: days. He was of a sweet engaging temper; and though for a long time, he was under very great indisposition of body, and constant pains, yet he was unwearied in his work, both in his study and in the pulpit. Some little time after his ejection, he was cited into the Spiritual Court, for not going to Church. He appeared, and gave for a reason, that there was no preaching, and that as he was a Minifter himself, he could not, with any fatisfaction, attend there only to hear the Clerk read the Prayers; but promised to go there the next Lord's-day if there was a fermon. Finding upon enquiry that there was no Minister the next Lord's-day, he did not go, and so was cited again, and gave the same answer. The Lord's-day following, great multitudes came to Church in order to see Mr. Sherwood, who being informed by the Church-warden, who was his friend, that there would be no fermon, he went to Church and feated himself in the Clerk's desk, all the time of Prayers, and then went up into the pulpit, and preached from these words, And I will avenge the quarrel of my Covenant. This was foon spread abroad; but such was the people's affection for Mr. Sherwood, that although there was a crouded congregation, in a large Church, his enemies could get no one to give information against him, until by wheedling, they got an acknowledgement from the Church-warden, and then by threats frightened him into a formal information. He was then taken to a petty feffion of Justices, where one Mr. Robinson fat as Chairman, who greatly reviled Mr. Sherwood, and called him rebel, &c. which he bore patiently, with this reply: That as he was a Minister of the gospel, where there was so great an assembly, he could not but have compassion on the multitude, and gave them a word of exhortation. Mr. Robinson replied, But did ever man preach from such a rebellious text? Sir, replied Mr. Sherwood, I know that man is a rebel against his Creator; but I never knew that God could be a rebel against his creature, Mr. Robinson cried out, write his Mittimus, for for Launceston goal; and then turning to Mr. Sherwood faid, I fay Sir, it was a rebellious text. Mr. Sherwood looked him full in the face and said, Sir, if you die the common death of all men, then God never spake by me. He was then sent to prison, where he found favour with the Keeper, so that he had liberty to walk about the castle and the town. Mr. Robinson returned home; and a few days after, walking the fields where his maid was milking the cows, a bull who was never known to do any mischief, and indeed was tame beyond what is common to those creatures, came up to a gate where he stood with the maid before him, and turned the maid afide with his horns, and ran directly upon Mr. Robinson and tore his bowels out. This strange providence, brought fresh to my mind, what had been faid at the sessions. And in a little time Mr. Sherwood getting leave to return home, was sent for to Penzance, where some Justices met. He immediately went, though he expected no other but to be sent back to goal. But when he came there, Mr. Godolphin came out and took him into another room, and faid, Sir, I fent for you to know how you came to express yourself in such a manner, when we committed you: you know Sir, what has since befallen Mr. Robinson, &c. To which Mr. Sherwood replied, Sir, I was far from bearing any malice against Mr. Robinson, and can give no other answer than that, When we are called before Rulers for his name's fake, whom we ferve, it shall be given us in that very hour what we shall fay. To which Mr. Godolphin replied, Well Sir, for your fake I will never more have a hand in profecuting Difssenters. And he was as good as his word. But Mr. Sherwood was not the only person that Mr. Robinfon molested. He was also a great enemy to Mr. Thomas Tregoffe; for after he had been committed by him to Launceston goal for three mouths, and been only four days at home, Mr. Robinson gave it out that he would speedily fend him back again to the place from whence he came. In order order thereto he went to the market to procure another Justice, to join with him in a warrant, for a second conviction of Mr. Tregoffe for conventicals, and also to profecute fome others for the fame crime: and it was at this very time that he was killed by his bull. M Account of Mr. JOHN SYMS. R. JOHN SYMS was ejected from Dean Prior in Devon. He afterwards lived at Metley in the parish of West Ogwell, where he preached in his own house as often as he could. He was a man of eminent piety, and a great fufferer for his non-conformity: often exposed to dangers, and fometimes reduced to great straits. But he trufted in God, and had experience of his goodness in delivering him and in providing for him. Once he hid himself in a hayloft, in order to escape those who came to apprehend him. Some of his enemies thrust their swords into the hay, and yet the Lord mercifully preserved him. When his Wife hath gone to market, to procure neceffaries for the family, the often met with unexpected supplies: and whereas she went out empty and forrowful, she returned home full and joyful. Mr. Stawel, Mr. Cabel, and others one Lord's-day, beset his house while he was preaching; and broke open the door and disturbed the meeting. When they had done, Mr. Cabel accompanied Mr. Stawel to his house. As he was going along, feeing a plank lie on the ground, he swore that it was long enough to make him a coffin, and could not be perfuaded from lying down upon it to try. A short time after, he was seized with a distemper of which he died, and his coffin was made of that very plank. Mr. Stawel, when he was about taking a journey to London, met Mr. Syms, and threatened that he would do his business when when he returned. Mr. Syms replied, Sir, you should first ask God's leave. He went to London, but never returned. Mr. Syms, on his death-bed, gave notice before-hand, of the very hour of his diffolution: and after he had for fome time lain filent, he cried out on a sudden, Tell my friends I have overcome! I have overcome! and so quietly fell asleep in the Lord. To, from an English Merchant, giving an account of the Adventures of his Voyage. I Sir, Am at last safely arrived in Holland, and have taken the first opportunity of giving you a relation, of the adventures that detained me so long in foreign countries. In my return from the Indies, I had some affairs with a Spanish merchant, which, while I was managing in one of their sea-ports, there came in a Spanish corsair, who had taken a rich Turkish prize, with several Turks and Moors prifoners, whom he offered to sale, as slaves. I never had any traffic of this kind, from any view of interest; but from a motive of compassion I had purchased liberty for many a miferable wretch, to whom I gave freedom. Among the captives, there was one distinguished by the richness of his habit, and more by the gracefulness of his perfon. He drew all my attention, of which he appeared sensible; and still directed all his looks to me. Our fouls seemed to greet each other, as if our intimacy had been of long standing. There was something in the air of this young stranger, superior to adversity, and yet sensible of the present disadvantage of his fate: while I felt for him an emotion, soft as the ties of nature; and could not but impute it to the secret impression of some intelligent power, by an impulse on my foul, directing it to the accomplishment of some unknown design of providence. The The price set on this captive was extravagantly high, however, I listened to the monitor within, and paid the corfair his full demands. As foon as I had conducted the youth to my lodging, I told him he was free; the price I had paid was for his friendship and liberty. " Then you have confined me, replied the stranger, by the most lafting engagements. I might have broke through any other restraint; but I am now your voluntary flave, and dare trust you with a secret yet unknown to the Spaniards. My name is Orramel, the only son of a wealthy Baffa in Conftantinople, and you may demand what you will for my ransom." "You will foon be convinced, faid I, there was no mer. cenary view in this action. The amity I have for you is disinterested: it terminates in nothing below your immortal happiness. And were you inclined to examine those sacred truths, which would lead you to that felicity, and to share my fortune in a free and happy nation, the wealth of the Indies should not buy you from my affections; but if it is your choice to return to your own country, you are abfolutely free." With a friendly, but dejected look he told me, it was im. possible to dispense with his filial obligations to an indulgent parent; but he positively refused his freedom till he had given intelligence, and received an answer from his father; which he soon had with a Carte Blanche to me, on which I might make my own demands for his son's ransom. I returned it with no other terms but the liberty of all the Christian slave in his power; hoping by this conduct, to leave a conviction on the mind of my young friend, in favour of Chriftianity. He could perfuade me to receive nothing but fome little prefent, and left me with an apparent coricern. [To be concluded in our next.] An |