dox in his judgment, philanthropic in his spirit, and a celebrated interpreter of scripture. He studied, not only to preach the word, but to live as he preached. His life was an He was the voice of excellent comment on his doctrine. God crying aloud to those around him, by his exemplary He was a man of much life as well as his holy doctrine. prayer, reading, meditation, and temptation, the four things which, in the opinion of Luther, make a preacher. He was assaulted with manifold temptations, and very probably with He laboured more than many hundreds of his brethren. under the buffetings of Satan, that, being himself tempted, he might be better able to comfort those who were tempted. The words from which Mr. Calamy preached his funeral sermon had often been a source of great joy to his soul: "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself." His WORKS.-1. A Vindication of the Rights of Law and the Liberties of Grace, 1645.-2. The Arraignment of Error, 1646.3. The Sinfulness of Sin, held forth in a Sermon preached to the Honourable House of Commons, upon the late Solemn Day of Humiliation, March 25, 1646-1646.-4. A Guard of the Tree of Life, 1647.-5. The Dead Saint speaking to Saints and Sinners, 1657. -6. A Word in Season to a Sinking Kingdom.-7. The Wedding Garment. JOHN MURCOT, A. B.-This very pious man was born at Warwick, in the year 1625, and educated in Merton college, Oxford, under the tuition of Mr. Ralph Button. Oxford being garrisoned by the king's forces, he, to avoid bearing arms, fled from the place in disguise, and went to live with Mr. John Ley, vicar of Great Budworth in Cheshire, where he continued several years in close application to his studies. Upon his entrance on the work of the ministry, he was ordained according to the presbyterian form at Manchester, and settled first at Astbury in Cheshire; afterwards, he removed to Eastham, and, upon the death of Mr. Ralph Marsden, to West Kirby, both in the same county. In each of these situations he was much beloved, and his labours were rendered particularly useful. About the time of his last removal, he married Mr. Marsden's daughter. The Oxford historian says, that he at last removed to Chester; where, by * Calamy's Funeral Sermon for Dr. Bolton.-Clark's Lives, part i. p. 43-47. his carriage, (meaning, undoubtedly, his exceeding great piety,) he became ridiculous to the wicked.* It does not appear, however, that he ever settled at Chester. For the writer of his life, who is very particular in specifying his various removals, gives no intimation of the kind. Though he never settled in that city, yet, after labouring some time at Kirby, and finding himself unable to promote church discipline according to his wishes, he went to Ireland and settled in the city of Dublin. He was there chosen one of the preachers in ordinary to the lord deputy and council, and was greatly admired and followed. In this situation he was in labours more abundant than most of his brethren, and the Lord suffered him not to labour in vain. He was instrumental in the conversion of many sinners, and in the establishment of many saints. The Lord, who had prepared him for this service, blessed his endeavours in winning multitudes of souls to Christ. In matters of worship and ceremonies, he was zealous in opposing the inventions and impositions of men, closely adhering in all things to the word of God. A public disputation was held at Cork, May 26, 1652, between the pædobaptists and the antipadobaptists, in which Dr. Harding, Dr. Worth, and Mr. Murcot, were particularly engaged, though we have no further account of it.t During his last sickness his mind was most serene and happy. Apprehending that the hour of his departure was at hand, he said to his friends, "I must now tell you I am not long for this world ;" and, raising himself up, he cried, "Lord, remember me in this trying hour." To his affectionate wife he said, "Haste, haste, love, for my time is very short. I shall not reach midnight. These raptures tell me I must quickly be gone." His sister, asking him whether he was in charity with all the Lord's people, though in certain things they differed from him; "Yes," said he, stretching forth his arms; and with a loud voice added, "Lord Jesus, draw me up to thyself;" and breathed his soul into the hands of his dear Redeemer, December 3, 1654, aged twenty-nine years. His remains were interred with great funeral solemnity in St. Mary's chapel, Dublin; when the lord deputy, the council, and the mayor and aldermen of the city followed, with great lamentation, his body to the grave. Though Wood, with most palpable untruth, denominates him " a forward, prating, and pragmatical precisian, who * Wood's Athenæ Oxon, vol. ii. p. 112. +Crosby's Baptists, vol. iii. p. 312. Mr. Murcot's Life prefixed to his Works. Edit. 1657. VOL. III. gave up the ghost very unwillingly," it appears from his life, "that he was an eminently humble, holy, and happy man; and a most zealous, laborious, and useful preacher.' Granger says," he was an admired preacher, a man of great industry in his profession, and of uncommon strictness of life." Mr. Murcot's works, consisting of various articles, were published at different times; but were afterwards collected and published with his life prefixed, in one volume quarto, 1657. JOSHUA HOYLE, D. D.-This learned divine was born at Sawerby, near Halifax, Yorkshire, and educated in Magdalen college, Oxford. Afterwards, being invited into Ireland, he became fellow of Trinity college, Dublin, took his degrees in divinity, and was chosen divinity professor in that university. In his daily lectures he expounded the whole Bible, seldom taking more than one verse at a time, which lasted about fifteen years; and in about ten years more he went through greatest part of the sacred volume a second time. In the year 1634 he sat in the convocation held at Dublin. But, upon the commencement of the rebellion in Ireland, in 1641, he fled from the terrible effusion of blood, returned to England, and became vicar of Stepney, near London; but, according to Wood, he being too scholastical, did. not please the parishioners. In the year 1643 he was appointed one of the assembly of divines, and constantly attended. He was witness against Archbishop Laud at his trial, when he attested that the archbishop had corrupted the university of Dublin, by the arbitrary introduction of the errors of popery and arminianism.{| In the year 1645 he was elected one of the committee of accommodation; and in 1648 he became master of University college, Oxford, and king's professor of divinity in that university. In the office of professor he has incurred the severe animadversion of * Wood's Athenæ Oxon, vol. ii. p. 113. + Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. iii. p. 49. According to the computation of the popish priests themselves, who were actively employed in this rebellion, upwards of one hundred and fiftyfour thousand protestants were massacred in Ireland in the space of a few months: but, during the continuance of the rebellion, according to Sir J. Temple, there were above three hundred thousand cruelly murdered in cold blood, or ruined in some other way. Cardinal Richelieu was deeply concerned in this massacre; and, according to Rapin, King Charles I. * spread abroad that the catholics had his authority for what they did."-Hist. of England, vol. ii. p. 386. Athene Oxon, vol. ii. p. 113. Prynne's Caut, Doome, p. 178, 359. Dr. Walker. This abusive writer says that he opened his lectures by a speech void of all spirit and learning; and that his lectures had neither method nor argument in them, and shewed him to be ignorant even of the most common rules of logic. Wood however styles him "a person of great reading and memory, much devoted to study, profound in the faculty of divinity, a constant preacher, and a noted puritan ;" and says, "he was highly respected by the famous Archbishop Usher." In vindication of this learned prelate, he wrote "A Rejoynder to Will Malone Jesuit his Reply concerning the Real Presence," 1641. Dr. Hoyle was a member of great honour and esteem in the assembly of divines, as master of all the ancient learning of Greek and Latin fathers, and one who reigned in his chair and in the pulpit. He died December 6, 1654, and his remains were interred in the old chapel belonging to University college. His successors in the offices of master and professor were Mr. Francis Johnson and Dr. John Conant, both silenced nonconformists in 1662.§ ANDREW PERNE, A. M.-This worthy minister was born in the year 1596, and afterwards chosen fellow of Katherine-hall, Cambridge, where he probably received his education. Having finished his studies at the university, he became rector of Wilby in Northamptonshire, where he continued a laborious, faithful, and successful preacher twentyseven years. One of his name and degree was of Peterhouse, and elected master of the Charter-house in 1614;|| and the year following he became vicar of Southminster or Sudminster in Essex. But this could not be the same person. In the year 1643 Mr. Perne was chosen one of the assembly of divines, and constantly attended during the whole session. He often preached before the parliament, and several of his sermons were published; one of which is entitled, "Gospel Courage, or a Christian Resolution for God and his Truth, in a Sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at Margaret's, Westminster, at a Publique Fast, the 21 of May, 1643"-1643. Being called up to London, he gained a high reputation, and was offered considerable * Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 141. + Wood's Athenæ, vol. ii. p. 113. Calamy's Account, vol. ii. p. 472. Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. i. p. 229, 257, 483. preferments; but he refused them all, resolving to return to his charge at Wilby. In this place, by his awakening sermons, and exemplary life and conversation, a most signal and happy reformation was effected; and his people revered and loved him as a father. "He was full of spiritual warmth," says Mr. Ainsworth, " filled with an holy indignation against sin, active in his work, and never more in his element than when he was in the pulpit." As his life was holy, so his death was happy. He blessed God that he was not afraid to die; nay, he earnestly desired to be gone; and often cried out, during his last sickness, "When will that hour come? One assault more, and this earthen vessel will be broken, and I shall be with God." He died December 13, 1654, aged sixty years. Mr. Samuel Ainsworth, one of the silenced nonconformists, preached and published his funeral sermon. His remains were interred in the chancel of Wilby church; where, at the foot of the altar, is the following monumental inscription erected to his memory :+ ALEXANDER GROSS, B. D.-This pious man was born in Devonshire, and educated first in Caius college, Cambridge, then in Exeter college, Oxford, where he was admitted to the reading of the sentences. Entering upon the work of the ministry, he became preacher at Plympton, in his own county, afterwards rector of Bridford, near Exeter, and at length vicar of Ashburton, in his own county; at each of which places he was much followed, especially by persons of serious piety. He was a zealous puritan, and, upon the commencement of the civil wars, he espoused the cause of the parliament. He was a man of a strong memory, a sound judgment, and great integrity, abhorring all kinds of super Neal's Puritans, vol. iv. p. 128. + Bridges's Hist. of Northamptonshire, vol. i. p. 155. Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 103. |