John Tombes

was born in a Market Town called Beaudley in Worcestershire, became a Batler of Magd. Hall in the beginning of Lent term an. 1617 aged 15 years, where, in short time after, he shewed himself a most excellent Disputant, a person of incomparable parts, and well vers’d in the Greek and Hebrew Languages. In 1623 he was appointed Catechisme Lecturer of the said Hall, in the place of Will. Pemble deceased (whose Pupil he had been) and the next year proceeding M. of A, he became a noted Tutor there. About that time he entred into holy Orders and shortly after was esteem’d so famous for his preaching, that he was much courted to be one of the Lecturers at S. Martins Ch. commonly called Carfax in Oxon: which cure he at length taking, was much followed for his excellent Sermons, especially by the puritanical party, who held him in great admiration. In 1630 he left the University and became a Preacher in the City of Worcester, and the next year after he was admitted to the reading of the Sentences. But he continuing at Worcester not long, he went by vertue of a call to Leonminster, commonly called Lemster, a Market Town in Herefordshire, of which place he became Vicar, beloved of the Parishioners and Neighbourhood, and resorted to far and near for his familiar and practical way of preaching. As it was suspected while he was in Oxon, so was it at Lemster and elsewhere confidently believed, that he would in time (having no preferment given to him sutable to his merits) do a great deal of mischief to the Church of England, as most great Scholars have done for want of it. In the year 1641 when the restless fury of the Presbyterians vented out into a dismal rebellion, this our author sided with them, and in the following year when Nath. Fiennes managed Bristow for the Parliament, and made mad work there in ejecting loyal Citizens from the Corporation and Orthodox Ministers from the Church, he, upon invitation, came in to him; and thereupon he and his followers made him Minister of Allsaints Church in the place of one Williamson an Orthodox man then ejected. While he continued there, which was till Aug. 1643 (at which time the City was surrendred to the Kings party) he did a great deal of hurt by his schismatical preaching. Afterwards going to London, he became Master of the Temple, where he preached against the errors of the Antinomians, ex male intellectâ doctrina (as he ((*))((*)) In his Epist. ded. before Animadversiones in librum Georgii Bulli, de Harm. Apost. says) de justificatione peccatoris, &c. But being supplanted of that place by Rich. Johnson sometimes of Bras. Coll. an. 1647, he went to Beaudley, at what time Mr. Rich. Baxter preached at Kidderminster, another Market Town about three miles distant from that place. And ’tis verily thought that he was put upon the project of going there, purposely to tame Baxter and his party, who then carried all the Country before them. They preached against one anothers doctrines, Tombes being then a Preacher at Beaudley, which he kept with Lemster, newly restored to him, being before forced thence by the royal party, and published books against each other. Tombes was the Coryphaeus of the Anabaptists, and Baxter of the Presbyterians. Both had a very great company of auditors, who came many miles on foot round about, to admire them. Once, I think oftner, they disputed face to face, and their followers were like two Armies: And at last it came so to pass that they fell together by the ears, whereby hurt was done, and the Civil Magistrate had much ado to quiet them. All Scholars there and then present, who knew the way of disputing and managing arguments, did conclude that Tombes got the better of Baxter by far. In the year 1653 he being then, as before, frequently in London, he was by ordinance appointed one of the Triers for the approbation of publick Ministers, but what preferment he got by that employment (which most of them had obtained) I find not, unless it was the Parsonage of Rosse and the Mastership of the Hospital at Ledbury, both in Herefordshire, which he kept with Lemster and Beaudley. About the year 1658 he married Elizabeth the Widow of Wolstan Abbot of the City of Salisbury, by whom enjoying an Estate, lived mostly there to the time of his death. At the Kings restauration in 1660, when he then saw to what a woful condition this poor Nation of England had been brought unto by restless men and their several opinions as to religion, he willingly submitted, sided with the Royal party, but yet would never accept of either Benefice or Dignity, which was offer’d to him. Set aside his Anabaptistical Positions, he was conformable enough to the Church of England, would frequently go to Common prayers and receive the Sacrament at Salisbury, and often visit Dr. Ward Bishop of that place, who respected Tombes for his learning. Dr. Sanderson sometimes the learned Bishop of Linc. had a great esteem for him, and so had one of his successors Dr. Barlow; but the same respect that the last bore to our author, the same he paid to all, of what sect soever, that were learned. In 1664 he was present at the Oxford Act, and there in the Vespers he did modestly challenge to maintain against any person certain Anabaptistical Tenents, but none there did think it then convenient to grapple with him, and the rather for this reason that he had made those matters his study for more than 30 years, and that none ever before, went beyond him. He seemed to many to be a very pious and zealous Christian, and would never be violent, especially in his latter days, against any party that was opposite to his opinion, but be charitable and complesant. His body was little and neat limb’d; he had a quick searching eye, and was so exceeding apprehensive that he would find out the end, upon the first entry, of the Disputes. He hath written and published,

Several Sermons, as (1) Vae Scandalizantium: or, a treatise of scandalizing, &c. preached at Lemster in Herefordsh. on Luke 17.1.2. Oxon. 1641. oct. (2) Jehovah Jireth, or Gods providence in delivering the godly, in two Sermons in Bristol, on a Thanksgiving day 14. March 1642 for the deliverance of that City from invasion and plot by the Malignants, on 2. Pet. 2.9. Lond. 1643. qu. Before which is set by the author, A short narrative of the said bloody and damnable plot. (3) The Leaven of pharisaical Will-worship; preached at Lemster 24. Nov. 1641. on Matth. 5.9. Lond. 1643. qu. (4) Anthropolatria. The sin of glorying in men, especially in Ministers of the Gospel, on 1. Cor. 3.21. Lond. 1643. 45. 47. qu. (5) True old light exalted above pretended new light: or, a treatise of Jesus Christ, &c. in nine Sermons. Lond. 1660. qu. He hath also, as it seems, a Sermon extant on 1. Cor. 7.14. which I have not yet seen, only mention of it in the title of a book written by Mr. Baxter running thus. Plain Scripture proof of Infant-Church membership and baptisme. Being the whole arguments at a publick dispute with Mr. Tombes at Beaudley, and answers to his Sermon upon 1. Cor. 7.14. with all his letters by Messengers, and his calling for answers in pulpit and in point, with many things relating to Mr. Thomas Bedford and Dr. Ward, and others upon that subject. Printed 1652 or thereabouts, and in an. 1656.

Two Treatises, and an appendix to them, concerning Infant-baptisme, &c. Lond. 1645. qu. Written mostly against Steph. Marshall Minister of Finchingfield in Essex.

An examen of a Sermon of Mr. Steph. Marshall about Infant-baptisme, in a Letter sent to him in 4. parts. Lond. 1645. qu.

An apologie for two treatises, and an appendix to them, concerning Infant-baptisme, published 15. Dec. 1645. against the unjust charges and complaints of Dr. Nathan. Homes, Mr. John Geree, Stephen Marshall, John Ley and William Husley; together with a Postscript by way of reply to Mr. Blakes answer to Mr. Tombes Letter, &c. Lond. 1646. qu. See in Tho. Blake under the year 1657. p. 133.

Exercitation about Infant-baptism, in 12 arguments, &c. Lond. 1646. qu.

A serious consideration of the oath of the Kings Supremacy. Lond. 1649. qu.

Antidote against the venome of a passage in the first direction of the Epist. ded. to Mr. Baxters book of the Saints everlasting rest. Lond. 1650. qu.

Praecursor: or, a forerunner to a large view of a dispute concerning Infant [•] baptism, &c. Lond. 1652. qu.

Anti paedobaptisme: or, no plain or obscure scripture proof of Infants baptisme, or Church membership, being the first part of the full review of the dispute about Infant-baptisme, &c. against St. Marshall, John Geree, Rich. Baxter, Tho. Cobbet, Tho. Blake, Josias Church, Nath. Stephens, &c. Lond. 1652. qu.

Anti-paedob. or the second part of a full review and dispute concerning Infant baptisme, &c. against the Writings of St. Marshall, Dr. Nath. Homes, Dr. Daniel Featley, Dr. H. Hammond, Th. Blake, Tho. Cobbet, Rob. Bailee, Joh. Brinsley, Cuthb. Sydenham, Tho. Fuller, &c. Lond. 1654. qu.

Anti-paedob. or, the third part; being a full review of a dispute concerning Infant-bapt. &c. against St. Marshall, Rich. Baxter, J. Geree, Th. Blake, Th. Cobbet, Dr. N. Homes, John Drew, Jos. Church, Will. Lyford, Dr. D. Featley, Jo. Brinsley, C. Sydenham, Will. Carter, Sam. Rutherford, Joh. Cragge, Dr. H. Hammond, Joh. Cotton, Th. Fuller, Jo. Stallam, Tho. Hall and others, &c. Lond. 1657. qu.

Refutatio positionis ejusd. confirmationis paedobaptismum esse licitum affirmantis ab Hen. Savage S S. Th. D. in comitiorum vesperiis Oxon. mense Jul. 1652 propositae. Lond. 1653. quart.

Plea for Anti-paedobaptists against the vanity and falshood of scribled Papers, intit. The Anabaptists anatomized and silenced, in a publick dispute at Abergavenny in Monmouthshire 5 Sept. 1653 betwixt Mr. Joh. Tombes, Joh. Cragge and Hen. Vaughan touching Infant-baptisme. Lond. 1654. qu.

Relation of a conference had between Joh. Tombes B. D. and Hen. Vaugen M. A. at Abergavenny 5 Sept. 1653, touching Infant-bapt. Lond 1656. oct.

Relation of a dispute had between Joh. Tombes B. D. Respondent, and Joh. Cragge M. A. Opponent, at Abergavenny 5 Sept. 1653, touching Infant-bapt. Lond. 1656. octav.

Animadversiones quaedam in Aphorismos Richardi Baxter de justificatione. Published by the said Baxter without the Authors knowledge, an. 1658. I never saw this book, only the mention of it made in our Authors Epist. ded. before his Animadversiones in librum Georgii Bulli.

Short Catechisme about Baptisme. Lond. 1659, in one sh. in oct.

Felo de se. Or Mr. Rich. Baxters self-destroying; manifested in 20 Arguments against Infant-baptisme, &c. Lond. 1659. qu.

A discussion of Mr. Rich. Baxters ten reasons of his practice about Infant baptisme, delivered in a serm. at Beaudley on Colos. 3.11. Lond. 1659. qu.

Romanisme discussed: or an answer to the nine first Articles of H. T. (Turbervill) his Manual of controversies. Lond. 1660. qu.

Sephersheba: or the oath-book. Being a treatise concerning swearing, &c. Lond. 1662. qu. Delivered in 20 catechistical lectures at Lemster, an. 1636.

Saints no smiters, &c. a treatise shewing the doctrine and attempts of Quinto-Monarchians or fift Monarchymen about smiting Powers to be damnable and antichristian. Lond. 1664. qu.

Theodulia: or, a just defence of hearing the sermons and other teaching of the present Ministers of the Ch. of England, against a book unjustly intit. (in Greek) A Christian testimony against them that serve the image of the beast, &c. Lond. 1667. oct.

Emanuel or God-man. A treatise wherein the doctrine of the first Nicene and Chalcedon Councils, concerning the two Nativities of Christ, is asserted against the lately vented Socinian doctrine. Lond. 1669. oct.

Animadversiones in librum Georgii Bullii, cui titulum fecit Harmonia Apostolica, &c. Lond. 1676. oct. What other things our Author Tombes hath written and published I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he died at Salisbury in sixteen hundred seventy and six,1676. and that he was buried on the 25 day of May in St. Edmunds Ch. yard there, over against the Steeple, on the north side, at a good distance: And lastly, that soon after was put over his grave a flat stone with this Inscription thereon. Here lyeth the body of Mr. John Tombes Bachelour of Divinity, a constant Preacher of Gods word, who deceased the 22 of May, an. 1676. aged 73.