from their sins. To reform the prevailing vices, he published several pieces, one of which was against taking the name of the Lord in vain, entitled, "An Inuective agenst the moste wicked and detestable vice of Swearing," oct. 1543. To this work, with those before enumerated, is prefixed Theodore Basil, the name which Mr. Becon assumed to conceal himself in those dangerous times. He had two sons, Theodore and Basil; but whether he adopted their names, or named them from that which he had assumed, may not now be easily ascertained, but the latter seems most likely.

To reform the prevailing incontinence, and to promote "Christian chastacy," he published, in duodecimo, "An Inuective against Whoredom, and all other Abomenacions of Vncleanesse: a worke moste necessarye for this present tyme." Though without date, it seems to have been printed at this early period. To accomplish the same object, he wrote a preface to "The Christen state of Matrimony," translated from the High Dutch by Miles Coverdale; in which he states, with much force of truth, the advantages of matrimony, and bewails the abuses of celibacy. By matrimony "vertue is mayntayned, vice is eschewed, houses are replenished, cities are inhabited, the ground is tylled, kyngedomes floryshe, the publicque weale is defended, honest order kepte, Christendome is enlarged, and the glory of God highly avaunced."

His name is prefixed to "The Golden Boke of Christen Matrimonye," oct. 1542; but the work, in other respects, is the same as the article last mentioned. The book was published under this title, to which the printer prefixed his name, with a view to promote the sale of the work.

In the reign of king Edward,

"The

Mr. Becon published Physicke of the Soule, wherein. thou shalt finde many Godly Emplastures and comfortable Salves agaynst al spiritual Diseases, very necessary to be red of the true Christians in these last and perilous Dayes," oct. 1549. Also "The Flower of Godly Praiers, very necessary to be used of all faithfull Christians of all estates," duo. 1549, At this period, the celebrated John Day obtained a license from the king, for printing and re-printing all the books of Bishop Poynet and Thomas Becon; so that such books were not any way repugnant to the Holy Scriptures, or to the proceedings in religion, or to the laws of the realm.

Mr. Becon published "A Supplication to God for the Restoration of his Word;" in which he openly exposed the prevailing ecclesiastical usurpations, saying, "Jesus Christ refused to meddle with temporal or worldly matters, as the history of dividing the inheritance between the two brethren declares. He willed his disciples to refuse all worldly dominion and temporal rule. When they strove who should be greatest, Christ said to them, The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them; but it shall not be so among you.' Christ sent not his disciples to be lords of the council, lords of the parliament, lord presidents, lord chancellors, lord bishops, lord suffragans, lord deans; but to be ministers and dispensers of the mysteries of God, to be preachers of the Gospel, to be labourers in the Lord's harvest. But these things, O Lord, have they all forgotten. These ambitious antichrists are so drowned in vain glory, and in the desire of filthy lucre and worldly promotion, that they neither regard God, nor the higher powers: neither esteem they their office,

nor any one point of godliness and honesty, nor think of the day of judgment, nor yet remember themselves to be mortal. Their whole study in the time of this Luciferlike pride, is nothing else but to suppress thy holy truth, and to set up their antichristian kingdom, that they as gods may sit alone upon

the consciences of men."

In defence of the Gospel against the Catholics, Mr. Becon performed a most important service to the church of God; and having been instrumental in enlightening the minds of the people, so as to distinguish the truth of God from the errors of popery, it was thought necessary that some one should be employed to write against him: therefore Richard Smith, reader of divinity at Oxford, who had subscribed to the reformed religion, but who turned about and became a zealous advocate of popery, wrote with great bitterness against his publications, as he had done against those of Archbishop Cranmer.

Under the domination of popery, the propagation of the reformed doctrines gave great offence to those in power; and Mr. Becon's zeal for the reformation, as displayed in his numerous writings, roused their indignation. In the reigns of Henry and Mary, to conceal himself from those who watched for his life, he assumed another name, as already noticed; and in the proclamations of these two princes, suppressing the publications of the reformers, he is specified by that name. In the latter edict, he is classed with Luther, Calvin, Latimer, Hooper, Tindal, Coverdale, Cranmer, and others, whose writings are commanded to be for ever suppressed. Bishop Ridley, in a letter to his persecuted brethren, made honourable mention of him, saying, "We long to hear of father Crome, Sandys, Becon, and Rogers."

Mr. Becon was author of " The

Sycke Man's Salve, wherein the faithfull Christians may learne both how to behave themselves paciently and thankfully in the tyme of sicknesse, and also vertuously to dispose their temporall goods, and finally to prepare themselves gladly and godly to die," duo. 1561. His portrait is prefixed to this work, dated 1553; when, it is said, he was forty-one years of age. This work, containing about five hundred small pages, is remarkably instructive and well written, in the form of a dialogue between Phileman, Eusebius, Theophilus, Christopher, and Epaphroditus. He published another work, accompanied with his portrait, entitled "The Reliques of Rome, contayning all such matters of religion as have in times past bene brought into the church of the Pope and his adherents," duo. 1563.

In the following year, all his pieces, and others not then printed, were collected and published in three volumes folio, entitled “The Workes of Thomas Becon," &c. The preface is addressed to the venerable prelates of the realm, and dated "from the cathedrall and metropoliticall churche of Christe in Canterbury." After an interval of two years, he published "The Gouernaunce of Vertue, teaching all faythful Christians how they oughte dayly to leade their lyfe, and fruitfully to spend their time vnto the glory of God and the health of their owne soules," oct. 1566. From the preface, "to the right honorable and moste vertuous young lady Jane Semer," we learn that the author had published this book, suppressing his name, "abouteTM eight yeares paste, euen in the bloudye boysterous burning time."

The clergy in general were at this period in a state of most deplorable ignorance; but Mr. Becon, deeply affected with their situation, and anxious to render them all the

assistance in his power, published a book principally for their use, entitled "A new Postil, conteinyng most godly and learned sermons upon all the Sonday Gospells that be redde in the church thorowout the yeare; lately set foorth vnto the great profite not onely of al Curates and Spiritual Ministers, but also of all other godly and faythfull readers," quar. 1566. In the preface, addressed To his faithfull felow labourers in the Lordes haruest," he earnestly exhorts them to the faithful discharge of their important duties. To this Postil, he added two prayers, one at some length, the other shorter, either of which was to be offered to God before sermon, according to the Minister's discretion; also a third prayer, to be repeated after sermon. These prayers and sermons were drawn up for the use of Ministers who were not able to compose prayers and sermons, and for the further instruction of the people in sound and wholesome doctrine. This is styled a very useful book, containing plain and honest sermons upon the Gospels, for all the Sundays in the year.

The subject of this memoir trans

Sermon in these our days," oct. 1570; in the preface to which we are informed, that the Catholics "have restrayned all the laity throughout Christendome from readyng the Scriptures, and have forbydden them to be printed in the ulgare tounges, and in stede therof, have geven them, to occupie their braynes withall, fables of Robin Hood, of Gie of Warwick, of Benis of Hampton, of the Knights of the Round Table, of the four Sonnes of Amon, filthy tales of Chaucer, the Court of Venus, most horrible and blasphemous lyes of Saintes, Legendes, and such lyke."

It seems that some of Mr. Becon's. writings, if not posthumous, were re-published after his death, among which was "The Actes of Christe and of Antichrist, concernyng bothe their Life and Doctrine, diligently gathered, and now taken out of his Workes," duo. 1577. An extract from this work will show the author's correct views of the pastoral character:

"Christ by his apostles commands, that every congregation should have its

pastor, to feed the Christian flock with the wholesome food of God's word: so

several foreign divines.

4

One of

these, in octavo, is entitled "Antithesis, wherein the Word of God and Man's Inuentions are compared;" which seems to be the same as that in his works, entitled "The Diuersite beteene God's Worde and Manne's Inuention: wherein thou shalt see liuely described and plainely set forth, what comfortable and heauenly Benefites the Word of God bring eth vnto us and contrariwise, what horrible Plagues and most greuouse Pestilences Men's Tradicions bring to suche as receave and beleve them."

He published the translation of a sermon by Luther, entitled "A very comfortable and necessary

upon his own cure, and not be distracted with the care of divers congregations. Antichrist cannot away with this, that one man should have only one benefice; therefore, he dispenseth with his chaplains for many. How can one man be in divers places? Can a man do that which is denied to angels?-to be in divers places at once, or will they commit the charge of them to others, and hire others chaplains be not able to serve so many to satisfy their office? If antichrist's cures, as they are indeed not able, but place others in their stead, let them resign and give over to their curates and and they themselves serve not, that they ministers those benefits which they serve, may be the more able to do their duty."

Mr. Becon was author of a "Pomander of Prayers," quar. 1578. This work contains, after a prayer for the "Queene's Maiestie," another for the "Queene

On the citation of the London clergy before Archbishop Parker in the year 1564, our divine was convened, but he refused to subscribe, and was immediately sequestered and deprived; and, though it is said he afterwards complied, and was preferred, it does not appear what preferment he obtained. He is classed among those learned divines, whom the venerable primate recommended to preach before "so critical and learned a Princess as Queen Elizabeth." He was therefore called to preach at Paul's Cross; and such was his fame, and such his favour among persons of distinction, that the Lord Mayor presented a petition to Archbishop Parker, entreating his Grace to prevail upon him to preach one of the sermons at the Spittle the following Easter.

Historians are divided in their opinion concerning the time of Mr. Becon's death; and, while Newcourt informs us that he died previous to September 26, 1567, Lupton, whose authority is not less worthy of credit, says he died in the year 1570. He was a divine richly furnished with the graces of piety and the ornaments of literature, a constant preacher, a great sufferer in the cause of Christ, and a decided enemy to pluralities, non-residence, and all other relics of popery, being a zealous advocate of a purer reformation. He was of a peaceable spirit, always averse to the imposition of human traditions in

the worship of God, and a decided nonconformist in principle and practice. He is justly denominated famous for his great learning, his frequent preaching, his excellent writings, and multiplied sufferings. He was public orator and proctor in the university, and an active leading man in promoting the great work of the Reformation. His numerous publications were intended to expose the errors and superstitions of popery, to encourage and comfort his fellow Christians under persecution, and to promote the purity and happiness of the church of God. He wrote against the superstitious practice of bowing at the name of Jesus, as did several other learned puritans; and in addition to the articles already enumerated, Mr. Becon is said to have been author of the following works:

1. A Banquit of Christ's Birth. -2. A Quadragesimal Feast.-3. A Bundle, or Posey of Flowers.4. Discipline for a Christian Soldier.-5. A Short Catechism.6. A Christian's New Year's Gift.

7. A Jewel of Joy.-8. Principles of the Christian Religion.

9. A Treatise of Fasting.-10. The Castle of Comfort.-11. The Soul's Solace.-12. The Tower of the Faithful.-13. The Christian Knight.-14. A Dialogue of Christ's Nativity.-15. An Invective against Idolatry.-16. An Epistle to the distressed Servants of God. 17. Common Places of Scripture.-18. A Comparison betwixt the Lord's Supper and the Papal Mass.-19. Articles of Religion confirmed by the Fathers.-20. The monstrous Wages of the Romish Priests.21. Chronicles of Christ.-22. An Abridgment of the New Testament.-23. Questions of the Holy Scripture.-24. Triumph of God's Word.-25. The Praise of Death. -26. A Disputation of the Lord's Supper. B. B

Tutbury.

THE modern advocates of the personal reign of Christ on earth for a thousand years, believe and maintain, that in no distant period, the whole race of Abraham, the father of the faithful and the friend of God, will be gathered out of all nations, and conducted to the possession of the land of their forefathers; that they will rebuild Jerusalem and the temple in more than pristine glory, and restore their ancient worship with some exceptions, which will darkly intimate, that Messiah has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself; and some suppose, that Jesus will then come in his logos state, and with the splendour of the Shekinah, take possession of the temple. In support of this part of their hypothesis, they argue from the predilection of the Jews in favour of their ancient land; their miraculous preservation by the providence of God for so many ages; the Abrahamic covenant in which God promised to him and his seed by a grant which cannot be made void, a greater compass of land, and for a longer period than either of them have yet realized; the unequivocal declarations of patriarchs and prophets, apostles and evangelists, and of Jesus Christ himself; and from the design of the Governor of the world. They moreover penetrate so far into this mystery, that they tell us by what means and in what manner they will be gathered; their place of rendezvous, and what will happen to them there; the route they will take; the disposition with which they will prosecute their march; N. S. No.33.

where miracles as great or greater than those which were wrought at their emancipation from Egypt will attend them, and securely conduct them to the land of Canaan, where Judah and Israel will form one nation under one King.

Among the numerous obstacles to the return, settlement, and national glory of the Jews, the prodigious power of the Turks, the determined enemies of the Jews, as well as the Christians, occupies a prominent place. a prominent place. They have possessions in the finest parts of Europe, the land of Egypt, and many of the countries of which we read in Scripture, together with all that land which God promised to Abraham and his seed. Hence, it should seem that the Turks must have their power weakened before the return of the Jews, and ultimately be deprived of all their dominions. Our prophets accordingly see through the vista of prophecy that that empire is destined to extermination. Soon after the return of the Jews, the Eastern nations united under one head, and influenced by an avaricious desire to possess the immense wealth taken by the Jews from all quarters of the world, like a cloud will cover the land, and go up in one prodigious army, called Gog and Magog. By this confederation of Russians, Tartars, and Turks, Persians and Ethiopians, Lybians and Arabians, the Jews will be involved in trouble to punish them for their former sins. But the interposition of the God of Abraham will inevitably involve their enemies in destruction, and by plagues, famine, fire, and sword will cut them off upon the open field, and with their furniture serve the Jews with fuel for seven years. The destruction of Gog and 30