Richard Allein

son of Rich. All. Rector of Dicheat or Dichet in Somersetshire, was born there, entred a Commoner of S. Alb. Hall in Mich. term 1627 aged 16 years, took the degree of Bach. of Arts, went to New Inn, being puritanically affected, and not only compleated that degree by Determination, as a member thereof, but continued there, in the study of the supreme faculty, till after he was Master of Arts. At length taking holy orders, he assisted his father, and became a frequent preacher in his own Country. In the middle of March 1641, at which time he shew’d himself a zealous person for the blessed cause then driving on, he became Rector of Batcomb in the same County, in the place of Rich. Bernard deceased; (who had held that Rectory from Novemb. 1613 to that time) where, being setled, he became a preacher up of sedition, a zealous Covenanter, (and therefore several times disturb’d by the Cavaliers in those parts) and one of the number that subscribed The testimony of the Ministers of Sommersetshire to the truth of Jesus Christ and to the solemn League and Covenant. Printed at Lond. 1648. qu. In 1654 he, with his father, were constituted Assistants to the Commissioners appointed by Parliament for the ejection of such whom they and their brethren called scandalous, ignorant and insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters in the same County; in which office they shew’d themselves severe enough: But upon his Majesties restauration our author Allein putting a curb to his activity, was soon after ejected for Nonconformity. So that removing from place to place for a time, setled at length at Frome-Selwood, where he remained, not without preaching somtimes in private, to his dying day. He hath written and published,

Vindiciae Pietatis: or, a vindication of Godliness in the greatest strictness and spirituality of it, from the imputations of folly and fancy, on Ephes. 5.15. and on Joh. 1.47. Lond. 1664. and 69. oct.

Several directions for the attaining and maintaining of a godly life. Lond. 1669 Pr. with Vindiciae Pietatis.

The Godly mans portion and sanctuary: being a second part of Vindiciae Pietatis, on Psal. 4.9. Lond. in oct.

Heaven opened: or, a brief and plain discovery of the riches of Gods Covenant of Grace: Being the third part of Vindiciae Pietatis. Lond. in oct.

The World Conquered: or, a believers victory over the World, laid open in several Sermons, on 1. Joh. 5.4: Being the fourth part of Vind. Pietat. Lond. 1668. oct. All which pieces were printed together at London 1671 in oct. and were entit. The Works of Mr. Rich. Allein in four parts. Dedicated to the Inhabitants of the Parish of Batcombe.

Godly feare: or, the nature and necessity of feare, and and its usefulness; both to the driving sinners to Christ, and to the provoking Christians on in a godly life, through the several parts and duties of it till they come to blessedness. Lond. 1674. oct. This book consists of Sermons preached on several texts.

A rebuke to Back-Sliders, and a spur for Loiterers, in several Sermons lately preached to a private Congregation. Lond. 1677 &c. oct.

A Companion for Prayer: or, directions for improvement in grace and practical godliness in times of extraordinarie danger. Lond. 1680. in tw.

Instructions about Heart-work. What is to be done on Gods part and ours, for the cure and keeping of the Heart, that we may live in the exercise and growth of Grace here, and have a comfortable assurance of glory, to eternity. Lond. 1682 oct, with a preface of Dr. Sam. Annesley, alias Aneley to it. To the second edit. of this, which came out in 1684, was added our author Alleins book entit. A Companion for prayer, &c. He also had a hand in writing The life of Joseph Alleine, his kinsman, and digested, fitted for the Press and published his Remaines, &c. See more in the said J. Alleine, among these writers, page 300.301. At length this our zealous author concluding his last day at Frome Selwood before mention’d, in the house of one Rob. Smith, (wherein he had lived several years and had kept Conventicles) on the 22. of Decemb. in sixteen hundred eighty and one,1681: was buried in the Church there, in, or about, the midst of the middle alley: At which time Rich. Jenkins M. of A. (somtimes of Gloc. Hall) a Luke-warm Conformist and Vicar of that place, (the same who married Tho. Thynne of Longleat Esq. to Elizabeth Countess of Ogle, heir to the illustrious Family of Percy) preached his funeral Sermon, containing many pathetical Encomiums of him, having several times before also visited him in his sickness.