STOCK. 345 the iniquities of the city ; which some persons took so ill, that they charged him with rashness, and called him Green-head. Towards the close of life, having to preach at the election of the lord mayor, he particularly enlarged upon the same topic, and said, " that a Gray-head now spoke the same things that a Green-head had formerly done." The end of his labours was the beginning of his rest ; and having finished his work, he was called to receive his gracious reward. He died April 20, 1626. He was a person of good learning, excellent talents for the pulpit, and an example to his people in conversation, in charity, in faith, in purity.. Wood denominateshim " aconstant and judicious preacher, a pious minister, and a zealous puritan and reformer a the profanation of the sabbath."+ His remains were interred in Alhallows church, where the following monumental inscriptionwas afterwards erected to his memory :t To the sacred MEMORY of that worthy and faithful servant of Christ, Master RICHARD STOCK; who after thirty-two years spent in the ministry, wherein by his learned labours, joined with his wisdom, and a most holy life, God's glory was much advanced, his church edified, piety increased, and the true honour of a pastor's place maintained; deceased April 20, 1626. Some of his loving parishioners have consecrated this Monument of their never-dying love, Jan. 28, 1628. Thy livelesse trunk (0 Reverend Stocke) Like Aaron's rod, sprouts out again; And,after two full winters past, Yields blossoms and ripe fruit amain. For why, this worke of piety, Performed by some of thy flocke To thy deadcorps and sacred urne, Is but the fruit of this old Stocke. ' There was another Mr. Richard Stock, who lived about the same time, rector of Kirk-Eaton in Yorkshire, where he Clark's Lives annexed to Martyrologie, p. 61-66. Athente Oxon. vol. i. p. 774. t Stoves Surveyof London, b. iii. p. 200.
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