him to a better state, at a time when all prospect of worldly enjoyment was at an end. On his death-bed, he dictated and subscribed a memorable declaration in support of his favourite doctrine, non-resistance. Thus he died as he had lived, whether mistaken or not, at least a consistent and conscientious man.

Immediately after the Rev. John Lake had quitted Oldham, the portion of the congregation who held the doctrines of the Independents became the most powerful of the three sects who were then equally contending for paramount influence, and as the Rector of Prestwich had been rendered, by the troubled state of the times, indifferent to the patronage of the curacy, a majority of the church assembly invited the Rev. Robert Constantine, a former incumbent, to resume the ministerial duties. This occurrence took place in 1654, and Mr. Constantine forthwith complied with the request. He continued in undisturbed possession of the living for several years, and was a faithful and laborious minister, strongly in favour of congregationalist principles, but not sufficiently enlightened to be tolerant towards his opponents. General Monk, at the head of a great body of the army, declaring, in 1660, for a free Parliament and a single head, and the peers and commons cordially uniting to carry out such views, and supporting the solemn league and covenant, public thanks for these national events were offered up by the congregation in the church at Oldham, on Thursday, the 24th of March, 1660. Just previous to the restoration of episcopacy, and during the holding of the last classical assembly, at Manchester, August, 1660, Mr. Constantine had been appointed moderator, but the duties of the office were discharged for him on the 14th of August, by a Mr. Harrison, he being absent, and his excuse being accepted. In this assembly James Lees and Francis Clegg were the elders who represented the congregation of Oldham.

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