200 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. saries.* Mr.. Cliftonwas probably living when the above piece was published; but when he diedwecannot ascertain. NICOLAS Russo was fellow of Christ's college, Cam- bridge, and one of the preachers to the university, but persecuted for his nonconformity. In his sermon at St. Mary's church, September 10, 1609, it is said that he delivered divers opinions contrary to the religion of the established church ; for -which he was convened before the vice-chancellor, Dr. Jegon, and the heads of houses, and required to deliver up a copy of his sermon. Having com- plied with their demands, certain offensive opinions were extracted from his sermon, for which he was immediately suspended from preaching, and enjoined to make a public recantation from the pulpit of the above church. This degrading recantation, containing an accountof his offensive crimes , was the following : Whereas many christian auditors, wise, godly and " religious, have been offended with many things which I "not long since uttered in a sermon this place, justly " reprehending not only mygreat indiscretion, presumption, " uncharitableness, rash and bold censuring, but also some " strange and erroneous opinions I then was taken to " deliver; I am now come to the same public place (after " sundry conferences had with divers grave and learned " divines of this university) to acknowledge my fault and "make satisfaction. " And, first, in my prayer, where I used very irreverent " and reproachful speech against the clergy, or some of " them, terming them gorbellied clergy ; and also some " offensive speeches, which might be taken to touch autho- rity, or some attending at court, calling them devilish " parasites, in flattering and attributing overmuch to some " in higher place : upon better advice, I now acknowledge " my presumptuous boldness therein. Further, in that I " did then deliver three opinions in these words, viz. that " St. Paul and Moses did faulty and err in their desires, it " coming from a scourge and force of a passion too earnest " and hot, and not sufficiently bounded with the true limits " of pure charity. And also even our Saviour Christ's " prayer (Father if thou wilt, let this cup pass from me, yet " not my will,but thywill be done,) came from nature only, Crosby's Baptists,vol. i. p. 92.
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