By the blessing of God upon his studies, and the pious
instructions of his tutor, he was brought to a saving know-
ledge of the gospel, and soon after became a celebrated
puritan. He preached his tirst sermon at Chipping Campden
in his native count}'. Such, however, is said to have been
the ignorance of the times, that when he came to the church
there was no Bible to be found ; and it was w ith much diffi-
culty that he could procure one to carry with him into the
pulpit. Indeed, the vicar of the parish possessed a Bible,
to whose house he was directed ; but, as it had not been seen
for many months, it was with great difficulty it could be
found. Having at length procured the sacred volume, he
went to the church and preached an admirable sermon from
Rom. X. i.f

The excellent Mr. Dod being silenced for nonconformity,
and ejected from Hanwell in Oxfordshire, Sir Anthony Cope
invited Mr. Harris to become his successor. He, accordingly,
removed to Hanwell, though with much grief and fear. The
people would own no man as their pastor except him who
had been ejected. It was, however, agreed upon that Mr.
Harris should preach so long as there was any hope of
recovering Mr. Dod. During this unsettled state at Hanwell,

♦ Bowod's Funer.il Sermon for Mr Goodwin.

+ Clark's Lives anuexed to Martyrologie, p. 314, 315.



304 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

Archbishop Bancroft presented the living to one of his
chaplains, on pittence of a lapse. But Sir Anthony Cop*^,
then sitting in parliament, together with, several other mem-
bers of the house, waited upon the ard!bi;:>liop, and presented
Mr. Harris, whoni his grace, after a long contest, reluctantly
admitted. Sir Anthony liavnig iormeily spoken against in-
sufficient ministers, not without some rejection upon the
intolerant pioceedmgs of the archbishops and bishops, Ban-
croft embraced this opportunity of shewing his resentment ;
and, therefore, refened Mr. Harris to be strictly examined by
the most learned of liis chaplains. Ihe chaplain, after suffi-
cient examinalion, returned Mr. Harris iiioderateh/ learned.
This proving unsatisfactory to the arclibishop, he was com-
mitted to the examination of Bishop Barlow, a person exactly
suited to Bancroft's wishes. The bishop was a person of
great wit and learnmg, and extremely glad of the opportunity.
He examined Mr. Harris first in divinity, then in otlier
branches of learning, particularly the Greek, in which his
lordship was esteemed a celebrated critic. As the story is
related, " they Greeked it till they were both run aground for
want of words ; upon which they burst into a fit of laughter,
and so gave it over."* Barlow returned to the archbishop,
and, delivering a most favouiable testimony, his grace, it is
said, was satisfied.

Mr. Harris being now settled at Hanwell, Mr. Scudder at
Drayton, and Mr. VVhately at Banbury, they became parti-
cularly intimate, and were united in judgment and affection.
Mr. Harris married Mr. VV luuely's sister, and Mr. Scudder
his wife's sister. These divnies commonly met together
once a week, to translate and analyze a chapter of the Bible,
This practice was productive of numerous good effects, by
stirring them up to greater diligence, and promoting their
mutual edificalK>ii.

Thougii Mr. Harris was thus comfortably settled, he was
called to endure many trials. His faitii and patience were
much exercised by his wife's long and painful illness. This
affliction, said Mr. Dod, was designed to season him and fit
him for his work. " And I should have been spoiled," says
Mr. Harris, "• had 1 not been thus taken down. Young
ministers know not on what ground they tread till God make
them humble." He, nevertheless, found much encourage-
ment in his work. His people began to relish his ministry,
and the Lord greatly blessed his labours. He did not feed

* Clark's Lives, p. 318. _ ;-



R. HARRIS. 305

tliem with airy notions, and diy speculations, but with " the
sincere milk of the woid;" and in a nifrihod adapted to those
of the meanest capacity. And God is said to have so won-
derfully blessed his endeavours, that there was not one prayer-
less family in Hanwell, nor one person Vvho refused his
examination and instruction previous to receiving the Lord's
supper.

In this situation he continued about forty years, blessed in
himself, and made a blessing to his people, until the com-
mencement of tlie civil A\ars. The bloody battle of Edge-
hill, only a few miles distant, was fought October 23, 1642,
being the Lord's day ; yet, the wind being contrary, he did
not hear the least noise of it till the public exercises of the
day were over ; nor could he believe the report of a battle
till soldiers, besmeared ^ith blood, came to make it known.
From this time his troubles increased. Rude soldiers were
quartered upon him, some calling him round-heud, others
malignant ; but he continued to attend upon his numerous
duties as at other times. One company that was quartered
upon him was so outrageous in sweating, that he could not
forbear preaching from James v. 12. " Above all things, my
brethren, swear not at all." This so offended them, that they
swore they would shoot him if he preached again from the
same text. Undismayed by their threatenings, he ventured to
preach from the same words the following sabbath ; when, as
he was preaching, he observed a soldier preparing his firelock,
as if he meant to shoot; but Mr. Harris went on without
fear, and finished his discourse without inierruption.* He,
indeed, endured the storm till he had suffered very material
injury, and was at length driven from the place.

Mr. Harris, being forced ^om his flock, fled to London,
â– when he was chosen one of the assembly of divines, and
preached at St. Botolph's church, Bishopsgate. He Mas
one of the preachers before the parliament. In the year
1646, he was appointed one of the six preachers to the
university of Oxford; and, the year following, one of the
visitors. Dr. Walker, with his usual slander, observes, that
when the visitors proceeded to open their visitation, they
began, as they did all their other distinguished wickedness,
and according to their usual hypocrisy, with prayers and
a sermon! The sermon was preached by Mr. Harris. + He,
at the same time, took his doctor's degree, was made presi-

* Clark's Live?, p. 321. t Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 127.

VOL. III. X



SOS LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

dent of Trinity college, and became rector of Garlington,
near Oxford. He governed his college with great prudence,
gaining the affections of all the fellows and students, who
reverenced him as a father.

Dr. Harris, in his last sickness, being desired to admit

company, said, " It is all one to me whether I am left alone

or have my fiic'nds with me. My work is now to arm myself

for death, which now assaults me, and apply myself to that

great encounter." Accordingly, he spent all his time iu

prayer, meditation, and reading the scriptures ; and when he

became unable to read himself, his friends read to him. He

said to them, " You must put on all the armour of God, and

then go forth in the strength of the Lord. Stand in the

fight, and the issue will be glorious : only forget not to call

in the help of your General. Do all from him and under

him." Being asked whence he derived his comfort, he said,

*' From Christ and the free grace of God." When it was

signified that he might take much comfort from his labours

and usefulness, he replied, " All is nothing without a Saviour.

Without him my best works would condemn me. Oh ! I

am ashamed of them, being mixed with so much sin. Oh ! I

am an unprofitable servant. I have not done any thing for God

as I ought. Loss of time sits heavy upon my spirit. Work,

work apace. Be assured nothing will more trouble you, when

you come to die, than that you have done no more for God,

who has done so much for you." He said, " I never saw the

worth of Christ, nor tasted the sweetness of God's love, in

so great a measure as I do now." When his friends asked

what they should do for him, he replied, " You must not only

pray for me, but praise God for his unspeakable mercy to me.

O, how good is God ! Entertain good thoughts of him. We

cannot think too well of him, nor too ill of ourselves. I am

now going home, even quite spent. I am on the shore, but

leave you still tossing on the sea. Oh ! it is a good time to die

in." Afterwards, being asked how he did, he said, " In no

great pain, I praise God, only weary of my useless life. If

God hath no more work for me to do, I would be glad to be

in heaven, where I shall serve him without distractions. I

pass from one death to another ; yet I fear none. I praise

God that I can live, and dare die. If God hath more work

for me to do, I am willing to do it, though my infirm body be

very weary." He professed that he lived and died in that faith

which he preached, and found its unspeakable comforts now in

the immediate prospect of death. He closed his eyes in



R.HARRIS. SOT

peace, resigning his soul to God, December 11, 1658, aged
eighty years.*

Mr. Clark gives the following account of his excellent
endowments: — He was a hard student, endowed with great
parts, and furnished m ith all manner of learning necessary to
a divine. He was a pure and elegant Latinist, very exact in
the Hebrew, and much admired as a subtle, clear, and ready
disputant. He excelled in chronology, church history, the
councils, case divinity, aud in the knowledge of the fathers.
But his parts were best seen in the pulpit. His gifts in
prayer were very great ; his affections warm and fervent ; his
petitions weighty and substantial ; and his language, pertinent,
unaffected, and widiout tautology. He preached with
learned plainness, unfolding the great mysteries of the
gospel to persons of the meanest capacities. He used to
say, " a preacher hatli three books to study: the Biblcy
himself, ^"^^ '^'-^ people." He observed, tiiat the humblest
preachers converted the greatest number of souls, not the
most learned scholars while unbroken. He valued no man
for his gifts, but for his humility under them. Nor did he
expect much from any man, were his parts ever so great, till
he was broken by temptations and aftiictions. He was a
man who ruled well his own house, was of great modera-
tion about church discipline, exceedingly charitable to the
poor, and eminently distinguished for humility, mortification,
and self-denial. In short, he was richly furnished with every
necessajy qualification to render him a complete scholar,
a wise governor, a profitable preacher, and an excellent
christian. f

Notwithstanding this account from the impartial pen of
one vho must have been well acquainted with him. Dr.
Walker has stigmatized him as " a notorious pluralist." He.
rests the evidence of this slanderous accusation upon the
authority of a scurrilous and abusive letter, published to
expose and pour contempt upon the puritans. The doctor
also observes, " that he had somewhere read, that in those
times Dr. Harris's picture was drawn with one steeple upon
his head, and others coming out of his pockets." We shall
not attempt to justify pluralities. They are undoubtedly
indefensible. Yet the satire had certainly been more season-
able, if pluralities did no where exist among rigid churchmen.^
Respecting this charge. Dr. Harris himself made the follow-
ing open and generous declaration : '^ I stood clear," says

* Clark's Lives, p. 325— 32T. t Ibid. p. 327— JSl-

t Walker's AUempt, part i. p. 127.



S08 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

he, " in my own conscience, and in the consciences of those
who best knew me. I was far from allowing nonresidence
and a plurality of livings ; yet, to such as were ignorant of all
circumstances, there was some appearance of evil."* H*
undoubtedly possessed several benelices ; but whether he
received tlie profits of them all, and enjoyed them all at the
same time, appears extremely doubtful. Though Dr. Grey
denominates him " a fanatical hero, and a professed
enemy to the constitution, botii in church and state ;" yet
he in part acquits him of the vile charge, and invalidates,
in a great measure, the authority of the above scurrilous
letter.t

The Oxford historian brings accusations against Dr. Harris,
Avhich, if true, Avould prove him to have been one of the
basest of men. He charges him with having taken for his
own use two bags of gold, containing one hundred pounds each,
which he found among some old rubbish in Trinity college,
soon after he became president. He also affirms, that Dr.
Harris told several most glaring falsehoods, with a view to
secure the money to himself. Though our documents will
not afford us materials for a complete refutation of these
charges; yet the whole of what is asserted, and especially the
worst part of it, is .so contrary to the uniform spirit and
deportment of this learned and pious divine, that the account
appears extremely suspicious, and only designed to reproach
the memory of the puritans. t

Dr. Harris's last will and testament contains much excel-
lent advice to his wife and numerous children, but is too
long for our insertion. § His \\orks came forth at different
times, but Mere afterwards collected and published in one
volume folio, in 1654. The pious Bishop Wilkins passes an
high encomium upon his sermons. || It does not appear
whether he was any relation to Dr. John Harris, whose
memoir is given in a foregoing article.



Christopher Feake was first a minister in the esta-
blished church, afterwards he joined the brethren of the
separation, espoused the sentiments of the baptists, became a
fifth monarchy-man, and was exceedingly zealous in the
cause. Edwards, who styles him a great sectary, gives the

» Clark's Lives, p. 323.

+ Grey's Examination, vol. ii. ». 298, 299.

.]: Wood's Athenw Osnn. vol. ii. p. 748.

\ Clark's Lives, p. 336—338. f, Wilkins on Preachinf, p. 82, S3.



FEAKE. 309

following curious and amusing account of him : " This
Master Feake, m ithin this twelvemonth, was preacher in Lon-
don, and hath preached many strange and odd thmgs at
Peter's in Cornhill, besides W ool-church, and other places :
as, for separation from our assemblies, expressing many
heterodox things about mixed communion at the Lord's
supper, against maintenance of ministers by tithes ; and, in
sermons and prayers, hath had many flings at the assembly ;
but now is preacher in the town of Hertford, and in All-saints,
the greatest parish and church of that town, being put into a
sequestrated living by the power of some of the independents.
As for his carriage at Hertford, where he hath preached since
last January, it hath been as follows: His preaching and^^
praying shews him to be no friend to the assembly, nor to the
directory ; he hath never used the Lord's prayer since he
went thither, but hath preached against the use of it as a
prayer. It is observed of him by understanding men, his
auditors, that they never heard him appoint or sing a psalm ;
he reads but one chapter, or a piece of a chapter, and hath
not baptized any since his going. One of the committee, a
justice of peace, put up some articles against him at the
assizes at Hertford, to both judges then on the bench. The
first was this, ' That God would destroy not only unlawful
government, but lawful government, not only the abuse, but
the use of it ; and as he had begun to destroy it in England,
so would he, by raising combustions in the bowels of Fiance
and Spahi ; and that he Avould destroy aristocracy in Holland,
for tolerating arniinianism.' When he denied the words, one
being present and asked, atfirined him to have preached thus ;
and there are found four others, understanding men and of
good worth, who will testify the same. When Master Feake
explained himself before the judges, that there was in
monarchy and aristocracy an enmity against Christ, which he
would destroy; and as he was preaching, some turbulent
fellows and sectaries clambered up by the bench, and cried
out, ^ My lord, my lord, Mr. Pr. doth it in malice : we will
maintain our minister with our blood,' Whereupon the
judge threw a\A ay the paper, and said he would hear no more
of it, though he had before commanded Master Eldred to
read openly all those heterodoxies. The Lord's day follow-
ing Master Feake in the pulpit endeavoured to answer all
the articles put up against him to the judges, iu a gveat
auditory."*

* Edwards's Gangraena, pari iii. p, 81, 147, 148.



<!



10 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.



Upon the sequestration of Mr. William Jenkih he became
minister of Christ's churcli, London,* and aftervvuids one of
the lecturers at Blackfriars; but was most violent against
Cromwell's 2;overnment. He is denominated a bold and
crafty orator, of high reputation among the anabaptists. He
preached with great bitterness against the civil administration
during the commonwealth, but especially against the protec-
tor, calling him " the man of sin, the old dragon, and the
most disseml)!ing and perjured villain in the world;" and
desired, that if any of his friends were present, they would go
and tell him what he said.t The protector, therelore, to
support his own authority, ordered him to be taken into
custody. He was apprehended in the year IdoS, when he
was carried before Cromwell and the co'.mcil, and committed
prisoner to Windsor-castle. J The baptists, disliking the
proceedings of government, protested against them in a
work entitled, " A Declaration of several of the Churches of
Christ, and godly people in and about the city of London,
concerning the kingly interest of Christ, and the present
sufferings of his cause and saints in England,'' lG54. In
this piece they declare, " That they value the churches of
Christ, which are the lot of God's inheritance, a thousand
times beyond their own lives ; that it is their duty to perse-
vere therein to the utmost hazard of their lives ; that the Lord
made them instruments to vex all in his sore displeasure, who
take counsel against Christ, whom the Lord hath anointed
and decreed king ; and that they were not merely the
servants of man ; and that they not only proclaimed Jesus
Christ to be king, but that they would submit to him alone
upon his ow n terms, and admit him only to the exercise of his
royal authority." This declaration was subscribed by a great
number of persons ; ten of whom are said to be " of the
church that walks with Mr. Feake, now close prisoner for this
cause of Christ, at Windsor-castle. "$ He remained under
confinement several years; was in prison in 1655; but enjoyed
his liberty in 1657|| These tribulations did not cause him
to desist from his public labours. For he was no sooner
released from prison than he renewed his ministerial exer-
cise, and was preacher in the city, most probably at various
pla,ces, in the year 1658 ;^ but when he died we are not able

* Kennct's Chronicle, p. 793.

+ Thurloe's State Papers, vol. i. p. 621.

t Ibid. vol. ii. p. 67. § Declaration, p. 9, 21.

ii Thurloe's State Papers, vol. iii, p. 485, v. 7.55.

f Ibid. vol. vii. p. 57.



PARTRIDGE—SYMPSON. 311

to learn. lie was author of several pieces, the titles of which
have uot come to our knowledge.



Ralph Partridge was a most worthy minister, and a
great sufterer from the persecuting prelates. He was hunted
by the severity of the bishops, as he used to express it, " like
a partridge upon the mountains, till at last he was resolved to
get out of their reach, and took flight to New England."
Upon his arrival, he settled at Duxbury in the colony of
Plymouth, and was held in very high repute through the
country. The synod of Cambridge, in 1648, made choice of
him, together with Mr. Cotton and Mr. Mather, to draw up
their model of church govermncnt. He was a person of
great humility and self-denial, and always content with the
meanest circumstances. When most of the ministers of
Plymouth colony left their places, on account of their want
of a sufficient maintenance, this good man continued with his
people to the last.* He lived a pious and unblamable life,
possessed a grave and solid judgment, was famous in dispu-
tation, and much honoured and beloved by all ^^ho knew him.
This excellent servant of Christ was scarcely ever interrupted
in his ministry by bodily sickness, during the period of forty
years. He died in a good old age, in the year 1658.+



Sydrach Sympson, B. D. — This meek and quiet divine
received his education in the university of Cambridge, and
afterwards became a celebrated preacher in London. He
was appointed curate and lecturer of St. Margaret's church.
Fish-street ; but his preaching soon gave offence to Arch-
bishop Laud, wiio, in his metropolitical visitation, in the year
1635, convened him before him, with several other divines,
for breach of canons. Most of them having promised sub-
mission, they were dismissed. t By the intemperate super-
stition and bigotry of Laud, and the violence with which he
exacted conformity, many eminent divines -Were driven out of
the kingdom. x\niong these were Mr. (afterwards Dr.)
Thomas Goodwin, Mr. Philip Nye, Mr. Jeremiah Bur-
roughs, Mr. William Bridge, and ^Ir. Sympson. They all
retired to Holland, and were afterwards denominated the five
pillars of the independent or congregational party: and, in

* Mather's Hist, of New England, b. iii. p. 99.

+ Morton's Memorial, p. 153.

t Wharton's Troubles of Laud, vol, i. p. 536.



fk



312 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.

the assembly of divines, were distinguislied by the name of
the dissenting brethren.*

Upon Mr, Sympson's arrival in Holland, he went to
Rotterdam ; and beholding the good order of the English
church at that place, under the pastoral care of Mr. Bridge,
he desned to become a member ; and, upon delivering his
.confession of faith, was received into their communion.
After some time, Mr. Sympson discovered certain things in
the church which he did not well approve ; and urged the
utility of prophesyings, that, after sermon on the Lord's day,
the people might express their doubts, and propose questions
to the ministers, with a view to their better edihcation. This,
however, with some otlier things, produced a misunderstand-
ing betwixt Mr. Bridge and Mr. Sympson; which, at length,
caused the latter even to separate himself from the church,
and begin a new -interest. This new society had, indeed, a
very small beginning, but afterwards, through the blessing of
God, it became very considerable. f Mr. Joseph Symonds,
another persecuted puritan, succeeded him in the office of
pastor to this church. t

About the commencement of the civil war Mr. Sympson
returned to England ; and in the year 1643 was chosen one
of the assembly of divines, and he constantly attended during
the session. In all their debates he conducted himself with
great teniper and moderation. • He was one of the tive divines
who published and presented to the house of commons, in
1643, " An Apologetical Narration submitted to the Honour-
able Houses of Parliament," in favour of the independents.
In the year 1645 he was appointed one of the committee of
accommodation.^ In the year l647 he united with his dis-
senting brethren in presenting their reasons to the houses of
parjiament, against certain parts of the presbyterian govern-
ment. || In the year 1650 he was appointed, by the •parlia-
mentary visitors, master of Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, in
the room of Mr. Vines, who was turned out for refusing the
engagement. In 1654 he was chosen a member of the com-
mittee for drawing up a catalogue of fundamentals, to be
presented to the parliament. During the same year he was
constituted, by order of the council, one of the commissioners
for the approbation of public preachers; these commissioners
were commonly distinguished by the name of tryers. In

♦ Neal's Puritans, vol. iii. p. 317.

+ Edwards's Antapologia, p. 142, 143.

J Bailie's Dissuasive, p. 77. ' § Papers of Accoca, p. 13.

I) Reasons of Dissenting Brethren, p. 40, 133, 192.



SYMPSON. 313

1655 he was appointed, by a commission from the protector
Cromwell, one of the new visitors of the university of Cam-
bridge.* Dining the long parliament he gathered a church
and congregation in London, upon the plan of the indepen-
dents, which assembled in Abchurch, near Cannon-street.

Mr. Sympson was a divine of considerable learning, of
great pi-?ty and devotion, and a celebrated preacher. Dr.
Grey calls him a celebrated preacher of rebel/ions principles ;
which IS plain, says he, from the following passage in one of