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heart, and received with all acceptation, because of the overcoming kindness with which they were attended." When he was in company with persons of wealth, and heard them swear, or use profane language, he would withdraw from their company with a sad countenance; and would address them in private, with so much affection and seriousness, that they would frequently thank him. On one of these occasions, a gentleman said to him, "Had you reproved me at table I would have stabbed you, but now I thank you."

He was a strict and zealous observer of the sabbath. As preparatory to the holy observance of this day, he constantly preached in his own house on the Saturday afternoon. He rose earlier on the sabbath than on other days; and prayed six times with his family every sabbath, besides expounding the scriptures. He was particularly zealous in recommending to others the holy observance of this day. Being once invited to preach at Linton in Cambridgeshire, where a fair was annually kept on the Lord's day, he so convinced the inhabitants of the sinfulness of the practice, that, it is said, they would hold the fair no more on that day. He was of a most tender and contrite spirit; and enjoyed so much the presence and blessing of God in holy duties, that he often said at the conclusion, he would not for many worlds have missed the opportunity. This holy man was crucified to the world, and the world was crucified to him. He lived above the world, having his affections set on better things. His passionate fondness for the things of this world was so far subdued, that, though he had a most tender affection for his relations and friends, the loss of them did not discompose his mind, nor interrupt his communion with God. When his eldest daughter, whom he dearly loved, was taken away by death, he preached her funeral sermon with the utmost composure, and said, he believed she feared God from three years old. He preached as a man who had not lost his God, though he had lost his dearest child. The love of the creature could never draw his heart from the Creator.

He

enjoyed the abundant manifestations of God's love. His holy and heavenly deportment was accompanied with a settled peace of conscience, and a full assurance of eternal life. He often declared before his death, that for more than forty years he never had a single doubt of his salvation.

When the persecuting prelates were laid aside, and Mr. Blackerby could take the pastoral charge without subscription and observing the ceremonies, he was chosen pastor of Great Thurlow in Suffolk, where he continued the rest of his

days. With great zeal and faithfulness, he laboured to pro mote the glory of God and the good of souls to the very last. He was taken ill in the pulpit, was carried home, and continued in a weak state about six weeks, but kept his bed only two days. He died in the year 1648, aged seventy-four years. Mr. Blackerby was "an excellent linguist, and accounted the best Hebrean in Cambridge." Granger says, "he was perfectly skilled in the learned languages." At his death, he expressed his strong hopes, that in the day of judgment there would be many hundreds of his posterity standing at the right hand of Christ. And it is said, that those who knew his children believed they were all heirs of eternal life: there were favourable hopes of all his grandchildren, many of whom were eminent persons; and many of his great grandchildren were truly pious christians. The excellent Mr. Samuel Fairclough, who was ejected in 1662, married one of his daughters. It is said, that on account of the heavenly majesty and holiness which always attended Mr. Blackerby, the excellent Mr. Daniel Rogers of Wethersfield used to say, he could never come into his presence without trembling.

THOMAS TEMPLE, D. D.-This learned divine was brother to Sir John Temple, master of the rolls, and one of his majesty's privy council in Ireland. He was fellow of Trinity college, Dublin, and afterwards resided for some time in Lincoln college, Oxford. He was beneficed first at Winwick in Northamptonshire, then at Battersea in Surrey. At this last place he was labouring in the year 1639, having Mr. Samuel Wells for his assistant. Upon the commencement of the civil war, he espoused the cause of the parliament; and, in 1643, was appointed one of the licensers of the press, and nominated one of the assembly of divines, and he constantly attended during the session. He was one of the committee for the examination and ordination of ministers.** In 1645, he was chosen one of the committee of accommodation. In each of these public offices he discovered great learning and moderation. In the year 1648, he united with

* Clark's Lives, p. 58–66.

+ Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. ii. p. 196.

Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. iii. p. 272.
Clark's Lives, p. 65.

Calamy's Account, vol. ii. p. 497, 540. Neal's Puritans, vol. iii p. 46, 52, 89. ++ Papers of Accommodation, p. 13.

Clark's Lives, p. 64

the rest of the London ministers in their protestation against the king's death. Wood denominates him " a forward preacher." He frequently preached before the parliament, and several of his sermons were afterwards published, one of which is entitled, "Christ's Government in and over his People, delivered before the honourable House of Commons at their Fast, October 26, 1642, on Psalm ii. 6.,” 1642. But when he died we have not been able to learn.

JOHN WILKINSON, D. D.-This venerable divine was born in the parish of Halifax in Yorkshire, and educated in the university of Oxford, where he was highly celebrated for learning. He became fellow of Magdalen college, was tutor to Prince Henry, and afterwards made principal of Magdalen-hall, in the same university. By his recommendation, the well-known Mr. Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, was taken into the family of Lord Hardwicke, soon after created Earl of Devonshire, in the quality of tutor to his son William Lord Cavendish. Upon the commencement of the civil wars, he espoused the cause of the parliament; and Oxford being garrisoned by the royal forces, he fled to the parliament's quarters, when he was succeeded in the above office by Dr. Thomas Read. But in the year 1646, Dr. Wilkinson was restored; and by an ordinance of parliament, dated May 1, 1647, he was appointed one of the visitors of the university of Oxford. In May, 1648, he was made president of Magdalen college, in the place of Dr. Oliver.|| He did not, however, live long to occupy this public office; for he died January 2, 1649, and his remains were interred in the church of Great Milton in Oxfordshire. Though he was a man of great learning and piety, Dr. Walker is pleased to say, upon the slender authority of a scurrilous and abusive letter written against the puritans, "That he was known not to have preached above once in forty years; that he had outlived the little learning he once possessed; and was become the very sport of boys." How far this account, from so base an authority, and evidently designed to reproach his memory, is worthy of credit, we will not attempt to determine;

Calamy's Contin. vol. ii. p. 743. + Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 895. Watson's Hist. of Halifax, p. 526. Biog. Britan, vol. iv. p. 2599. Edit. 1747. Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 126, 134. ¶ Neal's Puritans, vol. iii. p. 431. ** Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 127.

but certain it is, that the parliament, to whom he was well known, and by whom he was so highly esteemed, formed a very different opinion of him.

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Fuller observes, "that Dr. Lawrence Humphrey, the famous old puritan, having bequeathed to Magdalen college a considerable sum of gold left in a chest, and not to be opened except in some case of great emergency; Dr. Wilkinson, while he was president, took this gold, and shared it betwixt himself and the fellows of the college. Though one must charitably believe," he adds, "that the matter was not so bad as is reported, yet the most favourable account gave a general distaste." Dr. Heylin says, "the sum amounted to upwards of twelve hundred double pistoles, value sixteen shillings and six-pence each; and that the old doctor had one hundred for his share of the spoil, and the fellows thirty each." But he observes, that, according to tradition, the money was left by the founder of the college, and not by Dr. Humphrey.+ Wood says, "the sum amounted to no less than fourteen hundred pounds; and Dr. Henry Wilkinson, the vice-president of the college, not John Wilkinson, was the chief divider of the spoil.

JOHN GEREE, A. M.-He was born in Yorkshire, in the year 1600, and educated in Magdalen college, Oxford. His first ministerial labours were at Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. But, says Wood, he was schismatically inclined, and a nonconformist to certain ceremonies of the church of England, for which he was silenced by Bishop Goodman ; yet he was so universally beloved, that, after he had received his lordship's censure, he was supported by his brethren. Under this censure he remained a considerable time; but in the year 1641, he was restored to his cure by the committee of religion. In 1645, he became minister of St. Alban's in Hertfordshire; and, having laboured there about four years, was made preacher at St. Faith's under St. Paul's, London. He was a thorough puritan, and at all these places was much followed by those of his own persuasion.§ He wrote with considerable ability against the baptists, was opposed to the war betwixt the king and parliament, and against taking away the life of the king. He died in the month of February, 1649, aged forty-nine years. His death,

Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 234. + Heylin's Examen. Histor. p. 268. Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 748,

Ibid. p. 64.

it is said, was occasioned by his extreme grief for the death of King Charles. Mr. Baxter denominates him " an eminent nonconformist divine." He died poor; but was so exceedingly beloved by his people, that they settled thirty pounds a year upon his widow for life, and behaved very honourably to his children. Mr. Stephen Geree, another puritan divine, was his elder brother. Mr. Arthur Jackson, one of the ejected nonconformists in 1662, was his successor.§

His WORKS.-1. Several Sermons, 1641, &c.-2. Vindiciae voti; or, a Vindication of the true Sense of the National Covenant, in Answer to the Protestant Protested,' 1641.-3. Vindicia Eccl. Anglicana; or, Ten Cases resolved, 1644.-4. Proofs that the King may without Impeachment of his Oath, touching the Clergy, at his Coronation, consent to the Abrogation of Episcopacy, 1646.— 5. Astrologo-Mastix; or, the Vanity of Judicial Astrology, 1646.— 6. Vindicia Pædo-Baptismi; or, a Vindication of Infant Baptism, 1646.—7. Character of an old English Puritan Nonconformist, 1646. —8. Vindiciæ Vindiciarum; or, a Vindication of his Vindication of Infant Baptism, 1647.-9. A Catechism, 1647.-10. Touching Supremacy in Causes Ecclesiastical, 1647.—11. An Exercise, 1648.12. The Sifter's Sieve Broken, 1648.-13. Answer to John Goodwin's 'Might and Right well met,' 1649,

THOMAS SHEPARD, A. M.-This most pious divine was born at Towcester in Northamptonshire, November 5, 1605, and educated in Emanuel college, Cambridge. Here he was brought under deep conviction of sin, and led to receive Jesus Christ for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. This work was wrought chiefly by the instrumentality of the celebrated Dr. Preston. Upon Mr. Shepard's removal from the university, he became lecturer at Earls Colne in Essex, where God greatly blessed his labours, and many souls were converted by his ministry. His labours and his usefulness, however, were of no long continuance; for in about three years he fell into the hands of Bishop Laud, who silenced him for nonconformity, and forced him out of the country. He then retired into the north, and became domestic chaplain to Sir Richard Darly, of Buttercomb in Yorkshire, where his labours were eminently useful to Sir Richard and his family. But Archbishop Neile would not suffer him to preach, without subscription to the ecclesiastical impositions,

• Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 65.
✦ Sylvester's Life of Baxter, part i. p. 84.
Jackson's Annotations, Dedica. Edit. 1658.
Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. i. p. 120.

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