as this pious labour was known, many from the neighbour ing parishes resorted thither to hear him; and it pleased God to make hiín the happy instrument in bringing to the knowledge of salvation, and into the liberty of the children of God, not only those whose bodies were in prison, but those also whose souls, like their's, were in captivity and bondage to sin and satan. His faine, which was afterwards in all the churches, soon spread through Cambridge; and he was chosen to St. Andrew's parish in that town, where he remained an industrious, faithful labourer, till he finally entered into the joy of his Lord. Being settled thus in an university, his hearers consisted of collegians, towns people, and people from the country, which required such a peculiar gift as Providence had bestowed on Mr. Perkins; for in all his discourses he was able to accommodate his stile and phrases to the capacities of the common people; and at the same time the pious scholar could not but admire them. Luther used to say, "That as thunder withour rain did more harm than good; so ministers that preach the terrors of the law, but do not at the same time drop in the dew of Gospel instruction and consolation, are not wise master builders; for they pull down, but build nothing up again." But Mr. Perkins's sermons were said to be "all law, and all Gospel." He was a rare instance of those opposite gifts meeting in so eminent a degree in one and the same preacher-the vehe mence and thunder of a Boanerges, to awaken sinners to a sense of their danger and to drive them from destruction; and the gentle persuasives and comforts of a Barnabas, to pour in the wine and oil, of Gospel consolation into the wounded spirit, which he pointed to Jesus Christ. He had a surprizing talent in perusing books so speedily, that one would think he read nothing; yet so accurately, that one must think he had read all. Besides his frequent preaching, and other ministerial labours, he wrote many excellent books; which, on account of their worth, were many, of them translated into Latin and sent abroad, where they have been greatly admired and valued; and some of them translated into French, High Dutch, and Low Dutch, and his "Reformed Catholic," into Spanish; which, however, so far as we know, was never answered. Voetius, and several of the foreign divines, have mentioned him with great honour; and bishop Hall said of him, "That he ex celled 1 celled in a distinct judgement, and a rare dexterity in clearing the obscure subtleties of the schools, and easy explication of the most perplexed discourses." He was much afflicted with the stone, the frequent attendant on a sedentary life, under which severe complaint he was remarkably patient, In the last fit, a little before his death, hearing a friend pray for a mitigation of his pains; he cried out, "Hold! hold! do not pray so; but pray the Lord to give me faith and patience, and then let him lay on me just what he please." At length patience had its perfect work, and he bade a final and everlasting farewell to all pain of the body and affliction of the soul, and was crowned. with eternal rest and glory, A. D. 1602, in the forty-fourth year of his age. He was born in the first, and died in the last year of the reign of queen Elizabeth. He died rich only in grace, and in the love of God and of good men: yet, like the apostle Paul, (2 Cor. vi. 10.) " however poor, he was ena bled to make many rich." He was buried, with great so lemnity, at the sole expence of Christ's College; the uni versity and the town striving which should shew the most gratitude for his faithful labours among them, or pay the greatest respect to his memory. Doctor Montague preached his funeral sermon on these words; " Moses, my servant, is dead." Joshua i. 2. He was so pious and exemplary in his life and conversas tion, that malice itself could find no ground for scandal or reproach. He was naturally chearful and pleasant; rather reserved towards strangers, but when once acquainted very familiar. He was lame of his right hand; yet with his left hand he wrote two folio volumes, so well, and to so good purpose, that he proved himself an able evangelical divine, and an invincible champion in the Protestant cause, And such was his humanity and condescension, that he not only preached to the prisoners, as we observed before, but accompanied the condemned to the place of execution; and what success he had in this line of his labours, will ap pear from the following example.. A stout young man, going up the ladder, discovered great dejection of spirit, and when he came to the top, and turned round to speak to the people, he looked like one half dead, which Mr. Perkins observing, endeavoured to encourage him; but finding it to be without effect, said, "Man, what is the matter with thee, art thou afraid of death"." Ah, no 4 B 2 (said (said the malefactor, shaking his head) but of a worse thing." "Dost thou so (replied Mr. Perkins) then come down again, and thou shalt see what God's grace will do to strengthen thee." When he came down, Mr. Perkins took him by the hand, and, at the foot of the ladder, they both kneeled down, hand in hand, when Mr. Perkins prayed with so much of the divine presence and with such power, in confession of sin, with its aggravating circumstances, and the horrible and eternal punishment due to the same, according to God's justice, that the poor man burst out into a flood of tears, being broken and contrite in heart; which, when Mr. Perkins observed, he proceeded to the second part of his prayer,, in which he set forth the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of every believing penitent sinner, as stretching forth his arms of mercy and power to save him in his miserable distressed condition, and from all the powers of dark ness, and to give him heaven and glory. This he was enabled to do in so wonderful and successful a manner, that the poor creature continued, indeed, to shed tears; but they were now tears of love, gratitude, and joy, flowing from a belief that all his sins were cancelled by the merciful shedding of his Saviour's blood. And when they rose from prayer, he evidenced so goud and satisfactory a confession, that the spectators lifted up their hands and praised God, for seeing such a glorious display of sovereign grace, in converting, at the eleventh hour, this dying malefactor, who went up the ladder again, with apparently great comfort, and hasting as it were to have the grace he had so lately been made a partaker of, consummated in glory. His works, which are usually bound in two volumes folio, are 1." The Foundation of Christian Religion."-2." A Golden Chain; or, the Description of Divinity."-3. "An Exposition of the Apostle's Creed."-4. "An Exposition of the Lord's Prayer."-5. "A Déclaration, whether a Man be in State of Damnation, or a State of Grace."--6. “ A Case of Conscience." 7. A Direction for the Government of the Tongue."-8. "Two Treatises; one on Repentance, and the other on the Combat of the Flesh and Spirit."-9. " A Treatise how to live well in all Estates and Times, especially when Helps and Comforts fail."-10. "A Treatise on dying well."-11. " A Dis course on the Nature of Conscience.12. "The Reformed Catholic"-13." The true Manner of knowing Christ crucified." 14. "A Grain of Mustard Seed.”—15. " Of true Wealth."— 16. "A Warning against the Idolatry of the last Times."-17. "A Treatise A Treatise of God's Free Grace, and Man's Free Will."-18. "Of Man's Callings."19. "Of Predestination."-20. " Bible Harmony.-21. A Dialogue of the World's Dissolution." In the above list Nos. 7, 8, 13, 14, were translated into Latin by Thomas Drax; and No. 19, written in Latin, is translated into English. Fifteen other pieces were published after his death. PHILIPS, HUMPHREY, M. A. was born at Somerton, in Somersetshire, of a genteel family, and was inclined to the ministry from his youth. He had a severe fit of sickness while at the university, from which God wonderfully recovered him. He afterwards retired into the country for his health, and became chaplain and tutor at Poltimore, near Exeter, the seat of the ancient family of the Bampfields. At the end of the year he returned to the college,, and was soon after chosen Fellow of Mag dalen. At the age of twenty-four he was ordained by Dr. Wild, Mr. Hickman, &c. and preached frequently in the university, and the parts adjacent. Being turned out by the visitors at the restoration, he retired to Sherborn, where he had been two years before assistant to Mr. Bamp field. There he was useful to many, and very successful till the Uniformity Act took place; when both Mr. Bampfield and he preached their farewell sermons, and the place was a Bochim, i. e. a place of mourners. However they did not leave their people, but preached to such as would hear them in a house, till they were apprehended and sent to an inn, which was made a prison for them and twenty-five of their principal hearers; which put them to a considerable expence. They were bound over to the next quarter sessions, and to their good behaviour in the mean time. When they understood that the good behaviour designed, was an obligation not to preach, they openly renounced it, and returned to their work. They went to Mr. T. Bampfield's, at Dunkerton, near Bath, where they preached at first to a small number, but it gradually increased. They were often threatened, but were not discouraged. After some time Mr. F. Bampfield, was apprehended in Dorsetshire, and sent to Dorchester jail. Mr. T. Bampfield and Mr. Philips, now his chaplain, were also sent to Ilchester. The former returned in a month's time; but the latter after eleventh months confinement, was brought from prison, in the depth of winter, winter, and in a heavy snow, to the assizes at Wells, where he met with cruel usage, being put into a chamber, like Noah's ark, full of all sorts of creatures, and laid in a bed with the Bridewell keeper, where the sheets were so wet, as to cling to his flesh. The justice who committed him gave him harsh language; but the judge discharged him, as he had satisfied the law. Whilst he was in prison, there was another disturbance at Mr. T. Bampfield's, by a person of Bath; who, in searching for his ink-horn to take down names, having a pistol in his pocket shot himself in the thigh, which endangered his life, and made him miserable all his days. Mr. Philips having his liberty, went over to Holland with a son of colonel Strode's, a member of parliament, and made a visit to his old acquaintance Mr. Hickman, at Leyden; where he saw the most noted places in Hol land, and conversed with many learned men, particularly the famous Dr. Gisbert Voet, the only surviving member of the synod of Dort. Upon his return to England, Mr. Philips went back again to Dunkerton, where he conti nued to preach with good success, though he met with great difficulties; especially from Mr. Bampfield and his brother, who espoused the seventh day sabbath, and car ried it strangely to him, because of his different sentiments. He continued however his respect to them, and committed his cause to God, who in time made them more charitable to others; though immoveable in their own opinion. He had afterwards various trials and tempta tions; many removals from place to place, and divers bodily infirmities. Fines were often imposed and levied upon him, and he had much trouble from the bishop's court, which drove him from his home to Bristol, London, and other places, for several years, till Charles II.'s Indulgence. He then returned to Sherborn, (to which the good people about Bath were very reluctant,) and for a year was very serviceable there. But on the expiration of the liberty, he met with great disturbance, and was forced away. After several removes he went to his own estate, at Beckington, where he lived many years, preaching to various congregations, far and near; particularly that at Froome, bringing forth fruit in old age. He died March 27, 1707, having been fifty years in the ministry. His funeral sermon was preached by his son-in-law, Mr. John England, on Acts xx. 24. The following are extracts from it: "My t |
