Rev Oliver Heywood

From an original Painting in the possession of Miss Heywood, Mansfield:

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vain. He knew not how to mollify oaths by forced interpretations, or stretch his conscience to comply with human will, in cases wherein, if he should happen to be in the wrong, (as he strongly suspected he should be in this) he knew hu man power could not defend him. And therefore, (though he would not censure others,) he quietly receded from his public station, in 1662, when he thought he could no longer hold it without sin. He continued afterwards to labour among his people in private, as he had opportunity, and as they were willing to hear him, till the Oxford-act forced him from them. And then Mansfield was to him and several others a little Zoar, a place of refuge. He went once a fortnight to Chesterfield, preached twice, and often expounded and catechized also on the Lord's-day, and visited the sick. Travelling late, to come in unseen, and preaching also in the night, was very fatiguing to him, as his constitution was weak, and at last it became insupportable. It was wonderful he went through it so long.

He ruled his house well; was careful of the souls committed to his charge; was grieved when sin broke out in any of the members of his family, and was faithful to rebuke and punish for it. He was a hard student, and a great admirer of the Greek language. He was a man of peace, and very desirous to accommodate lesser differences in religion. He lived in hearty love and concord with his nonconforming brethren at Mansfield, as he and all of them did with the worthy minister of the parish, with whom he formerly had a particular acquaintance, who counted it no schism for them to endeavour to help his people in their way to heaven. And they by their friendly converse with him, and frequent hearing of him, manifested that they had no design to lessen him in the esteem and affections of his parishioners. Few men had more of heaven in them than he'; but he was very industrious in concealing his own excellencies. His freedom in reproving sinners of whatever rank, where he had a call to do it, was one eminent branch of his character: another was, his skill and tenderness in comforting afflicted consciences, for which he had great occasion, and in which he was remarkably successful. He also discovered great faithfulness in dealing with sick-bed penitents; three difficult parts of a minister's work. He died May 30, 1684. Out of his great modesty, he left an express order in his will, that there should be no sermon preached at his funeral: but a suitable consolatory discourse was addressed to his family on the VOL. I. NO. 9. Dd Lord's

Lord's-day following, by Mr. Sylvester, on Rom. xii. 12, He wrote something against the Quakers, and printed a scrmon with it. He had a son in the ministry at Hull; afterwards at London, as assistant to Dr. Wm. Harris; and a grandson of his was at Dover.§

Mr. FORD, of the same place. He was of a melancholy temper, and of few words, which however, were usually of great weight. He needed much entreaty to be induced to preacht; but when he was engaged, he made amends to those who had taken the pains to persuade him. He was congregational in his judgment; but always behaved himself with meekness, and the highest respect to Mr. Billingsley, who was of a different judgment He saw the Bar

§ In the former edition, it was added—” and after that at Peckham." This mistake occasioned the following friendly letter to the Editor, from the gentleman referred to, then retired to Bath." Rev. Sir: I take this liberty to rectify a small mistake in your late publication; in which you represent one of my name, a dissenting minister at Dover, as removing thence to Peckham. The truth of the case is as follows:- -Mr. Billingsley of Dover was, indeed, the son of a dissenting minister, (Mr. John Billingsley) who in the latter part of his life, was assistant to Dr. W. Harris. He died about the year 1721, pretty far advanced in life. His son at Dover, after he had served several years among the dissenters there, marrying a near relation [a sister] of Sir Philip York, afterwards Lord Chancellor; was induced to conform, and accept a good living in the church, and a prebend in Bristol cathedral. In which station he coutinued to the day of his death, a few years ago, tho' still a moderate conformist, keeping up a friendly intercourse with the dissenters. A son of his was, in the last reign, made clerk of the patents. Ard (I think) he left another who was bred a clergyman.-The family of which I am yet a surviving branch, were only distant relations of that now referred to. My grandfather, Mr. Nicholas Billingsley, was ejected in 1662 at Webley in Herefordshire, and took his lot entirely with the Dissenters. [See Webley.] He had two sons, Richard and Nicholas: the former was my father. He designed me for the ministry from my infancy: and I was educated with the same view. The first place in which I was settled was Marlbro', where I was ordained in the year 1725. After a few years, I was invited to succeed my uncle at Ashwick, where I continued 18 years. This, I apprehend, was the most useful, though the most fatiguing part of my life. Thence I removed to Bradford in Wiltshire; where I continued about ten years. And from thence I had a call to succeed Dr. Milner at Peckham. I continued there in constant service twelve years. But finding the infirmities of age coming on, and not willing to incur the blame which some of my brethren met with, that of keeping their post too long, I resigned, and retired hither, in order to finish life in a private manner. Tho' by divine mercy, I am yet, on occasion, enabled to give a little assistance to a brother when in want of it. You will please to excuse this detail of circumstances, from your unworthy brother, Samuel Billingsley.

BATH, March 18, 1775.

+ It is supposed that this is said with reference to extra services, on special occasions, otherwise it would be inconsistent with the last clause in this memoir. ED.

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tholomew storm arising, and therefore gave his people some warm and affecting sermons on Isaiah v. 6. I will command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. These sermons were taken from him in short hand, fairly transcribed, and kept in the hands of those who highly valued them. Several passages in them seemed almost prophetic. He committed all his sermous to memory; never using any notes. He died of a consumption, before he had reached his 30th year, having worn himself out by severe study and excessive labour.

DERBY. ALL SAINTS [V. 37 1.] Mr. JOSEPH SWETNAM. He was not formally put out by the Act of uniformity, and yet really he was. For, foreseeing the commencement of that act, he chose to make a voluntary secession some time before it took place. He was well qualified to fill so considerable a place as this, being a very able preacher, and a great master of language.

ST. PETER'S. LUKE CRANWELL, M. A. Of Christ's Col. Camb. Born at Loughborough in Leicestershire. A wise, couragious, zealous, and upright man. He was not very ready in elocution; but very scriptural, solid and substantial in all his discourses. Having acquired a competent skill in physic, when he could no longer exercise his ministry publicly he resolved to employ himself in the medical line; and he proved so skilful and successful, that he maintained himself and family comfortably. He was very hospitable and benevolent; as readily attending his brethren and poor neighbours, from whom he expected no recompence, as he did the rich and great. He had a good invention; and discovered some happy and effectual medicines. He was a chearful man, and to all appearance strong, but he at last declined very rapidly. To be out of the reach of the Oxford-act, he went to Kegworth in Leicestershire, where he died, Nov. 11, 1683, on the Lord's-day.

WORKS. A small Tract on the Equality of Bishops and Presbyters.-A Sermon in the Collection of Farewell-Sermons in the Country.

ST. WERBURGHS. SAMUEL BERESFORD, M. A. He was a native of Shrewsbury, and was brought up in the school there, from whence he went to Cambridge. He did not begin to preach till he was upwards of twenty-three years of age. When he made his first attempt, he had above 1500 hearers. He was a good scholar, an excellent preacher, a

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fine orator, and a very holy man. He was very warm against the Sectaries, and not at a great distance from the church of England; for after his ejectment, he frequently attended the service of it, during his continuance in Derby, (which was till the five-mile-act took place,) and he persuaded his friends to do the same. He was equally against both superstition and separation. He afterwards spent the greater part of his time at Shrewsbury, and was reckoned one of the most accurate, and at the same time, most heavenly preachers in all those parts. He kept a private academy in his house for a while; but laid it down, because he could not keep his pupils under strict government. Having a competent estate he preached for some years gratis. As he had no children of his own, he was earnest with some of his brethren to bring up theirs to the ministry; and offered to assist towards their maintenance, and to use his interest with others for that purpose. He was not only a great divine, but a skilful physician: tho' in giving his advice he confined himself to particular friends. He never could be prevailed with to print any thing, tho' often pressed to do it. He spent the latter part of his life at Sheffnal in Shropshire, and died in October 1697, at Weston, the seat of the religious Lady Wilbraham, who was a sincere and generous friend to all good ministers, whether Conformists or Nonconformists, without any difference. He left his library to be sold for the benefit of the poor of St. Alkman's parish in which he was born.

DRANFIELD [V.] Mr. RICHARD MAUDSLEY

DUFFIELD (V. 27 l.] ROGER MORRICE, M. A. He was some time chaplain to Lord Hollis, and afterwards to Sir John Maynard. He died at Hoxton, Jan. 17, 1701, aged 73, and was buried at Bunhill. He left a valuable collection of MSS. which cost him much labour and expence. Mr. Strype, in his Survey of London, (vol. ii. p. 57) says, "This gentleman was a very diligent collector of ecclesias"tical MSS. relating to the later history of the English "church, whereof he left vast heaps behind him, and he "favoured me with his correspondence." It is to be lamented that these papers, and those of several others mentioned in this work, should not have been preserved.

EYAM IN THE PEAK [R.] THOMAS STANLEY, M. A. Born at Duckmonton near Chesterfield. His first public employment was under Mr. Cart at Hansworth. He was

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