have been baptized myself, may have the honor to baptize a Prince of Wales."*

Mr. Keach not only wrote much on practical subjects, as well as in defence of the truth,f but at times engaged in public disputations.

*Birch's Life of Tillotson, p. 2, 3, 298.

↑ His Practical Works are,

1. The child's instructor, or a new and easy primThe first piece he wrote, and for which he sufferred so much. 24mo. 1664.

mer.

2. A summons to the grave; being Mr. John Norcot's funeral sermon. 12mo. 1676.

3. TROPOLOGIA. A key to open Scripture metaphors, 2 vols. Folio. 1682. A second edition of this work was published by the London booksellers a few years since.

4. The travels of true godliness. 8vo.

5. The progress of sin; or the travels of ungodli8vo.

ness.

6. The counterfeit Christian; or the danger of hypocrisy. 4to. 1691.

7. The marrow of justification; being several sermons on Rom. iv. 5. 4to. 1692.

8. The everlasting covenant; being a funeral sermon for Mr. Henry Forty. 8vo. 1693.

9. A Trumpet blown in Zion. 4to.

10. A golden mine opened; or the glory of God s rich grace displayed. 4to. 1694.

11. God acknowledged; being a sermon on a particular fast. 4to. 1696.

12. The early seeker, and love of a dying Saviour. 12mo. 1697.

13. The articles of the faith of the congregation of Horselydown. With the glory and discipline of a true church displayed. 12mo. 1697.

One of these public discussions was with the people called Quakers: at another time with Unitarians, and once with some of the established clergy. The profitableness of this mode of controversy, however, is extremely doubtful.

14. The display of glorious grace; or the covenant of grace opened. 8vo. 1698.

15. Jacob's ladder improved. 8vo. 1698.

16. A call to weeping; or a warning concerning present miseries. 12mo. 1689.

17.

Instructions for children.

24mo.

18. Gospel mysteries unveiled; or an exposition of all the parables, &c. Folio. 1704.

His Polemical Works.

19. Mr. Baxter's arguments for believer's baptism. A sheet. 1674.

20. Darkness vanquished; being an answer to Danvers on the laying on of hands. 8vo. 1675.

21. Gold refined; or baptism in its primitive purity. 8vo. 1689.

22. Light broke forth in Wales. 8vo.

23. The gospel minister's maintenance vindicated. 12mo. 1689.

24. Antichrist stormed; or the Popish church proved to be mystery Babylon. 8vo. 1689.

25. Pedobaptism; being an answer to the Athenian Society. 4to. 1691.

26. Breach repaired in God's worship; or singing, &c. &c. 8vo. 1691.

27. A sober reply to Mr. Steed's epistle concerning singing. 8vo. 1691.

28. The rector rectified, &c. 8vo. 1692.

29. The axe laid to the root; or one blow more at the foundation of infants' baptism, and church membership. Part 1. 4to. 1693.

30. The axe laid to the root; wherein Mr. Flavel's,

Notwithstanding the various labors in which Mr. Keach engaged, he was of a very weak constitution, and often afflicted. He was at one time so ill, in 1689, as to be given over by the physicians, and several of the ministers and his

Mr. Rothwell's, and Mr. Exall's arguments are answered. Part II, 4to. 1693.

31. A counter antidote; or an answer to Shute's antidote, to prevent the prevalency of Anabaptism. 4to. 1694.

32. A medium between two extremes. 8vo. 1698. 33. The Jewish Sabbath abrogated, &c. 8vo. 1700. 34. The French impostor detected; or an answer to Zachary Housel and Dr. Coward, who denied the soul's immortality. With a Frontispiece. 12mo. 1702. His Poetical Works are,

35. Sion in distress, &c. 8vo. 1666.

36. A pillar set up to keep in remembrance his first dear and beloved wife. A sheet, 1679.

37.

War with the Devil. 8vo.

38. The glorious lover. 8vo.

39. The grand impostor discovered; or the Quaker's doctrine weighed in the balance and found wanting. 8vo. 1674.

40. The victorious Christian, or the triumph of faith; being prison meditations. A sheet. 1685.

41. Spiritual melody; containing nearly 300 hymns. 12mo. 1696.

42. A feast of fat things; containing several Scriptural songs and hymns. 12mo. 1696.

"Besides which (adds Crosby) he prefixed several prefaces and commendations to the works of others, viz.

A Preface recommendatory to Mr. Balmford's poem, entitled, The Seaman's spiritual companion.

1678.

8vo.

relations had taken leave of him, as a dying man, past all hopes of recovery. "But the Rev. Mr. Hansard Knollys seeing his dying friend and brother in the gospel near, to all appearance, expiring, betook himself to prayer; and in an earnest and very extraordinary manner, begged that God would spare him and add unto his days the time he granted to his servant Hezekiah. As soon as he had ended his prayer, he said, 'Brother Keach, I shall be in heaven before you,' and quickly after left him. So remarkable was the answer of God to this good man's prayer, that I cannot omit it; though it may

A Preface to Mr. Prudom's Truth unveiled by Scripture light. 8vo. 1699.

A Preface to Mr. Prudom's new world discovered; in which Mr. Keach declares his opinion of the millenium. 12mo. 1704.

An Introduction to Mr. Colman's narrative of a schism made in the church at Kilbey in Leicestershire.

Some of the works of Mr. Keach display a good share of learning; but this was supplied by others. The preface to his Tropologia; or A Key to open Scripture metaphors, was written by the famous Thomas Delaune, and bears his signature, T. D. Nor did Mr. Keach wish to appear in borrowed plumes, since he acknowledges in the preface to the Rector Rectified, as follows: Whereas you will find both Hebrew, Greek, Latin, German, Dutch, made use of either more or less in the ensuing answer, I would not have you think I understand all these languages; but I have had the assistance of a learned person, (though in that case only) who is my friend and acquaintance, that so the work may be more fully and effectually done.'

B

be discredited by some, there are yet living incontestible evidences of the fact. For Mr. Keach recovered of that illness, and lived just fifteen years afterwards: and then it pleased God to visit him with that short sickness which put an end to his life."*

During this illness he had many friends with him, but the violence of his distemper soon deprived them of the expectation of his life. When he was very near his end, Mr. Joseph Stennet was sent for; but when he came, Mr. Keach was not able to say much to him, excepting desiring him to preach his funeral sermon from 1 Tim. i. 12. I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day. During his illness, he manifested extraordinary patience and resignation to the divine will, and, with much composure, told his wife that he had recommended her to a better husband-the Lord Jesus Christ: and exhorted his children to live in love, peace, and unity, and in a steadfast adherence to Christ and his ways. A little before his death, his eldest daughter, who was one of the people called Quakers, came to see him, with whom he endeavoured to converse, and manifested a great eagerness and desire to speak with her, but his speech failing prevented him. He died July 18, 1704, about 11 o'clock in the morning, and in the 64th year of his age. On the following Friday, his remains were taken from his meeting house,

* Crosby's History of the English Baptists.