received a letter from Mr. Philip Nye, in reference to the Congregational, I have inquired after them the more diligently, and send you the names of all those churches in Norfolk, with the names of their pastors, and the towns where they are seated, and the worth of their living, so near as I can.

The Presbyterian churches I have less acquaintance with, and if you please to give me longer time to inquire, I shall serve you therein. Only, Sir, I can tell you now, that here are four ministers in this town, and no set maintenance for any, unless 100£, which I have from the state, given me by the Long Parliament. The other ministers are all good men and worthy, and no revenue but the people's charity.

Six miles from us there is a market town, and the only great town in the island, and the living is not worth 40£. per annum. If 50£ may be laid to it, and a good man put into the place, it would be very influential upon the whole island. The gift of the living belongs to the Lord Protector. The town hath been malignant, called Lowestoffe, known to his Highness, being part of the first fruits of his great labours.. Much service might be done for Christ in settling this place, and if the Lord will give you hearts to pity this great town, many souls will bless God for your bowels. I will trouble you no further, but present this thing to your goodness, and yourself to the grace of God, who is able to supply all our wants, according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ. In whom I continue, Sir,

Your's, in all christian observance,

W. B.

Yarmouth, August 16. 1655.

A list of the Independent Teachers who are Pastors of Churches in the County of Norfolk :

1. Church at Norwich: Pastor, Mr. Armitage; who hath an augmentation already.

2. Church at Yarmouth: Mr. Tookey, Teacher: Mr. Bridge, Pastor; who hath 100£ per annum from the state.

3. Church at North Walsom, a market town: Pastor, Mr. Brabiter; the living about 40£ per annum.

4. Church at Windham, a market town: Pastor, Mr. Mony; he hath an augmentation already.

5. Church at Hupton, a small town and a small living; no Pastor, Mr. Wale being gone to Ireland.

6. Church at Tunsted and Stowly: no Pastor, the revenue of both about 80£ per annum

7. Church at Alby and Thwait: Pastor, Mr. Nathaniel Brewster; the living about 50£ per annum.

8. Church at Lesetiorgham: Pastor, Mr. Cushin; the living about 100£ per annum.

9. Church at Fowlsome: Mr. Worts, Pastor; the worth of the living known to Major General Skippon.

10. Church at Edgefield: Pastor, Mr. Martin; the living competent.

To Henry Scobell, Esq. Clerk of his Highness's Privy

'WORTHY SIR,

Council.

I HAVE lately received a letter from Mr. Griffith, in the name of the brethren at London, whereby I am desired to certify you of the receipt thereof. This is then only to let you understand, that on August 26, I received his letters dated August 20, and I shall take care that copies of the letters be sent unto all the churches in our county. Continuing, Your Servant in the gospel of Christ Jesus,

Yarmouth, August 28. 1658.

W. B.

He was one of the dissenting brethren in the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and was one of the writers of the "Apologetical narrative," which was published in 1643. His name is also subscribed to the "Reasons of the dissenting brethren against certain propositions concerning Presbyterial government," which was published in 1648.

After a brief sojourn at Norwich, where he preached a sermon to the volunteers, he at length fixed at Great Yarmouth, where he continued his labours till the Bartholomew Act. It is very probable, that at Yarmouth his congregation at least for some time met in the parish church for public worship, for in the year 1650, the north part of the church was enclosed for a meeting place, at an expense of £900; a considerable sum in those days.

When ejected by the black Bartholomew Act, he went to reside at Clapham, near London, and preached in, if not foundded, the Independent meeting at that place; and at this place he died, March 12. 1670.

From an epitaph in Yarmouth Church, it would appear that he was twice married. The name of his first wife is not known; he afterwards married Margaret, the widow of John Arnold, merchant and once bailiff of that town. Whether he had any children, or how many, we have been unable to ascertain.

These few brief particulars are all we have been able to gather, respecting this eminently useful and deeply taught servant of the Most High God.

We close this brief memorial with an Elegy upon him, the unknown author of which was contemporary with him.

ELEGY

UPON THE DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM BRIDGE, A FAITHFUL AND PAINFUL LABOURER IN THE LORD'S VINEYARD.

EVEN as a lamp that spendeth liberally
Its oil, that we may do our work thereby ;
Or as a sparkling star, which shineth bright,
Thereby directing travellers by night;

Or as the sun, that by his cheerful rays
Disperseth darkness, and his beams displays

On the cold earth, whereby he makes it spring
With fruitful crops, which joyfulness doth bring:
So BRIDGE dispersed his fruitful beams whilst here,
But now he's fixed in a higher sphere.

You that have skill, sorrow and joy to blend,
Somewhat of both upon this prophet spend.
Grieve for your loss, and yet rejoice in this,
He's gone from trouble to a place of bliss.
Mourn that you did no more improve his pains,
And yet rejoice that he now reaps the gains.
Weep that so bright a lamp no longer shined,
Yet joy in those choice works he left behind.

Mourn that such lights do set, and when ye 've done,
Joy that he's there, where needs not moon nor sun,
Which never shall be stained with a night,
But hath eternal glory for its light:

And let those darkened intervals you see,
Increase your longing in that place to be;
For here are changes, prophets too must die:
Yet let me that expression mollify:

If the philosopher of old could say,

All of me shall not die; then sure we may
Transcendantly affirm of BRIDGE, that he
Yet lives, and shall live to eternity.

He lives in heaven, on earth he doth the same;
There in his soul, here in his works and name.
And though his body now be turned to dust,
Yet, at the resurrection of the just,
Each atom shall be gathered, so to raise
A glorious fabric to his Master's praise;
And soul and body jointly then shall sing,

Grave, where 's thy conquest? death, where is thy sting?
And then in triumph shall ascend on high,

Having obtained, through Christ, the victory.

PREFACES TO THE ORIGINAL EDITION.

TO THE READER.

So good is the God of Jacob to his Israel on this side the promised land, that no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Friend, if it may be verified of thee, what our blessed Saviour spake of Nathaniel," Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile :" thou hast at present, not only a title to Esau's enough, but the tenure of Jacob's all: according to that ancient charter of all saints recorded by that great apostle of the gentiles: "For all things are yours; whether Paul, Apollos, or Cephas, &c. All are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's," 1 Cor. iii. 21, 22, 23.

The very persons and ministry, calling and gifts, studies and writings, prayers and sermons of the faithful ministers of the gospel, all are for the use, service, and comfort of Christ's little little flock, Tо puspor woyvior. This evangelical truth is notably proved by the same apostle to the Ephesians. When our only High Priest ascended up on high, into the holy of holies there to transact his priestly office of intercession at the right hand of God the Father, "He gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," Eph. iv. 11, 12.

Thus this servant of the Lord is thine; as much thine, as Paul was the Corinthians. Yea, these his Spirit-full pieces of evangelical mysteries are thine : thine to build thee up in the saving knowledge of that doctrinal truth, the priestly office of Christ, as it is the magazine and storehouse of all that grace and comfort which we are crowned with under heaven: thine, to give thee a piercing insight into the intricate methods of the old serpent, and plainly to discover upon what rocks and sands the faith of many suffer shipwreck thine, to arm thee with spiritual armour of proof, called a breast-plate, 1 Thess. v. 8. Jwpak, because it guards the heart; or, as the words elsewhere holds it out, a long-large shield, Ephes. vi. 16, Jugɛos of Jopa, which is very dexterous to defend the whole of a christian soldier from all the fiery darts of the wicked one, TOV πονηρου.

Reader, let us be thine, to beseech thee by the mercies of God, as thou tenderest the peace and welfare of all within thy own tabernacle, immediately to put in practice the holy contents of this experimental book. For if thou art one of the Lord's Simons, "Behold Satan hath desired to have thee, that he may sift thee as wheat." Oh, therefore make provision for thy soul with all speed, before the hour of temptation draweth on. It is not true valour, but desperate fool-madness, to adjourn this every-day's business of everlasting concernment: because in this, as in oversights of war, there is no room for a second retractation, the first error being unrecoverable.