Westminster, at the Morning Lecture appointed by the Honourable House of Commons, 1644.-8. The Churches Lamentation for the Good Man's Loss; delivered in a Sermon to the Right Honourable the two Houses of Parliament and the Reverend Assembly of Divines, at the Funeral of that excellent Man, John Pym, esquire, a late Member of the Honourable House of Commons, 1644.9. God's Master-Piece, a Sermon tending to manifest God's glorious appearing in the Building up of Zion, preached before the Right Honourable the House of Peers, March 26, 1645–1645.-10. The Strong Helper; or, the Interest and Power of the Prayers of the Destitute, for the Building up of Zion, opened in a Sermon before the Commons, upon the solemn Day of their monthly Fast, April 30, 1645-1645-11. A Sacred Record to be made of God's Mercies to Zion: a Thanksgiving Sermon preached to the two Houses of Parliament, the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of London, at Christ's Church, June 19, 1645-1645.— 12. A Defence of Infant Baptism: In Answer to two Treatises, and an Appendix, lately published by Mr. Jo. Tombes, 1646. TIMOTHY ARMITAGE, in the year 1647, was chosen pastor of the first independent church in the city of Norwich. So early as the year 1643, many pious people in Norwich joined Mr. Bridge's church at Yarmouth, who afterwards wished to have the seat of the church removed to the former place; but the majority of members residing at Yarmouth, the proposal was declined. Yet it was 'mutually agreed that they should form themselves into a separate church. This was done June 10, 1644, in the presence of several of their brethren from Yarmouth, who signified their approbation by expressions of the most tender and endeared affection. Indeed, many of the members of both churches had been companions in the patience of our Lord Jesus in a foreign land, when they enjoyed sweet communion together in the ordinances of the gospel, but returned home upon the commencement of the civil wars. The church at Norwich was no sooner formed than numerous additions were made to it. Mr. Armitage, after labouring several years with great usefulness, died much regretted in December, 1655. He published a work entitled, "Enoch's Walk with God." Mr. Thomas Allen, the silenced nonconformist in 1662, succeeded him in the pastoral office. There were at this early period no less than fifteen congregational churches on the coast of Suffolk and Norfolk, under * Meen's MS. Collec. p. 116. ARMITAGE-G. WORKMAN-T. YOUNG. 255 the direction and encouragement of Mr. Armitage and Mr. Bridge.* GILES WORKMAN, A. M.-This worthy person was the son of Mr. William Workman, born at Newton Bagpath in Gloucestershire, in the year 1605, and educated at Magdalen-hall, Oxford, where he took his degrees in arts. After finishing his studies at the university, he became vicar of Walford in Herefordshire, then master of the college school in Gloucester, and at length, by the favour of Matthew Hale, esq., afterwards lord chief justice, he became rector of Alderley in Gloucestershire. Wood says, "he was a quiet and peaceable puritan."+ He was brother to Mr. John Workman, another puritan divine, and a great sufferer under the oppressions of Archbishop Laud. Mr. Giles Workman died in 1655, aged fifty years; when his remains were interred in Alderley church. He published "A modest Examination of Laymen's Preaching, discovered to be neither warranted by the Word of God, nor allowed by the Judgment or Practice of the Churches of Christ in New England," 1646. He also published several sermons. THOMAS YOUNG, D. D.-This pious and learned divine was probably educated in the university of Cambridge. He was afterwards preacher to the English merchants at Hamburgh; and, upon his return to his native country, he became vicar of Stow-Market in Suffolk, in which situation he continued almost thirty years. He was a person of great learning, prudence, and piety, and discovered great fidelity and ability in the work of the ministry. In the year 1643 he was chosen one of the assembly of divines, and proved himself a distinguished member during the whole session. Being called to the metropolis, he was chosen pastor at Duke's-place in the city. In 1645 he was appointed one of the committee of accommodation ; and about the same time was chosen master of Jesus college, Cambridge, by the Earl of Manchester. In this public situation he discovered his great abilities and usefulness, till he was turned * Palmer's Nongon. Mem. vol. iii. p. 11, 286. 4 out, in 1650, for refusing the engagement. Upon this he most probably retired to Stow-Market, where he afterwards died, in the year 1655, and his remains were interred in the church under a marble stone, with a monumental inscription. Mr. Baker says, "he left behind him the character of a learned, wise, and pious man."+ Mr. Leigh styles him "a learned divine, very well versed in the fathers, and author of an excellent treatise, entitled "Dies Dominica." He was also one of the authors of Smectymnuus.‡ JOHN PENDARVES, A. B.-This person was born in Cornwall, in the year 1622, and educated at Exeter college, Oxford. In the year 1642, when the nation was involved in war, he left the university, took part with the parliament, and, says the Oxford historian, "having a voluble tongue for canting, went up and down preaching in houses, barns, under trees, hedges, and elsewhere." Though this is evidently designed to blacken his memory, his conduct herein was surely as commendable as that of many of the episcopal clergy, who stretched all their power to obtain numerous rich livings, but did not preach at all. “But,” says he, "at length he turned anabaptist; and having obtained a great multitude of disciples, made himself head of them, defied all authority, contradicted and opposed all orthodox ministers, challenged them to prove their calling, and spared not many times to interrupt them in their pulpits, and to urge them to disputes. After several challenges, Dr. Mayne, of Christ's Church, undertook to be his respondent; and, according to appointment, they met September 11, 1652, in Watlington church, Oxfordshire, when an innumerable company of people assembled: but Pendarves being backed by a great party of anabaptists, and the scum of the people, who behaved themselves very rudely, the disputation was interrupted, and so came to nothing." He was lecturer at Wantage in Berkshire, and pastor to the baptist church at Abingdon in the same county. author adds, that "he accounted himself a true-born Englishman; but, because he endeavoured utterly to undo the distressed and tottering church of England, he was undeserving of the name. And as he did these things for • Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 115. Our no other purpose than to obtain wealth, and make himself famous to posterity; so it would be accounted worthy, if by my omission of him his name could have been buried in oblivion." This bitter writer, nevertheless, allows him to have been a tolerable disputant. Mr. Pendarves died in London, in the beginning of September, 1656, aged thirtyfour years. His remains are said to have been carried to Abingdon, in a sugar-cask filled up with sand; where they were interred, with great funeral solemnity, in the baptists' burying-ground. He was a fifth monarchy man;+ and, being famous among the party, his interment drew together so great a concourse of people, that the government took notice of it, and sent Major-general Bridges, with a party of soldiers, to attend at Abingdon on the occasion. The numerous assemblage of people spent several days in the religious exercises of praying and preaching, which was attended with some rude behaviour and confusion.‡ His WORKS-1. Arrows against Babylon; or, Queries serving to a elear Discovery of the Mystery of Iniquity, 1656.-2. Endeavours for Reformation of Saints' Apparel, 1656.—3. Queries for the People called Quakers, 1656.-4. Prefatory Epistle to a Book entitled, • The Prophets Malachy and Isaiah prophesying to the Saints and Professors of this Generation,' 1656.-5. Several Sermons, 1657.— And various other small articles. JOHN GIFFORD.-This person was born in the county of Kent; afterwards he became a major in the king's army during the civil wars. He was concerned in the insurrection raised in that county; for which he was apprehended, and, together with eleven others, received the sentence of death. But, the night before he was to suffer, his sister coming to visit him, and finding the centinels who kept the door of the prison fast asleep, and his companions in a state of intoxication, she urged him to embrace the favourable opportunity and escape for his life. Having made his * Wood's Athenæ, vol. ii. p. 127. + The fifth monarchy men arose about the time of the death of Charles I. and during the commonwealth. They expected the immediate appearance of Christ to establish on earth a new monarchy or kingdom, and to commence his glorious personal reign of a thousand years. As there are four great empires mentioned in ancient history, which successively gained the dominion of the world, so these men, believing that this new spiritual kingdom of Christ was to be the fifth, received the appellation of fifth monarchy men. Meen's MS. Collec. p. 452. escape, he fled into the fields and crept into a ditch, where he remained about three days, till search for him was over; and then, by the help of friends, he went in disguise to London. After concealing himself for some time in the city, and at various places in the country, he went to Bedford, where, though an entire stranger, he commenced the practice of physic; but still remained very debauched in his life. He was greatly addicted to drunkenness, swearing, gaming, and similar immoral practices. In his gaming he usually found himself a loser, which made him sometimes discontented, and resolve to leave off the practice; but his resolutions were soon broken, and he returned to his old course. One night, having lost fifteen pounds, he became almost outrageous, attended with most reproachful thoughts of God; but looking into one of Mr. Bolton's books, something laid fast hold upon his conscience, and brought him Under these for the first time to a deep sense of his sins. painful convictions he laboured for about a month, when God by his word so discovered to him the forgiveness of his sins, through faith in Jesus Christ, that, as he used to say, he never lost sight of it afterwards. Mr. Gifford having thus tasted that the Lord was gracious, presently sought an intimate acquaintance with the religious people in Bedford, whom he had before grievously persecuted, and had even resolved to murder the minister who had occasionally preached to them. Indeed, he had been a man of so profligate and base a character, that they were for some time jealous of his profession; but he, being naturally of a bold spirit, still thrust himself among them, both in their public meetings and private company. Having made sufficient trial, they embraced him as a disciple and a' brother; and after some time he began to preach among them. The very first sermon he preached was made instrumental in the conversion of a female, whose future life became an ornament to her profession. He afterwards collected the most pious persons in the congregation together; and, having repeatedly assembled and prayed to God for his direction and blessing, they formed themselves into a christian church. They were twelve in all, including Mr. Gifford, and all ancient and grave christians, and well known to one another. Here was laid the foundation of that religious society of which the celebrated Mr. John Bunyan was afterwards pastor, and which exists and flourishes at the present time. It was formed upon strict |