To the testimony of his relation is added, that of the pastor with whom he served. None could have known his character better, and none more capable of judging of his merits. The forcible language of the writer seems peculiarly fitted to the singular excellence of him whose character he describes, and richly deserves an attentive reading.

Mr. Joseph Alleine came to my assistance in the year 1655, being then in the 21st year of his age; and we continued together with much mutual satisfaction.

I soon observed him to be a young man of singular accomplishments, natural and acquired. His intellect solid - his memory strong - his affections lively - his learning much beyond the ordinary size; - and above all, his holiness eminent - his conversation exemplary: in short, he had a good head, and a better heart.

He spent a considerable part of his time in private converse with God and his own soul; he delighted very much to perform his secret devotions in the view of heaven, and the open air, when he could find advantages fit for his purpose. He used to keep many days alone; and then a private room would not content him, but (if he could) he would withdraw himself to a solitary house, that had no inhabitant in it. And herein he was gratified often by some private friends of his, to whom he did not impart his design. Perhaps it was, that he might freely use his voice as his affections led him, without such prudential considerations and restraints as would have been necessary in another place; and that he might converse with God without any avocation or distraction.

His conversation with others was always mingled with heavenly and holy discourse; he was ready to instruct, and to exhort, and to reprove; which he never failed to do, when he thought it necessary, whatever the event might be. But he performed it usually with such respect, humility, tenderness, self-condemnation, and compassion, that a reproof from him did seldom if at all, miscarry.

In the houses where he sojourned, their hands fed one, but his lips fed many; God freely poured grace into his lips, and he freely poured it out. None could lie quietly in any visible and open sin, under his inspection. When he came to any house to take up his abode there, he brought salvation with him; when he departed, he left salvation behind him. His manner was, when he was ready to depart, and to transplant himself into some other family, (as the exigence of his condition and the time did more than once constrain him to,) to call the people one by one into his chamber; fro whence, it was observed, that scare any one returned with dry eyes.

In matters of religion, and the first table of the law of God, his strictness was so exemplary, (which was near to rigour,) that I have scare known any one of his years keep pace with him. Surely he did more than others; his righteousness exceeded not the publican only, but the Pharisee too. He was much taken with Monsieur de Rentry, (whose life he read often,) and imitated some of his severities upon better grounds. How often have I heard him admire, among many other things, especially his self-annihilation, striving continually to be nothing, that God might be all.

But here he stayed not, he was a second-table man, a man or morals. I never knew him spotted in the least degree with any unjust or uncharitable action. And I am sure, the many failings of professors in this kind, touched him to the very quick, and brought him low; drew prayers, tears, complaints, and lamentations, both by word and letter, for him, though yet the Lord would not permit him to behold and reap the fruit before he died.

He had an eminently free and bountiful heart according to his power; and I may truly say, beyond his power; yea, much beyond it, he was willing of himself. It is but seldom that the best do need restraint in these matters; and yet we read of some who brought more than enough; yea, much more than enough. (Exod. xxxvi. 5.) So that there was a proclamation issued to put a stop to their bounty; and it is added presently, "so the people were restrained." Men universally almost do need a spur, but he did rather need a bridle. When other men gave little out of much, he gave much out of little; and while they heaped and gathered up, he dispersed and scattered abroad. He did not hide himself from his own flesh, but was helpful to relations, as some of them have great reason to acknowledge. His charity began at home, but it did not end there; for "he did good to all, according to his opportunities, though especially to the household of faith." He considered the poor - he studied their condition - he devised liberal things - he was full of holy projects, for the advancement of the good of others, both spiritual and temporal; which he pursued with such irresistible vigour, and zeal, and activity, that they seldom proved abortive.

He was a man of extraordinary condescension to the infirmities of weaker brethren, as they that are most holy, and best acquainted with themselves, are wont to be. "Instructing those that wee contrary minded, in meekness; if God peradventure would give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth: restoring those who were overtaken with a fault, with the spirit of meekness." So dealing with them in such a loving, sweet, and humble way, as considering himself, lest he also might be tempted. In their confessed failings, he was no way supercilious, captious, and censorious; he would maintain a good opinion of another, upon a narrower footing than many others, who, to say no more, were nothing stricter, holier, humbler, than himself. His charity "believed all things" that wee to be believed, and "hoped all things" that were to be hoped. And when he deeply condemned the actions, he would not judge of the estate: indeed he had more charity for others than himself; and though he were sufficiently mild in his judgment of others, he was severe enough in his judgment of himself.

He was not peremptory in matters that belong to doubtful disputations: he laid no more weight and stress on notions and opinions in religion, than belongs to them. He was not like many, who are so over-confident in the determinations, that they will hardly hold communion; nay, scarce so much as a pleasing conversation with any man, how gracious soever, who cannot think, and say, and act in every thing as they do. He would allow his fellow-members the latitude that the apostle does; and so would freely and familiarly converse with those who are sound in the faith, (as to the fundamentals of religion) and who were strict and holy in their lives, of all persuasions.

His ministerial studies were more than usually easy to him, being of a quick conception, - a ready, strong, and faithful memory, - a free expression, which was rather nervous and substantial, than soft and delicate, - and, which was best of all, a holy heart that boiled and overflowed with good matter. This furnished him on all occasions, not with warm affections only, but with holy notions too. For his heart was an epistle, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God: and out of this epistle, he drew many excellent things. In the course of his ministry, he was a good man, and his heart a good treasure; whence he was wont continually to bring forth good things, both in public and in private.

He was apt to preach and pray, - most ready on all occasions to lay out himself in such work; yea, spending himself in such work. When any sudden sickness seized me, and put him at any time (as often happened) upon very short and sudden preparations, he never refused; no, nor so much as fluctuated in the undertaking; but being called, he confidently cast himself upon the Lord, and trusted perfectly to his assistance who had never failed him; and so he readily and freely went about his work without distraction.

He began upon a very considerable stock of learning, enjoying gifts ministerial and personal, much beyond the proportion of his years, and grew exceedingly in his abilities and graces, in a little time; so that his profiting appeared to all men. He waxed very rich in heavenly treasure, by the blessing of God on a diligent hand; so that he was behind in no good gift. He found that precious promise sensible made good, "to him that hath (for use and good employment) shall be given, and he shall have abundance." He had no talent for the napkin, but all for traffic, which he laid out so freely for his Master’s use, that, in a little time, they multiplied so fast, that the napkin could not hold them. I heard a worthy minister say of him once, not without admiration, "Whence hath this man these things?" He understood whence he had them well enough, and so did I, even from above, whence every good and perfect gift proceedeth. God blessed him in all spiritual blessings in heavenly things, and he returned all to heaven again; he served God with all his might and all his strength; he was abundant in the work of the Lord; he did not go, but ran in the ways of his commandments: he made haste and lingered not; "he did run, and was not weary: he did walk, and was not faint." He pressed hard towards the mark, till he attained it; his race was short and swift, and his end glorious.

He was infinitely and insatiably greedy of the conversion of souls, wherein he had no small success in the time of his ministry. And to this end, he poured out his very heart in prayer and preaching; "he imparted not the gospel only, but his own soul." His supplications, and his exhortations, many times were so affectionate, so full of holy zeal, life, and vigour, that they quite overcame his hearers. He melted over them, so that he thawed, and mollified, and sometimes dissolved the hardest hearts. But while he melted thus, he wasted, and at last consumed himself.

He was not satisfied to spend himself in public, but used constantly to go from house to house, and there to deal particularly, where he had a free reception, both with the governors, and with the children, and with the servants of the household, instructing them especially in the great fundamental necessary truths of the law, and of the gospel, where he observed them to be ignorant: gently reproving them, where he found any thing amiss among them. Exhorting them to diligence, both in their general and particular callings: entreating them who were defective, by any means to set up the worship of God in their houses, and to make them little churches, by constant reading of the scripture, so that the work of Christ might deeply dwell among and in them richly, by carefully catechising the children, and the servants; by frequent meditations, conferences, repetitions of that which they had heard in public, especially by daily prayer, morning and evening, that so they might avoid that dreadful indignation which hangs over, and is ready to be poured out upon the families that call not upon God. He made the best inspection that he could into the state of every particular person; and so accordingly applied himself to check, to comfort, to encourage, as he found occasion. All which he did with so much tenderness, humility, and self-denial, that they gained very much on the affections and respect of all that received him, and wrought them at least to outward conformity: so that they who were not visited in the beginning, at length came forth and called upon him to come to their families and help them.

Thus did he wear himself away, while he gave light and heat to others. He usually allowed himself too little sleep to recruit and to repair the spirits which he wasted while waking. His manner was to rise at four o’clock at the utmost, many times before, and that in the cold winter mornings, that he might be with God betimes, and so get room for other studies and employments. His extraordinary watchings, constant cares, excessive labours in the work of his ministry, public and private, were generally apprehended to e the cause of those distempers, and decays, and at last of that ill habit of body, whereof in the end he died.

He was the gravest, strictest, most serious and composed young man that I had ever yet the happiness to be acquainted with. And yet he was not rigid in his principles; his moderation was known to all men that knew him.