which no man was more ready, was history.—He abounded much in pious ejaculations in his common discourse. -He was very happy in counselling his friends who applied to him for advice, and knew how to speak a word in season. -He sometimes expressed his fear concerning many weak and melancholy Christians, that they had tired themselves in the exercises of devotion; and would advise such to keep their minds as calm and sedate as possible, and not aim to put them always upon the stretch. He would sometimes pleasantly say, "The Quietists are the best Christians ;" and with regard to the external performances of religion, would give this advice: "Let the work of God be done, and done well; but with as little noise as may be."-He was eminent for his charity, in judging of other persons, and in relieving the necessitous; particularly strangers in distress.-He was in a remarkable degree dead to the world, knowing no good in it, but doing good with it; and, by the little left behind him, shewed that he had no way of laying up what he had, but by laying it out in good works, (1 Tim. vi. 19.)-His preaching was very plain, familiar, and affectionate. He studied not words, but things. He was frequent and earnest in pressing brotherly love. Love was the air he breathed in.-He was much for extolling free grace, &c. but tho' he differed from Mr. Baxter in many of his notions and expressions concerning justification and other things, yet he highly valued that great man for his learning and piety, and the service he had done the chuch by his practical writings; and often spoke of him with great respect and affection. He took occasion sometimes to speak of the hope he had of the flourishing of the church in the latter days. "When God (says he) shall repair its breaches and build it up, the subtilties of the schools, and many canons of councils, and customs of old, will be laid aside, and a great simplicity in things of faith and worship shall be owned and practised. No more conditions shall be made

for