468 LIVES OP THE PURITANS. America, and other places ; soMr. Howe, to avoid persecu- tion in future, sought an asylum in Ireland. He continued in that country till the breaking out of the rebellion, about the year 1641, when many thousands of protestants lost their lives. Indeed, Mr. Howe himself, and his family, were exposed to the greatest danger. The place to which they retired was for several weeks besieged and assaulted by the rebels, though without success; and by the special providence of God, which was theguard ofhis life, he was mercifully delivered from all his troubles. After being ex- posed for several years to the calamities of war, he returned to his native country, and settled in Lancashire ; but at what place, or when he died, we are not able to learn.. The celebrated Mr. John Howe, silenced by the Act of Uniformity in 1662, was his son.i. MR. WROTH.-This excellent person was educated in the university of Oxford, afterwards rector of Llanfaches in Monmouthshire, and domestic chaplain to Lady B----. He is accounted the first nonconformist minister in Wales. About the year 1620, he began to signalize himself by faith- fully preaching the gospel, and discovered uncommon con- cern for the salvation of souls4 Previous to this he was a clergyman much addicted to mirth, levity, and music. An old manuscript relates the following anecdote : A gentle- man in the neighbourhood having a suit at law depending, of great importance tohis family, went to London to attend the trial.; which, to his great satisfaction, proved in his favour. Sending home the pleasing information, his family and friends were overcome with transports of joy. The gentleman, therefore, appointed a certain day when he would return, anti ordered great preparations to be made for his arrival, when the evening should be spent in feasting and mirth. Mr. Wroth, being invited, brought a new violin, to bear his part in the general triumph. But while they were in full expectation of the gentleman's arrival, behold ! to their unspeakablemortification anddistress, news came that he had been seized by death upon the road. It is not easy even to conceive what impressionswere made on theminds of all present. The transition from triumphant joy to the deepest sorrow and anguish,was almost indescrib. Calamv's Life of Howe, p. 5, 6. + Calmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. ii. p. 81. t Cradock's Works, Pref. Edit. 1800.
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