460 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. to the university. He had other liberal friends also, who assisted and encouraged him in his preparatory studies. Having finished his academical pursuits at Cambridge, he became vicar of Worksop in Nottinghamshire, where he experienced great encouragement in his ministry, and was exceedingly beloved by his people. As a preacher, lie was much followed, and his labours were rendered a blessing to many. From the date of some of his writings, it appears that he was at Worksop in the year 1605 ;, but how long he had been in this situatioti, previous to that period, we are not able to ascertain. About the year 1615, Mr. Bernard, on account ofhis ex- cellent learning, genuine piety, and ministerial abilities; was presented to the living of Batcombe in Somersetshire. He received the presentation from Dr. Bisse, who had been minister of the place almost front the commencement of the reformation. This reverend and venerable pastor, it is said, purchased the advowson of Batcornbe to present once only, for which he gave 200; and though lie had a son in the ministry, he constantly resolved to bestow it as the Lord should direct him. Therefore, upon the presentation of the benefice, he spake to Mr. Bernard and others in thesewords: " I do this day lay aside nature, respect of profit, fleshand blood, in thus bestowing, as I do, my living, only in hope of profiting and edifying my people's souls after which he did not live above threeweeks. This, his last act, he called his packing-penny between God and himself. In this situation; as well as the former, Mr. Bernard laboured more abundantly than many of his brethren, and his endeavours were rendered extensively useful. He was opposed to a total separation from the church, and wrote with some zeal against the Brownists ; but was an enemy to the imposition of human ceremonies in divine worship, and wrote against them as unlawful. He was indeed called a conformable puritan, though he refused to observe many of the ceremonies, and the exact conformity required of the clergy. It is supposed that he obtained some connivance and indulgence from the Bishop of Winchester, his diocesan; who had been one of his familiar associates at the university : and on this account be escaped those suspen- sions and deprivations under which many of his brethren frequently groaned. He was a hard student, a most exem- plary christian, and much addicted to acts of charity; also a judicious, affectionate, and profitable preacher, being filled with zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of
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