Thus the ministers of Exeter enjoyed, for about thirteen years, great quiet and comfort in the exercise of their ministry, till Bartholomew-day, 1662. Then Mr. Ford was cast out with his brethren, but still he resided among his people. Upon the coming out of the Oxford-act, he and twelve other ministers who resided in that city, not satisfied with all the particulars of the oath prescribed, and yet knowing that misconstruction would be made of their refusal, thought it advisable to present a petition to the magistracy of Exeter, honestly begging leave to declare, that they could make oath-" that they were so free from all thoughts of raising a new war, or resisting the powers which by Divine Providence were over them; that they were fully resolved never to take up arms against the king's person or authority, or to countenance others in any tumultuous endeavours to the disturbance of his majesty's kingdoms; but to behave themselves peaceably in all things and at all times, under his majesty's government in church and state." Adding, that "this they humbly offered, not as expecting to escape the penalties of the Act by it, but that they might not be represented as disloyal or disaffected to his majesty's person and government. But the present magistrates being such as had no favour for men of their stamp, rejected the petition, and they were forced for a time to leave the city +.

Mr. Ford retired to Exmouth, about nine miles from Exeter, and there lived privately in those evil days. When the Indulgence came out, though he liked not the persons who obtained it, nor their design in it, yet it was his judgment that they should take the opportunity of preaching the gospel; and though his health was greatly impaired, he returned to Exeter, but was incapable of preaching any more than two sermons in public. However he was serviceable to many by private counsel at home, and fervent prayer for them. While numbers were flattering themselves with flourishing times approaching, he told them, there was a sorer storm behind, that would unavoidably fall upon the churches. He declined in his health daily, after his last sermon, and was soon confined to his bed, so that he could now speak but little to visitors. Yet when two ministers of the city came to see him, he spoke much of his own unworthiness, and the all-sufficiency of Christ, saying, "That he would re

N. B. Several in this county took the oath, with a declaration concerning the sense of it, viz. Mr. Howe, and eleven others.

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pose.

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pose himself upon that rock in the storms of approaching death." When his ancient colleague, Mr. Barilet, recited those words of the apostle, The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law,' he stopped him short, and added, But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord:' which were his last words. He died in Dec. 1674, in his 76th year, and was buried in St. Lawrence's church in Exeter.

WORKS. Two Sermons; one before the Lords, and the other before the Commons.-A Treatise on singing of Psalms.The Sinner condemned of himself; being a Plea for God against all the Ungodly, proving them alone guilty of their own Destruction.-Scripture's Self-evidence, proving it to be the only Rule of Faith; against the Papists.

—Mr. LEWIS STUCLEY. A gentleman of an ancient and honourable family in this county, the seat of which was at Afton in West Worlington. It is said that there were formerly thirteen manors belonging to it, within sight of the gate-house. One of his ancestors was standard bearer to Queen Elizabeth. Sir T. Stucley was his brother. Where he was born and educated, or where he first preached, doth not appear. In July 11, 1646, the standing committee of Devon ordered him into the rectory of Newton Ferrers, but whether he possessed it or not is uncertain. Dr. Walker says, "Mr. Powel was turned out of Great Torrington about 1646, and was then succeeded by the famous Independent Mr. L. Stucley," and mentions his having been before at Tiverton, and as being "thrust upon Mr. Newte as his assistant by the godly," (as he in derision calls them) "whom they compelled him to hire at 100l. a year; and afterwards, as succeeding him at Tidcombe and Clare." From Great Torrington he came to Exeter, and began to gather a church in the congregational way, about the year 1650. Soon after the Restoration, he was obliged to quit the cathedral; and on Bartholomew-day, 1662, he was silenced. He might indeed have obtained considerable preferment, if he would have conformed, by his interest with General Monk, who was his kinsman; but he refused upon a principle of conscience. He was very laborious in his ministerial work; and after his ejectment he did not lie idle, but discharged his duty to his people in private, when he could no longer do it in public. In the latter part of his time he lived and preached at Bideford. He died in July,

1687. See Watkins's History of Bideford. Dr. Walker brings some heavy charges against him, which Dr. Calamy shews to be malicious and ill-founded. Contin. p. 242.

WORKS. Manifest Truths against Mr. Tobie Allein.-A Gospel-glass, representing the Miscarriages of English Professors.This last he wrote with uncommon activity and self-denial, under the sentence of death.

THOMAS MALL, M. A. He was the son of a minister, and was educated at Pemb. Hall, Camb. where he was very studious, and soon became Fellow. Going into Cornwall, with some others, to preach the gospel, he met with such encouragement, acceptance and success, that he returned no more to his college. He was afterwards called to Exeter, and was joined with Mr. Stucley, at the cathedral.

WORKS. The Opinion of the old Nonconformists, in a Controversy that fell out in his Congregation.-A Cloud of Witnesses; being an Epitome of the History of the Martyrs, alphabetically disposed, with a Preface by Mr. Flavel,-An Exhortation to holy Living-The Axe at the Root of Professors' Miscarriages.

-ST. JOHN'S. ROBERT ATKINS, M. A. of Wad. Col. Oxf. Fellow. Born at Chard in Somerset, 1626. Of fifteen children he was the youngest son. He was designed for a merchant, and had a master provided for him in London; the day was fixed, and all things were in readiness for his journey; but he was not to be found. His father [afterwards learning the cause, and finding him averse to business] altered his purpose, and sent him to Oxford. When he first appeared in the pulpit at St. Mary's, being but young, and looking younger than he was, from the smallness of his stature, the hearers despised him, expecting nothing from "such a boy,” as they called him, worth hearing. But his discourse soon turned their contempt into admiration. After having spent twelve years in the university, he became one of Cromwell's chaplains; but soon growing weary of that situation, by reason of the insolence of the sectaries, he removed to Coopersale in Essex, a benefice of 300l. per ann. He found the place over-tun with sects; but his solid doctrine, joined with a free and obliging conversation, so convinced and gained upon them, that after a while he had not one Dissenter left in his parish. Judge Archer was his parishioner and friend, and continued such to his death. He was forced to quit this place on account of his health, to the great sorrow of his people. He assured them, that if he could have lived with

them

them he would not have left them; but declared that he would not again accept of so great a benefice. He was invited by Mr. T Ford to Exeter. At his first coming thither he preached at St. Sidwell's, while the choir of the cathedral was preparing for him. When it was finished it was a most convenient and capacious place, (commonly called EastPeters) where he had a vast auditory, being generally esteemed an excellent preacher. His voice was clear, and his pronunciation very agreeable. He was so happy in his expressions, as at once both to instruct and charm his hearers. His tutor Dr. Wilkins, used to say, That three of his pupils (of whom Mr. Atkins was one) were some of the best preachers in England.

In September, 1660, he was expelled from East-Peters. "Church music" (to use his words in his Farewell sermon upon that occasion) "justling out the constant preaching of the word; the minister being obliged to give place to the choristers, and hundreds, yea thousands, to seek where to hear a sermon on the Lord's-day, rather than singing-service should be omitted, or not kept up in its ancient splendor and glory." Hereupon he was chosen at St. John's, from whence he was again ejected by the Act of uniformity. Great offers were made him, if he would have conformed, particularly by the earl of Radnor; but being dissatisfied as to some of the terms imposed, the offer of a mitre could not move him to act contrary to his sentiments. However, his principles were moderate and loyal, and his charity truly catholic, so as to draw on him the censure of some rigid people, as if he was inclined to conform. In his Farewell sermon at St. John's, (Aug. 17,) he says. "Let him never be accounted a "sound Christian, that doth not both fear God and honour "the king. I beg that you would not interpret our Nonconformity to be an act of unpeaceableness and disloyalty. "We will do any thing for his majesty but sin. We will "hazard any thing for him but our souls. We hope we "could die for him; only we dare not be damned for him. "We make no question, however we may be accounted of "here, we shall be found loyal and obedient subjects at our "appearance before God's tribunal."-He frequently attended the public worship, and exhorted others to do the same; but continued to discharge his duty to his own people in private, as opportunity offered, and he discovered an undaunted courage in it, tho' he was naturally timorous

A little

A little before his second ejection, as he was preaching against the growing vices of that time, one of his hearers (a gentleman of great quality) stood up just before him, and stared him in the face; but knowing on whose errand he came, he proceeded with his discourse, not fearing the frowns of the greatest. The very next morning his clerk brought him a libel, full of reflections on this gentleman, and some others, which he found sticking upon the church door. On reading this paper, he left it in his study, and went into the country. He was no sooner gone, but a messenger was sent after him, with an order for him to appear immediately before several justices of the peace in Exeter. He appeared, and was charged with this libel. Tho' he professed his innocence, he was menaced, and without any proof was committed to prison; but the next day Bishop. Gauden procured him his liberty. Some of the magistrates of the city, who were very severe against other dissenting ministers, favoured and connived at chim. Three meetings were discovered in his house, and the names of many persons taken; yet neither he nor the house were fined. The mayor and a justice, who were far more busy than their brethren, once fined his house 201. tho' the people were not found in his, but in a neighbour's house. Hereupon they came and broke open his doors, to distrain for the fine; but finding his books and best goods removed, they seized on him, tho' he was then very ill of the gout; brought him down from his warm chamber in a chair into his court; exposing him some hours to the cold air, (by which his health. was much impaired) and made his mittimus to send him to prison for this fine. But of all the multitude gathered about this house, the mayor and justices could not, either by promises or threatenings, get any to carry him to prison. At length some of his friends paid his fine. The rest of the justices utterly disliked this severity.

Mr. Atkins was once taken at another house, where he sintended to have preached, The mayor excused himself, telling him, that he thought he had been another man, and : dismissed him, on his promise to appear the next day at the Guildhall, if sent for. But he heard no more of the matter. One of his hearers was prosecuted in the spiritual court, for having his child baptized by a Nonconformist. When -Dr. Lamplugh, then Bp. of Exeter, understood that Mr. Atkins was the person who had baptized it, he put a stop to the proceedings, dismissed the man, without his paying any costs, and spoke very honourably of Mr. Atkins, for his

learning