His external deportment, at home and abroad, was such as became his profession. He lived, as well as preached, the gospel. His house was the model of a little church and house of God; where morning and evening sacrifices were daily offered unto God. He had laws and ordinances set up in his house, directing all the members of his numerous family to the observance of their respective duties; and he was a pattern to them all in all things. His humility and benevolence were two of the brightest jewels in his crown. Though he had a numerous family of chil dren, he did not consider that a sufficient reason for abridging his constant and extensive liberality. On the contrary, he was of the same mind as one of the fathers, who said, "The more children, the more charity." And it is said of Dr. Willet, that his substance increased with his liberality. Many poor ministers tasted the sweetness of his bounty. Dr. Willet obtained a great degree of celebrity by the numerous and valuable productions of his pen. One of his voluminous publications appeared in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, entitled, "Synopsis Papismi; or, a general View of Papistrie." This work, which was dedicated to the queen, contains upwards of thirteen hundred pages in folio. It is perhaps the best refutation of popery that ever was published. In this work, says Mr. Toplady, no less than fifteen hundred errors and heresies are charged against the church of Rome, and most ably refuted. It passed through five editions; and was highly approved by many of the bishops; held in great esteem by the two universities; and very much admired, both by the clergy and laity, throughout the kingdom. The author, it is incorrectly added, was most zealously attached to the church of England, and not a grain of puritanism mingled itself with his conformity.+ This celebrated divine continued his numerous and painful labours to the last. He used to say, "As it is most honourable for a soldier to die fighting, and for a bishop or pastor praying; so, if my merciful God will vouchsafe to grant me my request, I desire that I may finish my days in writing and commenting on some part of scripture." * Dr. Willet's mother was a person who abounded in acts of charity. When her children were gone from ber, and settled in life, she used to feed her poor neighbours, saying, " Now I have my children about me again."-Barksdale's Remembrancer, p. 55, 64, 65. + Toplady's Historic Proof, vol. ii. p. 191, 192, 305. Herein God gave him the desire of his heart. He was called to his father's house, as he was composing his "Commentary on Leviticus." Though he did not desire, as good Archbishop Leighton did, that he might die at an inn, the unerring providence of God had appointed that he should. The occasion of his death was a fall from his horse, as he was riding homewards from London, by which he broke his leg, and was detained at Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, incapable of being removed. On the tenth day after his fall, having supped cheerfully the preceding evening, and rested well during the greatest part of the night, he awoke in the morning by the tolling of a bell, when he entered into sweet conversation with his wife about the joys of heaven. After singing with melody in their hearts to the Lord, and unitedly presenting their supplications to God, he turned himself in bed, and giving a deep groan, he fell into a swoon. His wife, being alarmed, immediately called in assistance; and upon the application of suitable means, he recovered a little, and raised himself up in bed, but immediately said, "Let me alone. I shall be well, Lord Jesus;" and then resigned his happy soul to God, December 4, 1621, aged fifty-eight years.* His funeral was attended by a great number of knights, gentlemen, and ministers, who, having esteemed and honoured him in life, testified their respect to his memory when dead. Though he wrote against the unmeaning and superstitious practice of bowing at the name of Jesus,+ and was a sufferer in the cause of nonconformity; yet, being so excellent a man, so peaceable in his behaviour, and so moderate in his principles, he was enabled to keep his benefice to the day of his death. "He was a person," says Fuller, "of a sound judgment, admirable industry, a pious life, and bountiful above his ability."s He is classed among the learned writers and fellows of Christ's college, Cambridge. Mr. Strype denominates him "a learned and zealous puritan." Dr. Willet's remains were interred in the chancel of Barley church, where there is a representation of him at full length, in a praying attitude; and underneath is a Fuller's Abel Red. p. 575. + Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 348. Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 139. Church Hist. b. x. p. 91.-Worthies, part Strype's Annals, vol. iii. p. 441, 490. P. 158. monumental inscription erected to his memory, of which the following is a translation:* Here lies ANDREW WILLET, D. D. once Minister of this Church, and a great ornament of the Church in general. December 4, 1621, in the 59th Reader, admire! within this tomb there lies Subjoined to the Latin inscription are the following lines in English: Thou that erewhile didst such strong reasons frame, As yet, groat Willet, are the popelings shame; Now by thy sickness thy death hast made, Strong arguments to prove that man's a shade. Death only taught us thy humanity. His WORKS.—1. Synopsis Papismi, 1600.-2. Thesaurus Ecclesiæ, 1604.-3. De Gratia Generi Humano in primo Parente collata, de Lapsu Adami, Peccato Originali, 1609.-4. Hexapla upon Daniel, 1610.+-5. Hexapla upon Romans, 1611.-6. Hexapla upon Leviticus, 1631.-7. Hexapla upon Genesis, 1632.-8. Hexapla upon Exodus, 1632.-9. De animæ natura et viribus.-10. Sacra Emblemata.11. De universali Vocatione Judæorum.-12. De Conciliis.-13. De universali Gratia. — 14. De Antichristo.-15. Epithalamium.— 16. Funebres Consciones.-17. Apologiæ serenessimi Regio Jac. Defensio.-18. Harmony of the First and Second Book of Samuel.19. Hexapla upon the Twenty-second Psalm.-20. Upon the Seventeenth of John.-21. Upon the Epistle of Jude.-22. Tetrastylon Papismi.-23. A Catalogue of Good Works.-24. Limbomastix.— 25. Funeral Sermons.-26. A Catechism.-27. A Prelection.-28. An Antilogy.-29. Epithalamium in English.-He left an immense quantity of manuscripts behind him. * Theological and Biblical Magazine, vol. vii. p. 383. + This work affords much information, as it contains the opinions of many authors on each point of difficulty.-Williams's Christian Preacher, p. 433. STEPHEN EGERTON, A. M.-This excellent divine was incorporated in both universities, and afterwards for many years the learned, zealous, and faithful minister of Blackfriars, London. He was a thorough nonconformist, a zealous promoter of a further reformation of the church, and an avowed advocate for the presbyterian discipline. He was a member of the presbytery erected at Wandsworth in Surrey, and frequently united with his brethren in their associations, when he was commonly chosen to the office of moderator. In the year 1584, he and Mr. John Field were suspended for refusing subscription to Whitgift's three articles. After receiving the censure of this tyrannical prelate, they assigned their reasons for not subscribing to the second article, viz. "That the Book of Common Prayer, and the Book of Ordination, containeth in it nothing contrary to the word of God."-" We cannot subscribe to this article," say they, "because the book alloweth a mere reading and insufficient ministry; and, what is still more intolerable, it containeth many things tending to harden obstinate papists, and to encourage ignorance and superstition among the common people. All this is apparent, seeing most of the things contained in the book are translated out of the popish portuis, with little or no alteration. We cannot consent that certain parts of the apocrypha should be used in public worship, and some parts of scripture omitted. In the burial of the dead, every wicked man must be committed to the ground in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life. The book maketh confirmation, the cross in baptism, and matrimony, to be sacraments. In one of the collects, it is said, 'Give us those things which we dare not ask.' The book maintaineth the offices of archbishops, bishops, &c. as being different from that of ministers." In addition to these, they assign many other reasons.* It does not appear how long Mr. Egerton remained under the above ecclesiastical censure. We find, however, that about this time he united with his brethren in subscribing the "Book of Discipline."+ In the year 1590, during the imprisonment of Mr. Barrow and Mr. Greenwood, our pious divine and other puritan ministers were sent by the Bishop of London to confer with them. Though he was deemed unworthy of the public ministry, the persecuting * MS. Register, p. 460-463. + Neal's Puritans, vol. i. p. 423. prelates accounted him sufficiently qualified to hold a conference with those whom they stigmatized schismatics and heretics. Mr. Egerton exchanged several letters with the suffering prisoners, one of which was dated April 14, 1590. The rest were written about the same time. In this year he was still under suspension; having suffered the cruel censure, no doubt, for the space of six years. Nor was this all. For, during the same year, he was summoned, with many of his brethren, before the high commission, and committed to the Fleet, where for several years he suffered the extremity of the prison. An account of these barbarous proceedings is given in another place.+ Mr. Egerton, having at length obtained his release, became minister of Blackfriars in the year 1598, where he continued many years. The celebrated Dr. Nowell, dean of St. Paul's, in a letter which he wrote during this year, denominates him "a man of great learning and godliness."s Upon the accession of King James, numerous petitions were presented to his majesty for a further reformation of the church. In the year 1603, when that which was called "The Millenary Petition," subscribed by upwards of a thousand ministers, was presented to the king and parliament, none were deemed so well qualified to undertake this business as Mr. Egerton and Mr. Hildersham, with some other eminent divines. Mr. Egerton died about the year 1621, and was succeeded at Blackfriars by the famous Dr. William Gouge, who appears to have been for some time his assistant. These two eminently faithful servants of Christ spent about seventy years in their ministerial labours at Blackfriars. His WORKS.-1. A Lecture on Gen. xii. 17—20., 1589.—2. A brief Method of Catechizing, 1594.-3. The Doctrine of Subjection to God and the King, 1616.-4. The Boring of the Ear, 1623.— 5. Comforts to strengthen the Weak in Faith, 1630.-6. A Description of Uncomeliness. He published an enlarged edition of Mr. Paul Baines's "Help to True Happiness;" and wrote an Epistle to Mr. Richard Rogers's "Seven Treatises," 1604. * MS. Remarks, p. 425. + See Art. Cartwright. Newcourt's Repert. Eccl. vol. i. p. 915. Jenkins on Jude, Pref. |