:10 90 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. an admirable judgment, and a most powerful genius,'being no less eminent for piety, faith, and diligence. Also, he was a person of uncommon gravity, and so universally beloved and respected, that he was usually called the patriarch of Dorchester. The puritans at a distance, as well as those about him, according to Wood, " had more respect for him than even for their diocesan; yet he was a most moderate puritan.". " He was a constant preacher," says Fuller, " and, by his wisdom and ministerial labours, Dorchester was much enriched with knowledge, piety, and industry."t Mr. John White, the ejected nonconformist, was his son.t His WORKS.-I. The Way to the Tree of Life, 1647.-2. A Com- mentary uponthe Three first Chapters of Genesis, 1656.-3. Direc- tions for Reading the Scriptures.-4. Of the Sabbath.-5. Several Sermons.-Most probably he was author of some other articles. PETER SMART, A. M.-This great sufferer in the cause of nonconformity was born in WarwickShire, in the year 1569, and educated first at Westminster school, then at Broadgate's-hall, Oxford, and afterwards elected student of Christ's Church, in the same university. After taking his degrees he entered into the ministry, when Dr. William James, dean, and afterwards bishop, of Durham, presented him first to the grammar-school at Durham, then made him one of his chaplains ; and, in 1609, presented him to the sixth prebend in the cathedral of Durham, and the rectory of Boldovers.§ In the year 1614 he was removed from the sixth to the fourth prebend; but his patron, the bishop, dying in about three years, he received no further advancement. The first business of a public nature in which Mr. Smart appears to have been engaged, was his appointment to the high commission for the province of York. He was nomi- nated one of the commissioners in the year 1625; and though at their second assembly he qualified according to law, he seldom honoured the court with his attendance, and sub- scribed only to one sentence. Upon the renewal of the commission in 1627, he again qualified, but seldom attended.1 Wood's Atheism Oxon. vol. ii. p. 60, 61. + Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. 840. t Palmer's Noncon. Mem. vol. ii. p. 145. § Granger says he was minister at Bowden ' by which is probably intended the same place.-Biog. Hist. vol. ii. p. 169. Wood's Athenw Oxon. vol. ii. p. 11.-Illustration of Neal in the article-of Peter Smart, p. 2, 3.
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