education to more Fellow-commoners than all the other Fellows besides, and rendered it a great and flourishing Society. He was a smart disputant, and had the universal character of a learned man. He set up a lecture at Alhallows church in Cambridge, where he constantly preached gratis at four o'clock on the Lord's-day afternoon, and was well attended both by scholars and town's-people. After his ejectment, he and Dr. Tuckney lived together in the country; but, for the sake of his sons, he afterwards went to Leyden. When' he returned to England he settled at Hackney, where he first preached in his own house, and afterwards with Dr. Bates, in his meeting-house, but always gratis, having a good estate. He died in 1695. He had a Son who was many years a dissenting minister at Hampstead. He has three sermons in the morn. Exercises.

Mr. THOMAS UNDERWOOD was ejected from the same place.

ST. ANNE'S, ALDERSGATE, [R. S. 1401.] DANIEL BATCHELOR, M. A. of St. John's Col. Cam.

ST. ANTHOLIN'S, [R. 120l.]

ELIAS PLEDGER, M. A. He succeeded Mr. C. Offspring, in this parish. His farewell sermon, [which was well suited to the occasion, but not accurately taken] was on Rev.ii. 9, 10. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Sutan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. From whence he makes these observations. 1. Jesus Christ takes notice (with approbation) of all the works [we perform] and the troubles and losses we endure for him.-2. Believers in their poorest condition, when they have lost all, are rich. "The wise man, saith the philosopher, is the only rich man ;" but the wisdom of God saith, The believer is the rich man. He is rich, for he hath God for his portion. He is rich in his relations-in his possessions-in his expectations—in the things of this life; for he can live above them, and be content without them. He that is in Christ cannot be poor.-3. Christ takes notice of

all

all the reproaches and blasphemies of his adversaries. He counts himself reproached when his servants and ways are reproached.-4. Whatever the children of God suffer, they must expect further sufferings before they come to the grave. The waters of tribulation may rise higher and higher.-5. He usually gives notice to his people of their sufferings before hand-that they may not be offended when they come that he may convince them that nothing befalls them without his being privy to it-and that they may be provided against them.-6. Whatever troubles come upon them they have no cause to fear :-for all are ordered by a father.— Christ stands by them in all.-Strength shall be given to bear all. None of their sufferings shall hurt them-but great good shall come out of them. Thou wilt either live or die, and shalt gain both ways. If thou livest, thy graces shall be strengthened; the spirit of God shall rest upon thee. If thou die, thy glory shall be double. The weightier the cross the weightier the crown.-Objections answered; and directions given to prevent fear under sufferings-Get more faith-more self-denial-more love to God-more insight into the causes and ends of troubles-and the vanity of the creature-get more of the fear of God-keep a clear conscience-and seek a better assurance of eternal life.-7. Christ limits Satan and all his instruments. He determines some to be cast into prison, and for how long: ten days. Our afflictions shall have an end, a speedy and a comfortable end. God will restore comfort to his mourners.-8. They who are faithful unto death shall receive a crown of life. Be faithful to your promises; your purposes; your covenants:-in your obedience, in the doctrine of the gospel; the worship of the gospel; the ministry of the gospel; and in your zealous desires [and endeavours to serve and honour] the Lord.--Be faithful to the death. And remember, God in mercy and faithfulness will accept thy unfeigned purposes, at present, [* and will at last bestow the promised crown.

Mr. Pledger after his ejectment, had a meeting-house in Lothbury. He died suddenly, after preaching there, in the year 1676. It does not appear that he published any thing but a sermon in the Morning Exercise, on the cause of inward troubles.

*As this sermon, which is methodical, breaks off abruptly at the bottom of the page, it is evident that something on this last clause of the text is omitted, which most probably was enlarged upon.

Mr.

Mr. TOBIAS CONYERS, of Peter-house, Camb. was ejected from the Lectureship at the same place. A very learned and extraordinary person. He was formerly minister of St. Ethelburg's, in Bishopsgate-street.

WORKS. Serm. bef. Lord Mayor and Gen. Monk, 1660.— And several little Pieces.-He translated Arminius's Judgment on the principal Points of Religion, into English.

ST. AUSTIN'S, [R. S. 1721.]

Mr. SIMEON ASHE, of Ewan. Col. Oxf. He went seasonably to heaven at the very time he was cast out of the church; being buried the eve of Bartholomew-day. So that he was not actually ejected, but it was death only that prevented it; for he and some others in his situation were well known to have been ready to quit their livings, and had done it intentionally. One of them expressed a desire only to live till Bartholomew-day, if it were the will of God, that he might publicly bear his testimony to the necessity of a farther reformation.* Mr. Ashe began his ministry in Staffordshire near those eminent persons, Mr. John Ball, Mr. Rob. Nicholls, and Mr. Langley, with whom he had a particular acquaintance. But for his nonconformity to the ceremonies, and refusing to read the Book of Sports, he was soon displaced from his living. He gained however, a little liberty in an exempt church at Wroxhal, under the covert of Sir John Burgoyne, and elsewhere under Lord Brook in Warwickshire. He was a christian of the primitive simplicity; and a Nonconformist of the old stamp. He was eminent for a holy life, a cheerful mind, and a fluent elegancy in prayer. He had a good estate, and was liberal with it. His house was much frequented, and he was universally beloved. He was chaplain to the Earl of Manchester in the wars, and fell under the obloquy of the Cromwellians for crossing their designs, and particularly for his vehemently opposing the Engagement. He had a considerable hand in bringing back King Charles II. Dr. Walker among other charges against himt, severely censures him for a sermon before the House of Commons as containing large invectives against the government and governors of the church.

*Cal. Pref. to Contin. p. 21.

+ See these refuted at large in Cal. Contin. p. 4, 5.

Among

Among many sad grievances in it, he mentions "SUBSCRIP"TION urged upon all Graduates in both universities, and 66 upon all men entering into the ministry, as a heavy op

pression, driving some promising persons from the office, "and ensnaring the consciences of others;-conniving at a "scandalous ministry;-the shameful abuse of oaths, particularly the oath of matriculation ;—the abuse of churchcensures, &c. &c." These were heavy charges, but there was evidently too much truth in them.

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66

Mr. Ashe was one of the Cornhill lecturers, and a member of the Westminster assembly. Mr. Calamy preached his funeral sermon, which may be seen in the volume of farewell sermons. [He speaks of him as a man of great sincerity, humility, benevolence, prudence and patience; diligent in preaching the gospel, in season and out of season, so as not to please the ear but wound the heart; seeking not the applause of the people, but the salvation of souls; eminent above most in prayer: and one who maintained great acquaintance and cominunion with God. He died as he lived, in great consolation and chearful exercise of faith, molested with no fears nor doubts, and conversing much to the edification of those about him. "When I was with him (says Mr. Calamy) he took occasion to complain much, "and not without just cause, that ministers, when they met together, discoursed no more of Christ and heaven, &c. professing that if God should restore him, he would be more careful in his discourse. He exhorted me and other ministers to preach much of Jesus Christ, and to speak of "Christ to him; saying, When I consider my best duties, "I sink, I die, I despair; but when I think of Christ, I

t

have enough; he is all and in all. I desire to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified, &c." The morning before he died, he said, "It is one thing to speak "of Christ and of heaven, and another thing to feel the "consolation of Christ and of heaven, as I do;" (clapping his hand upon his breast) and at another time, "The com"forts of a holy life are real, and soul-supporting. I feel "the reality of them, and you may know by me, that it is "not in vain to serve God."]

WORKS. Sermons before the Parliament.-Several before the Magistrates on pub. occas.-Fun. Serm. for Dr. Spurstow's only child;—Mr. Jer. Whitaker ;—Mr. Ralph Robinson; Mr. Rob. Strange; -Mr. Tho. Gataker 3—Mr. Rich, Vines; and the Countess of Man

chester,

chester. Also several Prefaces to the works of others. He published, The Power of Godliness, and-A Treatise on the Covenant of Grace, by the famous old Nonconformist, Mr. John Ball, who committed to him all his MSS. To the former of these Mr. Ashe wrote an Introduction.

BARTHOLOMEW, EXCHANGE, [R. S. 1001.*] PHILIP NYE, M. A. of Magd. Hall, Oxford, where he was a very hard student. He had been entered a commoner at Braz. Nose, in 1615. He was born of a genteel family, 1596. In 1630, he was curate at St. Michael's, Cornhill. In 1633, he went into Holland, to be free from Laud's persecutions. He returned at the beginning of the long parliament, and by the Earl of Manchester's favour, became minister of Kimbolton in Huntingdonshire. In 1643, he, with Mr. Stephen Marshal, was sent to the commissioners from the parliament into Scotland, to move for assistance from thence. He had a great concern in choosing the members of the Assembly of divines, in which he was one of the dissenting brethren. He succeeded Dr. Reeve in the rectory of Acton. He was one of the chaplains who attended the commissioners to Charles I. in the Isle of Wight, 1647, and was made one of the Triers of ministers in 1652. He was also a principal person in managing the meeting of the Congregational churches at the Savoy, by the Protector's order; where the Declaration of the faith, order, and practice of the Congregational churches in England was agreed upon by their elders and messengers, October 12, 1658. This was printed in 1659, and the year following translated into Latin by Professor Hornbeck, and published at the end of his Epist. ad DUREM. de Independ. Mr. Nye had a great knowledge in the Disciplinarian controversy, and there was scarcely a book written upon that subject which he had not read. Soon after the Restoration, there was an order of parliament for lodging his papers with the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, where they vet remain. He interested himself so much in political affairs that it was debated in council for several hours, whether he (with John Goodwin and Hugh Peters) should be excepted for life; and it was concluded, "That if he should

This must be too little, as the present value of this living is 4021.

"here