from the deck, shouting, "Deliverance! God is a God "hearing prayer!" Mr. Flavel got safe to London; where he found much work, and much encouragement in it. Here he married his fourth wife. Having narrowly escaped being apprehended with Mr. Jenkyn, (See Vol. I. p. 111.) he resolved to return home; but was soon confined close prisoner to his house, where many of his people used to steal in late on Saturday night, or early on the Lord's day morning, to enjoy the benefit of his prayers, his preaching, and conversation. On Mr. Jenkyn's death, his people gave Mr. Flavel a call to succeed him, and Mr. Reeves's congregation did the same; but he was not to be persuaded to leave Dartmouth.

Upon K. James's liberty in 1687, his people provided him a large place, in which it pleased God to bless his labours for the good of many. He preached twice every Lord's day, a lecture every Wednesday, and on Thursday also before the sacrament. He was not only zealous in the pulpit, but a sincere lively christian in the closet, as appears from his Diary, part of which is inserted in his life. His intimate and delightful intercourse with heaven is manifest from a remarkable story which he relates in his Pneumatologia (p. 210, 2d edit. 4to) though with great modesty, using the third person, as the apostle Paul did when speaking of his extraordinary revelations. The following is the substance of the narrative. Being on a journey, he set himself to improve his time by meditation; when his mind grew intent, till at length he had such ravishing tastes of heavenly joys, and such full assurance of his interest therein, that he utterly lost the sight and sense of this world and all its concerns, so that for hours he knew not where he was. At last, perceiving himself faint through a great loss of blood from his nose, he alighted from his horse and sat down at a spring, where he washed and refreshed himself; earnestly desiring, if it were the will of God, that he might there leave the world. His spirits reviving, he finished his journey in the same delightful frame. He passed all that night without a wink of sleep, the joy of the Lord still overflowing him, so that he seemed an inhabitant of the other world. After this a heavenly serenity and sweet peace long continued with him; and for many years he called that day "one of the days of heaven," and professed he understood more of the life of heaven by it, than by all the discourses he had heard, or the books he ever read.

Mr. Flavel was a person of good natural abilities, of unwearied application to study, and had acquired a great stock

1

both

both of human and divine learning. He had an excellent gift in prayer, being never at a loss for matter or words, and was always warm and affectionate. Those who lived in his family remarked, that he seemed constantly to exceed himself, and rarely used the same expressions twice. His preaching was plain and popular, but at the same time methodical and judicious. He was remarkable for the practical applications of his discourses, and particularly for his pertinent inferences. [A late judicious minister used to recommend to students for the ministry, the style of his printed sermons, as a good model for pulpit discourses.] He was a person of great humility, free to communicate what he knew, and ready to learn from every body. He was very benevolent and charitable to the poor. He was a great encourager of young men designed for the ministry; some of whom he educated himself, and maintained one at his own expence. He was ever ready to forgive injuries. In 1685, when the populace of Dartmouth carried his effigy through the streets in derision, and burnt it, he only prayed for them, saying, "Father, forgive them; for they "know not what they do."-Among the many instances of his usefulness, the two following, recorded in his life at large, are very remarkable :-Being sent for to a young man who had attempted to murder himself, his conversation and prayers were the means of his conversion.- A profane person coming into a bookseller's shop to inquire for a play-book, the bookseller recommended to him Mr. Flavel's Treatise On Keeping the Heart, as likely to do him more good. After having grossly abused the author and ridiculed the book, he was prevailed upon to promise that he would read it. accordingly did so; and about a month after, came and thanked the bookseller for putting it into his hand; telling him, it had saved his soul; and bought a hundred copies of it to give

away.

Mr. Flavel died somewhat suddenly, June 26, 1691, aged 64, in the city of Exeter, whither he went to preach before the assembly, (in which also he was moderator) with a view to a union between the Presbyterians and Independents, which he was very zealous to promote. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Tross, on 2 Kings ii. 12. He was buried in Dartmouth church, where there was a Latin inscription to his memory upon a brass plate, which was taken down by order of the magistrates, and is preserved in the meetinghouse, where this circumstance is recorded.

WORKS. ПIVεvμaloλoyia, 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 á 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. Sometimes 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.

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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 Cor, 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

C4

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 IV.] 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 "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.)

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

EAST