ns LIVES OF THE PURITANS. for preaching against infant baptism. Having suffered confinement for some time, his case, through the intercession of friends, was referred to a committee of parliament. He was accordingly sent up to London, where he was kept prisoner in Lord Petre's houSe in Aldersgate-street, till the committee heard his case and released him.. At this time there was confined in the same prison, the learned Dr. Daniel Featly, famous for his opposition to the baptists. The doctor having just published his book, entitled, 44 The Dippers Dipt ; or, the Anabaptists Ducked and Plunged over Head and Ears, at a Disputation in Southwark," it, was laid in the way of Mr. Denne, who having read it, thought himself called upon to defend his principles. He therefore challenged the doctor to a dispu- tation, which being accepted, Mr. Denne is reported to have had the best of the argument, and that the doctor declined proceeding further, under pretence that it was dangerous so to do without a license from government. Mr. Deane, upon the invitation of the doctor, immediately set about answering the book, and in the course of a few weeks pro- duced a very learned and ingenious reply. After his release, notwithstanding the obnoxious nature of his opinions, Mr. Denne obtained, by' some means, the vicarage of Eltiiley in Cambridgeshire, where he preached publicly in the church, and, was mach followed. But this excited the jealousy and opposition of the presbyterians. Having, on a certain occasion, to preach a lecture at St. Ives in Huntingdonshire, the committee of the county issued an order to prevent him ; upon which he went into a neighbouring church-yard, and preached under a tree to a great number of people, arid to the,great mortification of his opponents. In June, 1646, he was again committed to prison, for preaching his own sentiments and baptizing by immersion, at Spalding in Lincolnshire. Here his chief persecutors were two justices, who sent the constable on the Lord's day morning to apprehend him. Their object was to prevent him preaching ; for, to their great mortification, multitudes flocked to hear him. Upon the examination of his case, the only crime brought against him was that of dipping, and only one person could be produced in evidence of the charge. When first called before his spiritual judges, he was urged to accuse himself; but this he utterly refused. The single witness produced in proof of the Edwards's Gangrana, part i. p. 77.
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