preacher three years at Dore chapel, in Dronfield parish; and eight years after, at the parochial chapel of hford, in the parish of Bakewell; whence, by those then in power, he was translated in 1644, to the rectory of Exam, where he continued his labours till Bartholomew-day 1662. He was an eminent preacher; and by his example, a confuter of of those who decry Free-prayer. When he could not serve his people publicly, he was helpful to them in private; especially when the pestilence prevailed in that town, officiating amongst them with great tenderness and affection, during that sore visitation, which in that little place cut off above 300 persons. And yet, at that very time, certain people made a motion to the lord-lieutenant of the county, the noble Earl of Devonshire, to remove him out of town: who, like himself, replied to this effect: "It is more reasonable, "that the whole country should testify their thankfulness to "him, who, together with his care of the town, had taken "such care as none else did, to prevent the infection of the "towns adjacent." He died in 1670, satisfied to the last in the cause of Nonconformity, and rejoicing in his sufferings

on that account.

FAIRFIELD.

Mr. WILLIAM NADEN.

GLOSSOP [V.] Mr. WILLIAM BAGSHAW. Of Corp. Christi Col. Camb. Born at Litton in the parish of Tideswell, Jan. 17, 1628. At several country schools he made a greater proficiency in learning than most of his equals; and under the ministry of Mr. Rowlandson of Bakewell, and Mr. Bourn of Ashover, he received a deep tincture of religion betimes. He had an early inclination to the ministry, which he at length pursued, after several attempts to fix him in some other employment. He preached his first sermon in the chapel of Warmhill in Tideswell parish; and there he contiuued about three months. Tho' he often complained, that he entered too rashly on that awful work, his labours were very acceptable to sober intelligent people, and he gave no just occasion to any to 'despise his youth.' From thence he removed to Attercliffe in Yorkshire, where he preached as one of the assistants to Mr. James Fisher of Sheffield, and resided in the family of Colonel (afterwards Sir John) Bright. He was ordained at Chesterfield, Jan. 1, 1650, and some time after was invited to Glossop. That people. enjoyed his labours about eleven years. Among them, he

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'went about doing good,' and God was with him. He • kept back nothing that was profitable for them, but taught ⚫ them publicly, and from house to house.' He embraced all opportunities to awaken, instruct, and comfort them. Observing most people to be more than ordinarily affected with funeral sermons, he very willingly preached on such occasions, when he had no prospect of gain. His administration of the sacraments, especially that of the Lord's-supper, was very solemn. As he would not admit the grosly ignorant and profane to that sacred feast, so he durst not exclude those in whom he saw any thing of the image of Christ, tho' they were of different sentiments from himself in lesser matters of religion. He was very diligent in fulfilling his ministry; and he conducted himself towards his people with such humility, meekness, inoffensiveness, and undissembled affection, as gained him universal esteem. He had indeed a natural regard to their state, and no offers of greater preferment could tempt him to quit his relation to them. He proceeded vigorously in his work, and not without considerable success. But the fatal Bartholomew-act put a stop to his public labours.

He thereupon retired to Ford, in the adjacent parish, and lived upon his own estate. He continued a conscientious Nonconformist; but his moderation was known unto all men.' He prayed for, and rejoiced in, the success of their labours, who possessed the strongest prejudices against him. He several years attended, with his family, in his parishchurch, both parts of the Lord's-day. But being persuaded that no power on earth could cancel his authority, and disannul his obligation, to preach the gospel, he preached privately in his own house, and elsewhere, on the Lord's-daynights; and to some few every Thursday. He also frequently assisted at conferences, and private days of devotion. Upon the coming out of the Indulgence in 1672, he thought it his duty to labour more publicly, preaching three Lord's-days in the month in the parish where he resided, and the fourth in that from which he had been expelled. He had lectures also at other places, particularly once a fortnight at Ashford, the other day being supplied by other ministers. He preached often every week, and sometimes every day in the week. He was the chief instrument in gathering the congregations at Ashford, Malcoffe, Middleton, Bradwall, Chalmarton, and Hucklow; besides setting up lectures in several places, which were afterwards kept up.-At the end of every year

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he usually repeated to his people the substance of the sermons he had preached all the Lord's-days in the year; and in the beginning of the new year, he went to the houses of his hearers, and preached a suitable sermon in each. When K. Charles recalled his declaration, he kept his meetings privately and with great caution, changing almost every day, till the breaking out of the Popish plot. His liberty was then enlarged; but upon the trumping up a Protestant plot, he was driven into corners again. In those dark and cloudy times he demeaned himself with such prudence and circumspection, and God made such a hedge about him, that tho' he had some enemies, their designs against him were signally disappointed.

Two informers who once disturbed him, ingenuously acknowledged, that his very countenance struck a terror into them; and one of them, before he died, often sent to beg his pardon and his prayers. When another, who had frequently sat under his ministry, gave information against him before a magistrate, who was very zealous in suppressing conventicles, he was so confounded, that his information was false, both as to names of persons, and as to time and place, tho' he knew them all very well at other times. However, upon information, a warrant was issued out against him; but he had timely notice of it, and an opportunity to escape. At the next quarter-sessions, a worthy magistrate so fully convinced the bench of the falshood of what was sworn against him, that they recalled the warrant.-Tho' he was far from owning the dispensing power on which K. James's Declaration for liberty of conscience was founded, and discerned his design in it, yet he took that opportunity to shew his zeal in his Master's work, and preached publicly on both parts of the Lord's-day. Besides this, he began a custom, which he continued the greatest part of his time,of making a short discourse immediately after the reading of the scripture, to confirm his hearers in the Protestant religion, and to arm them against Popery. When the liberty of the Dissenters in the beginning of K. William's reign, was established by law, he laboured more abundantly than ever. He allowed himself but little time for sleep; and was very seldom out of his study, unless at meals, and at familyworship, or when abroad in the service of his great Master; in which he was employed two or three days in every week, and frequently at two or three places in the same day. And yet such was his industry, tho' he preached so often, and

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sellom on the same text in two auditories, that he had hid in a stock of several breds of sermons, which he did not live to se Though he was of a firm constitution, his health beran at last to be impaired, and his growing infirmities compelled to inertes a varies, and lessen his labours; ver he resisted not wholly from his delightful work more than one Lord day before his decease.

Es last sermen was on Merci 22, 1702, from Rem. ::. He had but a little before received the news of K.

m's leath, and would have stocked a discourse upon that secasion, but wanted strength for it, and therefore was sacsted with adong something in the close, towards the improving so great a 1.68: but when he came to deliver his sermon, Tedda wim sech life and spirit, that a stranger, who had only heard and not seen him, would have thought him to have been in perfect health. However, he had no sooner frisned, than he was sensible that his preaching-work was over; and thereupon said. He thought it would he tempting God to make another efort. His weakness daily increased, and on the next Lord's day he was confined to his bed. He told these about him, that his silence was a sermon. The two following days, being visited by several of his mournful bearers, be could not speak much, but reminded them how he hat socken to them formerly. He delared his satisfaction in his Noncommemity, and blessed God who had kept him from acting against is conscience in respect to it. While a young minister was praying with him, he heartily joined in every petition, and when he had done, gave him thanks, blessing God that he had helped him to such apt expressions, and added. “ I wonder that any should be so much against • Free prover: There is not a prayer in all their book *that would have suited my present circumstances so well

as this has dece."-On Wednesday, April 1, he lay for the most part in a kind of slumber. Towards night he called to have a hymn sung; and after a short prayer, to which he added his Amen, he fell into a doze, and seemed to breathe without &ficulty; till en a sudden he gave a gasp or two, and quietly s'ent in Jesus. Having lived an eminently holy and useful life, he had the favour of a remarkable easy death. He was buried in Chapel-le-Frith, in the high Peak. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. J. Ashe, on Heb. xiii. 7. Which sermon, with Mr. Bagshaw's life and character of him, has been since printed.

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He possessed a sound constitution of body, a happy temper of mind, and good natural abilities. He had many serious thoughts about his own everlasting concerns, before he undertook the charge of others. He passed much of his time in his closet, sitting up late, and yet rising early, and he usually spent an hour in secret devotion, while the rest of the family were in bed. He discovered an ardent thirst after knowledge, and was so diligent a reader that there were few books in his library (which was not small) but what he had read through, and marked with his pencil. He excelled in the gift of prayer; and in preaching he did not entertain his hearers with nice curiosities, or dry speculations, but gave them solid and substantial food. He had a peculiar readiness in adapting his dicourses to the dispensations of divine providence, and a singular faculty of saying much in a little. He spake like one who felt what he said. He was' mighty in the scriptures,' and a diligent and skilful catechist. He shewed great skill and compassion in dealing with wounded consciences. His love to God was a bright and constant flame, and his zeal for the cause of Christ, against prevailing error and wickedness, was very ardent. He was of a very pacific and condescending temper; as a proof of which, he once parted with his right to his brother, though of considerable value, rather than contend with him for it. He possessed great moderation and candour, and was eminent for his charity, both in forgiving enemies, and relieving such as were in want; and all his other excellencies were adorned by a profound humility. He had a good estate, and a heart to honour God with it. He had many signal returns of prayer, and many seals of his ministry. God was his defence in the most cloudy and dangerous times, in which he enjoyed a blessed serenity and composure of mind; which coninued till he went to his everlasting rest.

WORKS. Living Water; several Sermons on Rev. xxi. 6.— A Serm. on Christ's purchase; to which is prefixed, his Confession of faith.-Rules for our behaviour every day, and for sanctifying the Sabbath; with hints for communicants.-The ready way to prevent Sin; on Prov. xxx. 32. with a bridle for the tongue; on Mat. x. 36.-The Miner's monitor.-The Sinner in sorrow; and the humble sinner's modest request.-Brief directions for the improvement of Infant Baptism.-The Riches of grace; in three parts. Trading spiritualized; in three parts.-De Spiritualibus PECCI: Notes concerning the work of God, and some that have been workers together with God in the HIGH PEAK.-Since his death Essays on Unionto Christ.-Besides these his printed works,

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