While he was exercised in the consideration of these things, the words of Christ often came into his mind, (Matt. xv. 8, 9,) "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; but in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." And that exhortation of Peter, (Acts ii. 40,) "Save yourselves from this untoward generation, &c.""And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." These texts, often recurring to his remembrance, and being applicable to his present case, he esteemed them to be spoken to himself.

But though he was now fully satisfied from the Holy Scriptures, as the Lord was pleased to open them unto him by his blessed Spirit: First, That the ministers of the Church of England, so called, are no ministers of Christ, either in respect of their call, titles, work, or maintenance. Secondly, That the church itself, as constituted, hath no authority from the New Testament. Thirdly, That her doctrine is, in many points, very erroneous. Fourthly, That her liturgyworship is will-worship. Fifthly, That her ceremonies, sacraments, ordinations, and titles, are mere human institutions.

Yet he found it no easy thing to give up in obedience to his convictions, so as to leave her communion: both honour and interest lay at stake. It was hard to flesh and blood, to part with a good living and settled income, and to depend on Providence for a future. supply. Nor was it a light thing for him who had been a minister of that church, well approved for wisdom and judgment, near twenty years, to subject himself to reproach and contempt, and to be counted

a fool by those who formerly held him in honour.These difficulties retarded him for some time; and many doubts and fears arising in his mind, his supplication was unto the Lord for strength and deliverance; so that, at length, he was enabled, through grace, to obey the heavenly call; and being directed by the truth, according to the measure then manifested to him, he voluntarily quitted his parochial charge and tithe-revenue.

He preached his last sermon at Peopleton, on the 18th of the eighth month, 1691, in the morning, on Matt. xxii. 37, 38, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; this is the first and great commandment." And in the afternoon, on Matt. xv. 9, " But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

On the 10th day of the month called December, 1691, he resigned his said rectory or parsonage of Peopleton: the paper of his resignation was in the usual form. He made some scruple at signing the said paper of resignation, on account of the title of "Reverend Father in Christ," therein given to the bishop, but subscribed it with a protestation of his not approving that expression.

While he was a minister in the Church of England, he wrote and published: First, A Defence of the present Government under King William and Queen Mary; in two parts, severally printed, anno 1689.Secondly, A Looking-Glass for Religious Princes; printed anno 1691.

Richard Claridge had, for a considerable time before his resignation, contracted an acquaintance with several leading men among the Baptists; he had divers conferences with them; and being already convinced in himself, that infant baptism was no institution of Christ, and perceiving them to bear a testimony against many errors and corruptions which he had seen in the national church, and judging them to approach nearer to the primitive pattern, he joined himself to their

society; and, soon after he left preaching in the Church of England, was baptized according to their method, on the 21st day of October, 1691.

At the time of his being so baptized, as soon as he was come out of the water, and gone into a house, his wet clothes being yet upon him, a certain person came

into the room, and pulling off his hat, accosted him thus, "You are welcome, sir, out of one form into another." This man's words struck him home, and often after returned with weight upon his mind.

About two months after his resignation, Thomas Nansan, a man well known in Worcester, both for his exact conformity to the rites and services of the Church of England, and his sober and obliging conversation, was pleased to send him a letter of his good opinion of him, in these words; namely," Mr. Claridge, I have not had the good fortune to see you since you have deserted the Church of England, and lessened your income, which I was not well pleased to hear, especially to be done by a man of so great judgment and skill, not only in worldly affairs, but to the saving of souls also." He concludes with this subscription, "Your constant friend and servant, Thomas Nanson."

This testimonial, as well as several others which he received, show, that while he was a preacher in the Church of England, he maintained a good character among men.

He had not been long a member, before he became a preacher among the Baptists, and he continued an itinerant preacher among the Baptists in the country, for several months; his habitation being at Bredon, he sometimes preached there, at other times at Tewksbury, Bromesgrove, Pershore, Westmacot, and other neighbouring places.

In the fifth month, 1692, he received a letter from Robert Steed, pastor of a Baptist-meeting, at the Bagnio, in Newgate-street, London, with an invitation and proposals for his coming up, and settling among them. On the 14th of the eighth month following, he came up to London, and on the 23rd of

the same, preached his first sermon at the Bagnio, on Matt. v. 8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." On the 13th of the ninth month, several brethren from the church at the Bagnio, came to him, signifying their unanimous desire, and call to him, for assisting them in the work of the ministry; unto which he consented; and on the 19th of the same month, he returned home again to Bredon, in order to settle his affairs there; which being done, he came again to London, about the middle of the twelfth month, 1692, and there remained. He had a testimonial signed by the church at Bromesgrove, recommending him both as a brother and a preacher duly authorized by them.

He was a very constant and sedulous preacher, and had more than an ordinary sense of the great weight of the ministerial office. In 1694, he took a house in George's-court, Clerkenwell, where he kept a grammar-school for several years.

He continued preacher to the Baptist congregation, at the Bagnio aforesaid, upwards of two years; and then desiring to be dismissed, the said meeting gave him an ample recommendation, signed by Robert Steed, their elder, and eleven brethren, members of the said meeting, in the name and by the consent of the same, dated the 31st of the first month, 1695.

After this, he preached frequently in one or other of the Baptist's meetings, in or about the city; refusing to be any more limited to a particular assembly, though requested thereunto. His answer was, That he thanked God, in the first place, that had given him a room in their hearts and prayers; and, secondly, them for their call. But the work being exceeding weighty, and he very unfit for it, he desired the thing might be left to the Lord, to see what he would do in it; but that he found in himself, at present, no inclination to it. He desired they would not construe this as a slight compliment, or answer of course, but to take it, as it was, for the real sense of his soul in the case. On the 23rd of the sixth month, the same messengers

came again, and in the name of the said church, gave him a second call to eldership; but his answer was, That he had sought the Lord in the case, and seriously examined himself, but could neither find inclination in his heart to accept it, nor fitness in himself for so great a work; that it was the desire of his soul to serve Christ and his people, but he did not see his way clear, to do it in the station they desired him. They had some discourse about elders, and their call; about ministers' maintenance, and note-preaching; he told them his opinion, that a church's call was not sufficient, and that bargain, and contract, and note-preaching, were contrary to the Holy Scriptures.

On the 15th of October following, came two of the members of that church, as private brethren, earnestly entreating him to accept the church's call; and if not so, by all means to take his communion with them.— His answer was, He could not; and that the Lord had shown unto him, that the very foundations of the Baptist churches were out of course, and that there was a higher dispensation than what they were under. Their dispensation was that of John, a lower dispensation, which was to vanish; but the dispensation of the Spirit, which is to continue, was higher. Here God teaches his people himself.

Richard Claridge, notwithstanding, preached among the Baptists some months longer, when he declined. preaching among them; and began by degrees to withdraw from their communion. For though, as his own MSS. express it, he found them to have a serious remnant among them, sounder in doctrine, holier in life, and to have less of human invention in their worship, than those of the National way; yet were they far short of that purity in faith, worship, and discipline, for which the primitive Christians were so famous in the age of the apostles: and therefore, his soul being desirous to find out and walk with a people whose ministry, church, doctrine, worship, and discipline, were in all things according to the apostolical pattern; the Lord, who raised this desire in him, was