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Many worthy men, in former days and in our own times, from a laudable attachment to the venerable halls in which their education was completed, have left endawments to different colleges in our two celebrated English universities, for the assistance of those students who have but a small stipend of their own on which to depend for support. While the benevolent founders of these scholarships have cherished grateful recollections towards the places of their instruction, they have not been unmindful of the claims which kindred and neighbourhood had upon their regards. It is accordingly stipulated in several of their foundation-deeds,-on a number of young gentlemen presenting themselves as candidates for a scholarship, should there be one of them who can establish any degree of affinity to the founder, or who comes from the same county, that, other things being equal, he shall always have a preference of benefit to the others. In some colleges, if a candidate has merely a coincidence of surname with the founder, he is entitled to this preference.

In consequence of one of these excellent regulations, Mr. Alleine, a native of Wiltshire, claiming his right, sat (as it is termed,) for a vacant Wiltshire scholarship in Corpus Christi college. Having passed an unexceptionable examination, his attainments being his sole friends, he was ad mitted, Nov. 8th, 1651, on the foundation. By acquitting himself so well at the election, he gave a pledge of his future excellence. One who was a member of the same college, says of him: Never had learning a truer drudge since she kept house in Oxford: at her work he was, both day and night; thinking all time too little, no pains too much, that he spent in her service. Seldom it was that he could be found in bed after four in the morn

ing, though he staid up, on the same occasion on which he then rose, till almost one, over night. Certain I am, that if piety would have suffered him, and they had not been such dear friends, he would have fallen out with God, for tying his soul to such a body as could not subsist without (what he would often call no better than time-consuming things,) meat, and drink, and sleep. Through his industry, with God's blessing on it, he exceedingly prospered in his studies, and quickly appeared a notable proficient. All that knew him, knew him to be a good linguist, a smart disputant, and an excellent philosopher. Certain I am, his pregnant parts and early accomplishments were so much taken notice of in the College, that so soon almost as he was but Bachelor of Arts, he was even compelled to commence a tutor, and presently entrusted (to speak within compass) with as great a number of pupils as any in the house.

He had no advancement proportionable to his merits whilst he staid among us. But if there were any thing to be blamed for that, it was nothing else but his own self-denial: For, a chaplain's place becoming void, he chose that before a fellowship, which he knew well enough, in a little time would, of course and by right, have been certainly his.

'It was his solemn business to be religious; his main design, in all his ways, to approve himself to his Father who saw in secret; and his daily exercise to keep a conscience void of offence, both towards God and towards men. He had always such an affection for prayer, that he and his friend could hardly ever walk and discourse together, but, before they parted, at his desire they must also go and pray together. He was bountiful to the poor. He did not think the little he had so

much his own, as that his necessitous brethren might not claim a part in it; and he therefore gave them as if he had been paying debts, and not bestowing alms. But of all, most admirable was his affection to the souls of others, and his desire to do good to them. Some there are, to my knowledge, who at this day do verily think they should never have found the way to live, or to live for ever, if he had lived unto himself. Eminent was his charity to the poor prisoners in Oxford gaol; among whom first of his own accord he began to preach, and held on constantly, while he remained in town, once a fortnight for a year and upwards, encouraging them to give attendance on his ministry by a considerable allowance of bread that week he preached, at his proper cost and charges. Frequent visits also was he used to make, at other times, to persons in the world that were but mean and low; his main design (together with the relieving of their temporal wants,) being to assist their souls, and help them forward in their way to heaven. Whoever they were that came to visit, or to be acquainted with him, it was their own fault if they got not by him so much good, as to be for ever the better for him.'

In this enumeration may be perceived a smail part of his qualifications for the ministry, before he left the university; from which he retired in the year 1655, being then but in the one-andtwentieth year of his age, to Taunton Magdalen in Somersetshire, as assistant to the Rev. George Newton. He resided with this pious clergyman; and, having remained sometime a probationer, was ordained in a public association meeting, after which he was permitted the full exercise of his office in the administration of all its ordinances. On the 4th of October in the same year, he was, at Mr. Newton's repeated importunity, united in

marriage with his cousin, Theodosia Alleine, to whom he had paid his addresses upwards of twelve months prior to his settling at Taunton. He and his wife continued to reside with his friend two years, when they took a large house in the town, and Mrs. Alleine commenced a boarding school. They were exceedingly prosperous in this undertaking, she having seldom less than twenty-five boarders, and usually fifty or sixty day-scholars belonging to the town and neighbouring places. This was a great assistance to them, his income from the church being but trifling; and with this addition he was enabled to be very charitable. All the scholars called him 'Father;" which appellation he well deserved on account of his tender affection to their souls. The Lord was pleased particularly to bless him in his endeavours among them; so that many who had been strangers to God before they came under Mrs. Alleine's tuition, when they beheld the grace of God that was in him, were induced under the influence of the Holy Spirit to forsake their evil ways, and to walk in the delightful paths of religion.

His manner of life after his marriage was, to rise at or before four o'clock every morning, and sooner on the sabbath. Like the Grecian orator, he was much troubled if he heard the sound of any smiths or shoemakers at their trades before he was engaged with God; often saying, "Oh how this noise shames me! Doth not my Master deserve more than theirs!" From four to eight he spent in prayer, holy contemplation, and singing of psalms. After half-an-hour's refreshment, he called his family together for the purposes of praise and prayer, when he retired to his studies till twelve. Having rested himself a little after dinner, he went again to prayer in secret before his going abroad to visit the families in the town;

which he was accustomed to do, house by house, and street by street, and to speak separately to every person in a family on their spiritual concerns five afternoons every week, from two o'clock till near seven. He often blessed God for the great success that he had in these exercises, believing that in them he had been even more instrumental to the good of souls than by his public preaching. Social converse, family devotions, private prayer, and sometimes intense ministerial studies occupied the remaining hours of his evenings.

Seven years he thus laid himself out to do all the good in his power, while in his public ministrations he was a pattern of diligence and faithfulness. His work on the sabbath was to preach once and to catechise; yet he had frequently to supply the place of some of his brethren on any exigency, and would at other times go to preach at places where the inhabitants had no minister. Not content with this, on Tuesday evening in every week he repeated his sermon in the church again, and there called on his young people by turns to give an account of what they could recollect of the heads of it from memory.

Having approved himself in this employment as a man of God, he was now called to exemplify in a different manner the graces which he had received from his Heavenly Father. Before the passing of the Act of Uniformity, he was very importunate day and night in prayer with God, that his providential way might be made plain before him; and that he might not, from any scruples about things trifling or indifferent, desist from his appointed work of saving the souls of his hearers. Though he seemed so moderate as to induce his wife and other intimate friends to think that he would conform; yet when he saw the

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