220 LIVES OF THE PURITANS, annotations themselves; wherein the pretended grounds Of judiciary astrology, and the scripture proofs produced for it, are discussed and refuted," 1653. In this treatise he fully and openly exposed his opponents and their pretended science; and enforced all that he had said against it by substantial arguments, and produced, in support of his own sentiments, a numerous train of respectable authorities. This excited their scurrility and abuse more than ever ; which induced him to publish a reply to their raillery and bitter language, in a piece entitled, "ADiscourse Apolegitical,wherein Lillies lewd and lowd lies in his Merlin or Pasquil for the year 1654, are clearly laid open ; his shameful desertion of his own cause is further discovered ; his shameless slanders fully refuted; and his malicious and murtherous mind inciting to a general rims- sacre of God's ministers, fromhis own pen evidently evinced : together with an advertisement concerning two allegations produced in the close of his postscript; and a postscript con- cerning an epistole dedicatory of one I. Gadburie," 1654. In this treatise our venerable author speaks of the most con- siderable transactions of his life, relates at large the manner in which he arrived at his several preferments, and completely refutes all the idle and malicious reflections of Lilly and his associates. He mentions,, among other particulars, his sen- timents upon church government, and declares that he never was an advocate for the power and splendour of the prelacy ; but that, on the contrary, he had always inclined to a mode rate episcopacy. As, for the sake of doing good in his gene- ration, he had submitted to the bishops ; so, when they were taken away by what he esteemed the supreme power, he sub- mitted to that likewise, yet never sought any preferment, but refused it from both parties. This, it appears, was written a very little time before his death. Although Mr. Gataker convinced all judicious and impar- tial inquirers after truth of the vanity of this delusive science, he could never silence his conceited and obstinate antagonist, whose bread, indeed, was in some degree at stake ; and who was, therefore, bound by one of the strongest ties to defend that craft by which he lived. By his frequent publications, he vilified and persecuted our venerabledivine .to the end of his days, and, contrary to all the rules of religionor humanity, insulted him when laid in his silent grave.. As for the pious and learned Mr. Gataker, he pursued the same peaceable and useful course, till his years, his infirmities, and his perpetual' labours, wore out his constitution. Biog. Britan. vol. iv. p. 2172-2175.
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