PRESTON. 359 instances, generally well supported and applied. His doctrine drops as the rain, and his speech distils as the dew.. Dr. Prestonwas a divine of extraordinary abilities and learning, and, about this time, deeply engaged in public controversy with several learned Arminians. He was called to take a leading part in two public disputations, procured by the Earl of Warwick, and held at York-house, in the presence of the Duke of Buckingham and others of the nobility. The first of these contests was betwixt Bishop Buckridge and Dr. White, dean of Carlisle, on the one part ; and Bishop Morton and Dr. Preston, on the other. In the conclusion, the Earl of Pembroke observed, " that no person returned from this learned disputation of Arminian sentiments, who was not an Arminian before he came." The second conference was betwixt Dr. White and Mr. Montague, on the one part ; and Bishop Morton and Dr. Preston, on the other. On this occasion, Preston is said to have displayed his uncommon erudition and powers of disputation, to the great advantage of the cause which he undertook to support.t This celebrated divine, by his great interest in the Duke of Buckingham and the Prince of Wales, was of unspeak- able service to many of the silenced ministers. He was in waiting when King James died, and came up with King Charles and the Duke of Buckingham, in a close coach, to London. The young king is said to have been so over- charged with grief, on account of the death of his father, that he wanted the comfort of so wise and so great a man.t The duke offered Dr. Preston the broad seal, but hewas too wise to accept it. Afterwards the duke, changing measures, and finding he could neither gain the puritans to his arbitrary designs, nor separate the doctor from their inte- rests, resolved to bid adieu to his chaplain. Dr. Preston saw the approaching storm, and quietly retired to his college, where it was expected he would have felt some further effects of the duke's displeasure, if providence had not so ordered things, that he had other work to mind, which took up all his time and thoughts to the day of his death.§ Williams's Christian Preacher, p. 453. + Fuller's Church Hist. b. xi. p. 124,125.-Clark's Lives, p. 101-106. 1: Burnet's Hist. of his Time, vol. i. p. 19. S Fuller's Church Hist. b. xi. p. 131.-Clark's Lives, p. 106-109.-The Dukeof Buckinghamwas the great favourite of King James and Charles I., ever whom he had the highest ascendancy. It is no woirder that an
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