guilt in the accufation, and the court ac cordingly discharged him. It is remarkable that one of the accufers foon left the town, and was seen there no more; and the other cut his own throat, and was buried at a cross road.

WHEN things were thought fufficiently prepared for it, at length in 1662, the act of Uniformity paffed the two houses of parliament; and it took place on August 24, this year. On which ever memorable day Mr. Howe preached two very affecting Ser mons to his people at Torrington, who were all in tears; and then quitted his public station in the Church of England, and became a filenced nonconformist. As for the reasons which induced him, and many others of great latitude and the most excellent characters to refufe to comply with that act, they need not be mentioned at this time of day. It is not however improper just to mention what he faid to his muchesteemed friend Dr. Wilkins, (who was a great enemy to fevere measures) after he had expreffed his wonder, that a perfon of his great latitude did not fall in with the new establishment, while he obferved that many others did fo, who, he thought were too ftiff and rigid to comply, he replied; that,

that

that latitude which he was pleased to take notice of was the very thing that made, and kept him a Nonconformist (I).

BUT our Author, notwithstanding his ejection, continued for fome time in Devonshire, preaching in private houses among his friends and acquaintance, as he had opportunity, till a procefs (as he was informed)

was

(I) If the reader is curious to see more of the converfation on this fubject between those two eminent Divines, who were of the number of the ornaments of the laft age, he is referred to Dr. Calamy's account of the Life of Mr. Howe, p. 10, 11. fol. edit. & p. 31-34. oct. To which is added the following ftory of Dr. Wilkins, who is well known to have been ever a great enemy to rigour and severity. "When

he was made a bishop by King Charles II. he "waited on the famous Dr. Cofins bishop of Dur"ham, among other spiritual lords, and defired his

company at his confecration dinner. Upon this "occafion, bifhop Cofins entered into a free dif

courfe with him, about moderation on the one

hand, and a' vigorous fupporting the ecclefiaftical "conftitution on the other. Bifhop Wilkins frankly "told his lordship that for his part it was his appre"henfion, that he who was by many, with ill-nature

σε

enough, reflected upon for his moderation, was "in reality a better friend to the Church than his "lordfhip, who was for rigoroufly fupporting the "conftitution. Bishop Cofins feeming furprized, "bishop Wilkins added this as the reafon of his af "fertion. For while you my lord, faid he, are "for setting the top on the piqued end downwards, "you won't be able to keep it up, any longer than "you continue whipping and fcourging; whereas I, " fays he, am for fetting the broad end downward,

and fo it will stand of itself." The Doctor juftly obferves that it is a pity this good bifhop died fo foon as 1672, and did not live till the revolution. in 1688.

was iffued out against him from the bi
fhop's court. Upon
Upon this, he took horfe
the next morning, and rode to Exeter;
where he was difcovered by a dignified
clergyman, with whom he was well ac-
quainted: who, after fome discourse toge-
ther, asked him, whether he would not
go and wait
upon the bishop? He faid he
thought not to do it, unless his lordship
hearing of his being in that city, should
think fit to invite him. Upon this the gen-
tleman left him, and foon returned with an
invitation from the bishop, who fignified
he shouldbe glad to fee him. Waiting on
his lordship, he received him with great
civility, as his old acquaintance; and pre-
sently fell to expoftulating with him about
his nonconformity. Mr. Howe told his
lordship, he could not have time, without
greatly trefpaffing upon his patience to go
through the feveral objections he had to
make against the terms of conformity.
The bishop preffed him to name any one
that he reckoned to be of weight. He
thereupon instanced in the point of reordi-

nation. cc

Why, pray Sir (faid the bishop

to him) what hurt is there in being twice " ordained?" "Hurt my lord, (fays "Mr. Howe) the thought is shocking; it

3

"hurts

hurts my understanding, it is an abfur"dity, for nothing can have two begin

nings. I am fure (said he) I am a mi"nifter of Chrift, and am ready to debate "that matter with your lordship, if you "pleafe. I cannot begin again to be a "minifter." The bishop then dropping that matter, told Mr. Howe, as he had done at other times, that if he would come inamongst them, he might have confiderable preferments; and at length difmiffed him in a very friendly manner. But as his lordship did not take the leaft notice to him of the procefs that was iffued out against him, so - neither did he fay any thing of it to his -lordship; but taking his leave, he mounted his horfe and rode home, and heard no more of that matter.

In the year 1665, when one of the terrible judgements of GOD was abroad in this nation, and made dreadful havock in our capital; the higher powers thought proper to embarass the nonconformifts more than ever by the famous five-mile act, as it is ufually called; which was paffed by the parliament assembled at Oxford. Happy had it been for this poor nation, at that time, if while many perfons indeavoured to fly from the peftilence, which wasted at noon-day;

noon-day; they had guarded also against a much more dangerous plague, that of perfecution and uncharitablenefs! Mr. Howe, with fome others, took the oath which that act required (K), and so preserved his liberty to travel, or refide where he pleased; but ftill continued in the western counties, vifiting the families of his friends and acquaintance, being ready wherever he came to do any service he was able.

In this fame year alfo it is faid, that Mr. Howe was imprifoned for two months in the ifle of St. Nicolas; which was the place where his Father-in-law Mr. George Hughes, and his brother Mr. Obadiah Hughes, had been confined for a longer time. But the occafion of this imprisonment, and what was alledged to justify it, and how he obtained deliverance, the learned Author of his life was not able to discover. After he was set at liberty he wrote a letter to his brother-in-law Mr. Obadiah Hughes, which well deferves to be communicated to the world, and preferved in this abridge

(K) THE nonconformist minifters were much divided in their fentiments on this occafion. In what fenfe, and for what reafons Mr. Howe and others took the cath, may be feen in Dr. Calamy's memoirs fo often referred to. p. 13, 14. fol. edit. p. 41-44• ment.

હતી.

VOL. I.

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