contrary to his conscience. He next removed to Heddon in Northumberland, where, as in other places, his labours were made a blessing to many souls. But even in this remote corner of the land, the eye of Laud was upon him, and this tyrannical prelate would not suffer him to preach without a perfect conformity to the ecclesiastical injunctions and the new ceremonies. Thus, being shut out from all prospect of future usefulness, he resolved to withdraw from the storm, and retire to New England. Previous to his departure, he very narrowly escaped being taken by the bishop's officers. And, towards the close of the year 1634, having taken shipping at Harwich, the ship had not been many hours at sea before a most tremendous storm arose, in which they were in the utmost danger of being lost. An eminent, but profane officer on the shore, observing their distress, was heard to say, "As for that poor collier, I pity him much: but as for the puritans in the other vessel, bound for New England, I am not concerned; for their faith will save them." The ship at last returned safe into the harbour. The next day Mr. Shepard went ashore to bury his first-born son; but, on account of the watchful pursuivants, who were still anxious to take him, he dare not be present at the funeral.+ In the month of July, 1635, Mr. Shepard, after having again narrowly escaped falling into the hands of the bishop's officers, sailed from Gravesend in company with Mr. Wilson, Mr. Jones, and others, and arrived at Boston in New England, in the beginning of October following. Previous to his arrival, Mr. Hooker and his congregation having removed from Cambridge to the banks of the river Connecticut, Mr. Shepard was chosen pastor of the church at Cambridge, and there continued to the day of his death. When the antinomian and familistic errors broke out in the new colony, this worthy divine, by his endeavours and influence, was the happy means of stopping the progress of the infectious malady. He was an excellent preacher, and took great pains in his preparations for the pulpit. He used to say, " God will curse that man's It is observed of Dr. Neile, that, when he was Bishop of Lincoln, and "when any man preached before King James that had renown of piety, he, unwilling the king should hear him, would in the sermon-time entertain the king with a merry tale, after which he would laugh, and tell those near him, he could not hear the preacher for the old bishop." It is added: "When he was Archbishop of York, his head was so filled with Arminian impiety, that in the next king's reign he was looked upon by the parliament to be one of the great grievances of the kingdom."-Le Neve's Lives, vol. i. part ii. p. 146, 147. + Mather's Hist. of New England, b. iii. p. 84-87. labours who goes idly up and down all the week, and then Mr. Shepard's great care and attention to the duties of the pastoral office will appear from the following extracts collected from his diary:-" August 15, 1641, I saw four evils," says he, "attending my ministry.-1. The devil treads me down by shame, discouragement, and an apprehension of the unsavoury spirits of the people.-2. I am become too careless, because I have done well, and have been enlarged and respected.-3. Weakness and infirmities: as the want of light, life, and spirit.-4. The want of success.-I saw these things, and have cause to be humbled for them. I have this day found my heart heavy, depressed, and untoward, by But I was comforted musing upon the many evils to come. by recollecting, that though in myself I am a dying, condemned sinner, I am alive and reconciled by Christ; that I am unable to do any thing of myself, yet by Christ I can do all things; and that though I enjoy all these only in part in this world, I shall shortly have them in perfection in heaven. "March 19, 1642; I said, as pride was my sin, so shame would be my punishment. I had many fears of Eli's punishment, for not sharply reproving sin. Here I considered that the Lord may make one good man a terror, and a dreadful example, that all the godly may fear, and not slight his commands as Eli did. "October 10th. When I saw gifts and honours conferred The Lord upon others, I began to affect their excellencies. therefore humbled me, by letting me see, that all this was diabolical pride. And he made me thankful for seeing it, putting me in mind to watch against it in future.” His very humble and contrite spirit will appear from the following extracts, written on days of special fasting and prayer:-" November 3rd. I saw sin to be my greatest evil; and that I am vile; but God is good, against whom I have sinned. I saw what cause I had to loathe myself. It I went to God, and trusted in him. was a good day to me. I considered whether all the country did not fare the worse for my sins. I saw it did, and was deeply humbled. " April 4th. May not I be the cause of the church's present sorrows? My heart hath been long at a distance from the Lord. The Lord first sent a terrible storm at sea; and my deliverance, in being snatched from apparent death, was so sweet, that I hoped my future life would be wholly devoted to God. I then set my face towards New England, where I resolved to be the Lord's in all manner of holiness. Afterwards the Lord took my dear wife from me. This made me resolve to delight no more in creatures, but in the Lord alone. When God threatened my child with blindness, his affliction was sweet to me, but much more his commands and promises. Then I could do his will and leave all things to him. But how is my gold become dim! I have no cause to blame the Lord who has persuaded me; but the Lord pardon my sin. To serve Satan without promise, and forsake the Lord against his promise, is grievous indeed! With respect to my people, I have not pitied them, nor prayed for them, nor visited them, nor loved them, so much as I ought to have done. The gospel which I have preached has not been seen in its glory, nor been believed, nor proved effectual. Because I have greatly neglected to seek to Christ for supplies, all hath been dead work, and the fruit of pride. I have now had a long sickness, as if the Lord would use me no more, Oh! my God, who is like unto thee, pardoning and subduing mine iniquities!" These are some of the severe censures which this eminently holy man pronounced against himself. Mr. Shepard, when on his death-bed, was visited by many of his friends and brethren in the ministry. Several young ministers having called to see him, he addressed them as follows: "Your work," said he, "is great, and requires "great seriousness. For my own part, For my own part, I never preached a sermon which, in the composing, did not cost me prayers, "with strong cries and tears. I never preached a sermon "from which I had not first got some good to my own soul. "I never went up into the pulpit but as if I were going to "give an account of myself to God."+ Before his departure, addressing his friends, he said, "Oh! love the Lord Jesus very dearly. That little part which I have in him is no small comfort to me now.' He died of a quinsey, August 25, 1649, aged forty-three years. He was a person of great learning, a hard student, an admirable preacher, and an excellent writer. His work on the "Parable of the Ten Virgins," observes Dr. Williams, is a rich fund of experi mental and practical divinity: the dress is plain, but the strain of thought is extremely animated and searching. Fuller has honoured him with a place among the learned + Ibid. p. 238. Mather's Hist. b. iii. p. 91-93. writers who were fellows of Emanuel college, Cambridge. The two Mr. Thomas Shepards, successively pastors of the church at Charlestown in New England, were his son and grandson.+ His WORKS.-1. The Doctrine of the Sabbath, 1649.-2. Certain Select Cases Resolved, 1650.-3. Subjection to Christ in all his Ordinances and Appointments, the best means to preserve our Liberty, 1652.-4. The Sincere Convert, 1652.-5. A Treatise of Liturgies, 1653.-6. The Parable of the Ten Virgins, 1660.-7. The Sound Believer, 1671.-8. The Churchmembership of Children, and their right to Baptism.-9. New England's Lamentations for Old England's Errors.-10. A Treatise of Hearing the Word.-11. Wine for Gospel Wantons; or, Cautions against Spiritual Drunkenness. SAMUEL CROOK, B. D.-This excellent divine was born at Great Waldingfield in Essex, January 17, 1574; educated in Pembroke-hall, Cambridge; and afterwards chosen fellow of Emanuel college. His father was the learned and laborious Dr. Crook, preacher to the honourable society of Gray'sinn, and descended from an ancient family. He was highly esteemed in the university, for his pregnant parts, great industry, and answerable proficiency in all the branches of useful and polite literature. He was chosen reader of rhetoric and philosophy in the public schools, which offices he filled with great applause. While at Cambridge he was a constant hearer and a great admirer of the excellent Mr. Perkins. He preached first for a short time at Caxton, near Cambridge; then, in the year 1602, accepted an invitation to the pastoral charge at Wrington in Somersetshire, receiving his presentation to the living from Sir Arthur Capel. In gratitude for the advantages which he had enjoyed at the university, he gave to the library of Pembroke-hall, Basil's Works, Greek and Latin; to Emanuel college, all the Councils, Greek and Latin; and to the university library, the Works of Gregory Nazianzens and Gregory Nissens. Mr. Crook, upon his settlement at Wrington, took indefatigable pains in his ministry, and his usefulness surpassed all expectation. He constantly preached three times a week, and sometimes oftener, to the end of his days. As he preached so he lived. His life was one continued comment upon his doctrine. He was much admired and esteemed by his people, and their affectionate attachment continued to increase to the last. As, during his preparations for the → Hist, of Cambridge, p. 147. + Mather's Hist, b. iii. p. 88. ministry, he had laid in richly, so now he laid out liberally. His sermons were grave, judicious, and appropriate; and his applications, by a sweet eloquence, fervent zeal, and love to souls, were addressed to the hearts of his hearers. He did not serve God with that which cost him nothing, but laboured much in his preparations for the pulpit. His constant motto was, " I am willing to spend and be spent." In time of sickness, the physician observing that he might live longer if he would preach less, he said, "Alas! if I may not labour I cannot live. What good will life do me, if I be hindered from the end of living?" When labouring under the infirmities of old age, he would not desist from his beloved work, but often preached when with the utmost difficulty he could scarcely walk to the house of God; and even then his sermons were delivered with his usual vivacity. He fed his flock, not with airy notions and vain speculations, but with the substantial provision of the gospel. He provided milk for babes, and strong meat for men. Notwithstanding his excellent endowments, and the high admiration in which he was held by all who knew him, he was not lifted up with pride, but walked in all humility before God and men. He is said to have been the first who brought extemporary prayer into use in that part of the country, in which exercise he greatly excelled. He laboured in the ministry, with very little interruption, above forty-seven years. During this period he was the means of bringing many wandering sinners to Christ. Once, indeed, the bishop put a stop to his Tuesday lecture; but it is said," God was pleased so to order it, that the lecture was soon revived, and the bishop who interrupted it was cast out of his office."+ During a life of nearly seventy-five years, he witnessed many changes in the church of Christ. Nor was he without his sufferings in the civil wars. Rude soldiers tyrannized over him in his own house, not permitting him to be quiet in his study. There they followed him with drawn swords, vowing his instant death, for not joining them in their bloody cause. The Lord, however, was pleased to deliver him from the rage of his enemies. Mr. Crook, during his last sickness, often protested that the doctrine he had taught was the truth of God, as he should answer at the tribunal of Christ, to which he was hastening. He received the sentence of his approaching death with cheerfulness; and seeing he had no prospect of * Clark's Lives annexed to his Martyrologie, p. 202–206. +Ibid, p. 206-208. |