A good man making a good end. The life and death, of the Reverend…

He no sooner began to Preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but his Fidelity to that ⟨p. 37⟩Gospel, was Tried, by an Hard Imprisonment, which he underwent because his Conscience could not Conform to Humane Inventions, In the Sacred Service of Heaven. Yea, while he was yet a Young man, he often Travelled far by Night in the Winter, as well as in the Summer, that so he might enjoy the Ordinances purely Administered, in the Meetings of the Faithful; and was laid up sometimes in Lancashire Gaol for being sound at those Meetings. When he was at Limerick, the Attendance which a Person of Great Quality, and his Lady, (who were nearly related unto the Duke of Ormond, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,) upon his Ministry, provoked the Bishop, to Complain unto the Lord Lieutenant. This Gentleman then proffered unto Mr. Baily, that if he would conform, he would procure his being made Chaplain to the Duke, and having a Deanery immediately, and a Bishopric upon the first Vacancy: But he Refused the proffer. Albeit, another Eminent Non conformist Minister, not far from Limerick, a Godly, and an Able man, and one who had appeared much against Conformity at the first pressing thereof, did afterwards Accept of the aforesaid Chaplain ship, & by Degrees Conformed, and Arrived unto several ••aces of preferment: pretending, That he did it for the sake of Opportunities to Preach the Gospel. But it was Remarkable! God so Disabled him, with Distempers after this, that he was very ⟨p. 38⟩Seldom, if ever Able to Preach at all. Mr. Baily went on, in the Exercise of his Ministry, not pursuing any Factious Designs, but merely the Conversion, of men to Christ, and Faith, and Holiness, which the Devil counts the worst of all Designs. And now, although he were so Harmless and Blameless, in his whole Conversation, that he was always much Beloved wherever he came, yet another long Imprisonment was inflicted on him, while the Papists in the Neighbourhood, had all manner of Liberty and Countenance. When he was before the Judges, he told them, If I had been drinking and gaming and carousing at a Tavern with my Company, my Lords, I presume that would not have procured my being thus treated as an offender.

He no sooner began to Preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but his Fidelity to that ⟨p. 37⟩