14 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. was more concerned for his beloved studies, and minis- terial usefulness, than for all the splendour and emolument of a university. Upon the publication of the Book of Sports, our learned divine refused to read it, and ventured to declare his opinion decidedly against it : he, nevertheless, escaped better than many of his brethren, who, for so doing, were suspended from their ministry, driven out of the kingdom, or cast into prison. He was a person of great moderation, yet as decidedly against the use of the superstitiousceremonies as the encouragement of profane sports.. His refusal to read the book did not pass unnoticed at court ; but when King James heard of it, he commanded the bishops not, to molest him. His majesty, indeed, very well knew, that, though Dr. Twisse lived in low circumstances, and in an obscure situation, his fame was so great in all the reformed churches, that their lordships could do nothing against him which would not be a public reproach to themselves. It was, after all, no small disparagement to them, and to the church to which they belonged, that so eminently pious and learned a divine should live without preferment. The celebrated Dr. Prideaux said, " The bishops do very little consult their own credit, in not preferring Dr. Twisse, though against his wishes, to some splendid ecclesiastical dignity; by which, though they despair of drawing him to their party, they might take off, or mollify, the popular envy, and not hear themselves exposed to scorn by the curate of Newbury." During, the civil wars, Prince Rupert, coming to Newbury, entertained our divine very courteously, and made him many honourable promises, if he would turn against the parlia- ment, write in defence of the royal cause, and live among the king's party : but Dr. Twisse very wisely and politely de- clined the royal invitation.+ Ho obtained uncommon celebrity from the books which he published, especially upon points of controversy. Here his talents and erudition were employed upon his favourite subjects without restraint, and with extraordinary success. Among his antagonists were Dr.Thomas Jackson, Mr. Henry Mason, and Dr. Thomas Godwin, who was a person of great learning, especially in antiquities ; but is said to have been more fit to instruct grammarians than to contend with a logician like Dr. Twisse. He next encountered Mr. John Goodwin, the celebrated advocate for Arminianism, whom Mode's Works, p. 895, 846. Clark's Lives, last vol. part i. p. 14-17.
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