260 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. of their silenced pastor. In this supplication, after exposing the false charges of his adversaries, they declare, 44 That Mr. Bradshaw's doctrine was always sound, holy, learned, and utterly void of faction and contention ; that his life was so ornamented with unblemished virtues, that malice itself could not condemn him ; and that he directed all his labours to beat down wickedness, to comfort the faithful, and to instruct the ignorant, without meddling with the needless controversies of the day." They conclude by humblyentreating his lordship's favour, that he would be, the happy means of restoring to them their virtuous and faithful shepherd.. But the decree of the bishop and archbishop, like the laws of the Medes and Persians, was gone forth ; these intercessions were, therefore, ineffectual. The meek and pious divine quietly yielded to be driven from his ministry and his flock. During these apparently cross dispensations, God, who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, was providing for Mr. Bradshaw a place of rest. Being torn from his beloved and affectionate people, by treachery and episcopal power, he found a comfortable retreat under the hospitable roof of Mr. Alexander Redid', of Newhall, near Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire. This pious and worthy gentleman not only received him into his house, but procured him a license from the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, to preach in anypart of his diocese : this favour was continued as long as the bishop lived. In this retired situation, Mr. Bradshaw preached for some time at the chapel in the park ; then, when that became too small, in the parish church of Stapenhill. This he did for about twelve years, receiving nothing from the parish. During the whole of this period, he was supported by his worthy patron, inwhose family he lived, and was treated with the utmost kindness. Mr. Bradshaw was afterwards chosen lecturer of Christ's church, London ; but the bishop abso- lutely reftised his allowance. Conformity being now enforced with great rigour, several worthy divines ventured to set forth their grievances, their exceptions, and the grounds of their dissent, and to answer the'.1rguments of their opponents. Among these was Mr. Bradshaw, who published his Reply to Dr. Bilsont and Dr. Clark's Lives annexed to his Martyrologie, p. 42. + Dr. Bilson's celebrated work in defence of the national church, is entitled, " The perpetual) Government of Christen Church : Wherein are handled, The fatherly superioritie whichGod first established is the
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