been cultivated; and it is likewife certain that the inhabitants of Suffex have been fometimes mentioned as remarkhable for brutality.

From Suffex he went often to London, where, in 1643, he preached three times before the parliament, and returning in November to Colchester, to keep the monthly faft there, as was his cuítom, he obtained a convoy of fixteen foldiers, whofe bravery or good fortune was fuch, that they faced and put to flight more than two hundred of the King's forces.

In this journey, he found Mr. Chillingworth in the hands of the parliament's troops, of whofe fickness and death he gave the account which has been fufficiently made known to the learned world by Dr. Maizeaux, in his life of Chillingworth.

With regard to this relation, it may be obferved, that it is written with an air of fearless veracity, and with the Spirit of a man who thinks his caufe just, and his behaviour without reproach; nor does there appear any rea Ton for doubting that Cheynel fpoke and acted as he relates. For he does not publish an apology but a challenge, and writes not fo much to obviate calumnies, as to gain from others that applaufe which he feems to have betowed very liberally upon himself, for his behaviour on that occafion.

Since, therefore, this relation is credible, a great part of it being fupported by evidence which cannot be refuted, 3r. Maizeaux feems very juttly, in his life of Chillingworth, to oppofe the common report, that his life was fhortened by the inhumanity of thofe to whom he was a prifoner; for Cheynel appears to have preferved, amidst all his deteftation of the opinions which he mputed to him, a great kindness to is perfon, and veneration for his capacity; nor does he appear to have been cruel to him, otherwife than by that inceffant importunity of difputation, to which he was doubtlefs incited by a fincere belief of the danger of his foul, if he fhould die without renouncing fome of his opinions.

The fame kindnefs, which made Enim delirous to convert him before his

death would incline him to preserve him from dying before he was converted; and accordingly we find, that, when the caftle was yielded, he took care to procure him a commodious lodging; when he was to have been unfeasonably removed, he attempted to fhorten a journey which he knew would be dangerous; when the phyfician was difgufted by Chillingworth's diftruft, he prevailed upon him, as the fymptoms grew more dangerous, to renew his vifits; and when death left no other act of kindness to be practifed, procured him the rites of burial, which fome would have denied him.

Having done thus far juftice to the humanity of Cheynel, it is proper to enquire how far he deferves blame. He appears to have extended none of that kindness to the opinions of Chillingworth which he fhewed to his perfon; for he interprets every word in the worst fenfe, and feems induftrious to difcover in every line herefies which might have efcaped for ever any other apprehenfion; he appears alway's fufpicious of fome latent malignity, and ready to perfecute what he only fufpects, with the fame violence as if it had been openly avowed; in all his proceedure he fhews himself fincere, but without candour.

About this time Cheynel, in purfuance of his natural ardour, attended the army under the command of the Earl of Effex, and added the praife of valour to that of learning; for he diftinguifhed himself fo much by his perfonal bravery, and obtained fo much fkill in the fcience of war, that his commands, were obeyed by the colonels with as much refpect as thofe of the general. He feems indeed to have been born a foldier; for he had an intrepidity which was never to be fhaken by any danger, and a fpirit of enterprife not to be difcouraged by difficulty; which were fupported by an unusual degree of bodily ftrength. His fervices of all kinds were thought of fo much importance by the parliament, that they bellowed upon him the living of Petworth, in Suffex. This living was of the value of jool. per annum, from which they had ejected a man 312 remarkable

remarkable for his loyalty; and, therefore, in their opinion, not worthy of fuch revenues. And it may be enquired, whether, in accepting this preferment, Cheynel did not violate the proteftation which he makes in the paffage already recited, and whether he did not fuffer his refolution to be overborn by the temptations of wealth. In 1646, when Oxford was taken by the forces of the parliament, and the reformation of the University was refolved, Mr. Cheynel was fent with fix others to prepare the way for a vifitation; being authorised by the parliament to preach in any of the churches, without regard to the right of the members of the Univerfity, that their doctrine might prepare their hearers for the changes which were intended.

When they arrived at Oxford, they began to execute their commiffion by poffeffing themfelves of the pulpits; but if the relation of Wood* is to be regarded, were heard with very little veneration. Thofe who had been accuftomed to the preachers of Oxford, and the liturgy of the church of England, were offended at the emptinefs of their difcourfes, which were noify and unmeaning; at the unufual geftures, the wild diftortions, and the uncouth tone with which they were delivered; at the coldness of their prayers for the King, and the vehemence and exuberance of those which they did not fail to utter for the bleed corncils and actions of the parliament and army; and, at what was furely not to be remarked without indignation, their omiffion of the Lord's Prayer.

But power eafily fupplied the want of reverence, and they proceeded in their plan of reformation; and thinking fermons not fo efficacious to converfion as private interrogatories and exhortations, they eltablished a weekly meeting for fiting tender confciences fram feruple, at a houfe, that, from the bufinefs to which it was appropriated, was called the Scruple-shop.

With this project they were fo well pleafed, that they fent to the parliament an account of it, which was afterwards printed, and is afcribed by Wood to

Mr. Cheynel. They continued fr fome weeks to hold their meetings gularly, and to admit great number. whom curiofity, or a defire of co viction, or compliance with the pr vailing party, brought thither. their tranquility was quickly difturbe by the turbulence of the independen whofe opinions then prevailed ame the foldiers, and was very industrice. propagated by the difcourfes of W liam Earbury, a preacher of great s putation among them, who one gathering a confiderable number of t moft zealous followers went to houfe appointed for the refolutic fcruples, on a day which was fet for a difquifition of the dignity office of a minifter, and began to pute with great vehemence again!! prefbyterians, whom he denied to any true minifters among them. whofe affemblies he affirmed not t the true church. He was oppofer: equal heat by the prefbyterian, at length they agreed to exami:? point another day, in a regular tation. Accordingly, they appe the twelfth of November for a quiry, whether in the Chriftian churi : office of minifter is committed to any p cular perfons.

On the day fixed the antagonis peared, each attended by great nume but when the queftion was propos they began to wrangle, not about doctrine which they had engaged examine, but about the terms of propofition, which the independent ledged to be changed fince their ag ment; and at length the foldiers fifted that the queftion fhould b whether those who call themselves mat have more right or power to preact == gospel than any other man that is a C fian. This question was debated fome time with great vehemence confufion, but without any profpei · a conclufion. At length, one of t foldiers, who thought they had s equal right with the reft to engage the controverfy, demanded of the pre byterians whence they themfelves r ceived their orders, whether from be fhops or any other perfons. Th

unexpected

Inexpected interrogatory put them to great difficulties; for it happened that hey were all ordained by the bishops, vhich they durft not acknowledge, for ear of expofing themselves to a general enfure; and being convicted from their own declarations, in which they had requently condemned epifcopacy, as contrary to chriftianity; nor durft they leny it, because they might have been confuted, and muft at once have funk nto contempt. The foldiers, feeing heir perplexity, infulted them, and went away boating of their victory: or did the prefbyterians for fome time ecover fpirit enough to renew their neetings, or to proceed in the work of afing confciences.

Earbury, exulting at the victory hich not his own abilities, but the abtilty of the foldier, had procured im, began to vent his notions of every ind without fcruple, and at length flerted, that the Saints had an equal reasure of the divine nature with our Saiour, though not equally manifeft. At he fame time he took upon him the ignity of a prophet, and began to tter predictions relating to the affairs f England and Ireland.

His prophecies were not much rearded, but his doctrine was cenfured y the prefbyterians in their pulpits; nd Mr. Cheynel challenged him to a ifputation, to which he agreed, and at is firft appearance in St. Mary's church idressed his audience in the following

anner:

"Chriftian friends, kind fellowoldiers, and worthy ftudents, I, the umble fervant of all mankind, am this ay drawn, against my will, out of my ell, into this public affembly, by the ouble chain of accufation and a chalnge from the pulpit; I have been arged with herefy, I have been chalenged to come hither in a letter writen by Mr. Francis Cheynel. Here en I ftand in defence of myself and v doctrine, which I fhall introduce ith only this declaration, that I claim ot the office of a minister on account f any outward call, though I formerly ceived ordination, nor do I boast of mination, or the knowledge of our viour, though I have been held in

efteem by others, and, formerly by myfelf. For I now declare, that I know nothing, and am nothing, nor would I be thought of otherwife than as an enquirer and seeker."

He then advanced his former pofition in ftronger terms, and with additions equally deteftable, which Cheynel attacked with the vehemence, which, in fo warm a temper, fuch horrid affertions might naturally excite. The difpute, frequently interrupted by the clamours of the audience, and tumults raised to difconcert Cheynel, who was very unpopular, continued about four hours, and then both the controvertists grew weary, and retired. The prefbyterians afterwards thought they fhould more fpeedily put an end to the herefies of Earbury by power than by argument, and, by foliciting General Fairfax, procured his removal.

Mr. Cheynel published an account of this difpute, under the title of Faith triumphing over Error and Herefy in a Revelation, &c. nor can it be doubted but he had the victory, where his cause gave him fo great fuperiority.

Somewhat before this his captious and petulant difpofition engaged him in a controversy, from which he could not expect to gain equal reputation. Dr. Hammond had not long before publifhed his Practical Catechifm, in which Mr. Cheynel, according to his cuftom, found many errors, implied if not afferted, and, therefore, as it was much read, thought it convenient to cenfure it in the pulpit. Of this Dr. Hammond being informed, defired him, in a letter. to communicate his objections; to which Mr. Cheynel returned an answer written with his ufual temper, and therefore fomewhat perverfe. The controverfy was drawn out to a confiderable length, and the papers on both fides were afterwards made public by Dr. Hammond.

In 1647, it was determined by parliament that the reformation of Oxford fhould be more vigorously carried on; and Mr. Cheynel was nominated one of the vifitors. The general procefs of the vifitation, the firmnefs and fidelity of the ftudents, the addrefs by which the enquiry was delayed, and the

fteadiness

fteadiness with which it was oppofed, which are very particularly related by Wood, and after him by Walker, it is not neceffary to mention here, as they relate not more to Dr. Cheynei's life than to thofe of his affociates.

There is indeed fome reafon to believe that he was more active and virulent than the reft, because he appears to have been charged in a particular manner with fome of their moft unjuftifiable measures. He was accufed of propofing that the members of the Univerity thould be denied the affiftance of council, and was lampooned by name as a madman, in a fatire written on the vifitation.

One action, which fhews the violence of his temper, and his difregard both of humanity and decency, when they came into competition with his paffions, must not be forgotten. The vifitors, being offended at the obftinacy of Dr. Fell, Dean of Christ Church, and Vicechancellor of the University, having firit deprived him of the vice-chancellohip, determined afterwards to difpoffets him of his deanery; and, in the courfe of their proceedings, thought it proper to feize upon his chambers in the college. This was an act which moft men would willingly have referred to the officers to whom the law aligned it; but Cheynel's fury prompted him to a different conduct. He, and three more of the visitors went and demanded admiffion, which being fteadily refufed them, they obtained by the affiftance of a file of foldiers, who forced the doors with pick-axes. Then entering, they faw Mrs. Fell in the lodgings, Dr. Fell being in prifon at London, and ordered her to quit them; but found her not more obfequious than her hufband. They repeated their orders with menaces, but were not able to prevail upon her to remove. They then retired, and left her exposed to the brutality of the foldiers, whom they commanded to keep poffeffion; which Mrs. Fell however did not leave. Ahout nine days afterwards the received another vifit of the fame kind from the new chancellor, the Earl of Pembroke, who having, like others, ordered her to depart with out effect, treated her with reproachful

language, and at laft commanded t foldiers to take her up in her chai. and carry her out of doors. He daughters, and fome other gentlewome that were with her were afterwar treated in the fame manner; ore i whom predicted, without dejecta. that the fhould enter the house aga with lefs difficulty, at fome other tin nor was the much mistaken in her en jecture, for Dr. Fell lived to be reituri to his deanery.

At the reception of the Chancel Cheynel, as the moft accomplithe:: the vifitors, had the province of prek ing him with the enfigns of his of: fome of which were counterfeit, z, addreffing him with a proper orati Of this fpeech, which Wood has p ferved, I fhall give fome paffages, which a judgement may be mad his oratory.

Of the ftaves of the beadles s ferves, "that fome are stained double guilt, that fome are pak fear, and that others have bee ufe of as crutches, for the furp bad caufes and defperate fortunes. he remarks of the book of t which he delivers, that "the ign may perhaps admire the fplendeu t the cover, but the learned knew 18 the real treafure is within." Oft two fentences it is cafily difcorer. that the first is forced and unnatu and the second trivial and low.

Soon afterwards Mr. Cheyne va admitted to the degree of Bachel Divinity, for which his grace had b denied him in 1641, and as he t fuffered for an ill-timed atfertion the Prefbyterian doctrines, he obta that his degree fhould be dated in the time at which he was refufed it, honour, which, however, did not fec. ? him from being foon after pubica reproached as a madman.

But the vigour of Dr. Cheynel 14 thought by his companions to defe profit as well as honour; and Bailey, the Prefident of St. Jobbi College, being not more obedient the authority of the parliament than t reit, was deprived of his revenues! authority, with which Mr. Cheva was immediately invefted; who,

ufual coolness and modefty, took feffion of the lodgings foon after, by aking open the doors.

This preferment being not thought quate to the deferts or abilities of Cheynel, it was, therefore, defired the committee of parliament, that I vifitors would recommend him to lectureship of divinity founded by Lady Margaret. To recommend hand to choofe was at that time the e; and he had now the pleasure of pagating his darling doctrine of pretination, without interruption, and hout danger.

Being thus flushed with power and cefs, there is little reafon for doubtthat he gave way to his natural emence, and indulged himself in utmost exceffes of raging zeal, by ich he was indeed fo much diftinshed, that, in a fatire mentioned by od, he is dignified by the title of Archtor; an appellation which he feems to ve been induftrious to deferve by feveand inflexibility: for, not contented h the commiffion which he and his leagues had already received, he cured fix or feven of the members parliament to meet privately in Mr. ufe's lodgings, and affume the ftile 1 authority of a committee, and from m obtained a more extenfive and annical power, by which the vifitors re enabled to force the folemn League 1 Covenant, and the negative oath, on all the members of the Univerfity, 1 to profecute thofe for a contempt o did not appear to a citation, at atever diftance they might be, and atever reafons they might affign for eir abfence.

By this method he eafily drove great mbers from the University, whofe ces he supplied with men of his own nions, whom he was very induftrious draw from other parts, with promifes making a liberal provifion for them of the fpoils of heretics and ma

nants.

Having in time almoft extirpated fe opinions which he found fo preent at his arrival, or at least obliged fe who would not recant to an earance of conformity, he was at ure for employments which deferve

to be recorded with greater commendation. About this time, many Socinian writers began to publish their notions with great boldnefs, which the Prefbyterians confidering as heretical and impious, thought it neceffary to confute; and, therefore, Cheynel, who had now obtained his doctor's degree, was defired in 1649 to write a vindication of the doctrine of the Trinity, which he performed, and published the next year."

He drew up likewise a confutation of fome Socinian tenets advanced by John Fry, a man who fpent great part of his life in ranging from one religion to another, and who fat as one of the judges on the King; but was expelled afterwards from the Houfe of Commons, and difabled from fitting in parliament. Dr. Cheynel is faid to havefhewn himfelf evidently fuperior to him in the controverfy, and was anfwered by him only with an opprobrious book, against the Prefbyterian clergy.

Of the remaining part of his life there is found only an obfcure and confufed account. He quitted the prefidentfhip of St. John's, and the profefforfhip, in 1650, as Calamy rclates, because he would not take the engagement; and gave a proof that he could fuffer as well as act in a caufe which he believed juft. We have indeed no reafon to question his refolution, whatever occafion might be given to exert it; nor is it probable that he feared affliction more than danger, or that he would not have borne perfecution himself for thofe opinions which inclined him to perfecute others.

He did not fuffer much on this occafion; for he retained the living of Petworth, to which he thence-forward confined his labours, and where he was very affiduous, and, as Calamy affirms, very fuccefsful in the exercife of his miniftry; it being his peculiar character to be warm and zealous in all his undertakings.

This heat of his difpofition, increafed by the uncommon turbulence of the time in which he lived, and by the oppofition to which the unpopular nature of fome of his employments expofed him, was at lait heightened to distraction,