a

that the Roman Catholics had his authority for what they did. Dr Hoyle's life being exposed to the most imminent hazard, he now returned to England, and became vicar of Stepney, near London; but, according to Wood, he, being too scholastical, did not please the parishioners. Be that as it may, he was always esteemed an eminent Puritan, and a zealous advocate for civil and religious liberty. While he remained at Stepney, the celebrated Mr Burroughs preached there in the morning, and Mr Greenhill in the afternoon. In the year 1643, Dr Hoyle was appointed a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and constantly attended. Dr Calamy says, "This Dr Hoyle was a member of great esteem and honour in the Assembly of Divines, as a master of all the ancient learning of the Greek and Latin fathers, and one who reigned both in his chair and in the pulpit." He was witness against Archbishop Laud at his trial, when he attested that the Archbishop had corrupted the University of Dublin, by the arbitrary introduction of the errors of popery and Arminianism, while he was chancellor of that University.-He was appointed one of the select committee for the examination and approbation of ministers who petitioned for sequestered livings. In the year 1645, he was elected one of committee of accommodation; and in 1648, he became master or head of University-college, Oxford, and King's professor of divinity in that University, in the room of Dr Saunderson. In the office of professor of divinity he has incurred the severe and unjust animadversion of Dr Walker, who seldom fails to dip his pen in the very gall of bitterness, when he meets with the Puritans. This illiberal and abusive writer says, that Dr Hoyle opened his lectures by a speech void of all spirit or learning; and that his lectures had neither method nor argument in them, and shewed him to be ignorant even of the most common rules of logic. Wood, however, says, that "he was a person of great reading and memory, much devoted to

a Calamy's Account, vol. ii. p. 472.

b Attempt, part. i. p. 141...

study, and in a manner a stranger to the world and things thereof, profound in the faculty of divinity, a constant preacher, and a noted Puritan" He was eminently learned, indefatigably industrious, and is allowed to have been as well qualified for an academic as any person of his time. He was eminently distinguished by the unwearied assiduity with which he laboured in the stations which were assigned to him. He died on the 6th of Dec. 1654, and his remains were interred in the old chapel belonging to the University-college. His successors in the offices of master and professor were Mr Francis Johnson and Dr John Conant, who were both silenced nonconformists, in 1662. Dr Hoyle was very highly respected by the famous Archbishop Usher. In vindication of this eminently learned prelate, he wrote "A Rejoynder to Mr Malone's Reply concerning Real Presence." pp. 662. Dublin, 1641. This is a very learned and elaborate work.

4to.

JOHN JACKSON, A. M.

A MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER.

JOHN JACKSON, in the ordinance of the Parliament, for calling an Assembly of learned and godly divines, is said to be, John Jackson of Marske. In Mr Neal's list of that Assembly, he is styled, John Jackson, A. M. of Queen's college, Cambridge. Wood mentions several persons of the name, as John Jackson, M. A. of Cambridge, it seems, born in Lancashire, beneficed in Essex, and author of several tracts of practical divinity, as of A Taste of the Truth as it is in Jesus, &c. A John Jackson, who translated from Latin into English, a book entitled, De Immortalitate Animae. John Jackson, who has an exact Concordance of the Bible. Wood adds: "There

a Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. Fasti, p. 279. 2d edit.

was also one John Jackson, Parson of Marsh in Richmondshire, who hath written, The faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, described by polishing the twelve Stones in the High Priest's Pectoral, &c. London, 1628. This John Jackson was one of the Assembly of Divines, in the year 1643, and Preacher of Gray's-Inn." Mr Jackson is represented as constantly attending the Assembly during the session. I have not received any farther information respecting him.

JOHN LANGLEY,

A MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER.

JOHN LANGLEY was Minister of West-Tuderly, in the county of Southampton, in England. He was elected one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, in the year 1643. He gave constant attendance during the session He preached to the House of Commons. Wood says, that he became a publisher of several matters of divinity. I have seen and read a sermon of his, which is entitled, The Mournful Note of the Dove. It was preached from Psalm lxxiv. 19, 20. at Margaret's, Westminster, before the Honourable House of Commons, at their solemn Fast, Dec. 25, 1644. 4to. pp. 32. London, 1644. I am not able to give any further account of Mr Langley.

a Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. Fasti, p. 279. 2d edit.

JOHN LEY, A. M.

MINISTER OF GREAT BUDWORTH, IN CHESHIRE, AND A MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER.

JOHN LEY was born in the ancient borough of Warwick, in England, on the 4th day of Feb. in the year 1583. He was descended from those of that name in Cheshire. In due time, he was sent to the free Grammarschool in Warwick. He became a student of Christ's Church-college, Oxford, in the year 1601, where, having continued a considerable time, he proceeded master of arts. Having finished his studies at the University, he was presented to the vicarage of Great Budworth in Cheshire, where he continued a constant preacher for several years. He was minister of Great Budworth in the year 1648, when he was chosen a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster. He was made prebendary of the Cathedral church at Chester, and sub-dean thereof, where he had a weekly lecture at St Peter's church, and was once or twice elected member of the convocation. But having always been puritanically inclined, he, upon the commencement of the civil war, espoused the cause of the Parliament, took the covenant, his seat in the Assembly of Divines, and he was appointed examiner in Latin to that famous Assembly.

Mr Ley became rector of Ashfield in Cheshire, and for a short time, rector of Astbury in the same county, chairman of the committee for the examination and approbation of ministers, one of the committee of printing, and one of the committee for the ordination of ministers according to the Presbyterian form. About the year 1645, he was chosen president of Sion College, and about the same time, he was inducted into the rich living of Brightwell in Berkshire. In the year 1653, he was appointed one of the tryers of ministers, and, in the following year, an assistant to the commissioners of Berkshire for ejecting

ignorant and scandalous ministers and school-masters. After some time he resigned his living of Brightwell, and was presented to that of Solihull in Warwickshire. He continued in that place some time; but by too much exertion and constant preaching, he broke a blood-vessel; and being disabled in such a manner that he could not fulfil the duties of his office, he resigned his charge, and retired to Sutton Colfield in the same county, where he lived privately the rest of his days.

A certain writer has placed Mr Ley at the head of those divines who, he says, "encouraged tumults," and whom, in great derision, he styles" able, holy, faithful, labori. ous, and truly peaceable preachers of the Gospel." The proof of his accusation is contained in Mr Ley's own words, which are as follows:-" It is not unknown, nor unobserved by the wise, that the ministers have been very serviceable to the civil state, and to the military too; not only by their supplications to God for good success in all their undertakings, and their happy proceedings in all their warlike marches and motions, as at the removal of the ark, Num. x. 35. Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered: Let them who hate thee, flee before thee; but by their informations and solicitations of the people to engage both their estates and persons in the cause of God and their country.' The author, having produced these, and some other citations which are similar, most triumphantly adds: "After these proofs and declarations of the ministers' zeal and industry for promoting, supporting, and carrying on the late bloody, impious, and unnatural war; let any man take upon him any longer to acquit the non-conformist divines of the guilt and consequence of that execrable rebellion." Such heavy charges should certainly be supported, by very substantial and clear evidence. Though some of the most celebrated nonconformist divines were eminently zealous in the cause of the Parliament, which they firmly believ ed to be the cause of God and of Truth, will any unpre

a L'Estranges' Dissenters' Sayings, part ii. pp. 51, 55. as with, Brook, Lives Puritans, vol. iii. under J. Ley. ̧ ́