W. WHITAKER. 79 to be thtust forth into the Lord 7s battles ; but such captains are to be chosen from amongst David's worthies, one of which we acknowledge you to be, by the former battles undergone for the walls of our city, the church. We doubt not, if you will enter this war, but that you, fighting for conscience and country, will be able to tread under foot the forces of the Jebusites, which set themselves to assault the tower of David.". The former battles which Mr. Cartwright is'here said to have undergone for thewalls or discipline of the church, and for which he received so high a commendation from Dr. ,Whitaker and his brethren, were the controversies he had with Dr. Whitgift : but when the same controversies are described by the unworthy pen of Dr. Bancroft, Dr. Whitaker is made to speak the language of keenreproach, both of Mr. Cartwright and of his former battles. How can the two things be reconciled ? Shall we conclude that Whitaker was guilty of such palpable inconsistency ? This was no trait in his character. Did he then completely change his opinion of Cartwright and his controversy, during the short interval of joining in the address to this divine, and writing the foregoing letter to Whitgift ? This would be contrary to numerous facts, as will presently appear. Did he address Whitgift, now Archbishop of Canterbury, merely to flatter him, and procure his favour ? Henever lost his favour, and no one was ever less guilty of flattery. In the year 1589, an assembly was held in St. John's college, Cambridge, of which Dr. Whitaker was master. 31r. Cartwright and many others were present on this occa- sion, and the meetingwas designed to promote a purer form of discipline in the church. At the same time, " divers imperfections hi the Book of Discipline were corrected, altered and amended ; and they did not only perfect the saidbook, but did then and there voluntarily agree, that as many as were willing should subscribe the said Book of Diseipline."+ Therefore, among the learned divines who subscribed, was the renowned Dr. Whitaker.t He is also said to have united with other puritan divines in promoting the reformed discipline, and to have assembled with them for this purpose in their private associationts.§ The year following, this learned divine was charged with holding or forming a presbytery in his college, and with 4, See Art. Cartwright. + Bancroft's Survey, p. 67. t Neal's Puritans, vol. i. p. 423. 4 Baker's MS. Collec. vol. ay. p. 79.
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