the assembly, and both sermons were ordered to be pub-
lished. Mr. Bowles's sermon is entitled, " Zeale for God's
House Quickened ; or, a Sermon preached before the
Assembly of Lords, Commons, and Divines, at their solemn
Fast, July 7, 1643, in Abbey Church, Westminster : express-
ing- the Eminency of Zeale required in Chuich-lieformers,"
1643. Mr. Bowles was author of a work entitled, " De
Pastore Evangelico," 1649. Dr. Calamy denominates this
an excellent book. It was published by his son, and dedi-
cated to the Earl of Manchester. He adds, that it was " a
book not suffered to creep out in the time o( the rampant
episcopacy, not for any evil there is in it, but because some
men do not care to be put upon too much Mork.*
Though Mr. Bowles survived the restoration many years,
he does not appear either to have conformed or to have
been ejected ; but, on account of his great age, and for
several other reasons, there is the strongest probability to
suppose that he gave over preaching about the year 1659
or 1660. + He calmly resigned his soul into the hands of his
dear Redeemer, Septembers, 1674, supposed to be upwards
of ninety years of ag'e. He had twelve sons. His son
Edward, a celebrated divine, was an ejected nonconformist
in 1662.t The excellent Mr. Timothy Cruso was favoured
â– with the friendship and counsel of Mr. Bowles. He attended
him during his last illness, and received the following
affectionate advice from him the day before his death : —
" Have a care of yourself, Timothy, in this evil world ; and
be not so entangled with the vanities of it as to lose the
substance for the shadow. Seeing you design yourself for the
work and office of the ministry, I would advise you never
to trouble your hearers with useless or contending notions;
but rather preach all in practicals, that you may set them
upon doing, and more advance a holy life. I would not
any longer live that idle and unserviceable life which I have
lately done ; and therefore if God have some work for me
yet to do here, he will continue me yet here : but if not, I
am sure there is better work for me in heaven, whereby I
shall act for his praise and glory more." When I took my
last leave of him, says Mr. Cruso, he said, " Farewell,
Timothy; and if I see thee not any more in this world, (as
indeed he did not,) I hope I shall in the next, which is
♦ Calamy's Accouut, vol. ii. p. 779.
+ Theolog. and Bib. Mag. vol. iv. p. 207.
J Palmers Noncon. Mem. vol. iii. p. 465.
468 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
better!" and so I hope also, replied Mr. Cruso. '' Only
remember," continued Mr. Bowles, " to keep a good con-
science, and walk closely with God." These last words he
twice repeated with considerable emphasis, that it migiil
make a deeper impression upon his mind.*
John Fisk, A. M. — This worthy minister was born in
St. James's parish, Suffolk, in the year 1601, and educated
in Emanuel college, Cambridge. His ancestors were emini^it
for zeal in the cause of Christ, several of whom were sorely
persecuted in Uie sanguinary days of Queen Mary.f He
was the eldest of four children, all of whom afterwards
went to New England. He was blessed with pious parents,
who devoted him to the Lord from a child ; and after
finishing his academical pursuits at Cambridge, he entered
into the ministry. But the persecution of all who could
not conform, being at that time extremely hot, he was
presently silenced for nonconformity. He afterwards prac-
tised physic ; but at length removed to New England,
where he had an opportunity of preaching without the
impositions and oppressions of men. He took shipping in
disguise, with the excellent Mr. John Allin, to avoid the
fury of their persecutors. Having passed the land's end,
they made themselves known, and entertained the passengers
with two sermons every day, besides other devotional exer-
cises. Indeed, the whole voyage was so much devoted to
the exercises of religion, that when one of the passengers
* Theolog. and Bib. Mag. vol. iv. p. »38, 139.
+ Among these ancestors there were six brothers, three of whom wer«
papists, and three were protestants ; but the papists disowned their
brethren. Two of the protcstant brothers were sorely persecuted, of
•whom the following anecdotes are related ; — One of them being in the
utmost danger, and the pursuivant having great respect for him, sent hiiH
private information of his coming to apprehend him ; upon which the
good man immediately called his family together for prayer, and then
hastened to hide himself in a ditch, togethiT with his pious wife with a
sucking child at the breast. Here they were upon the point of being
discovered. For the pursuivant was near at hand, and, by leaping into the
ditch, a thorn in the hedge so deeply marked the child's face, thart it' never
wore out; at which the chfld began to cry aloud, when the mother pre-
sently clapt it to the breast, whereby it immediately became quiet, and so
they remained undiscovered. — Another of these brethren, at the same time,
to avoid burning, hid himself many mouths iu a pile of wood; then, for
half a year, in a cellar, where he was diligently employed in his wonted
manufactory, by candle light, so as to remain in like manner undiscovered.
But his numerous hardships shortened his days, put an end to his life, and
added to the number of those whose blood cried aloud for vengeance. —
Mather's Hist, of New Ens. b. iii. P- 141.
FISK— T. PARKER. 469
- T\as examined about clivertiDs; himself with the hook and
line on the Lord's day, lie ])iotested, saying, " I do not
know whicli is the Lord's dny. I tliink every day is a
sabbath day ; for you do uotJiing but preach and pray all
the week long."*
Mr. Fisk married a lady of piety and of a good fortune,
several hundred pounds of which was denied her, tlirough
the displeasure of her father, upon accompanying her
husband to New England. On their arrival, in the year
1637, he preached for several years at Salem, and became
tutor to a number of oentlemeu's sons. In the month of
October, 1644, he was chosen pastor of the church at
Wenham, where he abode twelve years. He was content
with a small salary, while he spent a considerable estate in
promoting the welfare of the new colony. About the year
J656, he removed, with the greater part of the church, to
Chelmsford ; where he spent the remainder of his days.
There his greatest trial was the loss of his pious wife ; who,
having so extensive a knowledge of the scriptures, served
him, says our author, instead of a concordance. Mr. Fisk,
upon his death-bed, said to his children, " You have the
sure mercies of David. Study to emulate one another, and
provoke one another to love." He died January 4, 1676,
aged lifty-five years. He was a most able, faithful, and
useful preacher.t He published " The Olive Plant Watered."
Thomas Parker, A. ]M. — This excellent divine, the son
of Mr. Robert Parker, the famous old puritan, was born in
the year 1395, and admitted into Magdalen college, Oxford,
before his father's exile. His father being driven out of the
land for nonconformity, he removed to Ireland, where he
pursued his studies under the famous Dr. Usher. Thence
he went to Leyden in Holland, where he enjoyed the assist-
ance of the learned Dr. Ames. His labours were inde-
fatigable, and his progress answerable to his exertions.
Before the age of twenty-two he received the degree of
master of arts with universal admiration and applause. He
was greatly beloved and admired by the renowned Mac-
covius. Afterwards he returned to England to pursue his
theological studies ; and he settletl at Newbury in Berk-
shire, where, for some time, he preached and kept a school.
Here he appears to have been assistant to the celebrated
* Mather's Hist, of New Eng. p. 142. t Ibid. p. 142, US.
470 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
Dr. Twisse. Being, however, dissatislied wil'i the arhitrary
and cruel proceedings of the ruling prelates, he removed
to New England, Avith a number of christians from Wilt-
shire, in the year 1634. He went in tlie same ship with
Mr. James Noyes, another puritan minister, with whom the
greatest intimacy and affection subsisted as long as they
lived.
Mr. Parker, and about one hundred of his friends, upon
their arrival in the new plantation, sat down at Ipswich.
In this situation they continued about a year, then removed
(o Quafcacunquen, which they now called Newbury. The
beautiful river, on whose banks they settled, was, in honour
to their revered pastor, called Parker's river : tradition says,
" because he was the first who ascended it in a boat."* Mr.
Parker was chosen pastor of the church, and Mr. Noyes
teacher. There Mr. Parker, by the holiness and humility
of his life, for many years, gave his people a lively com-
mentary of his doctrine. But, by his incessant application
to study, he became blind several years before his death ;
yet, even then, he taught Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. The
loss of both his eyes was certainly very painful ; yet he bore
the cross with becoming submission to the will of God, and
would sometimes pleasantly say, " Well, they will be re-
stored shortly, in the day of the resurrection." He departed
to the world of light in the month of April, 1677, in the
eighty-second year of his age, and the fifty-second of his
ministry. He was exceedingly charitable, a hard student,
an excellent preacher, and one of the best scholars and
divines of the age. He considered the sabbath as beginnings
on the Saturday evening, yet kept the sabbath evening as his
people did. When he was asked why he adopted a prac-
tice different from his opinion, he replied, " Because I dare
not depart from the footsteps of the flock for my own
private opinion." When he kept a school he refused any
reward, saying, " he lived for the sake of the church ;
therefore he was unwilling to receive any scholars, ]Jesid(^<l
those who were designed for the ministry." His whole life
was employed in prayer, study, preaching, and teaching
school. + He published " Meditations on the Prophevsy
of Daniel;" and " De Tractatione Peccatoris;" :ind left
behind him many volumes of manuscripts.
* Morse and Parish's Hist. p. 43,44.
+ Mather's Hist, of New Eug. b. iii. p. 143, 144. — Morse and Parish's
Hist, of New Eng. p. 46.
HOBART. 471
Peter Hon art, A. M, — This pious pei'son was bora at
lligham in Norfolk, in the year 160i, and received his
education at Cambridge, where lie discovered much gravity,
sobriety, and hatred of all vice. By his pious parents he
was dedicated to the Lord from his earliest itifancy. After
he had finished his studies at the university, he taught
school, and preached occasionally for a conforviiist minister,
at whose house he lodged. This minister being requested
to give his opinion of young Hobart, said, " 1 do iiighly
approve of his abilities. He will be an able preacher; but
I fear he will be too precised He was afterwards exceed-
ingly harassed and persecuted from one place to another, oji
account of his nonconformity ; yet the good providence of
God took care of him and his family, and they never
suffered want. His last place of abode was Haverhil in
Suffolk, where his labours were rendered a blessing to many
souls. The arbitrary proceedings of the prelates became,
at length, so intolerant, that he resolved to retire to New
England, where he should be free from all episcopal moles-
tation, obtain a settled place of abode, and be constantly
employed in the work of the Lord. Accordingly, in the
year 1635, he embarked with his wife and four children ;
and, after a long and sickly voyage, arrived at Charlestown,
where he found his parents, brethren, and sisters, got safe
before him. He received invitations from several churches,
but settled, with his friends, upon a new plantation, which
he called Higham. There he gathered a church, and con-
tinued its able and useful pastor many years.
Mr. Hobart was a hard student, and always studied
standing, which practice he recommended to others. He
was a man of exemplary piety, and loved good people of
all persuasions. He used pleasantly to say, that those who
were furiously hot about church discipline, ancl cold about
the life and power of godliness, were all church and no
Christ. He was pastor of the church at Higham about
forty-three years; after which, old age and its infirmities
coming upon him, he was obliged, during the last year, to
resign his charge. A few weeks before his death, having
assisted at the ordination of his successor, he exclaimed,
*' Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace ;" and, soon
after, he resigned his soul into the hands of God, on
January 20, 1678, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.*
* Mather's Hist, of New Eng. b. iii. p. 153—155.
479 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
Samuel Whiting, A.M. — This worthy divine was born
at Boston in Lincohishire, November 20, 1597, aid e"ii-
cated in Eraaniic4 college, Cambridge. He wi's avvakciel
to a serious concern for his soul by attending upot. (hr:
ministry of the excellent Dr. Sibbs and Dr. Preston. AUer
he had finishi^d his studies at the university, lie became
domestic chaplain to Sir Nathaniel Bacon and Sir Ro-er
Townsend, in whose families, b^' his wise and serious
instructions, the interests of religion were greatly promoted.
He was next chosen colleague in the ministry with Mr.
Price of Lyim in Norfolk, where he continued three j'enrs.
During this period he was interrupted by the Bisl.op of
Norwich, and prosecuted in the high commission court,
where, for the single sin of nonconformity, he expected to
lose a considerable estate; but, happily for him, while the
cause was pending. King James died, and so for the present
the prosecution was dropped. The Earl ol' Lincoln inter-
ceding for liim, the bishop promised to molest him no more,
if he would remove out of his diocese.*
Mr. Whiting afterwards settled at Shirbick, near Boston,
where he remained for some time unmolested, the Lord
blessing his labours. In this situation he was among his old
friends, and near Mr. Cotton and Mr. Tuckney, by Avhom he
was liighly esteemed. He found, however, that there was no
continued rest under the government of persecuting ecclesi-
astics. He Avas again prosecuted and silejiced for rejecting
the traditions of the popish fathers. He considered the im-
position of human rites and ceremonies in divine worship
as involving the very spirit and conduct of the church of
Home. The gospel he thought was insecure, while such
litcs and ceremonies were imposed ; therefore concluded
that the parade of human cer<"monies, and the preaching of
the word of God, had a direct tendency to drive each other
out of the church. Having no prospect of being ever
restored to his ministry, he resolved to withdraw from the
cruel oppressions, when he found an asylum in New England.
On leaving his native country, and expecting never to
return, he sold all his estates, saying, " I am going to sacri-
fice unto the Lord in the wilderiiess, and will not leave a
hoof behind." He embarked in the beginning of April,
16 j6, and arrived in New England towards the end of
May, beuig so sick during the whole voyage that he could
preach only one sermon. Upon his safe arrival he made
* Mather's Hist, of New Eng. b. iii. p. 156, 157.
WHITING— WHEELWRIGHT. 473
tlie following pious reflection : " We have left pur fricntls
who wore near and dear unto us; but if we can get nearer to
God, he Avili he unfo us more than all. In him there is a
fulness of all the sweetest relations. We may find in God
whatsoever we have forsaken, whether fathers, or mothers,
or brethren, or sisters, or friends, who have been near and
dear (o our souls.''*
He had no sooner arrived in the new colony than he was
cliosen pastor of the church at Lynn, where he spent the
remainder of his days. Tlie following year Mr. Thomas
Cubhei, anoth.-r puritan minister, going to New England,
became his co'.hague in the pastoral office. They lived
together in mutu il love and attachment twenty years, until
Mr. Cobbet removed to Ipswich. Towards the close of
life, Mr. Whiting's youngest sou became his assistant ; and
during the last twenty years he was much afflicted with the
stone in the bladder, whicii he bore with exemplary pati-
ence. Though he enjoyed scarcely one day of perfect ease
through the whole of this period, he was never hindered
one day from attending upon his public ministerial exer-
cises. He died December 11, 1679, aged eighty-two years.
He was a person of exemplary meekness, holiness, and
peace ; a hard student, and an excellent scholar, especially
in Latin and Hebrew. f He was author of " A Discourse
on the last Judgment," 1664 ; and " Sermons on the
Praver of Abraham."
John Wheelwright was minister at some place in
Lincolnshire, where he was instrumental in the conversion
of many souls, and highly esteemed among serious chris-
tians, but was silenced for his nonconformity. After he was
silenced, he lived privately, for some time, near Lincoln,
but, on account of the oppressions of the times, was obliged
to remove from one place to another.^ Finding no rest for
the sole of his foot, he withdrew from the scenes of persecu-
tion, and retired to New England. We do not, indeed,
find in what particular year he crossed the Atlantic, but it
is certain he was among some of the first settlers in the new
colony. In the year 1629, part of the present state of New
Hampshire in New England was purchased of the Indians,
when a deed was obtained from them by Mr. Wheelw right
and others from Massachusets. Before the year 1637,
■» Mather's Hist, of New Eng. b. iii. p. 157, 158. + Ibid. p. 158—160.
t Life of Mr. Hansard Knollys, p. 11. Edit. 1692.
474 LIVES OF THE PURITANS.
Mr. Wheelwright changed his rehgious sentiments, and
appears to have become too much tinged with antinomianism.
Never were any communities, it is said, in more alarming
danger than the churches of Massachusets about this time ;
and seldom have any measures, to allay a public frenzy,
been more successful than those now adopted. The cause
of these evils was as singular as the effects were alarming.
** Mrs. Hutchinson, a member of the church at Boston, a
woman of ready wit and a bold spirit, had adopted two remark-
able opinions : — 1 . That the person of the HolyGhost dwells in
those who are justified. — 2. That sanctification is no evidence
of justification. From these two sentiments spread numerous
branches : as, that our union with the Holy Ghost is suchy
that we are dead to every spiritual action, having no gifts
nor graces more than hypocrites, nor sanctification, but the
Holy Ghost himself, &c. Mr. Wheelwright, who was her
brother, joined with her."
The news of these things soon spread abroad ; and the
ministers who attended the general court in October, 1636,
made it an object of their attention to converse with Mr.
Wheelwright and others, who had adopted these opinions^
â– when they appeared to discover an accommodating spirit.
Soon after, certain of the members of the church at Boston, who
adopted the new opinions, publicly moved that Mr. Wheel-
wright should be called to be their teacher. This fanned the
flame of opposition. Tlie new opinions still rapidly spread-
ing, the general court, in December, called together the
ministers of the churches to advise with them respecting the
existing divisions. As their passions grew warmer by con-
stant disputation, they became more sanguine in their belief,
bold in their expressions, and multiplied in their novelties.
On public occasions it was now said, that the Holy Ghost
dwelt in believers, as he is in heaven; that a man is justified
before he believes ; that the letter of scripture holds forth
nothing but a covenant of works ; that the covenant of
grace was the spirit of the scripture, which was known only
to believers ; and that the ground of all religion was an
assurance by immediate revelation.
These, and many other things, being so complete a jumble
of nonsense and impiety, as appears almost too tedious to be
read, were accounted of the very first importance ; and all
the congregation of Boston, except four or five, espoused
most of these new opinions. At the next election it was
agreed to put off" all lectures for three weeks, that they might
bring these dissentions to an issue. Previous to this, a general
WHEEUVRIGHT. 475
fast was appointed to be kept in all the churches ; the occa-
sion of which, beside other things, was, " the dissentions in
the churches."* On the day of public fasting, Mr. Cotton,
it is said, preached a very healing sermon from Isa. Iviii. 4. ;
but jSIr. Wheelwright, the other preacher at Boston, + filled
his sermon with bitter invectives against the magistrates and
ministers of tlie country, telling the people, " that they
walked in such a way of salvation as was no better than a
covenant of works." Under his third use, he said, " The
second sort of people that are to be condemned, are all such
as do set themselves against the Lord Jesus Christ : such are
the greatest enemies to the state that can be. If they can
have their wills, you will see what a lamentable state both
church and commonwealth will be in : then we shall have
need of mourning. The Lord cannot endure those that are
enemies to himself, and kingdom, and people, and his
church." He compared them to Jews, Herods, Philistines,
and exhorted such as were imder a covenant of grace to
combat them as their greatest enemies. The above fast was
held January ip, 1637-
!March 9th following, being the next court-day, Mr. Wheel-
wright was brought before the magistrates, who, after liearing
what he could say in defence of his sermon, condemned it
as seditions, and tending to disturb the public peace. They
endeavoured to convince him of his offence, but without
effect ; and allowed him till the next session to consider
whether he would make his submission or abide the sentence
of the court. In the mean time, nearly all the church of
Boston presented a petition to the court, declaring, " That
Mr. Wheelwright had not been guilty of any sedition; that
his doctrine was not seditious, being no other than the ex-
pressions of scripture ; that it had produced no seditious
effects, for his followers had not drawn their swords, nor
endeavoured to rescue their innocent brother : they desired
the court, therefore, to consider the danger of meddling
with the prophets of God, and to remember, that even the
Apostle Paul himself had been called ' a pestilent fellow, a
mover of sedition, and the ringleader of a sect.' " This
petition was presented in the court presently after Mr. Wheel-
wright's censure, signed by above sixty hands, some of whom
were members of the court ; but it was rejected by the
* Morse and Parish's Hist, of New Enjj. p. 61, 142.
+ Mr. Wheelwrigiit was preacher to a branch of the Boston church,
which assembled at Braintree, a place near Boston. — Backups Hist, of
. Now Eng. Bap. vol. i. p. 81.
475 LIVES OF THE PURITANs.
majority, and the chief petitioners were severely punished
for it the next session.*
In the above petition two things were requested : " That a%
free men they might be present in cases of judicature, and
that the court woukl declare, whether they might deal in cases
of conscience before the church." The members of the court
considered this as a reflection upon them, and replied, that
their proceedings had been always open. Mr. Wheelwright
was accused of calling those by the name of antichrist, who
believed sanctiiication to be an evidence of justification,
and of stirring up the people with bitterness and vehemence.
He endeavoured to justify himself; but the court adjudged
him guilty of sedition and contempt. Many pamphlets were
published on both sides of the question. Mr. Wheelwright
published a " Treatise in Defence of his Sermon," to which
the ministers answered, and Mr. Cotton replied. Mr. Wheel-
wright appeared before the court to hear his sentence ; but
they gave him respite till the next session, in August, that he
might have time, it is said, for cool reflection. But he
appeared bold and confident ; and to the court he said, that,
if he had been guilty of sedition, he ought to die ; that he
should retract nothing, but should appeal to the king ; adding,
that he had been guilty neither of sedition nor contempt;
that he had delivered nothing but the truth of Christ, and
the application of his doctrine was made by others, and not
by himself." At length, in October, 1637, the court
sentenced him to be disfranchised, to be banished from