Philipp Nye

was born of a gentile Family in Sussex, entred a Commoner of Brasnose Coll. 21. July 1615. aged 19 years or thereabouts, but making no long stay there, he removed to Madg. Hall, where being put under the tuition of a puritanical Tutor, continued till he had taken the degrees in Arts. About that time he entred into holy orders and had some cure bestowed on him, but where, unless in S. Michaels Church in Cornhill, Lond. where I find him in 1630, I cannot justly tell. But so it was that he being Schismatically enclined, did, with others of his perswasion leave his Cure, purposely to avoid the censures of Episcopal Consistories, and went beyond the Seas into Holland about 1633, where continuing for the most part at Arnheim in Gelderland, till about the latter end of 1640, at which time the Members of the Parl. (afterward called the Long Parl.) were very dominant and prevailing, he returned, and became soon after by the favour of Edward Lord Kimbolton, (about that time Earl of Manchester) Minister of Kimbolton in Huntingdonshire: And tho he then and before shew’d himself a severe censurer of Bishops, and those of the Episcopal Clergy for medling in civil affairs, as excentrick to their calling, yet he, with Hugh Peters, Steph. Marshall, &c. did go beyond any of them in that matter, more than for 7 years together. In 1643 he was appointed one of the Assembly of Divines, became a great Champion for the Presbyterian cause, and a zealous assertor of the solemn League and Covenant. In July the same year, he, with Steph. Marshall (whose Daughter he had taken to Wife) were sent by the Parliament into Scotland to expedite their Covenant, where in set speeches he ((b))((b)) Merc. Aul. in Oct. 1643. p. 610. told the People that they were to enter into such a Covenant and League, as would never be forgotten by them and their posterity, and both have occasion to remember it with joy: Also that such an oath it is, as for matter, persons and other circumstances, that the like hath not been in any age, sufficiently warranted by both humane and divine story; for as God did swear for the salvation of men and kingdoms, so kingdoms must now swear for the preservation and salvation of kingdoms, to establish a Saviour Jesus Christ in England, &c. After his return both houses of Parl. took the Covenant 25. of Sept. the same year; at which time Nye made some observations from the Pulpit touching the said Covenant, shewing the warrant of it from Scripture, and was about the same time partly rewarded for his good service with the Rectory of Acton near London, in the place of Dr. Dan. Featley ejected. But soon after disliking the proceedings of the said Ass. of Divines, he dissented from them for a time, as others did, being incited thereunto by certain Politicians, with promises of reward, especially if they would oppose them and their intended discipline to be setled. So that then closing with the rising party, the Independents, especially with the Grandees of the Army, he did, by their favour, hold rich Offices, and his counsel in political affairs was often used by them. In Dec. 1647 he with Steph. Marshall, were sent by them to the King at Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight, with the Commissioners then appointed to carry the four bills (the four dethroning votes) and had for their pains 500 l. apiece given to them. About that time also, he was employed by the said Grandees to get subscriptions from the Apprentices in London and factious people against a personal treaty with the King, while the Citizens of that place were petitioning for one: See more in Jos. Caryl. In Apr. also the next year, he with the said Marshall and Jos. Caryl were employed by the Independents to invite the secured and secluded members to sit in the House again, but they effected nothing. In 1653 he was appointed one of the Triers, or rather Spanish Inquisitors, for the approbation of publick Preachers; in which office he acted the Politician so much that he did not only get his Son to be Clerk to them, but also enriched himself with bribes, underhand-dealing, and with a Living of 400 l. per an. by the help of the said Marshall, one of that number. In 1654 he with Dr. Laz. Seamon, Sam. Clark, Rich. Vines, Ob. Sedgwick, Jos. Caryl, &c. were appointed Assistants to the Commissioners appointed by Parl. to eject such whom they then called scandalous and ignorant Ministers and Schoolmasters, in the City of London, where he especially, and they acted with no little rigor to the utter undoing of many loyal Persons. In 1660, after his Majesties restauration, it was debated by the Healing Parliament for several hours together, whether he and John Goodwin that infamous and blackmouth’d Independent, should be excepted for life, because they had acted so highly (none more except Hugh Peters) against the King, and had been instrumental in bringing all things into confusion. At length it came to this result, that if Philip Nye Clerk should after the first of Sept. in the same year accept or exercise any office Ecclesiastical, Civil or Military, should to all intents and purposes in Law stand as if he had been totally excepted from life. In Nov. 1662 he was vehemently suspected to be in that plot, for which George Philips, Th [•] m, Tongue, &c. were executed, but how he freed himself from that suspicion I know not. Sure it is that he was a most dangerous and seditious Person, a politick Pulpit driver of Independency, an insatiable esurient after riches, and what not to raise a family and to heap up wealth. He hath written,

Letter from Scotland to his Brethren in England concerning his success of affairs there. Lond. 1643. qu. Steph. Marshalls name is also subscribed to it.

Exhortation to the taking of the solemn league and Covenant for reformation and defence of religion, &c.—Printed at Lond. in Feb. 1643 and there again once or twice. That edit. which came out in 1645 is in tw.

The excellency and lawfulness of the solemn league and covenant, set forth in a speech to the H. of Commons and the reverend Assembly of Ministers, at the taking of the said covenant, 25 Sept. 1643. Lond. 1660. second edit. qu.

Apologetical narration submitted to the honourable Houses of Parliament. Lond. 1643. qu. In this narration are joyned with Phil. Nye, others, as Thom. Goodwin, Sidrach Simpson, Jerem. Burroughs and Will. Bridge, all formerly in exile, but then members of the Ass. of Divines. In an answer to this by Anon, ’tis said that it was written by Tho. Goodwin and Phil. Nye only, as the title of the said answer tells you thus. An anatomy of Independency: or, a brief commentary and moderate discourse upon The Apologetical narration of Mr. Tho. Goodwin and Mr. Phil. Nye. Lond. 1644. qu.

An Epistolary discourse about toleration. Lond. 1644. qu. In this discourse are joyned with him Tho. Goodwin and Sam. Hartlib.

The keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and power thereof according to the word of God, &c. Lond. 1644. sec. edit. Thom. Goodwin had also a hand in this book.

Mr. Anth. Sadler examined, or his disguise discovered; shewing the gross mistakes, and most notorious falshoods in his dealing with the Commissioners for approbation of publick preachers in his Inquisitio Anglicana, &c. Lond. 1654. qu. Tho no name is set to this pamphlet, yet ’twas generally reported that it was wrot by Joh. Nye Bach. of Arts of Magd. Coll. and Clerk to the said Triers or Commissioners, assisted therein by his Father.

The Principles of faith, presented by Tho. Goodwin Ph. Nye, &c. to the Committee of Parliament for religion, by way of explanation to the proposals for propagating the Gospel. Lond. 1654. qu.

Beames of former light, discovering how evil it is to impose doubtful and disputable formes for practices upon Ministers, especially under the penalty of ejection for nonconformity unto the same, &c. Lond. 1660. qu.

Case of great and present use, &c.—Printed 1677. oct.

The lawfulness of the oath of Supremacy, and power of the King in Ecclesiastical affairs, with Qu. Elizabeths admonition, &c. Lond. 1683. qu. It was then reprinted, and in 1687 being printed again, it was dedicated by Hen. Nye, the Authors Son, to K. Jam. 2.

Vindication of Dissenters; proving that their particular congregations are not inconsistent with the Kings supremacy in Ecclesiastical affairs—Printed with The Lawfulness, &c. 1683.

Some account of the nature, constitution and power of Ecclesiastical courts—Printed with the former also, an. 1683.

The Lawfulness of hearing the publick Ministers of the Church of England: proved by Phil. Nye and John Robinson. Lond. 1683. qu. He hath also a Sermon extant preached before the Citizens of London, an. 1659—Printed that year in qu. and perhaps more; and something about catechising, which I have not yet seen. He died in the Parish of S. Mich. Cornhill, or near it, in Lond. in the month of September, 1672. in sixteen hundred seventy and two, and was buried on the 27 day of the same month in the upper Vault under part of the said Church of S. Michael. I have been informed by those that knew this Mr. Nye, that he had much more moderation in his last years, than he ever before shewed. To which I then made answer that good reason he had so to be, because he was altogether incapacitated from being otherwise.