J. ROBINSON. 343 of his congregation to America ; but before he could accomplish his design, it pleased God to remove him to a better world. He died March 1, 1625, in the fiftieth year of his age. The life of this amiable man, both in public and private, exhibited a fair transcript of those numerous virtues which elevate and adorn the human character. He possessed a strong mind, cultivated by a good educa- tion. In his younger days, he was distinguished for good sense and solid learning; and as his mind, under the influ- ence of divine grace, began to expand, he acquired that moderate and pacific temper for which he was celebrated among christians of different, denominations. His un- common probity and diffusive benevolence highly recom- mended him to the Dutch ministers and professors, with whom he lived in the most perfect harmony. They lamented his death as a public loss ; and as a testimony of their esteem and affection, though he was not of their com- munion, the magistrates, ministers, professors, and many of the citizens, honoured his funeral solemnities with their presence. Mr. Robinson was an admirable disputant ; as appears by his public disputation in the university of Leyden, when the Arminian controversy agitated and divided the churches in Holland. The famousEpiscopius having given out a publicchallenge to defend his Arminian tenets against all opponents, the learned Polydore and the chief ministers of the city urged Mr. Robinson to engage in a public disputation. But he, beinga stranger, and of so mild and peaceable a spirit, signified his unwillingness ; but by their repeated solicitations, he at length consented. " In the issue," our author observes, " he so defended the truth, and so foiled the opposer, putting him to a nonplus in threesuccessive disputations, that it procured him much honour and respect from men of learning and piety."4 The attachment which subsisted betwixt Mr. Robinson and his people was very great. " Such was the mutual love and respect which he had to his flock, and his flock to him, that it was hard to judge whether' he was delighted more in having such a people, or they in having such a pastor." His death was, therefore, a serious loss to the remaining branch of his church at Leyden. Most of-them, however, after .a few years, joined their brethren in New England ; among whom were his widow and children. His son Isaac lived to ninety years of age, and left a posterity in Prince's Chronological Hist. vol. i. p. 38.
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