'4S LIVES OF. THE PURITANS. them, speaking of him as a member, of the assembly, says, " He quickly grows to be master, and is so called by all. They sit, not to consult for the reformation of religion in things that are amiss, but to receive the parliament's com- mands to undo and innovate religion. In which work, or rather drudgery of the devil, our active Stephen needs neither whip nor spur : tooth and nail he bends himself to the overthrow of the hierarchy, root and branch.". Dr. Heylin, with his usual modesty, calls him " the great bell- wether of the presbyterians ;"+ and affirms, that though he had the chief band in compiling the directory, he married his own daughter by the form pr-scribed in the Book of Common Prayer ; which he had no sooner done than he paid down five pounds to the churchwardens of the parish, as a fine for using any other form of marriage than that contained in the directory.t The truth of this repres.enta- tiod of so excellent a person as Mr. Marshall, especially from the pen of Dr. Heylin, is extremely doubtful, if not unworthy of the smallest credit. Mr. Marshall frequently united with his brethren in the observance of public fasts, when the services were usually protracted to a very great length. On one of these occa- sions, it is said, " that Dr. Twisse having commenced the public service with a 'short prayer, Mr. Marshall prayed in a wonderful, pathetic, and prudent manner for two hours. Mr. Arrowsmith then preached an hour, then they sung a psalm ; after which Mr. Vines prayed nearly two hours, Mr. Palaver preached an hour, and Mr. Seaman prayed nearly two hours. Mr. Henderson then spokeof theevils of the time, and how they were to be remedied, and Dr. Twisse closed the service with a short prayer."§ Life of Marshall, p. 11. 1- Dr. Peter Ileylin, preaching at Westminster abbey, before Bishop j Williams, and endeavouring to ustify the church in the imposition of doctrine and ceremonies, and to censure the nonconformists, he said, " In- stead of hearkening to the voice of the church, every man hearkens to him.. self, and cares not if the whole miscarry so that he himself may carry his own devices. Upon which stubborn height of pride, what quarrels have been raised ? what schisms in every corner of the church 1--To inquire no further, some put all into open tumult rather than conform to the law ful government derived' from Christ and his apostles." On expressing these Words, the bishop, sitting in the great pew, knocked aloud with his staff upon the pulpit, saying, "No more of that point, no more of that point, Peter." To whom Fleylin immediately answered, "I have a little more to say, my lord, and then I have done; when he proceeded to finish his subject. Btog. Briton. vol. iv. p. 2597. Edit. 1747. Heylin's Examen Historicum, p. 264. Biog. Britam vol. i. p. 512. Edit. 1778.
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