BRADSHAW. 265 was of so amiable a disposition, that his very enemies were constrained to speak well of him. Upon his settlement at Cambridge, he entered into the ministerial office, when he was not particularly urged to observe those things which he scrupled. He preached occasionally at Abington, Bassing- born, and Steeple-Morton, near Cambridge ; but did not settle at any of these places. In the year 1601, having received a pressing invitation from the people of Chatham in Kent, he became their pastor. In this situation, to his own great comfort, and that of the people, his labours were soon made a bless- ing to many. Multitudes flocked to hear the word at his mouth, which presently awakened the jealousy and envy of other ministers. It was deemed advisable now to obtain his confirmation from the Archbishop of Canterbury ; and to this end, Sir Francis Hastings wrote a most pious and modest letter to his lordship.. At this particular juncture, Mr. Bradshaw's enemies falsely accused him to the arch- bishop, of preaching unsound doctrine ; therefore, instead of obtaining his confirmation, he received a citation from Dr. Buckridge, dated May 26, 1602, to appear by nine o'clock the next morning, before his grace of.Canterbury, and his lordship of London, at Sborne, a small distance from Chatham. Mr. Bradshaw appearing at the time and place appointed, the Bishop of London, after asking certain questions, charged him with having taught, " That man is not bound to love God, unless he be sure that God loves him." Mr. Bradshaw denied the charge ; and though he offered to produce numerous respectable witnesses in refuta- tion of it, and to prove what he had taught, the offer was rejected. But, to finish thebusiness, and strike him at once dumb, he was required to subscribe ; and because he could not, with a good conscience,he was immediately suspended, bound to appear again when called,, and then dismissed.+ His unexpected suspension and expulsion from Chatham, caused the friends of Christ to mourn, and his enemies to triumph. His numerous flock, having sat under his ministry with great delight, were peculiarly anxious to have him restored. A supplication was, therefore, drawn up in the name of the parishioners of Chatham, and presented to the Bishop of Rochester, earnestly desiring the restoration This excellent letter, dated April 25, 1602, in which Sir Francis gives high commendations of Mr. Bradshaw's character, is still preserved. - Clark's Lives annexed to ltis Martyrologie, p. 37. 1- Ibid. p. 25-44.
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