uttered, were, " I shall at length have leisure enough to
follow my studies to all eternity;" and died July 20, 164G,
aged seventy-one years. The whole house of commons, and
the assembly of divines, paid their last respects to his me-
mory by following, in one sorrowful procession, his mortal
remains to the grave ; when Dr. Robert Harris preached
his funeral sermon from Joshua, i. 2., Moses my servant is
dead. He was buried in Westminster abbey, M'here his
body quietly rested till the restoration, when the humane,
the liberal, and the enlightened Charles ordered his bones
to be dug up, together with the bodies of many other
persons, eminent in church and state, and thrown into a pit
digged on purpose in St. Margaret's church-yard.:}: The

* Clark's Lives, p. 17. t Whitlocke's Mem. p. 1S9.

:{: One of those illustrious persons, whose bodj' suffered this shameful
indignity^ was the valiant Admiral Blake, whose name was a terror to the
enemies of Britain ; who raised the naval reputation of his country to a
higher pitch than any of his predecessors, and whose services to the English
nation will be a monument of his renown as durable as time. The following
is a li^t of some of the persons to whose bodies this malevolence was oflfered,
on the 12th and 14th of September, 1661. Others would probably have
shared the same fate; but the thing was so indecent, and drew so general
an odium on the government, that a stop was put to any further pro-
ceedings :

Elizabeth Cromwell, mother of William Stroud, esq. M. P.

Oliver, lord protector, Humphrey Mackworth, colonel,

Elizabeth Claypole, her daughter, Dennis Bond, esq.

ilobert Blake, admiral, Thomas May, esq. the historian,

John Pym, esq. M. P. John Mildrum, colonel,

Dr. Isaac Dorislaus, Colonel Boscawen,

Sir William Constable, colonel, Doctor William Twisse, prolocutor,

Edward Popham, admiral, Stephen Marshall, presby. divine,

Richard Dean, admiral, William Strong, indepen. divine.

Grangers Biog. Hist. vol. iii. p, 80.— fFood'* Mhenee Oxon. vol, i.
p. 826.



TWISSE. 17

refined barbarity and contemptible meanness of these pro-
ceedings, might have been expected amongst untutored
savages, rather than from a monarch bred up in all the
refinements of the English court.

Though Dr. Twisse died in necessitous circumstances, the
parliament, after his death, voted a thousand pounds to be
given to his children, out of the public treasury ;» but, on
account of the national confusions, it is doubtful whether
it was ever paid. Mr. Clark says, " he was much admired
for his great learning, subtle wit, exact judgment, great
integrity, pleasing behaviour, and his exemplary modesty,
piety, humility and self-denial."t Fuller denominates him,
" a divine of great abilities, learning, piety, and moderation.^
Wood says, " his plain preaching was esteemed good ; his
solid disputations were accounted better; but his pious life
was reckoned best of all." The most learned of his adver-
saries confessed that there was nothing extant more accurate
and full upon the Arminian controversy, than what is con-
tained in his works. All writers against Arminianism have
made honourable mention of his works, and have acknow-
ledged him to have been the mightiest man in those contro-
versies that the age produced.^ He was succeeded at New-
bury by Mr. Benjamin Woodbridge, who was afterwards
ejected in l662.||

His Works. — 1. A Discovery of Dr. Jackson's Vanities, 1631. —
2. Viiidicise Gratiae, Potestatis et Provideutife Dei, 1632. — 3. Dis-
sertatio Scientia Media tribus libris absoluta, 1639. — 4. Dissertiones,
1639.— 5. Of the Morality of the Fourth Commandment, 1641.—

6, A Treatise of Reprobation, in Answer to Mr. John Cotton, 1646. —

7. Animadvertiones ad Jacobi Arminii Collat. cum Frank. Junio et
Joh. Arnold Corvin, 1649. — 8. De Predestinatione et Gratia, 1649. —
9. The Doubting Conscience Resolved, 1652.— 10. The Riches of
God's Love unto the Vessels of Mercy, consistent with his absolute
Jiatred or reprobation of the Vessels of Wrath, 1653. — 11. Two
Tracts in Answer to Dr. H. (Hammond) 1653. — 12. The Synod of
Dort and Ares reduced to Practice, with an Answer. — 13. Tiie
Scriptures Sufficiency to determine aU matters of Faith. — 14. The
Christian Sabbath defended against the crying Evil of these Times
of the Antisabbatarians of our Age. — 15. Fifteen Letters, published
in Mede's Works. — He also left numerous manuscripts behind him.

* Wliitlocke's Mem. p. 321. + Clark's Lives, p. 13, 14, 18.

X Fuller's Worthies, part i. p. 96.

4 Wood's AthenEE Oxon. vol. ii. p. 40, 41.

y Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. i. p. 290.



VOL, III



18 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

Jeremiah Burroughs, A.M. — This very amiable
divine was born in the year 1599) and educated at Cambridge,
but was obliged to quit the university, and afterwards the
kingdom, on account of nonconformity. After he had
finished his studies at the university, he entered upon the
ministerial work, and was chosen colleague to Mr. Edmund
Calamy at Bury St. Edmunds.* In the year 1631, he
became rector of Titshall, in the county of Norfolk ;
but upon the publication of Bishop Wren's articles and
injunctions, in 1636, he was suspended and deprived of his
living.f He sheltered himself for some time under the
hospitable roof of the Earl of Warwick ;X but, on account
of the intolerant and oppressive proceedings of the ecclesias-
tical rulers, the noble earl at length found it was impossible
to protect him any longer ; and shortly after, to escape the
lire of persecution, he lied to Holland, and settled at
Rotterdam, where he was chosen teacher to the congrega-
tional church, of which Mr. William Bridge was pastor.^
After his suspension, he is charged with attempting to bribe
the bishop's chancellor, by an offer of forty poimds; and
going beyond seas, and returning disguised in a soldier's habit,
with many libellous pamphlets, when, it is said, the sentence
of deprivation was pronounced against him for nonresidence.tj
Of this circumstance, however, Mr. Edwards gives a very
different account. He says, " that Mr Burroughs, for some
speeches spoken against the Scotch war, in company not to be
trusted, for fear fled in all haste to Rotterdam ;" at which he
very much stumbled.!! Mr. Burroughs, in his animadversion
upon this misrepresentation, observes as follows : " Had
Mr. Edwards been willing to have conferred with me about
this, as I desired, before he printed, I should have so fully
satisfied him about njy going out of the kingdom, that he could
never have stumbled, nor have caused others to stumble.
How does he know there were speeches delivered, for fear of
which I fled ? It may be there was only an accusation. In
his bold assertion there is held forth to the world, at least
some indiscretion in me, that I should speak words of a higt

^ Calatny's Account, vol. ii. p. 5.

f Blomefield's Hist, of Norfolk, vol. i. p. 138.

X This noble person was a great friend and patron of the persecuted
puritans, and one of their constant hearers. He was not content with only
hearing long sermons in the congregation, but would have them repeated ia
his own house. — Granger'' s Biog. Hist. vol. ii, p. 116.

§ Edwards's Antapologia, p. 18, 19.

Ij Wren's Parentalia, p. 95.

% Edwards's Antapologia, p. 16.



BURROUGHS. 19

nature, iu company not to be trusted. I am so fully clear in
that business, that I wiped off before my lord of Warwick
whatsoever might have seemed indiscretion, not by mine own
assertion only, but by the testimony of two gentlemen, being-
all the company, besides the accuser, who were present while
we discoursed of that matter. The truth is, there were no
such speeches ; there was only some accusation of speeches.
What man can free him«elf from accusation r" This
ungeneious accuser afterwards recanted, and expressed his
great sorrow for having aspersed the character of our pious
and worthy divine.*

Mr. Burroughs replies to the charge that he fled in all
haste to Rotterdam, by saying, " It was four or five months
after this accusation before I went to Rotterdam. Had not
the prelatical faction been incensed against me, for standing
out against their supersiitions, I should have ventured to have
stood to what I had spoken, for all I said was by way of
query, affirming nothing. I knew how dangerous die times
then were. I knew what the power of the prelatical party
at that time was, who were extremely incensed against me.
A man's innocency, then, could not be his safety. A mere
accusation was enough then, to cause me to provide for my
security. I was, by Bishop Wren, deprived of my living in
Norfolk, in which, 1 believe, I endured as great a brunt as
almost any of those who stayed in England; though Mr.
Edwards is pleased to say, we fled that we might be safe
upon the shore, while our brethren were at sea in the storm.
I believe neither he, nor scarcely any of our presbyterian
brethren, endured a harder storm at sea, than I did before I
went out of England. Yet, I bless God, he stiried up noble
friends to countenance and encourage me in my suflerings ;
for which I will not cease to pray that the blessing of God
may be upon them and their families. For some mouths I
lived with my lord of Warwick, with whom 1 found much
undeserved love and respect, and was in the midst of as great
encouragements to stay in England, as a man deprived, and
under the bishop's rage, could expect ; when I set myself in
as a serious a manner as ever I did in my life, to examine my
heart about my staying in England ; whether some carnal
respects, that countenance I had from divers noble friends,
the offers of livings, did not begin to prevail too far with me.
My spirit was much troubled with these thougl s. Why do I
still linger in England, where I cannot with peace enjoy

• Eurroughs's Vindication, p. 18, 21. Edit. 1646.



2(5 ' LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

what my soul longs after ? Did I not formerly think, that if
ever God took me clearly from my people, I would hasten
to be where I might be free from such mixtures in God's
worship, without wringing my conscience any more ? Why
do I, therefore, now stay ? Am I not under temptation ? God
knows these were the sad and serious workings of my spirit,
and these workings were as strong as ever I felt them in
my life.

" While I was thus musing," says Mr. Burroughs, " thus
troubled in my spirit, and lifting up my heart to God to
help me, and set me at liberty, leaning upon my chamber
window, 1 spied a man, in a citizen's habit, coming in the
court-yard towards my chamber ; and upon his coming near,
I knew him to be formerly a citizen of Norwich, but, at that
time, one of the church at Rotterdam. When this man
came near to me, he told me that he came lately from
Rotterdam ; and that he was sent there by the church to give
me a call to join with Mr. Bridge in the work of the Lord, in
that church. When 1 heard him say this, I stood awhile
amazed at the providence of God; that, at such a time, a
messenger should be sent to me upon such an errand. My
heart, God knows, exceedingly rejoiced in this call. I
presently told the man I saw God much in it, and dared not
in the least to gainsay it. My heart did much close with it ;
yet I desired to see the hand of God a little further. I
required him to return my answer to the church, with a
desire, that, as most of them knew me, they should give me
their call under their own hands ; then there would be
nothing wanting, but I should be theirs ; and thus w e
parted."*

Mr. Burroughs, having vindicated his own character against
the aspersions of his adversaries, further observes, that,
" after this I hoped all would blow over, when my lord of
Warwick, falling sick in London, sent for me, and I came
up to him and continued with him about three weeks, going
freely up and down the city. My lord knew all the busi-
ness, and made no question but all was over. Being now,
as I hoped, set free from my accuser, the messenger from
Rotterdam came to me again, with an answer to what I had
desired, shewing nie how the church there had assembled,
and had sent a call to me in writing, under the hands of the
elders, wi'h many other hands, in the name of the church;
OB which we agreed upon the day when, and the place

♦ Barrougbs's Vtadication, p. 18>-SI.



BURROUGHS. 21

where, we should meet in Norfolk, to make a full conclu-
sion and prepare for our voyage."*

Our divine has thus favoured us with a circumstantial
account of his invitation to Rotterdam. Upon his arrival,
he was cordially received by the church ; and he continued
a zealous and faithful labourer several years, gaining a very
high reputation among the people. After the commence-
ment of the civil war, when the power of the bishops was
set aside, he returned to England, says Granger, *' not to
preach sedition, but peace ; for which he earnestly prayed
and laboured."t

Mr. Burroughs was a person highly honoured and es-
teemed, and he soon became a most popular and admired
preacher. After his return, his popular talents and great
worth presently excited public attention, and he was chosen
preacher to the congregations of Stepney and Cripplegate,
London, then accounted two of the largest congregations in
England. Mr. Burroughs preached at Stepney at seven
o'clock in the morning, and Mr. William Greenhill at three
in the afternoon. These two persons, stigmatized by Wood as
notorious schismatics and independents, were called in Step-
ney pulpit, by Mr. Hugh Peters, one the morning star, the
other the evening star of Stepnei/.t Mr. Burroughs was chosen
one of the assembly of divines, and was one of the dissenting
brethren, but a divine of great wisdom and moderation. He
united with his brethren, Messrs. Thomas Goodwin, Philip
Nye, W^illiam Bridge, and Sydrach Sympson, in publishing
their " Apologetical Narration," in defence of their own dis-
tinguishing sentiments. The authors of this work, who had
been exiles for religion, to speak in their own language,
" consulted the scriptures without any prejudice. They con-
" sidered the word of God as impartially as men of flesh and
" blood are likely to do, in any juncture of time ; the place
" they went to, the condition they were in, and the company
" they were with, afibrding no temptation to any bias."
They assert, that every church or congregation has sufficient
power within itself for the regulation of religious govern-
ment, and is subject to no external authority whatever. The
principles upon which they founded their church govern-
ment, were, to coniine themselves in eveiy thing to what
the scriptures prescribed, without paying any regard to the
opinions or practice of men ; nor to tie themselves down so

* Burrouj^hs's Vindication, p. 22.

+ Granger's Bio^. Hist. vol. ii. p. 193, 194.

+ Wood's AthensE, vol. ii. p. 113.



22 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

strictly to their present resolutions, as to leave no room for
alterations upon a further acquaintance with divine truth.
They steered a middle course between Presbyterianism and
Brownism : the former they accounted too arbitrary, the
latter too rigid ; deviating fiom the spirit and simplicity of
the gospel.* These are the general principles of the inde-
pendents of the present day.

Mr. Burroughs, in conformity with the above principles,
tmited with his brethren in writing and publishing their
" Reasons against certain Propositions concerning Presby-
teiial Government."+ In the year 1645, he was chosen one
of the committee of accommodation, and was of great
service in all their important deliberations.} He was a
divine of great piety, candour, and moderation ; and during
then- debates, he generously declared, in the name of the
independents, " That if their congregations might not be
exempted from the coercive power of the classis ; and if
they might not have liberty to govern themselves in their
own way, so long as they behaved themselves peaceably
towards the civil magistrate, they were resolved to suffer, or
go to some other part of the world, where they might enjoy
their liberty. But," said he, " while men think there is no
way of peace but by forcing all to be of the same mind ;
while they think the civil sword is an ordinance of God to
determine all controversies in divinity; and that it must
needs be attended with hnes and imprisonment to the dis-
obedient; while they apprehend there is no medium between
a strict uniformity and a general confusion of all things :
while these sentiments prevail, there must be a base sub-
jection of men's consciences to slavery, a suppression of
much truth, and great disturbances in the christian world. "§

After his return from exile, he never gathered a separate
congregation, nor accepted of any parochial benefice, but
continued to exhaust his strength by constant preaching,
and other important services, for the advantage of the church
of God. He was a divine of a most amiable and peaceable
spirit; yet he had some bitter enemies, who, to their own
disgrace, poured upon him their slander and falsehood.
Mr. Edwards, whose pen was mostly dipped in gall, pours
upon him many reproachful and imfounded reflections. He
charges Mr. Burroughs, and some others, with having held z

■» Biog. Britan. vol. ii. p. 620.

+ Reasons of Dissenting Brethren, p. 40, 133, 192.

J Papers of Acrom. p. 13.

^ Burronghs's Vindication, p. 30.— Neal's Puritans, vol. iii. p. 286L



BURROUGHS. 23

meeting with one Nichols, a man of vile and dangerous
sentiments : whereas Mr. Burroughs thus declared, " 1 know
iio such man as this Nichols. I never heard there was such
a man in the world, till I read it in Mr. Edwaitls's book. I,
to this day, know of no meeting about him, or any of his
opinions, either intended, desired, or resolved upon; much
less that there was any such meeting."* VVliat he thus
declared under his ow n hand, he afterwards proved from the
most correct and substantial evidence, casting all the re-
proach upon the false statement of his bitter adversary.!

This peevish and bigotted w riter, indeed, warmly censures
Mr. Burroughs for endeavouring to propagate his own senti-
ments upon church discipline; and even for pleading the
cause of a general toleration. But om- pious divine, with
his usual christian meekness, repelled the foolish charges,
proved his own innocence, and exposed the rancour of his
enemy .t Being charged with conformity in the time of the
bishops, he says, " Though I did conform to some of the old
ceremonies, in which I acknowledge my sin; I do not cast
those things off as inconvenient or discountenanced by the
state only, but as sinful against Christ ; yet I think there can
hardly be found a man in that diocese where I was, that was
so eyed, who conformed less than I did, if he conformed at
all. As for the new' conformity, God kept me from it ; and
my sin in the old makes me be of a more forbearing spirit
towards those who now differ from me. I see now what I
did not ; and I bless God 1 saw it before the times changed :
and others, even some who scorn at new light, must acknow-
ledge they see now what a while since they saw not. Why
then should they or I Hy upon our brethren, because they see
not what we think we see ? O, how unbecoming is it for
such who conformed to old and new ceremonies, now to be
harsh and bitter in the least degree against their brethren,
who differ from them, when they differ so much from what
they were not long since themselves ! Some of them know
I loved them as brethren, when they conformed to what I
could not, but was suspended for refusing it. Let me have
the same love from them as brethren, though I cannot now
conform to all they now do."$

Mr. Edwards and old Mr. John Vicars were his most
bitter and furious enemies. The latter he addressed in the

* Edwards's Gangraena, part i. p. 25. Third Edit. — part ii. p. 71.
+ Burroughss Vindication, p. 5 — 8.

X Edwards's Antapologia, p. 216. — Gangraena, part i. p. 78. ii. 86, —
Burroughs'a Vindication, p. 5 — 12. § Ibid. p. 17, 18.



24 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

language of meekness and conciliation, as follows : " I
reverence, and teach others to reverence old age ; but," says
he, " it must know there are many infirmities attending it ;
and is fitter for devotion, than for matters of contention. If
Mr. Vicars had told me some experience of the work of
God upon his soul, or of the good providence of God
towards his people and himself, I should have diligently
observed it, and, I hope, I might have got good by it. But,
oh, how unbecoming old age is that spirit of contention which
appears in his books ! If he think those places he has cited
will serve his turn, surely his skill in presbytery is not great.
My pen was running into a hard expression, but I will not
provoke the old man : yet I nuist be plain with him. How
uncomely is it for an old professor of piety and religion, to
be found jeering and scorning at piety and religion <! W/ ha
would have thought that ever Mr. Vicars should have lived
to that day ? The chief scope of his book is to cast dirt upon
the apologists. Certainly the spirit of the man is much
altered from what he once seemed to be. Is it becoming
the gravity and wisdom of old age to charge his brethren
publicly, of unworthy double dealing, and of unfaithfulness ?
The Lord, I hope, will cause Mr. Vicars to see cause to be
humbled for this."*

When Mr. Burroughs and his brethren were stigmatized as
schismatics, he discovered his great mildness and forbearance.
" I profess, as in the presence of God," says he, " that upon
the most serious examination of my heart, I find in it, that
were my judgment presbyterial, yet I should preach and
plead as much for the forbearance of brethren differing from
me, not only in their judgment, but in their practice, as I
have ever done. Therefore, if I should turn presbyterian, I
fear I should trouble Mr. Edwards and some others more
than I do now : perhaps my preaching and pleading for
forbearance of dissenting brethren would be of more force
than it is uow."t

Dr. Grey, who has called our divine " an ignorant, factious,
and schismatical minister," has certainly imitated too much,~
in rancour and misrepresentation, the example of his pre-
decessors.t Mr. Baxter, who knew his great worth, said,
" If all the episcopalians had been like Archbishop Usher ;
all the presbyterians like Mr. Stephen Marshall ; and all the
independents like Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs, the breaches of
the church would soon have been healed." The last subject

* BuiToughs's Vindication, p. 24, 25. + Ibid. p. 14.

X Greg's Examination, vol. ii. p. 91.



CORN WELL. 2|

Mr. Burroughs preached upon, which he also published, was
his " Irenicum," or au attempt to heal the divisions among
christians. His incessant labours, and his grief for the
distractions of the times, are said to have hastened his end.
He died of a consumption, November 14, 1646, in the forty-
seventh year of his age. Granger says, " he was a man of
learning, candour, and modesty, and of an exemplary and
irreproachable life."* Fuller has classed him among the
learned writers of Emanuel college, Cambridge.! Dr.
AVilliams says, that his " Exposition of Hosea" is a pleasing
specimen, to shew how the popular preachers of his time
applied the scriptures, in their expository discourses, to the
various cases of their hearers.t He published several of his
Mritings while he lived, and his friends sent forth many
others after his death, most of which were highly esteemed
by all pious christians.

His Works. — 1. Moses's Choice, 1641. — 2. Sion's Joy, a Sermon
preached to the Honourable House of Commons, at their public
Thanksgiving, Sept. 7, 1641 — 1641. — 3, An Exposition of the
Prophesy of Hosea, 1643. — 4. The Lord's Heart opened, 1643. —

6. A Vindication of Mr. Burroughs, against Mr. Edwards his foul
aspersions, in his spreading Gangrieua, and liis angry Aiitapologia:
concluding with a brief Declaration what tlie Independents would
have, 1646. — 6. Irenicum, to the Lovers of Truth and Peace, 1646. —

7, Two Treatises: The firiit, of Earthlymindedness; the second, of
Conversing in Heaven and Walking with God, 1649. — 8. An Exposi-
tion upon 4, 5, 6, and 7th Chapters of Hosea, 1650. — 9. An Exposi-
tion upon 8 and 9th Chapters of Hosea, 1650. — 10. The rare Jewel
of Christian Contentment, 16.50.— 11. Gospel Worship, 1650.—
12. Gospel Conversation, 1650.— 13. The Evil of Evils: or, the
exceeding Sinfulness of Sin, 1654. — 14. The Saints Treasury, 1654. —
15. Three Treatises, of Hope, of Faith, and of the Saints A^'alk by