brethren. He was mighty in the scriptures, and an interpreter one of a thousand. He was an accomplished scholar, a perfect master of the Greek, an excellent philologist, and an admirable orator. He was a ready and close disputant, and approved himself, to the admiration of many, in the treaties of Uxbridge and the Isle of Wight. He was a solid, judicious, and orthodox divine, mighty in points of controversy, giving a death-wound to error. His spiritual and powerful ministry was principally upon the doctrine of justification, debasing man and exalting the Saviour. He wished to die praying or preaching. That which would have made some keep their beds, did not keep him out of the pulpit: and as he preached, so he lived and died. He was of an heroical and undaunted spirit; and, like Luther, nothing would hinder him from a courageous and conscientious discharge of his duty. He was accounted" the very prince of preachers, a thorough Calvinist, and a bold, honest man, void of pride and flattery."+ Fuller styles him "an excellent preacher, and the very champion of the assembly;" and adds, "that he was constant to his principles, yet moderate and charitable towards those who differed from him." Wood says nothing of him, only denominates him a zealous puritan.§

Dr. Grey insinuates a reflection on the simplicity and integrity of Mr. Vines, by a story of his praying in the morning of an Easter Sunday, before the Marquis of Hertford, for the king's restoration to his throne and regal rights: but, in the afternoon, when the Marquis was absent, and Lord Fairfax come to church, he prayed in stylo parliamentario, that God would turn the heart of the king, and give him grace to repent of his grievous sins, especially all the blood he had shed in those civil, uncivil wars. On this it was observed, that Mr. Vines was much more altered between the forenoon and afternoon, than the difference between an English marquis and an Irish baron. The reader, however, will easily perceive, that each of these prayers might have been very consistently offered up by the same person.

When Mr. Vines was schoolmaster at Hinckley, he had for one of his pupils Mr. John Cleiveland, a noted royalist and popular poet in the reign of Charles I., who, it is said, "owed the heaving of his natural fancy, by the choicest elegancies in

Jacombe's Fun. Ser. for Mr. Vines.

+ Clark's Lives, part i. p. 48–51. Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. 134, 135. Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 891.

Grey's Examination, vol. iii. p. 175, 176.

Greek and Latin, to Mr. Vines."-A few days before the death of our pious divine, as he was preaching at St. Gregory's church, a rude fellow cried aloud to him, "Lift up your voice, for I cannot hear you:" to whom Mr. Vines replied, "Lift up your ears, for I can speak no louder.”+

His WORKS.-1. A Treatise on the Sacrament, 1657.-2. Christ the Christian's only Gain, 1661.-3. God's Drawing and Man's Coming to Christ, 1662.-4. The Saint's Nearness to God, 1662.— 5. Iuneral Sermon for the Earl of Essex.-6. Funeral Sermon for Mr. William Strong.-7. Caleb's Integrity in following the Lord fully, a Sermon before the Honourable House of Commons, at their late solemn Fast, Nov. 30, 1642.-8. The Posture of David's Spirit, when he was in a Doubtful Condition, a Sermon before the Commons, 1644. -9. The Happiness of Israel, a Sermon before both Houses, 1645.— He was author of some other Sermons.

HUGH ROBINSON, D. D.-This learned person was born in St. Mary's parish, Anglesea, and educated first at Wickham school, then at New College, Oxford, where he took his degrees in arts, and was admitted perpetual fellow. After finishing his studies at the university, he was chosen principal master of Winchester school; and, taking his degrees in divinity, he became archdeacon of Winton, canon of Wells, and archdeacon of Gloucester. In the beginning of the civil war he lost all his preferment, joined himself to the puritans, espoused the cause of the parliament, took the covenant, and afterwards became rector of Hinton, near Winchester. He was an excellent linguist, an able divine, and very well skilled in ancient history. He died March 30, 1655; and his remains were interred in the chancel of St. Giles's in the Fields, London.

His WORKS.-1. Pieces, written for the Use of the Children of Winchester School, in Latin and English, 1616.-2. Grammaticalia quædam, in Latin and English, 1616.-3. Antiquæ Historiæ Synopsis, 1616.-4. The Latin Phrases of Winchester School, 1654.5. Annalium Mundi Universalium, 1677.-He also wrote a piece in Vindication of the Covenant.

* Biog. Britan, vol. iii. p. 628. Edit. 1778.

+ Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. 135.

Wood's Athens Oxon, vol. ii. p. 117.

JOHN ANGEL, A. M.-This pious divine was born in Gloucestershire, and educated in Magdalen-hall, Oxford. Having taken his degrees, he left the university and entered upon the ministerial work. Previous to the year 1629, Mr. Higginson, being chosen by the mayor and aldermen of Leicester to be the town preacher, but refusing the office, on account of his growing nonconformity, he recommended Mr. Angel, then a learned and pious conformist, to their approbation. They accordingly made choice of him; when he removed to Leicester, and continued in the office of public lecturer, with some interruption, upwards of twenty years. Though at first he was conformable to the established church, he afterwards imbibed the principles of the puritans, and became a sufferer in the common cause. Archbishop Laud, giving an account of his province in the year 1634, observes, "That in Leicester the dean of the arches suspended one Angel, who hath continued a lecturer in that great town for divers years, without any license at all to preach; yet took liberty enough." His grace adds, "I doubt his violence hath cracked his brain, and do therefore use him the more tenderly, because I see the hand of God hath overtaken him." Mr, Angel most assuredly had the license of those who employed him, and who paid him for his labours, though he might not have the formal allowance of his diocesan or the archbishop. What his lordship can mean by insinuating that "his violence had cracked his brain, and the hand of God having overtaken him," is not very easy to understand. If he laboured under some afflictive, mental, or bodily disorder, as the words seem to intimate, he was surely more deserving of sympathy and compassion than a heavy ecclesiastical censure. But the fact most probably was, that Mr. Angel was deeply involved in spiritual darkness about his own state, and in painful uncertainty concerning his own salvation. "For," says Mr. Clark, "there was a great light, Mr. Angel, formerly of Leicester, afterwards of Grantham, but now with God, who being under a sore and grievous desertion, received much comfort from the conversation of Mr. Richard Vines." This undoubtedly refers to the same affliction.

Though it does not appear how long Mr. Angel continued under suspension, he was afterwards restored to his ministry; and he continued his lecture till the year 1650, when he was

Mather's Hist, of New Eng. b. iii. p. 73.

+ Wharton's Troubles of Land, vol. i. p. 531. Clark's Lives, last vol. part i, p. 50.

turned out for refusing the engagement. About the same time the company of mercers in London made choice of him as public lecturer at Grantham in Lincolnshire; and not long after he was appointed assistant to the commissioners of that county, for ejecting ignorant and scandalous ministers and schoolmasters, but did not long survive the appointment. He died in the beginning of June, 1655, when his remains. were interred in Grantham church. Having gained a distinguished reputation, and being so exceedingly beloved while he lived, his funeral was attended by a great number of ministers, when Mr. Lawrence Sarson delivered an oration at his grave, in high commendation of his character. Wood denominates him " a frequent and painful preacher; a man mighty in word and doctrine among the puritans ;" and adds, "that as his name was Angel, so he was a man indeed of angelical understanding and holiness, a burning and shining light, and he continued to shine as a burning light, until God translated him to shine as a star in the kingdom of heaven for ever."* Mr. Henry Vaughan, ejected at the restoration, was his successor at Grantham.t

His WORKS.-1. The right ordering of the Conversation, 1659.— 2. Funeral Sermon at the Burial of John Lord Darcey, 1659.3. Preparation for the Communion, 1659.-4. The right Government of the Thoughts; or, a Discovery of all vain, unprofitable, idle, and wicked Thoughts, 1659.

RALPH ROBINSON.-This holy minister was born at Heswall in Cheshire, in the month of June, 1614, and educated in Katherine-hall, Cambridge. Here, for several years, he made good use of his time and academical advantages, and came forth well qualified for the ministry. Upon the commencement of the national confusions, in 1642, he left the university and went to London, where he gained considerable reputation. Being richly furnished with gifts and graces, he was greatly beloved by the London ministers, and his preaching rendered him exceedingly popular. He accepted an invitation to the pastoral charge at St. Mary's, Woolnoth, and was ordained presbyter, by fasting and prayer and the imposition of hands. In the year 1647 he was chosen one of the scribes to the first provincial assembly in London. In 1648 he united with the London ministers in

• Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 118.

+ Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. ii. p. 417.

declaring against the king's death. And in 1651 he was concerned in Love's plot; but, upon his petitioning for pardon, and promising submission to the existing government in future, he was released.+

Mr. Robinson died in the meridian of life. When he was seized with his last sickness, having no great degree of pain, he was unapprehensive of his approaching change. When he was requested to make his will, he said, "I will do it with all readiness, though I perceive not myself in any danger of death :" adding, "I pray you flatter me not. If my physician apprehend danger, let me know it; for, I bless God, the thoughts of death are not dreadful to me." To an intimate friend he said, "I bless God, I have loved fasting and prayer with all my heart.". And being asked what was the present state of his mind, he replied, "Though I have not ravishing joys, I enjoy uninterrupted and satisfying peace; not in the least questioning my everlasting happiness, through the grace of God in Christ Jesus." Being reminded of the rest to be found in the bosom of Christ, he said, "Oh! true rest can be found no where else;" with which words he breathed his last, June 15, 1655, aged forty-one years. He was a person of exemplary piety; and, in his judgment and practice, a thorough presbyterian, and ever true and steady to his principles. He was an indefatigable, orthodox, and useful preacher; a loving husband, a tender father, a vigilant pastor, a cheerful companion, and a faithful friend. Many poems and elegies were published on his death. He was author of the following works: "Self Conduct; or, the Saint's Guidance to Glory, opened in a Sermon at the Funeral of the virtuous and religious Gentlewoman, Mrs. Thomasin Barnardiston," 1654.-"The Christian completely Armed,” 1656." Christ All and in All,” 1656.

NATHANIEL ROGERS.-This excellent minister was born at Haverhil in Suffolk, about the year 1598; and at the age of fourteen was sent to Emanuel college, Cambridge, where he became a hard student, made great proficiency in all kinds of useful learning, and was a great ornament to the college. He was son of Mr. John Rogers, famous for his ministry and nonconformity at Dedham in Essex. Under the pious

Calamy's Contin. vol. ii. p 744.

+ Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol, ii. p. 77.

Ashe's Fun. Ser. for Mr. Robinson, entitled, “The Good Man's Death Lamented."-Clark's Lives, last vol. part i. p. 57-60.