The life & death of Mr. Joseph Alleine, late teacher of the church at Taunton, in Somersetshire, assistant to Mr. Newton whereunto are annexed diverse Christian letters of his, full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of Godliness, both in persons and families, and his funeral sermon, preached by Mr. Newton.

1. On the Ignorant, in instructing and catechizing them.

To the Ignorant. And here knowing that without knowledge the Heart is not, and cannot be good; and considering also how too successfully the evil one, by sowing evil Seeds betimes in the hearts of Youth, doth ever after forestal and defeat the most laborious endeavours for their recovery and sal∣vation: Thus knowing and considering, he was in nothing more industrious, and in nothing more happy and successful in exerting his industry, than in an early sowing those Bles∣sed Seeds of Divine Knowledge in the Hearts of all the Youth that he could reach in person or otherwise; by which they were exceedingly formed to receive all good Impressions. During the time of his publick Ministry on every Lords-day in the Afternoon he constantly catechised, before a great Congregation, the Youth of each Sex by turns, amongst whom were several both young Men and Women, sometimes five or six of the chief Scholars of the Free-School, sometimes five or six of the Apprentices of the Town, some of whom, though of mans estate, who accounted it not a disgrace to learn (according to the guise of this mad

World) but to be ignorant. Sometimes, of the other Sex, five or six young Gentlewomen, who were under his Wifes Tuition, (and so his Domestick over-sight) kept their turns, of whom she had not a few, and those the Daughters of Gentlemen of good rank far and near, whose laudable emu∣lation, and love to their Father (as they styled him) and to the Work, was the cause why they were not so over-bashful as to decline so advantagious a course; by which, together with domestick Instructions and Example, even all received a tincture of Piety and Religion, and many a through Im∣pression: Besides these several Virgins also, and among these the Daughters of some of the chief Magistrates in the Town did keep their turns. In this his course he drew out on the short Answers in the Assemblies Catechism, an excellent Dis∣course on all the Points of the Christian Theology, which he handled successfully, reducing his Discourse to several Heads, which he also proved by pertinent Places of Scripture; which done, he gave both the Heads and Proofs written at length, on a Week day, to those whom he designed to Catechize on the ensuing Lords-day, which, besides the short Answers in the Catechism, and the annexed Proofs they committed to memory, and rendred on the After-noon of the day afore∣said. Throughout all which course he approved himself to be a most substantial Divine.

Neither did his Catechistical Labours rest here, but also on Thursdayes in the Afternoon (as I remember) he Cate∣chised in the Church, Street by Street, whole Families, excepting the Married or more Aged, in order: Which Ex∣ercise (I suppose) he designed as preparatory to his Lord's-Dayes Work. Besides this, on Saturdayes in the Morning, he Catechised the Free-School of that place, instructing them in the Points of Christian Doctrine, and excellently explain∣ing the Answers in the Assemblies Catechism, discovering a Mine of Knowledge in them, and in himself. How excellent was his design, and great his Labour, besides all this, in go∣ing from House to House, and instructing both Old & Young, is elsewhere abundantly declared. Neither was this his Labour in vain, but became even as successful as laborious; for there are few but have gratefully acknowledged that by this means they were either led into the Knowledge, or in∣duced

to the belief, choice and practice of that which was and is of Soveraign advantage to them to this day. And how hap∣py and likely a course he took herein to advance Religion in the Nation, on the hearts and lives of men; and how far less successful and probable all other means are, aiming at this end, without this initial Work, it is left to all pious and considering men to judge.