believed.....Such are some of you: believers, not in name and profession only, but in deed and in truth. Such I can heartily confidently and comfortably commend unto God, and leave with him, in full assurance that however things go in Dedham, however things go in England, however things go with yourselves, as to the concerns of this life, it shall be well with you to Eternity.

O that I could think thus, and speak thus, and hope thus of you all! But are there not some among you, who are sinners against the Lord? whom a minister, according to the gospel rule, should rather deliver to Satan? Are there not some of you whose characters are found 1 Cor. vi. 9. Phil. iii. 18? Do you think a minister, after above twenty years spent among such a people, in fruitless labours, can with confidence commend such unto God? O Sirs, what shall I say to you? what shall I do for you?-My heart's desire and prayer for you all is, that you may be saved. I charge you (as holy Mr. Bolton did his children, on his death-bed) that none of you dare to appear before me in the day of judgment, in an unconverted condition. I charge you all from the highest to the lowest, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing....lest these words of mine be brought in on that day as a witness against you. O that God would make this last warning, this last charge, more effectual than a thousand others have been! That as Sampson slew more Philistines at his death, than in all his life, so I might be the happy instrument to save more souls at my departure from you, than in all my life before!"

Mr. GEORGE SMITH was ejected from the same place, and had been fellow-labourer with Mr. Newcomen many years. In 1649 he subscribed the Essex Watch-word, as minister of the gospel at Dedham."

HIGH EASTON [R.] Mr. MARTIN HOLBITCH. From the singularity of the name, there seems to be the highest reason to believe that he had been the master of the celebrated school at Felsted, in this county, and that he was the person to whom Dr. John Wallis, of Oxford refers in his account of his own life, published by Mr. T. Hearne, in his appendix to his preface to Peter Langstoft's Chronicle, 8vo. 1725, where the Dr. signifies," that at Christmas, 1630, he was sent to school to Mr. Martin Holbitch, at Felsted, in Essex, who was a very good schoolmaster, who there taught a free-school, of the foundation of the Earl of Warwick, whose seat at Leez, was within that

parish."

parish." He further says, "that at this school, tho' in a "country village, he had at that time an hundred, or six "score scholars, most of them strangers, sent thither from "other places, upon the reputation of the school; from "whence many good scholars were sent to the university." No notice is taken of him in Newcourt's Rep. But it is possible that notwithstanding this, he might have had this living.

EASTWOOD [V.] Mr. PHILOLOGUS SACHEVerel. Of Oxford University, where he was supported by his half. brother, a great intimate of Mr. William Clopton, mentioned in this county. They were both ill at the same time, but Mr. Clopton died first. Mr. Sacheverel, over-hearing some persons in his room talking of his death, said, "Then there is a good man gone to heaven;" and laying himself down again, died immediately, and they were both buried in the same grave. This minister was great uncle to Dr. Henry Sacheverel, the high-flying church-man.

FELSTED [V.] Mr. NATHANIEL RANEW. Of Eman. Col. Camb. He was some time minister of Little East Cheap, in London, from whence he removed into Essex, where he was of great use in the association. After his ejectment at Felsted, he removed to Billericay, where he constantly preached in the latter part of his life, and died in 1672, aged about 72. He was a judicious divine, and a good historian, which rendered his conversation very entertaining. He was well beloved by the Earl and Countess of Warwick, who allowed him 20l. per ann. during life. The old Earl of Radnor (some time lord-lieutenant of Ireland) had a great respect for him, and admitted him to his intimate acquaintance. He was indeed generally esteemed by those that knew him.

WORKS. Solitude improved by divine Meditation; proving the duty, necessity, excellence and usefulness of it, 8vo. 1670. (One of the best books upon the subject.)

FERIN [V.] Mr. CONSTABLE. Newcourt in his Rep. Eccl. mentions a person of this name at Lindsel vicarage.

FINCHINGFIELD. Mr. HUGH GLOVER. Of Eman. Col. Camb. Newcourt in his Rep. Eccl, has it John Glover. Hugh Glover subscribed the testimony of the Essex ministers in 1648, as minister of Debden. He was a facetious, genteel person, and a very popular preacher, like his predecessor Mr. Stephen Marshal. He did not preach after his ejectment, till the Dissenters had liberty given them, but went to church with his family. He died of a consumption at Bishop's Stortford.

FINGRINHOE [V. 367. 10s.] Mr. GREGG.

FORDHAM [R.] JOHN BULKLEY, M. A. His grandfather was Dr. Edward Bulkley, who had the living of Odehill, in Bedfordshire, (in the gift of Sir T. Alston,) in which his son Peter succeeded him, and continued till the rigours of Abp. Laud drove him away; when he fled to America for shelter, where he was chosen minister at Concord, and wrote his book of the Gospel Covenant.* He brought up three sons to the ministry, Gersham, Edward and John, Edward succeeded his father in New-England, and died there. John, the youngest son, took the degree of M. A. in Harvard college, in 1642. He afterwards came into England, and settled at Fordham, where for some years he exercised his ministry with good acceptance and usefulness. After his ejectment he went to Wapping, in the suburbs of London, where he practised physic several years with good success. He was eminent in learning, and equally so in piety. Tho' he was not often in the pulpit, after his ejectment, he might truly be said to preach every day in the week. His whole life was a continued sermon, He seldom visited his patients without reading a lecture of divinity to them. and praying with them. He was remarkable for the sweetness of his temper, his great integrity and charitableness; but that which gave a lustre to all his other virtues was, his great humility. He died at St. Katherine's, near the Tower, in 1689, in the 70th year of his age, with unusual tranquillity and resignation of mind. Mr. James, of Nightingalelane preached and printed his funeral sermon on Prov. xiv. 32,

*See some account of him in Mather's Hist. of New-Eng. b. iii. p. 96.His first wife was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Allen, of Goldington, near Bedford, whose nephew, Sir Thomas Allen, was Lord Mayor of London, Ib. p. 98.

but

GESTINGTHORP [V. 35l. 5s. 6d. Mr. DAVIS. Newcourt here has ROB. DAVY, A. M. 11 Sept. 1661. (If this was the person intended, he had not been twelvemonths in possession of this living.

HACKWELL [R.] Mr. JOSIAH CHURCH. In 1649, he subscribed to the Essex Watch-word, as Minister of Sea Church,

WORKS. The divine Warrant of Infant Baptism; or Six Arguments for the Baptism of the Infants of Christians. 4to,

1652,

HALSTED [V.] Mr. WILLIAM SPARROW. Of Camb. University. Born in Norfolk, and of good extraction. He was first awakened by the preaching of Mr. Stephen Marshal. He was early in declaring for the congregational discipline; and was a great correspondent of Dr. Owen's. He was a man of considerable learning, and remarkable ministerial gifts: As much reputed thro' the country for a preacher, as Mr. Rogers, of Dedham, had been some time before. He had a numerous auditory on Sabbath-days; and kept up a weekly lecture on the Market-days, to which there was a general resort of the ministers and gentry of those parts, His ministry was blessed of God, to the conversion of many souls. He was noted for being very affable and courteous, and of a most genteel deportment. He died at Norwich. He is not mentioned in Newc. Rep. but his successor is inserted thus: Joh. Redman, S. T. P. 14 Oct. 1662, per inconform. ult. Vic. [This is the case with several other ministers in this county.]

* West HAMSTED. Mr. GREEN. Probably this was Mr. EDWARD GREEN, who subscribed the Testimony of the Essex ministers, 1648. Perhaps the place intended was WEST HAM.

South HANVIL [Q. South Hanningfield R.] Mr. CARDINAL. Most probably he was the person who signed the Essex Testimony in 1648, RICHARD CARDINAL.

HATFIELD Broad-oak [R. 2001.] JOHN WARREN, M A. Of Oxford University. Born Sept. 29, 1621. Mr. Baxter says, "He was a man of great judgment and ministerial abilities, moderation, piety and labour." He came

to

to London in 1642, designing to go beyond sea with some merchants; but Sir T. Barrington, occasionally meeting with him, was so pleased with his conversation, that he prevailed with him to go to Hatfield, in 1643, to succeed their lecturer who was lately dead. There he continued till he was forced away; and tho' he had invitations to several more public places, where he might have had far greater worldly advantage, he refused to remove, being extremely delighted with the conversation of many eminent christians. He often said, that he would not leave Hatfield christians for any place in England. After some time, the minister of the place removing into Norfolk, the whole work devolved upon him. So that he preached constantly three times a week at home, and took his turn in several other lectures, which were kept by a combination of ministers. There was also a monthly meeting of ministers in those parts, of which he was the first promoter, which continued many years, wherein there were disputations and Latin sermons, and determinations which might well have become the divinity schools, or have entertained an academical auditory. After his ejection, Mr. Brooksby was put in his place, by Trin. Col. Camb. He was a moderate man, and there was a good understanding between him and Mr. Warren, who went to church to hear him; afterwards instructing a few persons in his own house. He at length removed to Bishop Stortford, where he continued his useful labours till his strength and intellects failed him and he there exchanged this for a better life, in September, 1696.

He was a general scholar, had a great quickness of apprehension, and clearness of thought; a retentive memory, and a solid judgment. He was an indefatigable student, and had an insight into almost all parts of useful learning. He was an excellent preacher. His style was plain and neat. His words proper and significant. His exhortations and motives both convincing and affecting. He had an excellent delivery, and all the advantages of elocution. He was an admirable expositor; a mighty man in prayer; and an excellent casuist of a very public spirit, a close walker with God, and of great humility. His conversation was always profitable. He had a perfect good-will to all mankind ; seeming to be made up of love and kindness, tenderness and compassion. Tho' he was driven from his habitation as a

disturber