BIDDLE. 415 in correcting the press, by which means he obtained a com- fortable subsistence.. In the year 1651, such public measures were taken as proved favourable to Mr. Biddle, and he again obtained his release. He improved his liberty by meeting his friends in London, every Lord's day, for the purpose of expounding the scriptures, and discoursing upon them. In 1654 Dr. Gunning, who had before visited him in prison, came to their meeting on the.,Lord's day, accompanied by several of his friends. His conduct soon explained his intentions ; that he was not come to be a hearer of Mr. Biddle, but to con- found and refute him publicly, and in the face of his own adherents. Therefore, he presently commenced a disputa- tion with him, first concerning the Deity of the Holy Spirit; then, on the next Lord's clay, concerning the Deity of Christ. His biographer informs us, " That Mr. Biddle acquitted himself with so much learning,judgment, and knowledge in the sense of the holy scriptures, that he gained much credit by the contest."t The doctor, however, paid him another visit, when they had another disputation. During this year, Mr. Biddle's life was distinguished more by the publication of" ATwo-fold Catechism ; the one simply called A Scripture Catechism, the other called A brief Scripture Catechism for Children," than by his public dis- putations with Dr. Gunning. The celebrated Dr. John Owen published an answer to the " Two-fold Catechism," entitled, " Vindiciw Evangelicze ; or, the Mystery of the Gospel Vindicated, and Socinianism examined." Also, for this publication, he was brought to the bar of the house of commons and, December 12th, wascommitted close prisoner to the Gatehouse, and forbidden the use of pen, ink, and paper, and denied the access of any visitant. On the 13th of the same month, the parliament having voted that the book contained many impious and blasphemous opinions against the Deity of the HolyGhost,1: it was called in, andburnt by the common hangman. But the protector dissolving the parlia- ment, he obtained his liberty, May 28, 1655. This great sufferer did not, indeed, enjoy his liberty very long. For July 3d, this year, he was, by an order from Cromwell, apprehended and committed to the Compter, then to Newgate ; and, at the next sessions, was tried for his life, on the ordinance against blasphemy and heresy before men- tioned. At his trial, when he requested that counsel might 4. Wood's Athena Oxon, vol. ii. p. 199.---Lifeof Biddle, p. f Ibid. p. 70. t Whitlocke's Item. p. 591.
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