134 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. in grace, and in the love of God and good men ; and was instrumental in making many rich. His ministerial labours were signally blessed to multitudes, both townsmen and collegians. His remains were interred in St. Andrew's church with great funeral solemnity; at the sole expense of Christ's college; the university and the town striving which Could chew the warmest gratitude for his faithful labours, and pay the greatest respect to his memory. Dr. Montague, atierwards successively Bishop of Bath andWells, and of Winchester, preached his funeral sermon from Joshua, i. 2. Moses my servant is dead; and spoke in high commenda- tion of his learning, piety, labours, and usefulness.. Mr. Perkins was so pious and exemplary in his life, that malice itself was unable to reproach his character. As his preachingwas a just comment upon his text ; so his practice was ajust comment upon his preaching. He was naturally cheerful and pleasant ; rather reserved towards strangers, but familiar upon their further acquaintance. He was of a middle stature, ruddy complexion, bright hair, and inclined to corpulency, but not to idleness.t He was esteemed by all, says Fuller, as a painful and faithful dispenser of the word of God ; and his great piety pro- cured him liberty in his ministry, and respect to his person, even frOm those who differed from him in other matters. He is classed among the fellows and learned writers of Christ's college, Cambridge.# Churton styles him " the learned and pious, but Calvinistic Perkins ;" as if his Calvinism was a considerable blemish in his character.§ Toplady, on the contrary, applauds him on account of his Calvinistic opinions, and denominates him " the learned, holy, and laborious Perkins."fi The celebrated Archbishop Usher had the highest opinion of him, and often expressed his wish to die as holy Mr. Perkins did, who expired crying for mercy and forgiveness. Herein he was, indeed, gratified ; for his last words were, " Lord, especially forgive my sins of omission. "B The works of this excellent divine are numerous and highly esteemed, especially in foreign countries. They were published at various times, but were collected and printed in three volumes folio, in 1606, entitled " The Strype's Whitgift, p. 871. t Fuller's Abel. Red. p. 436.-Clark's Eccl. Hist. p. 851. t Fuller's Church Hist. b. ix. p. 211.-Hist. of Cam. p. 92. § Churton's Life of Nowell, p. 823. Toplady's Historic Proof, vol. ii. p. 179. 4 Bernard's Life of Usher, p. 100. Edit. 1656.
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