SYMMONDg. 11,I humanity, nature itself, reason, the oath of allegiance,, and even the late protestation." These charges, which Mr. Sym- monds acknowledged, are expressed in his own words. He was further charged with having' defamed the patliament, affirming, " That the parliament would force the king to comply with their laws : that they raised a force against the king ; and that they are not to be obeyed, though they com- mand according to the will of God, if it be not according to the command of the king: and pressing his auditors to believe whatsoever is set forth in the king's declarations ; because a divine sentence is in his mouth, and he CANNOT ERR : and that if David's heart smote him for cutting off Saul's garment, what would it have done if he had kept him from his castles, towns, and ships ?" For these things, the lords and commons in parliament assembled gave an order, dated March 3, 1642, that his living should be sequestered into the hands of Mr. Robert Atkins, A. M. who was appointed to preach every Lord's day till further order.. Mr. Symmonds, besides his sequestration, endured many other hardships. His accusers, if sufficient credit be due to Dr. Walker, were persons of very inferior character: His family experienced some unkind usage ; and he was forced to flee for safety into various parts of the kingdom, and at length into France. The doctor, however, is certainly very incorrect in asserting, " that Mr. Symmonds brought all these miseries upon himself; because he could not go hand in hand with them in rebellion." Many of the royal clergy, who inter- meddled not with state affairs, but remained, neuter, continued in the peaceable possession of their livings. He died in the year 1649, and his remains were interred in St. Peter's church, Paul's-wharf, London. " He was a person of great piety, courage, wisdom, and learning; an excellent and a profitable preacher ;"t and though he suffered much during the wars, through his zeal for the royal cause, he was so strict in his life, and so plain, _piercing, and profitable in preaching, that he was looked upon as a puritan.t He published " A loyal Subject's Belief," 1643 ; and " A Vindication of King Charles." Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 67, 68. Ibid. part ii. p. 158-361.-Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. 29. Lloyd's Memoires, p. 614, 687.
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