That he was of a quick and warm spirit; but an open plain-hearted man; a hearty lover of God and goodness, and of all good men. He was a scriptural preacher; a great man in prayer, and one who brought home many souls to God. He was the longest survivor of any who composed the Assembly of divines at Westminster, who continued among the Dissenters. Dr. Walker severely reflects upon him from a sermon preached in 1644. But the persecution which he and his brethren endured from Bp. Wren and his court, ought to plead something in his excuse, admitting that he there expressed himself with too much warmth.* He was one who subscribed the two papers declaring against the proceedings of the parliament in 1648, and the bringing King Charles to a trial. Hence it should seem that he was afterwards mo. derated.

Mr. Case's Farewell-sermon is on Rev. ii. 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of its place. "Christ here (says he) prescribes precious physic for the healing of this languishing church of Ephesus, compounded of three ingredients,self-reflection holy contrition-thorough reformation.” Each of these he urges upon his hearers, to prevent the threatened removal of their religious privileges. The particulars under each head are too numerous to be here introdu ced, and there is nothing in them peculiar to the occasion. The principal thing worthy of notice is, the close of the last head, concerning the necessary reformation, "We should "do something by way of extraordinary bounty and charity "to the relief of God's indigent servants." He here descants upon that pertinent passage, Dan. iv. 27. and closes thus: "That which I would exhort you to is, for every one "to set apart some considerable part of your estate, and ac"count it as a hallowed thing, dedicated to God; as a thing " which to touch were sacrilege; that you may be ready on "all occasions, in all due and regular ways, to bring out for "the relief of the poor. You know objects abounding in * every place, and you may expect warrantable means for

The following passage in the sermon referred to before the Court-martial, is justly mentioned by Mr. Granger, as sanguinary and reprehensible. "Noble sirs, imitate God, and be merciful to none that have sinned of malici66 ous wickedness;" meaning the royalists. It is painful to reflect that so venerable and amiable a man should have been so transported by the fury of the times, as to have uttered, and especially to have printed, so unchristian a sentence. See Toulmin's Edit. of Neal's Hist, vol. iv. p. 599. note.

dispensing

"dispensing of what God shall put into your hands, in this "manner." That this good man should have closed his public ministry, with such an advice as this, furnishes us with one distinguishing and pleasing trait in his character.

WORKS. Several Sermons before the Lords and Commons.Sermons at Milk-street on God's waiting to be gracious.—Sermons on the Covenant.-And others on particular Occasions.Imitation of the Saints, opened in practical Meditations.-Qu. 1666. Mount Pisgah; or a Prospect of Heaven.-Correction, Instruction; or a Treatise of Afflictions.-The first and last Sermon in the Morn. Ex. at St. Giles's.-Sermon on the Sanctification of the Sabbath, in the Supp. to the Morn. Ex. at Cripplegate.-Fune ral Sermons for Gualter Rosewell, at Chatham; for Mrs. Anne Browne, on the imitation of the saints. To which is prefixed, a Letter to Mr. Case from Mr. Wm. Woodward, dated 1666.-For Kinsmel Lucy, Esq;-Mrs. Eliz. Scott;-Darcy Wivil, Esq;-And a Serm. to the Citizens born in Kent.

THOMAS VINCENT, M. A. Of Christ-Ch. Oxf. ejected from the same place. He was born at Hertford in May 1634. He and Mr. Nath. Vincent were sons of the worthy Mr. John Vincent, a minister born in the west of England, who died in the rich living of Sedgfield in the bishoprick of Durham. It was observed of him, that he was so harrassed ⚫ for his Nonconformity, that though he had many children, not two of them were born in the same county. This Mr. T. Vincent was the elder son; who succeeded Mr. Case in this living. He was a worthy, humble, eminently pious man, of sober principles, and great zeal and diligence. He had the whole New Testament and Psalms by heart. He took this pains, (as he often said) "not knowing but they who took from him his pulpit, might in time demand his Bible also." Wood says "He was always held in great esteem for his piety, by those of his persuasion." But his eminence and usefulness were not acknowledged by a particulary party only, but by all sober persons who were acquainted with him. He was one of the few ministers who had the zeal and courage to continue in the city amidst all the fury of the pestilence in 1665, and pursued his ministerial work in that needful, but dangerous season, with all diligence and intrepidity, both in public and private. He had been for some time employed in assisting Mr. Doolittle at Islington in giving young persons an academical education; for which service he was thought well qualified. Upon the progress of the distemper in the city, he acquainted his good friend and colleague with his design to quit that employment, and devote

himself

himself chiefly to the visitation of the sick, and the instruct ing of the healthy, in that time of pressing necessity. Mr. Doolittle endeavoured to dissuade him, by representing the danger he must run; told him, he thought he had no call to it, being then otherwise employed; and that it was rather adviseable he should reserve himself for farther service to the rising age, in that station wherein he then was so usefully fixed. Mr. Vincent not being satisfied to desist, they agreed to request the advice of their brethren in and about the city, upon the case. When Mr. Doolittle had represented his reasons at large, Mr. Vincent acquainted his brethren, that he had very seriously considered the matter before he had come to a resolution. He had carefully examined the state of his own soul, and could look death in the face with comfort. He thought it was absolutely necessary that such vast numbers of dying people should have some spiritual assist ance. He could have no prospect of usefulness in the exercise of his ministry, through his whole life, like that which now offered itself. He had often committed the case and himself to God in prayer; and upon the whole had solemnly devoted himself to the service of God and souls upon this occasion; and therefore hoped none of them would endeavour to weaken his hands in this work. When the ministers pre-. sent had heard him out, they unanimously declared their satisfaction and joy, that they apprehended the matter was of God, and concurred in their prayers for his protection and success. Hereupon he went out to his work with the greatest firmness and assiduity. He constantly preached every Lord's day through the whole visitation in some parish church. His subjects were the most moving and important, and his management of them the most pathetic and searching. The awfulness of the judgment, then every where obvious, gave a peculiar edge to the preacher and his auditors. It was a general inquiry through the preceding week, where Mr. Vincent was to preach on the Sabbath. Multitudes followed him wherever he went; and several were awakened by every sermon. He visited all that sent for him, without fear, and did the best he could for them in their extremity; especially to save their souls from death. And it pleased God to take particular care of him; for though the whole number reckoned to die of the plague in London this year was 68,596, and seven persons died of it in the family where he lived, he continued in perfect health all the time. He was afterwards useful, by his unwearied labours, to a numerous congrega

tion, till the year 1678, when he died at Hoxton.-His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Slater.

WORKS. A Spiritual Antidote for a Dying Soul.-God's Terrible Voice in the City by Plague and Fire. [Some editions contain an account of the author by Mr. John Evans.]-Christ's certain and sudden Appearance to Judgment.-An Answer to the Sandy Foundation of Wm. Penn, the Quaker.-A Defence of the Trinity, Satisf. by Christ, and the Justificat. of Sinners.-Wells of Salvation opened: with Advice to young men.-An Explan. of the Assemb. Catech.-The true Christian's Love of the unseen Christ.-Sermons in 8vo.-Several in the Morn. Ex.

ST. MARY MAGDALEN, BERMONDSEY, Southwark, [R. 150l.]

Mr. WILLIAM WHITAKER; son of the famous Mr. Jer. Whitaker. A man of great calmness, moderation, and peaceableness; sound in doctrine, and exemplary in life. While he was at the University, his piety, learning, sweetness of disposition, candour, and ingenuity were so eminent, that he was loved and honoured by all who knew him. He was noted for his great skill in the oriental languages. When he came out into the world, he not only preached peace, but was a peace-maker wherever he came. At Horn Church, where he was some time minister, he ended a difficult controversy of many years standing, which had cost the parties above 1000l. He died in 1672. Dr. Annesly, his particular friend, preached his funeral sermon. Dr. Jacomb wrote some account of his life, which is prefixed in an epistle, to a volume of sermons of his, published after his death, taken after him in short-hand. He printed only two sermons in the Morn. Ex.

Mr. ROBERT TOREY was ejected from this lectureship. After he was silenced he went to Holland, and became pastor of the English church at Middleburgh in Zealand, Nov. 21, 1683, where he lived in great 1espect. He died there in 1691.

ST. MARTIN'S IN THE FIELDS, [V. S. 700l.]

GABRIEL SANGAR, M. A. of Maud-Hall, Oxf. Turned out also from Steeple-Ashton in Wiltshire. He was the son of Mr. Tho. Sangar, minister of Sutton-Mandevil, Wilts, where he was born in May, 1608, and succeeded his father, who bought the advowson. He was ordained by Bishop. Davenant. Refusing to read the Book of Sports, he was imprisoned

imprisoned at Salisbury. After a short confinement, he rea turned to his family and people, and continued there till 1645 when he was necessitated to remove, having been frequently plundered by the king's soldiers, and once carried to Salisbury and imprisoned. Having recovered his liberty, he went to Havant in Hampshire; but the air of that place not agreeing with the health of his family, he returned to Wiltshire, about 1647, and settled at Chilmark, a few miles from Sutton. Here he met with a great deal of trouble from some of his parishioners who refused to pay their tithes. When he had in vain tried all other methods, he had recourse to the law, which occasioned his coming to London. He had not been returned many weeks before he was surprized with an invitation from the people of St. Martin's in the Fields, to be their minister, having preached once amongst them while in town, without the least thought of being chosen. The quarrelsome temper of the people of Chilmark was one weighty consideration to determine him to accept of that place; where he continued twelve years.

Soon after the Restoration, the lord chancellor, who had been his school-fellow at Gillingham in Wilts, sent to Mr. Sangar, and professing a peculiar kindness to him on that account, endeavoured to reconcile him to conformity. He sent for him several times, and discoursed on the matter with him, sometimes with great calmness, and at other times with heat; but all in vain. At length he told him plainly, If he would not conform, he must leave St. Martin's, and remove further from the court. When this was known, he had seve ral places offered him, but his love to his native country, indu ced him to accept of Steeple-Ashton, whither he removed with his family in 1661, and whence he was ejected by the Act of Uniformity in the year following. Afterwards, at the intreaty of his friends in St. Martin's, who desired to have him nearer them, he removed to Brompton. Here he very narrowly escaped being seized and imprisoned; for in the latter end of 1665, there came some troopers to the house to apprehend him. But as they were running eagerly up stairs to search for him, the servant of a gentleman who was sick in the house met them, and desired they would not make such a disturbance, because one of the family was visited with sickness. Upon hearing that, they immediately got out of the house, and rode away with all speed, apprehending that the sick gentleman had the plague. Soon after this the Ox ford-act drove him to Eling, and he went from thence to Brentford,