"ness, considering yourselves, lest ye also be tempted, and remembering that ye must bear the burdens one of another, that so ye may fulfil the law of Christ. Finally, brethren, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one "mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace be with ye all, according to the prayer of your brethren and companions in tribulation, and in the kingdom and pa"tience of our Lord Jesus Christ."

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Signed in the name, and by the appointment of several elders of churches in and about London.

London, the 8th of the third

month, 1669.

JOHN OWEN,

GEORGE GRIFFITH.

CHRIST-CHURCH, NEWGATE-STREET. [V.]

WILLIAM JENKYN, M. A. Of St. John's Col. Camb. His grandfather was a gentleman of a considerable estate at Folkstone in Kent. He sent his eldest son (the father of this Mr. Jenkyn) to Cambridge, designing him for some emi nent church-preferment. In consequence of being there cast under Mr. Perkins's ministry, he was brought to great seriousness, and embarked with the Puritans. His father discovering this upon his return, and disliking that sort of people, was pleased to disinherit him of the main body of his estate. Finding his company disagreeable to his father, he removed to Mr. Richard Rogers's of Wethersfield, an old Puritan minister, and there diligently prosecuted his studies, Being ordained, he was fixed as minister of Sudbury in Suffolk, where he was signally useful to many, by preaching and catechizing, and he adorned all by a holy conversation. Here he married the grand-daughter of Mr. John Rogers the Proto-martyr in the Marian days, by whom he had this Mr. W. Jenkyn, who was born at Sudbury, 1612. His father died when he was very young. The grand-father before-mentioned, then living at Folkstone, seemed extremely softened upon his son's death, and sent for his grand. son, promising to take care of his education. He lived with him much beloved till nine years old, when his mother, fearing his want of a religious education there, took him home, to the great displeasure of the old gentleman. She and her second husband were very careful to train him up in serious piety.

He made quick advances in school-learning, and was sent

to

to Cambridge at the age of fourteen, and placed under Mr. Anthony Burgess. He pursued his studies with great suecess, and his progress in piety was as eminent as in learning. His company was earnestly courted by some young wits of the university, for his sprightly genius; but perceiving their looseness, he waved an intimacy with them. He did not begin to preach for a considerable time after he had commenced M. A. Soon after he appeared in public he was chosen lecturer of St. Nicholas Acons, London; and from thence was called to Hithe, near Colchester in Essex, where he first married. The aguishness of that place, and the solicitation of his London friends, brought him back to the city, about the year 1641, when he was chosen minister of Christ-Church, and some months after, lecturer of St. Anne's, Blackfriars. He continued to fill up this double station with great diligence and acceptance, till, upon the destruction of monarchy, he refused to observe the public thanksgivings appointed by the parliament. For this he was suspended from his ministry, and had his benefice of ChristChurch sequestered. This induced him to retire to Billericay in Essex.

Upon his return to London, after six months, he was sent to the Tower for what was called Love's-plot. Upon a petition, (for which some have censured him) the parliament voted him a pardon, and an immediate discharge from prison and sequestration. Mr. Feak, the noted fifth-monarchy man, having been put into Christ-Church by the government, upon his sequestration, he forbore to eject him. But his parishioners, being earnest to enjoy his labours, set up a lecture for him on Lord's-day mornings at seven o'clock, and raised a considerable subscription for him. In this, and his lecture at Black-friars (out of which he had not been ejected) he continued till Dr. Gouge's death, when he was chosen pastor of that church. Mr. Feak afterwards becoming obnoxious to government, was removed, and the governors of St. Bartholomew's hospital presented Mr. Jenkyn to this living afresh. Here he exercised the ministry morning and afternoon to a crouded congregation, with eminent success, and particularly upon occasional hearers. He was very cautious of touching upon any thing that might give umbrage to the government, when he knew so many eyes were upon him; but wholly applied himself to preach Christ, and him crucified.. In this course, he was some years upon the Names given to Christ in scripture, and preached over

the

the epistle of Jude, which he afterwards printed. He was not satisfied to desist from the ministry upon the Act of Uniformity, though he could not comply with the terms of it, but still preached in private as he had opportunity. Upon the Oxford-act, (not being able to take the oath) he retired to his own house at Langley in Hertfordshire, and preached there every Lord's day, where, through the good providence of God, he met but with little disturbance.

Upon the Indulgence, in 1671, he returned to London, where he had a new meeting-place erected in Jewin-street; and there he soon raised a numerous auditory. He was also chosen lecturer at Pinners-hall. After the Indulgence was revoked, there was so far a connivance, that his services on Lord's days continued undisturbed, till that terrible storm broke out against the Nonconformists in 1682. Then he continued to preach from place to place, where he could do it most secretly, and out of the reach of the vile informers. But at length, on September 2, 1684, being with Mr. Reynolds, Mr. John Flavel, and Mr. Keeling, spending the day in prayer with many of his friends, in a place where they thought themselves out of danger; the soldiers broke in upon them in the midst of the worship. All the ministers made their escape, except Mr. Jenkyn. [Mr. Flavel was so near, that he heard the insolence of the officers and soldiers to Mr. Jenkyn when they had taken him; and observes, in his diary, that he might have escaped as well as himself, had it not been for a piece of vanity in a lady, whose long train hindered his going down stairs, having out of his too great civility, let her pass before him.] Being carried before two aldermen, Sir James Edwards and Sir James Smith, they treated him very rudely, knowing that it would be acceptable at court. Upon his refusing the Oxford-oath, they committed him to Newgate, rejecting his offer of 40%. fine, which the law impowered them to take, though it was urged, that the air of Newgate would infallibly suffocate him. He presented a petition to the king for a release, which was backed by an assurance from his physicians, that his life was in danger from his close imprisonment. But no other answer could be obtained than this," Jenkyn shall be "a prisoner as long as he lives." [This was most rigour. ously adhered to, for he was not suffered even to go to baptize his daughter's child, though a considerable sum was offered for that liberty, with security for his return.] The keepers were ordered not to let him pray with any visitants.

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Even when his daughter came to ask his blessing, he was not allowed to pray with her. Soon after his confineinent, his health began to decline; but he continued all along in the utmost joy and comfort of soul. He said to one of his friends, "What a vast difference is there between “ this and my first imprisonment !Then I was full of doubts "and fears, of grief and anguish; and well I might, for going out of God's way, and my own calling, to meddle ،، with things that did not belong to me. But now, being found in the way of my duty, in my master's business, though I suffer even to bonds, yet I am comforted beyond measure. The Lord sheds abroad his love sensibly 66 in my heart. I feel it, I have the assurance of it." Then turning to some who were weeping by him, he said, Why weep ye for me? CHRIST lives: he is my friend; a friend born for adversity; a friend that never dies. "Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your ،، children.

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He died in Newgate, January 19, 1685, aged 72, having been a prisoner there four months; where, as he said a little before his death, a man might be as effectually murdered as at Tyburn. [A noble man having heard of his happy release, said to the king," May it please your ma"jesty, Jenkyn has got his liberty." Upon which he asked with eagerness, "Aye, who gave it him?" The nobleman replied, "A greater than your majesty, the King of kings; with which the king seemed greatly struck, and remained silent.] Mr. Jenkyn was buried by his friends with great honour at Bunhill-fields, where he has a tombstone (erected in 1715) with a Latin inscription, which expresses his having been imprisoned in Newgate, and died a martyr, in the 52d year of his ministry.

§ Mr. Baxter in his own Life (Part iii. p. 94.) speaking of Mr. Jenkyn, among other ministers in London whom he briefly characterises, stiles him, "that sententious, elegant, "preacher."-The following little anecdote may not be thought unworthy of being here recorded.

Mr. Jenkyn's daughter*, who was a high-spirited, tho' a very worthy and pious woman, gave mourning-rings at her father's funeral, on which she ordered this motto to be

* Turner, in his Hist. of Prov. relates this of Mr. Jenkyn's Son, who suf fered in the West, on Monmouth's account, Ch. 143. p. 117. where a fullaccount is given of his triumphant death,

inscribed

inscribed: "Mr. William Jenkyn, murdered in Newgate." This was coinmunicated by one who was acquainted with a person to whose father one of these rings was presented.

Mr. Jenkyn preached two farewell-sermons, on the sabbath preceding Bartholomew-day, of which, though he takes no particular notice of the occasion, a brief sketch may not be unacceptable. The morning sermon is on Heb. xi. 38. Of whom the world was not worthy, "The apostle in this

chapter, deservedly called by some a little book of mar"tyrs, discovers the trumph of faith, which-assents to "truths, however improbable-excites to duties however ar"duous-enables for sufferings however severe. All kinds "of persecutions were laid upon these worthies, but they "would never be brought to forsake God and his truth for "any of them. They went through all by that faith which "is the victory over the world. We have here the excel"lency of these sufferers in the apostle's estimation. When "they were under all these distresses, they were such of "whom the world was not worthy. OBS. A godly man "sees a very great worth and excellence in the people of "God in the midst of all the trouble and persecution that "can befall them." This is illustrated by shewing-how this esteem is expressed-and what is the ground of it; particularly, their relation to God, and their having his image imprinted upon them.-The discourse concludes with several just and useful inferences; among which are these three. "We see here the excellence of holiness above all worldly glory. There is a silent dignity in reproached piety, and "there is a silent ignominy in advanced iniquity. As it was "with Christ, on whom was a secret glory under all his ignominy, so it is with the servants of Christ. When "they are in trouble and disgrace, the spirit of God and of

glory rests upon them.-Note again, the happiness of "those who see this excellence in holiness, though dis"graced and undervalued. If there be any thing in the "world that is a sign of sincerity it is this; to love holiness "when disgraced, abused, and spit upon. Here is comfort in infirmities and afflictions. If you regard his [people] in their sufferings, the Lord will regard you in yours. This "will be comfort in the last day. If thou hast owned Christ "when he was in rags, do not fear but he will own thee "when he comes in his robes.-Lastly, the people of God "should not be discouraged under any affliction that can befall them in this world. God himself highly esteems VOL. I. NO. 3.

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