~p6 , The HlST9RY of the PuRITANs: VoL. n. Common- Jewry. He was afterwards, by ordinance of parliament dated July 10 , ~(,alt;:· I 646. made parfon of St. 0/ave's Southwark,; having the efteem of being ~a good fcholar, and an excellent preacher. He died in the midft of his days and ufefulnefs, tetatis 3S. · Of Mr. George Walker. Eachard. Of Mr. ·WiJfon. Mr. George Walker proceedeo B. D. ·in St. John's College Cambridge. He was famous for his 1kill in the oriental languages, and was an excel– lent logician andtheologijt; being very much noted for his difputations with the jefuit Fijher, .and others of the romijh church; and afterwards for his fl:rict fabbatarian principles. He was a member of the affembly of divines, where he gained great reputation by his munificent and generous .behaviour. · Mr. Thomas Wilfon was born in Cumber/and 16or. and educated in Chrift's •College Cam6ridge, where he proceeded in arts. He was fidl: mi– .nifter of Cape! in Surrey, and after feveral other removes fixed at Maid– Jtone in Kent, where he was fufpended for refufing to read the book of I ports, and not abfolved till the .fcots troubles in 1639· In 1643 he was appointed one of the affembly of divines at Weftminfter, being repu– ted a good lingui(!:, and well read in ancient and modern authors. He was of a robuft con!litution, and took vaft pains-in preaching and cate– ·.chiting; he had a great deal of natural courage, and was in every refpect .a chearful and aCtive chri!lian, but he trefpafTed too much upon his con~ fiirution, which were ~im out when he wa_s little more than fifty years old. He died comfortably and chearfully towards the end of the year 165 I. Sir Edward Deering gave him this charaCter in the houfe of com– mons ; " Mr. Wi!fon is as orthodox in doctrine, and laborious in preach~ " ing, as any we have, and of an unblemi!hed life." b~u terms if The terms of conformity in England were now lower than they had ronjmnity. been fince the beginning of the civil wars; the covenant was laid afide, and no other civil qualification for a living required, but the engagement, fo that many epifcopal divines complied with the government; for tho' they might not read the liturgy in form, they might frame their prayers as near it as they pleafed. Many epifcopal afTcmblies were connived at, where the liturgy was read, till they were found plotting againft the go– vernment; nor would they have been denied an open .toleration, if they would have given fecurity for their peaceable behaviour, and not meddling with .politics. Petition aThe parliament having voted in the year I 649, that tithes jhou!d be ta~. tai'!ft tit/m. ken away as foon as another maintenance for the clergy could be agreed upon, f~veral. petition~ came out of .the country, praying the houie to bring-dus affm to an 1fTue: One advlfed, that all the tithes over the whole kingdom might be.colleeted i~to a treafury, a~d that the ~inifters might .be paid their falanes out of 1t, Others lookwg upon tabes unlawful, · would
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