496 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. liberally, out of his own earnings, to the poor of the church, Notwithstanding his constant 'avocations, he did not neglect the charge of his flock, but preached constantly two or three times a week, and visited his people from house to house, especially those who were sick. In the year 1644 he sub- scribed the' confession of faith published by the seven baptist churches in London.. Afterwards, in the year 165 the sectaries labodring under severe persecution he united with them in their " Humble Proposal," addressed " To the right honourable the committee of parliament, for receiving such proposals as shall be tendered to their consideration by persons fearing God, in order to the propagating of the gospel." It contains many excellent hints, tending to promote unity, concord, and the toleration of all worthy subjects.t In the " Declaration" published by the baptists, in the year 1654, fourteen of those who subscribed it are said to have walked with Mr. Knollys.# The life of this good man was one continued scene of trouble and vexation. Upon the rising of Veinier, im- mediately after the restoration, in 1660, Mr. Knollys, with many .other innocent persons, was dragged from his own dwelling w-house, and committed to Newgate. There he suffered eighteen weeks' imprisonment, till released by an act of grace upon the king's coronation. At that time four hundred persons were confined in the same prison, for refus- ing the oaths of allegiance and supremacy. The rebellion of Venner occasioned a royal proclamation, prohibiting Ana- baptists and other sectaries from worshipping God in public, excepting at their parish churches. This unnatural edict was the signal for persecution, and only the forerunner of those cruel laws which afterwards disgraced the reigns of Charles and James the second. Mr. Knollys, as may be supposed, was often obliged to shift his abode. After removing into different parts of England and Wales, he went over to Holland, from thence to' Germany, and back again to Rotterdam; from whence he' returned to London. These frequent revolutions occasioned a great variation in his circum- stances. Sometimes he was worth several hundred pounds ; at other times, he had no house to -dwell in, no food to eat, nor any money to lay out. But these sudden changes tended very much to the exercise and confirmation of his graces, and furnished him with frequent instances of the goodness of Divine providence. Featley's Dippers Dipt. p. 177. 1Grey's Examination, vol. Appen. p. 144. t Declaration, p; V.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=