Sketch of the Life and Writings of Joseph Alleine

By James Nichols

SIN the lives of holy men,” says the venerable Baxter, see God’s image, and the beauties of holiness, not only in precept, but in reality ‘and practise, not pictured, but in substance. ‘’And holiness in visible realities is apt to affect world more deeply, than in portraiture and “precept only.’*

Mr. Joseph Alleine was the son of Mr. Tobias Alleine, and was born in the Devizes, Wiltshire, in the year 1633*

In his infancy he discovered a singular sweethqs of disposition, and a remarkable diligence in every thing about which he was employed. During his childhood he had deep convictions; and in

*IIia father was an understanding, affectionate, {imdent, and signally humble and ezperieoced christian, wh» died suddenly, bat sweetly, nearly two years before him. He had boon ia a» ittirm and languishing state for «4»oie lime; yet a little before his decease, be suddenly began to. recruit his strength, and was enabled to walk about his hftese- as in former days. On the morning of his death, he rase about four o-’cloek anti continued to shew 14>p«arances of returning health* Between tea and eletnn he came down out of his closet* and called Tor something to eat, which being prepared he gave thanks, ut eonld not eat any thing. Hia wife, perceiving a sudden change in hhn, attempted to persnaile him to retire to bed* He meek* ly answered, ^’No; but 1 wUA die in my chain “lul I am not afraid to die;** He then sat down, and only said, ‘^Hy U£<b in hid wiOl Christ in Ood.** Saying this, with hiaenw. hnndti he gesilj dosed hia and died iauaedlitdf f

his eleventh year was noticed by thfe family asbe«’ ing very zealous for religion. He was of that age, when he began the practice of private prayer. So sincere was he, and fixed in that duty, as not to permit himself to be disturbed or moved by the accidental approach of any person- into tile places of his retirement.

After this manner had he taken upon himfeelF t goodly prdfession, and openly begun to run the christian race, when his thoughts were powerfully directed, and his mind providentially inffiienced, towards the exercise of the ministrj’, by the death of his elder brother, Mr, Edward Alleine, who was greatly esteemed by those who knew him, as a worthy preacher of the Gospel. While the tender heart of a father was yet suffcng under the loss of a beloved son, Joseph etWTiestiy re’ quested permission of him to succeed his deceased brother as one of Christ’s standard-bearers. He prevsuled in his importunate application; for his father sent him to a good tchool that he might be instructed in classicd erudition HiS’ profiting in the course of four years’ study waa very great. During that time he had acquired anb extensive and accurate acquaintance with the Latin and Greek languages; and waa declared by .his preceptor to be properly qualified ior corajBcncing his studies at the university. JBeing however but of the age of fijfteen, lias father prudently detuned him at home in the oouatry anotiJcr year, in which time, under the instruction of learned and excellent minister, he went with great” advantage to himself, through a course of Logic He pvgui theA entered of Lincoln College, Oxford a seminary of leaniing that nearyya century afterwards was the nursery of another of the greatest, most successful, and pious divines thit this kingdoni has produced*

Many worthy men, in former days and in our own times, from a laudable attachment to the vcn- •erable halls in which their education was com-Ml

pleted, have lefl endawments to different col- leges in our two celebrated English universities, for the assistance of those students who have but a small stipend of their own on which to depend for support. While the benevolent founders of these scholarships have cherished giuteful t*ecollections towards the places of their instruction, they have not been unmindful of the claims which kindsed and neighbourhood had upon their regards. It is accordinigly stuMnlated in seveml of their foundation-deeda, — onV number of young .^ntlemen presenting themselves as candidates for a scholarship, should tlierc be one of them who •«an establish any degree of affinity to the founder, or who comes from the same county, that, other things being equal, he shall always have a preference of benefit to the others. In some colleges, if a candidate has merely a coincidence of surname with the founder, he is entitled to this :preferenoe.

In consequence of one of these excellent regulations, Mr. Alleine, a native of Wiltshire, claiming his right, sat (as it is termed,) for a vacant Wiltslm’e scholarship in Corpus Christi college. Haviag passed an unexceptionable examination, his attainments being his sole friends, he was admitted, Nov. 8th, 1651, on the foundation. By acquitting himself so well at the election, he gave apledg-e of his future excellence. One who was a member of the same college, says of him: *Never had learning a truer drudge since she’ kept house in Oxf(Mdt at her work he was, both day and night; thinking all lime too little, no pains too much, that he spent in her service, ^eldom it was that he could be found in bed after four in the mornlOg*, though lfe staid up, on the same occasion on which he then rose, till ahnost one, over night* A Certain I am, that if piety would have suffered him, and they had not been such dear friends, he vrogid have fallen out with God, for tying his soul to such a body as could not subsist without (what he would often call no better tkofi iime-amsummg things j) meat, and drink, and sleep. Through hia industry, with God’s blessing on it, he exceedingly prospered in his studies, and quickly appeared a notable proficient. All that knew hiin, knno him to be a good linguist, a smart disputant and an excellent pMosopher. Certain I am, his pregnant parts ancRarly accomplishments were so much taken notice of in the College, that so soon almost as he was but Bachelor of Arts, he was even compelled to commence a tutor, and presently entrusted (to speak wkhin compass) with as great a number of pupils as any in the house.

fie. had no advancement proportionable to his merits whilst he staid among us. But if there were any thing to be blamed for that, it was nothing else but his own self-denial: For, a chaplain’s place becoming void, he chose that before a fellowship, which he knew well enough, in a little time would, of course and by right, have been certainly Jiis.

*lt was his solemn bu»ness to be religious; his main design, in all his ways, to approve himself to his Father who saw in secret; and his daily exercise to keep a conscience void of offence, both towards God and towards men. He had always such an affection for prayer, that he and hu friend could hardly ever walk and discourse together, but, before they parted, at his desire they must also go and pray together. He was bountiful to the poor. He &i not thiidc the little he had sa much his owii» as that his necesskpus brethren might not clsum a part in it; and he therefore gve t]^em as if he had been paying debts, and not bestowing ahns. But of all, most admirable was his m affection to the souls of others, and his desire to * do good to them. Some there are, to my knowledge, who at this day do verily think they should never have found the way to live, or to live for ever, if he had lived unto himself. Eminent was his charity to the poor prisoners in Oxford gaol; am<Mig whom first of his own accord he beg to preach, and held on constantly, while he remain- ’ ed in town, once a fortnight for a year and upwards, encouraging them to give attendance om his ministry by a considerable allowance of bread that week he preached, at his proper cost and charges. Frequent visits also was he used to make, at other times, to persons in the world that were but mean and low; his main design (together with the relieving of their temporal wants,) heing to assist their souls, and help them forward in their way to heaven. Whoever they were that came to visit, or to be acquainted with him, it was their own fault if they got not by him so much good, as to be for ever the better for him.’

In this enumeration may be perceived a small part of his qualifications for the ministry, before he left the university; fi*om which he retired in the year 1655, being then but in the one-and* twentieth year of his age, to Taunton Kagdalen ‘^ in Somersetshire, as assistant to the Rev. George Newton. He resided with this pious clergyman and« luLnng remained sometime a probationer. was ordained in a public association meeting, after which he was permitted the full exercise of his office in the administration of all its ordinances. On the 4th of October in the same ear, he was at Mr. Newton’s repeated imporUuuty, vnitedin u

jRaniae with his coiisinj Tbeodosia Alleine, to whom he had paid his addresses upwards of twelve months prior to his settUng” at Taunton. He an A his wife continued to reside with his friend two years, whan they took a large house in the town, and Mrs. Alleine commenced a boaixiing” schooL TJiey were •exceeding’ly prosperous in this undertaking, she having seldom iess than twenty-five boarders, and usually fifty or sixty day-scholars belonging to the town and ncig-hboui-ing places. This was a great assistance tb them, his inconoe from the church being but trifling; and with thi» addition he was enabled to be very charitable. All the scholars called iira ‘SFatherV* which ap« pellation he well deserved on aocounit of his tender affection to their souls. The Lord was pleas* ed particulai’iy to bless him in his endeavours among them; so that many who had been strangers to God before they came under Mrs. AUeine’s tuition, when they beheld the gpraoe of God that was jn him, were induced under the influenoe of the Holy Spirit to forsake their evil ways, and to walk in the delightful paths of religion.

His manner of life after his marriage was, to rise at or before four o’clock everj’ morning, and sooner on the sabbath. Like the Gtrecian orator, he was much troubled if he beai’d the sound of any smiths or shoemakers at tJieir trades before he was engaged with God; often saying, “Oh how this noise shames me! Doth not my Master deserve more than theirs.”’ From four to eight he spent in prayer, holy contemplation, and sinng of psalms. Ailer half-an-hour’s refreshment he trailed his family together for the purposes of praise and prayer, when he retired to his studies till twelve. Having rested himself a little after dinner, he went again to prayer in secret before lus going abroad to viait the fionilies in the town)

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whicf) he was accastomed to do, house by house and street by street, and to speak separately to every person in a famiiy on their siTiritiial con- i oems live afternoons every week, om two % o’clock tin ftear sevem He often blessed God for the great success that he had in these exercisesf believing* that in- them he had been even more instrumental to the gpood of souh than, by bis pubHc preaching. Socisd converse, family devotions, private prayer, and sometimes intense ministerial studies occupied the remaining’ hours of his evenings.

Seven yeai*s he thus laid himself out to do all the good in his power, while in his public ministrations he was a pattern of diligence and faitl’ifdness. His work on the sabbath was to preach once .and to catechise; yet’he had frequently to supply the place of some of bis brethren on any exigency, and would at other tinves go to preach at places where the inhabitants had no minister. Not content with this, on Tuesday evening in every week he repeated his sermon in the church again, and the;*e called on his young people by turns to give an account of what they could recollect of the heads of it from memory.

Having approved himself in this employment as a man of God, he was now called to exemplify in a different manner the gces which he had received from hift Heavenly Father. Before the passing of the M of Uniformity, he was very imeortunate day and night in prayer with God, that is providential way might be made pkin before him; and that he might not, from any scruples about things trifling or indifferent, desist from his appointed work of saving the souls of his hearers. Though he seemed so moderate as to mduce his wife and other intimate friends to think that he would conform y yet when be saw the contents of the act, — ptyie clauficg of tutent and

consent, and renouncing the coverumt,”-^ wa9 ful-

1 ly satisfied in bis mind, and, like his worthy recm tor, threw in his lot with upwards of two thou-

sand of his pious brethren who then became Noneonfoimists.

He did not conuder his ejectment as a (Usqualification from preaching the gospel in places to which he might have access. He resolved, that, if he was not suffered to imain in his native. country, he would proceed to China, and there spend himself in publishing the glad tidings of salvation. He therefore continued to exercise his ministry, by preaching in private, and visiting the families of his parishioners, in rotation, as had been his custom. A gfreat door was opened to him during the few months in which he enjoyed his liberty; for be then went and preached in many villages, and obscure places near large towns, from which many of the appointed ministers had fled, or had dastardly ceased from instructing their people. Wherever he went, the Lord was pleased to give him great success; many were converted, and others encouraged to ‘hold fast their profession without wavering.’* In acting tlms, he was narrowly watched and often threatened; but was preserved from danger much longer than he expected. He would sometimes say, in contemplation of his inprisonment, “If it please the Lord to grant me three months’ liberty before I am taken to prison, I shall account myself favoured by him; and shall with greater cheerfulness go, after I have done more work for him.” In this he was indulged; for he was never molested, from black Bartholomew’s day till the 26th day of May following, when he was summoned from his own dwelling by a warrant, be- ^fiire three juiticeB> for exanunation. They ch&ig-

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ed him with breaking* the Act ef Tfmformtyt which he denied, affirming, “That he had preach* cd neither in any church nor chapel, nor place of public woriliip, since the ^4th of August and that what he did, was ill his own family, with others who came there to hear him.” Yet the justices persisted to accuse him of having been at riotous assembly; and afler detaining hiin till they had cracked their low jests against him, and permitted their associates, some ladies and gentlemen, to caU him “Rogue,** and to tell him, that he deserved to be hanged, — they committed him to Ilchester gaol to take his trial at the assizes. On leaving Taunton, he had a most affectionate parting with his people. Two or three fiiends had proposed to accompany him to Ilchester; and as they passed through the town, the streets were lined on botia sides with people lamenting his departure* iiumy of whom followed him on foot some miles, giving free vent to their sorrow. The sight <of their excessive grief was very afi*ecting to him, while he tried by his cheerful countenance and expressions to give them encouragement.

After delivering his mitHmus to the gaoler at Ilchester, he was put into a close and inconvenient chamber, where he had for company six ministers and ^£ty Quakers. Other ten ministers were brought in soon afterwards, who were thrust into the same room, which was so near the top of the prison that they could touch the tiles as they lay in their beds. The heat was quite stifling, till they took down som^ tiles from the rpof, and pull-* ed out a few ahes of glass. The want of air was agceater pnvation to Mr. Alleine than to any 9t his brethren. For he was of a healthful constitutioiLf and front his first settisg out in the way vy of God, he had accustomed himself, both at Oxford,and Taunton, to perform his secret devotion and converses with his Maker, in the fields or woods, where no human eye could obsen*e his actions.

As soon as he got into the prison, he preached and prayed in it, which he called the consecration of it. He then prevailed with the keeper for one comer of the room, which was more private tham the rest, in which to place his bed; and” he made a little partition, by means of curtsuns, around it for the purposes of retirement; which was a high gratification to his mind. Other indulgencies he also obtained of his keeper, which were conducive in some measure to the better preservation of his health. But it was generally believed by his friends, and asserted by the doctors, that the shock which his constitution received in prison, by his stupes, labours, and confinement, was irreparable.

At the end of four months he was indicted at the Assizes, August the ‘24th, before Judge Foifter; by whom, when found guilty by the juiy, he was sentenced to pay a himdred marks, and to be kept in prison till payment was made. To which he onlyrephed — ^<That he was glad it had appeared before his country, that whatsoever he was charged with, he was guilty of nothing but doing his duty; and that all Vhich appeared by the evidence, was only that he had sung a psalm, and instructed his family, others being there, and both in his own house: And that if nothing that had been urged would satisfy, he should, with all cheerfulness and thankfulness, accept whatsoever sentence his lordship should pronounce upon hhn for so gtpod and righteous a cause.’ To prison therefore was he remanded, where he was detained a whole year, within three days# Mid continued to preach, sometimes to the felons, and at other times to those who visited him and his bre* thren in bonds.

This glorious company of imprisioned ministers Attracted the notice and sympathy even of some flonong the careless and profane in the country around; while the place of their confinement was the especial resort of all the pious. Great multitudes visited them daily, and found no difficulty in gaining admittance. In their small room, one sermon at least was delivered every day, and occasionally two, each of them occupying the homely pulpit in rotation. “Lo! 1 am with you airway UHTO THK BWU 01 THB WORLD,” Siid OUr

Lord Jesus, who is ever faithful to his word: His presence shed a radiance on their (otherwise) forlorn dwelling, and converted their prison into a place of rejoicing. — But this great concourse of people, among whom were generally some of his flock, occupying much of Mr. AUeine’s time in. the day, he was forced to dedicate a part of the Bight to sweet communion with his God, the performance of which duty he would never forego. He relaxed in no part of his former strict habits; but constantly rose about four in. the morning, and spent several hours in meditation and prayer. Then tailing close to his studies in some comer or •ther, he could not be easily moved from them, unless by the arrival of friends, or the appointed time of public worship; after which he would, at times, be engaged in them the whole night, and take only an hour or two for repose to his flesh. Had his bones been brass and his sinews ‘iron, such severe exercise and close study would have corroded their strength and have been a weariness to them.

When he recovered his liberty, he entered more curnsdy thua ever on the work to which life

Wd been called But the consequences of the hardships which he had endured, soon became ap’ ‘parent in the great weakness felt by him while performing his accustomed ministerial exercises. About three months afler his release, he was visited with a gfievous sickness, from which, beyond all the hopes of his friends, h6 partially recovered* Much additional strength he gained by Using the mineral waters near the Devizes, in Wiltshire? and was enabled on his return to enter iigain upon his beloved employment among his own people, and to visit many of the dispersed flocks of Christ that were destitute of pastors. He had also agreed with two of his brethren to accompany them into Wales, to spread the knowledge of Christ; but was prevented in his intentions by a return of his weakness. For his resttorsction, it was judged proper that he should visit Wiltshire agaix that he might derive benefit from the waters. But before he commenced his Journey, he was desirous of setting apart a day of thanksgiving to God for all his mercies. Accor- “dingly, on the 10th of July, 1665, many of his brethren in the ministry, and of his friends from Taunton, met together, at his request, in the house of Mr. Msdlack, a pious merchant, who resided about a mile out of Taunton. 7%e Dive Mile Ad had been but recently passed, by which it was made an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment, for a minister who had not taken the ^aths which it required, to hold a religious assembly within five miles of any city or parliamentyorough, or of the church in which he had been minister* Under this act, Mr. Alleine and his iriends were surprised by two justices in Mr. Maliack’s house; and were convicted by them of that terrible crime — holding a conventicle. Eight laiivstenb of whom Mr. AUeine was one* and forty private persons, refused to pay their fihef, and were on that acco’ifnt committed for six months to the prison of Ilchester. The discourse which he addressed, at the expiration of that period to his feUow-siiffcrers who were about to j be discharg-ed, is a fine specimen of sacred elo- M quence, in which he warmly inculcates the practice of the highest christian duties — thanksgiving* to God, humility in their conduct, and forgiveness to their persccutoi-s.,

Although he was yet infirm, and suffering under a protracted illAss, yet he would always engage in the portion of work assigned to him in rotation with his brethren. They had preaching twice a day in prison; and by this means there being but eight of them, the labours of each were more frequent and oppressive than before-By this second confinement his constitution was. broken, his strength impaired, and his distempers aggravated. So that when he proceeded into Wiltshire the next autumn, for the. purpose of procuring relief by the use of the mineral waters, they appeared to be prejudicial to his frame. For after taking them three days, he was seized with a fever, and biought near unto death. But the Lord mercifully restored him: and strengthened him to reach ‘the people and the place of his choice.’* finding in himself a great prosti-ation of strength, and an mcreasing debility in all his limbs,..he went to Dorchester to consult Doctor Lose,.an eminent and godly physician. He persuaded Mr. Alleine to remain with him two or three weeks»that he might the better prescribe for his complaints, and alter his remedies as he saw occasion. He had not been there five days, before he was suddenly deprived of the use of all his limbs: and lay immoveable in bed, for some weeks, in cold sweats,, his death being hourly expected. From Scptem* wicked,, his wife Immbly intreated the Lord s«r far to mitigate his sufferings as to enable him to utter something’ of his mind to her before he was pleased to remove him by death. And in this she was graciously answered; for, in a little time, he began to speak with an. audible voice,, and for sixteen horn’s together expressed, in’ rapturous strains, his “full assurance of Code’s love t6 him, and his highest litnrns of love to Christ.

About three hours before he expired, he had, as his friends perceived, some conftict with satan; for he uttered these words; — “Away! thou foul fiend, thou enemy of all mankind, thou subtle sophister! Art thmi come now to molest me, no,iv I am just going’’ Now I am so weak, and cleatbupon me’’ — Trouble me not, for 1 am none of thine! X am the Lord’s! Christ is mine, .aud I aija. his; his by covenant. I have sworn .myscTf to-be the Lofd’s; and his I will be! Therefore be* gone t”’ — These last words he ol^V’^iti’cpcated; and his wife noticed that his coffcnuniing 2vit/i Ciod was the means which he employed to expel saty.n and his temptations.

His enemy being conquereid. he ceased not to praise God till within a few.moment.Sv of his departure. This eminently holy man died at Bath, in November, 16ja8, iu.thetliirty sixth, year of his age; and wa». buried. in. the church of St. Magdalen, Tauuton, Ovej.’ his gr?kve was a Latin epitaph, of which hi3 puny vilifier Anthony “Wood gives thje following translation, “Here. Mr. Joseph Alleine lies, .To, God and you a sacnfice,”

Scaj’cely any man in the Church of Christ, has borne a higher character than Mr. Alleiae. Mr,. Baxter describing him,. says, “So geat was hi ministerial skilfulness, in the public explication, and application of the Holy Scrifjtuies; so wise and serious. his private diaiybag with particularfamilies a«d souls; that it is ne wender if 4od blessed him th that great success which is yt vifflble among the people where he lived, and which many of his brethren wanted. He spake» as one that spake from God, in the name of Christ, for men’s renovation and salvation, in a manner suitable to the weight and holiness of the matter. — He spake not evil of dignities, nor Idndled seditious principles or passions in the people’s minds, nor. disaffected them against authority, nor aggravated his own sufferings to exasperate their mmds against such as he suffered by. In all, he (Ud in patience possess his soul; and learned still more patience by the things which he suffered, and taught others what he learned him» self.”

* The reader who is desiious of becoming better acquainted with Mr. Alleine, one of the many worthies who adorned that persecuting age, is respectfully referred to a work, of which a new edition is lately published, entitled, *’An account of the Life and Death of the Rev. Joseph Ai.- LEiiTEj A. B. Author of .in Alarm to the unconvertedf &c. and late minister of the Gospel, at Taunton, in Somersetshire. Written by the Rev. Richarb Baxter, Mrs. Alleine, his widow, and other persons. To which are added luaCHRiSTPAir Letters, full of spiritual instructions, tending to the promoting of the power of godliness in persons and fsumlies.’’ jiTiTiirnffte