298 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. having groaned for several years under the most excrucia- ting pain, it brought him at length to his grave, in the year 1622, and the forty-third of his age. Fuller observes, that for fifteenyears together, he preached at Isleworth twice every Lord's day, and expounded the scriptures every Wednesday and Friday, till five weeks before his death. If this account be just, the time of his removal fromChester, or the period we have given of his death, must evidently one of them be incorrect.. His body being opened after his death, a stone was taken out of his bladder, which weighed thirty-three ounces, and measured about the edges fifteen inches and a half, the length and breadth about thirteen inches, and of a substance like flint. " There are many eye-witnesses, besides myself," says Dr. William Gouge, inhis account of thiswonderful phenomenon, " who can justify the truth of what I say."-t He meekly and patiently endured his torturing pains till death gave him perfect ease. Mr. Byfield published several books during his life, and others came forth after his death, shewing him to have been a person of good parts, great learning, and uncommon industry. Bishop Wilkins passes a high enco mium upon his sermons, classing them with the most excellent in his day.t He was father to Mt. Adoniram Byfield, another puritan divine,of whom some account will be given. Mr. Richard Byfield, the ejected nonconformist in 1662, was his half-brother. § HisWORKS.-1. An Essay on the Assurance of God's Love and Man's Salvation, 1614.-2. An Exposition on the Epistle to the Colossians, 161511-3. Directions for the private reading of the Scriptures, 1618.-4. A Treatise shewing how a godly Christian may support his Heart with comfort against all the Distresses which, by reason of anyAffliction or Temptation, can befall him in this Life, 1618.-5. Thebeginning of the Doctrine of Christ, or a Catalogue of Sins, 1609.-6. The Marrow of the Oracles of God, 1620.-7. Com- mentary or Sermons on the second Chap. of the 1 Epis. of St. Peter, 1623.-8. Sermons on the first tenverses of the thirdChap. of the 1 Epis. of St. Peter, 1626.-The two last were published, with additions, entitled, "A Commentary upon the whole First Epistle of' St. Peter," 1637.-9. An Exposition of theApostle's Creed, 1626.- 10. Answer to Mr. Breerwood's Treatise of the Sabbath, 1630.- 11.The. Light of Faith and Way of Holiness, 1630.-12. TheSigns of a Fuller's Worthies, part iii. p. 127. lbid.-Evangel. Mag. vol, xvi. p. 416. Wilkins on Preaching, p. 82, 83. § Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. iii. p. 301. This work is full ofgood sense and spiritual savour, and aboundswith pertinent citations of scripture, without any pretensions to oratorial dress. Williams's Christian Preachsr, p. 437.
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