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struction as opportunity offered; and these he diligently improved among the people of his former charge, till he was compelled to desist.

After the restoration, Mr. Steel met with much trouble on account of his nonconformity. In September, 1660, he was presented at Flint assizes, together with Mr. Fogg, and Mr. Henry, for not reading the common prayer, though as yet it was not enjoined; but there were some busy people whose zeal prompted them to outrun the law. They entered their appearance, but the affair came to nothing; for the King's declaration touching ecclesiastical affairs, coming out soon after, promised liberty, and gave hopes of a peaceable settlement. However, at the spring assizes following, Mr. Steel, and Mr. Henry, were again presented, and came off with some difficulty. In October, 1663, they were again taken up with some other of their friends, and brought prisoners to Hanmere, under pretence of a plot against the government. After being kept in confinement some days, they were examined by the deputy-lieutenants, charged with they knew not what, and dismissed upon their verbal security to be forthcoming upon twenty-four hours notice. It was remarked as a retaliation of Providence, that the day after their release, the person who had been the principal cause of their trouble, died of a drunken surfeit.

In the beginning of 1665, Mr. Steel was made subcollector of the royal aid for the township of Hanmere, as was Mr. Henry for the township of Iscoyd. The commissioners for Flintshire had nominated them to this office with a design to put an affront upon their ministry, and hold them forth to the world in the disparaging light of mere laymen. This, however, they took patiently, as they did their other sufferings in the cause of God, and a good conscience. In September, the same year, Mr. Steel was again committed to prison for being present at a private meeting; but in a few days was discharged. After this he formed a resolution of removing to London, when a fresh trouble overtook him.

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As he was setting out on his journey, he was served with a warrant from the neighbouring justices, and under colour of the report of a plot, stopped and searched. But his enemies finding nothing upon him to ground an accusation, seized his almanack, in which he kept his diary for that year. This being written not very legibly, they put what malicious constructions upon it they pleased, and endeavoured to turn it to his reproach; though to all sober and sensible people, it discovered him to be a man who kept a strict watch over his own heart, and was anxious how he might best improve his time. Having overcome this trouble, he quickly fell into another, by the passing of the Oxford, or five mile act, which took took place at Lady-day, 1666. This forced Mr. Steel and his family from Haumere, and from the society of his valuable friend and fellow-sufferer, Mr. Philip Henry. *

About 1667, Mr. Steel removed to London, where he gathered a congregation which met for several years at Armourers'-Hall, Coleman-street, and where during the latter part of his time he was assisted by the Rev. George Hamond, who had been ejected from Trinity parish, in Dorchester. As Mr. Steel preached to his own people only in the morning, he engaged his services on the other part of the day to another congregation at Hoxton. In these and other places he eminently discharged the duty of a good minister of Jesus Christ, continuing for about twenty-five years in a course of diligent and constant preaching the gospel in and about the city, as God gave him liberty and opportunity, till death put a period to his life and labours.

The circumstances attending his decease are as follows: On the Lord's-day preceding that event, November 13, 1692, he preached to his own people in the morning, and at Hoxton in the afternoon. On Monday he visited several friends in London, and seemed to be as lively and vigorous

• Calamy's Account, p. 708.-Contin. p. 835.

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as he had usually been for a long time. For though he had been many years afflicted with a consumption, he was otherwise as strong and active as most who arrive at his age. In the evening he visited a friend in Cheapside, where he intended to stay the night; but finding himself much indisposed, he was carried home in a coach, about ten o'clock. The next day he rose, and seemed somewhat revived, but kept his chamber the whole day. On the Wednesday he kept his bed, being very faint and short-breathed. He had the assistance of a very able physician, his intimate friend, who used the best means for his recovery, but without success. He complained not of any pain, and enjoyed the use of his reason and senses to the very last. At length, about ten o'clock at night, being the 16th day of November, 1692, and in his 64th year, without any struggle or pain, he quietly yielded up his spirit, finding a very short and easy passage to his eternal rest. His worthy friend and fellowlabourer, Mr. George Hamond, preached and published a very excellent discourse upon his death, every way deserving the high character given of it by the late Mr. Charles Bulkley, in his "Christian Minister." It is entitled, "A good Minister of Jesus Christ;" and the text is, 2 Tim. ii. 15. In this discourse, the author, in a variety of particulars, exhibits to our view the exact portraiture of a good minister of Jesus Christ, and then points out in what respects they were exemplified in the character of the deceased. As these are so well illustrated by the pen of Mr. Hamond, we make no apology for reciting his own words:

1. Our apostle, the more to recommend a good minister doth shew, how unlike he is to a contentious wrangling sophister, who lives in the fire of disputing and dividing. But it may be truly said of our worthy brother, as it was of Caleb, "He was a man of another spirit." He hated contentions and divisions; he greatly bewailed them; and used his utmost endeavour to promote union and concord. That this was his temper, is clearly demonstrated by his " dis

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course against uncharitable contentions in the church of God;" which is printed in the 4th volume of the Casuistical Morning Exercises, preached in October, 1639, wherein he shewed a deep judgment, and a very prudent pacific spirit.

"2. The apostle describes a good minister of Jesus Christ, by his studiousness and diligence. In which, it must be concluded, that our deceased brother was very exemplary. For his sermons were composed and written with mature digestion, though with much brevity; which manifested them to have been the product of many serious thoughts; and considering his constancy in preaching, must needs require very hard study. His manuscript notes of his sermons are exceeding many, and deserve to be carefully preserved. When we compute the time, that must necessarily have been spent about his extraordinary labours, we may judge, that a person of more than common attainments had filled it up very well: yet he redeemed so much besides, as enabled him to compose and publish several pious and profitable treatises; of which I think it may be of good use to annex a catalogue: as (1.) "An Antidote against Distractions; or, an Endeavour to serve the Church in the daily Case of Wanderings in the Worship of God." This treatise came to my hands before I ever saw the face of the author; and I have heard many to bless God for it, and to profess, that they were greatly edified by it. What acceptance this book hath found with such as are serious in religion, may be estimated by the several impressions of it. There is one circumstance more that relates to it, which may not be passed over, viz. that it was written by Mr. Steel, when he was imprisoned in Wales for nonconformity. Here we find that exemplified, which was once the case of St. Paul, 2 Tim. ii. 9. Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer even unto bonds: but the word of God is not bound. And as while he was in prison, he endeavoured to edify the church of God by his writings; so he did also by his preachirg,

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while he was under confinement, seek the salvation of those who came to hear him. And it is to be hoped, that it may be said of some of them, as Paul did of Onesimus, that they were begotten again by him while he was in bonds. (2.) "The Husband's Calling; shewing the Excellencies, Temptations, Graces, and Duties of the Christian Husbandman." (3.) "A plain Discourse of Uprightness; shewing the Properties and Privileges of an upright Man." (4.) "The Tradesman's Calling: a Discourse concerning the Nature, Necessity, Choice, &c. of a Calling in general; and Directions for the right managing of the Tradesman's Calling in particular." (This is one of the books given away by the society for promoting religious knowledge. (5.) "A Discourse of Old Age; tending to the Instruction, Caution, and Comfort of aged Persons." (6.) "A Scheme and Abstract of the Christian Religion, comprised in 52 Heads, with the Texts of Scripture in which they are grounded." And some short indications, how they were more largely handled. (7.) Besides his discourse against uncharitable contentions printed among the sermons in the Casuistical Morning Exercises; there are also other sermons of his printed: as, (1.) "The Duties of Husbands and Wives towards each other," in the supplement of the Morning Exercise at Cripplegate, 1674. (2.) " Believer's Right to the Cup in the Lord's-Supper:" in the Morning Exercise against Popery, 1675. (3.) "What are the Hindrances and Helps to a good Memory in Spiritual Things;" in the continuation of the Morning Exercises, Questions, and Cases of Conscience, 1683. These are the books which were published by our reverend brother; by the diligent reading whereof, private Christians may, by God's blessing, be much improved in their spiritual growth. (M)

(M) To the list of Mr. Steel's works above recited by Mr. Hamond, may be added the following: A Preface with some account of the life of Mr. Thomas Froysel, before his sermons of Grace and Temptations. 1678.