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the first five chapters of Genesis.-Three Sermons in the Morn, Ex. (one of which is very excellent, on the mortification of beloved lusts.) A Poem on the Death of Mr. Jer. Whitaker.

ST. MARGARET's, WESTMINSTER. [C. 3371. 8s. 11s.]

Mr. EDWARD PEARSE. He was a most affectionate and useful preacher; but died at about 40 years of age, in 1673. He lay for some time declining in a consumption; and finding himself going off the stage, when he had done little comparatively of that service which his heart was warmly inclined to, he made it the matter of his hearty prayer to God, "That something of his might be useful after his decease :” which prayer was remarkably answered in the signal success of his little book, which he stiled The Great Concern, which has gone through twenty-one editions.

WORKS. The Best Match; or the Soul's Espousals to Christ. A Beam of Divine Glory; or God's Unchangeableness.-The Soul's Rest in God.-The Great Concern; or Preparation for Death.

ST. MARY ABCHURCH. [R.]

Mr. JOHN KITCHIN.

ST. MARY LE BOW. [R. 2001.]

Mr. RUTTEN. A man of excellent abilities and learning; of which he gave a sufficient specimen in his Sermon on eternal judgment, before the lord-mayor and aldermen; the only piece of his which appears to have been published.

ST. MARY STAINING. [R.]

NATHANIEL HOLMES, D. D. A man well skilled in the languages, particularly the Hebrew. He was a Millenarian, but did not contend for a carnal, sensual, and worldly liberty to be enjoyed by the saints before the general resurrection; but for a spiritual, purified, and refined freedom from sin and corruption.

WORKS. They are many; the most noted of them are,-The Resurrection Revealed; fol. 1654, (in which the above doctrine is maintained). Ten Exercitations, in another folio, in vindication of the former.-A third folio, containing 16 Treatises,-Several Tracts.

ST. MARY, WHITECHAPEL. [R. 2001.] Mr. THOMAS WHALLEY. After his ejectment he went to New-England, [and settled at Barnstaple, where he was instrumental in uniting a church which had been miser

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ably broken by divisions. He lived there much desired, and died greatly lamented,] March 24, 1679, aged 61. He was a pious, peaceable man; eminent for his humility; a great friend to toleration, and a well accomplished scholar. -He published nothing but a sermon, entitled, Balm in Gilead to heal Sion's wounds; preached before the general court of the colony of New-Plymouth on the day of election, June 1, 1669, [in which he expressed his apprehension that New-England would ere long lose her holiness, her peace, and her liberty.] Mather's Hist. N. Eng. B. iii.

p. 222.

ST. MARY, FISH-STREET §, [R. S. 120l.]

Mr. THOMAS BROOKS. He was a very affecting preacher, and useful to many. Though he used many homely phrases, and sometimes too familiar resemblances, which to nice critics might appear ridiculous, he did more good to souls than many who deliver the most exact composures. And let the wits of the age pass what censures they please,' He that winneth souls is wise.' Mr. Brooks had been for some time a preacher at St. Thomas Apostles; and about the year 1651 was chosen by the majority of the parishioners of St. Mary Magdalen. Gathering a church there in the congregational way, the rest of the parish preferred a petition against him to the committee of ministers, and he published a defence against their charges. He died Sept. 27, 1680. His friend Mr. Reeve preached his funeral sermon, and succeeded him.

Mr. Baxter makes respectful mention of Mr. Brooks, among those Independent ministers who opened their meetings more publicly than before, after the fire of London. His Farewell Address to his people (which has no text) appears to have been published by himself. It is peculiarly adapted for usefulness; we shall therefore here introduce a full analysis of it; and the rather as the account of Mr. Brooks is so brief. It will give the reader a more just idea of the man, than any thing that could be said of him. He first answers three Queries, viz. 1. Why men make such opposition to the plain, powerful, conscientious preaching of the gospel ?— 2. What goes from a people when the gospel goes? Ans. Peace, prosperity, safety, civil liberty, true glory and soul happiness, the presence of God. (2 Chron. xiii. 9. xv. 3, 5, 6. 1 Sam. iv, 22. Jer. ii. 11—13.)—3. Whether God will re§ In some of his works he writes himself "Late preacher of the word at St. MARGARET's, New Fish-street." See his Mute Christian.

move the gospel from England? Many reasons to hope the contrary. There may be a darkness upon it; but when it is the darkest, it is nearest day.

He then proceeds to give his people some hints of advice, which he calls Legacies, hoping they might be of use to them in the perusal when he had not the advantage of speaking to them in public. 1. Secure your interest in Christ. This is not a time for a man to be between hopes and fears. Take not up with an outward form, crying The temple of the Lord. 2. Make Christ and Scripture the only foundation for your souls and for faith to build upon. 3. In all places and companies, be sure to carry your soul-preservatives with you: (a holy care and wisdom;) as men carry outward preservatives with them in infectious times. 3. See that all [your graces your faith, love, courage, zeal, resolution, magnanimity, rise higher by opposition, threatenings and sufferings. Say as David, If this be vile, I will be more vile. 3. Take more pains to keep yourselves from sin than from suffering. Acts ii. 40. Rev. iii. 4. 6. Be always doing or receiving good. This will make your lives comfortable, your deaths happy, and your account glorious in the great day of the Lord. 7. Set the highest examples of grace and godliness before you for imitation. Next to that of Christ, the pattern of the choicest saints. For faith Abraham; for courage Joshua; for uprightness Job; for meekness Moses, &c. 8. Hold fast your integrity. Let all go rather than let that go. Job xxvii. 5, 6. 9. Let not a day pass without calling the whole man to an exact account. Hands? what

have you done for God to-day? Tongue? what have you spoke, &c. 10. Labour for a healing spirit. Away with all discriminating names, that may hinder the applying of balm to heal our wounds. Discord and division becomes no christian. For wolves to worry the lambs is no wonder, but for one lamb to worry another is unnatural and monstrous. 11. Be most in the spiritual exercises of religion; meditation, self-examination, &c. Bodily exercises without these will profit nothing. 12. Take no truths upon trust, but all upon trial. Bring all to the balance of the sanctuary, 1 Thes. v. 21. Acts xvii. 11. It was the glory of that church that they would not trust Paul himself. 13. The fewer opportunities and the lesser advantages you have in public, the more abundantly address yourselves to God in private, Mal. iii. 16, 17. 14. Walk in those ways that are directly contrary to the vain, sinful, superstitious ways that men of a

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formal, carnal, lukewarm spirit walk in. 15. Look upon. all the things of this world as you will when you come to die. Men may now put a mask upon them, but then they will appear in their own colours. 16. Never put off conscience with any plea that you dare not stand by in the great day of your account. 17. Eye more the internal workings of God in your souls, than the external providences of God. If God should carry on ever so glorious a work in the world, as the conquest of nations to Christ, what would it advantage thee, if sin, Satan, and the world triumph in thy soul? 18. Look as well on the bright, as on the dark side of the cloud; on the bright side, as on the dark side of providence. 19. Keep up precious thoughts of God, under his sharpest and severest dispensations to you. 20. Hold on and hold out in the ways of well-doing in the want of all outward encouragements, and in the face of all outward discouragements, Rev. ii. 10. Follow ye the Lamb, though others follow the beast and the false prophet. 21. In all your natural, civil, and religious actions, let divine glory rest upon your souls: let the glory of Christ lie nearest your hearts. 22. Record all special favours, mercies, providences and experiences. Little do you know the advantage that will redound to your souls upon this. 23. Never enter upon the trial of your [spiritual] estate, but when your hearts are in the fittest temper. 24. Always make the Scripture, and not your carnal reason or your bare opinion [or that of others the rule by which] to judge of your spiritual condition. Isa. viii. 20. John xii. 48. 25. Make conscience of making good the terms on which you closed with Christ: viz. that you would deny yourselves, take up the cross, &c. 26. Walk by no rule but such as you dare die by, and stand by in the day of Jesus Christ. Walk not with the multitude. Make not the example of great men your rule. Make not any authority your rule, that stands in opposition to the authority of Jesus Christ. Who dare stand by [either of these] before him at the great day? 27. Lastly. Sit down and rejoice with fear. Rejoice in what God hath done for your souls by the everlasting gospel. Weep that you have done no more to improve it, and that you have so neglected the opportuni ties of enriching your souls. Here are your legacies. The Lord make them of singular use to you, that you may give up your account to the great and glorious God with joy. Make conscience of putting [these things] into practice till

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you shall be brought to the fruition of God, where you shall need ordinances, preaching and praying no more.

WORKS. A Fast, and a Thanksg. Serm. before the H. of Com.-Fun. Sermons for Col. Rainsborough; Mrs. Martha Randall ; and Mrs. Mary Blake.-A Farewell Serm. in 27 Legacies.-Heaven upon Earth. The unsearchable Riches of Christ.-Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver, &c.-The mute Christian under the smarting Rod.-An Ark for God's Noahs.-The Crown and Glory of Christianity.-The Privy Key of Heaven.-An heavenly Cordial for such as have had or escaped the Plague.-A Cabinet of choice Jewels, &c.-London's Lamentation; or a Discourse on the late Fire.-A Golden Key to open hidden Treasures, &c.—His book on Holiness is the most considerable.

ST. MARY MAGDALEN, MILK-STREET, [R. S. 120l.].

THOMAS CASE, M. A. Of Christ-Ch. Oxf. son of Mr. George Case, minister of Boxley in Kent. His first pastoral charge was at Erping ham in Norfolk, out of which place he was forced by Bp. Wren's severity. He was summoned to the high commission-court, and bailed; but before answer could be given to the articles preferred against him, the court was dissolved by act of parliament. He afterwards settled in London, in the sequestered living of Milk-street where he was very laborious and faithful in his ministerial work. He it was that first set up the Morning Exercise*, which, to the benefit of multitudes, was kept up in the city. many years afterwards. He was turned out of this living for refusing the Engagement, and was afterwards lecturer at Aldermanbury, and St. Giles's Cripplegate. He was imprisoned six months in the Tower, for his concern with Mr. Love; from whence he was released with the rest, on their making submission, when most of them were reinstated in their livings. Mr. Case made the best use he could of his time during his imprisonment, employing himself in the Meditations which he afterwards preached and printed, under the title of Correction, Instruction. He was afterwards Rector of St. Giles's in the Fields. In 1660, he was one of the ministers deputed to wait on the king at the Hague; and in 1661, one of the commissioners at the Savoy. When his public ministry was at an end, he ceased not in private to do all the good he could. He died May 30, 1682, aged 84. His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Jacomb, who gives a full account of his character; the substance of which is, See the account of its origin and design, p. 126.

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