ECCLESIASTICAL BIOGRAPHY.

ARROWSMITH, D. D., JOHN, was born near New-castle-upon-Tyne, in the county of Northumberland, in England, March 29, 1602. It has been remarked as a coincidence worth noting, that he was born in the same year, and on the same day, and probably in the same hour, as Dr. John Lightfoot. His early history is unknown; but he must have been well educated, as he was a distinguished scholar. He was first settled as a pastor in Lynn, in Norfolk county, whence he was called to sit in the Westminster Assembly, where he was eminently useful. Principal Baillie, in giving an account of the transactions of this venerable Assembly, speaks of Mr. Arrowsmith thus: "Our letter to foreign churches, formed by Mr. Marshall, except some sentences put in by Mr. Henderson, has been turned into Latin, by Mr. Arrowsmith, a man with a glass eye, in place of that which was put out by an arrow; a learned divine, on whom the Assembly put the writing against the Antinomians."

The Earl of Manchester having been appointed to reform abuses in the Universities, displaced, at Cambridge, five heads of Colleges, and selected five members of the Assembly to fill their places. These were, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Vines, Mr. Seaman, Mr. Young, and Mr. Arrowsmith. This appointment was unanimously confirmed by the Parliament. Mr. Arrowsmith, after undergoing an examination before the Assembly of Divines, and being approved, was constituted Master of St. John's College, in the year 1644. Being placed in this high and responsible station, as the head of a Seminary, where young men

were trained for the ministry, he set himself vigorously and vigilantly to the discharge of the duties of his office; and to qualify himself for his work, he applied himself incessantly to study. His great object, while in this office, was to promote in the college, genuine piety in union with solid learning. To this end all his lectures tended; and he caused the Lord's day to be observed with an exactness unknown there before. While in this situation, he commenced writing an elaborate work, of the nature of a body of divinity. It was entitled, "A CHAIN OF PRINCIPLES," in thirty distinct "aphorisms," which he intended to illustrate by exercitations, under each; but sickness and death interposed, so that no more than six out of the thirty were ever finished. These have been published, and give occasion for regret that the whole was not completed.

After some time, Mr. Arrowsmith was advanced to be Master of Trinity College, which is reckoned the best preferment in the University. It has been recorded as a remarkable fact, that these high preferments had no effect in diminishing the spirituality of this eminent professor; but as he grew daily in knowledge, so he grew in grace. He was a very powerful and useful preacher of the gospel: one instance of his success has been recorded. A young man by the name of Mack, who had spent his youth in vanity and sin, came to Cambridge, where so great a change was wrought in him, by the preaching of Dr. Hill, and Dr. Arrowsmith, that it became a matter of observation to all around, and was manifest in the altered style of his epistles to his friends. By these, it was believed, that three sisters and both his parents were brought to the saving knowledge of the truth.

As a professor of theology, Dr. Arrowsmith also excelled. His method of instruction was clear, and at the same time profound; so that he acquired a distinguished reputation in the University, for his learning, his wit, and his amiable manners; and that which gave value to all his abilities was, that they were consecrated to the service of God. He departed

this life shortly before the restoration, so that he neitheir experienced nor witnessed the disastrous events which followed. Concerning the particular circumstances of the death of this great and excellent man, no memorial has been left. The event seems to have occurred in the year 1659. He was one that had a special hand in drawing up those excellent formularies of doctrine and worship, adopted by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and which are still the standards of doctrine in the Scottish Church, and in the Presbyterian Church in the United States; and as far as doctrine is concerned, by most of the Dissenting churches in England, and the Congregational churches in America. Mr. Neal says, that "Dr. John Arrowsmith was of unexceptionable character for learning and piety. He was an acute disputant, and judicious divine; a real friend to true religionwhose shining example of piety and diligence in his Master's service deserves to be transmitted to posterity. His name should be in the list of eminent and learned divines who were ornaments to the Reformed Church, in the seventeenth century."

As a writer, he is distinguished for judiciousness, erudition, and good taste.

Works of Dr. Arrowsmith:

1. The Covenant--avenging sword brandished. Lev. xxvi. 28. Preached before the House of Commons, January 25, 1642.

2. England's Ebenezer, a sermon from 1 Samuel vii. 12.

3. A Great Wonder in Heaven. Rev. xii. 1, 2. 4. Tactica Sacra, Tribus Libris Comprehensa. 5. A Chain of Principles, (an unfinished body of divinity.)

6. God-Man. Exposition of John i. 1-18.

Dr. Cotton Mather says, "Every thing of Arrowsmith is admirable." The names of Lightfoot, Selden, Gataker, Greenhill, Arrowsmith, Twisse, Reynolds, Wallis, &c., will always be famous in the learned world."

ASHE, SIMEON.-This excellent man was educated in Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He commenced his ministry in Staffordshire, where he enjoyed the society of some very worthy persons, with whom he held secret communion in the things that relate to Christ's kingdom. When the order to read the "Book of Sports" was issued, Mr. Ashe suffered with many of his brethren for refusing to comply. When the civil wars broke out, he became chaplain to the Earl of Manchester, and had a considerable part in the visitation of the University of Cambridge, which was carried on by this nobleman. He was present at the battle of Edge-hill, which first effectually broke the peace between the king and Parliament, and which was fought on Sunday, October 23,

1642.

When the Assembly of divines was called to meet at Westminster, Mr. Ashe was nominated as a member; and he is noted by Neal, as one of those who gave constant attendance.

After his coming to London to attend on the Assembly, he became the minister of a parish in London, in which he continued until his death. He joined in a "vindication of the ministers of the gospel in and about London, in regard to the death of the king." He uniformly opposed Cromwell's usurpation, and was active in promoting measures to bring back Charles II.

Mr. Ashe was possessed of a good estate, and was very liberal and hospitable, and his house much frequented. He was a Christian of primitive simplicity, and a nonconformist of the old stamp. He was exceedingly diligent in preaching the gospel of the grace of God, in season and out of season; and his death was conformable to his holy and exemplary life; for he left the world in the cheerful exercise of faith, and abounding in the consolations of Christ, molested neither with doubts nor fears. He died on the 20th of August, 1662, a short time before the fatal Bartholomew day; so that his ejectment with his brethren was only prevented by his decease.

Mr. Calamy, who knew him well for more than twenty years, during which period they were both pastors in London, gives the following testimony to his character. "I can freely and clearly profess, and that with a sad heart, that I and many others, have lost a wise and godly friend, brother, and fellow labourer in the Lord. The church has lost an eminent member and choice pillar; and this city has lost an ancient, faithful, and painful minister.

"The ministerial excellencies of many ministers were collected and concentered in one, Simeon Ashe. He was a Bezaleel in God's tabernacle, a master builder, an old disciple, a burning and a shining light. One whom many ministers and other good Christians called father." Mr. Rutherford, one of the Scottish commissioners, called him " The gracious and zealous Mr. Ashe."

The following are a list of his writings:

1. The best Refuge for the most oppressed. A sermon before the House of Commons, Ps. ix. 9. on one of their solemn fasts, March 30, 1642.

2. Good Courage Discovered and Encouraged. A sermon before the Military Forces of London, from Ps. xxxi. 24. May 16, 1642.

3. Religious Covenanting Directed, and Covenant Keeping Persuaded. A sermon before the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen of London, from Ps. lxxvi. 11.

4. The Church sinking, saved by Christ,-before the House of Lords, from Is. lxiii. 5. February 26, 1644.

5. God's Incomparable Goodness to Israel Unfolded and Applied. A sermon before the House of Commons, from Ps. lxxiii. 1. April 28, 1647.

6. Christ the Riches of the Gospel and the Hope of Christians.

7. Living loves between Christ and Dying Christians. A Funeral Sermon.

BACKHURST, THEODORE, of Overton, Waterville, was a member of the Assembly of Divines, but no