the lecture as a means of promoting nonconformity; therefore, however useful it might be in effecting the conversion and salvation of souls, it was deemed unfit to be continued. Accordingly, the Bishop of Worcester observes, that after this lecture was discontinued, his diocese was less troubled with nonconformists.* Mr. Whately was a man of distinguished eminence. He possessed excellent endowments, which he unreservedly employed for the advancement of the glory of God and the happiness of men. He was eloquent and mighty in the scriptures; and his speech and his preaching were not with the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power. His labours were not in vain in the Lord. "For it pleased God," says Mr. Scudder, "to put so great a seal upon his ministry, that many thousands of souls were converted and established by his ministerial labours." As a good shepherd of Christ, he exercised much care over his flock. He visited them from house to house, without respect of persons, resolving their doubts, and giving them suitable instruction. He had a tender affection for his people; and, with a view to promote their best interests, refused many offers of considerable preferment. He was always much grieved when a difference of opinion in lesser matters produced shyness among christians, who agreed in the fundamentals of the gospel. He was always ready to receive a word of reproof from the Lord's people, whether they were his superiors, equals, or inferiors, and would ever shew greater kindness to such faithful reprovers afterwards. He abounded in acts of liberality to the poor, and for many years expended one-tenth of his income in this way. And, indeed, the more he gave away, the more the Lord caused his worldly estates to prosper. Having for many years been exercised with manifold temptations and infirmities, he became particularly watchful over himself, deeply humble before God, more loathsome in his own eyes, and more tender and compassionate towards others. Towards the close of life, he greatly increased in humility and holiness. His last days were his best days; and, as his dissolution approached, he bore his racking pains with most exemplary patience. A brother minister having prayed with him, at the close of the exercise he lifted up his eyes and one of his hands towards heaven, and immediately resigned his happy spirit unto * Wharton's Troubles of Laud, vol. i. p. 552. God. He lived much beloved, and died much lamented, May 10, 1639, aged fifty-six years. His remains were interred in Banbury church-yard; and over his grave was afterwards raised a large stone monument, with an inscription in Latin and English, part of which was the following: Whatso'ere thoul't say who passest by, Mr. Whately was endowed with a lively spirit, a solid judgment, and a vast memory. He was a hard student, a constant preacher, an excellent orator, and a great scholar, especially in logic, philosophy, and mathematics.+ Mr. Leigh observes, "Of all the ministers I ever knew, he possessed the most worthy character. He was blameless, sober, just, holy, temperate, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, a lover of good men, and a workman who needed not to be ashamed." Fuller denominates him " good linguist, philosopher, mathematician, and divine," and sny's, "he was free from faction." Wood says, <<he possessed excellent parts, was a noted disputant, an excellent preacher, a good orator, and well versed in the original text, both Greek and Hebrew; but being a zealous Calvinist, a noted puritan, and much frequented by the precise party, for his too frequent preaching, he laid such a foundation of faction in Banbury, as will not be easily removed." "His piety," says Granger, " was of a very extraordinary strain; and his reputation as a preacher so great, that numbers of different persuasions went from Oxford, and other distant places, to hear him. As he ever appeared to speak from his heart, his sermons were felt as well as heard, and were attended with suitable effects."I The following anecdote, related of Mr. Whately, at once shews the happy effect of his preaching, and the honourable liberality of his spirit. Having in a sermon warmly recommended his hearers to put in a purse by itself a certain * Wood's Athenæ Oxon, vol. i. p. 529. + Life of Mr. Whately. Epistle prefixed to Whately's "Prototypes." Wood's Athenæ, vol. i. p. 528, 529. vol. ii. p. 351. 1 Biog. Hist. vol. ii. p. 191. 1585 portion from every pound of the profits of their worldly trades, for works of piety; he observed, that instead of secret grudging when objects of charity were presented, they would look out for them, and rejoice to find them. A neighbouring clergyman bearing him, and being deeply affected with what he so forcibly recommended, went to him after the sermon was ended, and asked what proportion of his income he ought in conscience to give. "As to that,' saith he, "I am not to prescribe to others; but I will tell you what hath been my own practice. You know, sir, some years ago I was often beholden to you for the loan of ten pounds at a time. The truth is, I could not bring the year about, though my receipts were not despicable, and I was not at all conscious of any unnecessary expenses. At length I inquired of my family what relief was given to the poor; and not being satisfied, I instantly resolved to lay aside every tenth shilling of all my receipts for charitable uses: and the Lord has made me so to thrive since I adopted this method, that now, if you have occasion, I can lend you ten times as much as I have formerly been forced to borrow.". Mr. Thomas Whately, ejected in 1662, was his son; and Mr. Richard Morton, another ejected minister, married his daughter.+ His WORKS.-1. Redemption of Time, 1606.-2. A Caveat for the Covetous, 1609.-3. The Bride-Bush; or, the Duties of Married Persons, 1617.-4. Funeral Sermon for Sir Anthony Cope, 1618.5. The New Birth; or, a Treatise of Regeneration, 1618.-6. God's Husbandry, 1619.-7. A pithy, short, and methodical Way of opening the Ten Commandments, 1622.-8. A Treatise of the Cumbers and Troubles of Marriage, 1624.-9. Sin no More, 1628.-10. The Oyl of Gladness, 1637.-11. The Poor Man's Advocate, 1637.— 12. Prototypes, or Examples out of the Book of Genesis, applied to our Instruction and Reformation, 1640.-13. Several Sermons. JOHN BALL, A. M.-This excellent person was born at Cassenton in Oxfordshire, in the month of October, 1585, and educated in Brazen-nose college, Oxford. Having finished his studies at the university, he became domestic tutor to the children of Lady Cholmlcy in Cheshire; about which time he became seriously thoughtful about the salvation of his soul. In the year 1610, having obtained * Life of Mr. Mede, p. 37. + Sylvester's Life of Baxter, part iii. p. 96.-Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. iii. p. 235, 350. :ordination without subscription, he entered upon the ministerial office, and became minister at Whitmore, near Newcastle, in Staffordshire. Here he resided for many years in the house of Edward Mainwaring, esq. a gentleman highly esteemed for his piety, generosity, and usefulness. Mr. Ball was exceedingly beloved by the ministers in those parts. As he was particularly concerned for the prosperity of Zion, and deeply impressed with the lamentable evils of the times, he frequently united with his brethren in the observance of days of fasting and prayer. For keeping a fast on Ascension-day, they were often convened before the Bishop of Chester, who greatly aggravated their crime, because it was observed on that holy day. These troubles, however, did not move Mr. Ball. Amidst all the storms and tempests of the times, he remained firm in the truth. Indeed, previous to his entering into the ministry, he was determined to satisfy his own conscience, and not to receive every thing in the established church, right or wrong: therefore, he impartially examined the controversy betwixt the conformists and nonconformists; and the result of his unbiassed inquiries was, a thorough dissatisfaction with the former, particularly with the subscription tyrannically imposed upon the clergy. During this period he looked upon a lord bishop as a very formidable creature; yet he had several contests with the Bishop of Chester, but came off unshaken, and more firmly established in the principles of nonconformity.* Lady Bromley, of Sheriff-Hales in Shropshire, was many years famous for promoting, by her influence and practice, the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the genuine principles of the reformation. She was the great patroness of the persecuted nonconformists in that part of the country. Messrs. Ball, Nicolls, Pierson, Herring, and others, when they were harassed and deprived of their ministry, were kindly entertained by this worthy lady. These divines often preached in her neighbourhood, whom she sheltered from the oppressive measures of the prelates, as long as she was able; and when they durst not preach, they kept days of fasting and humiliation at her house. Though Mr. Ball was often prosecuted in the ecclesiastical courts for refusing subscription and keeping conventicles, he was against separation.‡ Clark's Lives annexed to Martyrologie, p. 147, 148. + MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 395. (23.) Ibid. vol. iii. A. D. 1640. This divine was thoroughly learned in the controversies of the day, particularly those of Bellarmine, the Arminians, and conformity. He read and studied much upon these points; and it is almost incredible, says Mr. Clark, how he could speak on these topics, and lay open the weakness and fallacy of those arguments by which they were defended, even so as to avoid giving offence. He possessed an admirable talent for explaining difficult texts of scripture, comforting afflicted consciences, and for every duty of the ministerial office. He greatly excelled in prayer, adminis tering the sacraments, and in conducting the exercises of family religion. He possessed an admirable command of his temper, and lived uncommonly abstemious. Though his income did not exceed twenty pounds a year, he was content in his situation, and remarkably liberal to the poor. He used to say, "I have enough, enough, enough." But he was richly ornamented with true christian humility. This was the richest jewel in his crown of moral excellencies. He invariably preferred others above himself, and would never speak reproachfully of any person. Mr. Ball was uncommonly facetious in conversation. When the nonconformists were in danger of being driven out of the country, he used to say to his brethren, "If we be necessitated to leave our country, you shall preach and I will teach school." To a friend, who was tired of teaching school, and wished to enter into the ministry, he said, "You will find it far more difficult to teach men than boys." When told that he was in great danger of being silenced by the bishop, he said, "If he should deal thus with me, I would pull off my hat and thank him." A friend relating his great danger by a fall from his horse, saying he never experienced so great a deliverance before, "Yes," replied Mr. Ball, "a hundred times, even as often as you have ridden and not fallen." He zealously opposed all vanity and frowardness, and possessed an extraordinary talent in calming boisterous passions. To persons under the influence of unruly tempers, he used to say, "Put judgment into office. The affections are bad guides, but good followers. Look well to your hearts. Passion is the effect of pride. You ride an unruly horse, and therefore you stand in need of a strong bit and bridle." When the persecution of the nonconformists was the hottest, to a brother minister he said, "Though all the present race of nonconformists were dead and gone, be assured God would raise others out of our ashes, to protest against episcopacy |