WORKS. ПIVEUμaloλoyiz, a Treatise on the Soul of Man,The Fountain of Life, in 42 Sermons.-The Method of Grace, in 35 Sermons. [In both vols. the Sermons are on various Texts.] -England's Duty, in 11 Sermons, on Rev. iii. 20.-A Token for Mourners.-Husbandry Spiritualized.-Navigation Spiritualized. -A Treatise on Providence.-Another on Keeping the Heart.Repentance enforced by Arguments from Reason only.-The Balm of the Covenant-Sacramental Meditations. And several other Pieces, collected, since his death, in 2 vol. fol. with his life prefixed. N. B. They may also be had in 8 vol. 8vo.

DEAN PRIOR, [V. 217.] Mr. JOHN SYMS. Some years after he was ejected he lived at Water, in the parish of Ashburton, and afterwards at Metley, in West Ogwell. He preached in his own house as often as he could. He was a man of eminent piety, and a great sufferer for Nonconformity; often exposed to dangers, and sometimes reduced to straits; but he trusted in God, and experienced his goodness in delivering and providing for him. He once hid himself in a hay-loft; when some of his enemies, in searching for him, thrust their swords into the hay, and yet he escaped unhurt. Some. times when his wife went to market to get necessaries for her family, tho' she went out empty and sorrowful, she met with unexpected supplies, and came home full and joyous. Hugh Stawel, Esq. of Heerabeer, and others, one Lord'sday broke open his door while he was preaching, and disturbed the congregation. Soon after this, as that persecutor was going to London, he met Mr. Syms, and threatened him, that when he returned, he would do his business. Mr. Syms replied, "Sir, you should ask God's leave.' Mr. Stawel went to London, but it was remarkable, he never returned. Mr, Syms on his death-bed foretold the very hour of his own dissolution. After he had lain for some time silent, he cried out, "Tell my friends I have overcome, I "have overcome. Mr. Whidden, of Totness, preached his funeral sermon.

DENBERRY [R.] Mr. RICHARD BICKLE. Dr. Walker says, he came to this living in 1646, and lost it for Nonconformity in 1662. It was reported that he afterwards conformed, but this was a mistake: He died a Nonconformist at Totness, and received twenty pounds per ann. during his life, from Mr. Godson, his successor in the living of Denberry.

DITTESHAM [S.] Mr. EDMUND TUCKER, of Trin. Col. Camb. He was born at Milton-Abbot, near Tavistock, in

1627.

He was settled at

1627. His father had a good estate. Dittesham about the year 1651; and was ordained May 24, 1654, by Dr. G. Kendal and four other ministers. He was a man of good natural abilities, and of a chearful temper. His preaching was solid, till age and bodily disorders impaired him. He suffered much for his Nonconformity. He was once convicted for a conventicle, and fined gol. for praying with three gentlewomen who came to visit his wife, and comfort her upon the death of her only child, who was drowned at sea. In his case there was a remarkable instance of the partiality of the famous justice Beer (or Bear) and the barbarity of the informers; who tore down all the goods in Mr. Tucker's house; seized not only his bed and bedclothes, but the poor children's wearing apparel, and the very victuals in the house, and left no corner unsearched for money. He had a wife and ten children, and had nothing of his own to subsist upon; but God provided for him and them. He was much afflicted with the gout, stone and diabetes; by which disorders, and the failure of his intellects, he was taken off from preaching more than a year before his death, which was, at last, somewhat sudden, July 5, 1702, in the 75th year of his age. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. John Cox, who succeeded him at Kingsbridge.

DREWS-TEIGNTON [R. S.] RICHARD HERRING, M.A. Younger brother to Mr. John Herring. After he was ejected, he lived on an estate of his own, called Perridge, in the parish of Kenn, three miles from Exeter. He preached in his own house on the Lord's-day; and many went from Exeter to hear him. He also, for some time, preached in the house of Mr. John Mayne, in the city. Having undertaken to instruct a few boys in grammar-learning, a prosecution was set on foot against him for it, in the spiritual court; but by the favor of Bp. Ward, who was acquainted with him in the university, and had a kindness for him, he was discharged. He died about the year 1675. He was an excellent preacher, a pious man, well beloved by his parishioners, and very kind to the widow of Dr. Short, the sequestered minister; notwithstanding what Dr. Walker says to the contrary. This living was worth several hundreds a year; and, the patron, Sir- Carew of Anthony, would have continued him in it if he would have conformed. DUNCHIDIOCK

DUNCHIDIOCK [R. S.] Mr. HUNT. He had a legal right to this living ; for Dr. Walker owns, that the sequestered minister, whom he succeeded, died in 1645. When he was deprived for Nonconformity in 1662, he lived near Exeter, and afterwards removed to South Molton, where he died minister of a dissenting congregation.

DUNSFORD ĮV.] Mr. WILLIAM PEARSE, of Exeter Col. Oxf. Son of Mr. Francis Pearse, of Ermington, Gent. Baptized Jan. 26, 1625 He was presented to this living, void by the death of the former incumbent, Dec. 25, 1655, from whence the Act of uniformity ejected him. He afterwards removed, with his family, to Stretchleigh-house, in Ermington parish, and preached privately in Tavistock. Upon the Indulgence in 1672, he took out licences for himself and his house, but afterwards met with great trouble. He was grievously harrassed and threatened; and at length, thro' the restless malice and unwearied diligence of his enemies, was forced to make over his goods, and leave his family for several months together, living in London and elsewhere, to escape their rage, who sought his ruin and his very life. The Conventicle Courant of Jan. 31, 1683, had this article. "On Sunday the 21st of January, several

66

loyal and worthy justices and constables, went to Mr. "Lobb's meeting, where they seized one Mr. Pearse, and "one Marmaduke Roberts, both preachers, who were both "committed to New Prison."-Six times, in one year, the bailiff came to Stretchleigh-house, to warn Mr. Pearse and his wife, with his son and daughters, to appear at the assizes at Exeter, to answer for riots, routs, keeping seditious meetings, and not obeying the laws. But he never was seized above once, Notwithstanding all his dangers, he did not waver; and God spared him till the cloud was dissipated. He survived the tribulation of those days, and saw our civil and religious liberties restored by the happy Revolution ; after which, he set up a public meeting in Ashburton, where he continued for the remainder of his days. He died March 17, 1691, aged 65. Dr. Walker relates several things to his disadvantage, which Dr. Calamy proves to be notorious falshoods. Contin. p. 342.)

WOKKS. A Present for Youth, and an Example for the Aged; being some Remains of his Daughter Damaris Pearse.

EAST

EAST DOWN [R. 140l.] JOHN BERRY, M. A. Fel. of Exeter Col. Oxf. Son of Mr. John Berry, minister of a neighbouring parish. Dr. Walker says, "I am obliged to mention this gentleman, because he was dispossessed of his fellowship by the visitors (viz. in 1648) but he was afterwards a Nonconformist." From a Latin certificate, signed Rob. Say, S. Sheldon, &c. dated Oxon, June 17, 1653, it appears he was afterwards of Oriel Col. and that he bore an excellent character. After this, he was episcopally ordained, and was for some time minister of Lankey. He was settled in this rectory of East Down in 1658 (being presented by the Protector Richard) which he lost for his Nonconformity. He had ten children, and little or nothing whereon to subsist; but most of them afterwards lived in good repute and in comfortable circumstances. After his ejectment, he preached in several places, as he had opportunity; and felt, in a high degree, the severe usage of those days. Once (if not oftener) he lay in the common jail at Exeter, for several months. He was advised by some, who would have borne the charges, to prosecute those who committed him, for false imprisonment, but he would not do it. After the Dissenters had liberty granted them, Ilfracome and Puddington enjoyed the chief of his labours.

God had furnished him with good abilities for his office, tho' they were not a little concealed by his modesty and humility. His preaching was very serious and affectionate, and in all his ministerial exercises he gave abundant proof of his earnest desire to do good to souls; and many had reason to bless God for him. All that knew him esteemed him as a very sincere christian; and he shewed himself a man of a very tender conscience, in all the transactions of his life. Whatever difficulties he met with, he maintained constant communion with God in his providences, as well as ordinances; which appears in the diary he kept, both of public and private occurrences, respecting the state of his own body and soul, his children and friends, their actions and behaviour, their troubles, their mercies, &c. with pious reflections. The deaths of his friends, and especially of ministers, were more particularly observed by him, and piously reflected upon, in such a manner as this:

"Dec. 8, 1691, that holy and great luminary of Christ's church, Mr. Richard Baxter, deceased. O that due im pressions might hereby be made upon the hearts of christians, and that the Lord would raise up some more such shining

healing

healing spirits among us !"-" June 19, 1701. Heard of the death of that very useful, excellent friend, Mr. John Flavel, of Dartmouth. What a loss and stroke is this! O that it may awaken! A sudden stroke it was. The Lord pity poor Dartmouth, and preserve that interest of serious religion which he and others have, I trust,. been instruments to set on foot and promote there, &c. &c."

As the natural consequence of a heavenly conversion, he died with great calmness and serenity of spirit, resigning his soul into the hands of his Saviour, Dec. 1704, aged near 80.-Mr. Baxter gives him the character of " an extraor"dinary humble, tender-conscienced, serious, godly, able "minister."-He was moderator of the Assembly at Exeter, Sept. 8, 1696.

EDE [C.] Mr. ROBERT GAYLARD. Upon his ejectment he retired to Exeter, and was one of the public Nonconformist ministers in that city. He was twice imprisoned: once upon false information against him; viz. for some dangerous words in a sermon, which he never uttered: the other time, upon the Corporation-act.-His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. George Trosse. He was highly valued for his ministerial abilities by the most discreet and judicious professors in Exeter, and was generally reckoned a very wise man. He was observed to have a very happy way of using scriptural expressions, both in his preaching and praying, and always a pleasing variety.

EXBOURN [R. 27l. 11s. 8d.] Mr. FINNEY, sen. He had been about forty years minister of this parish before Bartholomew-day, 1662, when he was ejected. He was a very grave, solid divine, generally reputed a very good scholar, and an extraordinary preacher. A man extremely mortified to the world, and in a manner entirely taken up about his studies, and his ministerial services. He and his wife lived comfortably upon his own estate, several years after his ejectment, and continued in the parish to his dying day. He brought up three sons to the ministry, who all conformed, but were worthy men, of great temper and moderate principles. The second son succeeded him in this living.

EXETER. At the CATHEDRAL, THOMAS FORD, M. A. of Magd. Hall. Oxf. He was born at Brixton, 1598, of parents in good repute, who left his eldest brother above 800l. per annum. His father dying when he was young, his

mother