long there, he retired to Magdalen-hall, in the same University, where he took the degrees in Arts. Having finished his accademical studies, he entered into the minis. terial office, and became Chaplain to Lord Horatio Vere, whom he accompanied to the Low Countries. After his return to his native country, he went again to Oxford, and, upon performing certain exercises, he was admitted to the reading of the sentences, in the latter end of the year 1629. He was tutor to Matthew Hale, who was af. terward the much celebrated Lord Chief Justice. Leaving the University a second time, he became preacher at Mildred's, Bread-street, London; but was driven from his living and the people of his charge, by the merciless oppression and iron rod of the haughty prelates. In the year 1639, he became minister of Cogges-hall in Essex, where he continued two or three years. Upon the commencement of the civil wars, he returned to London, and to his ministry at Mildred's, and was often called to preach before the Parliament. In the year 1642, he became Chaplain to Colonel Hollis's regiment, in the Parliament's Army. In the following year, he was appoint. ed one of the Licensers of the press for books of Divinity, and chosen one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and he constantly attended.

He was a very zealous covenanter. Wood Wood says, "that the Members of Parliament constituted him one of the Assembly of Divines, as being a covenanter to the purpose." The same writer observes, evidently with a very hostile design, "that while Mr Sedgwick preached at Mildred's, which was only to exasperate the people to rebel and confound Episcopacy, it was usual with him, especially in hot weather, to unbutton his doublet in the pulpit, that his breath might be the longer, and his voice more audible, to rail against the King's party, and those who were near him, whom he called popish counsellors." The same author adds, "He was a great leader and abettor of the Reformation pretended to be carried on by the Presbyterians; whose peaceable maxims, like razors set with oil, cut the throat of majesty with a keen smoothness. This he did in an especial manner, in Sept. 1644,

when he, with great concernment, told the people, several times, that God was angry with the army for not cutting off delinquents.

It has also been said, that Mr Sedgwick was " a preacher of treason, rebellion, and nonsense," even in his sermons before the Parliament. But his sermons are extant, and how far he was guilty, every pious and judicious reader will easily judge. It has been the common lot of the faithful friends and servants of Christ to be loaded with › calumnies and reproaches, since the commencement of Christianity. The malicious Jews laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove; while he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Ce sar, have I offended any thing at all, Acts xxv. 7, 8.

In the year 1646, Mr Sedgwick became preacher at Paul's, Covent-garden; where he was much followed, and is said to have been instrumental in the conversion of many souls. Wood says, "that there, as also some-. times in the country, he kept up the vigour of a Presbyterian ministry, which for divers years prospered according to his mind." In the year 1653, or 1654, he was, by the Parliament, appointed one of the Tryers, or examiners of ministers; and in the year following, he was constituted one of the assistant commissioners of London for ejecting ignorant and scandalous ministers and schoolmasters. He was a very zealous labourer in the Lord's vineyard, and exceedingly active in promoting the work of Reformation. Mr Sedgwick finding at length, that his health began to decline, he resigned his charge, and retired to Marlborough, his native place, where he died about the beginning of Jan. 1658, aged fifty-seven years, and his remains were interred in the chancel of Oglarn, St. Andrew, near Marlborough. He was esteemed a learned Divine, and an orthodox and admired preacher.

His Writings.. Military Discipline for a Christian Soldier. Lond. 1639.-2. Christ's Counsel to his Lan

a Wood's Athenæ Oxon, vol. ii. edit. 2. Brook's Puritans,, vol. iii,

guishing Church of Sardis, Lond. 1640-3. England's Preservation; a Sermon from Jer. iv. 3, before Commons, Fast, 25th May, 1642. Lond. 1642.-4. Haman's Van ity; a Sermon from Esther ix. 1, preached to the Honourable House of Commons, at their solemn thanksgiv ing, June 15th, 1643. 4to. pp. 32, Lond. 1643.-5. A Thanksgiving Sermon, 9th April 1644, from Psa. iii. 8. 4to. Lond. 1644. pp. 32.-6. An Ark against a Deluge: or, Safety in Dangerous. Times; a Sermon from Heb. xi. 7, before the House of Commons, at their extraordinary Fast, Oct. 22d, 1644. 4to. pp. 31. Lond. 1644, and 1645.-7. The Nature and Danger of Heresies; a Ser. mon from Rev. xii. 15, 16, before Commons, Fast. 4to. pp. 44. Lond. 1647.-8. Speech in Guildhall, 1643,9. The best and worst Malignant. 4to. 1648-10. Christ the Life, and Death the Gain; a Sermon at the funeral of Rowl. Wilson, a Member of Parliament, from Phil. i. 21. 4to. Lond. 1650.-11. The Doubting Christian Resolved, Lond. 1653. There is a book of his entitled, The Doubting Believer Resolved. Lond. 1641, 12mo. but whether it is the same, or a different book, I cannot tell. 12. Elisha's Lamentation upon the sudden trans lation of Eujah, preached from 2 Kings ii. 12, at the fu neral of Mr William Strong. 4to. Lond. 1654.-13. The Humbled Sinner Resolved what he should do to be saved: or, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only way for sensible sinners, discovering the Quality, Object, Acts, Seat, Subject, inseparable Concomitants, and Degrees of Justifying Faith. 4to. pp. 282. Lond. 165614 The Fountain opened, and the Water of Life forcing, in several Sermons, from Isa. lv. 1, 2, 3. 4to. Lond. 165715. The Riches of Grace Displayed, in the Offer of Salva. tion to Poor Sinners, in several Sermons from Rev. iii. 20. 2d edit. Lond. 1658-16, The Shepherd of Israel: or, God's Pastoral Care over his People, on Psal. xxiii. with the Doctrine of Providence practically handled, on Mat. x. 29, 20, 31. 4to. Lond. 1658.–17. Anatomy of Se cret Sins. 4to. Lond. 1660-18: The Parable of the Prodigal 4to. pp. 368. Lond. 1660.-19. The Bow els of tenden Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant.

folio. pp. 734. Lond. 1661.-20. Synopsis of Christin anity21. A Catechism.

I have seen Mr Sedgwick's Writings both in England. and Scotland.

SIDRACH SIMPSON, B. D.

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, LONDON, AND ONE OF THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER.

"

SIDRACH SIMPSON received his education in the University of Cambridge. He afterward became a celebrated Preacher in London. His name has often been written Sydrach Simpson; but it was written, Sidrach Simpson by himself, and so it is, found both in Wood's Athenæ Oxon, and in the original, list of those Divines who met at Westminster. He was appointed, curate and lecturer of Margaret's Church, Fish-street; but his preaching soon gave offence to Arch-bishop Laud, who, in his metropolitical visitation, in the year 1635, convened him before him, with several other Divines, for breach - of canons. Most of them having promised submission, they were dismissed. But by the intemperate superstition and bigotry of Laud, and the extreme violence with which he exacted conformity, many eminently pious and faithful Divines were driven out of their native country. Among those were Messrs Thomas Goodwin, Philip Nye, Jeremiah Burroughs, William Bridge, and Mr Simpson. They all retired to Holland, and were afterward denomi nated the five pillars of the Independent or Congregational party; and, in the Assembly of Divines, were distinguished by the name of the Dissenting Brethren.

Upon Mr Simpson's arrival in Holland, he went to Rotterdam; and seeing the comely order of the English church in that place, under the pastoral care of Mr Bridge, he expressed his desire to become a member and, upon exhibiting the confession of his faith, he was received into their communion. But Mr Simpson, after

some time, discovered certain things in that church, which did not meet with his approbation; and urged the utility and importance of prophesyings, that, after ser mon on the Lord's-day, the people might express their doubts, and propose questions to the ministers, with a particular view to their better edification. This motion, however, in connection with some other things, produced a misunderstanding between Mr Bridge and Mr Simp. son; which, at length, caused the latter even to separate himself from the church, and begin a new interest. This new society had a very small beginning, but afterward it considerably increased. Mr Joseph Symonds, another persecuted Puritan, succeeded him in the office of pastor to that church.

About the commencement of the civil war, Mr Simpson returned to England; and in the year 1643, he was chosen one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and he is said to have constantly attended during the session. In all their debates, he conducted himself with great temper and moderation. He was one of the five Divines who published and presented to the House of Commons, "An Apologetical Narration submitted to the Honourable Houses of Parliament, in fa vour of the Independents. In the year 1645, he was ap pointed one of the Committee of Accommodation. In the year 1647, he united with his dissenting brethren in presenting their reasons to the Houses of Parliament, against some parts of the Presbyterian government. In the year 1650, he was appointed, by the Parliamentary Visitors, Master of Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, in the room of Mr Richard Vines, who was turned out for refusing the engagement. In 1654, he was chosen a Member of the Committee for drawing up a catalogue of fundamentals, to be presented to the Parliament. During the same year, he was constituted, by order of the Coun cil, one of the commissioners for the approbation of pub. lic preachers; these commissioners were commonly dis tinguished by the name of Tryers, In the year 1655, he was appointed, by a commission from Cromwell, one of the new Visitors of the University of Cambridge. Dur