the rest of the London ministers in their protestation against the king's death.* Wood denominates him " a forward preacher." He frequently preached before the parliament, and several of his sermons were afterwards published, one of which is entitled, "Christ's Government in and over his People, delivered before the honourable House of Commons at their Fast, October 26, 1642, on Psalm ii. 6.," 1642. But when he died we have not been able to learn. JOHN WILKINSON, D. D.-This venerable divine was born in the parish of Halifax in Yorkshire, and educated in the university of Oxford, where he was highly celebrated for learning. He became fellow of Magdalen college, was tutor to Prince Henry, and afterwards made principal of Magdalen-hall, in the same university. By his recommendation, the well-known Mr. Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, was taken into the family of Lord Hardwicke, soon after created Earl of Devonshire, in the quality of tutor to his son William Lord Cavendish. Upon the commencement of the civil wars, he espoused the cause of the parliament; and Oxford being garrisoned by the royal forces, he fled to the parliament's quarters, when he was succeeded in the above office by Dr. Thomas Read. But in the year 1646, Dr. Wilkinson was restored; and by an ordinance of parliament, dated May 1, 1647, he was appointed one of the visitors of the university of Oxford. In May, 1648, he was made president of Magdalen college, in the place of Dr. Oliver.|| He did not, however, live long to occupy this public office; for he died January 2, 1649, and his remains were interred in the church of Great Milton in Oxfordshire. Though he was a man of great learning and piety, Dr. Walker is pleased to say, upon the slender authority of a scurrilous and abusive letter written against the puritans, "That he was known not to have preached above once in forty years; that he had outlived the little learning he once possessed; and was become very sport of boys."** How far this account, from so base an authority, and evidently designed to reproach his memory, is worthy of credit, we will not attempt to determine; the Calamy's Contin. vol. ii. p. 743. + Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 895. 1 Neal's Puritans, vol. iii. p. 431. ** Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 127. but certain it is, that the parliament, to whom he was well known, and by whom he was so highly esteemed, formed a very different opinion of him. Fuller observes, "that Dr. Lawrence Humphrey, the famous old puritan, having bequeathed to Magdalen college a considerable sum of gold left in a chest, and not to be opened except in some case of great emergency; Dr. Wil kinson, while he was president, took this gold, and shared it betwixt himself and the fellows of the college. Though one must charitably believe," he adds, " that the matter was not so bad as is reported, yet the most favourable account gave a general distaste." Dr. Heylin says, "the sum amounted to upwards of twelve hundred double pistoles, value sixteen shillings and six-pence each; and that the old doctor had one hundred for his share of the spoil, and the fellows thirty each." But he observes, that, according to tradition, the money was left by the founder of the college, and not by Dr. Humphrey.t Wood says, "the sum amounted to no less than fourteen hundred pounds; and Dr. Henry Wilkinson, the vice-president of the college, not John Wilkinson, was the chief divider of the spoil. JOHN GEREE, A. M.-He was born in Yorkshire, in the year 1600, and educated in Magdalen college, Oxford. His first ministerial labours were at Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. But, says Wood, he was schismatically inclined, and a nonconformist to certain ceremonies of the church of England, for which he was silenced by Bishop Goodman; yet he was so universally beloved, that, after he had received his lordship's censure, he was supported by his brethren. Under this censure he remained a considerable time; but in the year 1641, he was restored to his cure by the committee of religion. In 1645, he became minister of St. Alban's in Hertfordshire; and, having laboured there about four years, was made preacher at St. Faith's under St. Paul's, London. He was a thorough puritan, and at all these places was much followed by those of his own persuasion. He wrote with considerable ability against the baptists, was opposed to the war betwixt the king and parliament, and against taking away the life of the king. He died in the month of February, 1649, aged forty-nine years. His death, * Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 234, § Ibid. p. 64. it is said, was occasioned by his extreme grief for the death of King Charles. Mr. Baxter denominates him "an eminent nonconformist divine." He died poor; but was so exceedingly beloved by his people, that they settled thirty pounds a year upon his widow for life, and behaved very honourably to his children. Mr. Stephen Geree, another puritan divine, was his elder brother. Mr. Arthur Jackson, one of the ejected nonconformists in 1662, was his successor.§ His WORKS. 1. Several Sermons, 1641, &c.-2. Vindiciae voti; or, a Vindication of the true Sense of the National Covenant, in Answer to the Protestant Protested,' 1641.-3. Vindicia Eccl. Anglicana; or, Ten Cases resolved, 1644.-4. Proofs that the King may without Impeachment of his Oath, touching the Clergy, at his Coronation, consent to the Abrogation of Episcopacy, 1646.—— 5. Astrologo-Mastix; or, the Vanity of Judicial Astrology, 1646.6. Vindiciæ Pædo-Baptismi; or, a Vindication of Infant Baptism, 1646.-7. Character of an old English Puritan Nonconformist, 1646. -8. Vindiciæ Vindiciarum; or, a Vindication of his Vindication of Infant Baptism, 1647.-9. A Catechism, 1647.-10. Touching Supremacy in Causes Ecclesiastical, 1647.-11. An Exercise, 1648.12. The Sifter's Sieve Broken, 1648.-13. Answer to John Goodwin's 'Might and Right well met,' 1649. THOMAS SHEPARD, A. M.-This most pious divine was born at Towcester in Northamptonshire, November 5, 1605, and educated in Emanuel college, Cambridge. Here he was brought under deep conviction of sin, and led to receive Jesus Christ for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. This work was wrought chiefly by the instrumentality of the celebrated Dr. Preston. Upon Mr. Shepard's removal from the university, he became lecturer at Earls Colne in Essex, where God greatly blessed his labours, and many souls were converted by his ministry. His labours and his usefulness, however, were of no long continuance; for in about three years he fell into the hands of Bishop Laud, who silenced him for nonconformity, and forced him out of the country. He then retired into the north, and became domestic chaplain to Sir Richard Darly, of Buttercomb in Yorkshire, where his labours were eminently useful to Sir Richard and his family. But Archbishop Neile would not suffer him to preach, without subscription to the ecclesiastical impositions, * Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 65. contrary to his conscience. He next removed to Heddon in Northumberland, where, as in other places, his labours were made a blessing to many souls. But even in this remote corner of the land, the eye of Laud was upon him, and this tyrannical prelate would not suffer him to preach without a perfect conformity to the ecclesiastical injunctions and the new ceremonies. Thus, being shut out from all prospect of future usefulness, he resolved to withdraw from the storm, and retire to New England. Previous to his departure, he very narrowly escaped being taken by the bishop's officers. And, towards the close of the year 1634, having taken shipping at Harwich, the ship had not been many hours at sea before a most tremendous storm arose, in which they were in the utmost danger of being lost. An eminent, but profane officer on the shore, observing their distress, was heard to say, "As for that poor collier, I pity him much: but as for the puritans in the other vessel, bound for New England, I am not concerned; for their faith will save them." The ship at last returned safe into the harbour. The next day Mr. Shepard went ashore to bury his first-born son; but, on account of the watchful pursuivants, who were still anxious to take him, he dare not be present at the funeral.+ In the month of July, 1635, Mr. Shepard, after having again narrowly escaped falling into the hands of the bishop's officers, sailed from Gravesend in company with Mr. Wilson, Mr. Jones, and others, and arrived at Boston in New England, in the beginning of October following. Previous to his arrival, Mr. Hooker and his congregation having removed from Cambridge to the banks of the river Connecticut, Mr. Shepard was chosen pastor of the church at Cambridge, and there continued to the day of his death. When the antinomian and familistic errors broke out in the new, colony, this worthy divine, by his endeavours and influence, was the happy means of stopping the progress of the infectious malady. He was an excellent preacher, and took great pains in his preparations for the pulpit. He used to say, "God will curse that man's It is observed of Dr. Neile, that, when he was Bishop of Lincoln, and when any man preached before King James that had renown of piety, he, unwilling the king should hear him, would in the sermon-time entertain the king with a merry tale, after which he would laugh, and tell those near him, he could not hear the preacher for the old bishop." It is added: "When he was Archbishop of York, his head was so filled with Arminian impiety, that in the next king's reign he was looked upon by the parliament to be one of the great grievances of the kingdom."-Le Neve's Lives, vol. i. part ii. p. 146, 147. + Mather's Hist. of New England, b. iii. p. 84-87. labours who goes idly up and down all the week, and then goes into his study on a Saturday afternoon. God knows that we have not too much time to pray in, and weep in, and get our hearts into a fit frame for the duties of the sabbath." Mr. Shepard's great care and attention to the duties of the pastoral office will appear from the following extracts collected from his diary:-" August 15, 1641, I saw four evils," says he," attending my ministry.-1. The devil treads me down by shame, discouragement, and an apprehension of the unsavoury spirits of the people.-2. I am become too careless, because I have done well, and have been enlarged and respected. 3. Weakness and infirmities: as the want of light, life, and spirit.-4. The want of success.-I saw these things, and have cause to be humbled for them. I have this day found my heart heavy, depressed, and untoward, by musing upon the many evils to come. But I was comforted by recollecting, that though in myself I am a dying, condemned sinner, I am alive and reconciled by Christ; that I am unable to do any thing of myself, yet by Christ I can do all things; and that though I enjoy all these only in part in this world, I shall shortly have them in perfection in heaven. "March 19, 1642; I said, as pride was my sin, so shame would be my punishment. I had many fears of Eli's punishment, for not sharply reproving sin. Here I considered that the Lord may make one good man a terror, and a dreadful example, that all the godly may fear, and not slight his commands as Eli did. "October 10th. When I saw gifts and honours conferred upon others, I began to affect their excellencies. The Lord therefore humbled me, by letting me see, that all this was diabolical pride. And he made me thankful for seeing it, putting me in mind to watch against it in future." His very humble and contrite spirit will appear from the following extracts, written on days of special fasting and prayer:- "November 3rd. I saw sin to be my greatest evil; and that I am vile; but God is good, against whom I have sinned. I saw what cause I had to loathe myself. It was a good day to me. I went to God, and trusted in him. I considered whether all the country did not fare the worse for my sins. I saw it did, and was deeply humbled. "April 4th. May not I be the cause of the church's present sorrows? My heart hath been long at a distance from the Lord. The Lord first sent a terrible storm at sea;. and my deliverance, in being snatched from apparent death, was |