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way of expressing himself (which some were disposed to censure) was become habitual to him, and he pleased others by it much more than himself; for "he commended Mr. "Baxter for the noble negligence of his style," and says that "his great mind could not stoop to the affected eloquence "of words."- Very excellent men (said Mr. Howe, speaking upon this point) excel in different ways: The ⚫ most radiant stones may differ in colour, where they do not in value.'-His learning was a vast treasure, and his knowledge of books so great, that one who was as great a pillar and as bright an ornament of the church of England as ever it had, was known to say, That were he to col'lect a library, he would as soon consult Dr. Bates as any 6 one he knew."'. - I never knew any one (says Mr. Howe) 6 more frequent or affectionate in the admiration of divine grace, upon all occasions, than he was, as none had a deeper sense of the impotence and pravity of human • nature. Into what transports of admiration of the love of GOD have I seen him break forth, when some things not immediately relating to practical godliness had taken up great part of our time! How easy a step • did he make of it from earth to heaven! With what high flights of thought and affection was he wont to speak of the heavenly state! Even like a man much C more akin to the other world than this. Let those who often visited him say, whether he did not usually send them away with somewhat that tended to better their spirits, and quicken them in their way heavenwards."

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His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Howe, as before-mentioned, and contains a most passionate lamentation of his death, in a strength of language peculiar to that great writer. It is often to be met with alone in 12mo.

His Works. "I. Discourses on the Existence of God; the Immortality of the Soul; and the Divinity of the Christian Religion. II. The Harmony of the Divine Attributes. III. The great Duty of Resignation. IV. The Danger of Prosperity. V. Sermons on Forgiveness of Sins. VI. The Sure Trial of Uprightness. VII. The Four last Things, viz. Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell: In which his Book, called The Final Happiness of Man, is included. VIII. Of Spiritual Perfection. IX. Eleven Sermons on several Occasions. X. A Sermon on the Death of Queen Mary. XI. On the Death of Dr. Manton. XII. On the Death of Dr. Jacomb. XIII. On the Death of Mr. Baxter. XIV. On the Death of Mr. David Clarkson. XV. On the Death

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of Mr. Benjamin Ashurst. XVI. On Divine Meditation. XVII. On the Fear of GOD, &c. XVIII. The Lives of several Eminent Persons, in Latin."

The above eighteen pieces, which had been separately printed, were collected into one volume in folio; besides which a posthumous piece of his appeared in octavo, containing some "Sermons on the Everlasting Rest of the Saints." He wrote, likewise, in conjunction with Mr. Howe, "A Prefatory Epistle to Mr. Chaffy's Treatise of the Sabbath," upon its being reprinted; and another before "Lord Stair's Vindication of the Divine Attributes."

Dr. Bates is universally understood to have been the politest writer among the Nonconformists of the last century.

WILLIAM BURKITT, M. A.

VICAR AND LECTURER OF DEDHAM, ESSEX.

THIS useful and exemplary Divine was the son of the Reverend Miles Burkitt, M. A. who was ejected by the Act of Uniformity from Netisherd in Norfolk, in the year 1662. Mr. William Burkitt was born at Hitcham in Suffolk, July 25, 1650. In his childhood he appeared to be endowed with an excellent memory, which, through the happiness of grace and a good education, became a sacred repository. Mr. Goffe of Bilston was his first schoolmaster for a year: He was thence sent for education to the school at Stow-market, whence he was removed to Cambridge school, under Mr. Griffin. While he was there it pleased God to visit him with the small-pox, which proved a happy dispensation to him, for then God began, by the influence of his Holy Spirit, to move him to attend in earnest to the things of his peace, and wrought an holy change in the temper of his mind. After his recovery from his dangerous disease he was admitted into Pembroke Hall, under the tuition of Mr. Gibbs, and upon his tutor's removing from the college, Mr. Abel, of the same house, took him under his care. From the college he came to Bilston Hall in Suffolk, and was chaplain there. He entered upon the ministry very early, after having been ordained by Bishop Reynolds, and not long after was settled

at

at Milden in Suffolk, at which place he was minister about twenty-one years, and which at this time is also happily favoured by the clear and lively preaching of evangelical truth. In 1692 he removed to Dedham in Essex.

Mr. Burkitt kept a diary, in which are recorded the history of divine providence towards him, and many remarkable deliverances vouchsafed to him. In this diary are also contained his thankful acknowledgments of divine assistance and success in his ministry, and the humble confessions of his sins and weaknesses, &c. As nothing so fully opens the interior of the soul as a person's diary, some passages from it, evincing the pious spirit of Mr. Burkitt, may be very acceptable and useful, especially to such who are conversant with his writings. While I "continued, says he, at school in Cambridge, it pleased "GOD to visit me with the small-pox, but very favourably, and, as I hope, in great mercy laying the foun"dation of my spiritual health in that sickness; working, I hope, a prevailing thorough change in the very "frame and disposition of my soul. May my soul, and "all that is within me bless thy name, O Lord, that this "sickness should, by the blessing of thine Holy Spirit, open my blind eyes, which hath closed the eyes of so many in darkness and death! O happy sickness, that "ends in the recovery of the soul to GOD!

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"In 1666, GOD visited the town of Cambridge with the "plague. The students in general fled into the country. "I with two or three more continued shut up in the "college, and from my chamber window I beheld the "dead bodies of persons, swept away by the infection, "carried to their burial. These solemn spectacles, toge"ther with the melancholy condition of the town and "nation, brought my soul to a holy seriousness.

"At Easter 1681, before my approach to the table of "the Lord, I took some fresh pains with my own heart, "to find out the state of my soul."

After this paragraph follow several indications of integrity and sincerity in religion, namely, " A sight of the "deformity and sinfulness of sin, and of the superlative "beauty and excellency of Christ. A love to the word "of GOD, not only to his promises, but his commands, "because of their purity and holiness. An apprehension "of danger in resting upon our own works and righteousness. Finding it the hardest matter in the world to "believe aright. Grief for want of more godly sorrow "for sin. Jealously lest hypocrisy should lie at the bot

" tom

"tom. To have a regard in our actions to the principle, "the motive, and the end. Solemn dedications of our"selves to GOD. Watching and prayer against the sins "to which we are most inclined, as seeking in religious "performances the praise and applause of men. Real "affliction for not loving God more. Due regard to "the duties of the second table: such as, to owe no man any thing but love-rather to suffer than do wrong"to preserve the reputation of others-to value others "by their real worth, and not by their regards to us. "Valuing the image of our Lord and Saviour, in whom

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soever it appears, and esteeming them most who are "most like him in holiness. Loving our enemies, pray❝ing for them, and doing them good.

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Sept. 3, 1682, my neighbouring brother in the mi"nistry, Mr. Thompson of Royden, after having preached "on the Lord's Day, was surprized by an apoplexy, and "died in a short time. Lord, who am I, that I should yet survive amidst the funerals of them who were younger, stronger, better, and more useful than my"self? O let me double my diligence in working out my 66 own, and helping forward the salvation of others, while "the day of patience lasts, for thou, Lord, comest in an " hour of which we are not aware!

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New-year's day, 1684, I was up soon after four o'clock, desiring earnestly to begin the year with GoD, to re"new my covenant with him, and to engage myself in an holy vigilancy and circumspect walking with and be"fore the Lord the day following and the year following. "The Lord keep it in the purpose of my heart for ever "to continue faithful to him!

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July 25, 1686, being my birth-day, I engaged my"self to devote my first waking-time to GOD, and my dressing-time to fruitful meditation of the mercy of a night's rest, some spending their time in pain, some in "prison, and some in hell.

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"About Midsummer 1687, I received a petition from "Ipswich, on behalf of the French protestant ministers, "and communicated the matter to several, whose hearts "the Lord so graciously moved, that I collected for them "above an hundred pounds. The Lord make me thankful, "who gave me an heart to compassionate and help them.

By his book of accounts it appears at large, that this his labour of love for the poor French exiles continued six years successively, namely, 1687, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92. In which time, though he lived but in a country village, he

so exerted himself far and near in this matter, as, by the merciful hand of his Gon with him, as himself expresses it, to collect from private hands no less than two hundred and sixteen pounds seventeen shillings, which whole sum, with a little overplus, is in a most full and distinct manner set down as faithfully distributed by him towards the relief of the said French protestants in Suffolk and Essex, &c. Remarkable also were his care, pains, and prudent conduct in the distribution of this charity; for, as he gave some part of it in specie, as necessity required, so that he might lay out the rest in the most frugal manner for the furnishing them with clothes and provisions, he rode about the country to the cheapest markets, though he sometimes went a journey of near twenty miles for the purpose. It may not be improper to add the close, which he himself sets at the foot of his account.

"All my charges, says he, in journeying from place to place, as also for the letters to and fro, both which articles were very considerable, and all my labour and pains I account as nothing, but look upon it as the greatest honour of my life, that God made me such an instrument for the relief of his persecuted members. Soli Deo gloria a servorum minimo, William Burkitt. That is, To GOD only be glory given by the least of his servants, William Burkitt."

"August 24, 1688. I spent some considerable time in writing letters of advice to some young academics, and in prayer for a blessing thereupon both to myself and them.

December 1692. Upon undertaking the charge of Dedham, I resolved, by divine assistance, upon the following course for the benefit of my people, namely, to pour out my soul to God every day in prayer for them, to preach constantly thrice in the week, to administer the Lord's Supper once in two months, to catechize the youth at church, and others at my house, and to go from house to house through the town, warning and directing.

"Christmas, 1696, being a severe time for the poor, through the severity of the weather, and want of work by reason of the great scarcity of money, I exhorted my people to turn the feasting of the rich into feeding the poor, assuring them, that less at the table and more at the door would be better accepted; and accordingly feasting was universally laid aside, and the poor plentifully relieved. At this time, I met with a very unjust and unexpected accusation from whom I had faithfully VOL. IV. served,

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