256 LIVES. GP THE PURITANS. out, in 1650, for refusing the engagement.. Upon, this lie most probably retired to Stow-Market, where he afterwards died, in the year 1655, and his remains were interred in the church undera marble stone,with a monumental inscription. Mr. Baker says, " he left behind him the character of a learned, wise, and pious man."f Mr. Leigh Styles him " a learned divine, very well versed in the fathers, and author of an excellent treatise, entitled " Dies Dominic-a." He was also one of the authors of Smectymnuus.t. JoHN- PENDARVES,, A. B.-This person was born hi Cornwall, in the year 1622, andeducated at Exeter college,' Oxford. In the year 1642, when the nation was involved in war, he left the university, took part with the parliament, and, says-the Oxford. historian, " having a voluble tongue for canting, went up and down preaching in houses, barns, under trees, hedges, and elsewhere." Though this is evidently designed- to blacken his memory, his conduct herein was,surely as commendable as that of many of the episcopal, clergy, who stretched all their power to obtain numerous rich, livings, but did not preach at all. ". Mit," says he, " at length he turned anabaptist ; and having obtained a great multitude of disciples, made himself head of them, defied all authority, contradictedand opposed' all orthodox ministers, challenged them to prove their calling, and stared not many times to interrupt them in their pulpits, and to urge them to disputes. After several challenges, Dr. Mayne, of Christ's Church, undertook to be his respon- dent; and, according to appointment, they met September 11, 1652, in Watlington church; Oxfordshire, when an innumerable company of people assembled : but Pendarves being backed by a great party of anabaptists, andthe scum of the people, who behaved themselves very -rudely, the disputation was interrupted, and so came to nothing."§ was lecturer at Wantage in Berkshire, and pastor to the baptist church at. Abingdon in the same county. Our author adds, that " he accounted himself a true-born Englishman ; but, because he endeavoured utterly to undo the distressed and tottering church of England, he was undeserving of the name. And as he did these things for . Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 115. 1- Baker's MS. Collec. vol. vi. p. 55.- t Leigh on Religion and Learning, p. 569. § Wood's Athenm Oxon, vol. ii. p. 127.
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