ever Thou do dispose of me, continue and go on to do good for them. Pardon thy foolish people! Forgive their sins, and do not forsake them, but love and bless them.

"Give them consistency of judgment, one heart, and mutual love; and go on to deliver them, and with the work of reformation; and make the name of Christ glorious in the world. Teach those who look too much on thy instruments, to depend more upon thyself. Pardon such as desire to trample upon the dust of a poor worm; for they are thy people, too. And pardon the folly of this short prayer. And give me rest for Jesus Christ's sake, to whom, with Thee and thy Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever! Amen."

SIR HENRY VANE. [1612–1662.]

On the day before his execution, his friends were allowed to visit him in his cell.

He re

ceived them calmly, but with much affection; and, kissing them, said that he was able to look beyond the sweet attachments of this life to Mount Zion. "I am willing," he said, "to leave these outward enjoyments for those I

shall meet with in a better country. I have made it my business to acquaint myself with

the society of heaven.

going to my Father."

Be not troubled, I am

At midnight the sheriff's chaplain came, and read the warrant of execution. "After receiving the message," he said, in the morning, "I slept four hours so sound that the Lord hath made it sufficient for me, and now I am going to sleep my last. After that I shall sleep no more."

In the morning he was visited by his family and friends for the last time. He received them with the same lofty composure as before, and kneeling, made the following prayer:

"Most gracious Father, look down from the habitation of thy holiness; visit, relieve, and comfort us, poor servants gathered here in the name of Christ.

"Thou art rending the veil, and bringing us to the mountain that abides forever.

"Thy poor servant knows not how he shall be carried forth by Thee this day, but blessed be thy great and holy name, that that he hath

whereof to speak in this great cause. When I shall be gathered to Thee this day, then come Thou in the ministry of thy holy angels that excel in strength.

"Let these my friends commit me to the Lord, and let them be gathered unto the family of Abraham, the father of the faithful.

"My hour-glass is turned, the sands run apace, and death doth not surprise me.

"Lord, strengthen Thou the heart of thy servant, that he may understand this day's work with joy and gladness.

"Let my poor family, that is left desolate, let my poor wife and children, be taken under thy care, be Thou a Husband, Father and Master to them all.

"Let the spirits of those who love Thee be drawn towards them. Let a blessing be upon the friends and kindred here at this this time. Show thyself a loving Father to us all, and do for us abundantly above and beyond all that we can ask or think, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."

After the interview, the sheriff's messenger

came to say that there must be a sled. "Anyway," replied Vane, "how they please; for I long to be at home, to be dissolved and be with Christ."

He seated himself upon the sled, and was drawn toward Tower Hill, the place appointed for his execution. The streets were filled with a great multitude, and all the tops of the houses were covered with people. It was a lovely June day. The memory of the martyr's past services and sufferings in the cause of liberty, were as fragrant in the minds of the people as the air was fragrant with flowers.

Tears fell like rain, and thousands of sobbing voices uttered the benediction, "The Lord be with you."

He ascended the scaffold with the dignity of a martyr. He attempted to address the people, but his words breathed the old spirit of Liberty, and the trumpets were blown.

A long prayer - the farewell the last dreadful scene, and the great apostle of freedom was no more. He was executed June 14, 1662.

XIX.

BISHOP KEN.

KEN'S MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS.

The morning and evening hymns of Bishop Ken, are in substance, and common use, prayers. It is related that Ken himself used to sing his morning hymn before dressing, to his lute, it being an expression of the prayerful desire of his heart.

Of the grand doxology which closes his morning and his evening hymn, or prayer, Montgomery says:

"It is a masterpiece at once of amplification and compression; amplification, on the burthen, 'Praise God,' repeated in each line; compression, by exhibiting God as the object of