his infirmity, reft in peace; my pen fhall not bewray him, for I alfo have finned.

The next chapter contains what he calls a great Revolution in the Church, part of which I tranScribe.

Now was the long expected time arrived, when the pfalms of King David fhould be hymn'd unto the fame tunes to which he played them upon his harp; (fo was I inform'd by my Singing-mafter, a man right cunning in Pfalmody :) Now was our overabundant quaver and trilling done away, and in lieu thereof was inftituted the Sol-fa, in fuch guife as is fung in his Majefty's Chapel. We had London fingi g maflers fent into every parish, like unto Excife-men; and I also was ordained to adyɔ'n myfelf unto them, though an unworthy difdip e, in order to inftruct my fellow-parishioners in the new manner of Worthip. What tho' they accufed me of humming through the noftril, as a Sacbut? yet would I not forego that harmony, it having been agreed by the worthy parish-clerks of Lond in full to preferve the fame. I tutored the young men and maidens to tune their voices as it were a phaltery, and the Church on the Sunday was filled with thefe new Hallelujahs,

Then follow full froenty chapters, containing cn exo detail of the Law-fuits of the Harfon and bis Parifioners concerning tythes, and near a hundred

pages left blank, with an earnest defire that the his tory might be compleated by any of his fucceffors, in whofe time thefe fuits fhould be ended.

The next chapter contains an account of the Briefs read in the church, and the fums collected upon each. For the reparation of nine churches, collected at nine several times, 2s. and 7d. 4. For fifty familes ruined by fire, 1s. . For an inundation, a King Charles's groat given by Lady Frances, etc.

In the next be laments the difufe of Wedding-fermons, and celebrates the benefits arifing from thofe at Funerals, concluding with thefe Words: Ah! let not the relations of the deceased grudge the small expence of an hatband, a pair of gloves, and ten fhillings, for the fatisfaction they are fure to receive from a pious Divine, that their father, brother, or bofom wife, are certainly in heaven.

In another, he draws a panegyrick on one Mrs. Margaret Wilkins, but after great encomiums concludes, that, notwithstanding all, the was an unprofitable veffel, being a barren woman, and never once having furnished God's church with a christening.

We find in another chapter, how he was much flagger'd in his belief, and disturbed in his confcience, by an Oxford Scholar, who had proved to him by logick, that Animals might have rational, nay, im

mortal fouls; but how he was again comforted with ́the reflection, that, if fo, they might be allowed christian burial, and greatly augment the fees of the parish.

In the two following chapters he is overpower'd with Vanity. We are told, how he was conftantly admitted to all the feafts and banquets of the Churchofficers, and the fpeeches he there made for the good of the parish. How he gave hints to young Clergymen to preach; but above all, how he gave a Text for the 30th of January, which occafioned a most excellent fermen, the merits of which he takes entirely to himself. He gives an account of a conference be had with the Vicar concerning the Ufe of Texts. Let a preacher (faith he) confider the affembly before whom he preacheth, and unto them adapt his text. Micah the iii and 11th affordeth good matter for Courtiers and court-serving men. The heads of the land judge for reward; and the people thereof judge for hire; and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they can upen the Lerd, and fay, Is not the Lord among us? Were the first Minifter to appoint a preacher before the House of Commons, would not he be wife to make choice of thefe words? Give, and it fhall be given unto ye, Or before the Lords, Giving no offence, that the Miniflry be not blamed, 2 Cor. vi. 3. Or praising the warm zeal of an Adminiftration, Who maketh his Minifters a flaming fire, Pfalm civ. 4.

We omit many other of his texts, as too tedious.

From this period, the style of the book rifes extremely. Before the next chapter was pafted the Effigies of Dr. Sacheverel, and I found the oppofite page all on a foam with Politicks.

We are now (fays he) arrived at that celebrated year, in which the Church of England was tried in the person of Dr. Sacheverel. I had ever the interest of our High-Church at heart, neither would I at any feafon mingle myself in the focieties of Fanaticks, whom I from my Infancy abhorred, more than the Heathen or Gentile. It was in these days I bethought myself, that much profit might accrue unto our Parish, and even unto the Nation, could there be assembled together a number of chofen men of the right fpirit, who might argue, refine and define, upon high and great matters. Unto this purpose, I did institute a weekly Affembly of divers worthy men at the Rofe and Crown Alehoufe, over whom myself (tho' unworthy) did prefide. Yea, I did read unto them the Poft-Boy of Mr. Roper, and the written letter of Mr. Dyer, upon which we communed afterwards among ourselves. Our fociety was composed of the following perfons; Robert Jenkins, Farrier; Amos Turner, Collar-maker; George Pilcocks, late Excifeman; Thomas White,

Wheel-wright; and myself. First, of the first, Robert Jenkins.

He was a man of bright parts and fhrewd conccit, for he never shoed an horse of a Whig or a Fanatick, but he lamed him forely.

Amos Turner, a worthy person, rightly esteemed among us for his fufferings, in that he had been honoured in the ftocks for wearing an Oaken bough.

George Pilcocks, a fufferer alfo; of zealous and laudable freedom of Speech, infomuch that his occupation had been taken from him.

Thomas White, of good repute likewise, for that his uncle, by the Mother's fide, had, formerly, been fervitor at Maudiin college, where the glorious Sacheverel was educated.

Now were the eyes of all the parish upon thefe our weekly councils. In a fhort fpace, the Minifter came among us; he fpake concerning us and our councils to a multitude of other Minifters at the Vifitation, and they fpake thereof unto the Minitters at London, fo that even the Bishops heard and marveled thercat. Moreover Sir Thomas, member of Parliament, fpake of the fame to other members of Parliament; who fpake thereof unto the Peers of the Realm. Lo! thus did our counfels enter into the hearts of our Generals and our Law-givers; and from henceforth, even as we devifed, thus did they.

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