THE CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE. JUNE, 1830. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE REV. WILLIAM GURNALL, FORMERLY RECTOR OF LAVENHAM, SUFFOLK; AND AUTHOR OF THE CELEBRATED 66 TREATISE, THE CHRISTIAN IN COMPLETE ARMOUR."* THE pamphlets at the foot of the page afford us an opportunity of presenting to our readers a brief notice of the celebrated Gurnall. "His praise is in all the churches," but his biography in few. A century and a half has elapsed since he laid aside his "armour" and entered into rest; but it was not till last year that any memorial of his life was presented to the public. Gurnall was a conformist; but the character and celebrity of his writings have made him the common property of the Universal Church. We feel the more desirous of recording his history in our pages, as the honour of first publishing the biography of Gurnall, was reserved for our worthy nonconforming brother of the town of Lavenham. William was the son of Thomas and Etheldrida Gurnall, of Walpole St. Peters, in the county of Norfolk; in which place it is probable that he was born, in the year 1617. The exact date of his birth, and the character of his youthful days, are unknown. He entered the university at an early age, being only in his fifteenth year. He became pensioner of Emanuel College, Cambridge, and matriculated on March 29th, 1632. He took his degree of M. A. in 1639, and subsequently became a fellow of the college. It would appear that he quitted the university when he took his degree, and was appointed to officiate in the parish church of Lavenham. In the character of assistant, or curate, he continued till 1644, when, on the death of the Rector, Dr. Copinger, and at the request of the parish, he was presented to the living by the Patron, Sir Symonds D'Ewes. This presentation was duly_confirmed by an order of the House of Commons, bearing date Dec. * A Funeral Sermon for the Rev. William Gurnall, by the Rev. William Burkitt, author of the Commentary on the New Testament. Re-published, with a Biogra phical Advertisement, by the Rev. Robert Ainslie, of Lavenham. R. Baynes, 1s. An Inquiry into the Rights of the Poor of Lavenham: together with Biographical Sketches of the most distinguished Natives and Residents of that Town. By Hugh M'Keon. 8vo. p. 136. 5s. Baldwins. An Appendix thereto, by the Rev. R. Ainslie. VOL. XII. N. s. No. 66. 20 16th, 1644. In this "order" Mr. Gurnal is justly described as a "learned, godly, and orthodox divine." It will occur to the reader, that Mr. Gurnall's induction to the living, was during the latter part of the reign of Charles the First, when presbyterianism had become the dominant religion of the land. Numerous and fierce were the religious controversies of that day. Painful and deadly were the struggles made for liberty of conscience and perfect freedom in all matters pertaining to religion. Occasional allusions to these scenes occur in the early parts of the Christian Armour. It is gratifying, however, to perceive that the eminent piety of the author would not allow him to stoop to the odious task of reviling his opponents, a measure too often adopted by the ecclesiastics of his time. It is somewhat remarkable, that in so large and multifarious a work as the " Christian in Complete Armour," and a work which was published at intervals, during the closing years of the reign of the first Charles, the whole period of the Commonwealth, and the first year of Charles II. should contain so little of the bitterness of controversy, and of the asperity of partizanship. His "love of peace, his universal charity," and his supreme anxiety for the spiritual good of his readers, undoubtedly led him to abstain, as much as possible, from all allusions which might awaken painful associations, or provoke needless and injurious controversy. As a presbyterian, Mr. Gurnall continued to minister in holy things, in the parish church of Lavenham, for eighteen years. The fatal year of 1662 at length arrived, and during its progress the notorious "Act of Uniformity" was passed. The day of trial, August 24th, was fast approaching, and now was the time when "this learned, godly, and orthodox divine," in common with his brethren, must be put to the test. He was held in great esteem by his brethren, and many were looking to his example. He, doubtless, duly considered the matter; but at length yielded, and consented to take the oath, by which he declared his previous ordination to be invalid, and promised to give his unfeigned assent and consent to all and every thing contained in the Book of Common Prayer, &c. &c. He was episcopally ordained on August 22d, only two days previously to the day of St. Bartholomew, when two thousand of his fellow-labourers quitted at once, and for ever, the bosom of the church. His appointment was re-confirmed by the Court, on the presentation of Thomas Bowes, Esq., of Bromley Hall, in Essex. It is said that several ministers, in neighbouring parishes, followed his example. His conformity excited, no doubt, the surprise of many, and gave rise to various suspicions respecting either his sincerity or his orthodoxy. These were probably unfounded, and indeed, his friend Burkitt repels the insinuations with indignant scorn. We now advert to them, only to account for the still current tradition, "that after his conformity his usefulness appeared to be at an end." Such traditions are related of other eminent men, but whether they can be justified by facts, we will not pretend to determine. We can conceive it possible, that where conformity was yielded from prudential reasons, rather than from conscientious motives, such a retribution might be experienced; and we greatly mistake, if the records of ecclesiastical biography do not present us with some instances of that kind. It possessed but delicate health. To would seem that some of the titles his bodily weakness he affectingly and vestments of episcopacy were alludes in his preface to the not very congenial to Mr. Gur-"Christian in Armour." And Mr. nall's mind. He had for nearly Burkitt, in the sermon he preached twenty years been accustomed to at his funeral, says, "If censure designate himself as "The Minis- itself be able to tax him for any ter, or Pastor, of the Church at neglect, it must be in no more freLavenham," a designation which quent visiting his flock; from which he ever afterwards retained; and nothing but a weak body kept as, during his presbyterian pastor- him, not from a proud or unwilling ship, he had never worn a surplice, mind; the obstruction he met so, now, though a conformist, he with in this part of his duty, from could not bring himself to wear his tender habit of body, was that virgin robe; he, therefore, his great sorrow both living and kept a curate to discharge those dying, yet having this to comfort duties which necessarily required them, that the frailty of his body that sacerdotal habiliment for their was his affliction, but not his sin." due performance. An anecdote is related respecting his conformity, which may be inserted in this place. He completed and published his last volume of the Christian Armour in the year 1662, a copy of which he presented to Lady Mary Vere, for whom he afterwards preached and published a funeral sermon. Her Ladyship politely acknowledged the gift, and expressed her approbation of the work; adding, however, in allusion to his conformity, that the "Armour" needed only one thing, and that was proving. Mr. Gurnall, in the year fol. lowing his first presentation to the Rectory of Lavenham, married the daughter of the Rev. Thomas Mott, of Stoke by Nayland. He is described by Calamy as "a valuable man." Twelve children were the fruit of this marriage. Mrs. Gurnall survived her husband nineteen years. Several of his daughters were subsequently married to clergymen. One of his sons, John, became a minister in the Establishment. Of his family little is now known, and it is not improbable that it is nearly, if not altogether, extinct. Mr. Gurnall appears to have Of his last days no particulars are recorded. His death was easy, and is thus described by his friend Mr. Burkitt. "Like Moses he was faithful in all God's house while he lived, and not unlike him at his death; his meek soul gliding from him in a fine imperceptible vehicle. And his dying, as the modern Jews by tradition tell us as Moses did, "Ad nutum Dei et osculo oris ejus," at God's beck, and as it were with a kiss of his mouth. It was no more betwixt God and them but this, Go up and die." He died on the 12th of October, 1679, and was interred at Lavenham; but no stone marks the place of his sepulture, or records a memorial of his worth. He, though dead, yet speaketh." He lives in his works, and they form a far more valuable and lasting monument of his excellence than mere perishing marble. 66 66 As a Christian he excelled in every grace. Humility was a prominent feature in his character. He formed a very lowly estimate of himself. Oh, what mean thoughts had he of himself! and was not only content, but desirous also, that others should have so too. Every thing in others that was good he admired as excellent, bours, had the whole of his time while the same or better in him- divided amongst them and deself, he thought not unworthily voted to them." Indolence he contemned; his eyes were full of abhorred. his own deficiencies, and of other's perfections. Humility was the garment which covered all his excellent accomplishments; although, indeed, their beauty was rendered more conspicuous and amiable by casting this veil over them." His love to God and the Redeemer was ardent and intense; "this was such a seraphic and divine fire in his soul, as did marvellously consume his love to the world and sublunary comforts." Under the influence of this heavenly affection, he esteemed all who bore the image of Christ, whether of his communion or not. "How often did he publicly deplore and bewail, that the greatest measure of love that was found this day amongst the professors of the cross, was not true Christian love, but only love of a party." His love, however, was too generous and catholic to be confined within so narrow limits. His liberality to the poor formed no small part of his excellence. "His alms were as exuberant as his love; misery and want, whereever he met them, did sufficiently endear their objects to him." Daily were the emanations of his bounty; he cast the seeds of his charity upon all sorts of ground, but sowed them the thickest upon God's enclosure." He was, in fact, "universally good in all stations, and loved religion in every capacity." As a minister he was truly orthodox in his sentiments, and unwearied in his labours. Impelled by love to souls, "he was indefatigable both in his study and in the pulpit; from hence it was that the throne of grace, his study, the pulpit, and his sick neigh His chief recreation was variety of employment, "for beside those portions of time which the necessities of nature, and of civil life extorted from him, there was not a minute of the day which he left vacant. His whole time, strength, and parts were piously devoted to God and his sacred service." He was in the constant habit of preaching series of discourses on particular subjects, from some particular verses. His "Christian in Complete Armour" was preached to his congregation before it was published, and may serve as a specimen of his customary mode of lecturing. His life was an honour to his profession, Distinguished by the gentler virtues of Christianity, he was esteemed and beloved by the people of his charge. His death was felt us a severe loss by the town and neighbourhood. Loud were the lamentations uttered at his departure. But, as Mr. Bur kitt justly and pathetically remarks at the close of his discourse, it would "be below the merits of his person, as well as the great ness of our loss, to celebrate his death in womanish complaints, or, indeed, by any verbal lamentations; nor can any thing be seen in his memory, but what is sacred, and divine as his writings are." And we shall conclude our sketch, with Burkitt's closing sentence. May his just fame from them (his works) and from his virtues, be precious to all succeeding ages; and when elegies committed to the trust of marble, shall be as illegible as if they had been writ in water, when all stately pyramids shall be dissolved in dust, and all the venerable monuments of antiquity be devoured by the corroding teeth of time, then let Besides the "Christian in Armour," a work universally read and admired, and by which his fame, as a theological writer, will be long perpetuated, he published two separate discourses, one in 1656, entitled "The Magistrate's Portraiture," and preached at Stowmarket previous to the county election; the other in 1671, entitled "The Christian's Labour and Reward," and preached on occasion of the death of Lady Mary Vere, of Castle Hedingham, Essex. It is stated in Watts's Bibliothecæ, that he published a 4to. volume of Sermons in But of the correctness of this statement, there is, at present, some doubt. Perhaps some of our antiquarian literary friends will be able to decide the question, by furnishing a description of the volume, if it be in existence. 1660. We are tempted to trespass a few moments longer on the patience of our readers, by a few lines on the religious history of Lavenham, from the death of Gurnall to the present time. Gurnall died in 1679, and it is to be feared he had no evangelical successor. His faithful, fervent, and energetic mode of preaching, prepared the way, therefore, for the establishment of a separate congregation, if such preaching should not be continued in the church. No record, however, is preserved of the effects produced immediately by his death. A Baptist church was in exist ence in the town in 1692, only thirteen years after his death, of which Mr. Tredwell was the pastor. Against these Anabaptists, as they were then called, Burkitt, whose living was in the neigh 2 bourhood, proceeded in a violent and indecorous manner. He personally interrupted them in their worship; circulated a calumnious report respecting their mode of baptizing; and published a volume, entitled "An Argumentative and Practical Discourse of Infant Baptism," in refutation of their principles. To this calumny, and this work, a reply was written and published by Benjamin Keach, of metaphorical celebrity, entitled "The Rector Rectified and Corrected, or Infant Baptism unlawful." Of the history and fate of this Baptist church nothing is known, excepting that it soon became extinct. In 1697, a barn was prepared, and opened for public worship by the Independents. A church was soon formed, of which, it appears, that Mr. Wood, the uncle and tutor of Dr.., Samuel Wood, of Norwich, was the first pastor. He continued amongst them, it is conjectured, till his death, which occurred about 1730, The next fifty years witnessed a rapid succession of pastors over this little church. The following are some of the names which have been preserved from oblivion; the Rev. Messrs. Hall, Waile, Malyn, Pickersgill, Ridgway, Darby, Bocken, Duncan, and Jones. The Rev. Mr. Hickman settled there in 1782, and left the town to settle in America in 1796. He was shortly afterwards succeeded by his relative, the Rev. Thomas Hickman, who continued till 1825, when he relinquished his charge, and was succeeded by the present minister, the Rev. Robert Ainslie. He commenced his labours there on January 1, 1826. Since Mr. Ainslie's residence at Lavenham, the old meeting, which was in a very dilapidated state, has been de serted, and a new and elegant meeting-house erected. The ground |