accompanied by the greater part of his congregation, he returned to England, and settled in London, where they gained many proselytes, and became, as it is conjectured, the first GENERAL BAPTIST Society in England. However, to justify their conduct in returning home, Mr. Helwisse published "A Short Declaration," in which he stated in what cases it was lawful to flee in times of persecution. To this, also, Mr. Robinson published a reply.

In the year 1615, Mr. Helwisse and his church in London, published a treatise, entitled, "Persecution for Religion, Judged and Condemned." Though there was no name prefixed to it, they were certainly its authors.* In this work, besides defending their own opinions as baptists, and attempting to clear themselves of several false charges, they endeavour to expose the evil of persecution. They maintain, that every man has an equal right to judge for himself in all matters of religion; and that to persecute any person, on account of his religion, is illegal, and antichristian. They acknowledge that civil magistrates are of divine appointment; and that kings, and such as are in authority, ought to be obeyed in all civil matters. But that against which they chiefly protest, is the pride, luxury, and oppression of the lordly bishops, and their pretended spiritual power, by which many were exposed to confiscation of goods, long and painful imprisonment, hungering, burning, and banishment. "It is no small persecution," say they, "to lie many years in filthy prisons, in hunger, cold, idleness, divided from wife, family and calling, and left in continual miseries and temptations: so that death to many would be less persecution. How many, only for seeking reformation in religion, have been put to death by your power (meaning the bishops) in the days of Queen Elizabeth? And how many have been consumed to death in prisons? Hath not hungering, burning, exile, imprisonments, and all kinds of contempt been used? It is most grievous cruelty to lie several years in most noisome and

* Crosby's Hist. of Baptists, vol. i. p. 269–273.

+ Bishop Warburton's opinion of persecution is very singular. “The exacting conformity of the ministry by the governors of the church," says he, "is no persecution." This is certainly a strange sentiment to come from the pen of a protestant prelate. Admitting this principle, there was no persecution in the reign of Queen Mary. It was no persecution, when the Jewish sanhedrim agreed, "That if any man did confess that Jesus was the Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.' "It was no persecution, when the parliament imposed the Scot's covenant.-Neal's ̧ Puritans, vol. i. p. 319.

filthy prisons, and continual temptations, being ruined in their estates, and many of them never coming out till death."

This was a bold protestation against the illegal and iniquitous proceedings of the ruling prelates, and a noble stand in defence of religious liberty. For making the above generous principles the foundation of their practice, they were grievously harassed in the ecclesiastical courts; when their goods were seized, and they were many years confined in loathsome jails, being deprived of their wives, children and friends, till the Lord was pleased to release some of them by death. Mr. Helwisse had his share in these barbarous oppressions. Being a leading person among the nonconformists of the baptist persuasion, he felt the inhuman cruelties of the spiritual rulers, but went forwards, as he had opportunity, with courage and success. He died most probably about the year 1620.+

THOMAS WILSON.-This learned and pious divine was many years minister of St. George's church, Canterbury, one of the six preachers in that city, chaplain to Lord Wotton, and a man of high reputation. He was a person deservedly famous in his time, preaching regularly three times, and occasionally every day, in the week. He was a hard student, endowed with a healthy constitution and a strong memory. As his gifts were more than ordinary, so were his trials. He had to contend with open enemies, false teachers, and notorious heretics, against whom he boldly defended the truth, detecting and refuting their errors. He was troubled with certain false brethren, who secretly endeavoured to promote his ruin; but the Lord delivered him out of their hands. He was once complained of to Archbishop Abbot, for nonconformity; but, through the kind interference and endeavours of Lord Wotton, he escaped the snare. He used to say, "That so long as idolatry is publicly tolerated in the land, public judgments will not cease. His great concern for the welfare of his flock was manifest by his frequent preaching, expounding, and catechising, for a great number of years. Nor was he unmindful of them on his death-bed. With his dying breath, he charged Dr. Jackson, his chief patron, as he would answer the same at the bar of God, that he would

* Crosby's Baptists, vol. i. p. 126, 127.

+ Ibid. p. 273-276.

provide for them an able and a sufficient pastor. This the doctor promised to do; but added, "that not one of a thousand could be found, like this worthy servant of Christ."

Mr. Swift, who preached Mr. Wilson's funeral sermon, gives the following account of him: "He was a most painful and careful pastor; a man called forth into the vineyard of the Lord, and well qualified for so great a work. He was a judicious divine, sound in the truth, and an excellent interpreter of scripture; a professed enemy to idolatry, superstition, and all false worship; for which he incurred the displeasure of those who were otherwise disposed. He was richly furnished with excellent gifts, which he fully employed in the Lord's work, being incessantly laborious and faithful in his public ministry. Having received ten talents, he employed them all to the use of his Master. He preached at Canterbury thirty-six years, during the whole of which period he was always abounding in the work of the Lord. Being requested, upon his death-bed, to spare himself in future, if the Lord should be pleased to raise him up, he immediately replied, 'Were I in health of body, I should always say with the apostle, Woe be unto me, if I preach not the gospel. He was particularly mindful of his flock to the last; and with his dying breath prayed that God would provide for them a faithful shepherd, to feed them with knowledge and understanding." He died in January, 1621.

His WORKS.-1. A Commentary on Romans, 1614.-2. Christ's Farewell to Jerusalem, 1614.-3. Theological Rules, 1615.-4. Holy Riddles, 1615.-5. A Complete Christian Dictionary, with the Con tinuation by Bagwell and Symson, sixth edition, 1655.§-6. A Dialogue about Justification.-7. A Receipt against Heresie.

* Christian Dictionary, Pref. Edit. 1655. + Funeral Sermon for Mr. Wilson,

This work, which is in the form of a dialogue, abounds with judicious distinetions, and practical uses.-Williams's Christian Preacher, p. 436.

This work is said to have been the first that was ever composed in English, by way of concordance.-Granger's Biog. Hist, vol. i. p. 369.

ANDREW WILLET, D. D.-This learned and laborious divine was born in the city of Ely, in the year 1562, and educated first in Peter-house, then in Christ's college, Cambridge. He was blessed with pious parents, who brought him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His father, Mr. Thomas Willet, was sub-almoner to King Edward VI., and a painful sufferer during the cruel persecutions of Queen Mary. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, he became rector of Barley in Hertfordshire, and was preferred to a prebend in the church of Ely. His son Andrew, while a boy at school, discovered an uncommon genius, and made extraordinary progress in the various rudiments of knowledge. He was so intense in his application, that his parents were obliged to use various methods to divert his attention from his books. At the age of fourteen, he was sent to the university, where he was soon preferred to a fellowship. Here he became intimate with Downham, Perkins, and other celebrated puritans, who encouraged each other in their studies. Willet soon distinguished himself by his exact acquaintance with the languages, the arts, and all the branches of useful literature. He was concerned not to have these things to learn, when he came forth to teach others; wisely judging that youth should prepare that which riper years must use. Among the anecdotes related of him while at Cambridge, shewing the promising greatness of his abilities, is the following:-"The proctor of the college being prevented, by some unforeseen occurrence, from executing his office at the commencement, just at hand, none could be found to take his place excepting Willet, who acquitted himself so well, that his orations gained him the approbation and applause of the university, and the high admiration of all who knew how short a time he had for preparation." In the year 1586, he united with the master and fellows of Christ's college, in defence of themselves against the accusations of their enemies, in which they acquitted themselves with great honour.+

Having spent thirteen years at the university, he came forth richly fraught with wisdom and knowledge. On the death of his father, the queen presented him to the rectory of Barley, and gave him his father's prebend in the church

* Barksdale's Remembrancer, p. 53-58. + Baker's MS. Collec. vol. iv. p. 79.

of Ely. He entered upon his charge at Barley, January 29, 1598.* Though he is said to have sought no other preferment, one of his name became rector of Reed in Middlesex, in the year 1613; and rector of Chishall-Parva in Essex, in 1620.+ We cannot, however, learn whether this was the same person. He studied to deserve preferments, rather than to obtain them. His own observation was, that some enjoy promotions, while others merit them. He always abounded in the work of the Lord, and accounted the work in which he was engaged as part of his wages. About the time that he entered the ministerial work, he married a near relation to Dr. Goad, by whom he had eleven sons and seven daughters.

Dr. Willet was a man of uncommon reading, having digested the fathers, councils, ecclesiastical histories, the civil and canon law, and numerous writers of almost all descriptions. Indeed, he read so much, and understood and retained what he had read so well, that he was denominated a living library. To secure this high attainment, he was extremely provident of his time. He constantly rose at a very early hour, by which means he is said to have got half way on his journey before others set out. He was laborious in the numerous duties of his ministry; and he greatly lamented the condition of those who sat under idle and ignorant ministers. He also often lamented the state of the prelates of those times, who, after obtaining rich livings, though they were men of talents and learning, would not stoop to labour for the welfare of souls. But he, as a faithful steward of Christ, constantly preached three times a week, and catechised both old and young throughout his parish. And though he was a man of most profound learning, had been some time chaplain to Prince Henry, and had frequently preached at court, his sermons and catechetical instructions were dressed in so plain and familiar a style, that persons of the weakest capacity might easily understand him. He esteemed those the best discourses which were best adapted to the condition of the people, and most owned of God: not those which were most decorated with human ornaments, and most admired among men. Though he could administer all needful reproof and warning to the careless and the obstinate; yet his great talent was to bind up the broken-hearted, and comfort the weary, fainting pilgrim.

* Newcourt's Repert. Eccl. vol. i. p. 800. + Ibid. p. 862, ii. p. 151. Fuller's Abel Redivivus, p. 569.