Joseph Allein

son of Tobie Alleine, was born in a Market Town in Wilts. called The Vies or Devises, an. 1633, and being when a Child forward to learn, was educated in Grammar there; which faculty, he in a short time conquering, was instructed by a Minister of that, or a neighbouring, place in the art of Logick. At 16 years of age he was sent to Linc. Coll. (being then well skill’d in the Lat. and Gr. tongue) where continuing till 8. of Nov. 1651. was then admitted Scholar of that of Corp. Chr. and in short time after, if the Wilts. Fellowship should happen to be void, as it did, he would consequently have been Fellow. But he esteeming himself as most admirably well gifted for extempore prayer, as indeed he was by those of his party, who took him to be a pretious young man (for he and his friend could hardly ever walk or discourse together, but before they parted, they must, at his request, go and pray together) he humbly desired the President of the said Coll. that upon the next vacancy of a Chaplainship, he would confer that office upon him, purposely (as was conceived by some) that he might shew his excellencies in publick twice in a day. I say that he being sollicitous for that place, his acquaintance would often disswade him from taking it, as being much inferior to a Fellowship: yet take it he did, prised it, and looked upon it as his honour and happiness to enjoy it. This was, I presume, in the beginning of the year 1653, for in July that year, he, as Chaplain of Corp. Ch. Coll. was admitted Bach. of Arts. But before he could stay to take the degree of Master, he received a Call to assist George Newton Minister of Taunton S. Magdalen in Somersetshire, an. 1655: where being ordained in a publick association meeting of the Brethren, he administred all ordinances jointly with Mr. Newton. Soon after our author Joseph received another Call to take to Wife a fair and holy Sister; which being ((a))((a)) The marriage was consummated 4. Oct. 1655. So Theodosia his Widow in The narrative of his life from his silencing to his death, p. 91. effected, he would (as in jest) complain to his intimate friend of C. C. C. of the inconveniences of marriage, viz. that whereas he used to rise at four of the clock in the morn. or before, his loving spouse would keep him in bed till about six. Also whereas he used to study 14 hours in a day, she would bring him to eight or nine. And lastly that whereas he used to forbear one meal a day at least for his studies, she would bring him to his meat, &c. At Taunton in this employment under Mr. Newton he continued till Barthelmewtide, called by his party The black day, an. 1662, at which time being deprived of it for non-conformity, sate silent for a time to his great regret. At length receiving a third Call for the propagation of the Gospel, he would by all means forsooth go into China to do it, but being disswaded by the Brethren he fed the flock of Gods people in private. At length he being snap’d for a Conventicler, was committed to prison at Ilchester, where he continued some years not without teaching and preaching, and writing letters to the chosen of God in Taunton. Several pieces of his practical divinity he hath written, of which these are published.

A most familiar explanation of the Assemblies shorter Catechisme. Wherein their larger answers are broken into lesser parcels, thereby to let the light by degrees into the minds of the learners—When this was first printed, I cannot find. Sure I am the last edition came out at Lond. 1674. in oct.

A most brief help for the necessary, but much neglected, duty of self examination to be dayly perused.—Printed with the former book.

Letter of Christian councell to a destitute flock.—Printed with the former also.

Christian letters full of spiritual instructions, &c. Lond. 1672. oct. They are about 40 in number, and were all written in prison to persons of his Church. Five more were added to the second edit.—Lond. 1677. oct.

Cases of Conscience, &c. Lond. 1672. oct. This goes under his name, and without doubt he was the Author of it.

Remains: being a collection of sundry directions, sermons, sacrament speeches and letters, not heretofore published. Lond. 1674. oct.

The true way to happiness, in a serious treatise, shewing (1) What conversion is not, &c. (2) What conversion is, &c.—This book commended in two Epistles, one by Mr. Rich. Baxter, the other by Rich. Alleine, was printed at Lond. 1675. oct. It is the same book, with that of the same author which was publ. in 8o. an. 1672 entit. An alarum to the unconverted, &c. The other part of the title is altogether the same with this before mention’d; and at the end of this new impression (if they be different in more than their titles) is a copy of English verses, said to be made on the reading of Mr. Jos. Alleine’s book entit. An alarum to the unconverted, which plainly shews that they are the same. Mr. Baxter ((b))((b)) In the Introduction before Jos. Alleines life, p. 17. tells us that he was also author of,

The Synopsis of the Covenant. Or God speaking from mount Gerizim, &c.—Printed in Mr. Rich. Alleine’s book, entit. Heaven opened, &c. being the third part of his Vindiciae poetatis; In which book is also printed another shorter piece, entit.

A Sololoquie representing a believers trial in Gods Covenant, &c.—Also another shorter than that called,

A form of words expressing mans covenanting with God.—Besides these he hath also written,

Prayers for his peoples use—And a little thing entit.

A call to Archippus; to perswade the silent Nonconformists, to pity Souls—And left behind him at his death several Theological MSS written and composed by him, but all, or most, are imperfect, except this,

Theologiae Philosophicae, sive Philosophiae Theologicae specimen: In quo aeterni dei providentia solius natur [•] lumine comprobatur, &c. Written an. 1661, and licensed for the Press, but being Lat. and Greek, and such books having too few buyers in England, none yet are found that will be at the charge of printing the said book. He gave up the Ghost in Novemb. in the year sixteen hundred sixty and eight,1668. and was buried in the Chancel of Taunton S. Magd. At which time Mr. G. Newton preached a Sermon before a large auditory, mostly consisting of Dissenters, wherein were many things said to the great honour of the person that then laid dead before him. Over his grave was only this engraven on a stone,

Here Mr. Joseph Allein lies

To God and you a sacrifice.

Not long after was published his life ((c))((c)) Printed at Lond. 1672 and 1677, in a large octavo. written by Mr. Rich. Baxter (who wrot also the introduction) Rich. Alleine, Rich. Faireclough, George Newton, his Widow Theodosia Alleine, and two conforming Ministers, who conceal their names. From which Sermon and canting farce or life, especially that ridiculous discourse of Theodosia, the reader may easily understand what a grand zealot for the cause this our author Jos. Alleine was, and how his life was spent in actions busie, forward, (if not pragmatical) and medling without intermission. The said Theodosia a prating Gossip and a meer Zantippe finding Jos. Alleine to be a meer Scholar and totally ignorant of Womens tricks, did flatter, sooth him up and woe, and soon after married, and brought, him to her Luer. After she had buried him, and being not able to continue long without a consort, she freely courted a lusty Chaundler of Taunton, alienated his affections by false reports, from a young Damsel that he was enamoured with, and by three days courting, they were the fourth day married, as I have been credibly informed by several persons of Taunton, and so obtained him meerly to supply her salacious humour. In 1 [•] 91. our author Alleine had another book put out under his name entit. A sure Guide to heaven, &c. printed in tw.