dost thou think we will let thee poison the court? Richard, thou art an old knave. Thou hast written books enough to load a cart, and every book as full of sedition as an egg is full of meat. By the grace of God, I'll look after thee.' He tauntingly

told him that he knew how to deal with saints as well as sinners. Baxter ventured to ask the Chief Justice whether he thought any jury would convict on such evidence as was brought against him. Jeffreys told him that he would see; and surely enough a verdict of Guilty' was found, for the jury consisted of sworn

enemies of the Puritans. It is said that Jeffreys had recommended that his prisoner should be publicly whipped at the cart's tail, but he was not able to carry out his cruelty to such an extent. The sentence was a heavy fine, and imprisonment until it should be paid. Baxter was unable to pay, and was committed to jail; but ultimately Lord Powis mediated on his behalf, the fine was remitted, and Baxter released from his confinement, and allowed to spend his remaining years in peace.

Mr. Wesley was a great admirer both of Baxter and his writings, although he did not always agree with his theological opinions. Among the numerous works which Wesley published in an abridged form, was An Extract of Mr. Richard Baxter's 'Aphorisms on Justification,' which he strongly recommended his preachers to read. And when the subject of pastoral visitation was under consideration at one of the early Conferences, the following question was put, as reported in the Large Minutes: 'Can we find a better method of doing this than Mr. Baxter's? If not, let us adopt it without delay. His whole tract, entitled Gildas Salvianus, is well worth a careful perusal.' The works of this 'good and sensible man,' as Mr. Wesley calls him, are not so much read by this generation as they were by the preceding, but they will not willingly be allowed to perish by those who esteem the literature of practical religion. With the recent revival of Puritan divinity, they have been published, with other works of the same period, in a modern and convenient form, and are now much better known than they were a few years ago. To preachers of the Gospel they are especially valuable, as exhibiting a most forceful and striking manner of presenting the truths of religion to their hearers; while to mature Christians, the Saints' Rest is a most useful companion and guide in the house of their pilgrimage.

After having encountered and survived so many storms, at the good old age of seventy-six, Richard Baxter entered the haven of rest. He died in London, in 1691, and was buried in Christ Church.

JEREMY TAYLOR.

XIV.

years;

ISHOP TAYLOR was born at Cambridge, and brought up at the Free School there. He was ripe for the University before custom would allow of his admission; but when he was thirteen years of age, he entered at Caius College, and as soon as he had taken his degree was chosen fellow. He was a man in understanding long before he was one in and when he was Master of Arts, removed from the University to London, and became public lecturer at St. Paul's, where he preached to the admiration and astonishment of his hearers. The fame of this new star which outshone all the rest, soon came to the notice of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who would have him to preach before him, which Mr. Taylor did, to the Archbishop's wonder and satisfaction. That great patron of learning thought it for the advantage of the world that such singular gifts should be afforded better opportunities of study and improvement than a constant course of preaching would admit of, and for that purpose placed him in his own College of All Souls', in Oxford, where love and admiration still waited upon him; and afterwards gave him the living of Uppingham, in Rutlandshire, and made him Chaplain to King Charles the First.

No sooner had he launched into the world than the Civil War brought all things into confusion. This storm cast him ashore in a corner of the world; but a tender Providence shrouded him. The prophet was fed in the wilderness, and his great worthiness procured him friends who supplied him with necessaries. In this solitude he began to write those discourses which will be famous to all generations for their many excellences and their general usefulness.

Here it pleased God to visit his family with sickness, and to