the pursuivant. And I did undertake for Mr. Wilson, that he should answer his accusers in any of the king's courts at Westminster. The bishop made me answer, 'I am sure that he will not be absent from his cure a twelvemonth together.'"* Upon the above resolution of the house, he was released from all his troubles, when he returned to his charge and wonted labours at Otham. In the year 1643, he was nominated one of the assembly of divines; and, though at so great a distance, he constantly attended. In the assembly he was much esteemed for his meek and humble deportment, and his grave and judicious counsels. Having continued some time at Otham, he removed to Maidstone, where he remained to the day of his death. Here his first care was to promote the reformation of the church, and to administer the sacraments, according to his views of the word of God. To this end he preached upon the necessity of observing scriptural discipline, and the qualifications necessary to church-fellowship. At first he met with considerable opposition, but by prudence and perseverance things were brought to a favourable issue. Mr. Wilson was indefatigable in his attendance upon his numerous duties, and usually observed the following method: he protracted his studies on Saturdays nearly till midnight, and rose by two or three o'clock on a sabbath morning, being much displeased if he was later. About seven he came out of his study, and called his family together, when he read and expounded a portion of scripture, requiring those present to give some account of the exposition; then sung a psalm, and concluded with prayer. At nine o'clock he went to church, and entered upon public worship by singing, then prayed for a blessing, and expounded out of the Old Testament about an hour; then, besides singing and prayer, he preached an hour, and concluded. Then, going home, he invariably prayed with his family before dinner. In the afternoon he observed the same method as in the morning, only his exposition was upon some part of the New Testament. The public services of the day being ended, he called his family together, when many neighbours attended; then they repeated the sermons and expositions, sung a psalm, and concluded with prayer. After this he usually went to a friend's house in the town, where many attended, and did the same. He administered the Lord's supper regularly once a month, delivered weekly lectures, attended meetings for religious conference, and was * Collection of Deering's Speeches, p. 9, 10. Edit. 1642. incessant in catechizing. He did the Lord's work faithfully, and found his reward in the labour. Some, indeed, thought he laboured too much, and that he ought to have spared himself; but he was of a contrary opinion, being persuaded that God makes no difference betwixt an idle and an evil servant. Hence, when his friends attempted to dissuade him from so intense an application, he was ever deaf to their counsel, saying, "Would you have my Lord, when he cometh, to find me idle ?" He was always exact in setting a good example before his children and servants, knowing them to be much influenced by the deportment of superiors. What he preached to them on the sabbath, he practised before them all the week; and "in all things he shewed himself a pattern of good works." He was a strict observer of the sabbath, and eminently successful in promoting the same among his people. This was the happy fruit of his labours at Maidstone, as well as at other places. One of the judges taking notice of this at the assize, publicly declared, that, in all his circuit, there was no town where the Lord's day was so strictly observed. Mr. Wilson was of a courageous spirit, and feared no obstacles in the path of duty. He feared God, and none else. He knew God would take care of his own cause, whatever sufferings his servants might endure; therefore, when trials came upon him, he said, with Luther, "I had rather fall with Christ than reign with Cæsar." He shewed his courage in reproving sin. If men were bold in sinning, he was bold in reproving them, even without respect of persons. His sincerity, humility, and great piety, were manifest to all. The excellent Mr. William Fenner, after being in his company, said, "I am ashamed of myself, to see. how Mr. Wilson gallops towards heaven, and I do but creep at a snail's pace." "Indeed, his treasure was in heaven, and his heart was there also. This excellent trait in his character will appear from the following anecdote:-During the insurrection in 1648, the soldiers took from him a legacy of a hundred pounds left to his daughter, though it was afterwards restored. But when the money was gone, being asked whether he was not much troubled, he replied, "No; I was no more troubled when I heard the money was carried off, than when it was brought to my house."+ Mr. Wilson's great piety was most manifest in his affliction and death. When the bridegroom came, he had his lamp trimmed, oil in his vessel, and his light burning. He endured + Ibid. p. 51. * Life of Mr. Wilson, p. 22-49. his extreme pain with exemplary patience: he mourned, but never murmured. He was willing to drink his heavenly Father's bitter cup. When lying upon his death-bed he called his family around him. He desired his wife not to be cast down, or to sorrow as those who have no hope; but to trust in the Lord; and added, "Though we must now be separated for a season, we shall meet again to part no more for ever." He exhorted his children to fear the Lord, saying, "Look you to it, that you meet me not in the day of judgment in an unconverted state." He praised God, and spoke much of the preciousness of Christ. The prospect of his approaching death afforded comfort to his soul. To a pious lady of his acquaintance, who was leaving Maidstone, he pleasantly said, "What will you say, Mrs. Crisp, if I get the start of you, and get to heaven before you get to Dover?" Another person saying, "Sir, I think you are not far from your Father's house;" he immediately replied, "That is good news indeed, and is enough to make one leap for joy." To those who mourned over him, he said, "I bless God, who hath suffered me to live so long to do him some service; and now I have finished the work appointed for me, that he is pleased to call me away so soon." He fought the good fight, he finished his course, he kept the faith, and died in peace, towards the end of the year 1653, aged fifty-two years. He had a clear understanding, a quick invention, a sound judgment, a tenacious memory, and was a hard student, a good scholar, an excellent preacher, and clothed with humility. Mr. Wilson was twice married, and by his second wife he had eleven children, ten of whom were living at his death. Mr. Thomas Wilson, ejected in 1662, is supposed to have been his son. When upon his death-bed he recommended Mr. John Crump, afterwards ejected in 1662, to be his successor. We are informed that Mr. Wilson was a baptist, and in the year 1638, joined Mr. John Spilsbury's church, London; but whether he continued to adhere to the baptists' sentiments, and acted upon them to the end of his days, we are unable to ascertain. He was author of a sermon preached before the house of commons, entitled, "Jerechoe's Downfall," 1643; and probably some others. * Life of Mr. Wilson, p. 34, 52—64. + Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. ii. p. 182. Ibid. p. 332. Crosby's Baptists, vol. i. p. 149.-Neal's Puritans, vol. iv. p. 639, 633. NATHANIEL WARD, A. B.-This excellent person was the son of Mr. John Ward, and brother to Mr. Samuel Ward, both celebrated puritan divines; was born at Haverhil in Suffolk, about the year 1570. He received a liberal education, and was intended for the law; but afterwards travelling into Prussia and Denmark, where he was honoured with the intimate friendship of the celebrated David Pareus of Heidelberg, from whom he received the most valuable instruction, he purposed, upon his return home, to enter upon the christian ministry. He became preacher at St. James's, Duke's-place, London, in the year 1626; and afterwards became rector of Standon Massey in Essex,* where he felt the iron hand of Archbishop Laud. Previous to the year 1633, he was often convened before this intolerant prelate for nonconformity; and, after frequent attendance, for refusing to subscribe according to the canons, he was excommunicated and deprived of his ministry. The good man remained a long time under the prelate's heavy censure.+ It does not indeed appear that he was ever released. For having found that his release could not be obtained without the most degrading submission, contrary to the light of conscience and the testimony of scripture, he left his native country, and in the year 1634 retired to New England. Upon his arrival he was chosen pastor of the church at Ipswich, where he continued in high reputation, frequent labours, and great usefulness, about eleven years. In 1645 he returned to England, and became minister of Shenfield in Essex. He subscribed the Essex testimony as minister of this place, and was sometimes called to preach before the parliament. He greatly lamented the confusions of the times, and discovered great loyalty to the king, and much solicitude for his majesty's welfare. He died at Shenfield in the year 1653, aged eighty-three years. He is classed' among the learned writers of Emanuel college, Cambridge.|| He was a learned man, a pious christian, an excellent preacher, and the author of many articles, full of wit and good sense, the titles of which have not reached us. ROBERT ABBOT, A. M.-This person received his education in the university of Cambridge, where he took his Newcourt's Repert. Eccl. vol. i. p. 917, vol. ii. p. 545. Grey's Examination, vol. i. p. 401. Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b. iii. p. 167. Fuller's Hist. of Cam. p. 147. N. WARD-ABBOT-SPILSBURY. 183. degrees in arts, and was afterwards incorporated at Oxford. Having finished his studies at the university, he became vicar of Cranbrook in Kent, and minister of Southwick in Hampshire. A minister of the same name, and no doubt the same person, was a great sufferer under the tyrannical oppressions of Bishop Pierce of Bath and Wells. This learned prelate compelled Mr. Abbot and others, contrary to law and justice, to raise sums of money towards carrying on the war against the Scots. In the beginning of the year 1643, according to Dr. Walker, he was dispossessed of his vicarage by order of the house of commons; because he had taken another living, which, from his own confession, was inconsistent.+ Whether this be indeed correct we are unable to ascertain; but be this as it may, it appears that, upon the commencement of the civil war, he espoused the cause of the parliament, united himself to the puritans, and became rector of St. Austin's church, Watling-street, London, where he continued in peace and quietness all the rest of his days. In each of these situations he was happy among the people of his charge. They were much attached to him, and often warmly pressed him to appear in print. He lived to a good old age, and was living in the year 1653; but when he died we have not been able to learn.‡ His WORKS.-1. Be Thankful London and her Sisters, 1626.— 2. Four Sermons, 1639.-3. Tryal of our Church-forsakers, 1639.— 4. Milk for Babes; or, a Mother's Catechism for her Children, 1646. -5. Three Sermons, 1646.-6. A Christian Family Builded by God; or, Directions for Governors of Families, 1653. JOHN SPILSBURY was a minister of the antipædobaptist denomination. Upon his embracing these sentiments, he is said to have gone into Holland to be baptized by Mr. John Smyth; after which he returned to England, and began to baptize adults by immersion. Crosby, however, attempts to clear him of this, and to prove that he did not go abroad for this purpose; but with what degree of success we will not undertake to determine. In the year 1633, part of Mr. John Lathorp's church, in London, haying espoused the sentiments of the baptists, desired to be dismissed from the church, and to be allowed to form a distinct congregation. "The church," it is observed, * Impeachment of Bishop Pierce, p. 8. |