Erbery then ministers in a church in Lombard-street. declared, that the wisest ministers and purest churches were at that time befooled, confounded, and defiled by learning. He said, also, that the ministers were monsters, beasts, asses, greedy dogs, and false prophets; that they are the beast with seven heads and ten horns; that Babylon is the church in her ministers; and that the great Whore is the church in her worship. So that with him," he adds, "there was an end of ministers, and churches, and ordinances together. While these things were babbled to and fro, the multitude being of various opinions, began to mutter, and many to cry out, and immediately there was a tumult, wherein the women bore away the bell, but some of them lost their kerchiefs. And the dispute was so hot, that there was more danger of pulling down the church than the ministry." It is observed of Mr. Erbery, by one who appears to have been well acquainted with him, that the four principal things upon which he chiefly dwelt in his ministry, were the following: "That there was a measure of a pure appearance of spirit and truth in the days of the apostles.-That about the latter end of their days, or soon after, the spirit of the Lord withdrew itself, and men substituted an external and carnal worship in its stead.-That this apostacy was not yet removed from the generality of professing christians, notwithstanding their pretence of deliverance; but that they still lay under it, and were likely so to do for some time. That when the appointed season came, the apostacy should be removed, and the new Jerusalem come down from God, of which some glimpse might now appear in particular saints; yet the full view and accomplishment thereof seemed to be at some distance."+ Mr. Baxter denominates him "one of the chief of the anabaptists," and Mr. Neal calls him "a turbulent antinomian ;" whereas he was neither the one nor the other. Primitive baptism, he thought, consisted in going into the water ankle-deep, and not in a total immersion; but judged that none have now any right to administer that ordinance without a fresh commission from heaven. In his views of the trinity he was of the Sabellion cast; and it appears from the general strain of his writings, that he drunk very deep in the spirit of mysticism. He was an admirer of the Athena Oxon. vol. ii. p. 104. + Erbery's Testimony, Pref. 1 Quakers, with whom his wife united, and from whom he expected great things, but did not unite with them. He had formerly laboured under a sore affliction, which had deeply affected his head; previous to which he was a man of good parts and an excellent scholar, zealous and successful in his ministry, and particularly grave and religious in his life. Mr. Christopher Love thus observes: "As for Mr. Erbery, though he is fallen into dangerous opinions ; yet, he being my spiritual father, I do naturally care for him; and my heart cleaves more to him than to any man in the world. I speak to the praise of God, he was the instrument of my conversion nearly twenty years ago, and the means of my education at the university; for which kindness, the half of what I have in the world I could readily part with for his relief. It is true, about eight or nine years since, he was plundered in Wales, and came to see me at Windsor castle; but a son could not make more of a father than I did of him, according to my ability. When I had not twelve pounds in the world, I let him have six of it; and I procured him to be chaplain to Major Skippon's regiment, where he had eight shillings per day." He is characterized by those of his own persuasion, as a holy and harmless person, for which the world hated him. He died in the month of April, 1654, aged fifty years. His WORKS.-1. The great Mysterie of Godliness: Jesus Christ our Lord God and Man, and Man with God, one in Jesus Christ our Lord, 1640.-2. Ministers for Tythes, proving they are no Ministers of the Gospel, 1653.--3. Sermons on several Occasions, one of which is entitled, "The Lord of Hosts," 1653.-4. An Olive Leaf: or, some peaceable Considerations to the Christian Meeting at Christ's Church in London, 1654.-5. The Reign of Christ, and the Saints with him on Earth a Thousand Years, one Day, and the Day at hand, 1654.-6. The Testimony of William Erbery, left upon Record for the Saints of succeeding Ages, 1658.-This contains several of the foregoing pieces. JEREMIAH WHITAKER, A. M.-This excellent person was born at Wakefield in Yorkshire, in the year 1599, and educated in Sidney college, Cambridge, where he was held in high estimation. He was religiously thoughtful from a child; and when a boy at school he used to travel, in company with others, eight or ten miles to hear the gospel, and unite with them in prayer and other religious exercises. Biog. Britan. vol. v. p. 3199. Edit. 1747. + MS. Account. Love's Vindication, p. 36. Edit. 1651. Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 104. He often said, in the days of his youth, "I had much rather be a minister of the gospel than an emperor." While at the university, he made considerable progress in the various branches of useful literature; and, upon his removal, he settled at Oakham in Rutlandshire, where, for some time, he taught school. Here he became intimate with Mr. William Peachy, an eminent scholar and preacher, whose daughter he afterwards married. Having been at Oakham about four years, he accepted the pastoral charge at Stretton in the same county. He naturally cared for the souls of the people, and the preaching of the gospel was his beloved work. His heart was so deeply engaged in the work, that, having received an invitation to become master of a college, he returned this reply: "My heart," said he, "doth more desire to be a constant preacher than to be master of any college in the world." Upon the publication of the Book of Sports, this amiable divine, with multitudes of his brethren, was exposed to the persecution of the ruling prelates. Though, for refusing to read it, he was involved in some difficulties, he happily escaped the malicious threatenings of his enemies. Being afterwards required to afford pecuniary assistance for the purpose of carrying on the war against the Scots, he refused, and openly told the bishop, or his chancellor, that he could not do it with a good conscience; for which, if one of his friends had not paid the money, he would have suffered suspension and deprivation.* Mr. Whitaker, having preached at Stretton thirteen years, was chosen, in the year 1643, one of the assembly of divines. This called him up to London, when he accepted an invitation to the pastoral office of St. Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, in Southwark; and he became one of the morning lecturers at the Abbey church, Westminster. In 1647 he was appointed a member of the first provincial assembly holden in London, and was once chosen to the office of moderator. During the same year, by an order from the house of lords, he was appointed, with Dr. Thomas Goodwin, to have the oversight and examination of the papers to be printed for the assembly of divines.+ The year following he was in danger of being deprived of his lecture at Westminster for refusing the engagement; but, * Clark's Lives annexed to his Martyrologie, p. 264, 265. + Dissenting Brethren's Propositions. on account of his universal esteem and great moderation, he continued unmolested.* This worthy divine, during the latter part of his life, was afflicted with most racking pains, but was of a most humble, meek, and quiet spirit. Under these tormenting agonies, he never murmured, but, in the exercise of faith and patience, was entirely resigned to the will of God. He manifested so excellent a spirit through the whole of his long and painful affliction, that many persons were of opinion that God designed him for a pattern of patience to posterity. When his friends asked him how he did, he usually replied, "The bush is always burning, but not consumed. And though my pains he above the strength of nature, they are not above the supports of grace." About two months before his death, his pains became more extreme than ever, when he cried thus unto the Lord: "O thou Father of mercies, pity me. Do not contend for ever. Consider my frame, that I am but dust. My God, who hast made heaven and earth, help me. Oh! give me patience, and inflict what thou wilt. If my patience was more, my pain would be less. Dear Saviour, why dost thou cover thyself with a thick cloud? Blessed is the man that endureth temptation. Consider, Lord, that I am thy servant. Lord, drop some sweet comfort into these bitter waters. O that the blood of sprinkling may allay my pains! I am in a fiery furnace. Lord, be with me, and bring me out refined from sin. When I have sailed through the ocean of these pains, and look back, I see they are all needful. I fly unto thee, O God! Hide me under the shadow of thy wings, till the terrible storm be overpast. O, my God! break open the prison door, and set my poor captive soul at liberty. But enable me willingly to wait thy time. No man ever more desired life than I desire death. When will that day arrive that I shall neither sin nor sorrow any more? When shall this earthly tabernacle be dissolved, that I may be clothed upon with that house which is from heaven? Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; for they rest from their labours." Through the whole of his affliction he exercised an unshaken confidence in God, and enjoyed an uninterruped assurance of his favour. He called him my Father and my God, and said, "Consider, and save me, for I am thine. How long, * Clark's Lives, p. 266. how long, shall I not be remembered? Yes, I am remembered: blessed be thy name. This is a fiery chariot, but it will carry me to heaven. Blessed be God, who has hitherto supported me; who has delivered me, and will deliver me. As the agonizing fits of pain were coming upon him, he usually said, "Now, in the strength of the Lord God, I will undergo these pains. Oh! my God, put underneath thine everlasting arms, and strengthen me. Notwithstanding all his pains and roarings, he often told his friends, that he would not, for a thousand worlds, exchange states with any man on earth whom he looked upon as living in a state of sin. The grand adversary of souls could never shake his confidence. He often said, "Through mercy, I have not one repining thought against God." As he felt the fits coming on, he requested his friends to withdraw, that they might not be grieved by hearing his groanings; and he blessed God they were not obliged to hear his doleful lamentations. As the period of his dissolution approached, his agonizing fits became more frequent and more painful; but the Lord was, at length, pleased to deliver him out of them all. He died June 1, 1654, aged fifty-five years, and his mortal remains were interred in Bermondsey church, when vast numbers of people honoured his funeral by their attendance. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Simeon Ashe, and afterwards published, entitled, "Living Loves betwixt Christ and Dying Christians. A Sermon preached at M. Magdalene, Be mondsey in Southwark, near London, June 6, 1654, at the Funeral of the faithful Servant of Christ, Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker, Minister of the Gospel, with a Narrative of his exemplary Life and Death," 1654. After Mr. Whitaker's death, his body was opened in the presence of several physicians; when they found both his kidnies full of ulcers, and one of them swelled to an enormous size, and filled with purulent matter. In the neck of his bladder, they found a stone about an inch and half long, and an inch broad, weighing about two ounces, which is supposed to have occasioned his racking pains.+ "He was a constant and an excellent preacher, an universal scholar, an eminent theologian, an able disputant, and much given to acts of charity and liberality." Mr. Leigh says," he was a pious and learned divine, mighty in * Clark's Lives, p. 267-272. +Ibid. p. 273.-Asbe's Fun, Ser. for Mr. Whitaker. Clark's Lives, p. 266. VOL. III. |