4 PREFATORY NOTICE. conscientiously submit. He commenced his labors in the ministry at Fordham, whence they were transferred to Coggeshall, and early began to write in defence of the truth. In 1643 he published his trea- tise L° The Duty of Pastors andPeople Distinguished," showing the personal obligations of every believer to aid in spreading " the truth as it is in Jesus," and soon after a treatise founded on two short Catechisms for the benefit of the young. In 1646, being summoned topreach before Parliament, he boldlyproclaimed the doctrines of the cross, and on numerous future occasions fulfilled the same duty with equal fidelity to God and the souls of men. One of these sermonsaintroduced him to Cromwell, who appoint- ed himhis chaplain ; and in 1651 he was elected byParliament to the deanery of Christ Church, Oxford, and soon after was appointed by Cromwell Vice- Chancellorppf that University. He continued his connection with Oxford for nine years until the death of Cromwell, whenhe was displaced. During this period " the change in the cir- cumstances, literature and piety of the University were truly aston- ishing." His labors were great almost beyondparallel, and as suc- cessful as arduous. He also, while at Oxford, often preached before Parliament, and wrote many valuable works, including his treatises on "Divine Justice," on the Socinian Controversy,the " Mortifi- cation of Sin in Believers," on " Communion with God," and on "Temptation." In 1663 he was invited to settle as pastor of a church in Boston, the request being seconded by a respectful letter from the General Court of Massachusetts, and he was afterwards electedPresident of Harvard College, but he declined these invitations, and for several years ministered to a church in London. From the time of his leav- ingOxford to 1676, he published no less than twenty-two different works, among which are the treatises on " Psalm 130," on. " Indwell- ing Sin,"on the " Trinity," the " Sabbath," the " Holy Spirit," and on "Apostacy." A.t length his health declined, and he retired to Kensington, and from thence toEaling, wherehe closed his days in writinghis f0 Me- ditations on the Glory of Christ." On the morning of the day he died, a friend called to tell him the work was put to press. " I am glad to hear it," said the dying christian; and lifting up his hands and eyes, as if transportéd with joy, he exclaimed, " But, O l the long wished-for day is come at last, in which I shall see that glory in an-, other manner than I have ever done, or was capable of doing in this world." His published works comprise twenty-eight large octavo volumes ; the largest work being the Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, which occupied his attention for sixteen years.
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