der them. His contentment with his daily bread was singu lar; and so was his love, his peaceableness and moderation. His humility was admirable. He had the art of giving a soft answer, so as not to exasperate. Few, if any, less degraded others, or less exalted himself in his discourses. He disdained not the society, friendly converse and labours of those who were far inferior to him in age and learning. He was in his whole course a Jonathan, amiable and pleasant. He was chearful but not vain; serious, but not sullen; of good behaviour, vigilant, modest, 1 Tim. iii. 2. He was a good polemical divine, and in a religious sense, a man of war from his youth, fighting the Lord's battles: an excellent disputant, who made truth his triumph. He had a body of divinity in his head, and the spirit and soul of that divinity in his heart. Tho' he was a great school-divine, he rather chose to shoot at the peoples hearts, in plain and practical, tho' very rational divinity, than shoot over their heads in high and seraphic notions. His style was clear and strong, flowing from a full soul. He was an Ezra, a ready and eminently instructed scribe in the law of his God: clear and solid in resolving cases of conscience: in all things 'a workman that needed not to be ashamed.' And the Lord crowned his labours with success, &c."

He was also of a chearful and obliging temper. If he appeared over modest in the presence of learned strangers, he was free and communicative to his acquaintance, and especially to younger ministers; "which, for my own part, (saith Mr. Jacob Sundercock, minister of Tavistock) I must thankfully acknowledge, having profited more by occasion al conversation with him in two years, when I was his assistant, than during any two years of my life besides." He was one of those who were at that time called New Methodists, and highly approved of Dr. Williams's Gospel Truth stated, &c. But he shewed a great deal of candour towards those of different sentiments, and earnestly wished for more charity among the several parties of Protestants."He was solicitous to promote the strict observation of national fasts and thanksgivings, expecting happy consequences from them, And, as he was a great observer of providence, he would give divers instances to confirm this opinion and expectation. He had an excellent talent at expounding the scriptures; and took great pains in studying them. He made a large collection of the interpretations of particular texts, from various writers, adding his own observations. He

made

made frequent use of these in his sermons, which rendered them entertaining and profitable. Several ministers who have seen this work, have thought it deserved to be printed." Some who had been concerned in persecuting this good man, after his death were constrained to acknowledge, that he had not left many equals.

WORKS. An Assize Sermon at Exeter,---A_ Balm to heal religious Wounds, in Answer to Collier.---Since his death, a Discourse of Angels, with a Preface by Mr. G. Hammond.

LODDESWELL [V. 26l. os. 1d. ] Mr. HIND.

LUPPIT [V.] Mr. THOMAS WELLMAN, of Oxf. Univ. Born at Ilchester in Somerset, about the year 1606. After seven years spent at Orford, he was episcopally ordained, and served as a curate to Mr. Eedes, at Honiton, a considerable time; being greatly beloved for his useful labours, and exemplary conversation. There he married the daughof Mr. Isaac Northcot of that town, a pious woman, who lived with him almost fifty years, and survived him about twelve. From Honiton he removed to Luppit, four miles. distant, having the vicarage bestowed upon him by · Southcot, Esq. a gentleman of the parish. In 1644 or 1645, when Sir R. Greenvil apprehended, imprisoned, and · murthered men at pleasure; and Goring's forces infested the borders of Dorset, Somerset, and Devon, by unheard-of rapine; when his horse lay upon free quarters, plundering the very gates of Exeter ‡, to avoid their rage and cruelty, Mr. Wellman fled to Taunton, where there was a garrison for the parliament, with his wife and two children. There he continued during the blockade and strait siege, being highly esteemed by the governor, and well respected by the religious people of the town, whom, by his prayers and sermons, he encouraged to trust in God in the greatest dangers and difficulties; telling them that he was fully persuaded that God would deliver them. Nor had he cause to be ashamed of his confidence: for one day as he was preaching in St. James's church, on Mal. iii. 6; insisting on this doctrine, that God's immutability is the ground of the stability of his church and people," before the sermon was ended, some persons ran into the church, crying out Deliverance! For, on the appearance of a party of the parliament forces, under Col. Welden, the cavaliers raised the siege, after they had

See Clarendon's Hist. vol. ii. p. 667, 668.

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entered the line, and burnt a third part of the town. The people were running out of the church, on this unexpected good news; but the preacher prevailed with the:n to stay and join with him in returning thanks to almighty God for so great a mercy. This happened on May 11, 1645: a day which was afterwards observed as a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving unto God. Mr. Wellman staid some time after this in Taunton; for he could not with safety go to his own house, while (as the noble historian informs us) "General Goring's horse committed intolerable insolences and disorders in Devon." And while Sir Rd. Greenvil, whom he calls "the greatest plunderer of that war, did, at his pleasure, without law or reason, send parties of horse to apprehend honest men, and hanged up several only to enrich himself." But as soon as the country was free from the ravages of these men, Mr. Wellman returned to Luppit, where he was well beloved, and settled there, tho' he had offers of better preferment; and there he continued his labours, till Bartholomew-day, 1662.

The following story is recorded by Dr. Walker concerning him and Mr. Joshua North, of Church-Taunton; "Who had, on all occasions, expressed a great deal of zeal against conformity. As he was riding with Mr. Wellman, a little before the Act of uniformity was in force, he vehemently dissuaded him from complying with the terms to be imposed; professing that he would not conform, tho' for refusing he should be hanged on the next tree. However, when the day came, he chose rather to comply, than to part with a fat benefice, worth about 2001. per ann. But it was

observed, that in reading the liturgy, he would tremble so very much, that he could scarcely hold the book."-It is not improbable, that it was on the same account that he was (as the Dr. was informed) "much disturbed in his mind, some considerable time before his death; and that he died, in all appearance, much dissatisfied, tho' he left his family rich."-Mr. Wellman, on the other hand, was true to his principles, and left his place to keep a good conscience, tho' he had at that time seven children, and no large estate to maintain them. And he professed that, if he had had nothing to leave them, he would rather commit them to the care of divine providence, than act against the conviction of his own mind. Nor was he at all disturbed in his mind, or dissatisfied with what he had done, but lived and died a Nonconformist, with a great deal of comfort, tho' he did

VOL. II.-NO. XII.

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not leave his family rich." There were many weeping eyes when he preached his farewell sermon; and the great affection of the inhabitants of Luppit, encouraged him, after he was ejected, to continue preaching among them in his own house, as he had an opportunity. He was a sickly man, having broken his constitution by his ministerial labours and hard studies at Honiton. He died in 1685, near 80 years of age.

He concerned himself very little about worldly affairs; but was an excellent preacher, and had an extraordinary gift in prayer. Such was his spiritual and heavenly frame, that some who had heard him have said," he spoke rather like "he an angel than a man." His singular humility, modesty and mildness of temper, occasioned him, when he heard of any misconduct in his people, to write to them rather than to reprove them to their faces; and some of his letters on such occasions, had very happy effects. Tho' his sermons were well studied, he made no use of notes in the pulpit. His sight and memory continued to the last. He was congregational in his judgment, but moderate and peaceable in his temper, and lamented the divisions and animosities among ministers and christians. He often advised those about him to behave themselves so that the gospel might not be prejudiced. He was ever ready to send young scholars designed for the ministry to the university, to direct and encourage them in their studies, and to write to his friends on their behalf. Many were greatly obliged to him on this account. His cousin-german, Dr. Simon Wellman, a noted physician, who was intended for the pulpit, was one of that number.

Tho' he did not desist from preaching after his ejectment, God was pleased to secure him, so that he was never convicted or imprisoned. In difficult times, he often preached either in the morning before day, or some hours after it was night. Informers and soldiers endeavoured to apprehend him, having rewards offered them for this purpose, but they were disappointed. Some of them came near his house, but returned without entering, Others actually searched it, under pretence of searching for arms, but with a design to seize on him. One of them saw him in his study, but did not attempt to take him. Others at the same time sat on horseback at the door, but never alighted. One P-ter, a very bad man, was offered 5l. if he would apprehend him, but he refused it. However, another undertook it, and endea

vored to effect it, but God prevented him, by removing the good old man to a better world.

MARISTOW [V.] JOHN HERRING, M. A. Of Camb. Univ. Born at Saltash, in Cornwal, in 1602, where his predecessors lived for many generations. He had episcopal ordination, and at first preached in Lincolnshire. When he first came to Maristow, he was usher to Dr. Williams, who had the living, and kept a great school. He was also chaplain to Sir Edw. Wise, of that parish, who on the death of Dr. Williams, presented him to the benefice in 1632, and retained a very great respect for him to the day of his death. When the Act of uniformity took place, his patron pressed him very much to conform ; but not being satisfied with the terms, he was ejected, after he had enjoyed the living thirty years. He continued in the parish ten years after, on an estate of his own, and kept a school, being protected by Sir E. Wise, and very much beloved by the inhabitants. He afterwards purchased an estate in South Petherwin, near Launceston, in Cornwal, where he continued till his death. He there also taught school, and preached on the Lord's days in his own house, till he was incapacitated by the infirmities of age; he was blind six years before he died, which was in 1688, aged 86. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Mich. Taylor, of Hollsworthy. He was a man of exemplary piety, and great learning. He left a large collection of very valuable books. Tho' he preached so frequently, he was never imprisoned, fined, or prosecuted.

"He

MARY CHURCH [V. S. 457.] Mr. WILLIAM STIDSON. He gave place to Mr. Ball, the sequestered minister, on the Restoration. Dr. Walker calls him Robert, and says, was a very sorry canting fellow, and whether of any university, or in any orders, is wholly unknown." This will make very little impression on those who are acquainted with that writer, tho' his account cannot now be disproved.

MARY TAVY, or Huxham. Mr. BENJAMIN BERRY. He was afterwards at Topsham. He was also cast out of Trull in Somerset; but from what place he was last ejected does not appear. Mr. George Trosse preached his funeral

sermon.

MERTON [R. 40l.] BARTHOLOMEW YEO, M. A. He was of a genteel extraction and an ancient family. After he

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