376 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. but after some time returned to Oxford. About the year 1632 he entered into the ministerial ,office ; and, upon the commencement of the civil'war, he espoused the cause of the parliament, took the covenant, and succeeded the cele- brated 1)r John Owen, as minister of Coggeshall in Essex. Having continued his ministerial labours for some time at this place, he removed to Wimborn-Minster in Dorsetshire ; in which county he was appointed assistant to the commis- sioners for ejecting ignorant and scandalous ministers and schoolmasters. He did not, however, continue in this situation many years, but became rector of Tyfield in Essex, where he died about the year 1660, aged fifty-eight years. The Oxtbrd historian denominates him 44a learned, faithful, and sufferingminister of Jesus Christ.". He was author of " The Angel of the Church of Ephesus, no Bishop. of Ephesus," 1644 ; and a piece " Concerning the Nature of the Covenant of Grace ; wherein is a Discovery of the Judgment of Dr. Twisse in the point of Justification, clearing him therein from Antinomianism," 1655, HENRYDENNE.-This zealous person was educated in the university of Cambridge, and ordained by the Bishop of St. David's about the year 1630. Afterwards he signalized himself by his preaching and writings, his disputing and sufferings. He entered upon his ministerial labours at Pirton in Hertfordshire, where he remained about ten years, and was much beloved and respected by his parishioners. In the year 1641 he was appointed to preach at a visitation held at Baldock in the same county. This occasionedhint to be more publicly known, and made him many friends and enemies. He had alwaysbeen suspected ofpuritanism. The difference now subsisting betwixt the king and parlia- ment gave many ministers an opportunity of declaring their sentimentsmore openly, and of endeavouring to pro- mote the desired reformation of the church. Among these was Mr. Denne, who embraced this opportunity of exposing the sin of persecution, the vices of the clergy; and the numerous corruptions in the worship and discipline of the establis ed church. The introduction to his sermon was extremely singular, but discovered considerable ingenuity. His text was John v. 35. He was 'a burning and a shining light, and.ye were willingfor a season to rejoice in his light. v Wood's Athena Oxon. vol. ii. p. 175, 176.
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