J. CARTER. 409. Joint CARTER, A. M.-This eminently holy man was born at Wickham, near Canterbury, about the year 1554, and educated at Clare-hall, Cambridge, where he was much beloved for his great learning and piety. His favourite associates at Cambridge were Dr. Andrews, afterwards bishop of Ely, Dr. Chadderton, Mr. Culverwell, Mr. Knewstubs, and some others who constantly held their weekly meetings, for prayer and expounding the scriptures. The portion of scripture appointed to be read was the subject of mutual consideration ; when one of them criti- cised upon the original, another examined its grammatical construction, another its logical analysis, another its true sense and meaning, and another collected the doctrines and uses most naturally resulting from it. By these social exercises, they became, like Apollos, eloquent and mighty in the scriptures. When Mr. Carter went to be ordained, the bishop asked him, saying, , Have you read the Bible through ?" "Yes," replied Mr. Carter, " I have read the Old Testament twice through in Hebrew, and the New Testament often through in Greek ; and if you please to examine me upon any particular place, I will endeavour to give you satisfaction." " Nay," said the bishop, " if it be so, I shall need to say no more ;" and so, after some com- mendation and encouragement, he ordained him.. In the year 1583, he was presented to the vicarage of Bramford in Suffolk. His income at first was, indeed, very small ; but by the efforts of the people, it was afterwards raised to twenty pounds a year, which was the most he ever had during his continuance there. He sought not theirs, but them, and so was content. From his first entrance upon the ministry, he laboured as a workman who needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Multi- tudes of people, from Ipswich and other places, flocked to hear him. But his popularity and usefulness were soon interrupted, and he was brought into trouble on account of his nonconformity. Within about a year of his taking the charge of his flock, he was suspended, with many others, for refusing subscription toWhitgift's three articles; but it does not appear how long he remained under the ecclesiastical censure.t From his first settlement at 13ram- ford, he saw of the travail of his Redeemer's soul, and was abundantly satisfied. By the blessing of God upon his faithful ministry and holy life, many souls were added to Clark's Lives annexed to Martyrologie, p. 132, 133. + MS. Register, p. 437.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=