496' LIVES OF THE PURITANS. by their power absolved them, and so engaged those miser- able wretches in a: second rebellion.". It may be observed in reply, that there was no need for these divines to use these arts, because the prisoners referred to amounted only to 150, men, which could not be much wanted, especially as the city of London was now pouring out multitudes of recruits for the army : and in addition to this, priestly absolutionwas not then the practice, nor the power of it the claim, of puritan divines; but that which they utterly dis- believed and abhorred.+ Dr. Downingwas appointed one of the licenSers of the press, and chosen one of the assembly of divines. Wood says, 44 he sided with the independents, was a preacher of sedition and rebellion, and died suddenly and very unwil- lingly."1: Such kind of abuse this writer usually pours forth against the most holy and useful men, who were zealous to promote a reformation of the church. Dr. Downing died in the year 1644, aged forty years ; and he left behind him the character of " a pious man, a warm preacher, and ever zealous to promote the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom and the welfare of his country." Sir George Downing, of East-Hatly in Cambridgeshire, was his son.§. IIis WORKS.-1. A Discourse of the State Ecclesiastical of this Kingdom, in relation to the Civil, 1633.-2. ADigression discussing some ordinary Exceptions against Ecclesiastical Officers, 1633.- 3. ADiscourse of the false Grounds which the Bavarian Partyhave laid to settle their own Faction, and shake the peace of the Empire, 1641.-4. A Discourse upon the Interest of England, 1641.-5. A Discoursive Conjecture upon the Reasons which produce the present Troubles of Great Britain, different from those of Lower Germany, 1641,-6. Several Sermons, 1643. JoHN Downism, B. D.-This reverend and excellent divine was the son of Dr. William Downham, bishop of Chester, and brother to Dr. George Downham, bishop of Londonderry in Ireland.11 He was born in the city of Chester, educated in Christ's college, Cambridge, and after- wards a laborious and useful preacher in London. It does Clarendon's Hist. vol. ii. p. 62. + Dr. Grey is displeased with Mr. Oldmixon for treating Clarendon's account as a falsehood ; while he suppresses the grounds on which Mr. Oldmixon censures it, which are chiefly those we have given.-Neafs Puritans, vol. iii. p. 3, 4.-Grey's Examination , vol. ii. p. 10. Athenat Oxon. vol. p. 27. § H Wood's Athena Oxon. vol. i. p. 602.
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