252 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. thirteen articles, was soon drawn up against him ; and he was accused in form before the Bishop of Durham. But the bishop, who was much acquainted with the world, easily found a method of dismissing the cause, so as to protect his nephew, without endangering himself. The malice of his enemies, however, could not rest ; and they created him so much trouble, and on account of the extreme fatigue of keeping both his places, he ,begged leave of the bishop to resign either the archdeaconry or his parish. But the bishop observing that the income of the former was not a sufficient support without the latter, and that he was unwilling they should be separated, Mr. Gilpin therefore resigned them both. The bishop soon after presented him to the rectory of ,Houghton-le-Spring,in the county of Durham. The living was valuable ; but the duties of it were proportionably laborious. The parish contained no less than fourteen villages ; and the instruction of the people having been so exceedingly neglected, popery was arrived to its full growth of superstition. Scarcely any traces of true chris- tianity were indeed left. Nay, what little remained, was even popery itself corrupted. Here all its idle ceremonies were carried to a greater, extent than in most ether places, and were looked upon as the very essentials of religion: And how these barbarous people were excluded from all means of better information,. appears from hence, that through the neglect of the bishops and the justices of peace, King Edward's proclamations for,a change of worship, had not been even heard of, in that part of the kingdom, at the time of his death. Such was the condition of the parish of Houghton, when first committed to the care of Mr. Gilpin,. He was grieved to see ignorance and vice so lamentably prevail ; but he did not despair. He implored the assist,. ance and blessing of God, and was much encouraged.. The people crowded about him, and heard him with great attention. They perceived him to be a very different teacher from those to whom they had been accustomed. After the acceptance of Houghton, Tonstal urged him to accept of a stall in the cathedral of Durham ; telling him, that there did not exist the same objection against this as against the archdeaconry, it being altogether a sinecure; all who preached that doctrine became heretics soon after. Othersfound " great. fault, for that I preached repentance and salvation by Christi;, " and did not make whole sermons, as they did, about transubstantiation, " purgatory., holy-water,. images, prayers to saints, and suchlike."
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