412 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. assiduity and success, and became an ornament to his college. In 1641 he was chosen master of the free-school ofCrypt,* in the city ,of Gloucester ; where, for his excellent talents and diligence in his profession, he was highly esteemed. Here his freedom of inquiry in his academical studies was directed to the subjects of religion. His opinions concerning the Trinity differed very soon from those commonly received ; and, having expressed his thoughts with much freedom, he was presently accused of heresy. Ile was accordingly sum- moned before the magistrates ; to whom he presented, on the point about which he was accused, the following confession of faith : 1. " I believe that there is but one infinite and almighty essence, called God. 2. " I believe, that, as there is but one infinite and almighty essence, so there is but one person in that essence. 3. " I believe that our Saviour Jesus Christ is truly God, by being truly, really, and properly united to the only person of the infinite and almighty essence."f This confession, dated May 2, 1644, proved unsatisfactory to the magistrates, who m'ged him to be more explicit con- cerning a plurality of persons in the divine essence. Accord- ingly, about four days after, he confessed, that there were three in that divine essence, commonly called persons. This appears to have given greater satisfaction. Mr. Biddle, having made up his mind more fully upon this subject, drew up his thoughts upon a paper entitled, " Twelve Arguments, drawn out of Scripture, wherein the commonly received opinion touching the Deity of the Holy Spirit is clearly and fully refuted.". This paper he shewed to one whom he supposed to be his friend, but who was ungenerous enough to betray him to the magistrates of Gloucester, and to the committee of parliament, then residing there. Upon this information, he was committed to the common gaol, December 2, 1645, being at the same time ill of a dangerous fever. The design of his imprisonment was to secure his person, till the parliament should take his case into con- sideration. The intolerance of this proceeding was, how- ever , soon mitigated by the interposition of a compassionate friend, a person of eminence in Gloucester, who, by giving bail for his appearance, procured his enlargement. About June, 1646, the famous Archbishop Usher, passing through Gloucester on his way to London, had a conference Biog. Britan. vol. ii. p. 303. Edit. 1778. Toulinin's Life of Biddle, p. 18. Edit. 1791.
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