chosen master of Trinity College, Dr. Tuckney was made master of St John's, and succeeded the former as royal professor of Divinity.

Doctor Tuckney was distinguished for firmness and unshaken courage, and was eminent at the same time for his humility. He is said to have possessed the art of governing youth in a high degree, so that many gentlemen sent their sons to his College on that ac

count.

After the restoration, Dr. Tuckney was one of the commissioners of the Savoy; but when he saw how things were conducted, he abandoned all hope of an accommodation. Indeed before the conferences were expired he received a request from the king to resign all his preferments in the University, which he immediately did, and the king promised him a hundred pounds from his successor during his natural life. Upon leaving the University, he retired with his family to London, where he remained until 1665, when, on account of the plague, he lived at Colwick-hall, near Nottingham. After the passing of the five-mile act, he shifted about from place to place.

In the dreadful fire of London, Dr. Tuckney lost his library. His latter years he spent in or near to London, and died February, 1670. He has left behind him the character of an eminently learned and pious man, a candid disputant, and an eminent promoter of the cause of truth and Godliness:

Dr. Tuckney's published writings:

1. The Balm of Gilead for the wounds of England; a fast sermon before the Commons; Jer. viii. 22.

2. Death Disarmed, and the grave swallowed up in victory; a funeral discourse for Dr. Thomas Hill; 1 Cor. xv. 55.

3. None but Christ; a sermon preached at Cambridge on commencement Sabbath; to which is annexed an "Inquiry respecting the ground of hope for Heathen, Jews, infants, idiots, &c."

4. A good day well improved.

5. Forty sermons on various occasions.

6. Prælectiones Theologica; to which is annexed a dissertation against propagating religion by the sword.

TWISSE, WILLIAM, D. D., was born near Newbury, in Berkshire, England. His grandfather was a German, who had, on some occasion, come over to England. His father was a substantial clothier, who sent his son to Westminster School, whence, at the age of eighteen, he was translated to New College, Oxford, of which he became fellow. Here, for sixteen successive years, he applied himself to study most assiduously. In 1604, he proceeded Master of Arts, and about the same time entered into holy orders, and became a diligent preacher of the gospel of Christ. He was esteemed a popular preacher in the University; and, although some thought his discourses too scholastic, they were attended with power and success. His character in the university stood high, not only as a man of extensive learning and great acuteness, but also on account of his holy, exemplary conversation. In the year 1614, he took the degree of Doctor of Divinity, after having given ample proof of his abilities, in his Catechetical Lectures in the College Chapel, in his public disputations, and in revising the writings of the famous Dr. Thomas Bradwardine, about to be published by Sir Henry Saville.

Dr. Twisse's reputation continued to increase until it reached the court, so that King James selected him as a suitable chaplain for his daughter Elizabeth, the Princess Palatine, who was soon to remove to Germany, whither he accompanied her. On the journey he made it a daily practice to expound the Scriptures, with which pious exercises the Princess was well pleased, especially as they served to soothe her sorrow in leaving her native country, and her friends. And as he inculcated upon her the belief in a particular Providence, and directed her to the true. sources of pleasure, and taught her that all things work together for the good of those who love God, his instructions were well suited to prepare her for

those heavy afflictions which soon she was called to endure.

Upon his return to England he devoted himself to such studies as seemed to him best adapted to qualify him to glorify God, by expounding his word, and defending his truth. Truly he sought no great things for himself in this world, for he settled down in a country village, and poor house, where he laid the foundation of those great works which have rendered his name so famous in the Reformed Churches. After some time, he was made Vicar of Newbury, where he acquired a high reputation for his useful preaching, and holy life; and so he became a burning and a shining light, in the very region where the light of this world first dawned upon him. He never aspired after riches, nor ecclesiastical dignities, but rather gloried in his retired and obscure situation, as being less exposed to temptations, which always beset those who are advanced to high honours in the world. He not only did not seek preferment, but when offered to him he declined it. So he declined being Warden of the College at Winchester, although the office was very lucrative, and afterwards refused a Prebend of Winchester; thus evincing, by his conduct, that he preferred the opportunities of retired study, above the most lucrative and honourable stations. He had also an invitation to become Professor of Theology at Francker, in Friesland, which offer also he declined, and continued at Newbury, until his dying day.

When the Book of Sports was sent down he refused to read it, and had the courage to speak against it, and thus subjected himself to a heavy penalty; but when the King heard of it, he commanded the Bishops not to give any disturbance to Dr. Twisse, for he knew that, though he lived on a small salary, and in a poor house, yet his reputation, by means of his writings, was so high in all the Reformed Churches abroad, that it would redound to the discredit of any one who should treat him with severity.

In his preaching, and in his writing, Dr. Twisse

faithfully defended the sacredness of the Lord's Day, so that when Charles I. came to the throne, and imitated his father, in his attempts to desecrate, by sports, the day which God had sanctified for himself, Dr. Twisse still refused obedience to these unlawful injunctions, and went on in the discharge of his duty, in testifying against the sin of Sabbath-breaking; and continued to preach against the Book of Sports until its authority was abolished. The height of his reputation among the good people of England, may be judged of from the fact, that in 1643, when the Assembly of Divines met at Westminster, he was appointed by both houses of Parliament to be the Prolocutor of that venerable body, in which office he continued until his death. He was very far from desiring such a distinction, and would have avoided it if he could, but it was, in a manner, forced upon him. Wherefore, on the first day of their meeting, which was July 1, 1643, he preached before them; the two houses of Parliament being present. The number of Divines appointed to meet in this Assembly, was about one hundred and twenty. Upon calling the roll on the first day, it appeared that sixty-seven were present. They did not appear in canonical habits, but dressed in black coats, and distinguished by bands. The object stated, in the writ of convocation, was, "the settlement of Religion, and Church Government." It was not an Assembly called, either by the Episcopal or Presbyterian ministers, but the Parliament selected from different counties, such persons as they thought would be suitable. Accordingly, ministers of different persuasions were appointed. Among these were a number of Episcopalians and Independents, as well as Presbyterians, but the former refused to attend, because the King had issued a proclamation forbidding the Assembly to meet. This Assembly met every day in the week, except the first and the last, and no one was permitted to come in, to hear the debates, unless by a written order from both houses of Parliament. Their daily session was commonly from nine, A. M. to three, P. M., and every

session was opened and closed with prayer, by the Prolocutor. As there were, on an average, about sixty English Divines in attendance, it was agreed that they should divide themselves into three large committees, and no member was excluded from entering either of the three. These committees prepared business for the Assembly, by writing down certain propositions, with the Scripture proofs, which being handed in, to the scribe, were read before the body. On these propositions they debated, in a grave, learned, and accurate manner. Principal Baillie, one of the Scotch commissioners, says, in his letters, written while in attendance, "Their harangues are long and learned. They study the question well before hand, and prepare their speeches, but withal the men are exceeding prompt, and well-spoken." "The speakers come forward voluntarily, without being called upon; and after discussion, the vote is taken by ayes and noes, and the decision announced by the Prolocutor."

The Assembly met at first in King Henry VII.'s Chapel; but, when the weather began to grow cold, they transferred their sittings to the Jerusalem Chamber, in Westminster Abbey. At the upper end of this room was set a chair, or a frame, about a foot above the level of the floor, on which the Prolocutor sat; and before his chair, on the floor, were placed chairs for Dr. Burgess and Mr. White, assistants of the Prolocutor. Before these again, stood a table, where two scribes had their places. These were Mr. Byfield and Mr. Roborough. The Scotch commissioners sat on the right hand of the Prolocutor. Warrants for persons to sit in the Assembly, from the Parliament, were addressed to the Prolocutor. When the Scotch commissioners arrived, which was some time after the commencement of the sessions, Dr. Twisse, in the name of the Assembly, welcomed them, in a speech of considerable length. Dr. Twisse, however, did not speak much in the Assembly, which some, perhaps, attributed to his want of abilities, and others, to the decay of his intellectual powers by age,