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5. A Dialogue between a minister and a stranger about soul-affairs..

STERRY, PETER, B. D., one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, was born in Surrey, England, and educated in Emanuel College, Cambridge, where, in 1636, he was chosen fellow. Having finished his studies in the University he entered the ministry; during the civil war he was a strenuous advocate of the cause of the Parliament. In the year 1643, he was called up to the Assembly of Divines, and is said to have given constant attendance; on some occasions he preached before the Parliament.

He was intimate with Sir Henry Vane, and is said to have been deeply tinctured with mysticism. In the year 1654, he was appointed one of the Triers of ministers. The protector not liking that the Presbyteries should have the sole power of examining and judging of candidates for the ministry, appointed triers of his own selection. These commissioners were thirty-eight in number, among whom were eight or nine laymen; any five were sufficient to approve, but it required nine to reject a candidate.

Mr. Sterry's only writings are,

1. The Spirit's Conviction of Sin Opened. 2. The Clouds in which Christ comes.

STRICKLAND, JOHN, B. D., was born in the county of Westmoreland of an ancient and honourable family, and was educated at Queen's College, Oxford. After taking his degrees in the arts he entered the holy ministry, and became chaplain to the Earl of Hertford. In 1632, he took his degree of Bachelor of Divinity, and was presented to the rectory of Middleton in Somersetshire. He was chosen one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and seems to have been constant in his attendance. Wood reviles him exceedingly, but Dr. Calamy defends him. He became, after the Assembly was over, pastor of St. Edmund's Church in Salisbury. He is said to have been eminently distinguished as an expositor of Scripture,

and a skilful casuist. In 1654, Mr. Strickland was made assistant to the commissioners for ejecting ignorant and scandalous ministers and schoolmasters in the county of Wilts.

He was among the ejected ministers on the fatal Bartholomew day, but he continued to preach after his ejectment, as he had opportunity.

He died in October, 1670, very suddenly, on the very day that he had preached and administered the Lord's Supper.

His memory was long held in honour at Sarum, and Dr. Calamy always speaks of him as "a great divine, and generally esteemed,” and also a very faithful preacher.

Mr. Strickland's publications are,

1. God's Works of Mercy in Zion's Misery; a sermon before the House of Commons.

2. A Discovery of Peace, or the thoughts of the Almighty for the ending of the people's calamities.

3. Immanuel, or the Church triumphing in God with us; a sermon before the House of Lords from Psalm xlvi. 7.

4. Mercy rejoicing against Judgment, or God waiting to be gracious to a sinful nation; a sermon before the House of Commons.

In his dedicatory epistle to the House of Commons, he gives them excellent advice about public schools, the reformation of the universities, and about settling ministers in the northern counties of the kingdom.

TAYLOR, FRANCIS, B. D., a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and sometime rector of Chapham, in Surrey, and afterward of Yalding, in Kent. He was called to the Assembly at its first opening, was constant in his attendance, and eminently distinguished for his learning and moderation. He was afterward settled in Canterbury as preacher of Christ's Church. He left behind him the reputation of an able critic and a profound theologian. Mr. Neal says, "he was one of the most considerable divines of the Assembly." And Mr. Edward Leigh

testifies, "that he was a learned linguist and a worthy divine." His death occurred about the time of the restoration. He had a son in the ministry, who, though totally blind, became a considerable preacher. Dr. Calamy says, "he had an enlightened mind, though a dark body." His son was ejected in 1662 from a church in Canterbury for non-conformity. He was cheerful under his afflictions, and he published a little book entitled, "Grapes from Canaan, or the believer's present taste of future glory.

Mr. Taylor's publications:

1. Faith of the Church of England.

2. God's Covenant, the Church's Plea; a sermon from Psalm 1xxiv. 20, before the House of Commons on a solemn fast-day.

3. The Danger of Vows Neglected, and the necessity of reformation; a sermon before the House of Peers from Gen. xxxv. 1.

4. God's Glory in Man's Happiness.

5. God's Choice and Man's Diligence.

6. On Justification.

7. Opuscula Rabbinica.

8. Targum Prius et Posterius in Estheram.

9. Tractatus De Patribus, Rab. Nathane Autore. 10. Capitula Patrum.

11. Examen Præfationis Morini.

12. An Exposition of the first nine chapters of the Proverbs.

TEMPLE, THOMAS, D. D., brother of Sir John, was some time a fellow of Trinity College, Dublin; afterwards he resided in Lincoln College, Oxford; and then was minister, first at Winwick in Northamptonshire, and then at Battersea in Surrey. When the civil war commenced he sided with the Parliament, and was appointed one of the licensers of books, and a member of the Assembly of Divines, and is said to have been a constant attendant. He was one of the committee for the examination and approbation of ministers, who were candidates for the sequestered livings; he was also on the "committee of accommodation." In

all these offices he was eminently distinguished for his learning and moderation.

He preached frequently before the Long Parliament, and a few of his sermons on those occasions are extant in print; one of them is entitled, "Christ's Government in and over his People," from Psalm ii. 6., delivered before the Commons at a public fast; an excellent sermon. Further particulars of the life and death of this distinguished man are wanting.

TESDALE, CHRISTOPHER.-A member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, received his education at New College, Oxford, where he proceeded Master of Arts in 1648, and having entered into holy orders he became pastor of a church in Southampton, and in 1643 he was chosen to sit in the Assembly of Divines, and is marked in Neal's list as constant in his attendance. He has published a sermon entitled, "Hierusalem, a Vision of Peace;" preached before the House of Commons, Psal. cxxii. 6.

THOROWGOOD, THOMAS, B. D., received his education in the University of Cambridge, where he proceeded Master of Arts, and afterwards Bachelor of Divinity. He espoused the cause of the Parliament, and was chosen a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster.

His publications are:

1. Moderation justified; before the honourable House of Commons.

2. Jews in America, or Probabilities that Americans are of that race.

He urges reasons for endeavouring to convert the aborigines of America, and answers objections.

The above opinion has since been strongly maintained by several, and especially Dr. Boudinot, of Burlington, New Jersey.

TUCKNEY, ANTHONY, D. D., was born about three miles from Boston in Lincolnshire, September, 1599, and was educated in Emanuel College, Cambridge.

After taking the degree of Master of Arts, he became chaplain to the Earl of Lincoln; but upon being chosen fellow of his College, he returned to the University until he commenced Bachelor of Divinity; during this time he was an able and conscientious tutor. He trained up many pupils, who afterwards became eminent both in church and state, and remembered, their tutor with much esteem.

Upon the invitation of the people of Boston, he left the University and became assistant to the celebrated John Cotton, and upon Mr. Cotton's removal to America, he succeeded him in 1633. While he resided here a pestilence occurred in the place, and he met with some disturbance from the spiritual courts.

In 1643 Dr. Tuckney was called up to London to sit in the Assembly of Divines, and as the times were troublesome he removed his family to London, and never returned to reside any more at Boston. At the request of the people, however, he retained his title. until the restoration, when he resigned and was succeeded by the celebrated John Howe; but though he retained the title, he received none of the profits after he left his people. He was very highly esteemed in the Assembly, and was constant in his attendance. He belonged both to the committee of examination of ministers, and to the "committee of accommodation." But his most memorable service in that Assembly was, the part which he took in drawing up the Confession of Faith and Catechisms. Many of the answers in the "Larger Catechism" are said to have been composed by him, especially the exquisite exposition of the commandments, were for the most part, in his very words.

After residing in London some time, he was settled minister of Michael-Quern, Cheapside, where he continued till 1648; except that after he was appointed master of Emanuel College, he spent some months of every year at Cambridge, until in 1648 he removed his family thither, and was that year made vice-chancellor of the University. When Dr. Arrowsmith was

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