254 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. Westminster, at the Morning Lecture'appointed by the Honourable House of Commons, 1644.-8. The Churches Lamentation for the Good Man's Loss ; delivered in a Sermon to the Right Honourable the two Houses of Parliament and the Reverend Assembly of Divines, at the Funeral of that excellent Man, John Pym, esquire, a late Member of the' Honourable House of Comtnons, 1644.- 9. God's Master-Piece, a Sermon tending to manifest God's glorious appearing in the Building up of Zion, preached before the Right Honourable the House of Peers, March 26, 1645-1645.-10. The Strong Helper; or, the Interest and Power of the Prayers of the Destitute, for the Building up of Zion, opened in a Sermon before the Commons, upon the solemn Day of their monthly Fast, April 30, 1645-1645.-11. A Sacred Record tobe made of God's Mercies to Zion a Thanksgiving Sermon preached to the two Houses of Par- liament, the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of London, at Christ's Church, June19, 1645-1645.- 12. A Defence of Infant Baptism : In Answer to two Treatises, and an Appendix, lately publishedby Mr. Jo. Tomhes, 1646. TIMOTHY ARMITAGE, in the year 1647, was chosen pastor of the first independent church in the city of Nor- wich. So early as the year 1643, many pious people in Norwich joined Mr. Bridge's church at Yarmouth, who afterwards wished to haveithe seat of the church removed to the former place; but the majority of members residing at Yarmouth, the proposal was declined. Yet it was mutually agreed that they should form themselves into a separate church. This was done June 10, 1644, in the presence of several of their brethren fromYarmouth, who signified their approbation by expressions of the most tender and endeared affection. Indeed, many of the members of both churches had been companions in the patience of our Lord Jesus in a foreign land, when they enjoyed sweet communion together in the ordinances of the gospel, but returned home upon the commencement of the civil wars. The church at Norwich was no sooner formed than numer- ous additions weremade to it. Mr. Armitage, after labouring several years with great usefulness, died much regretted in December, 1655. He published awork entitled, " Enoch's Walk with God." Mr. Thomas Allen, the silenced non- conformist in 1662, succeeded him in the pastoral office." There were at this early period no less than fifteen congre- gational churches on the coast of Suffolk and Norfolk, under Meen's MS. Collec, p. 116.
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