John Davenport

son of John Davenport, and elder brother to Christopher Davenport commonly called Franc. à Sancta Clara (whom I shall in his proper place mention) was born in the City of Coventry in Warwickshire, an. 1597, and in Grammatical learning there educated. In the beginning of the year 1613 he was by his Relations sent to Merton Coll; where continuing about two years under the tuition of Mr. Sam. Lane, was for a certain reason, which I shall tell you in the life of the said Christop. Dav. translated to Magd. Hall, where continuing under a severe and puritanical discipline for some time, he left it without a degree, retired to London, became a noted preacher among the Puritans, and at length Minister of S. Stephens Church in Coleman-street. In 1625 he retired to Magd. Hall for a time, performed his exercise for the degree of Bach. of Div, accumulated and took that degree, and in short time after retired to London again; where, by the Brethren he was esteemed a person of excellent gifts in preaching and in other qualities belonging to a Divine. About the year 1630 he was appointed by certain factious and discontented persons one of the Feoffees for the buying in of impropriations; but that project, tho seem’d good to some, being quash’d, he, about the year 1633, left his pastoral charge under pretence of opposition by the Prelates, because he scrupled at certain ceremonies, but without a certificate or testimony to shew what he was or what he had been, and forthwith went beyond the Seas to Amsterdam without a call or invitation. At that place he endeavouring to be a Minister in the English congregation, and to joyn with them in all duties, he was much opposed by Mr. John Paget an Elder or one of the chief Ministers there, and especially for this reason, that he would not agree with him in all things relating to baptisme. Whereupon our author Davenport, taking these, and other matters, in great disdain, he wrot in his own defence,

Letter to the Dutch classis, containing a just complaint against an unjust doer; wherein is declared the miserable slavery and bondage that the English Church at Amsterdam is now in, by reason of the tyrannical government and corrupt doctrine of Mr. Jo. Paget their Minister—Printed 1634. qu.

Certain instructions delivered to the Elders of the English Church deputed, which are to be propounded to the Pastors of the Dutch Church in Amsterdam—Pr. the same year in a qu. paper. About the same time he wrot (1) A report of some passages or proceedings about his calling to the English Ch. in Amsterdam against Joh. Paget. (2) Allegations of Scripture against the baptizing of some kind of infants. (3) Protestation about the publishing of his writings. Which three things were pr. at Amsterd. 1634. qu. In the year following most of the aforesaid little scripts were answered by Paget, and at the same time were answer’d by him the complaints of one Will. Best, a member of Davenports perswasion. Whereupon Best came out with The Churches plea for her right; or a reply to an answer &c. Amst. 1635. qu, and soon after our author Davenport with

An Apolegetical reply to the answer of W. B. Roterd. 1636. qu. About the same time Davenport who took these matters very ill, refused to joyn with the Ministers in their meetings, took away many of their disciples, such especially that had an esteem for his notable learning and singular parts, and preached and prayed to them in private houses. In the beginning of the rebellion, he returned into England, as other Nonconformists did, and had a cure bestowed on him, but finding matters not to go current with his humour, he, by the perswasive letters of Mr. John Cotton of New England (who was esteemed the misleader of him and John Goodwin) went into that Country and became Pastor of Newhaven there, where he continued in great esteem with those of his perswasion, to the time almost of his death. His other writings are these.

Catechisme containing the chief heads of Christian religion. Lond. 1659. oct. Published at the desire, and for the use of the Church of Christ at Newhaven in New England. In this Catechisme one Will. Hook a teacher there, had a hand; I mean the same Will. Hook who was sometimes Minister of Axmouth in Devonshire, author of (1) New Englands tears for old Englands fears, &c. Print. 1640-1. qu. (2) The privileges of the saints on earth above those in heaven. Pr. in oct. (3) Sermon in New England in behalf of old England. Pr. 1645. qu. and other Sermons. He died in, or near, London, 21. March 1677. aged 77 years and was committed to the earth in the burial place situated on the north side of the New Attillery-yard or Garden, near to the said City. See more of him in Jerom Turner an. 1655.

Several Sermons, as (1) The Messiah is already come, on Acts 2.36. Lond. 1653. qu. (2) Gods call to his people to turn unto him, &c. in two Sermons on two publick fasting days in N. England. Lond. 1670. qu. (3) Saints Anchorhold in all Storms and Tempests (on Lam. 3.26,)—Printed 1661 in tw. and others, among which is his Sermon on 2. Sam. 1.18.—Lond. 1629. qu.

The power of congregational Churches asserted and vindicated; in answer to a treatise of Mr. Jo. Paget, entit. The defence of Church government exercised in classes and synods. Lond. 1672. oct. He also had a considerable hand in writing The life of Mr. John Cotton before mention’d, published by John Norton Minister of Boston in N. England, and had formerly with Dr. Rich. Sibbs published certain works of Dr. John Preston viz. his New Covenants, or Saints portion, in 14. sermons, with four other added, an. 1629. qu. &c. At length he having lived beyond the age of man, surrendred up his Soul to God, at Boston in New England (to which place he had removed from Newhaven in 1668) on the thirteenth day of March in sixteen hundred sixty and nine,1669/70. and was inter’d there, in the tomb of the said Mr. Cotton, for whom, in his life time, he had an extraordinary respect. He left behind him An Exposition on the Canticles, contained in an 100 sheets in a small hand-writing: Which being esteemed very fit for the press, was recommended by Dr. Sam. Anely, and Mr. Ed. Veal, and accordingly proposals were made for the printing it, to be sold for 7. sh. in quires, in Mich. term an. 1687. But soon after, the printing of it was stop’d, and the merchant who design’d afterwards to publish it, died; so ’tis question’d now, whether ever it will see light.