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of age, the care of his education devolved upon an excellent mother, whose prudence and piety proved a great blessing to her family. (G) In early life he discovered a strong inclination to the ministry, which was so pleasing to his worthy parent, that she gave him every encouragement in her power. At school, he was remarkable for close application as well as a great capacity; loved retirement and books; and was very forward in the acquisition of knowledge. But the most important qualification, and that which sanctified all his other attainments, was the fear of God, which he possessed from his youth. While a youth, he was much loved and admired by the most eminent Christians, and particularly commended as making a conscience of his word, and redeeming his time.

After passing through a course of school-learning at Exeter, Mr. Shower, at fourteen years of age, entered upon academical studies at Taunton, in Somersetshire, under the tuition of the Rev. and learned Mr. Matthew Warren, who supported for many years, with great reputation and success, a private academy in that town. After spending a considerable time at Taunton, his mother removed with him to London, and placed him under the care of Mr. Charles Moreton, at Newington-green; a gentleman distinguished no less for depth of learning than politeness of manners, with whom he finished his academical studies.

and

Such was Mr. Shower's improvement, both in knowledge and piety, that before he was quite twenty years of age, the encouragement of his own tutor, and of the famous Dr. Manton, induced him to preach as a candidate for the mimistry. His first sermon was delivered in the year 1677, at

(G) Mr. Shower's father left behind him four sons. WILLIAM, the eldest, was a merchant at Devizes: JOHN, the second son, forms the subject of the present memoir : BARTHOLOMEW, the third son, was bred to the law, was afterwards knighted, and greatly distinguished himself by the part he took in public affairs. PHINEAS, the fourth son, was put apprentice to a Mr. Hervey, a druggist, in London, and died young.

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the meeting-house of Mr. Thomas Vincent, in Hand-alley, from Psalm cxix. 30. I have chosen the way of truth. In this sermon he took occasion to vindicate his choice of the ministry among the Nonconformists, as the way that came nearest to scripture, the great rule and standard of truth. Mr. Shower had a lively and affectionate manner of preaching, great freedom of expression, and often dwelt upon the most awful and affecting subjects. It was not, therefore, to be wondered at, that he was much esteemed and followed.

In 1678, a year memorable for the discovery of the Popish plot, the body of Protestants in England alarmed at the danger to which their civil and religious liberties were exposed, agreed to lay aside their animosities, and join heartily against the common enemy. At this time, an evening lecture was established in a large room, belonging to a coffeehouse, in Exchange-Alley. It was supported and attended by some of the most considerable merchants in London; and the ministers chosen to preach it were, Mr. James Lambert, Mr. Theophilus Dorrington, Mr. Thomas Goodwin, and Mr. John Shower. The novelty of the thing brought many hearers, the good performances of the lecturers gave it reputation, and God evidently crowned it with his blessing.

Mr. Shower was ordained to the ministeral office in 1679. The certificate of this transaction was drawn up in cautious and general terms, and without any place being mentioned; which proves that it was done privately, and that some apprehension of danger was entertained by the parties concerned. (H) It must have been about this time

(H) These are to SHOWER, of London, and in testimony of it 1679.

certify whom it may concern, that Mr. JOHN was ordained minister of the gospel in our presence, we subscribe our names, this 24th of December, RICHARD ADAMS. RICHARD STRATTON. O. HUGHES.

M. SYLVESTER.

S. SMITH.

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that he was chosen assistant to the learned and ingenious Mr. Vincent Alsop, at Tothill-fields, Westminster. In this situation he continued some considerable time; and by his good sense, genteel manners, and discreet behaviour, recommended himself to several persons of quality.

About the year 1685, Mr. Shower was prevailed upon by that eminent patriot, Sir Samuel Barnardiston, to accompany his nephew in his travels upon the continent. Of this service he was the more inclined to accept, on account of the bad temper of the court towards persons of his persuasion; as well as from a desire to oblige so worthy a family. He accordingly embarked for France, in company with Mr. Barnardiston, Mr. Cornish, and Mr. Thomas Goodwin, son to the famous Dr. Goodwin. From France they passed to Geneva, where they spent the remainder of the summer; and Mr. Shower employed himself in a diligent application to his studies, forming an acquaintance with some of the most celebrated persons in that city, particularly with the famous Turretin. He was, also, very instrumental in removing the prejudices entertained by some learned men in that city, against the English Dissenters. Here he first

became acquainted with Mr. (afterwards Sir) Richard Blackmore; and their friendship continued unabated to the close of life. The next object of their curiosity was Italy; but they were obliged to wait till the autumnal rains had cooled and mitigated the immoderate heat of that region. In the beginning of September they set out upon their journey, and took the road to Chamberry, the capital of Savoy. From thence they proceeded to Turin, and afterwards to Florence, and Leghorn. From the latter city they embarked for Naples, and were much gratified by the numerous curiosities of that place. During their stay, they visited the top of Mount Vesuvius. They next proceeded to Rome, where Mr. Shower behaved himself with great decency and prudence, by declining all debates with the Papists, and every thing that might embroil him in difficulties.

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He, therefore, avoided being present at their masses, or meeting their solemn processions, to which he could not pay the veneration which they expected. The indiscreet conduct of one of the English travellers, hastened their departure from Rome, where they had spent the winter. They next visited Loretto, Ancona, and Venice; at all which places their curiosity was abundantly gratified. From Venice they proceeded to Padua, where they staid a month; being well pleased with the University. Their next rout was over the Alps, to the country of the Grisons, which proved a difficult journey; but nature had furnished many surprising things to strike their attention. Thence, passing through Switzerland into Germany, they crossed the Rhine to Strasburg; proceeded to Manheim; and from thence to Amsterdam, where they arrived about July, 1684. Here the company parted, the greatest part returning to England; but Mr. Shower continued in Holland about two years longer. The above is a brief outline of Mr. Shower's travels. Our limits will not allow of a fuller detail: for this we cheerfully refer to the ample narrative in the memoirs of his life, published by the worthy Mr. William Tong.

Upon Mr. Shower's return to England, he was gladly re-admitted to his turn at the lecture in Exchange-Alley. His first sermon was upon the vanity of the world, from Eccles. i. 8. All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing. "Persons please themselves beforehand (says Mr. Tong) with hopes of being greatly satisfied when they have seen foreign courts and cities, but they are disappointed; all things are full of labour; the mind feels some dissatisfaction; not because it would see more, but because it has seen so much, and met with so little worth the time and cost." From the narrative of Mr. Shower's life, however, it appears abundantly evident that this part of his time was not lost, but improved to very considerable advantage.

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The observations which he made upon foreign customs and manners, and the time he devoted to study, greatly enriched his mind; and, at his return, his ministerial labours were increasingly acceptable and useful.

When Mr. Shower returned to his native country, he found the vessel of nonconformity riding in a storm. The court of England being, at this time, very much under the direction and influence of the court of France, gave into similar measures. In the latter country, the Reformed Churches were to be destroyed; in the former, the Dissenting Protestants to be hunted down by penal laws, and ruined, that there might remain no obstacles to the estab

lishment of Popery and arbitrary power. "Then it was (says Mr. Tong) that the vilest men were encouraged to disturb the Dissenters in the worship of God, in those assemblies which their enemies thought fit to reproach them with the diminutive term of Conventicles, by which they would have them thought to be little and illegal assemblies. As for being little, every body must needs observe, that if they had been less than they were, they would not have been so offensive; it was their being large and numerous, well frequented, and by persons of rank and reputation, (while the established church was thin enough of hearers,) it was this that made them so obnoxious. And as to their being illegal, though it was so far true, that there were laws in being against them sanguinary and severe enough, yet the King in his turn, and the parliament in theirs, had declared against putting the penal laws against Dissenters in execution; and the House of Commons had passed a resolution, That to do so was an encouragement of Papists; and these indulgences thus declared, they were willing to suppose were good evidence, that in what their assemblies were so unhappy as to interfere with the laws in being, the fault was not so much in them as in the laws so imprudently made against them."