the progress of a soul in sanctification, this depicts religion itself as a pilgrim, and describes the treatment it receives from the various orders of men. In point of theological accuracy, devout temper, and useful tendency, the Travels of True Godliness may bear comparison with Pilgrim's Progress. The admirers of Bunyan cannot fail to be pleased with Keach.

Considerable liberties have necessarily been taken with the style, as the work was written an hundred and fifty years ago; but the sentiments have in no instance been varied in the least. The Memoir has

been prepared with much attention, expressly for this edition of the work.

Those who adopt as one of their modes of benevolence, the distribution of awakening tracts, will find this happily suited to their purpose, and adapted to a great variety of characters. To Christians it will prove an excellent closet companion, containing judicious and satisfactory helps to self-examination, and designating the true and false marks of grace, with remarkable precision. May the divine blessing attend it.

Boston, June 1, 1829.

H. M.

MEMOIR

of

REV. BENJAMIN KEACH.

BENJAMIN KEACH was born at Stokeham, in Buckinghamshire, England, Feb. 29, 1640. He had the inestimable blessing of pious parents, but, though in respectable circumstances, they were unable to give him a liberal education, which, at that day, was so much more expensive and difficult than at present. He was, therefore, placed at a trade. Soon, however, it was perceived by his uncommon love of books, and critical manner of reading the Scriptures, that the employment was uncongenial. He, notwithstanding, continued at his business about three years, during which time he was led by observing the entire silence of the sacred oracles on the subject of infant baptism, to enter on a deliberate examination of that subject, which resulted in his joining a Baptist church in that county.

The church discovering his piety and talents, about three years afterwards, in 1658, called

him to the solemn work of the ministry. He was now in his 18th year, and for about two years he pursued his work with great comfort and success, and much to the edification of those who heard him. The Baptists in the part where he lived, generally held the sentiments of the Remonstrants, or Arminians, and from these he imbibed and maintained it; till on coming to London, where he had an opportunity of consulting both men and books, he found that the different opinions upon these subjects had given rise to two denominations of Baptists. Examining this point more closely, he in a few years came to a clear understanding of the Calvinistic sentiments, and continued to maintain them during life.

In the year 1664, he wrote a little book, which many of his friends wished him to publish for the use of their children. This request he complied with, and entitled it, The Child's Instructor, or a New and Easy Primer. He did not put his name to it, and procured a friend to write a recommendatory preface; from which it seems that he apprehended that it would expose him to some difficulties, as there were several things in it contrary to the doctrines and ceremonies of the church of England.

This book was no sooner printed, and some few of them sent down to him, than one Mr. Stratford, a justice of the peace for that county, was informed of it. He immediately took a constable with him, and went to the house of Mr. Keach, where they seized all the books they

could find, and bound him to appear at the assizes, to answer for his crime, in a recognizance of a hundred pounds himself, and two sureties of fifty pounds each.

The assizes commenced at Aylesbury, October the 8th, 1664, and Lord Chief Justice Hyde, presided. The account of this trial shows the shameful prostitution of justice resorted to in order to punish the nonconformists in those days of persecution.

The treatment of Mr. Keach during this trial, was harsh and unreasonable, and the sentence It is as follows:

severe.

66

Benjamin Keach, you are here convicted for writing, printing, and publishing a seditious and schismatical book, for which the court's judgment is this, and the court doth award, That you shall go to gaol for a fortnight without bail or mainprize; and the next Saturday to stand upon the pillory at Aylesbury, in the open market, from eleven o'clock till one, with a paper on your head with this inscription: For writing, printing, and publishing a schismatical book, entitled The Child's Instructor, or a New and Easy Primer. And the next Thursday to stand, in the same manner and for the same time, in the market at Winslow; and then your book shall be openly burnt before your face, by the common hangman, in disgrace of you and your doctrine. And you shall forfeit to the king's majesty the sum of twenty pounds, and shall remain in gaol until you find sureties for your good behaviour, and for your appearance at the next assizes; then to renounce your doctrines, and

make such public submission as shall be enjoined you. Take him away, keeper!"

All the attempts of his friends to obtain any abatement of this sentence were ineffectual. It was executed both at Aylesbury and Winslow, with even more exactness and rigor than was customarily used toward common malefactors.

Though Mr. Keach seems not to have been daunted by persecution, yet considering how much it obstructed his usefulness in Buckinghamshire, and how much greater opportunities of doing good would be afforded him in the metropolis, he removed to London in 1668.

He had not been long in London, before he was invited to settle with a congregation in the Borough, and was solemnly ordained by imposition of hands, in 1668, being then 28 years of age.

During four years after the settlement of Mr. Keach, they were obliged to meet from house to house, and though very careful to prevent being discovered, they were twice disturbed, and some of them indicted to appear at the Quarter Sessions.

In 1672, when the declaration of indulgence was published, they built a meeting-house at the corner of Stoney Lane, Horselydown. It pleased God to give such success to the ministry of Mr. Keach, that they soon increased so considerably, that the place was frequently enlarged till it became capable of containing nearly a thousand people.

From this period to the revolution in 1688, Mr. Keach took a lively interest in every thing