298 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. was much followed by the religious and puritanical scholars. Upon the commencement of the civil war, he espoused the cause of the parliament, left the university, and went to sea as chaplain to the Earl of Warwick, admiral to the parlia- ment. However, in 1644, being tired of a sea employment, he became the officiating minister at St. Margaret's church, Rochester, when Mr. Selvey, the incumbent, to his great honour, allowed him all theprofits of the living. Afterwards, by the powers which then were, he was appointed one of the three lecturers at the cathedral in that city, " purposely," says our author, " to preach downthe heresies and blasphe- mies of Richard Coppin, and his bigoted followers." He died at Rochester in the month of March, 1658, leaving behind him the character of a godly and painful preacher.* He published a work entitled, " The Church the proper Subject of the New Covenant," 1646 ; and " Several Ser- mons," 1657. JOHN BEVERLYwas fellowof Trinity college,Cambridge, where he most probably received his education. Towards the close of life he settled at Rowell in Northamptonshire ; where, by his pious and useful labours, he gathered a church according to the model of the independents. Having been instrumental in the conversion of about thirty persons, he united them in church fellowship, upon congregational prin- ciples, when they entered into a covenant to walk with each other in the order of the gospel. The tenor oftheir covenant was, " To walk together with God, in gospel faith and order, as a particular church, in the performance of all duties towards God, towards each other, and towards all men, in the strength of the spirit of Christ, and according to his word." They chose Mr. Beverly their pastor, two elders, and two deacons. This was in the year 1656. Under Mr. Beverly's ministry, many of the inhabitants of the town were awakened and received into the church. But his excellent and useful labours were not long continued among them after the above period; for he died in the month of June, 1658. After his death, the goodpeoplewho composed his church mostly attended upon the ministry of Mr. Thomas Browning of Desborough. Upon his ejection, in 1662, they invited him to the office of pastor, and he con- tinued with them to the day of his death. This church Wood's Atlieuse Oxon. vol. ii. it. 149.
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