promise of the preservation of my life; but thou hast promised to deliver us from sin and condemnation, and to bring us safe to heaven, through the all-sufficient satisfaction of Jesus Christ. This, therefore, I do challenge of thee." He had no sooner uttered these words, than he was swept into the mighty deep, and no more seen. Mr. Thacker and his wife were also washed off the rock; but after being tossed in the waves for some time, the former was cast on shore, where he found his wife a sharer in the deliverance. The island was from that time called Thacker's Woe, and the rock, Avery's Fall. This disaster occurred August 14, 1635.* JOHN ROGERS, A. M.-This excellent divine was educated in the university of Cambridge, and was many years the famous minister of Dedham in Essex. He was a near relation of Mr. Richard Rogers of Wethersfield, who encouraged him in his studies, and supported him at the university. He was at first so addicted to vice, that while he was at Cambridge, he sold his books and spent the money. Notwithstanding this base ingratitude, his kinsman procured him a fresh stock of books, and sent him again to Cambridge; but still continuing a profligate, he sold his books, and spent the money as before. Having wasted his substance a second time, Mr. Rogers determined to cast him off totally; but, by the persuasions of his wife, he was at length induced to make another trial. He therefore procured him books, and sent him to the university a third time; and, the grace of God changing his heart, he became an illustrious ornament to his college, and a man of most exemplary piety. Afterwards, Mr. Richard Rogers, seeing what the Lord had done for his kinsman, used to say, "I will never despair of any man, for John Rogers's sake."+ Mr. Rogers became vicar of Hemingham in Norfolk, in the year 1592. Having continued some time in this situation, he became minister of Haverhil in Suffolk, where he succeeded Mr. Lawrence Fairclough, in 1603. After * Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b. iii. p. 77., Blomefield's Hist. of Norfolk, vol. i. p. 686. This was the father of the excellent Mr. Samuel Fairclough, the ejected nonconformist. He was a learned and able divine, and a solid, eloquent, and useful preacher. He died in the year 1609. By preaching a thanksgiving wards he removed to Dedham, where he continued the rest of his days. He was a grave and judicious divine. His great gift lay in the delivery of the solid truth which he had prepared with a peculiar gesture and elocution, so that few heard him without trembling at the word of God. He was a most popular and useful preacher. God was pleased to own and bless his labours above most others, esp cially in awakening careless sinners. He was indeed one of the most awakening preachers of the age. Bishop Brownrigg used to say, "John Rogers will do more good with his wild notes, than we (the bishops) with our set music."+ His congregation, on lecture days, was collected from all the country round about; and his church was not only thronged, but numerously surrounded by such as could not gain ad mittance.+ Mr. Rogers was a thorough puritan, yet of a most humble and peaceable behaviour. He loved all who loved Christ, and was greatly beloved by them. But in the year 1629, for refusing conformity to the superstitious and tyrannical impositions of Bishop Laud, his lecture was suppressed.§ This was a great affliction to holy Mr. Rogers; who, concerning those impositions, used to say, "Let them take me and hang me up by the neck, if they will but remove those stumbling-blocks out of the church." It does not appear whether he was ever restored to his lecture. He died October 15, 1636. Mr. John Knowles, afterwards silenced in 1662, closed his eyes and preached his funeral sermon.** Mr. Matthew Newcomen, one of the ejected nonconformists in 1662, succeeded Mr. Rogers in his ministry at Dedham.++ It is related of Mr. Giles Firmin, who also was one of the ejected nonconformists, that he was converted when a boy at school, by the ministry of Mr. Rogers. He went late to hear his lecture, and crowded to get into the church. Mr. Rogers, observing young Firmin's great earnestness, sermon to a very crowded audience in Haverhil church, on the accession of King James, he caught a violent cold, which occasioned his death the following day.-Clark's Lives, last vol. p. 154.-Meen's MS. Collec. P. 264. *Calamy's Account, vol. ii. p. 294. + Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b. iii. p. 106. Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. ii. p. 191. Prynne's Cant. Doome, p. 373. Mather's New England, b. iii. p. 113. Baker's MS. Collec. vol. xxxviii. p. 445. ** Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. iii. p. 174. ++ Ibid. vol. ii. p. 196. with that of some other youths, to obtain room, in his usual freedom and solemnity cried out, "Here are some young ones come for Christ. Will nothing serve you but you must have Christ? Then you shall have him;" and so proceeded in his discourse. This made so deep and lasting an impression on his mind, that he thence dated his conversion.* Mr. Rogers was author of several excellent pieces. His method, as a writer, is popular, his language familiar, yet often energetic, and his strain evangelical, animated, and experimental.+ His WORKS.-1. The Doctrine of Faith, 1627.-2. An Exposition upon the First Epistle of Peter, 1659.-3. A Treatise of Love.4. Sixty Memorials of a godly Life. JOHN MAVERICK was minister at some place near Exeter, and of good repute among the puritans. Towards the end of the year 1629, a congregational church was formed in the New Hospital at Plymouth; on which occasion a day of solemn fasting and prayer was observed, when Mr. White of Dorchester preached in the morning, and in the afternoon the pious people chose the two famous preachers, Mr. Maverick and Mr. John Warham, to the office of pastors, when they signified their acceptance of the charge. The persecution of the nonconformists was now become exceedingly hot in every corner of the land; therefore these good people, together with their ministers, resolved to transport themselves to a foreign land. They wished to enjoy the ordinances of the gospel without human corruptions; and the blessing of religious liberty without human oppressions. The above step was preparatory to their departure; and the year following they sailed for New England. Upon their arrival in the new colony, they settled at Dorchester, where Mr. Maverick continued pastor of the church to the day of his death. This was the third church formed in New England. In the year 1636, Mr. Richard Mather became his assistant; and upon Mr. Maverick's death, soon after, he became his successor in the pastoral office.§ Calamy's Account, vol. ii. p. 298. + Williams's Christian Preacher, p. 454. Prince's Chron. Hist. vol. i. p. 200, 204. Hist. of New Eng. p. 42, 74. HENRY GELLIBRAND, A. M.-This learned person was born in the parish of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, London, November 17, 1597, and educated in Trinity college, Oxford. Having finished the requisite studies at the university, he was for some time curate at Chiddingston in Kent. Afterwards, by attending Sir Henry Savile's lectures on the mathematics, he became so much in love with that science, that though he had the most flattering prospect of preferment in the church, he resolved to forego every thing for a close application to this branch of learning. He therefore contented himself with his own private patrimony, which about this time, upon the death of his father, came into his hands. At the same time he entered himself a student at Oxford, and made the study of the mathematics his principal employment. During the period of his close application, he prosecuted his studies with so much ardour and success, and so greatly excelled in that science, that in two or three years he was admitted to a familiarity with the most distinguished masters. Among other celebrated scholars, Mr. Henry Briggs, the Savilian professor of geometry at Oxford, shewed him particular countenance and favour. This, in a few years, was improved to so great a degree of intimacy and friendship, that the professor communicated to him all his notions and discoveries. Upon the death of the ingenious Mr. Edmund Gunter, he became a candidate for his professorship in Gresham college. On this occasion he procured a certificate from the rector of the parish in which he had officiated as curate, and from others of the clergy in Kent, giving a high character of his learning and piety; and another from the president, vice-president, and fellows of Trinity college, Oxford, which is conceived in very strong terms, and acknowledges not only his assiduity in his studies, but his great frankness in the communication of knowledge, and his disinterested Sir Henry Savile, whose name is often mentioned, was a person of great celebrity in his day. He was wonderfully skilled in the Greek Janguage and the mathematics, in the latter of which he voluntarily read public lectures in the university. He afterwards went abroad; and by improving himself in every branch of useful literature, he became a most accomplished gentleman. He was warden of Merton college, Oxford, thirty-six years, which he governed with great diligence and integrity, making it his chief care, night and day, to improve it in riches and all kinds of good literature. By his munificence the university was greatly enriched by legacies of money, printed books, and rare manuscripts. He is styled, "That magazine of learning, whose memory shall be honourable amongst the learned and the righteous for ever."-Biog. Britan. vol. v. p. 35983600. Edit. 1747. ness and contentment with his own little patrimony, that the pursuit of preferment might prove no detriment to his studies. In all probability these papers had great weight, since, within a few days, January 2, 1626, he was elected professor of astronomy in that college. * Mr. Gellibrand was a decided puritan, and an enemy to the errors and superstitions of popery. In the year 1631, his servant, William Beale, by his encouragement, published an almanack, in which the popish saints, usually put into our calender, were omitted; and the names of the saints and martyrs, mentioned in Mr. Fox's "Acts and Monuments of the Martyrs," were printed in their stead, exactly as they stand in Mr. Fox's calender. This gave great offence to Bishop Laud, who immediately cited them both into the high commission court. When the case came to be examined, and it appeared that other almanacks of the same kind had been printed in former times, both Mr. Gellibrand and his servant were acquitted by Archbishop Abbot and the whole court, excepting Laud. This tyrannizing ecclesiastic, finding the court so favourable towards Mr. Gellibrand, stood up, and in great anger declared, "That the queen herself (a notorious papist) sent for him, and particularly complained to him against this almanack, which gave offence to those of her religion; and desired him to prosecute the author and suppress the book; therefore, he hoped that he should not go unpunished in this court." But the court still persisted in acquitting him; upon which the bishop again stood up, and in great fury addressed Mr. Gellibrand, saying, "Sir, remember you have made a faction in this court, for which you ought to be punished; and know that you are not yet discharged. I will sit in your skirts. For I hear that you keep conventicles at Gresham college, after your lectures are ended." His grace then ordered a second prosecution against him in the high commission, which so deeply affected the good man's spirits, that it brought a complaint upon him, of which he afterwards died.+ He lived in the closest intimacy with Mr. Henry Briggs, at whose death, and by his solicitation, Mr. Gellibrand undertook the perfecting and publishing his celebrated * Biog. Britan. vol. iv. p. 2188. Edit. 1747. + As Laud could not succeed in having Mr. Gellibrand censured, and his almanacks burned by the common hangman, the papists bought them all np, and caused them to suffer martyrdom in the flames.-Prynne's Canterburies Doome, p. 182. |