In the year 1643, Mr Marshall was chosen one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and was a most active and valuable member. He was one of those divines in that famous Assembly, who appeared for the institution of the ruling elders by divine right. He seems to have been employed in writing to foreign churches, for Mr Baillie says: "Our letter to foreign churches, formed by Mr Marshall, except some clauses belonging to us put in by Mr Henderson, is now turned into Latin by Mr Arrowsmith." In this very public office he could not expect to escape the bitter censures of the opposite party. One of them, speaking of him as a member of the Assembly, says, "He quickly grows to be master, and is so called by all. They sit, not to consult for the reformation of religion in things that are amiss, but to receive the Par liament's commands to undo and innovate religion. In which work, or rather drudgery of the devil, our active Stephen needs neither whip nor spur; tooth and nail he bends himself to the overthrow of the hierarchy, root and branch."

Mr Marshall and Mr Nye were sent, by order of the English Parliament, to attend the commissioners to Scotland, whose great object was to establish an agreement with the Scots, desiring their aid in the war, and some of their divines to join those at Westminster, for settling an uniformity of religion and church-government in both nations. The commissioners arrived at Edinburgh, Aug. 9th, 1643, and were favourably received by the Assembly, who proposed, as a preliminary, that the two nations should enter into a perpetual covenant for themselves and their posterity, that all things might be done in God's house according to his will. Having appointed some of their number to consult with the English commissioners respecting a proper form, they chose delegates for the Assembly at Westminster, and unanimously advised the Convention of States to assist the English Parliament in the war, chiefly because they apprehended that the war was for religion. The Committee for drawing up the

a Baillie's Letters, vol. i, p. 401. b Letters, vol. i. p. 414

solemn League and Covenant, delivered it into the Assembly, Aug. 17th, where it was read, and highly applauded, both by ministers and elders, none opposing it except the King's commissioner. It readily passed both the Assembly and Convention in one day, and was dispatched the next morning to Westminster, with a letter to the two Houses, wishing that it might be confirmed, and solemnly sworn, and subscribed in both kingdoms, as the surest and strictest obligation to make them stand and fall together in the noble cause of Religion and Liberty.-Messrs Marshall and Nye, in their letter to the Assembly at Westminster, under the date of Aug. 18th, 1643, assure their brethren, that the Scottish ministers. were wholly on the side of the Parliament. They conclude their valuable letter, in the following words: "We scarcely ever saw so much of Christ for us as this day, in the Assembly's carrying of this business, such weeping, such rejoicing, such resolution, such pathetical expressions, as we confess hath much refreshed our hearts, before extremely saddened with ill news from our dear country; and hath put us in good hope that this nation, which sets about this business, as becometh the work of God and saving of the kingdoms, shall be the means of lifting up distressed England and Ireland."

Mr Marshall frequently united with his brethren in the observance of public fasts, when the services were protracted to a great length. On one of these occasions, it is said, that Dr Twisse having commenced the service with a short prayer," Mr Marshall prayed large two hours, most divinely confessing the sins of the members of the Assembly, in a wonderful, pathetick, and prudent way. After, Mr Arrowsmith preached an hour, then a psalm; after which, Mr Vines prayed nearly two hours, Mr Palmer preached an hour, and Mr Seaman prayed nearly two hours, then a psalm. Mr Henderson then spoke of the evils of the time, and how they were to be

a Neal's Hist. vol. iii. chap. ii. Baillie's Letters, vol. i. Letter xxxvi.

remedied, and Dr Twisse closed the service with a short prayer and blessing.'

In the year 1644, Mr Marshall attended the commis. sioners of Parliament at the treaty of Uxbridge. In 1645, he was chosen one of the Committee of accommodation, to secure the peace of the church, and to promote, as far as possible, the satisfaction of all parties. The fol lowing year, he was appointed, together with Mr Joseph Caryl, chaplain to the commissioners who were sent to the king at Newcastle, in order to an accommodation for peace. Removing thence, by easy journies, to Holmby. house, in Northamptonshire, the two chaplains performed divine worship there; but his Majesty never attended. He spent his Lord's day in private; and though they waited at table, he would not so much as allow them to ask a blessing. Wood, who mentions this circumstance, relates the following curious anecdote:-" It is said that Marshall did, on a time, put himself more forward than was meet to say grace; and, while he was long in forming his chaps, as the manner was among the saints, and making ugly faces, his Majesty said grace himself, and was fallen to his meat, and had eaten up some part of his dinner, before Marshall had ended the blessing; but Caryl was not so imprudent."

b

In the year 1647, Mr Marshall was appointed, together with Mr Vines, Mr Caryl, and Dr Seaman, to attend the commissioners at the treaty of the Isle of Wight, when he conducted himself with great ability and moderation. The house of Commons having now many important affairs under consideration, Mr Marshall and Mr Nye, by order of the House, Dec. 31, 1647, were desired to attend the next morning to pray with them, that they might enjoy the direction and blessing of God in their weighty consultations.

In the year 1654, when the Parliament voted a toleration of all who professed to hold the fundamentals of Christianity, Mr Marshall was appointed one of the

a Ballie's Letters, vol. ii. pp. 18, 19.

b Wood's Athene Oxon, vol. ii. under Caryl.

committee of learned divines, to draw up a catalogue of fundamentals to be presented to the House. About the same time, he was chosen one of the triers. He was justly accounted a very useful as well as admired preacher. Lady Brown, wife to an eminent member of the Long Parliament, was once under great trouble of mind, respecting the salvation of her soul. For some time she refused to attend public worship, though it had formerly been her very great delight. She even asked what she should do there, and said it would only increase her damnation! In that dismal state of mind, she was persuaded, and almost forced into the coach to hear Mr Marshall. The sermon was so exactly suited to her case, and so powerfully applied to her disconsolate mind, that she received great satisfaction, was filled with hope of her salvation, and returned home in transports of holy joy. He seems to have given great satisfaction, when he preached in Edinburgh. Mr Baillie says, in his letter above-mentioned: "On the Sabbath, before noon, in the New Church, we heard Mr Marshall preach with great contentment." His sermons which have been printed abound with striking comparisons, and pointed appeals to the hearers; and though they are not adapted to the taste of modern eloquence, it may be very easily seen how they might gain much admiration in those times.

Mr Marshall has suffered greatly in his name and reputation. Dr Heylin, with his usual modesty, calls him "the great bell-wether of the Presbyterians." Mr Echard, with his usual candour, denominates him "a famous incendiary, and assistant to the Parliamentarians." Newcourt calls him "The Geneva-Bull, and a factious and rebellious divine." And Wood styles him "a notorious independent, and the archflamen of the rebellious rout." The truth however is, that he never was an independent, but he both lived and died an avowed Presbyterian. And respecting his rebellion, what has been before observed will afford every impartial reader a sufficient refutation of that charge. Dr Fuller had a better opinion of him, and

VOL. II.

a Calamy's Contin. vol. i. pp. 466, 467.

M

has classed him among the learned writers of Emmanuelcollege, Cambridge, and accounted him a minister well qualified for his work.

Although some persons have suspected him of deserting his Presbyterian principles; yet upon his death-bed he gave full satisfaction of the contrary. Echard says, This great, Shimei, being taken with a desperate sickness, departed the world mad and raving," than which → there never was a more unjust aspersion. He was, indeed, taken ill, and obliged to retire into the country for the benefit of the air,, when the Oxford Mercury published to the world that he was distracted, and in his rage continually cried out, that he was damned for adhering to the Parliament in their war against the king. But he lived to refute that unjust calumny, and also published a treatise to prove the lawfulness of defensive war, in certain cases of extremity. Upon his retirement from the city, he spent his last two years at Ipswich. Mr Giles Firmin, minister in Shalford, who knew him in life, and attended him at his death, observes, in a preface to one of Mr Marshall's posthumous sermons, "That he left behind him few labourers like himself; that he was a Christian in practice as well as in profession; that he liv ed by faith, and died by faith, and was an example to the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, and in purity. And when he, together with some other persons, conversed with him respecting his death, he said, "I cannot say, as one did, I have not so lived that I should now be afraid to die; but this I can say, I have so learned Christ, that I am not afraid to die." He enjoyed the full use of his understanding to the last; but, for some months previous to his death, he lost his appetite and the use of his hands. He died in the month of November, 1655, when his remains were interred with great funeral solemnity in Westminster-abbey, but were dug up, together with several others, at the restoration." The court and bishops were not content with their tri

a Echard's Hist. of Eng. vol. ii p. 183.

b Fuller's Worthies of Eng. fol. 1662. Wood's Athena Oxon. vol. ii. edit. 2d. Neal's Hist. vol. iv. Brook's Puritans, vol. iii.