"inferior degree the ministers who were governed by bi"shops, succeeded the seventy disciples: That this order

hath been maintained in the church from the times of "the apostles. And herein I appealed to the judgment "of antiquity, and to the judgment of any learned men. "now living; and craved him herein to be satisfied, if "any man of learning could speak to the contrary. (My "Lord of Salisbury [Davenant] is my witness; and so "are all the rest of our company, who spake also in the "same cause. To this there was no answer made by "ANY. Whereupon we conceived that they yielded to "the truth of the protestation.And somewhat I can say "of my own knowledge; for I had conference with di"vers of the best learned in that synod. I told them, "that the cause of all their troubles [viz. of all the dis"sentions occasioned and fomented at that time in the "Dutch church by the Arminians] was this, that they had "not bishops among them; who, by their authority, "might repress turbulent spirits that broached novelties. "Their answer was, That they did much honour and "reverence the good order and discipline of the church "of England; and, with all their hearts, would be glad "to have it established among them; but that could not "be hoped for, in their state, [i. e. being republican, it "could not admit of episcopacy.] Their hope was, that, "seeing they could not do what they desired, God would "be merciful to them, if they did what they could. This was their answer *."

At this learned bishop's return to England, the States sent a letter to K. James, wherein they highly extolled him, and the rest of the divines, for their virtue, learning, piety, and ardent desire of peace. In Theologis porro utriusque Regni vestri omnibus, & singulis, quorum agmen ducit vere Reverendissimus Dominus Georgius Landavensis Episcopus, imago, atque expressa virtutis effigies; eam erudi tionem, pietatem, pacis studium, cumque zelum deprehendimus, ut, cum ipsius beneficii causá Majestati Tuæ multum debeamus, magna pars ipsius beneficii nobis videatur, [q. debeatur] quod ipsi ad nos missi sint.

He likewise behaved so well in every respect, so much to the credit of our nation; that after he came home, he was, upon the translation of Dr Harsnet to Norwich, elected

*We would refer our learned readers, for the opinions of the most refpectable foreign divines upon this fubject, to Spanheim's Mifcell. Sacr. Antiq. Lib. viii. Animadv. 18.

elected to succeed him in the see of Chichester, September 8, 1619, and confirmed the twentieth of the same month. Having at length arrived to the age of sixty-nine, he departed this life in May, 1628, and was buried the twentyseventh of that month, in the choir of his cathedral church at Chichester, near the communion table.

He was a person of solid judgment, and of various reading; well versed in the fathers and schoolmen; wanting nothing that could render him a complete divine. But withal, he was a strenuous opponent to the Papists, a steady, consistent, Calvinist. I loved him (says Mr • Camden), for his excellent proficiency in divinity, and other polite parts of learning.' A valuable character, and from a valuable man! Laudatus à laudato viro. Dr Fuller observes, That his good affections appear in his treatise, entitled, A thankful Remembrance of God's Mercy; solid judgment in his Examination of Sir Christopher Heydon's book; and clear invention in other Juvenile Exercises.'

His WRITINGs are as follow: "I. Heroici characteres, ad illustriss. equitem Henricum Nevillum; i. e. Heroic Characters, addressed to Sir Henry Nevil. Oxon. 1603, 4to. Several of his Latin Verses are also in the University-book of Verses made on the Death of Sir Philip Sidney, in Bodleiomnema, and in other Books. II. Tithes examined, and proved to be due to the Clergy by a Divine Right, Lond. 1606, and 1611, 4to. III. Jurisdiction Regal, Episcopal, Papal: Therein is declared how the Pope hath intruded upon the Jurisdiction of temporal Princes, and of the Church, &c. Lond. 1610, 4to. IV. Consensus Ecclesia Catholica contra Tridentinos, de Scripturis, Ecclesia, Fide, & Gratia, &c. i. e. The Consent of the Universal Church against the council of Trent, on the Scriptures, the Church, Faith, Grace, &c. Lond. 1613, 8vo. dedicated to the Members of Merton-college. V. A thankful Remembrance of God's Mercy: In an historical Collection of the great and merciful Deliverances of the Church and State of England, since the Gospel began here to flourish, from the beginning of Q. Elizabeth. Lond. 1614. The third Edition came out in 1627; and the fourth, in 1630. It contains, a thankful Enumeration of the several Deliverances of this Church and State, from the cruel Plots of the Papists; from the beginning of Q. Elizabeth's reign to the Powder Treason, in 1605. The historical Part is chiefly extracted from Camden's Annals of Q. Elizabeth: And the Book is adorned, at the beginning

beginning of each Chapter, with Figures engraved in Copper, representing the most material Things contained in the ensuing Description. VI. Short Direction to know the true Church. Lond. 1615, &c. 12mo. VII. Oration made at the Hague before the prince of Orange, and the Assembly of the High and Mighty Lords, the States General. Lond. 1619, in one sheet and a half, 4to. VIII. Astrologimania: The Madness of astrologers, or, An Examination of Sir Christopher Heydon's Book, entitled, A Defence of judiciary Astrology. Written about the year 1604, and published at London, 1624, 4to. by Thomas Vicars, B. D. who had married the Author's daughter. It was reprinted at London, 1651. IX. Examination of those Things, wherein the Author of the late Appeal [Montague] holdeth the Doctrine of Pelagians and Arminians, to be the Doctrines of the church of England. Lond. 1626, and 1636, 4to. X. A joint Attestation avowing that the Discipline of the Church of England was not impeached by the Synod of Dort. Lond. 1626, 4to. XI. Vita Bernardi Gilpini, viri sanctiss. famaque apud Anglos aquilonares celeberrimi. Lond. 1628, 4to. inserted in Dr W. Bates's Collection of Lives. Lond. 1681, 4to. It was also published in English, under this title, The Life of Bernard Gilpin, a man most holy and renowned among the Northern English. Lond, 1629, 4to, and 1636, 8vo. XII. Testimony concerning the Presbyterian Discipline in the Low countries and Episcopal Government in England. Printed several times in 4to. and 8vo. and at London in particular, in 1642, in one sheet. XIII. Latin Letter to Mr Camden, containing some Notes and Observations on his Britannia. Printed by Dr T. Smith, amongst Camdeni Epistole. No. 80. Several Sermons. XIV. He had also a hand in the Dutch Annotations, and the New Translation of the Bible, undertaken by order of the synod of Dort, but not completed and published till 1637.”

JOHN

JOHN PRESTON, D. D.

THIS learned and excellent divine descended of the ancient family of the Prestons, of Preston, in Lancashire, was born at Heyford, in Northamptonshire, in the year 1587. He received the first rudiments of his education at the free-school in Northampton; but, in order to be better instructed in Greek, he was afterwards sent to a school in Bedfordshire. At the age of seventeen, he was admitted of King's-college, Cambridge; where, according to the complexion of that college at that time, he learnt music: But he soon removed to Queen's-college, under the care of Oliver Bowles, who was a pious and learned man, and reputed a very able tutor : Under his tuition he became a hard student in philosophy and polite literature. He studied almost every thing, and even judicial astrology, and the planetary nature and power of herbs and plants, and attained to such a knowledge in simples, and compounding of medicines, that it used to be said, If he had failed in divinity, he might have been another Butler, who was an eminent physician of that age. He entertained great hopes of raising himself in the state; looking upon the study of divinity, as a kind of honest, but silly unmeaning study in itself, and much below the consideration of a great mind: But the Lord frustrated all his attempts to get into the line of promotion in the state, and at length providentially brought him to hear a sermon preached by Mr Cotton, fellow of Emmanuel-college. His reflections on this discourse made impressions on him so happy and abiding, as to cure his thirst after court-preferment, and bring him into the ministry of the gospel; a profession which he had before not a little despised.

In 1609, that is, five years after his first admission into the university, and the twenty-second of his age; on account of his extraordinary learning and parts, he was patronized by the bishop of Ely, and admitted fellow of his own college. He was a good logician and able disputant, and had a principal part allotted him in the disputations at the commencement before K. James I. The king was so well pleased, and particularly with Preston, that he re

solved soon to pay Cambridge a second visit, which proved an opening at court for Preston, if he had now been willing; and many great people put him in mind of it, and promised him their assistance. Sir Fulke Greville, afterwards lord Brook, was so much pleased with him, that, after other demonstrations of regard, he settled fifty pounds a year upon him, and was his friend while he lived.

Preston's conduct, in not eagerly improving this opportunity of the royal favour, became matter of speculation. He was naturally reserved, so that few knew what a change Mr Cotton's sermon had wrought, respecting his views in life: Some attributed it to his modesty, some to a degree of melancholy, and others to the attention and delight he took in his pupils, who now began to come from all parts; but certain politicians were persuaded, that it was from some inclination to Puritanism, (a name not favourable to the views of court interest); for it could not be (said they) that he should let so fair an opportunity slip, if he had not something else in view.' Mr Preston had indeed the King of kings in view, and his glory; and having found the treasure in the field of the gospel, he wisely sold all things that stood in competition with its purchase. He preferred spiritual, heavenly, and eternal riches and honour to all that the world calls great and good. This act of crucifixion to the world was interpreted much in his favour by good men; and he was further confirmed in their good opinion, from a circumstance that happened, upon the king's second visit to Cambridge.

It was proposed to entertain his Majesty with a comedy; and one of Mr Preston's pupils was nominated to support a female character, being a fair modest young gentleman; and leave was requested of Mr Preston for that purpose. But he answered, "I do not like the motion; I cannot believe his friends intended he should be a play"er, and therefore I beg to be excused." This instance of care and fidelity to his pupil, raised his reputation to such a pitch, that he was thought the fittest tutor in the university; and many great men had an eye to him for their sons and relations.

There is an observation, which was true in Mr Preston, that there is usually no moderation in men of great parts. Mr Preston in his youth would not sleep, but laid the bed-clothes upon him in such a manner that they should fall off, that the cold might wake him; but now, through the many labours public and private, the many hours al

lotted