He was very sober and studious from his youth; a little reserved in conversation, but when he spoke it was to the purpose. He was one of a pious life and unspotted reputation, but was never married. He had a quick fancy, a clear head, and a strong judgment. He had a considerable stock of general learning, was perfect master of the Latin and Greek languages., and had a competent skill in the Hebrew. He was well versed in the new philosophy, and the several branches of polite literature. Nor was he unacquainted with the fathers, the councils, and ecclesiastical history; but his chief skill was in the old Greek and Roman histories, most of which he had read in their own language. He had a political head, and would give surprizing conjectures about public affairs, by which he foretold the several steps of the glorious Revolution. He penned all his sermons at large, and took so much time to digest his thoughts, contract his matter, and adapt his expressions, that he used to say, he never made a sermon in less than four days in all his life. Yet he seldom made use of any books in his composures; but when he was at Boston, would sit and write upon his knee by the fire in a public room, with only a bible and a concordance. His first sermons were more rhetorical, and full of synonimous expressions; but he afterwards cut off such excrescences, (as appears by the many erasures in his notes) and aimed only at a spirit of true piety and good sense, which runs thro' and animates all his latter composures. He was dissatisfied with some of the terms of Conformity, and especially with the oaths and subscriptions required; insomuch that he once told an intimate friend very seriously, He was afraid Sir William Ellys should offer him a considerable living in his gift, then likely soon to fall, lest he should disoblige him by refusing it. He was so pleased with that religious and regular family wherein God had placed him, that it was thought he would never have willingly left it. WORKS. Several Sets of Sermons; (which were thought not much inferior to those of the most celebrated preachers of the age.) He also left some valuable Manuscripts, v. g. A Discourse on the Rule of Faith. Of the Obligation of following the Dictates of our own Persuasion.-Liberty of Conscience stated and defended... Short Notes concerning a Comprehension.. -Some short Transla tions out of Greek, Latin and French, &c. Mr. REDMAN, of Claypole, afterwards conformed. Whịtaker, in his History of Whalley, mentions a Mr. Richard Redman, as minister of Low Church, in Walton, Lancashire. MINISTERS MINISTERS EJECTED OR SILENCED IN MIDDLESEX. ACTON (R. 2001.] Mr. THOMAS ELFORD. It is proba ble he was ejected from this place in 1660, because in the act passed that year for confirming and restoring ministers, provision is made that no one should be confirmed in the rectory of Acton; which it is declared his majesty, Aug. 26 foregoing, had granted under his sign manual to one of his chaplains, Dr. Ryves, as appears from Newcourt, who makes no mention of Mr. Elford. [Probably he was only an assistant.] He was a grave divine, of considerable abilities and learning; a moderate Independent; a guide and friend to Dr. Manton, when he first entered into the ministry. In 1645, Daniel Featley was deprived of Acton and Lambeth. His successor at Acton was Philip Nye, who was appointed by the parliament, and received 500l. for going to the Isle of Wight. Dr. Grey in his note upon a sarcasm of Hudibras on Mr. Nye, says, he rode to Acton every Lord's-day in a coach drawn by six horses. In 1650, John Nye was assistant at this church, and received half the profits, estimated at 200l. per annum. Mr. Baxter resided here some years, and some times preached in the parish church, having a licence for so doing, provided he uttered nothing against the doctrine of the church of England. ASHFORD [Chap. to Stanes.] Mr. CATCH. EDGWARE. [C. or D.] Mr. RICHARD SWIFT. He was the son of Mr. Augustin Swift, an attorney, and was born at Norwich, in 1616. His father dying while he was young, he had not the advantage of much academical learning, but he attained to considerable skill in the languages. When When he first entered on the ministry, he was chaplain to Sir Brocket Spencer, and preached for some time in Buckinghamshire, before he came to Edgeware, where he was ejected for his nonconformity. He removed afterwards to MillHill, in Hendon parish; where before he took boarders, he was in great straits; as he also was afterwards, when they all left him on account of the small-pox being in his house. But he was always of a chearful spirit, and expressed a firm trust in the providence of God. Soon after, the wife of a considerable citizen, sent him two of her sons, and stirred up others to help him, till he had a competent number. He was a man of great charity, and useful to many poor families in the parish. He put out several children to trades. It was thought he did as much good as most gentlemen of fortune in that neighbourhood. He was more than once imprisoned in Newgate, for keeping conventicles in his house; and the last time was in the height of the plague. He was a pious man, and daily employed in studying the scriptures; and yet he was led away with the Fifth Monarchy notions, as well as with some others that were very peculiar. He died at Hendon. in 1701, in the 86th year of his age. EALING [C. or D.] Mr. THOMAS GILBERT. A Scottish divine, of useful abilities for the ministry, and of great zeal against error and prophaneness. He was presented to this living in 1654, by Francis Allein, Esq. (as appears from Mather's Hist. B. 3. 221,) and died in New-England. At Charles Town, is the following epitaph upon his tombstone, from whence some further account of him may be gathered. : "Here is interred the body of that reverend, sincere, zealous, devout, and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Thomas Gilbert; some time pastor of the church of Christ at Chedle in Cheshire also some time pastor of the church of Christ at Ealing, in Old-England: who was the proto-martyr; the first of the ministers that suffered deprivation in the cause of Nonconformity in England; and after betaking himself to New-England, became pastor of the church of Christ in Topsfield; and at 63 years of age departed this life. Interred Oct. 28, 1673." Mather says of him, "Of those that are gone to the better world, we have cause particularly to remember Mr. THOMAS GILBERT, whose history is, it may be, sufficiently related in his Epitaph;" and adds the following Latin lines of his own, (incorrectly printed) with a trans dation: GILBERTI GILBERTI hic tenuam, Lectores, cernitis umbram, Lo here of GILBERT but a shadow slight: He was a star of more illustrious light. Such GILBERT was in life, such in his death- ENFIELD [V.] Mr. DANIEL MANNING. Of Kath. Hall, Camb. where he was noted for his eminent improve ment of his time. He was a good scholar, and an excellent preacher much admired and followed on account of his wit and learning and serious godliness. Newcourt mentions him as the ejected vicar of this parish. § He was presented to this living by Trinity College, May 6, 1659, and was buried here March 2, 1666. *FARNHAM. Mr. GOODMAN. FINCHLEY [R.] Mr. THOMAS GOULSTON. Of Queen's Col. Camb. A good scholar: a man of great modesty and humility: a constant diligent preacher, who was blessed with good success. FULHAM [V.] ISAAC KNIGHT, B. D. He was a pious man, and of a good temper. He had not the advantage of academical learning; however he had the honour of a degree conferred upon him. He had been minister of Hammersmith, and succeeded Adoniram Byfield both in the rectory and vicarage of Fulham, being presented to the former in 1645, by Edmund Harvy, and to the latter in 1657, by Cromwell. GREENFORD Magna [R. 2001.] EDWARD TERRY, M. A. Fellow of Univ. Col. Oxf. From Newc. Rep. it appears that he was admitted to this living Feb. 27, 1661, in the room of his father, [§ who accompanied Sir Thomas Roc in his embassy to the great Mogul, and who died in October 1660.] He was many years useful at Oxford in instructing and governing young gentlemen and scholars; and of great fame for his many exercises in the college and schools; particularly for his funeral oration at the interment of Dr. Joshua Hoyle, master of his college, and Regius professor of divinity in the university, who was a member, of great great esteem and honour, in the Assembly of Divines, being well versed in all the ancient learning of the Greek and Latin fathers, and one who reigned both in his chair, and in the pulpit. Mr. Terry lost his sight for some years before his death, but took great pleasure in having others read to him. He was a man of a very mild disposition, a blameless life, and very charitable. After enjoying all his days an uncommon measure of health, he was suddenly carried off; being taken with a lethargic fit about ten o'clock at night, he died about two the next morning, March 8, 1716. He was much honoured for his work's-sake, and as a lover of peace and truth. HACKNEY [V.) WILLIAM SPURSTOWE*, D. D. He had been master of Katherine-Hall, Camb. from which place he was turned out for refusing the Engagement. He was one of the Assembly of Divines, and afterwards one of the Commissioners at the Savoy. He went with the Com missioners to the treaty with K. Charles at Newport in the Isle of Wight. The initial letters of his name are the three last in the fictitious word SMECTYMNVVS, the title of that celebrated book so often referred to, in which he was jointly concerned with four others, (see vol. i. p. 80). He was a man of great humility and meekness; of eminent charity, both in giving and forgiving; and of a very peaceable disposition. He always discovered an innocent and pleasing chearfulness in conversation, which rendered his company' generally agreeable. He was preserved in the time of the plague, but died not long after. He possessed a considerable fortune, and among other proofs that he employed it to good purpose, he ordered in his Will, six Alms-houses to be erected in the parish of Hackney for six poor widows, of good life and conversation; which accordingly were erected immediately after his decease, between the Grove and what is now called Grove-place. It appears from the inscription upon a stone over the gate, that it was his intention to have made provision for the support of these widows, but that he died without having executed this benevolent purpose. His brother, however, Henry Spurstowe of London Esq: generously supplied this defect the following year, by settling certain funds in the parish for this purpose, of which his son, Henry Spurstowe of London, Gent. caused this stone to be erected as a memorial. *So he spelt his own name, tho' we often find it without the final. Mr. Baxter |