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1670.

He possessed a large share of personal cour- SEC. VH. age as well, as a literary and religious heroism. His intrepidity saved king Charles's judges, who fled to Newhaven, in 1661, and who were hidden in his house, whilst he preached in publick before the pursuers a sermon from the following words. "Take counsel; execute execute judgment; make thy shadow, as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him, that wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee. Moab be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler."†

In private life Mr. Davenport was beneficent, exemplary, amiable; much practising, what he constantly recommended, ejaculatory prayers. On receiving favours, he would resolve to increase his self-examination and watchfulness; and he was wont to repay the ill usage, he met with from enemies, by renewed efforts of kindness to his friends. His piety, prudence, and firmness were the subject of general commendation.

As a scholar, Mr. Davenport was always placed in the first rank. His judgment was profound; and his excursive fancy was guided by a correct taste. Such was the opinion of the Westminster divines of his abilities, that he was invited to a seat in their synod.

He was minister of Newhaven, nearly thirty, and of First Church, not quite two years. He died of an apoplexy, in the 73d year of his age, on 15 March, 1670. His portrait is in the mu

* Stiles's Life of the Judges. † Isai. xvi. 3, 4.

SEC. VII. Seum of Yale college. He was author of the

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1. Sermon on 2 Sam. i. 18. 1629.

2. Letter to the Dutch Classis. 1634.

3. Instructions to the elders of the English Church. 1634. 4. Report of some proceedings against John Paget, &c.

1634.

5. Allegations of scripture against baptizing certain infants. 1634.

6. Protestation about the publication of his writings.

1634.

7. Apologetical Reply to answer of W. Best. 1636.

8. Discourse about civil government in new plantations.

1642.

9. Profession of his faith at admission, &c. 1642.`

10. Knowledge of Christ, in regard to types, &c. 1653. 11. Messiah come. Sermon. 1653.

18. Saints' Anchor hold in storms, &c. 1661.

13. Election Sermon, 1669.

14. God's call to his people, &c. two fast sermons. 1670. 15. Power of congregational churches, &c. (posthumous.)

1672.

He also wrote a latin letter to the famous Durous, which
the rest of the ministers of Newhaven colony subscri-
bed.
He moreover left behind him an exposition on
the Canticles in a hundred sheets of small hand wri
ting, which never was published.

SECTION VIII.

From the settlement of Mr. Oxenbridge,;1671, to his death, 1674.

MR. Oxenbridge and his wife had been admitted members of First Church, on 20 March, 1670, and, on the 10th of the month following, he was unanimously chosen pastor. Whether any formality was observed in his induction into office does not appear. No memorandum of Mr. Davenport's death is to be found in the records, yet the slightest irregularity in any of the members is carefully registered.

This is evident, that Mr. Oxenbridge was a popular preacher, and that his talents excited a lively attention to religion in the members of the congregation. During his four years' labour in the church, eighty-one persons, fifty-four of whom were females, were admitted to communion. In the same period, ninety-one boys and ninety girls were baptized.

On 10 March, 1672, there was a publick contribution made by the congregation for the use of the college at Cambridge, at the motion of the council, and beside the publick, there was a private subscription, to which many subscribed, and a like subscription was circulated in the country.

SEC. VIII

1671.

1672.

SEC. VIII.

1673.

1674.

The baptists were still persecuted in the colony; but Allen and Oxenbridge have the merit of giving no countenance to a most unchristian practice.

Rev. John Oxenbridge was born in Daventry, Northamptonshire, England, 30 January, 1609,and educated at Oxford, where he was some time a tutor. Becoming a preacher, in 1633, he went to Bermuda, and assumed the care of a church. He returned to England, about the year 1642, and was pastor of a church in Beverly. Afterwards he became fellow of Eton college. Ejected from his living, in 1662, he travelled to Surrinam; thence to Barbadoes; and thence, in 1669, to Newengland. He is reckoned by the historians of Boston among the most elegant writers as well, as eloquent preachers of his time. Like his great and good predecessors, he was sincerely attached to the congregational interest; and the piety, which he cherished at heart, exhibited itself in his habitual conversation. As he was preaching the thursday lecture, 23 December, he was taken suddenly ill, forced to break off his discourse, and carried home, where he languished, till the 28th, when he died. He was buried, on 31st, with great solemnity.*

Mr. Oxenbridge was author of the following publications.

1. Double watch word. 1661.

2. Propositions of propagating the gospel in Guiana. 3. Election Sermon, 1671.

4. Seasonable seeking of God.

* First Church records, p. 37.

SECTION IX.

From the death of Mr. Oxenbridge, 1674, to the settlement of Mr.
Wadsworth, 1696.

DURING ten years, the congregation was under the sole care of Mr. Allen.

In the year 1679, there was a synod called by the general court, under an apprehension, that the sins of the land loudly cried for the vengeance of heaven. The aspect of publick affairs was indeed portentous; yet there seem not to have been any uncommon marks of national degeneracy. The ministers however obeyed the summons of the civil authority, and placed at the head of their body Mr. John Sherman and Mr. Urian Oakes. The first question, to which their attention was called, was, "What are the sins, which have provoked the divine anger ?" The second, "What are the means of removing it?" The synod resulted, and communicated their result to the general court. It pointed out the sins of the times, and depicted in glowing colours the calamities of the country.* In most churches the Covenant was renewed, and in every church some

* Mather. Hutchinson.

SECT. IX.

1679.

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