LIVES OF THE PURITANS. is specified by that name.* At length, having been driven from one situation to another, and finding no placeof safety in his own country, he fled into a foreign land, and became an exile in Germany. During his abodeon the continent, he wrote an excellent letter to his godly brethren at home ; in which, besides declaring the cause of those calamities now come upon England, he earnestly directed them to the mercy and faithfulness of God, for a redress of all their grievances. This letter was read in the private religious meetings of his persecuted countrymen,to their great edification andbenefit, He wrote, also, an epistle to the popish priests, wherein he made a just and an important difference betwixt the Lord's supper, and the popishmass, denominating the latter a wicked idol. 1- Mr. Becon remained its exile till the accession of Queen Elizabeth, when he returned to his native country, and became a most faithful and zealous labourer in the vineyard of Christ. Having obtained distinguished reputation, lie was soon preferred to several ecclesiastical benefices. He is said to have been designed for one of the chief prererments then vacant.t In the year 1560, he became rector of Buck- land in Hertfordshire, but most probably did not hold it long. About the same time, he was preferred to a prebend in the church of Canterbury ; and in 1565, he became rector of St. Dionis Back-church, London. This last he held to his death.§ In the year 1564, when conformity was rigorously im- posed upon the London clergy, Mr. Becon, with many of bis puritan brethren, was cited before Archbishop Parker at Lambeth, and refusing to subscribe, he was immediately sequestered and deprived , though it is said, he afterwards complied, and was preferred.11 It does not, however, appear what preferment he obtained. During the same year, he revised and republished most of his numerous and excellent writings in three volumes folio, dedicating them to all the bishops and archbishops of the realm. The clergy were in general at this time in a state of deplorable ignorance. Mr. Becon was deeplyaffected with their situation,and extremely anxious to render them all the assistance in his power. Therefore, in the year 1566, he published a book, entitled ,4 A. new Postil, containing .most godly and learnedSermons, * MS. Chronology, vol. i. p. 221. (3 3.) Strype's Cranmer, p. 357, 358. chustan's Life of Nowell, p. 40. § Strype's Parker, p. 72, 130.-Neweourt's Repert. Reel, vol. i. p. 830, 815., Q Strype's Grindal, p. 98.,
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