LONDON :

JOSEPH RICKERBY, PRINTER,

SHERBOURN LANE.

ADVERTISEMENT.

RICHARD Claridge's Life as now republished, is nearly a verbatim transcript of the first edition. A second came out in 1757; both of them having this addition to the title: "With Essays in Defence of several principles and practices of the people called Quakers.” But it was found that these Essays, if subjoined to the present volume, would have swelled it to about twice its size, and probably impeded its circulation. The bope, however, is entertained, that at least a Selection from these, as well as from the other valuable productions of so clear, forcible, and experimental a writer on doctrinal truth, may very acceptably be revived in the same cheap, compact form, and laid before the public and the Society of Friends in particular, at the present

a

juncture.

JOHN BARCLAY.

Stoke Newington,

8th Month, 1836.

CONTENTS.

PREFATORY ADDRESS, by Joseph Besse

CHAPTER I.-Page 1.

1649.-Richard Claridge's birth, parentage, education, academi-
cal and ecclesiastical preferments-His two first marriages--
The births of his children-The death and character of his two
first wives-His manner of life while a priest-The work of
grace upon him- His going to hear Richard Baxter, and other
noted preachers-His reformation of life-His examination of
the doctrines and ceremonies of "the Church of England" by
the Holy Scriptures-His last preaching at Peopleton, and
the heads of his two last Sermons there-The resignation of
his rectory-His scruple as to giving the title of Reverend
Father in Christ, to the bishop-Books written by him
while a priest.

page xi.

CHAPTER II.-Page 16.

1691. His joining in society with the Baptists-A remark-

able passage at his being baptized-A mistake in the "Athenæ

Oxonienses," concerning him, rectified-Stories and reports

raised against him-Some testimonials in his defence-His

zeal and fervency upon his leaving "the Church of England,"

expressed in letters to several Baptists-His coming to London

and settling there, upon invitation from the Baptist church at

the Bagnio in Newgate-street-His sense of the weight of the

ministerial office, expressed in a letter to a Baptist preacher-

His third marriage-His desisting to preach at the Bagnio—

b

His Answer to the Baptist Church in Virginia-street, calling
him to the office of an elder among the Baptists-Books
written by him while a Baptist-The Gracious Soul's Expe-
rience an Hymn.

CHAPTER III.-Page 28.

1696. His withdrawing from communion with the Baptists,
and frequenting the meetings of the people called Quakers-
His exercise at first coming among that people-His first
preaching among them-His account of, and remarks upon a
meeting of the Philadelphians-His conferences with several
noted Baptists-A paper concerning testimonies, and hearing
them-Visits made him by several of the people called Quakers.

CHAPTER IV.—Page 51.

1698. His judgment about bearing arms—. -A conference between

him and a learned Hungarian-His visiting Mary Gulson, and

her concern for him-His exercise of mind, lest he should

preach any more in his own will-His letter to the aforesaid

Hungarian-His letter of encouragement to a Friend in the

ministry-The substance of two conferences between him and

an Antinomian preacher, with an additional postscript about

election and reprobation.

CHAPTER V.-Page 83.

1700. His removal to Barking-His Letter to the people
called Baptists-His conference with Benjamin Keach-His
publishing a book called "Mercy covering the Judgment-
seat"-His Letter to Mary Gulson-His visiting meetings in
several parts of Essex and Hertfordshire-His Letter to Alice
Hayes-His Letter to the Monthly Meeting at Barking-His
publishing a book, called "Lux Evangelica Attestata"-His
Letter to Hugh Kirk, a man newly convinced.