Nathaniel Holmes

commonly called Homes, Son of George Hol. Minister of Kingswood in Glocestershire was born ((a))((a)) Lib. Matric. PP. fol. 293. b. in Wilts. became a Communer of Magd. Hall in the latter end of 1616 aged 17 years; whence, after he had continued there for a little while, he was translated to Exeter Coll. for the sake of John Prideaux whom he much admired, and as a member thereof took the degree of Bach. of Arts. Afterwards returning to Magd. Hall, he took the degree of Master and became a frequent preacher for a time in these parts. What his preferments were in the Church afterwards, I find not, unless it was a cure in Glocestershire. Sure I am that he took the degrees in Divinity as a member of Exeter Coll. that of Bach. in 1633 and that of Doctor four years after; and also that being a severe Calvinist, he did upon the defection of the members of the Long Parliament, close with the Presbyterians, and when the rout of Orthodox Ministers in and near London was made in 1642 and 43, he obtained one or more cures, of which the Church of S. Mary Stayning was one. But being soon after delivered from the Presbyterian contagion, as he call’d it, he with Hen. Burton B. D. and Minister of Friday-street in London, became great advancers of the faction, set up ((b))((b)) Merc. Aul. in the fifteenth week, an. 1643. p. 184. their Independent congregations in the beginning of the year 1643, and would admit no man to the sacrament, but such as were members of the same, or baptize any children, tho born within the Parish, (for which they were supposed to serve) but of such that should enter into their New Covenant, and that they challenged to themselves a power of examining the lives and conversations of the members of their said congregation, casting out whom they please, and for what they list, and not admitting any to the Eucharist, nor the children of any to baptisme, till they had satisfied the Church, that is themselves, in the sincerity of their repentance, and be again restored by them: Also that neither of them would permit the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be administred in their parishes at Easter in 1643. Besides a congregation or more in London, our author Holmes had several in the Country particularly at Dover; and like a Bishop of a diocess he would go twice or thrice in a year to visit, purposely to pray and preach to them, and in one of his Sermons to the members there, he prayed God to bless and remember them who had but a bit once in a quarter or half a year. He was accounted by many, especially those of his perswasion, a profound Divine, and to be well skill’d in the Tongues, particularly in the Hebrew, and by others a mutable and fantastical person. When the Act of conformity was published he left his cure or cures, and spent most of his time in the parish of S. Giles without Cripplegate, London, where he kept, or at least frequented, Conventicles. He hath written,

Usury is injury: cleared in an examination of its best apology, alledged by a Country Minister out of Dr. Ames in his cases of conscience. Lond. 1640. qu.

The new world; or the new reformed Church discovered out of the 2. Epist. of Pet. ch. 3.13. first briefly opened before some of the Nobility and others in the Country: Afterwards more fully delineated and prosecuted before the honorable House of Commons 30 May 1641. Lond. 1641. qu. Besides this he hath other Sermons extant as (1) Gods gracious thoughts towards great sinners, in two Sermons, on Isaiah 55.8.9. (2) Thanksgiving Sermon before the H. of Com. in Ch. Ch. Lond. 6. Oct. 1659. on Psal. 33.1. Lond. 1659. qu. &c.

Vindication of baptizing believers. In some animadversions upon Mr. Tombes his exercitations about infant baptisme, as also upon his examen, &c. Lond. 1646. qu.

Daemonology and Theology: the first, the malady, demonstrating the diabolical arts and devillish hearts of men. The second, the remedy, demonstrating, God a rich supply of all good. Lond. 1650. oct. This was answer’d by Anon.

Character of the crying evils of the times. Lond. 1650. octavo.

Church cases cleared: Wherein are held forth some things to reclaim professors that are slack-principled, Antichurchians, Nonchurch-seekers, Church levellers; with a pacificatory preface.

The resurrection revealed: or the dawning of the daystar, about to rise and radiate a visible incomparable glory, far beyond any since the creation, upon the universal Church on earth for a thousand years yet to come before the ultimate day of the general judgment to the raising of the Jews, &c. Lond. 1654. &c. fol. in 7. books. This piece is looked upon by some to be learnedly written, who take the author to be a perfect Chiliast or Millinarian, as Mr. Jos. Mede, Dr. Hen. More and many other Orthodox, as well as Hetrodox, Divines. Peter Sterry that high flown Blasphemer, and Joseph Caryl perused this book, and gave their judgments thereof, and the last of them an Imprimatur in the title. Whence ’tis very easie and proper to observe how ready and extreamly forward the last pretended Reformers were not only to countenance but patronize the many generally exploded opinions (in matter of religion) of their Brethren however hetrodox, erroneous and groundless; insomuch that Divines by publick appointment were ordered to peruse their books, and after a transient cursory view of, to represent, them to the world in extravagant lavish characters of their extraordinary worth and excellency. As for the author Holmes, tho he was accounted a Millinarian, yet he doth not contend for a carnal, sensual and gross liberty and worldly to be enjoyed before the general resurrection by the Saints, but spiritual, purified and refin’d freedom from the dominion and enslaving vassalage of sin and corruption to be exercised in holiness and sanctity.

Open door for mans approach to God. Lond. 1650 qu.

Of Gospel musick—Printed in qu. This, and the next going before, I have not yet seen. In the year 1652 was published by him the said Dr. Holmes a folio book containing 16 several treatises, as (1) Christs offering himself to all sinners, as concerning all objections, on John 6.37. (2) Mistakes about prayer. (3) Faith in abstract, in its high acting, above outward sense, inward sensation and natural reason. (4) Antidote against Antinomianisme. (5) Gods gracious thoughts. This is mention’d before, (6) Gods gracious expressions engaging to comfort them that accept of his grace, on 1. Cor. 1.3.4. (7) Moderation of spirit, for quietation of mind in trying times, on Phil. 4.5. (8) Necessaria. Or the Body of Div. necessary to salvation, on Rom. 8.29.30.31. (9) Soul-cordials against sore discomforts, in a Com. or explications and applications of the whole 43. Psal. (10) The gracious heart is not to seek great things in grievous times, on Jer. 45. ver. 5. former part. (11) Gods saving a people with a notwithstanding their sins, on Psalm. 106.8. (12) The Christian Hammerers against the Antichristian horns, on Zech. 1.21. latter part. (13) The Churches glory and defence, from Isay. 4. ver. 5. (14) The only happy people, described out of Psal. 144.15. (15) The malady of a mixt Communion. (16) Commentary literal or historical, and mystical or spiritual, on the whole book of Canticles.—These 16 things I say were printed for the author in one vol. at Lond. 1652. fol. with the general title to them of The works of Nathaniel Holmes. But they laying dead on the Booksellers hands, they printed a new title to them, with the year of our Lord 1669, which hath made them move among some of the Brethren.

Ten Exercitations in vindication of The resurrection revealed. Lond. 1661. fol.

An essay concerning the Sabbath; or the Sabbath day rest from controversie, &c. Lond. 1673. oct.

The brazen serpent or Gods grand design, &c. Lond. 1673. qu. Besides several other things which I have not yet seen, as The peasants peace, &c. At length this Dr. having lived till he was almost blind, departed this mortal life in the Parish of S. Giles without Cripplegate before mention’d, in the month of June, as I conceive,1678. in sixteen hundred seventy and eight; and was buried, as I suppose, according to his will, in the Chancel of the Church of S. Mary Aldermanbury in London, close to the worthy Ministers there interred. He died rich, left behind him a Widow called Sarah, a Daughter named Bethiah, and a Brother called Nehemiah Holmes of Machin in Hertfordshire Clerk.