was highly esteemed, and was one of the first books published in New England. Mr. Bulkly was twice married. By his first wife he had nine sons and two daughters; and by his second wife, the amiable daughter of Sir Richard Chitwood, he had three sons and one daughter. Old age, and its numerous infirmities, at length coming upon him, put an end to his zealous and useful labours. He was afraid of out-living his work, and died March 9, 1659, aged seventy-seven years. He was an excellent scholar, a thundering preacher, a judicious divine, a strict observer of the sabbath, an exemplary christian, and one who was esteemed as a father, a prophet, and a counsellor in the new commonwealth. He had three sons employed in the ministry, Gresham, Edward, and John. Edward succeeded his father as pastor of the church at Concord, where he died. John, his youngest son, was educated, and took his degrees, in Harvard college; and, coming to England, settled in the ministry in this country, but was ejected by the act of uniformity in 1662.+ SAMUEL JACOMB, B. D.-This learned divine was born at Burton-Lazers in Leicestershire, and educated in Queen's college, Cambridge; of which, in the year 1648, he was chosen fellow. By the religious instruction of his pious parents, together with his attendance upon the ministry of Mr. Ludlam, he was brought under serious concern for his soul at a very early period. Having resolved to employ himself in the ministry, he became a hard student, a good scholar, and an excellent divine. His preaching while at the university was much admired and followed by the collegians and others. He was possessed of popular talents, and was appointed one of the university preachers by the authority of the parliament. Mr. Jacomb continued at Cambridge about twelve years. Afterwards, he removed to London, and was chosen pastor at St. Mary Woolnoth, in Lombard-street. In this situation, his excellent endowments were much esteemed and admired, as well by his brethren in the ministry as by the people of his charge. His sermons were so demonstrative, that they were sufficient to convince an atheist; so clear, as to enlighten the most ignorant; so awakening, as to rouse the most careless; so persuasive, as to charm the most obdurate; „so Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b. iii. p. 97. + Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. ii. p. 200. fervent, as to awaken the most formal; and so discreet, as to In conreduce the most fiery zealot to a proper temper. versation he was grave, humble, cheerful, affable, serious, and affectionate. However, with, these excellent qualifications, he did not live four years after his removal to London. During his last sickness, he felt happily resigned to his heavenly Father's will. "God is wise," said he, "therefore let him do with me as seemeth him good." His complaint beginning to affect his head, and to becloud his mind, he was exercised with fears, and said, "This is the only thing that troubles me, lest I should lose my understanding; but my Saviour intercedes for me: he doth, he doth." His fears were altogether groundless. He enjoyed the perfect use of his mental powers, with solid peace and comfort to the last. His last words were, There remaineth a rest for the people of God. He died in the month of June, 1659. He lived and died a nonconformist to the church of England. And he appears to have been brother to Dr. Thomas Jacomb, the ejected nonconformist. Mr. Jacomb published, "Moses his Death, a Sermon preached at Christ's Church in London, at the funeral of Mr. Edward Bright, Minister there," 1657. He was author of two or three other Sermons. Mr. Patrick preached and published his funeral sermon, from which part of this brief memoir is collected. THOMAS CAWTON, A. M.-This excellent divine was born at Rainham in Norfolk, in the year 1605, and educated in Queen's college, Cambridge. He was desirous of the ministerial work from a child, and was patronized and supported at the university by Sir Roger Townshend. He made uncommon progress in the knowledge of the arts, the languages, and divinity; and his piety was so remarkable, that it became a proverb in the university. The profane scholars used to stigmatize those who were religiously inclined "as poisoned by Cawton's faction, and as becoming Cawtonists." Having continued seven years at the university, he removed to Ashwell, about twelve miles from Cambridge, to live in the house of Mr. Herbert Palmer, another celebrated puritan. His principal object in this removal was the study of divinity, in which he made a remarkable proficiency, and occasionally assisted Mr. Palmer in the exercises of the pulpit. After Nichols's Hist. of Leicestershire, vol. ii. p. 270. wards, he became domestic chaplain to Sir William Armin, of Orton in Nothamptonshire; where he was exceedingly beloved for his piety, abilities, and faithfulness. Having continued in this situation four years, he, in the year 1637, became rector of Wivenhoe in Essex,* being presented to the living by Sir Roger Townshend. When he entered upon his charge at Wivenhoe, it was a place remarkable for drunkenness, swearing, sabbath-breaking, and almost every other scene of profaneness; but, by the blessing of God upon his faithful labours and exemplary deportment, it soon became equally remarkable for sobriety, the observation of the sabbath, and unfeigned piety. The inhabitants of the town usually brought their fish to sell on the sabbath day, when they kept their market near the church-doors. Mr. Cawton's righteous soul was sorely vexed with their ungodly ways; and, by his faithful and unwearied endeavours, the evil practice was abolished, and a happy reformation followed. It is further added, that he was the means of bringing great numbers to the saving knowledge of the gospel; and that no minister was ever more beloved by his people. He married the daughter of Mr. William Jenkin, the ejected nonconformist. Mr. Cawton having continued his ministerial labours at the above place about seven years, his health began visibly to decline, when he was advised to remove to some other situation, particularly for a change of air; and receiving, about the same time, an invitation to Bartholomew's church, behind the Exchange, London, he removed to the metropolis. The change proved happily instrumental in the restoration of his health, and the means of preventing the return of the ague. In London, Sir Harbottle Grimstone, who lived in his parish, was his constant hearer and his very good friend. In the year 1648, he united with the London ministers in their declaration against the king's death: and, the same year, was brought into trouble for his zeal in the royal cause. Being invited by the lord mayor and aldermen, to preach at Mercer's chapel, he prayed for the royal family, especially for king Charles II., whom he considered as the legal sovereign: but delivered nothing offensive in his sermon. His prayer, however, proved offensive to the ruling party. The day following, the council of state issued a warrant to apprehend him.§ → Newcourt's Repert. Eccl. vol. ii. p. 679. + Life of Mr. Cawton, p. 1-22. Edit. 1662. Calamy's Contin. vol. ii. p. 743. The warrant, dated from Derby-house, February 26, 1648, was the following:-" These are to will and require you forthwith, upon sight "hereof, to make speedy repair unto any such place where you shall Upon his appearance before his judges, he was charged with having proclaimed the young king; and that, according to the existing laws, he was guilty of high treason. He was, therefore, required to make his humble submission, and to retract what, he had uttered, as the indispensable condition of his release. This Mr. Cawton refused to do, saying, "If I have done any thing not becoming a minister of the gospel, I hope I should be willing to recant." He was then sent prisoner to the Gatehouse, where he continued about six months. But the parliament's forces in Ireland having obtained a signal victory, the house of commons resolved that a certain number of prisoners, and Mr. Cawton among the rest, should be set at liberty, as a testimony of thankfulness to God. He was accordingly released, August 14, 1649.* Mr. Cawton having obtained his liberty, returned to his family and his flock, and continued for some time in the zealous and laborious observance of his ministerial duties. But in the year 1651, being deeply concerned in Love's plot,+ he fled to Holland, together with Mr. James Nalton. Upon their arrival, the English church at Rotterdam being destitute of a pastor, they were chosen co-pastors to the society. Mr. Nalton, afterwards one of the ejected nonconformists, having leave to come back, returned home; but Mr. Cawton not enjoying the same privilege, remained at Rotterdam to the day of his death. His fame, both as a preacher and a scholar, soon spread through the United Provinces. He shone as a star of the first magnitude, and was highly esteemed by the Dutch, French, and English ministers in those parts. He presently became intimately acquainted with the learned Voetius, Leusden, Uchtman, Hulsius, and others, highly celebrated for piety and literature. The publication of those famous works," Walton's Polyglot Bible," and "Castell's Lexicon Heptaglotton," were greatly indebted to his encouragement and exertions. In the year 1658, he received a ❝ understand the person of Mr. Thomas Cawton to be, who preached "before the lord mayor yesterday; and him you are to apprehend, and "bring into safe custody, before the council of state, for seditious preach"ing; hereof you are not to fail, and for so doing this shall be your "sufficient warrant."-Life of Mr. Cawton, p. 27. * Life of Mr. Cawton, p. 22—42. + See Art. Christopher Love. Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. i. p. 142. Life of Mr. Cawton, p. 42-66.-The former of these learned works was printed in six volumes folio, and was the first book published in England by subscription. The latter cost the author the assiduous labour of seventeen years. His unwearied diligence employed in this undertaking injured his health, and impaired his constitution; and the immense letter from Charles II., then at Brussels, in which his majesty attempts to acquit himself of being at all inclined to popery, and urges Mr. Cawton to use his utmost endeavours to suppress all such unworthy aspersions. At length, Mr. Cawton having served the Lord seven years at Cambridge, seven years at Wivenhoe, seven years in London, and seven years in Holland, died at Rotterdam of a fit of the palsy, August 7, 1659, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. He was a laborious student, an excellent logician, and an incomparable linguist. He had a most exact knowledge of the Greek, Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic; and was familiar in the Dutch, Saxon, Italian, Spanish, and French languages. But that which made his excellent abilities and literature appear to the greatest advantage, was his eminent piety and holy conversation. He was highly distinguished for his faith, patience, sincerity, self-denial, and hospitality. As a minister, he was laborious, affectionate, and faithful; as a master, he was the teacher and governor of his house; as a husband, he was affectionate and tenderhearted; as a father, he was ever careful to promote the best interests of his children; and, it is added," he was a great honour to his profession, and a pattern of virtue in every social relation. He had few equals in learning, and scarcely a superior in piety." Wood says, "he was a learned and religious puritan," which is no mean character from his unworthy pen. The learned Mr. Thomas Cawton, one of the ejected nonconformists in 1662, was his son. He trod in the footsteps of his father, whose life he published in 1662, with the sermon annexed which his father preached at Mercer's chapel, February 25, 1648, entitled, "God's Rule for a Godly Life; or, a Gospel-Conversation opened and applied," from Phil. i. 27. HENRY DUNSTER.-This person was a pious and learned divine, who, to escape the persecutions of Archbishop Laud, retired to New England in 1640. Upon his arrival, he was chosen president of Harvard college, Cambridge; which expense attending it entirely ruined him of his fortune. He spent upon it upwards of twelve thousand pounds. The author only received a very poor reward for his incredible and indeed Herculean labours.—Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. iii. p. 29.-Biographia Britannica, vol. iii. p. 310. Edit. 1778. Life of Mr. Cawton. p. 78-80. + Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. iii. p. 47. Palmer's Noncon, Mem. vol. i. p. 252. + Ibid. p. 7, 31, &c. { Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 432. |