office he held with great reputation and usefulness for the space of fourteen years. He is said to have been fitted by the Lord for this work, and to have been a most able proficient in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, and an orthodox and powerful preacher. He is denominated " one of the greatest masters of oriental learning that New England had ever known."* But having espoused the peculiar sentiments of the baptists, the overseers of the college, in the year 1654, procured his removal from the office of president; when he was succeeded by the worthy Mr. Charles Chauncey. Upon Mr. Dunster's removal from the college, he retired to Scituate, where he died in the year 1659. He had a principal hand in publishing the Psalms in metre for the use of public worship, among the churches of New England; and in his last will and testament he ordered his body to be buried at Cambridge; and, to the honour of his memory, he bequeathed legacies to those very persons who had been the authors of his removal from the place. CHARLES HERLE, A. M.-This excellent divine was born of honourable parents at Prideaux-Herle, near Lystwithyel in Cornwall, in the year 1598, and educated in Exeter college, Oxford. In the year 1618, he took his degrees in arts; and, having finished his studies at the university, he entered upon the ministerial work. He first settled at some place in Devonshire, where, being always accounted a puritan, he suffered persecution on account of his nonconformity. Afterwards, he became rector of Winwick in Lancashire, being one of the richest livings in England. Upon the commencement of the civil war, he took part with the parliament, was elected one of the assembly of divines, and, upon the death of Dr. Twisse, in 1646, was chosen prolocutor to the assembly. He was appointed one of the morning lecturers at the Abbey church, Westminster, one of the licensers of the press, one of the committee for the examination and ordination of ministers, one of the committee of accommodation,|| and one to assist in preparing materials for the confession of faith. On the dissolution of the assembly, he spoke in the name of his brethren, and "thanked the honourable and reverend Scots commissioners for their ass stance; excused, * Backus's Hist. of Baptists, vol. i. p. 282. + Mather's Hist, of New Eng. b. iv. p. 127, 128. Ibid. b. iii. p. 100. Prynne's Breviate of Laud, p. 6. Papers of Accommodation, p. 2. in the best manner he could, the directory's not being so well observed as it ought; and lamented that the assembly had not power to call offenders to an account."* In the year 1647, Hr. Herle and Mr. Stephen Marshall were appointed to attend the commissioners of parliament to Scotland, to give the Scots a just account of the affairs of England. After the king's death, Mr. Herle retired to his flock and stated ministerial exercise at Winwick, where he continued the rest of his days. In the year 1651, the Earl of Derby having raised a regiment of soldiers for Charles II., then on his march from Scotland, he sent Lieutenant Arundal, with about forty horse, to Mr. Herle's house at Winwick, which filled the whole family with the utmost consternation, expecting to be imme diately plundered and ruined. Arriving at his house, Arundal said to Mr. Herle, "My business is to tell you, that the Earl of Derby wishes you to come to him with all speed; and if you will go, there shall be no further trouble to you or your family." Mr. Herle replied, "I will go immediately, and wait upon the right honourable the Earl of Derby, my patron;" and ordered his horse to be brought out. After some kind entertainment of the lieutenant and his soldiers, Mr. Herle accompanied them to the earl's quarters, who received and treated him with the utmost civility. After some friendly conversation with him, his lordship sent him back, attended by a guard of soldiers. It is also observed, that, after the battle of Warrington-bridge, in this year, Arundal's forces being routed, and himself wounded, he retired to Mr. Herle's house, where he was treated with the utmost kindness.t During the above year, Mr. Herle was appointed, together with Mr. Isaac Ambrose, Mr. Edward Gee, and some others, assistant to the commissioners for ejecting ignorant and scandalous ministers and schoolmasters in Lancashire. Dr. Grey says, that, in this office, he acted "with great severity; and how well he was qualified for such dirty work, his public sermons sufficiently testify." He then transcribes from those sermons the following expressions, to prove the charge alleged against him :-" Do justice to the greatest. Saul's sons are not spared; no, nor Agag, nor Benhadad, though themselves kings. Zimri and Cosbi, though princes of the people, must be pursued to their tents. What an army of martyrs has God given to the fire for our reformation at *Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 555. iii. 46. + MS. Chronology, vol. ii, A. D. 1651. Grey's Examination, vol. ii. p. 276. first! What a calendar of traitors has he given to the gallows, for our preservation since!"-Whether these expressions afford sufficient evidence of the doctor's charge, or whether he designed it only to reproach the memory of this celebrated divine, every intelligent reader will easily judge. The character of Mr. Herle is too well established to be at all impaired by any such calumny. He was a moderate presbyterian, exceedingly beloved by his brethren in the ministry, and the author of several practical and controversial writings. Fuller justly denominates him "a good scholar and a deep divine;" and says, " he was so much the christian, the scholar, and the gentleman, that he could agree in affection with those who differed from him in judgment." He died at Winwick, towards the end of September, 1659, aged sixty-one years; and his remains were interred in his own church. Mr. Herle, with the assistance of several other ministers, ordained the famous Mr. John Howe, in his own church at Winwick; on which account Mr. Howe would sometimes say, "that he thought few ip modern times had so primitive an ordination; for he considered Mr. Herle as a primitive bishop." 'the His WORKS.-1. Microcosmography, in Essays and Characters, 1628.-2. Contemplations and Devotions on all the Passages of our Saviour's Passion, 1631.-3. An Answer to misled Dr. Hen. Fearne, according to his own method of his Book, 1642.-4. Several Sermons before the Lords and Commons, 1642, &c.; among which were following:-"A Fayre of Compasses for Church and State, before the Honourable House of Commons, at their monthly Fast, Nov. last, 1642."-" David's Song of three Parts, a Sermon before the Honourable House of Lords, June 15, 1643."-" David's Reserve and Rescue, a Sermon before the Honourable House of Commons, Nov. 5, 1644."– 5. The Independency on Scriptures of the Independency of Churches, wherein the Question of the Independency of Church Government is temperately stated and argued, 1643.-6. Worldly Policy and moral Prudence, the vanity and foily of the one, and the solidity and usefulness of the other, in a moral discourse, 1654. JOHN ROGERS.-This zealous man was first employed in teaching school, then presented to the rectory of Purleigh in Essex, worth about two hundred pounds a year. But it is said he became a nonresident; and, hiring another to supply his place, he removed to London, and became lecturer at * Worthies, part i. p. 25.-Church Hist. b. xi. p. 213. Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 151, 152. Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. ii, p. 81. St. Thomas the Apostle's, but was soon after ejected. This kind of usage very much troubled him, and he petitioned the lords commissioners for his restoration, but without success. He afterwards went to Ireland, most probably with the English army, and was chosen minister of Christ's church, Dublin. But the exact time of his return to England we have not been able to learn. He was a zealous and active man, and in his principles a fifth monarchy-man, and of the baptist persuasion. About the year 1649, he married the daughter of Sir Robert Paine of Huntingdonshire. Wood denominates him "a notorious fifth monarchy-man and an anabaptist, and a busy, pragmatical fellow ;" and says, "he was very zealous to promote a quarrel between his party and Oliver Cromwell, for seeming to unite with them till he had got the reins of government into his own hands, and then leaving them with scorn. He, with Mr. Christopher Feake, one as impudent and forward as himself, were the leaders of their party, and not wanting on all occasions to raise a commotion."+ Mr. Rogers, as well as his brethren, was extremely hostile to Cromwell's government. He openly declared his sentiments against it. In his prayer before the public congregation, he used many such expressions as these: "Hasten the time, when all absolute power shall be devolved into the hands of Christ; when we shall have no lord protector, but one Lord Jesus Christ, the only true protector and defender of the faith. Look in mercy on thy saints at Windsor, who are imprisoned for the truth and testimony of Jesus: be thou their freedom and enlargement." Having repeatedly declared against Cromwell's usurpation, both by preaching and writing, he was apprehended and cast into prison. This was about the year 1654. Mr. Rogers and several of his brethren were confined at Lambeth, when no one of their party was allowed to have access to them. In the "Declaration of several of the churches of Christ," subscribed and published during this year, twenty-five of them are said to have subscribed "in the name of the whole body that walks with Mr. Rogers, now prisoner for this cause of Christ at Lambeth prison."|| Mr. Rogers, after remaining in confinement some time, was * Thurloe's State Papers, vol. iii. p. 485. + Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 442. Thurloe's State Papers, vol. iii, p. 483. Ludlow's Memoirs, vol. iii. p. 490. Edit. 1699. joined by his friends, who presented a petition to Cromwell for his enlargement; upon which he was brought before the protector's council at Whitehall. The council told him that there were high charges against him, and that he was not a prisoner in the cause of Christ, but suffered as a busy-body and an evil doer. His friends desiring that the cause might be debated betwixt the protector and himself, their request was granted. The same evening, therefore, Mr. Rogers was admitted into the presence of Cromwell; and being reminded of the high charge exhibited against him, it is said, he declared that they who brought the charge were drunkards and swearers. But when the protector asked him which of them were, he could name none of them. When the protector pressed him for scripture, in support of his principles and conduct, he said the scripture was positive and privative; and being asked which of the evil kings whom God destroyed, he would compare with the present state, he gave no answer. "Whereupon the protector," our author adds, "shewed what a disproportion there was: those being such as laboured to destroy the people of God, but his work, (speaking of himself,) was to preserve them from destroying one another; and that if the sole power was in the hands of the presbyterians, the fifth monarchy-men, or the persons re-baptized, they would force all their own way: but his work was to keep all the godly of several judgments in peace." When Mr. Rogers spoke against a national ministry and a national church, applying it to what was done in the commonwealth, calling it antichristian, the protector told him it was not so; for a national church endeavoured to force all into one form.* Several persons of respectability and influence having afterwards interceded with the protector for the release of Mr. Rogers, Mr. Feake, and others, or to have them brought to trial; the protector said, that out of mercy he kept them from trial; "because," said he, "if they were to be tried, the law would take away their lives." They were, therefore, sent back to prison. On March 31, 1655, Mr. Rogers, by an order from Cromwell and his council, was removed from his prison in the city to Windsor-castle. Here it is probable he remained a prisoner for some time. He was living in the year 1659; but whether he survived the restoration we have not been able to ascertain. Granger styles him “a great fanatic," adding, "that he was no less popular among the anabaptists and fifth monarchy-men, than Love was Wood's Athenæ Oxon, vol. ii. p. 442. + Ibid. |