AMES. 407 however, live to publish it himself; but its learned editor says, that herein " Dr. Ames pleads the cause of truth both succinctly and perspicuously, as he does, indeed, most admirably in all his writings. He shewed himselfa pattern of holiness, a burning and shining light, a lamp of learning and arts, and a champion for the truth, especially while he was in the doctor's chair at Franeker." This learned divine did not long survive his removal into Holland. His constitution was already greatly shat- tered, and the air of that country being of no real service to him, he determined upon a removal to NewEngland ; but his asthma returning before his intended departure, put an end to his life at Rotterdam. Hewas there buried November 14, 1633, aged fifty-seven years.* The follow- ing spring his wife and children embarked for New England, carrying with them his valuable library, which at that time was a noble acquisition to that country.i. His son William, afterwards returning to England, was one of the ejected nonconformists, in 16624 Dr. Ames filled the divinity chair, says Mr. Granger, with admirable abilities. His fame was, indeed, so great, that many came from remote nations to be educated under him. But he was much better known abroad than at home. And he adds a quotation from a piece of Mr. Hugh Peters,¢ in these words : " Learned Amesius breathed his last breath into my bosom, who left his professorship in Friesland to live with me, because of my church's independency at Rotterdam. He was my colleague, and chosen brother to the church, where I was an unworthy pastor."H Dr. Ames was a solid, judicious, and learned divine ; a strict Calvinist in points of doctrine, and an independent in matters of discipline and church government. Fuller has classed him among the learned writers and fellows of Christ's college, Cambridge.s Dr. Mather styles him, " the profound, sublime, irrefragable, and angelical doctor, and doubts whether he left his equal upon earth. He seldom preached Then turning to me, he said, ' How durst thou preach in my diocese, without my leave ?' So that without any other reason, -except mere lordship, the whole corporation and I were dismissed to wait his lordship's pleasure, which I havenow done more than twenty years."-Fresh Snit. part ii. p.409. Biographia Britannica, vol. i. p. 172, 173. Edit. 1778. + Masher's Hist. of New Eng. b. Hi. p. 3. Palmer'sNoncon. Mem. vol. iii. p. 296. Historical and Critical Account of H. Peters, p. 69. Edit. 1751. H Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. ii. p. 195, 199. It Fuller's Hist, of Cam. p. 92. 77.A11111111N=11,
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