AINSWORTH. 303 Mr. Ainsworth was a man of great piety, uncommon erudition, and extraordinary abilities. Whatever engaged his pen was treated with proper respect, even by his adver- saries ; who, while they disapproved his sentiments, could not fail to admire his abilities. The famous Bishop Hall, who wrote against the Brownists, always speaks of him as the greatest man of their party; and refers to him as their doctor, their chief, their rabbi.. He was unquestion- ably a person of profound learning, exquisitely versed in a knowledge of the scriptures, and deeply read in the Jewish rabbins. He possessed a strong understanding, a quick penetration, and wonderful diligence. His temper was meek and amiable, his zeal for divine truth fervent, and he conducted himself with great moderation towards his adversaries. The following account is given of Mr. Ainsworth, by one of his contemporaries, and one unfriendly to his peculiar sentiments : " For the life of the man, myself being eye-witness, living some time with him at Amsterdam, of his humility, sobriety, and discretion, setting aside his preposterous zeal in the point and practice of separation, he lived and died unblamably to the world ; and I am thoroughly persuaded that his soul rests with his Saviour. "t His Wolixs.-1. Counter-Poyson, 1590.-2. A Defence of the Holy Scriptures, Worship, and Ministry, used in the Christian churches separated from Antichrist, against Mr. Smyth, 1609.- 3. An Animadversion on Mr. Richard Clifton's Advertisement, 1613. -4. The Trying out of the Truth, begun and prosecuted in certain Letters and Passages between John Aynsworth and Henry Ayns- worth: theone pleading for, the other against the present Church of Rome, 1615.-5. A Reply to the pretended Christian Plea for the Antichristian Church of Rome, published against Francis Johnson, 1620.-6. Certain Notes of Mr. Ainsworth's last Sermon, on 1 Pet. ii. 4, 5., 1630.-7. The old orthodox Foundation of Religion, 1641.- 8. A seasonable Discourse ; or, a Censure upona Dialogue of the Ana- baptists, 1613.-9. The Book of Psalms Englished both in prose and metre, 1644.-10. AGuide to Zion.-11. An Advertisement touch- ing some Objections against the sincerity of the Hebrew text ; and the Allegations of the Rabbins.-I2. A. Treatise of the Communion of Saints.-13. An Arrow against Idolatry.-The two last were re- printed together in 1789, with a copious and interesting account of the author prbfixed.-14. His Annotations already mentioned, and probably some others. Hall's Apologie against the Brownists. + Life of Ainsworth, p. 62.
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