DENT. 11.1 Mr. Smith was a preacher uncommonly followed by, persons of piety, especially those of the puritanical party. He was generally esteemed the first preacher in the nation ; and, on account of his prodigious memory, and his fluent, eloquent, and practical way of preaching, he was looked upon as the very miracle and wonder of the age.. It may be truly said ofhim, that he was a man peaceable in Israel. For though he scrupled conformity himself, and utterly disapproved the imposition of it on others; still he could live on terms of intimacy with those from whom he dis- sented. His fame was so great, that he was usually called the silver-tongued preacher, as if he was second even to Chrysostom. His church was so crowded with hearers, that persons of quality, as well as others, were frequently obliged to stand in the aisles; and his wonderful dexterity in preaching was such, that, by his solid reasons, he fastened conviction upon the judgments of his auditory ; by his apt similitudes, upontheir fancies; byhis orderly method,upon their memories; and by his close applications, upon their consciences.i- Hedied apparently of a consumption, about the year 1600, aged fiftyyears. Mr. Smith was author of many Sermons and Treatises, published at various times. They passed through many editions, and some of them were carried abroad and translated into Latin. His ser- mons were so universally admired, that they were for many years used as a family book in all parts of the kingdom. They are so solid, says Fuller, that the learned maypartly admire them ; yet so plain, that the unlearned may per- fectly understand them.f His " Sermons, with other his learned Treatises," and his Life by Fuller, were collected and published in one volume quarto, in 1675. ARTHUR DENT was the learned and pious minister of South Soubery in Essex, but persecuted by Bishop Aylmer for nonconformity. About the year 1584, he endured many troubles from this prelate, for refusing to wear the sutplice, and omitting the, sign of the cross in baptism.§ He afterwards united with his brethren, the persecuted ministers of Essex, in presenting a petition to the lords of the council, in which, say they, " We have received the Wood's Atheism Oxon. vol. 1. p. 231.--Nichals's Kist. of Leicester- shire, vol. ii, p. 890. + Life of Mr. Smith. Church History, b. ix. p. 142. MS. Register, p. 741.
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