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Among many sad grievances in it, he mentions "SUBSCRIP"TION urged upon all Graduates in both universities, and "upon all men entering into the ministry, as a heavy oppression, driving some promising persons from the office, "and ensnaring the consciences of others;-conniving at a "scandalous ministry;-the shameful abuse of oaths, par"ticularly the oath of matriculation;-the abuse of church"censures, &c. &c." These were heavy charges, but there was evidently too much truth in them.

Mr. Ashe was one of the Cornhill lecturers, and a member of the Westminster assembly. Mr. Calamy preached his funeral sermon, which may be seen in the volume of farewell sermons. [He speaks of him as a man of great sincerity, humility, benevolence, prudence and patience; diligent in preaching the gospel, in season and out of season, so as not to please the ear but wound the heart; seeking not the applause of the people, but the salvation of souls; eminent above most in prayer: and one who maintained great acquaintance and communion with God. He died as he lived, in great consolation and chearful exercise of faith, molested with no fears nor doubts, and conversing much to the edification of those about him. "When I was with him (says Mr. Calamy) he took occasion to complain much, "and not without just cause, that ministers, when they met "together, discoursed no more of Christ and heaven, &c.

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professing that if God should restore him, he would be "imore careful in his discourse. He exhorted me and other "ministers to preach much of Jesus Christ, and to speak of "Christ to him; saying, When I consider my best duties, "I sink, I die, I despair; but when I think of Christ, I "have enough; he is all and in all. I desire to know no"thing but Jesus Christ and him crucified, &c." The morning before he died, he said, "It is one thing to speak "of Christ and of heaven, and another thing to feel the "consolation of Christ and of heaven, as I do;" (clapping his hand upon his breast): and at another time, "The com"forts of a holy life are real, and soul-supporting. I feel "the reality of them, and you may know by me, that it is "not in vain to serve God."]

WORKS. Sermons before the Parliament. Several before the Magistrates on pub. occas.-Fun. Serm. for Dr. Spurstow's only child;-Mr. Jer. Whitaker;-Mr. Ralph Robinson; Mr. Rob. Strange; -Mr. Tho. Gataker ;—Mr. Rich, Vines ;--and the Countess of Man

chester,

chester.—Also several Prefaces to the works of others. He pub lished, The Power of Godliness, and-A Treatise on the Covehant of Grace, by the famous old Nonconformist, Mr. John Ball, who committed to him all his MSS. To the former of these Mr. Ashe wrote an Introduction.

BARTHOLOMEW, EXCHANGE, [R. S. 100l.*]

PHILIP NYE, M. A. of Magd. Hall, Oxford, where he was a very hard student. He had been entered a commoner at Braz. Nose, in 1615. He was born of a genteel family, 1596. In 1630, he was curate at St. Michael's, Cornhill. In 1633, he went into Holland, to be free from Laud's persecutions. He returned at the beginning of the long parliament, and by the Earl of Manchester's favour, became minister of Kimbolton in Huntingdonshire. In 1643, he, with Mr. Stephen Marshal, was sent to the commissioners from the parliament into Scotland, to move for assistance from thence. He had a great concern in choosing the members of the Assembly of divines, in which he was one of the dissenting brethren. He succeeded Dr. Reeve in the rectory of Acton. He was one of the chaplains who attended the commissioners to Charles I. in the Isle of Wight, 1647, and was made one of the Triers of ministers in 1652. He was also a principal person in managing the meeting of the Congregational churches at the Savoy, by the Protector's order; where the Declaration of the faith, order, and practice of the Congregational churches in England was agreed upon by their elders and messengers, October 12, 1658. This was printed in 1659, and the year following translated into Latin by Professor Hornbeck, and published at the end of his Epist. ad DUREM. de Independ. Mr. Nye had a great knowledge in the Disciplinarian controversy, and there was scarcely a book written upon that subject which he had not read. Soon after the Restoration, there was an order of parliament for lodging his papers with the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, where they yet remain. He interested himself so much in political affairs that it was debated in council for several hours, whether he (with John Goodwin and Hugh Peters) should be excepted for life; and it was concluded, "That if he should

*This must be too little, as the present value of this living is 4021.

"here

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"hereafter accept or exercise any office, ecclesiastical, military or civil, he should, to all intents and purposes, stand as if he had been totally excepted." See the Act of Indemnity, 12 Car. II.) After his ejectment he preached privately, as opportunity offered, to a congregation of Dissenters, till the year 1672, when he died, aged 76, and was buried in St. Michael's church, Cornhill. He left behind him the character of a man of uncommon depth, who was seldom or never outreached; but was of too warm a spirit. He had drawn up a compleat history of the old Puritan Dissenters; but the MS. was unfortunately burnt at Alderman Clarkson's, in the fire of London.

WORKS. Letter to his brethren in Scotland on success of affairs there, 1643.-Exhort. to take the sol. league and cov.-Excellence and lawfulness of Do. in a speech to H. of Com.-Epist. Disc. about Toleration.-Keys of Kingdom of Heaven, and the power thereof.-Mr. Ant. Sadler examined about his dealing with the Triers.-The Principles of Faith presented to the Committee of Parl. for Relig.-Beams of former Light, shewing the Evil of imposing doubtful Forms upon Ministers, &c.-Case of great and present Use. -The lawfulness of the Oath of Supr. and Power of the King in eccl. affairs. (The 2d edit, dedicated by his son to James II.)— Vind. of Dissenters, proving their Congregations not inconsist. with King's Suprem.-Some Account of the Nature of Eccles. Courts.-Lawfulness of hearing Ministers of Ch. of England.Serm, bef. citizens of London, 1659.

Mr. JOHN LODER, was ejected from this lectureship. A valuable and worthy man. He is interred at Bunhill-fields, where the inscription on his tomb shews that he died December 30, 1673.

BENNET-FINK, [D. or Perp. C. 115l.]

*SAMUEL CLARK, A. B. of Eman. Col. Camb. After his death, a narrative of his life was found in his study, drawn up by himself, without any design of having it exposed to public view. It is prefixed to the last volume of his lives, and the following account of him is extracted from it. He was born of pious parents at Woolston in Warwickshire, where his father was a godly, able, faithful, and useful minister above 40 years. He was put to school at Coventry, where, falling among dissolute lads, he degenerated from the principles of his first education, though not without frequent checks of conscience. At the university he was under

VOL. I. NO. 3.

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the

the care of Mr. Thomas Hooker, where he did not answer his father's wishes, nor the means he enjoyed, being, as he afterwards thought, a stranger to a work of grace in his heart, though in the sight of the world he was blameless: When he commenced B. A. his father, having but a small income, took him home; where he caught the small-pox, and was restored beyond expectation. Soon after he was applied to by a gentleman to instruct his children, and to assist Mr. Slader, the minister of Knowle, in Warwickshire. The family in which he lived was profane, and he was too easily reconciled to it; but he did not continue here long, being invited to assist Mr. Byrom, of Thornton in Cheshire. In this new situation, however, he was exposed to some great temptations: but it pleased the Lord in mercy to hedge up his way with thorns; and by striking him with extraordinary terror, to bring him to reflection and deep humiliation; and by degrees to give him some comfort in believing and applying the promises of free grace in Christ Jesus. He here met with some trouble from a malicious person, who prosecuted him for the omission of some ceremonies; on which account he resolved to leave this place and come to London but meeting with some godly persons of Wirral, who had heard him preach, they importuned him to come among them at Shotwick. There being scarcely a constant preacher besides himself in that part of the country, people came six or seven miles round to hear him.

At this place he found the first seals of his ministry, being an instrument in converting many souls to God. Here he set up meetings for prayer and conference, which were held at the houses of the richer people in rotation, where questions were discussed which he had previously proposed. The benefits arising from these friendly associations he found to be many and great. Hereby knowledge was increased, so that, says he, "I never was acquainted with more understanding christians in all my life, though the best of them went in russet coats and followed husbandry, Hereby holy affections were kindled and kept alive. Mutual love was promoted; so that all the professors of the gospel living withing ten or twelve miles asunder, were as intimate as if they had been of one household. The necessities of the poor being known, were provided for. The weak were strengthened, the mourning comforted, the erring reclaimed, the dejected raised, and all mutually edified in their holy faith. Moreover they hereby enjoyed opportunities

opportunities for private fasts and days of thanksgiving, as there was occasion." Mr. Clark here married a pious, humble, prudent, and sweet-tempered person, the daughter of a minister of Bedworth. But having been here about five years, he was afresh prosecuted for the omission of ceremonies; and his enemies were so inveterate that they would not suffer him to preach a farewell-sermon.

Just at this time he received a letter from the mayor, aldermen, old Mr. Fenn, and other godly people in Coventry, importuning him to preach a lecture there on Lord's-day afternoons, and Tuesday mornings. He complied, and was at first treated with respect, but could not be quiet long; for Dr. Buggs, who had engrossed both the livings, seeing his hearers leave him, soon discovered his enmity against Mr. Clark, and having the power of both the pulpits, denied him entrance into either. The corporation having another church, at the end of the town, in their disposal, appointed him lecturer there. But the Doctor having his spies about him, thought he had got some advantage against him for some expressions he had used in the pulpit, and commenced a prosecution against him before Bishop Moreton, who forbade his preaching in his diocese; byt Mr. Clark having a licence from the Archbishop (Abbot) he refused obedience. The affair, however, caused him trouble; and the new mayor being a friend of the Doctor's, he was obliged to quit this lectureship; upon which he assisted his father, who lived near the city. Robert Lord Brook invited him to be his domestic chaplain; but being married, he declined it. However, he found his lordship a fast friend to him ever after. About this time he was applied to by the magistrates of Warwick to preach a lecture there, but was opposed by the vicar. The earl of Warwick however made him his chaplain, and, by a letter to the vicar, engaged him to admit him as his assistant. In this capacity, for about five years, God was pleased greatly to bless and succeed his labours, and particularly in Lord Brook's family, who resided mostly in the castle. But these things excited the envy of Mr. Hall the vicar, who sought a quarrel with him, and caused him often to be presented for the omission of ceremonies; but the bishop shewed him favour. At length Mr. Hall being impatient of his continuance, came with a view to pull him out of the pulpit, and, by his clamours, actually obliged him to give over preaching. He then complained of him to Archbishop Laud, and threatened to pro

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