GILPIN. 255 scruples would have vanished, might he have had the old temporalities undiminished. Both these writers seem to have been very little acquainted with Mr. Gilpin's cha- racter. Ile considered his income in no other light, than that of a fund to be managed for the public good. The bishop's insinuation, therefore, is contradicted by every action in Mr. Gilpin's life : and Dr. Heylift's is most notoriously false, for the bishopric was offered him with the old temporalities undiminished.. It is certain that Mr. Gilpin was reckoned among the nonconformists of his time; and though he had several reasons for rejecting the offered preferment, that which prevailed most with him, was his disaffection to some points of conformity.+ It was his fixed opinion, that no human invention should take place in the church, instead of a divine institution. The excellent Bishop Pilkington, who succeeded Tonstal at Durham, connived at his non- conformity ; and excused him from subscription, the use of the habits, and a strict observance of the ceremonies.t But the bishop could screen him only for a season. For upon the controversy about the habits, about the year 1566, he was deprived for nonconformity ; § but it is extremely probable he did not continue long under the ecclesiastical censure. The year'after he was offered and nominated to the bishopric of Carlisle, he was offered the provostship of Queen's college, Oxford ; but this he declined also. His heart was set on ministerial usefulness, not ecclesiastical preferment. Mr. Gilpin continued many years at Houghton without further molestation, dischargingall the duties of hisfunction in a most exemplary manner. When he first undertook the care of &mils, it was his settled maxim to do all the good in his power; and accordingly his whole conduct was one direct line towards this point. His first object was to gain the affections of his people. Yet he used no servile compliances : his means, as well as his ends, were good. His behaviour was free without levity, obliging without meanness, and insinuating without art. He con- descended to the weak, bore with the passionate, and com- plied with the scrupulous. Hereby he convinced them how much he loved them ; and thus gained their high esteem. He was unwearied in the instruction of those Biog. Briton. vol. vii. Sup. p. 72. MS. Remarks, p. 117. t Neal's Puritans, vol. 1. p. 345. § Calamy's Account, vol. i. Pref.
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