BAYNES4, 263 reduced to great poverty and want. Notwithstanding this, he never blamed himself for his nonconformity. But of the persecuting prelates he used pleasantly to say, " They are a generation of the earth, earthly, and savour not the ways of God." He was an excellent casuist, and great numbers under distress of conscience resorted to him for instruction and comfort. This the bishops denominated keeping con-centieles ; and for this marvellous crime, Bishop Harsnet, his most furious persecutor, intended to have procured his banishment. He was, therefore, called before the council ; and, being allowed to speak inhis own defence, he made so admirable a speech, that before he had done, one of the lords stood up, and said, " He speaks more like an angel than a man, and I dare not stay here to have a hand in any sentence against him." Upon this he was dismissed, and heard no more of it.. Though Mr. Baynes's natural temper was warm and irritable, no one was more ready to receive reproof, when properly administered. Indeed, by the power of divine grace, the lion was turned into a lamb ; and he was become of so holy and humble a spirit, that he was exceedingly beloved and revered by all who knew him. During the summer season, after he was silenced, he usually visited gentlemen in the country; and they accounted it a peculiar felicity to be favoured with his company and conversation. In his last sickness, the adversary of souls was permitted to disturb his peace. He laboured to the last under many doubts and fears, and left the world less comfortable than many others, greatly inferior to him in christian faith and holiness. He died at Cambridge, in the year 1617. The celebrated Dr. Sibbs gives the following account of this accomplished servant of Christ: " Mr. Baynes," says he, " was a man of much communionwith God, and acquaint- ance with his own heart, observing the daily footsteps of " his lite. He was much exercised with spiritual conflicts, "bywhich he became more able to comfort others. He had " a deep insight into the mystery of God's grace, and man's " corruption. He sought not great things in the world. " He possessed great learning, a clearjudgment, and a ready " wit. '+ Fuller has classed him among the learned writers who were fellows of Christ's college, Cambridge4 What a reproach was it to the ruling prelates, and what a blow against the church of God, when so excellent a divinewas cast aside and almost starved Clark's Lives, p. 23, 24. + Ibid. p. 24. Fuller's Hist. of CAM. p. 92.
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