theduke gave for answer, "That he would as soon part wit! his eyes as with him ;" and afterwards made him chief pas tor of all the churches in his dominions, with an ample salary for his support. Here he spent the rest of his usefu life, in preaching, writing, and religious conferences confuting gainsayers and confirming the faithful. Som years afterwards going with his prince to Haguenau, h fell fick by the way, and, in a few days, yielded up his sou into the hands of God, on May 23, 1541. He was a mai of an excellent understanding, of uncomnion learning holy and upright in his life and conversation, and mos indefatigable in the labours of his sacred function.

Sleidan mentions his writings against the Anabaptists in conjunction or at the same time with Melancthon and Justus Menius. His son Ernest collected and published his works, after his decease, by desire of his patron the duke of Brunswick. His common places of the fathers, &c. were printed afterwards in a separate volume by John Freder.

REYNER, EDWARD, M. A. was born at Morley, near Leeds, in 1600. He greatly frequented sermons in his childhood, and constantly attended the Monthly Exercise, which was encouraged by that excellent and primitive archbishop Dr. Toby Matthews, 'at Leeds, Pudsey, Halifax, and other places. While at the university of Cambridge he was very studious, and laid in a good stock of learning. But the straitness of his circumstances would not allow of his staying there so long as he had an inclination to do. Some time after his removal he taught school at Aserby in Lincolnshire. But Mr. Morris, upon whom he mostly depended, being unable, through losses, to give him the assistance he promised, he was again in want of subsistance. But providence seasonably opened a new way for him, by an offer, from the Countess of Warwick, of the school at Market Rasen, in which he continued a few years, industriously grounding his scholars in the rudiments of learning and the principles of religion, and improving all his spare time for the perfecting his own studies. The Countess, after four years, bestowed upon him the lecture at Welton which she maintained. He was afterwards invited to Lincoln, by a most affectionate call of many pious people there, first to be lec

turer

turer at Benedicts, Aug. 13, 1626; and then to be parson at Peters at the Arches, March 4, 1627; where he was an unspeakable blessing to the city. He was even then a nonconformist to the ceremonies, which created him adversaries, who frequently complained of him, and threatened him; but his liberty of preaching was continued, and his moderation procured him favour with several that belonged to the Minster, who sometimes heard him in the afternoon. Sir Edward Lake himself, the chancellor, was often his auditor, and declared he received benefit by his preaching, till he was reproved by certain persons in power.

Dr. Williams, bishop of the diocese, in one of his visitations, which was of three days continuance, appointed Dr. Sanderson to preach the first day, Dr. Hirst the second, and Mr. Reyner the third. As soon as he had done, the bishop sent him an invitation to dine with him, and before parting, presented him with the Prebend of St. Botolph in Lincoln; and at the visitation, commended and repeated a good pert of his sermon; which prevented any inconvenience from the inferior clergy, who otherwise could not well have endured his free reproofs. The importunity of friends prevailed with him to accept the prebend; but when he came seriously to reflect upon the necessary attendants and consequences of this his new preferment, he was much dissatisfied; for he found he could not keep it with a safe and quiet conscience. Hereupon he prevailed with the lady Armine (to whom he was related to go to the bishop, to excuse his declining this preferment; when his lordship pleasantly said to the lady, "I have had inany Countesses, Ladies, and others, who have been suitors to me to get preferments for their friends; but you are the first that ever came to take away a preferment, and that from one upon whom I bestowed it with my own hands.”

Mr. Reyner was very laborious in the duties of his place, warning every one night and day with tears, teaching them publicly, and from house to house;" being an example of a pious, diligent, and conscientious pastor. In 1639, he received letters of solicitation to take the pastoral charge of the English congregational church at Arnheim in Guelderland. One of them was subscribed by Mr. Thomas Goodwin and Mr. Philip Nye;

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the other was from Sir William Constable. But hoping that better times were approaching in England, he sent them a denial.

In the time of the civil war he was much threatened by his adversaries, and felt many effects of their malice. Most of his goods (except his books) were plundered; and he was in danger of being shot in the church. When, therefore, the earl of Newcastle's forces possessed the county of Lincoln, he filed away by Boston to Lynn, and so to Norwich and Yarmouth, and thus was preserved. In this time of his withdrawment he was useful to many. His ministry found such acceptance, that both Norwich and Yarmouth strove for him and for a while he divided himself between both; preaching at Yarmouth on the Lord's day, and keeping a lecture at Norwich on the week day. This being a very great fa tigue, the aldermen at both places at length chose two grave ministers to determine which place gave the first and fairest call. It being decided for Norwich, he settled there for a few years, and had a remarkable blessing at tending his ministerial labours. At length the people of Lincoln, by importunate letters from themselves, the mayor, and aldermen, under the seal of the corporation, and the committee of parliament, &c. challenged him for theirs; and obtained an order from the Assembly of Divines, then sitting at Westminster, or rather a resolution in the case, upon an appeal made to them about the matter. The people of Norwich were in general earnestly desirous of his stay with them; and at the same time he was invited to Leeds, by the magistrates and principal inhabitants, who pressed him with the consideration of its being his native country which needed his help. He had another pressing invitation to be one of the preachers in the city of York. But the consideration of his former relation to Lincoln, determined him for that city, without any debate about the means or maintenance. October 99, 1651, he returned to Lincoln, and settled at the Minster. He was now wholly free from apparitors, pursuivants, ceremonies, and subscriptions, which were the matter of his former trouble; and yet he had not been long there before a new trouble canie upon him. For some of the soldiers, from one of the king's garrisons in those parts, came foraging as far as Lincoln. Their ma

lice was pointed at Mr. Reyner; they accordingly pursued him, and there was none to oppose them. He fed into the library to hide himself; but they followed him with drawn swords, swearing they would have him dead or alive upon which he opened the doors, and they stripped him of his coat, took away his purse, and led him away in triumph, till Captain Gibbon, one of the commanders, who had been his scholar, at Rasen, saw and released him. But after the garrisons were reduced he

remained unmolested.

His great concern now was, for a method in church matters, that should answer the most desirable ends, secure purity and order, and yet.hinder animosities and dissentions. His judgment was for the Congregational way, and yet he had observed such ill success in gathered churches, that he was a little discouraged. He was for proceeding warily; and at last, after much consideration and many thoughtful hours spent in prayer with tears, he determined upon the Congregational plan. Being thus fixed, he diligently fulfilled his ministry. He was a constant preacher at St. Peter's in the morning, and at the Minster in the afternoon. That his ministry might be the more effectual, he produced his evening exercise into a catechetical way. He was a great reprover of sin, wherever he saw it, in great or small. He was conscientious in his conduct as to public affairs, and could not fall in with the practices and opinions of the times. The Engagement to the Commonwealth, which was taken by a great many of the episcopal party, was what he scrupled and refused. He weighed the matter pro and con, as he did most of the great concerns of his life, and could not satisfy himself in a compliance. In 1658, when 2 confession of faith and platform of order was agreed upon at the Savoy, nemine contradicente, it was sent to Mr. Reyner into the country for his suffrage, with an intimation that the publishing of it should be stayed till his answer was returned. His answer was to this purpose; "That he gave his free and full consent to the confession of faith; but that as to the platform of order, though he liked the substance of it, yet there were some particulars therein so expressed, that he was not satisfied." And at another time, when he was urged to set his hand to the design, called The Agreement of the People," he positive y denied, and sent divers unanswerable reasons against it.

He

He was a humble, meek, quiet, and patient person, giving this as his observation, in the close of his days: I have ever found, that words spoken in meekness of wisdom, and not from any angry spirit, are most piercing to others, and most comfortable to myself."

His works, published, (partly by himself, and partly by bisson, after his decease,) were,-). "Precepts for Christian Practice." In the 11th edition, printed in 8vo. 1658, there are added, "Rules for governing the Affections; and for the Government of the Tongue."-2. “ Considerations concerning Marriage; the Honour, Duties, Benefits, and Troubles of it." -3. A Vindication of Human Learning, and Universities," &c.-4. "The Being and Well-being of a Christian: in three Treatises."

REYNOLDS, WILLIAM, M. A. was born about 1625, and was educated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, under Dr. Whichcote. Mr. Whitlock and he were chamber-fellows in the college, where they contracted a peculiar friendship. Mr. Reynolds for some time (though with regret) diverted his thoughts from the ministry, in compliance with his father's wish, who sent him to Russia to manage his business there, in 1644. In two years, upon his father's death, he returned, expecting to find a good estate, but was disappointed and discouraged. Hereupon he thought of following merchandize, and was going to sea, but was stopped by a false arrest, which was a happy providence; for the ship he had agreed to go in was lost and all the passengers. He then re-assumed his studies for the ministry, to the great benefit of the church of God. At the latter end of the year, Mr. Whitlock settling at Leighton in Bedfordshire, persuaded Mr. Reynolds to reside with him; from which time they lived together, till death made a separation, being under the same roof, though they kept distinct houses, after they were married, and frequently studied in the same room. They had not been long together before Okingham in Berkshire being vacant, they undertook to supply both Leighton and that place by turns. Okingham having a settled minister in six months, they in the same manner supplied Leighton and Aylesbury. In 1649 they jointly refused to take the Engagement, though they thereby lost the augmentation

See the article John Whitlock.

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