though very unwillingly, in regard to the charge, had not the youth's strong inclination to his book, and well profiting therein, with some importunity of friends prevailed so far, as to continue him at school till he was fit for Cambridge. The Grammar school he attended was near Pakenham church, and was kept by a Mr. R. Briggs. Richard was extremely fond of his books. After school hours, while the other boys were at play, and sometimes playing the 'waggs' with him, he would be deep in the study of one book or other.' His dress for the most part was made of leather. From the school at Pakenham he was removed to the free school at Bury, four miles distant; thither he went every day. His thirst for learning increased. Concerning his love to his book, and his industry in study,' says his quaint biographer, 'I cannot omit the testimony of Mr. Thomas Clark, high constable, who did then conceive that he would in time prove an excellent and able man, who of a child was of such a manly staidness, and indefatigable industry in his study.'

Having been there for some time his studies were interrupted. The father was providing tools while the boy was looking after books. This change is narrated in a few simple homely words, and will be thoroughly understood by those who have been in a similar situation. His father at length grew weary of his expenses for books and learning, took him from school, bought him an axe and some other tools, and set him to his own trade, to the great discontent of the youth whose genius wholly carried him another way.'

The writer of this sketch may be pardoned for referring to himself. His father, grandfather, great-grandfather followed the trade of wheelwright for more than a century in the same village, and he himself has made many a wheel in his father's shop. His honoured pastor, who for more than fifty years was minister of the Baptist church in a neighbouring village where he was born and brought up, was also a wheelwright, and during the earlier period of his ministry followed his trade. It is to the

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It is easy to imagine this young scholastic wheelwright and the mistakes he would make in his trade. The man whose heart is out of his calling can never succeed. Richard has genius, but it refuses to display its powers in chopping felloes, or planing boards, or shaving spokes, or hammering nails. And possibly there is a mysterious conviction in his mind that this is not to be his calling. There is a secret finger pointing him to another path. The incompatibility between the boy and his work was observed by the neighbours if not by his father. 'Whereupon,' observes Catlin, 'Mr. Greaves, then minister of Thurston, and Mr. Rushbrook, an attorney there, knowing the disposition and the fitness of the lad, sent him, without his father's consent, to some of the fellows of St. John's College of their acquaintance, with their letters of recommendation, when upon examination, he was SO well approved of, that he was presently entered as a subsizar, shortly after chosen scholar of the house, and at length came to be fellow of the College, and one of the taskers of the University. His father being hardly brought to allow him twenty nobles a year towards his maintenance in Cambridge, to which some good friends in the country, Mr. Greaves, Mr. Knewstub, and some others made some addition for a time, as need required.'

Sibbes entered St. John's College, Cambridge, in the year 1595. He was then in his eighteenth year. Though having many disadvantages he made rapid progress in his studies. passed B.A. in 1589, M.A. in 1602, was elected College preacher in 1609.

He

discredit of the Baptist Denomination that no memoir of any kind has been written of a man, who was calmly and constantly valiant for the truth, and who served the church of God faithfully for more than half a century; who in many respects was the successor of Thomas Scott, the laborious commentator, and who, for quaintness of manner, and simplicity and sincerity of mind, might be regarded as the Isaac Walton, of the Baptist Denomination.

While in the University he became the subject of the great change; -the greatest change that can pass on a man in this world, and without which, whatever may be the natural gifts and intellectual acquirements, no man is fitted to preach the gospel. He was now converted to God. He was turned from darkness to light, and from death to life. His residence at the University marked a very important period in the religious history of Cambridge. "The gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth,' was fully, faithfully, and fearlessly preached. Cambridge was said to have a 'Nest of Puritans,' and Goodwin says the whole town was filled with the discourse of the powers of Mr. Perkins' ministry.'

William Perkins was a very remarkable man, and a very celebrated preacher. He is styled in his works that famous and worthy minister of Christ.' And ten years after his death one makes mention of 'the never dying memory of his excellent knowledge, his great humility, his sound religion, his fervent zeal, his painful labours in the church of God.' Perkins was born in the 1558, the first year of Elizabeth. In the earlier part of his life he was notorious for his profligacy and vice, but after he became converted to God he was as conspicuous in earnestness for the proclamation of the gospel. Great sinners by God's grace often make great saints.

year

Perkins' preaching was distinguished by plainness, pungency, and power. There is almost an entire absence of the pedantry which marks the discourses of some of the divines of that period-the learned bishop Andrews,*- for example.

*Fuller says quaintly of Andrews, 'the world wanted learning to know how learned this man was: so skilled in all (especially Oriental) languages, that some conceive he might, if then living, almost have served as an interpreter general at the confusion of tongues.'

Andrews was master of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Chaldic, Syraic, Arabic, and fifteen modern languages. He was one of the

Fuller says he did distil and soak much scholarship into his preaching, yet so insensibly that nothing but familiar expressions did appear.' He died in 1602, at the age of 44. Mr. Perkins was a little man, and wrote with his left hand, being lame of his right. His works shew him to have been a most pious, holy, and industrious divine.' (Neale).

There can be little doubt but under this man's powerful and awakening ministry the student Sibbes received many religious impressions. Perkins was succeeded by Mr. Paul Baines. He was a man of kindred spirit, and it was under his preaching that the great transformation took place. In the Bruised Reed,' and in the 'Soul's Conflict,' we have the fruits of that translators of the Bible. A modern historian speaking of him in relation to the Court of James the 1st, and contrasting him with the Puritan Abbot, who became Archbishop of Canterbury says, Of all those whose piety was remarkable in that troubled age, there was none who could bear comparison for

spotlessness and purity of character with the good and gentle Andrews. Going in and out as he did among the frivolous and grasping courtiers who gathered round the King, he seemed to live in a peculiar atmosphere of holiness, which prevented him from seeing the true nature of the evil times in which his lot had fallen. James indeed, reverenced and admired him, and was always pleased to hear him preach; the more readily perhaps, because his sermons were not such as were likely to be of any real use to him. What was needed in that court was the fearless tone of a Latimer or a

Knox to rouse the giddy crowd into a sense of the solemn realities in the midst of which they were living. The piety of Andrews

was of too feminine a character for such a

work. The ritual observances, and the intellectual subtleties in which he delighted, and which in reality conveyed a sense of the Divine presence to his devotional mind, had no power to move the hearts of his thoughtless hearers who went away interested but unchanged. Those who had the greatest admiration for the sermons which he preached before the court cannot but feel, when they remember what the audience was to which they were addressed, that one stirring appeal in the mouth of a man who could reason of righteousness, of temperance, and of judg ment, would have been worth them all.' Gardiner's History of England from 1603 to 1616.

It is also recorded that in familiar discourse with Goodwin, Sibbes said, 'Young man, if you ever would do good, you must preach the gospel and the free grace of God in Christ Jesus.' The counsel was a nail in a sure place, and no reader of Goodwin needs to be told how fully and magnificently he sets forth the grace of God in Christ.*

Sibbes held his lectureship at Cambridge for five years without disturbance. But the dawning of evil days had come. Laud, the inveterate and ubiquitous enemy of Puritanism and Puritanical Preaching, had begun his career of persecution. In 1616 Sibbes was deprived of his lectureship: outed' says an old historian. This apparent calamity was over-ruled by the providence of God for the wider diffusion of the gospel. Through the influence of Sir Henry Yelverton, Sibbes was chosen preacher of Gray's Inn, London. This was a most important and influential position. The greatest names among the then existing nobility are found recorded as forming his audience. Francis Bacon had chambers at Gray's Inn, and was one of his hearers. Bacon at the feet of Sibbes! what a subject for a picture or a poem. It has been thought that the great philosopher referred to the sermons of the pathetic preacher when in his sorrow

Grosart's 'Memoir of Richard Sibbes.' In writing the name of Mr. Grosart I cannot but express my gratitude and obligations to him for his interesting and excellent Memoir,' and for his valuable Edition of the "Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, D.D.' Mr. Grosart is impelled in his work by a glowing enthusiasin, and he appears to have spared neither time, expense, nor travel to make his edition thorough and complete. Would that the same careful eye, and loving

heart, and practised hand would give us the Life, and a Complete Edition of the Works of Henry Smith, and William Perkins.

Sibbes' preaching was now highly valued and his reputation generally spread. New honours awaited him. In 1626, he was invited to the Provostship of Trinity College, Dublin." Some very interesting correspondence relating to this invitation is still extant. The learned and gentle Usher, Archbishop of Armagh, was very anxious to secure his appointment. Writing to Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, and referring to his late visit to London,Usher says, I then recommended unto you Mr. Sibbes, the preacher of Gray's Inn, with whose learning, soundness of judgment, and uprightness of life I was very well acquainted; and it pleased your grace to listen unto my motion, and give way to the coming over of the person named, when time required. The time, my lord,

is now come.'

clined the offer. It was afterwards Sibbes visited Dublin, but de

accepted by Bedell, whose name became famous for learning and piety.

About this time Sibbes accepted the Mastership of Catherine Hall, Cambridge. Catherine Hall took its name in honour of the 'virgin and martyr St. Katherine,' and was one of the minor colleges. John Bradford, the martyr. Ralph Browning, who ordained Isaac Barrow, William Spurstow, chaplain to Hampden's Green coats, John Lightfoot, and Thomas Sherlock were educated in this College.

his new office, and produced a great reformation in the place.

Sibbes threw his whole soul into

He found says Fuller the house in a mean condition, the wheel of St. Catherine having stood still (not to say gone backward) for some years together. He left it replenished with scholars, beautified with buildings, better endowed with revenues.' Sibbes was now brought into contact with Dr. Preston, Master of Emmanuel College. Preston was a rigid Puritan. He had been conVerted under the searching ministry of John Cotton. Preston became a