by tithes, Christmas offerings, &c.-The oaths ex officie in their ecclesiastical courts, making men swear to accuse themselves. The churchwarden's oath to present to the prelates all the offences, faults, and defaults, committed in their parishes against their articles and injunctions.-The prelates ruling the church by the pope's cursed canon law. -Finally, their imprisoning and banishing such as renounce and refuse to witness these abominations aforesaid, and the rest yet retained among them."* As our author very justly observes, they might well find fault with the church in the article last mentioned, since they had smarted so severely under it. The foregoing particulars contain the general principles of the Brownists, or their chief reasons for a total separation from the established church, and are undoubtedly the most complete and correct account of their opinions, that was ever published. We forbear making any comments, but leave the whole to the reader's own judgment. His WORKS.-1. Certayne Reasons and Arguments, proving that it is not lawful to hear, or have any spiritual Communion with, the present Ministry of the Church of England, 1601. This is perhaps the same as that of which an abstract is given above.—2. An Answer to White's Discoverie of Brownism, 1606.-3. A Christian Plea, 1617.-4. A Tract on Matt. xviii.-He also published some other pieces on the controversies of the times. WILLIAM COLE, D.D.-This learned divine was most probably educated in Corpus Christi college, Oxford, where he took his doctor's degree. Upon the commencement of Queen Mary's bloody persecution, he fled from the storm, and retired to Frankfort. He was there involved in the troubles among the English exiles; and the first settlers being excluded from the privileges of the place, by the officiousness of Dr. Cox and his party, he retired, with several of his brethren, to Zurich. He went afterwards to Geneva, where he was highly esteemed by his fellow-exiles. He united with the venerable Miles Coverdale and other learned divines, in publishing the Geneva translation of the Bible. Upon his return from exile, he sat in the convocation of 1562, and subscribed the articles of religion. was in high favour with Queen Elizabeth, who, on account * Biog. Britan. vol. ii. p. 618, 619. Edit. 1778. + Troubles at Frankeford, p. 13. Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 153.—See Art. Coverdale. He of his great celebrity, preferred him, in 1568, to the presidentship of Corpus Christi college, Oxford, in which office he continued at least thirty years. A divine of the same name, and very probably the same person, was cast into prison for nonconformity. Though it does not appear how long he remained under confinement; yet, upon the earnest intercession of friends, a letter from the court at Greenwich, dated April 4, 1574, was addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury, signifying, that, in consideration of his great years, her majesty was willing for him to be released from his present confinement: but that he should remain within twenty or thirty miles of London, in some honest person's house, as his lordship should think most convenient; and should obtain sureties, that he would not henceforth meddle, by teaching or otherwise, in matters of religion. In the year 1599, he exchanged this preferment with Dr. John Rainolds, for the deanery of Lincoln; but died at an advanced age, in the year 1600. Mr. Strype denominates him a sober and religious nonconformist; and observes, that being chosen chaplain to the Earl of Leicester or some other great courtier, he attended at court in his hat and short cloak, and endeavoured to overthrow all attempts to enjoin the clerical habits. JOHN HOLLAND was a minister of great piety, and apparently one of the old puritans. But we have very little account of him till the time of his death, which being rather peculiar, we cannot withhold it from the reader's consideration. The day before he died, having called for the Bible, he said, "Come, O come; death approaches. Let us gather some flowers to comfort this hour." And having turned to Rom. viii. he gave me the book, says Mr. Leigh, (who preached his funeral sermon,) and bade me read. At the end of every verse he required me to pause, when he gave the sense of the passage, to his own comfort and to the great wonder and joy of his friends. Having continued his meditations on the above chapter, above two hours, he suddenly cried out:-" O, stay your reading. What brightness is this I see? Have you lighted any candles ?" To which Mr. Leigh answered, "No; it is the sunshine;" Strype's Parker, p. 266. + Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xxi. p. 384. Strype's Parker, p. 213, 219, 266. being about five o'clock on a clear summer's evening. "Sunshine," said he, "nay, my Saviour's shine. Now farewell, world: welcome, heaven. The Day-star from on high hath visited my heart. O speak when I am gone, and preach at my funeral, God dealeth familiarly with man. I feel his mercy; I see his majesty; and whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth. But I see things that are unutterable." In these transports of joy, his spirit soared towards heaven; but afterwards shrinking down, he sighed and said, "Ah! it will not be yet. My sins keep me back from my God." The next morning, he closed his eyes in death, using these expressions:-" what a happy change shall I make! from "death to life! from sorrow to solace! from a factious "world to a heavenly state! O, my dear brethren, sisters, "and friends, it pitieth me to leave you behind. "remember my death when I am gone; and what I now ❝ feel, I hope you will find before you die, that God doth " and will deal familiarly with men. And now, thou fiery "chariot, that camest down to fetch up Elijah, carry me to my happy home. And all ye blessed angels, who "attended the soul of Lazarus to bring it to heaven, bear me, O bear me, into the bosom of my best beloved. "Amen, amen. Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly." He died about the year 1600.* Yet HENRY SMITH, A. M.-This zealous and eloquent divine was born at Withcock in Leicestershire, in the year 1550, and educated in Lincoln college, Oxford; where he became well furnished with useful learning. He was descended from a wealthy and honourable family, was possessed of a plentiful estate, and was heir to a large patrimony. But he resolved to employ his talents to the utmost of his power, by labouring for the glory of God and the conversion of souls, in the work of the ministry; and therefore he left the rich patrimony to a younger brother.+ Upon his removal from Oxford, he pursued his studies under the care of Mr. Greenham, whose principles and piety he appeared afterwards to have imbibed. When the Lord Treasurer Burleigh applied to Mr. Greenham for a testimonial of Mr. Smith's character, this excellent divine observed, "that he Ambrose's Works, p. 800. Edit. 1701. This younger brother was Sir Roger Smith of Edmondthorp in Leicestershire, who died about the restoration. was well versed in the holy scriptures, religious and devout in his character, moderate and sober in his opinions, discreet and temperate in his behaviour, industrious in his studies and pursuits, and of a humble spirit and upright heart, joined with a fervent zeal for the glory of God and the welfare of souls."* Though Mr. Smith was eminently qualified for the sacred function, he was dissatisfied with the subscription imposed upon ministers, and the lawfulness of certain ceremonies. He was loath to make a rent, either in the church or in his own conscience. But, during this perplexity, he resolved not to undertake any pastoral charge, but to content himself with a lecturer's situation. Accordingly, in the year 1587, he became lecturer at St. Clement Danes, near Temple-bar, London. He was chosen to this public situation by the parishioners, and by the favour of the Lord Treasurer, who lived in the parish, and assisted in raising the contribution for his support. Here he set himself to do the work of the Lord faithfully. He was greatly beloved, and his ministry highly admired by his numerous hearers. But the year following, complaint being made to Bishop Aylmer, that he had spoken in his sermon some words derogatory to the Common Prayer, and that he had not subscribed to Whitgift's three articles, his grace suspended him from preaching. The reasons alleged by the bishop, with Mr. Smith's answers, were the following: 1. "That he was chosen by a popular election; that is, by the minister and congregation, without his lordship's license." "I was recommended to the parish by certain godly ministers," says Mr. Smith, "who had heard me preach in other places in this city, and thereupon accepted by the parish, and entertained with a stipend raised by voluntary contribution. In which sort they had heretofore entertained others, without any such question or exception. And his lordship calling me to preach at Paul's cross, never moved any such question to me. Nevertheless, if any error have been committed by me or the parish, through ignorance, our joint desire is to have his lordship's good allowance and approbation, for the said exercise of my function in his lordship's diocese." 2. "That he hath preached against the Book of Common Prayer." * Strype's Aylmer, p. 152, 159. me, "However his lordship may have been informed against "observes Mr. Smith, "I never used a speech in any of my sermons, against the Book of Common Prayer; whereof the parish doth bear me witness in this my supplication to your lordship." S. "That he hath not yielded his subscription to certain articles which his lordship required at his hands." "Concerning the third," says he, "I refuse not to subscribe to any articles, which the law of the realm doth require of men in my calling; acknowledging, with all humbleness and loyalty, her majesty's sovereignty in all causes, and over all persons, within her highness's dominions; and yielding my full consent to all articles of faith and doctrine, taught and ratified in this church, according to a statute in that behalf provided, the 13th year of her majesty's reign. And therefore I beseech his lordship, not to urge upon me any other subscription than the law of God and the laws positive of this realm do require."* The above charges, with the answers subjoined, Mr. Smith presented to the treasurer, accompanied with a supplication to his lordship, humbly requesting his favour and influence at this painful juncture. This great statesman had the highest respect for him; and, as Mr. Smith was not long deprived of his lecture, he most probably espoused his cause, applied to the bishop, and procured his restoration. It is, indeed, observed, "that the lord treasurer looked very favourably upon Mr. Smith; and that he was often the screen to save him from scorching, by interposing his greatness betwixt him and the anger of certain episcopal officers."+ In the year 1589, upon the death of Mr. Harewood, the incumbent of Clement Danes, the churchwardens and parishioners petitioned the treasurer to bestow the living upon our pious divine. In their petition, they observe, "that by his excellent preaching, his exemplary life, and his sound doctrine, more good had been done among them, than by any other who had gone before, or, as they feared, would follow him." But Mr. Smith, for the reasons already mentioned, was most probably unwilling to accept the benefit, if it was offered him. He does not appear ever to have enjoyed any greater preferment than that of his lectureship. * Strype's Aylmer, p. 155, 156. + Fuller's Life of Mr. Smith prefixed to bis sermons. Strype's Aylmeṛ, p. 157. |