462 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. before the star-chamber, he was commanded to confess that he had admibistered the Lord's supper ; which, if he had done, he would have been banished from his country : but, without giving a positive answer, he pleaded that a subject of England was under no obligation to bear witness against himself. He was, therefore, sent to prison, where he remained a long time. During his confinement, his wife often went to the star-chamber, and, in behalf of herself and eight children, earnestly solicited the arch- bishop to procure the liberty of her husband, which it was in his power to do; but the relentless prelate, instead of listening to her tender supplications, called to the people about hire to take away that " troublesome woman !" Mr. Lamb was often in bonds for his nonconformity, and was confined in almost all the jails in and about London ; always returning to his delightful work of preaching as soon as he had regained his liberty. He was of so coura- geous a resolution as often to say, " That the man was not fit to preach who would not preach for God's sake, though he were sure to die for it as soon as he had done.". A minister of the same name was made vicar of South Benfleet in Essex, July 23, 1641; but it does not appear how long he held the benefice, nor whether he was the same person.+ Not long after this period, Mr. Lamb was chosen pastor of a baptist church in Bell-alley, Coleman- street, London,t but did not confine his labours wholly to his own particular charge. He visited various parts of the kingdom to confirm and strengthen the brethren, and plant churches agreeably to his own sentiments. However, in the year 1645, he was brought into fresh troubles; for, upon the publicationof the ordinance of parliament against unordained preachers, in that year, the lord mayor sent his officers to the baptist meeting in Coleman-street, upon an information that certain laymen preached there. On their arrival, they found two ministers engaged, Mr. Lamb the elder, and a youngman, a teacher in the church, whom Edwards calls " a weaver." The congregation was so greatly provoked, by being thus disturbed in the midst of public worship, that some of them treated the officers with very rough language, calling them persecutors," and " persecuting rogues." But Mr. Lamb treated them with greater civility, and having passed his word for their * Crosby's Baptists, vol. iii. p. 54, 55. N'ewcourt's Report. Eecl. vol. ii. p. 98. Edwards's Gangrma, part i. p. 124-126.
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