E. GELLIBRAND. 311 brethren, having lived to a great age. He baptized a child after he entered upon the benefice of Guiseley, and afterwards buried the same person threescore years of age, being rector of the place sixty-three years. He built the present stately parsonage house there.. EDWARD GELIABRANn.--,-This learned and pious divine was fellow of Magdalen college, Oxford, and a person of distinguishedeminence among the puritans in that univer- sity. He was much concerned for a further reformation of the church, and ever zealous in promoting the desired object. The letters from the chassis in London and other places, were commonly addressed to him, and, by the appointment of the brethren; he usually answered them. January 12, 1585, he wrote a letter to Mr. John Field, signifying how he had consulted several colleges about church discipline, and a further reformation; and that many were disposed to favour it, but were afraid to testify any thingunder theirhands, lest it should bring them into trouble. This letter, which, in the opinion of Dr. Bancroft, tended to promote sedition, was the following :-" I have," says Mr. Gellibrand, " already entered into the matters whereof " youwrite, and dealt with three or four of several colleges, " concerning those among whom they live. I find that "men are very dangerous in this point, generally savouring " reformation ; but when it comes to the particular point, " some have not yet considered of those things for which " others in the church are so much troubled. Others are " afraid to testify any thing with their hands, lest it should " breed danger before the time. And many favour the " cause of reformation, but they are not ministers, but " young students, of whom there is good hope, if it be not " cut off byviolent dealing before the time. As I hear of " you, so I mean to go forward, where there is any hope;- " and to learn the number, and certify you thereof." The candid reader will easily judge how far this letter tended to promote sedition, being merely designed to effect by the most peaceable means, a more pure reformation of the church.+ He united with many of his brethren in sub-, scribing the "Book of Discipline."t April 7, 1586, Mr. Gellibrand wascited-before Archbishop * Thoresby's Vicaria Leodiensis, p. 65. + Bancroft's Dangerous Positions, p. 74, 75. t Neal's Puritans, vol. i, p. 423.
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