Mr. Ainsworth was a man of great piety, uncommon erudition, and extraordinary abilities. Whatever engaged his pen was treated with proper respect, even by his adversaries; who, while they disapproved his sentiments, could not fail to admire his abilities. The famous Bishop Hall, who wrote against the Brownists, always speaks of him as the greatest man of their party; and refers to him as their doctor, their chief, their rabbi. He was unquestionably a person of profound learning, exquisitely versed in a knowledge of the scriptures, and deeply read in the Jewish rabbins. He possessed a strong understanding, a quick penetration, and wonderful diligence. His temper was meek and amiable, his zeal for divine truth fervent, and he conducted himself with great moderation towards his adversaries. The following account is given of Mr. Ainsworth, by one of his contemporaries, and one unfriendly to his peculiar sentiments: "For the life of the man, myself being eye-witness, living some time with him at Amsterdam, of his humility, sobriety, and discretion, setting aside his preposterous zeal in the point and practice of separation, he lived and died unblamably to the world; and I am thoroughly persuaded that his soul rests with his Saviour."+ His WORKS.-1. Counter-Poyson, 1590.-2. A Defence of the Holy Scriptures, Worship, and Ministry, used in the Christian churches separated from Antichrist, against Mr. Smyth, 1609.3. An Animadversion on Mr. Richard Clifton's Advertisement, 1613. 4. The Trying out of the Truth, begun and prosecuted in certain Letters and Passages between John Aynsworth and Henry Aynsworth: the one pleading for, the other against the present Church of Rome, 1615.-5. A Reply to the pretended Christian Plea for the Antichristian Church of Rome, published against Francis Johnson, 1620.-6. Certain Notes of Mr. Ainsworth's last Sermon, on 1 Pet. ii. 4, 5., 1630.-7. The old orthodox_ Foundation of Religion, 1641.— 8. A seasonable Discourse; or, a Censure upon a Dialogue of the Anabaptists, 1643.-9. The Book of Psalms Englished both in prose and metre, 1644.-10. A Guide to Zion.-11. An Advertisement touching some Objections against the sincerity of the Hebrew text; and the Allegations of the Rabbins.-12. A. Treatise of the Communion of Saints.-13. An Arrow against Idolatry.-The two last were reprinted together in 1789, with a copious and interesting account of the author prefixed.-14. His Annotations already mentioned, and probably some others. * Hall's Apologie against the Brownists. + Life of Ainsworth, p. 62. WILLIAM PEMBLE, A. M.-This learned divine was the son of a minister, born at Egerton in Kent, in the year 1591, and educated in Magdalen college, Oxford, where Mr. Richard Capel was his tutor. From a child he was trained up in good literature, and profited in all kinds of knowledge, more than most others. From the tender years of infancy he was constantly taught in the school of Christ; so that, under the influence of divine grace, together with the sanctified use of his manifold afflictions and temptations, he attained a high degree of heavenly wisdom. Though he was young in years, he offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than many of his elder brethren. At the university he acquired a most distinguished reputation, and became a celebrated reader of divinity in Magdalen college. According to our author, "he was a zealous Calvinist, a famous preacher, an excellent artist, a skilful linguist, a good orator, an expert mathematician, and an ornament to the society to which he belonged." Adrian Heereboord, the famous professor of philosophy at Leyden, was very profuse in the commendation of his learning and learned works. Another writer observes, "that he thoroughly traced the circle of the arts; and attained a degree of eminence, not only in the sciences, but even in those more sublime speculations of which many are not capable."+ Magdalen college was the very nursery of puritans. Mr. Pemble was justly denominated one of them, though he did not carry his nonconformity, in certain points, quite so far as some of his brethren. He laboured openly to promote the reformation of the church, and encouraged the relaxation of subscription and other points of conformity. He was tutor to many puritans, who afterwards became distinguished ornaments for learning, piety, and usefulness. This divine, with many others, affords sufficient proof that the puritans were not all unlearned, or at all inferior in learning to those who conformed.§ Mr. Pemble going on a visit to Mr. Capel, formerly his tutor, but now minister at Eastington in Gloucestershire, was taken ill, and died at his tutor's house, in the thirtysecond year of his age. His remains were interred in the * Pemble's Works, Pref. Edit. 1627. + Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 405. Pemble on Justification, Pref. Edit. 1625. MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 705. (4.) church-yard at that place, and over his grave was the following plain monumental inscription: Here lieth Master of Arts and Preacher, who died April 14, 1623. He left the world in the comfortable and full persuasion of justification by faith in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Bishop Wilkins, in his list of the most excellent sermons in his time, includes those of Mr. Pemble.+ His WORKS.-1. A Treatise of Justification by Faith, 1625.2. A Treatise of Providence.-3. The Book of Ecclesiastes Explained, 1628.-4. A Plea for Grace, more especially the Grace of Faith, 1629.-5. An Exposition of the first Nine Chapters of Zechariah, 1629.-6. Five godly and profitable Sermons, 1629.-7. Fruitful Sermons on 1 Cor. xv. 18, 19., 1629.-8. An Introduction to the Worthy Receiving of the Lord's Supper, 1629.-9. De formarum origine, 1629.-10. De Senibus internis, 1629.-11. A Sum of Moral Philosophy, 1630.-12. The Period of the Persian Monarchy, 1631.13. Enchiridion Oratorium, 1633.-14. An Introduction to Geography, 1685.-The above articles in English were collected and published in onc volume folio, 1635, being much esteemed and often reprinted, JOHN SPRINT, A. M.-This learned person was the son of Dr. John Sprint, dean of Bristol, a frequent Calvinistic preacher; was born in or near that city, and educated in Christ's Church, Oxford. After taking his degrees in arts, he became vicar of Thornbury in Gloucestershire; but afterwards removed to London, where he became a very popular preacher. Wood says, "he was a grave and pious divine, but for the most part disaffected to the ceremonies of the church of England, at least, while he continued at Thornbury. He was, indeed, called in question for uttering certain things against the ceremonies and discipline of the established church." This writer also adds, that he not only conformed himself, but was the great instrument in persuading others to do the same, by his book, called "Cassander Anglicanus." Fullers says, he put in the one scale the woe pronounced against those who preach not the gospel, or desert their flocks upon pretended scrupulosity; and in the other, the nature of those ceremonies that were enjoined by lawful authority; and finding the former to preponderate, he concluded it to be unlawful, on any such * Wood's Athenæ, vol. i. p. 405. + Wilkins on Preaching, p. 82, 83. account, for any one to leave or lose his ministerial function. Dr. Calamy, having mentioned Mr. Sprint's " Cassander Anglicanus," adds, " I think it not improper to communicate to the world a paper concerning it, which was written by the hand of his own son; a copy of which was sent me by the grandson of the author, with assurance that it was drawn up by his father, Mr. Samuel Sprint of Tidworth." The paper was as follows: 1. "This book meddles not with subscription, but disclaims it, p. 237. 2. "In all the arguments, it supposeth, that the ceremonies imposed are inconveniencies, and the church's burdens. 3. "By the quotations, p. 194, 196, and elsewhere, he adviseth us to bear witness against them, and to express our dissent from them, and then conform: Which is not to assent; and much less, to declare our unfeigned assent, as well as consent to them. 4. "Bishop Laud said, 'It had been no great matter, if this book and the author had been burnt together.' 5. "This book is not fully comprehensive of the author's judgment: for, besides what is extant of his in print, (viz. his Bellum Ceremoniale,' printed by another,) and what he hath left in manuscript, this book, as he hath acknowledged to his acquaintance, hath suffered much by the hands of the bishop's chaplain, who was appointed the reviser of books to be printed."+ From this account, and even from the words of Fuller, as cited above, it appears that Mr. Sprint was a puritan in principle and a nonconformist in practice; only he would conform, and recommended others to conform, rather than suffer deprivation. "To speak my free thoughts," observes Calamy, "I take that book of Mr. Sprint's to be a defence of occasional conformity to the church, in evidence of charity, while a testimony is publicly borne against its remaining corruptions; rather than a plea for entire conformity." He was a man of excellent wisdom and great moderation. He died in London, May 7, 1623, and his remains were interred at St. Ann's, Blackfriars, where he appears to have been for some time minister. Mr. Samuel Sprint and Mr. John Sprint, jun. both ejected in 1662, were his sons.§ His WORKS.-1. Propositions tending to prove the necessary Use of the Christian Sabbath, or Lord's Day, 1607.-2. The practice of * Wood's Athenæ, vol. i. p. 406.-Fuller's Worthies, part i. p. 360. + Calamy's Account, vol. ii. p. 343. Moderate Nonconformity, vol. i. p. 27. Edit. 1703. that Sacred Day, framed after the Rules of God's Word, 1607-3. The Summ of Christian Religion by way of Question and Answer, 1613.— 4. Cassander Anglicanus: or, the Necessity of Conforming to the prescribed Ceremonies of the Church, in case of Deprivation, 1618. 5. The Christian's Sword and Buckler; or, a Letter sent to a Man seven years grievously afflicted in Conscience and fearfully troubled in Mind, 1638.-6. Bellum Ceremoniale, already mentioned. JOHN GEE, A. B.-This zealous person was the son of a minister, born in Devonshire, in the year 1597, and educated first in Brazen-nose college, then in Exeter college, Oxford. Entering upon the ministerial work, he was beneficed at Newton, near Winwick, in Lancashire. Being at this period much inclined to popery, he left the place, and retired to London, where he became intimately acquainted with several leading persons of the popish persuasion. October 26, 1623, Mr. Gee was in the assembly of above three hundred persons, collected in an upper room, in Blackfriars, London; when, about the middle of the sermon, the floor giving way, Drury, the Roman catholic priest, and nearly one hundred of the congregation, were killed, and many others severely bruised. This he considered a most alarming and awakening providence. Having already received many urgent letters from his father, and by means of a conference which he had with Archbishop Abbot, he renounced the errors of popery, and became a zealous protestant. Some, it is said, thought he became too zealous a protestant. For he embraced the principles of the puritans, and wrote with great spirit and ability against the papists, exposing their errors and superstitions. The papists, however, in return, loaded him with much slander and abuse. After renouncing popery, he preached at Tenterden in Kent, where he died, but at what particular time we are not able to learn. He had a younger brother, called Orlando Gee, who was afterwards knighted. His WORKS.-1. The Foot out of the Snare, with a Detection of sundry late Practices and Impostures of the Priests and Jesuits in England, 1624.-2. A gentle Excuse to Mr. Greg. Musket for styling him Jesuit, 1624.-Both these passed through four editions this year.-3. Hold fast, a Sermon at Paul's cross, on Rev. iii. 11., 1624.-4. New Shreds of the old Snare, containing the Apparitions of two Female Ghosts, the copies of divers Letters, and Indulgences purchased at Rome, 1624. * Prince's Worthies of Devon, p. 338, 339. + Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 427. |