John Gauden

Son of the Minister of Mayland in Essex, was born there, or at least in that County, educated in Grammar learning at S. Edmunds Bury in Suffolk, and afterwards, at about 16 years of age, was admitted a Student of S. Johns College in Cambridge under one Mr. Wright; where making great proficiency in academical learning, took the degrees in Arts. In 1630 or thereabouts, he removed to Wadham Coll. in this University, where he became Tutor to Francis and Will Russell sons of Sir Will. Russell Baronet, (into whose family he about that time had matched) and after their departure, to other Gentlemen of quality. While he continued there, the greatness of his parts were much improved by the greatness of industry, bestowing the most part of the day and night too in the study of divine matters. In 1635 he took the degree of Bach. of Div, was afterwards Chaplain to Robert Earl of Warwick, Rector of Brightwell near Wallingford in Berks, beneficed in Cambridgeshire, D. of D. and when the Assembly of Divines was to be setled in 1643 he was nominated one of them to the Parliament by Sir Dudley North and Sir Thom. Chichley (Knights for Cambridgeshire to serve in the Long Parliament) to sit among them, but by what trick Mr. Tho. Goodwin was substituted in his place, as a person more fit for the great designs then carrying on, you may see in our Author Dr. Gaudens book, intit. Anti-Baal-Berith, &c. printed at Lond. 1661. p. 89 90. At that time (1643.) he being a Covenantier, as the Presbyterians and fanatical people generally affirm, tho positively ((a))((a)) In his Anti-Baal-Berith, p. 275.276. denied by himself, he had the Rectory and Deanery of Bocking in his own Country confer’d upon him, which he kept during the time of Usurpation; and was, as before at Brightwell, and elsewhere, much resorted to for his most admirable and edifying way of preaching. After the death of Dr. Brownrig Bishop of Exeter, which was in Decemb. 1659, he became Preacher of the Temple at London, and after the Restoration of K. Ch. 2. Chaplain in ordinary to him; who taking notice that he, upon all occasions had taken worthy pains in the pulpit and at the press, to rescue his Majesty and the Church of England, from all the mistakes and heterodox opinions of several and different Factions, as also from the sacrilegious hands of those false brethren, whose scandalous conversation was consummate in devouring Church-lands, and then with impudence to make sacrilege lawful; I say for these his services, his Majesty confer’d upon him the Bishoprick of Exeter, to which being consecrated in S. Peters Church at Westminster on the second day of Decemb. (being the first Sunday in Advent) in the year 1660, sate there but little more than an year and a quarter. Afterwards he was translated thence to Worcester (on Dr. Morleys Translation to Winchester) in the beginning of the year (in the month of May I think) 1662, where he soon after ended his course, having been esteemed by all that knew him a very comely person, a man of vast parts, and one that had been strangely improved by unwearied labour. His works are these.

Several Sermons, as (1) The love of truth and peace, on Zach. 8.19. Lond. 1641. qu. (2) Three Sermons preached upon several publick occasions. Lond. 1642. qu. The first of which preached before his Maj. is on Heb. 12.14. The second before the Judges at Chelmsford in Essex, is on Zach. 8.16. and the third at S. Maries in Oxon on Act Sunday 11 July 1641 is on Ephes. 4.23. (3) Funeralls made cordials: Sermon prepared, and (in part) preached at the solemn interment of the corps of Rob. Rich, heir apparent to the Earldom of Warwick (who died at Whitehall 16 of Feb. an. 1657, aged 23 years, and was honorably buried on the 5 of March following) at Felsted in Essex. Lond. 1658. qu. (4) Sermon preached at the Funeral of Dr. Ralph Brownrig Bishop of Exeter (17 Dec. 1659) on 2 Kings 2.12. Lond. 1660. oct. (5) Slight healing of publick hearts, &c. Serm. in S. Pauls Cathedral before the Lord Mayor, Lord General, Aldermen, &c. 26 Feb. 1659, being a day of solemn thanksgiving unto God for restoring of the secluded Members of Parliament to the H. of Commons, &c. on Jerem. 8.11. Lond. 1660. qu. Therein is somewhat added above what was preached. (6) God’s great demonstration and demands of justice, mercy, &c. Serm. on Micah 6.8. before the H. of Com. at their solemn Fast before their first sitting, 30 Apr. 1660.—Lond. 1660. qu. And other Sermons which I have not yet seen.

Certain scruples and doubts of conscience about taking the solemn League and Covenant, tendered to the consideration of Sir Laur. Bromfield and Zach. Crofton. Lond. 1643 and 1660. qu.

Hierapistes: or, a defence by way of Apology of the Ministry and Ministers of the Church of England. Lond. 1653. qu.

Christ at the Wedding: or, the pristine sanctity and solemnity of Christian Marriages. Lond. 1654. qu.

The case of the Ministers maintenance by tithes, plainly discussed in conscience and prudence, &c. Lond. 1653. qu. It must be now known that Oliver Cromwell by his Declaration did require all persons not to entertain in any capacity whatsoever, any person engaged in the late Wars for the King, or who were any way assistant to his cause, prohibiting then also all such persons the exercise of any part of their Ministry. Whereupon this severity moved our Author to write this Pamphlet.

A petitionary remonstrance presented to Oliver Protector 4 Feb. 1655 in behalf of his distressed brethren of the Church of England, deprived of all publick Employment by his Declaration 1 Jan. 1655. Lond. 1659. qu. At the same time Dr. Usher Primate of Ireland went from Riegate to Whitehall on purpose to the said Protector, to interceed for his indulgence towards them. He took also the safest opportunities for mediating for them for the space of more than a month, but was forced at last to retreat to his Country retirement (and so to his grave) with little success and less hope to his great grief and sorrow, using ((b))((b)) Farther continuation of the Friendly Debate. Lond. 1670. in oct. p. 147.148. this expression to our Author Dr. Gauden that he saw some men had only guts and no bowells, &c. But if another Author ((c))((c)) The Author of The fourth Plea of the Conformists for the Non-Conformists. Lond. 1683. qu. in a Postscript at the end. may be believed, his intercessions did take effect.

Ecclesiae Anglicanae suspiria: setting forth her former Constitution, compared with her present condition, in 4 books. Lond. 1659. fol.

Antisacrilegus: or, a Defensative against the plausibleness, or guilded poyson of that nameless Paper, (supposed to be the plot of Dr. Cornelius Burges and his Partners) which attempts the Kings Maj. by the offer of five hundred thousand pounds, to make good by an Act of Parliament to the Purchasers of Bishops, &c. Lands, their illegal bargain for 99 years. Lond. 1660. in 2 sh. and an half in qu.

Account of the life and death of Dr. Ralph Brownrig lately B. of Exeter.—This is at the end of his funeral Sermon before mention’d.

The loosing of S. Peters bonds, setting forth the true sense and solution of the Covenant in point of conscience. Lond. 1660. qu. Answer’d by one Joh. Rowlands in a pamphlet printed in qu. the same year.

Analysis of the Covenant. Lond. 1660. qu. Soon after came out two answers. The first of which was intit. after this rude manner, An anatomy or confutation of that idolized piece of nonsense and blasphemy of Dr. Gauden, &c. No name is set to it. The second was St. Peters bonds abide: by Zach. Crofton. Both which were printed at Lond. 1660. qu. These two were soon after replyed upon by John Russell of Chinkford in Essex, in a little piece in qu. intit. The solemn League and Covenant discharged: or, S. Peters bonds not only loosed but annihilated, &c. attested by our Author Gauden. Lond. 1660. in 3 sh. and half in qu. Whether the said Joh. Russell be the same with him who became Gent. Com. of Wadham Coll. 1630, in which year Will. and Franc. Russell before mentioned were entred Students of the same house, I cannot yet tell. About the same time came out another book intit. An Anonymus Questionist in defence of Dr. Gauden, &c. And soon after this—Analepsis Analeptica. The fastning of S. Peters bonds in seaven links or proportions: or, the efficacy and extent of the solemn league and covenant asserted and vindicated against the doubts and scruples of Dr. Joh. Gaudens Anonym. Questionist, Mr. Joh. Russells St. Peters bonds not only loosed, &c. Dr. Featley his League illegal, falsly fathered on him, and The University of Oxon their reasons for not taking the Covenant, &c.—Written by Zach. Crofton Minister of S. Botolphs Aldgate in London. After this our Author Gauden came out with,

Anti Baal-Berith: or, the binding of the Covenant and all Covenantiers to their good behaviour. By a just vindication of Dr. Gaudens Analysis (that is, his resolving the Covenant to law and justice, to duty and conscience, to reason and religion; or, to his dissolving it) against the cacotomy of a nameless and shameless Libeller the worthy Hyperaspites of Dr. Burges. Also against the pitiful cavils and objections of Mr. Zach. Crofton, a rigid Presbyter, with an answer to that monstrous paradox, of No sacriledge no sin, to alienate Church lands, without and against all laws of God and man, &c. Lond. 1661. qu. The said Crofton came out soon after with a reply intit. Anti-Bereth-Baal, &c. Lond. 1661. qu.

Considerations touching the Liturgy of the Church of England in reference to his Maj. late Declaration, &c. Lond. 1661. qu. Answer’d by a vain and idle book intit. Rhetorick restrained: or, Dr. Joh. Gauden Lord B. elect of Exeter, his considerations of the liturgy of the Church of England considered and clouded. Published under the name of Tho. Bold of Exon; attested by Zach. Crofton, and printed at London the same year.

Counsell delivered to 44 Presbyters and Deacons, after they had been ordained by him in the Cath. Ch. of Exeter, &c. 13 Jan. 1660. Lond. 1661. in Lat. and Engl. in 2 or 3 sh. in fol. printed also at Lond. in Lat. by it self.

Life of Mr. Richard Hooker—This is written in a large Preface before Mr. Hooker’s works, which Dr. Gauden pablished at Lond. 1661. fol. In the said life and preface, he doth with great confidence use divers Arguments to satisfie the world that the three books joyned to the five genuine books of the said Mr. Hooker, are genuine and pen’d by him, notwithstanding those poysonous assertions against the regal power, which are to be found therein. He hath also committed many errors as to several matters relating to his life and actions, which being made evident ((d))((d)) In Mr. Hooker’s life written by Isaac Walton. elsewhere, I shall now pass them by and proceed.

A pillar of gratitude, humbly dedicated to the glory of God, the honour of his Majesty, &c. for restoring of Episcopacy. Lond. 1661/2 in a thin fol. On which book hangs an old ((e))((e)) In a book intit.—Mirabilis annus secundus: or, the second year of prodigies. Being a true and partial Collection of many strange signes, &c. printed 1662. num. 21. p. 86.87. story, written by a Presbyterian, but whether all true, I must leave it to the judgment of the Reader. He tells us that “About the month of January 1661 a reverend gaudy Prelate did put forth A pillar of gratitude, &c. wherein having in many rhetorical strains bitterly scolded against his quondam Fellow-Covenantiers, he hath this angry and uncharitable passage, That the projects of Presbyterians have froth in their heads, and blood in their bottom; as the water of those men that labour with the Stone and Strangury, and have their wounds from within. It pleased God within a few days after the publishing of this book to smite the Bishop with that tormenting distemper, which he there makes use of, to set off his false and scandalous impeachment of so considerable a part of the most conscientious and peaceable people in the Land. He lay in a very great extremity of torture, and by reason of the stopping of his water, his life was in great hazard, and so was forced to send for a Chyrurgeon, who, by making use of his Probe, did help him to make water, which was froth at the top, and blood at the bottom: And that the Lord might make him more sensible of it, he repeated the stroke a second time after the same manner, as we have been credibly informed from very eminent and considerable persons. We could heartily wish, that there were now alive another Mr. ((f))((f)) Tim. Rogers. Rogers of Wethersfield ((g))((g)) Wethersfield in Essex. who would deal effectually with the conscience of this proud Prelate, that he might be blessed with a more sanctified use of the hand of the Lord, in the visitation of the Strangury, then of his broken leg, in the former times, &c. Thus the nameless Author in his Mirabilis annus secundus. ” The first of which years was published in Aug. 1661, the second in Aug. 1662, and the third in Dec. the same year; but whether any more followed I find not. They were published purposely to breed in the vulgar an ill opinion of the change of Government and Religion after the Kings Restoration.

A just invective against those of the Army and their Abetters, who murthered K. Ch. 1. on the 30 of Jan. 1648, with some other poetick pieces in Latin, referring to those tragical times, written 10 Feb. 1648. Lond. 1662.

Discourse of artificial beauty in point of conscience, between two Ladies. Lond. 1662. oct.

Discourse concerning publick Oaths, and the lawfulness of swearing in judicial proceedings, in order to answer the scruples of the Quakers. Lond. 1649. Lat. ibid. 1662. English.

Prophecies concerning the return of Popery. Lond. 1663. qu. Published then with other Prophecies of that subject, written by Dr. Whitgift Archb. of Cant. Rob. Sanderson, Rich. Hooker, &c.

The whole duty of a Communicant: being rules and directions for a worthy receiving the most holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper. Lond. 1681. &c. in tw. He hath written other things which I have not yet seen, particularly a Tract about Tender Consciences, which is answer’d by Sam. Fisher. He gave way to fate in the Bishops Pallace at Worcester on the 20 of Sept. in sixteen hundred sixty and two, aged 57,1662. and was buried in the Chappel at the east end of the Choire of the Cath. Ch. there. Over his grave was soon after erected a fair monument, containing his Effigies to the middle, in his episcopal habit, with an inscription under it; a copy of which is printed in Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Oxon, lib. 2. p. 328. a. What the disease was which took him out of this mortal life, I know not, Neither dare I say (says ((a))((a)) The Author of The Nonconformists vindicated from the abuses put upon them by Durell and Scrivner, &c. Lond. 1679. p. 70. one) for all the world, that the disease that befell him (and of which he died) befell him for his fierceness against the Presbyterians: and it was the very disease, unto which he had compar’d the Presbyterians sermons, and it befell him not long after he had made that odious comparison, &c.