236 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. being taught their duty : but that of late it had pleased the Lord to visit them with the means of salvation, by the ordi- nary ministry of Mr. Dyke, an authorized minister, who, according to his function, had been painful and profitable, and had carried himself so peaceably and dutifully among them, both in his lifeand doctrine, that no man could justly find fault with him, except of malice. There were some, indeed, who could not bear to hear their faults reproved ; but through his preaching many had been brought from their ignorance and evil ways, to a better life ; to be frequent hearers of God's word ; and their servants were in better order than heretofore." They then inform his lordship, 46 that their minister was suspended by the Bishop ofLondon ; and that they were as sheep without a shepherd, exposed to manifold dangers, even to return to their former ignorance and cursed vanities. That the Lord had spoken it, therefore it must be true, Where no vision is, the peopleperish. And having experi- enced his honourable care for them in the like case hereto- fore, which they thankfully acknowledged, they earnestly pray his lordship, in the bowels of his compassion, to pity them in their .present misery, and become a means that they may again enjoy their preacher. "* The treasurer, upon the reception of this petition, wrote to the bishop, and requested Mr. Dyke's restoration to his ministry, promising that if he troubled his congregation with innovations in future, he would join his lordship against him; but the bishop excused himself, insinuating that Mr. Dyke was guilty of incontinency. This occasioned a further investigation of his character. He was tried at the sessions at St. Albans, when the woman herself who ac- cused him, confessed her wicked contrivance, and asked him forgiveness in open court. Mr. Dyke being thus pub- licly cleared and honourably acquitted, the treasurer was the more urgent with the bishop to restore him ; ,c because," said he, 44 the best minister in the nation may be thus slandered ; and the people of St. Albans have no teaching, only they have for their curate an insufficient doting old man. For this favour," said the worthy treasurer, I shall thank your lordship, and Will not solicit, you anymore, if he shall hereafter give just cause ofpublic offence against the orders of the church established."+ But all that the treasurer could do proved ineffectual. The good man was therefore MS. Register, p. 303-306. + p. 306-30S.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=