cross still standeth in the window, and why we turn ourselves toward the end of the chapel, at the end of the first and second lesson. We are commanded to flee from every appearance of evil.-These things I have said to satisfy every man in the congregation, and to shew that I despise not authority: which, if this will do, God be praised; but if not, God's will be done. I confess most freely this thing. I did not seek the disquiet of this congregation; yet I might have spoken these things at a more convenient time."* It does not appear whether Mr. Perkins's defence gave satisfaction to his ecclesiastical judges, or whether he suffered some particular censure or further prosecution. This, however, was not the end of his troubles. He was apprehended, with many others, and carried before the star-chamber, on account of the associations. Upon his appearance before this high tribunal, he took the oath ex officio, discovered the associations, and confessed that Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Snape, and others, had met at Cambridge, to confer about matters of discipline. He was once or twice convened before the high commission; and though his peaceable behaviour, and great fame in the learned world, are said to have procured him a dispensation from the persecutions of his brethren, he was, nevertheless, deprived by Archbishop Whitgift. Mr. Perkins, writing at the above period, in 1592, when many of his brethren were cruelly imprisoned for nonconformity, styles it, "The year of the last patience of the saints."|| Towards the close of life, Mr. Perkins was much afflicted with the stone, the frequent attendant on a sedentary life, which he bore with remarkable patience. In the last fit of his complaint, a little before his death, a friend praying for the mitigation of his pains, he cried out, "Hold, hold! do not pray so; but pray the Lord to give me faith and patience, and then let him lay on me what he pleases." At length his patience had its perfect work. He was finally delivered from all his pains, and crowned with immortality and eternal life, in the year 1602, aged forty-four years. He was born in the first, and died in the last year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He left the world rich Baker's MS, Collec. vol. xxx. p. 292, 293. ¶ Fuller's Hist. of Cam. p. 157. 1602 in grace, and in the love of God and good men; and was instrumental in making many rich. His ministerial labours were signally blessed to multitudes, both townsmen and collegians. His remains were interred in St. Andrew's church with great funeral solemnity, at the sole expense of Christ's college; the university and the town striving which could shew the warmest gratitude for his faithful labours, and pay the greatest respect to his memory. Dr. Montague, afterwards successively Bishop of Bath and Wells, and of Winchester, preached his funeral sermon from Joshua, i. 2. Moses my servant is dead; and spoke in high commendation of his learning, piety, labours, and usefulness. Mr. Perkins was so pious and exemplary in his life, that malice itself was unable to reproach his character. As his preaching was a just comment upon his text; so his practice was a just comment upon his preaching. He was naturally cheerful and pleasant; rather reserved towards strangers, but familiar upon their further acquaintance. He was of a middle stature, ruddy complexion, bright hair, and inclined to corpulency, but not to idleness. He was esteemed by all, says Fuller, as a painful and faithful dispenser of the word of God; and his great piety procured him liberty in his ministry, and respect to his person, even from those who differed from him in other matters. He is classed among the fellows and learned writers of Christ's college, Cambridge. Churton styles him "the learned and pious, but Calvinistic Perkins;" as if his Calvinism was a considerable blemish in his character.§ Toplady, on the contrary, applauds him on account of his Calvinistic opinions, and denominates him "the learned, holy, and laborious Perkins." The celebrated Archbishop Usher had the highest opinion of him, and often expressed his wish to die as holy Mr. Perkins did, who expired crying for mercy and forgiveness. Herein he was, indeed, gratified; for his last words were, "Lord, especially forgive my sins of omission." The works of this excellent divine are numerous and highly esteemed, especially in foreign countries. They were published at various times, but were collected and printed in three volumes folio, in 1606, entitled "The * Strype's Whitgift, p. 371. + Fuller's Abel. Red. p. 436.-Clark's Eccl. Hist. p. 851. Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 211.-Hist. of Cam. p. 92. Churton's Life of Nowell, p. 323. Toplady's Historic Proof, vol. ii. p. 179. Bernard's Life of Usher, p. 100. Edit. 1656. Workes of that Famous and Worthie Minister of Christ, in the Universitie of Cambridge, M. W. Perkins." Mr. Job Orton had an high opinion of him and his writings, and gives the following account both of the author and the productions of his pen :-"I am now reading the works of Mr. William Perkins, an eminent tutor and divine at Cambridge, in Queen Elizabeth's reign. They are three volumes folio, and I have got through one of them. What led me more particularly to read him was, that his elder brother was one of my ancestors, from whom I am in a direct line, by my mother's side, descended. I think him an excellent writer: his style is the best of any of that age, or the next, and many passages in his writings are equal to those of the best writers in modern times. He is judicious, clear, full of matter, and deep christian experience. He wrote all his works with his left hand, being lame of the right, and died about forty-four. I could wish all ministers, especially young ones, would read him, as they would find large materials for composition. He hath some tracts against the papists; and appears to have been a pretty high Calvinist; but he hath many admirable things in practical divinity. His works are little known in England, but they are still in estimation in Germany, many of them being written in elegant Latin, and others translated into German." Mr. Perkins made his last will and testament a little before his death, dated Cambridge, October 16, 1602, and it was in substance as follows:-First, he bequeaths to the poor of the parish of St. Andrews, where he then dwelt, the sum of forty pounds. Also to his worshipful and loving friends, Mr. Edm. Barwell, Jam. Montague, D. D. Mr. Law. Chadderton, master of Emanuel college, Rich. Foxcroft and Tho. Cropley, M. A. and Nath. Cradock his brother-in-law, all the messuage or tenement wherein he then dwelt, with the houses, yards, &c. adjoining thereto, in the town of Cambridge, to be sold, and the money divided into three equal parts, one part to go to his wife Timothye, the other two amongst his children, born or unborn. He also wills that the price of all his moveable goods and chattels be divided amongst his wife and children. "He appoints his wife Timothye his sole executrix, or in case of failure by death, then he makes Nath. Cradock * Biog. Britan. vol. v. p. 312. Edit. 1778. aforesaid, executor. He also bequeaths to his father, Tho. Perkins, and his mother, Anna Perkins, ten pounds a piece, and to every of his brethren and sisters, five pounds a piece, and to his son-in-law, John Hinde, his English Bible." JOSIAS NICHOLS was a worthy minister of the gospel, an humble servant of Christ, and a man of distinguished eminence in his day. Certain writers in defence of the church and its ceremonies, having charged the puritans with being as factious, seditious, and as great enemies to the queen, as the papists; Mr. Nichols, in answer to these malicious imputations, published a book, entitled "A Plea for the Innocent; or, à Defence of the Puritans," 1602. The author proves that the charges against the puritans were malicious and false. He fully answers all the calumnies and slanders cast upon them, and, with great impartiality, blames both parties in those things wherein they were culpable. The book is written with great modesty, humility, and temper, and with great reverence of the bishops; in soft and gentle language, with good strength of argument, liveliness of affection, and a deep sense of the common danger then threatening both the church and the state. In this work, he observes, in defence of himself and his brethren, "We subscribe willingly to the book of articles, according to the statute in that behalf provided: viz. to those articles which only concern the confession of the true faith, and the doctrine of the sacraments, as the statute expressly commandeth and limiteth." Mr. Nichols subscribed the "Book of Discipline." THOMAS CARTWRIGHT, B. D.-This most celebrated person was born in Hertfordshire, about the year 1535, and educated in St. John's college, Cambridge. He possessed excellent natural parts, applied to his studies with uncommon assiduity, and made amazing progress in the various branches of useful literature. He allowed himself only five hours' sleep in the night, to which custom he closely adhered to the end of his days. Having been about three years at the university, upon the death of King Edward, * Baker's MS. Collec. vol. ii. p. 544. + MS. Remarks, p. 535. Neal's Puritans, vol. i. p. 423. Plea for the Innocent, p. 21. and the return of popery, he quitted that seat of learning, and became clerk to a counsellor at law. This employment, however, did not prevent the prosecution of his former pursuits. The study of divinity, and those branches of knowledge most calculated for usefulness to a divine, were his chief delight; and to which he still directed the closest application. In this situation he remained till the accession of Queen Elizabeth, when he returned to St. John's college, and in the year 1560, was made fellow of the house. In about three years, he was removed to Trinity college, where, on account of his great learning and worth, he was chosen one of the eight senior fellows. In the year 1564, when Queen Elizabeth visited the university of Cambridge, uncommon preparations were made for her entertainment, and the most learned men were selected for the public disputations. Among these was Mr. Cartwright, whose performance on this occasion discovered such extraordinary abilities, as gave the greatest satisfaction, both to the queen and the other auditors. But many writers have asserted, that he received neither reward nor commendation; and that he was presumptuous of his own good learning, but deficient in a comely grace and behaviour. Indeed, it is added, that he was so vexed by her majesty's neglect of him, that he immediately began to wade into divers opinions relative to the new discipline, and to kick at the government of the established church; growing conceited of his own learning and holiness, and becoming a great contemner of those who differed from him. That this is a most notorious slander, appears partly from the account already given; but especially from the words of another learned historian. From the relation of the queen's reception at Cambridge, says he, there appears no clear ground for any such discontent, as that which is charged against Mr. Cartwright; for, as this relation informs us, the queen approved of them all. In the year 1570, Mr. Cartwright was chosen Lady Margaret's professor of divinity. It is particularly mentioned, that he delivered lectures upon the first and second chapters of the Acts of the Apostles; which he performed with such acuteness of wit, and such solidity of judgment, that they excited the admiration of those who attended. He was also become so celebrated a preacher, that when it * Clark's Lives annexed to bis Martyrologie, p. 16, 17. + Paule's Life of Whitgift, p. 9, 10. Strype's Annals, vol. i. p. 403. |