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Nathaniel Partridge?

a scarce &valuable old Print in the possession of Mr. Timix.

Published by Autton & Son, Paternoster Bow.

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agreement made in 1687. They used generally to go to Hertford on communion-days, but sometimes met, from both towns, at Bragbury-end, which is about half way. Mr. Edward Hitchin (author of The Infant's Cause pleaded, who was grand father to the late minister of White Row, Spital-fields, London) left the society which now meets in Tyler street, Hitchin, in 1688, and joined Mr. Haworth's church. The following little anecdote is found in Maurice's Monument of mercy to the Church at Rowell. Mr. Haworth being present at a meeting of ministers in a neighbouring town (probably Kettering) and disapproving of their proceedings, relative to Mr. Davis of Rowell,* questioned their authority, crying out, Quo Jure, quo jure? This unexpected attack produced a sudden silence, upon which some person answered, Nullo Jure. Then, replied Mr. Haworth, "It is Injuria."

Mr. NATHANIEL PARTRIDGE. Probably he was at St. Michael's church, for it appears that one was ejected there in 1662, from Newc. Rep. Eccles. (vol i. p. 778), where we have this entry: John Cole, A. M. 3 Mar. 1662. per non subscriptionem ultimi Vicarii. Mr. Partridge having once preached at St. Albans, upon those words, Rev. iii. 18.

Anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayst see;' a poor man who was as blind in mind as he was in body, went afterwards to his house, and asked him very gravely, "where he might get that ointment to cure his blindness ?" [Doubtless Mr. Partridge improved the occasion for saying something to this ignorant creature, with a view to open the eyes of his mind, tho' we have no information concerning it.] After his ejectment, he preached in Old-street, London, many years, and suffered six months imprisonment in Newgate for his Nonconformity. He took a great deal of pains with the condemned prisoners there, not without some good success; and died, in a good old age, Aug. 6, 1684. Mr. Christopher Nesse published an elegy upon him, some lines of which were so severe, against court measures] that he was forced for a time to hide from the messengers who were very busy in hunting after him.

ALBURY [V.] Mr. FRANCIS COMYNG. It appears from Newe. Rep. that he was admitted to this living before the

See the account of Mr. Davis under the article DESBOROUGH, Northamptonshire.

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civil war began; viz. in 1637, and therefore had an unquestionable title to it. There is a Mr. Cummen among the fifteen Tuesday lecturers appointed by Parliament, at Hitchin, July 19, 1642. Probably this was the same per

son.

ASHWELL [V.] JOHN CROW, M. A. Of Kath. Hall, Camb. He was born in Kent, and was half-brother to the famous Mr. Herbert Palmer, whom he succeeded at this place; where, for about sixteen years, he faithfully discharged the ministerial office in all its parts, and kept up the piety which Mr. Palmer left in that large parish. After being silenced, he continued with his family several years at Ashwell, living in great amity first with Mr. Milburn, (a man of a different spirit from his nephew) [Mr. Luke Milburn] and afterwards with Mr. Bland, both of them men of great moderation and good temper, curates to Dr. Cudworth, who was Mr. Crow's immediate successor. With them he cheerfully united in the several parts of public worship, and assisted them all he could, in subserviency to their public ministry, by pious conference with his neighbours, and repeating and reinforcing their sermons to such as would come to him at his own house. He afterwards removed to London. If he was inferior to Mr. Palmer in learning and controversial skill, he was equally eminent for piety, simplicity, humility and moderation. He was indeed of a most sweet, mild, and peaceable temper, and very charitable to the poor; to whom, when he was minister of Ashwell, he used to sell corn below the market-price. His life was so unblameable, that he was universally beloved. But he was not without his trials, and some of them considerable and shocking too, in his old age.

BALDOCK [L.] and WALLINGTON [R. 160l.] Mr. WILLIAM SHERWIN. These two places are about two miles distant. He kept an assistant in his house to preach at Wallington on Lord's-days in the afternoon, when he preached at Baldock; casting his net where there was plenty of fish. And he did it to good purpose; for God blessed his ministry to that great congregation very much. In the latter part of his life he lived with his daughter, Mrs. Crackinthorp, whose husband was minister at Foulmire in Cambridgeshire, and there died in a good old age; viz. about 80. He had a venerable aspect, was a considerable scholar, a hard student, and of an unblameable life. He bent his studies very much.

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to the obscure prophecies of scripture, and was very fond of the Millenarian notions. § His portrait is prefixed to some of his pieces, and was engraved by his son.

WORKS. Several small Treatises on the prophecy of Daniel, and the Revelation; commonly bound up together. The following is a more compleat account of his principal treatises. The world to come. The word written concerning the word ever-living.The fore-runner of Christ's kingdom.-Christ's peaceful kingdom. -The first and last preacher.-The new Jerusalem.

BARLEY. See ROYSTON.

BARNET [R.] Mr. SHAW.

BUSHY. Mr. WARD is mentioned here in Dr. Calamy's account, but ought to be omitted; for, as Dr. Walker says, "being possessed of this living in 1660, he got a presentation to it from his majesty, per lapsum, and disusing the surplice, he mangled the prayers here until his death, in 1684.' He was

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CHESHUNT [V.] Mr. WILLIAM YATES. ejected either here or at Barn-Elmes in Surry. In the time of Charles II.'s Indulgence, it is certain he lived here, and preached at Theobalds in the same parish; and here he died, leaving a worthy name behind him, in August. 1679, being near a 100 years of age.

COTTERED [R.] Mr. THOMAS GARDINER. An ingenious and learned divine. The father of Dr. Gardiner, who lived and died in Abchurch-Lane, London. § Chauney's entries here are, " 1627, Thomas Gardiner, A. M. 1661, John Gardiner, D. D." (Hist. of Hertfordshire.) Hence it seems that the father was ejected at the Restoration, and that the son being a conformist, succeeded him..

ESSINGDON. Mr. SKINGLE. See Hadham parva.

GILSTON THOMAS MOCKET, M. A. Of both universities, first of Queen Col. Camb. Born about the year 1602. He was sometime chaplain to the Earl of Bridgewater, when he was lord president of the Marches of Wales, in the reign of K. Charles I. and by him was favoured, and promised preferment. He was preacher at Holt in Denbighshire, before he was settled at Gilston, viz. about 1639. This last

This was before called GADES DON. It is sometimes spelt GELDESDEN.

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