he spent much time in writing books for particular persons of his congregation, suitable to their circumstances, which he gave them in hopes that they would be of use to them when he was dead. He also left behind him 50 volumes on several subjects, some in folio, and some in quarto, fairly written with his own hand.

GRESLEY [L.] Mr. THOMAS FORD: Of Trin. Col. Camb. He was born at Willington, and brought up at Repton school. He was earlier than ordinary in piety, in learning, and in preaching, upon which work he entered at the age of twenty-one, with the full approbation of several judicious christians and ministers. He was first an assistant to Mr. G. Cross of Clifton in Staffordshire, whose sister he married. He was never settled in any parsonage or vicarage, but assisted several other ministers seven or eight years. At the Restoration he was at Seale in Leicestershire, but when the Bartholomew-act passed, he was at Gresley. Continuing after this, to preach in a way forbidden by human laws (tho', as he conceived, approved of God) he and Mr. T. Bakewell, were sent to Stafford jail, where they remained prisoners for the time appointed. After which, he ceased not by day or by night to preach the gospel; for which he was again apprehended, and committed prisoner to Derby jail, with Mr. Tim. Staniforth. Having fulfilled his time of suffering there also, he still went on in his Master's work as long as he was able. But as he began, so he ended his work betimes: for by his extraordinary labours, on a day of fasting and prayer, he broke a blood-vessel, which brought him into a consumption, of which he died in a little village near Burton upon Trent, about the year 1677, but was not allowed to be buried in consecrated ground. Mr. Swinfen preached his funeral sermon from John v. 35.-He was a hard student and a celebrated preacher, being very lively, but grave and methodical. His memory was long precious to the inhabitants of Burton and the neighbouring villages.

HEYNOR [V. 167. 12s. 6d.] Mr. SAMUEL Wright. A good man, and a very able preacher. He lived in much weakness many years after his ejectment. He could not preach so often as most of his brethren, but when he did, he preached to very good purpose, among his old parishioners from house to house.

* In the INDEX VILLARIS there is no such place in this county, but there is GREYSLEY in Nottinghamshire.

HOG

HOGNASTON [C.] Mr. JONATHAN STANIFORTH. See Allestry.

LANGLEY [R.] ROBERT SEDDON, M. A. Of Christ's Col. Camb. Born at Outwood in Prestwich parish, Lancashire, and brought up in Ringley school under Mr. Cole. He continued at College several years, and then returned home for some time. After which he lived in Mr. Angier's family, and had the benefit of his grave example, pious instructions, and useful converse. From hence he was called to the ministry in Goiton chapel. He afterwards removed to Langley, where he was silenced in 1662. He took such a part in behalf of King Charles II. on a day known in this county by White Friday, (because one White was the leading man who appeared for him at Derby) that he was forced to escape into Lancashire, to Sir George Booth who rose at that time, and was threatened to be carried to London, to be tried for his life; but the king's restoration prevented it. After his ejectment, he was many years in the family of Samuel Hallows, Esq. and after the Revolution, he preached in his course, with some other ministers at Derby, being on other days employed in places adjacent. On coming up to London, he was apprehended as he was preaching in Mr. Baxter's pulpit; and though he had before suffered imprisonment from the Cromwellians for his zeal in the royal cause, he was committed to jail. But judge Hale declared the mittimus void, and released him by the sentence of the whole court. While he was a prisoner in the Gatehouse, money was several times sent to him, but he did not know his benefactors. It was said to be from Whitehall. He had acquaintance and good interest with many persons of rank, and was generally acceptable wherever he came. At last he fixed at Bolton in his native county; where, with great zeal and affection, he laid out himself in his master's work. He there bought a house, and gave the people liberty to build a chapel behind it; but soon after died of a paralytic stroke, at his brother's, captain Peter Seddon, (in the house where he was born) in March 1695, aged 77.-He was a man of great piety, patience and meekness; a solid, zealous and useful preacher; being instrumental in the conversion of many souls to God. He was wonderfully furnished for religious discourse, in which he took great delight. He was mighty in the scriptures, having known them from a child. His memory was to him instead of a concordance, which he never once used in composing his sermons for thirty years together.—The

Tenth

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Jacks. le vas a mod ingust; ve pure Lacn. and could read any Greek author curren no Engisa a When he presenced Abo. of Sunes zavelei hrough England. hesired 15. (gten, wie conversed with mʼn me Great anguage. He was disc wel versei in the deer, of which some 1 which he left a fund suficient pret Esas krit was reading a chapter in te hebrew Brie.-He was c 1 good namemati cian, and was acranted with some of the greatest men of the agen that science, which he aught such or his scholars as were studious and ingenious, to charm them into a love of

*The arms which were in te jessersion of the lare Rev. Dr. pamage, were presented wm a he or a few is before his deam.-The bre Mr Ceren, a celebrated preacher of the amversity of Camarage, was a deSERGUET as emme SacIMICITIS.

those

those manly studies, that they might be preserved from the snares of sensual pleasures. He was a great lover of music, both vocal and instrumental, and was also well versed in natural philosophy. He took great delight in poetry, especially in Latin poetry, even to his old age. He had a considerable knowledge in anatomy, physic, and botany. With regard to divinity he was particularly eminent. He had carefully studied the most difficult points; and would discourse on the most abstruse controversies with a readiness and clearness which shewed how thoroughly he had investigated them. He left a manuscript on the separate existence of the soul between death and the resurrection, drawn up at the request of a young gentleman in the university, who had been his scholar, and was tainted with infidelity. Also a treatise on predestination, occasioned by his own melancholy, which induced him to a deep search into that point, in order to clear up to himself the goodness and mercy of God. He said, however, that he would not advise others to embroil themselves, as he had done, in such controversies. His judgment upon these matters was much the same with Mr. Corbet's. He was very far from extremes, and not violent for or against any party. By his own trials and studies he became very skilful in administering comfort to troubled minds; and often wrote to persons in affliction, with great wisdom and compassion, to direct and comfort them. His behaviour was obliging, and his conversation affable, graceful, and pleasant.

His Nonconformity was the fruit of close and deliberate consideration. Some persons thought he had too high notions of the power of the magistrate in matters of religion. He was for communicating with the established church occasionally, but never could come come into it as a stated member. His thoughts on that subject will sufficiently.appear from the following letter of his to an ingenious and learned clergyman" Sir, Our mutual acquaintance and endearment shall excuse all prefatory words as superfluous between you and me. As I set my face towards the church of England, I am confronted with objections of various kinds, which you perhaps may be better able to dissipate than I, standing upon higher ground, and seeing your strength in a more advantageous light. (1). To conform is to leave the society of the best and most religious people in the land; to desert the peculiar work and sufferings of the most painful and successful ministers. For is not the presence of God, and his blessing, more abundantly

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-aft 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 semployment was under Mr. Cart at Hansworth. He was preacher