for New England, whither his widow and children soon after went, carrying his valuable library. Mr. Wilson, following the advice of Dr. Ames, gathered around him a company of pious associates, who statedly met in his college chambers, for fasting, conference and prayer.

It was not long, before, like most other Puritans, he began to scruple at some of the rites imposed by the National Church. He procured all the books he could find on either side of the question, and seriously weighed the arguments they contained. Though early impressions and personal interests must have made the scale gravitate strongly in favor of conformity, yet conscience and duty preponderated the other way. As the result of this long and solemn deliberation, he began, in the worship of God, to omit some ceremonies, which he felt to be instituted in derogation from the kingly power of Christ in his Church. For these omissions, the Bishop of Lincoln, at a visitation of the University, pronounced against him the sentence of quindenum, or expulsion within fifteen days, unless he should desist from the offence. This news stirred up all the affection of his distressed father, who urgently wrote to him to conform; and exercised his influence with the bishop to procure three months' indulgence,

within which time the son must conform, or resign his fellowship and hopes of promotion. His father sent him to several divines of note, in hopes they would succeed in removing his scruples. But after much interchange of talking and writing, Mr. Wilson was more decided than before. Upon this, his father sought to withdraw him from the ministry, and placed him at the Inns of Court as a student of the law. Here too he found pious acquaintances, with whom he constantly met for devotional exercises. He also derived much benefit from the acquaintance of Scultet, the learned chaplain of the Prince Palatine of the Rhine, who was then making some stop in England.

After three years spent in the inns of court in pursuits uncongenial to his feelings, Mr. Wilson's father yielded to his wishes to enter the ministry, and consented that he should return to the University to take his degree of Master of Arts. He applied for this purpose to a different college from that in which he had formerly met with trouble. But Dr. Cary, vicechancellor of the University, being aware of the old difficulty, would not admit him to his degree, unless he would subscribe to the articles of the Church by law established. Distressed by this impracticable condition, he went to his

father's house. There, at that time, was visiting a gentleman of influence, who had business with the Earl of Northampton, then Chancellor of the University. At the intercession of that gentleman, the Earl immediately wrote in Mr. Wilson's favor to the Vice-Chancellor. All difficulty gave way before this potent recommendation. The candidate obtained the desired degree, and resided for a while in Emanuel College. This was to him a matter of importance, by reason of the power which the University enjoyed of licensing persons to preach throughout the realm, without previous application to the diocesans. For this purpose, he made frequent journeys into the adjoining counties. At this time, Mr. Wilson made a solemn resolution before God;-"That if the Lord would grant him liberty of conscience, with purity of worship, he would be content, yea, thankful, though it were at the furthermost end of the world." To this resolution he faithfully adhered, and God granted his desire.

Soon after he had preached his first sermon at Newport, he was summoned to his father's death-bed. According to the patriarchal custom, the children kneeled in succession for their dying parent's blessing. When the staunch young Puritan kneeled in his turn, there bowed

at his side the lady to whom he was betrothed, Elizabeth, the virtuous daughter of Sir John Mansfield. Upon this, the expiring father said;-"Ah John, I have taken much care about thee, such time as thou wast in the University, because thou wouldest not conform. I would fain have brought thee to some higher preferment than thou hast yet attained unto.

see thy conscience is very scrupulous, concerning some things that have been observed and imposed in the Church. Nevertheless I have rejoiced to see the grace and fear of God in thy heart; and seeing thou hast kept a good conscience hitherto, and walked according to thy light, so do still; and go by the rules of God's holy Word. The Lord bless thee, and her whom thou hast chosen to be the companion of thy life."

Consoled by this paternal benediction, Mr. Wilson gave himself wholly to the work of the gospel. Among other places, he preached in Moreclake. Here his non-conformity involved him in a tempest of troubles; from which, however, he found shelter, partly by a mistake of those who informed against him; and partly by the favor of the magistrate before whom he was cited, who happened to be Sir William Bird, a kinsman of Mr. Wilson's wife.

This storm being blown over, Mr. Wilson was occupied as chaplain in several honorable families. One was that of the Countess of Leicester, to whom he dedicated the only book, except a small poem, he ever published. It is entitled, "Some Helps to Faith; shewing the necessitie, grounds, kinds, degrees, and Signes of it; clearing divers doubts, and answering objections made by the Soule in temptation. Seruing also for a tryall of a man's spirituall estate. The third Edition, explaining and inlarging something in the former. By John Wilson, Preacher of God's Word in Guilford. Philip. 1.25,26. For your furtherance, and ioy of faith, that you may more abundantly reioyce in Jesus Christ. London, Printed for Robert Milbourne, and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Grayhound in Paul's Churchyard. 1630." The first edition was probably printed ten or twelve years before. This little volume, with its large title, indicating, as the custom then was, the contents of the book, is excellent of its kind. It abounds in divisions, and still more in appropriate Scripture. It is such a treatise of practical piety as none but a devout Calvinist could write. The celebrated Hannah More, who liked not the distinctive sentiments of such men, was very fond