medium of the ambassador, and it was prevented. The same was also attempted, but without success, when he was chosen by the states of Friesland to the same office in the university of Franeker. Such were the malice and madness of his persecutors! Dr. Ames attended at the synod of Dort, and informed King James's ambassador at the Hague, from time to time, of the debates of that venerable assembly. He was famous for his controversial writings, especially against the Arminians, Bellarmine, and the English ceremonies; which, for conciseness and perspicuity, were not equalled by any of his time.+ Dr. Ames having for the space of twelve years filled the divinity chair with universal reputation, began to think the air of Franeker too sharp for his constitution. He was troubled with extreme difficulty of breathing, and thought every winter would be his last. He was, at the same time, desirous to be employed in the delightful work of preaching the gospel to his countrymen; therefore, he resigned his professorship, and accepted an invitation to the English church at Rotterdam. Upon this exchange of situation, our divine wrote bis "Fresh Suit against Ceremonies," a work of distinguished worth, shewing his great abilities and erudition. In the preface to this excellent work, he states the controversy thus: "We stand upon the sufficiency of Christ's institutions, for every thing pertaining to divine worship; and that the word of God, and nothing else, is the only standard in matters of religion. The prelates, on the other hand, would have us allow and use certain human ceremonies in christian worship. We, therefore, desire to be excused, holding them to be unlawful. Christ we know, and are ready to embrace every thing that cometh from him. But these human ceremonies in divine worship, we know not, we cannot receive them." And speaking further on the same subject, he says, "I am more than ever persuaded, that such relics of popery, and monuments of superstition, never did any good, but much evil." He did not, *Kingdom's MS. Collections, p. 141. + Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 254. Mr. Richard Baxter became a nonconformist by reading this masterpiece of controversy.-Sylvester's Life of Baxter, part i. p. 13, 14. Dr. Ames, in this work, relates the following anecdote:-"I was once," says he," and, thank God, only once, before a bishop, being presented to him by the chief magistrates of a corporation, to be preacher in their town. The lowly prelate first asked them, how they durst choose a preacher without his consent. You,' said he, are to receive the preacher that I appoint; for I am your pastor;' though he never fed them. however, live to publish it himself; but its learned editor says, that herein " Dr. Ames pleads the cause of truth both succinctly and perspicuously, as he does, indeed, most admirably in all his writings. He shewed himself a pattern of holiness, a burning and shining light, a lamp of learning and arts, and a champion for the truth, especially while he was in the doctor's chair at Franeker." This learned divine did not long survive his removal into Holland. His constitution was already greatly shattered, and the air of that country being of no real service to him, he determined upon a removal to New England; but his asthma returning before his intended departure, put an end to his life at Rotterdam. He was there buried November 14, 1633, aged fifty-seven years. The following spring his wife and children embarked for New England, carrying with them his valuable library, which at that time was a noble acquisition to that country. His son William, afterwards returning to England, was one of the ejected nonconformists, in 1662.+ Dr. Ames filled the divinity chair, says Mr. Granger, with admirable abilities. His fame was, indeed, so great, that many came from remote nations to be educated under him. But he was much better known abroad than at home. And he adds a quotation from a piece of Mr. Hugh Peters, in these words:"Learned Amesius breathed his last breath into my bosom, who left his professorship in Friesland to live with me, because of my church's independency at Rotterdam. He was my colleague, and chosen brother to the church, where I was an unworthy pastor." Dr. Ames was a solid, judicious, and learned divine; a strict Calvinist in points of doctrine, and an independent in matters of discipline and church government. Fuller has classed him among the learned writers and fellows of Christ's college, Cambridge. Dr. Mather styles him, "the profound, sublime, irrefragable, and angelical doctor, and doubts whether he left his equal upon earth. He seldom preached Then turning to me, he said, 'How durst thou preach in my diocese, without my leave?' So that without any other reason, except mere lordship, the whole corporation and I were dismissed to wait his lordship's pleasure, which I have now done more than twenty years."-Fresh Suit. part ii. p. 409. * Biographia Britannica, vol. i. p. 172, 173. Edit. 1778. + Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b. iii. p. 3. Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. iii. p. 296. Historical and Critical Account of H. Peters, p. 69. Edit. 1751. Fuller's Hist, of Cam. p. 92. without tears; and when upon his death-bed, had most wonderful foretastes of glory." The learned Mosheim, speaking of our divine as a writer, particularly upon the moral science, observes, that, by a worthy and pious spirit of emulation, he was excited to compose a complete body of christian morality. He says, that Dr. Ames was a native of Scotland; and that he was one of the first among the reformers who attempted to treat morality as a separate science, to consider it abstractedly from its connexion with any particular system of doctrine, and to introduce new light, and a new degree of accuracy and precision, into this master-science of life and manners. The attempt, says he, was laudable, had it been well executed; but the system of this learned writer was dry, theoretical, and subtile, and much more adapted to the instruction of students, than to the practical direction of private christians.+ His WORKS.-1. Disceptatio Scholastica inter Nec Grevinchovium et Gul. Amesius, &c., 1613.—2. Disputatio inter Amesium et N. Grevinchovium, 1615.-3. Corinis ad collationem Hagiensem, 1618.4. Medulla Theologica, 1623.—5. Explicatio utrinsque Epistolæ St. Petri, 1625.-6. De incarnatione Verbi, 1626.-7. Bellerminus enervatus, etc., 1627.-8. De Conscientia, 1630.-9. Antisynodalia, 1630.-10. Demonstratio logicæ veræ, 1632.-11. Disputatio theologica, 1632.-12. Technometria, etc., 1632.-13. A Reply to Bishop Morton, 163..-14. A Fresh Suit against human Ceremonies in God's Worship; or, a Triplication unto Dr. Burgess's Rejoinder for Dr. Morton, 1633.-15. A first and second Manuduction, 163..-16. Rescriptio ad responsum Grevinchovii de redemptione generali, 1634.— 17. Christianæ catechescos sciographia, 1635.-18. Lectiones in omnes Psalmos Davidis, 1635.-He is said to have been author of "Puritanismus Anglicanus," 1610; but he only wrote a preface to it, and translated it into Latin. Mr. William Bradshaw was the author of this piece, which contains the chief opinions of the puritans, and was published in English, in 1641.-Many of the above articles passed through many editions; and several of those in Latin were afterwards published in English. He wrote many prefaces to other men's works, and some other scattered pieces. His Latin works were collected and published at Amsterdam in 1658, in five volumes. His books are said to have been famous over all Europe.‡ * Mather's New Eng. b. iii. p. 3-9. + Mosheim's Eccl. Hist. vol. iv. p. 429. vol. v. p. Biog. Britan. vol. i. p. 173. Edit. 1778. 363, 364. JOHN CARTER, A. M.-This eminently holy man was born at Wickham, near Canterbury, about the year 1554, and educated at Clare-hall, Cambridge, where he was much beloved for his great learning and piety. His favourite associates at Cambridge were Dr. Andrews, afterwards bishop of Ely, Dr. Chadderton, Mr. Culverwell, Mr. Knewstubs, and some others; who constantly held their weekly meetings, for prayer and expounding the scriptures. The portion of scripture appointed to be read was the subject of mutual consideration; when one of them criticised upon the original, another examined its grammatical construction, another its logical analysis, another its true sense and meaning, and another collected the doctrines and uses most naturally resulting from it. By these social exercises, they became, like Apollos, eloquent and mighty in the scriptures. When Mr. Carter went to be ordained, the bishop asked him, saying, "Have you read the Bible through?" "Yes," replied Mr. Carter, "I have read the Old Testament twice through in Hebrew, and the New Testament often through in Greek; and if you please to examine me upon any particular place, I will endeavour to give you satisfaction." "Nay," said the bishop, " if it be so, I shall need to say no more;" and so, after some commendation and encouragement, he ordained him.* In the year 1583, he was presented to the vicarage of Bramford in Suffolk. His income at first was, indeed, very small; but by the efforts of the people, it was afterwards raised to twenty pounds a year, which was the most he ever had during his continuance there. He sought not theirs, but them, and so was content. From his first entrance upon the ministry, he laboured as a workman who needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Multitudes of people, from Ipswich and other places, flocked to hear him. But his popularity and usefulness were soon interrupted, and he was brought into trouble on account of his nonconformity. Within about a year of his taking the charge of his flock, he was suspended, with many others, for refusing subscription to Whitgift's three articles; but it does not appear how long he remained under the ecclesiastical censure.+ From his first settlement at Bramford, he saw of the travail of his Redeemer's soul, and was abundantly satisfied. By the blessing of God upon his faithful ministry and holy life, many souls were added to * Clark's Lives annexed to Martyrologie, p. 132, 133. + MS. Register, p. 437. the church daily. A generation afterwards sprang up, who, despising his plain and searching ministry, complained of him to the bishop, and would have him to observe an exact conformity, or be ejected. The good man, having laboured there about thirty-four years, was now in danger of being cast aside as useless, and he very reluctantly accepted an invitation to the rectory of Belsted, in the same neighbourhood. On a change of situation, he found so much favour in the eyes of the bishop, that he was instituted without subscription or the observance of the ceremonies. Here he continued eighteen years, till his labours and his sufferings were accomplished. His ministry at Belsted, as in the former situation, was the happy means of promoting much christian piety, and the conversion of many souls. Mr. Carter was a strict nonconformist, and could never be persuaded to observe any ceremonies against his conscience. Though he was often brought into trouble by the bishops, especially upon the publication and imposition of Bishop Wren's cruel and superstitious articles; yet, by the assistance of friends, whom God mercifully raised up, he was mostly enabled to maintain his liberty, without any sinful compliance. He was of a prudent and peaceable spirit, never censuring persons of real piety, though they conformed. He was plain, sincere, and upright; a man in whom there was no guile. He was kind and liberal, giving more every year to the poor than the income of his benefice. His habit, and that of his wife, were plain and homely. Those who called at his house used to say they had seen Adam and Eve, or some of the patriarchs. His conversation was affable, witty and pleasant, savouring of holiness and the kingdom of God. In conversation, with his eyes mostly lifted up towards heaven, he never failed to *Dr. Matthew Wren, successively bishop of Hereford, Norwich, and Ely, was a prelate of most intolerant principles, and too much inclined to the oppressions and superstitions of popery. While he sat in the chair of Norwich, he proceeded," according to Clarendon, "so warmly and passionately against the dissenting congregations, that many left the kingdom," to the unspeakable injury of the manufactories of this country. His portrait was published and prefixed to a book, entitled, "Wren's Anatomy, discovering his notorious Pranks, &c. printed in the year when Wren ceased to domineer," 1641. In this portrait the bishop is represented sitting at a table, with two labels proceeding from his mouth, one of which is inscribed "Canonical Prayers;" the other, "No Afternoon Sermons." On one side stand several clergymen, over whose heads is written, "Altar cringing Priests." On the other side stand two men in lay habits, above whom is this inscription: “Church-wardens for Articles." -Prynne's Cant. Doome, p. 531.-Clarendon's Hist. vol. ii. p. 74.— Granger's Biog. Hist, vol. ii. p. 157. |