R. SEDGWICK. 487 whom is given in the preceding article. His father, a respectable clothier, suffering great losses by fire, became reduced in his circumstances. He had an uncle inYork- shire, who, possessing large estates, and having nochildren, took him in his tender years under his care, gave him a good school educatimi, and intended to make him his heir : but God designed to give him a better portion. His uncle and the rest of the family were much addicted to profane- ness; yet in this situation God in mercy awakened him to a serious concern for his soul. While the other branches of the family were engaged in their profane sports. young Sedgwick was oftentimes mourning over their sins before the Lord in private. His uncle at first thought that he retired only on account of his uncommon fondness for books ; and therefore gave him occasionally a gentle rebuke, urging him to use greater liberty. But at length, perceiving that his nephewwas become seriously thoughtful about religion, and that he retired for the purpose of private devotion, he treated him very roughly; and finding that he could not by any threatenings constrain him to renounce his religion, he cast him out of his family, saying, " Apuritan shall never inherit my land." Young Sedgwick, being rejected by his uncle, returned to his mother, who sent him to the university, where he distinguished himself in all kinds of useful learning. After finishing his studies, he entered upon the ministerial func- tion, and settled at some place in Kent. While in this situation, he was called to preach occasionally in the cathedral of Canterbury ; and exposing the manifold cor- ruptions of the cathedral worship, he incurred the displea- sure of the ruling ecclesiastics ; on account ofwhich hewas required to make a public recantation, and a day was ap- pointed for the purpose. During the interval he derived unspeakable encouragement from these words, " What- soever I command thee, thou shalt speak : be not afraid of their faces; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord," and resolved that he would not recant, but abide by the truth which he had alreadydelivered, whatever it might cost him. At the time appointed, he preached again at the cathedral, to a very large assembly, all expecting to hear a debasing recantation ; but, to the great mortification of his malicious persecutors, instead of a recantation, he laboured, with all his learning and abilities, to confirm what he had before advanced, warmly recommending the ecclesiastics to reform their abuses. This so exceedingly
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