held all forms of prayer to be unlawful; and, as he was so exceedingly popular, his opinion was likely to do the greater mischief. Preston replied, that this was all a slander; for he believed set forms to be lawful, and he refused not to use them. Upon this, the bishop promised to be his friend, and to procure his release from the present prosecution. Indeed, some of the courtiers wished well to Preston, but were reluctant to undertake his cause. Dr. Young, dean of Winchester, had the boldness and honesty to inform him, that Bishop Andrews was his grand adversary; and that while he gave him kind words and fair promises, he was labouring to have him expelled from the university. This, in fact, appeared too true, from the bishop's own conduct. For, after Preston's frequent attendance upon his lordship, and all to no purpose, an order was issued, that on a certain Lord's day, he should declare his sentiments concerning forms of prayer, before the public congregation in Botolph's church; or, in case of his refusal, undergo a further prosecution. This was soon noised abroad; and it was reported that he was required to preach a recantation sermon, which afforded much sport to those who envied his reputation, and sought his disgrace. These, with exultation and triumph, went crowding to hear him. He preached from the same text as before. The whole of the sermon was close and searching; and in the conclusion, he delivered his opinion concerning set forms. All who went to laugh were disappointed. Most persons returned silent home, not without evidence of some good impressions upon their minds. Those who wished his downfall were not quite so merry in the conclusion as at the beginning. Unprejudiced hearers praised all, and were further confirmed in their high opinion of the preacher. His numerous friends were glad he came off so well, and were peculiarly gratified that he was at liberty again to preach. But the event proved extremely galling to men of high church principles.+ * Dr. Lancelot Andrews, successively bishop of Ely and Winchester, was a man of extensive erudition, and much esteemed by several fearned foreigners. He was ranked with the best preachers and completest scholars of his age, but appeared to much greater advantage in the pulpit than he does now in his works; which abound with Latin quotations, and trivial witticisms. He was a person of polite manners and lively conversation; and was celebrated for his dexterity in punning. He was particularly extolled on account of his piety, affability, liberality, and regard for the interests of literature. What a pity then it was that he took any share in the persecution of the puritans.-Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. i. p. 347.— Aikin's Lives of Selden and Usher, p. 364. + Clark's Lives, p. 85-88. Preston, having acquitted himself with great honour, was afterwards appointed to preach before the king, which he performed to the admiration of his audience. He was endowed with a fluent utterance, a commanding elocution, and a strong memory, delivering what he had prepared without the use of notes. At the close of the service, his majesty expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the sermon, especially with his observation relative to the Arminians," That they put God into the same extremity as Darius, when he would have saved Daniel, but could not." The Marquis of Hamilton earnestly recommended to his majesty that Preston might become one of his chaplains, declaring that he was moved to this entirely from the excellency of the sermon. He told the king, that the preacher spoke no pen and ink-horn language, but as one who comprehended what he said, and must, therefore, have in him something substantial. The king acknowledged all, but said it was too early: he remembered the Newmarket business; and so was reserved. * About this period Preston went abroad, and visited several of the foreign universities, by which he obtained much literary advantage. Having spent some time among learned men on the continent, he returned home, when his popularity at court became almost universal. He rose to so high a degree of reputation, that he was told he might be chaplain to whom he pleased. The Duke of Buckingham, not knowing what friends he might want, persuaded the King to appoint him chaplain in ordinary to the Prince of Wales. In the year 1622, he was chosen preacher at Lincoln's-inn, London, and, upon the resignation of Dr. Chadderton, master of Emanuel college, Cambridge, when be took his doctor's degree. The Duke of Buckingham highly esteemed him, and hoped by his means to ingratiate himself with the puritans, whose power was then growing formidable in parliament. Good men rejoiced to see that honest men were not all despised. The courtiers, particularly the duke, signified that he would now mount from one step to another, till he became a bishop. The Earl of *The king used to call the duke Stenny, on account of his fine face, alluding to Acts vi, 15.-It was a pleasant remark of his majesty; who said, "That Stenny had given him three notable servants: a gentleman of the bed-chamber, (Clarke) who could not help him to untruss a point; for he had but one hand. A chaplain, (Dr. Preston) who could not say prayers; for he scrupled the use of the liturgy. And a secretary of state, (Sir Edward Conway) who could neither write nor read."-Rapin's Hist. of Eng. vol. ii. p. 199. Pembroke, and the Countess of Bedford, had a great interest in him; and all looked upon him as a rising man, and respected him accordingly. Some of the courtiers, however, had a jealous eye upon him; for all saw that he came not to court for preferment, as did most others. In the year 1624, Dr. Preston was invited to become lecturer at Trinity church, Cambridge; for which there was a strong contest betwixt him and Mr. Micklethwait, fellow of Sidney college, and a very excellent preacher. The contest in voting for the new lecturer was so great, that it could not be determined without the hearing of the king, who was opposed to the doctor's preaching at Cambridge. As an inducement to drop the contest, he was offered the bishopric of Gloucester, then void; and the Duke of Buckingham further urged, that, as the lecture was supported by six-penny subscriptions, it was a thing unseemly to the master of a college, and the chaplain of the prince. But the duke was resolved not to lose him, and, therefore, took care that nothing was determined contrary to the doctor's wishes. Sir Edward Conway told him, that if he would give up the contest for the lecture, and let it be disposed of some other way, his majesty had authorized him to say, "that he should have any other more profitable and honourable preferment he might desire." But the doctor's chief object was to do good to souls, not to obtain worldly emolument: the king's was to render him useless, and divide him from the puritans.+ When, therefore, it appeared that nothing would allure him from the object of his wishes, or be a sufficient compensation for this noble sphere of public usefulness, he was confirmed in the lecture, being his last preferment, which he held to his death. This celebrated divine thus generously preferred a situation of eighty pounds a year, with the prospect of extensive usefulness to souls, to the bishopric of Gloucester, or any other preferment in the kingdom. He obtained great celebrity by the learned productions of his pen. His writings are numerous, and most of them admirable for the time. The pious and learned Bishop Wilkins gives an high character of his excellent sermons. In his "Treatise on the New Covenant," his method is highly instructive; and his manner familiar and insinuating, yet very clear. He abounds in apt similes and illustrative * Clark's Lives, p. 89-95. + Fuller's Hist. of Cam. p. 163, 164.-Clark's Lives, p. 96, 97. Wilkins on Preaching, p. 82, 83. instances, generally well supported and applied. His doctrine drops as the rain, and his speech distils as the dew. Dr. Preston was a divine of extraordinary abilities and learning, and, about this time, deeply engaged in public controversy with several learned Arminians. He was called to take a leading part in two public disputations, procured by the Earl of Warwick, and held at York-house, in the presence of the Duke of Buckingham and others of the nobility. The first of these contests was betwixt Bishop Buckridge and Dr. White, dean of Carlisle, on the one part; and Bishop Morton and Dr. Preston, on the other. In the conclusion, the Earl of Pembroke observed, "that no person returned from this learned disputation of Arminian sentiments, who was not an Arminian before he came." The second conference was betwixt Dr. White and Mr. Montague, on the one part; and Bishop Morton and Dr. Preston, on the other. On this occasion, Preston is said to have displayed his uncommon erudition and powers of disputation, to the great advantage of the cause which he undertook to support. This celebrated divine, by his great interest in the Duke of Buckingham and the Prince of Wales, was of unspeakable service to many of the silenced ministers. He was in waiting when King James died, and came up with King Charles and the Duke of Buckingham, in a close coach, to London. The young king is said to have been so overcharged with grief, on account of the death of his father, that he wanted the comfort of so wise and so great a man.‡ The duke offered Dr. Preston the broad seal, but he was too wise to accept it. Afterwards the duke, changing measures, and finding he could neither gain the puritans to his arbitrary designs, nor separate the doctor from their interests, resolved to bid adieu to his chaplain. Dr. Preston saw the approaching storm, and quietly retired to his college, where it was expected he would have felt some further effects of the duke's displeasure, if providence had not so ordered things, that he had other work to mind, which took up all his time and thoughts to the day of his death.ş * Williams's Christian Preacher, p. 453. + Fuller's Church Hist. b. xi. p. 124, 125.-Clark's Lives, p. 101-105. Burnet's Hist. of his Time, vol. i. p. 19. Fuller's Church Hist. b. xi. p. 131.-Clark's Lives, p. 106-109.-The Duke of Buckingham was the great favourite of King James and Charles I., over whom he had the highest ascendancy. It is no wonder that an Dr. Preston possessed a strong constitution, which he wore out by hard study and constant preaching. His inquiry was not, "How long have I lived?" but, how have I lived?" Desiring, in his last sickness, to die among his old friends, he retired to Preston, near Heyford, in his native county; and having revised his will, and settled all his worldly affairs, he committed himself to the wise and gracious disposal of his heavenly Father. As he felt the symptoms of death coming upon him, he said, "I shall not change my company; for I shall still converse with God and saints." A few hours previous to his departure, being told it was the Lord's day, he said, "A fit day to be sacrificed on! I have accompanied saints on earth: now I shall accompany angels in heaven. My dissolution is at hand. Let me go to my home, and to Jesus Christ, who hath bought me with his precious blood." He afterwards added, "I feel death coming to my heart. My pain shall now be turned into joy ;" and then gave up the ghost, in the month of July, 1628, being only forty-one years of age. His remains were interred in Fausley church, when the venerable Mr. Dod preached his funeral sermon to an immense crowd of people. Fuller, who has classed him among the learned writers of Queen's college, Cambridge, says, he was all judgment and gravity, and the perfect master of his passions, an excellent preacher, a celebrated disputant, and a perfect politician."+ Echard styles him "the most celebrated of the puritans, an exquisite preacher, a subtle disputant, and a deep politician."+ His WORKS.-1. Treatise on the New Covenant; or, the Saints' Portion, 1629.-2. Breast-plate of Faith and Love, 1630.-3. Sermons before the King, 1630.-4. Eternal Life; or, a Treatise of the Knowledge of the Divine Essence and Attributes, 1631.-5. The Lifeless Life, 1635.-6. A Discourse of Mortification and Humi accumulation of honour, wealth, and power, conferred upon a vain man, who was suddenly raised from a private station, should be particularly invidious: and, especially, as the duke was as void of prudence and moderation in the use of these, as his masters were in bestowing them. Most men imputed all the calamities of the nation to his arbitrary councils; and few were displeased at the news of his death. Such a pageant and tyrant as this, decorated with almost every title and honour that two kings could bestow upon him, was sure to be the butt of envy. He was murdered by Felton, August 23, 1628.-Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. i. p. 326. ii. 114.-Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 151. * Clark's Lives, p. 113. +Fuller's Hist. of Cam. p. 90.-Worthies, part ii. p. 291.-Church Hist. b. xi. p. 131. Echard's Hist. of Eng. vol. ii. p. 72. |