Granger's character of him is, that he was "a man of uncommon learning, generosity, and politeness, and possessed a most excellent character. That in the civil wars he wished for peace: and that he spoke the French language with as much ease as the English."

Mr. Palmer's published writings:

1. The Principles of the Christian Religion made Plain and Easy.

2. Of making Religion one's Business.

3. Sermons preached before the Parliament.

4. The Christian Sabbath Vindicated.

5. Scripture and Reason Pleaded for Defensive Arms.

PEALE, EDWARD, a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and one who was constant in his attendance. Other particulars, not ascertained.

PERNE, ANDREW, was born in the year 1596, and received his education in the University of Cambridge, where he became fellow of Katharine-Hall. He afterwards was chosen the minister of Wilby, in Northamptonshire. He was appointed a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and was assiduous in his attention to the business. When called up to the Assembly, his reputation was very high, and he had several offers of preferment, about London, but he declined them all, being fully resolved to return to his beloved flock at Wilby, among whom he had laboured for about twenty-seven years. Wood says, "that he frequently preached before the Long Parliament, and several of his sermons were printed, but they have been mostly buried in oblivion. He is said to have been a lively, powerful preacher; and he enforced his precepts by a holy example. His ministry was not in vain, for a considerable reformation was wrought by his preaching. Mr. Ainsworth describes him as being full of spiritual warmth; and he was never more at home than in the pulpit. As his life was holy, so his end was happy. He blessed God,

that he was not afraid to die; nay, he earnestly desired to be gone. And in his last illness, often exclaimed, "O, when will that hour come?"-" One assault more, and this earthen vessel shall be broken, and I shall be with God."

He died December 13, 1654, aged sixty years.

Mr. Samuel Ainsworth, one of the silenced nonconformists, preached and published his funeral sermon. His remains were interred in the chancel of Wilby Church, where the following words were inscribed on his tomb:

"Here lieth interred Mr. Andrew Perne, a faithful servant of Jesus Christ; a zealous owner ever of God's cause in perilous times; a powerful and successful preacher of the gospel; a great blessing to this town and country, where he lived twenty-seven years. He departed December 13, 1654."

There is extant one sermon of Mr. Perne, which is entitled, "Gospel Courage, or a Christian Resolution for God, and his Truth;" preached before the House of Commons, on a public fast, in Margaret Church, from Micah iv. 5.

PHILIPS, JOHN, a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and according to Neal's list, a constant attendant on the business of that body.

PICKERING, BENJAMIN, a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and one who was constant in his attendance.

He preached a sermon before the House of Commons, entitled, "A Brand Plucked out of the Burning," from Zech. iii. 2.

To this sermon, he prefixed a letter to the House of Commons, in which he exhorts them to set up a faithful ministry, to establish judgment and justice in the gates; to let their zeal for the Lord burn, setting up his worship and ordinances in purity." He goes on to say, 66 Be zealous for Christ's cause; delay not to establish his government and discipline with vig

our. Proceed so in your reforming, that glory may dwell in our land-that mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, may meet together and kiss each other. Continue in your integrity, and the Lord will continue to be a sun and shield to you. Although Satan be at your right hand, fear not, so long as our Mediator sits at the right hand of God."

DE LA PLACE, SAMUEL, was the minister of the French Church, and a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster.

PRICE, WILLIAM, B. D., a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster. In the debates of that body, he opposed the institution of ruling elders, as of Scriptural authority; and was considered by Mr. Baillie, as one of the ablest divines in the Assembly.

He published a sermon, entitled, "Man's Delinquency attended by Divine Justice, intermixed with Mercy; preached in the Abbey Church, before the House of Lords, from Ezra ix. 6, 7, 8.

Some of his striking sayings in this discourse are, "We are ashamed of our glory, and glory in our shame."-"When the soul-wounded publican durst not look up to heaven, heaven looked down to him." "Great knowledge greatens sins; for knowledge is like the unicorn's horn, that doth well in a wise and good man's hand, but ill on a beast's head."

PROFFET, NICHOLAS, a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and marked by Neal as one who was assiduous in his attendance. When called up to the Assembly, he was rector of St. Peters, Marlborough, in the county of Wilts. While attending on the business of the Assembly, he seems to have been minister of Edmonton, near London.

He published a good sermon, entitled, "England's Impenitence, under smiting, causing anger to be continued, and the hand of God to be stretched out still." A sermon before the House of Commons, at a public fast, from Isaiah ix. 13.

To this sermon, there was prefixed a very judicious epistle, addressed to the House of Commons.

RATHBAND, WILLIAM, a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and one who was constant in his attendance. He preached on a public fast, before the House of Commons; but the sermon was not then printed. There were two eminent divines in England about this time, of this name, the father and son. The former preached nineteen years, at a chapel in Lancashire; and when he was persecuted for non-conformity, he removed into Northumberland. He published a book against the Brownists, which bishop Stillingfleet quotes, to prove that the old non-conformists did not think it right to exercise their ministry, when prohibited by law. His son utterly denied that his father ever held such a sentiment, and showed that his own conduct was repugnant to it; for he preached many years in Lancashire, contrary to law; and when he was silenced, he still went on to preach, as he had opportunity. He had two sons in the ministry; the first was a Puritan of eminence, and one of the four preachers stationed and maintained at York: the other, William Rathband, already mentioned, was one of the ejected ministers of 1662, and is by some said to have been a member of the Assembly of Divines also; but Dr. Calamy does not mention the fact. From all that is on record, it seems doubtful whether the father or son was the member of the Assembly of Divines, as they both had the same name, and were both eminent Puritans; but the probability seems to be strongest in favour of the son. With the latter, Mr. Slater was acquainted for fifty years; they were of the same college, and when he died at Highgate, which was his last residence, preached his funeral sermon. died October, 1695.

He

REYNER, WILLIAM, B. D., was educated in the University of Cambridge, and was blessed with much. success in the earlier part of his ministry, among the

gentry. He seems to have been a very conscientious man, and of an uncommonly disinterested spirit; for, though his living was not worth more than £60 per annum; yet he refused the presidency of Magdalen College, in Oxford, and also a fellowship at Eton, because he believed that pluralities were wrong. He was chosen to be a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and was assiduous in his attention to the transactions of that venerable hody. He was minister of Eggham, in the county of Surrey, near forty-six years; from which place he was cast out by the act of uniformity, in 1662.

At the time of his ejectment, he possessed no visible property, yet he lived in comfort, by the care of a kind Providence; and still exercised his ministry as he had opportunity, in private places.

He died in 1666, leaving behind him an unsullied reputation. His disease was the stone, with which he had been long afflicted; and after his death, an examination was made, and a stone found in the bladder weighing ten ounces, and measuring nine inches and a half in the form of a heart. He was an intimate friend of archbishop Usher, by whom he was highly esteemed.

His only publication, according to Dr. Calamy, was a sermon before the House of Commons, entitled "Babylon's' Ruining Earthquake, and the Restoration of Zion," from Haggai ii. 6, 7.

REYNOLDS, EDWARD, D. D., was born at Southampton, in Hampshire, England, in 1593. In 1615, he became post-master of Merton College, and in 1620, probationer-fellow; which place was bestowed upon him in consideration of his eminent skill in the Greek language. In his college, he was much distinguished as an able disputant, and a good orator. After taking the degree of A. M. he entered into holy orders, and became a very eminent preacher. For some time he was preacher to the honourable society of Lincoln's Inn, and rector of Braynton, in Northamptonshire. When the civil war commenced, he espoused the