Josias Nichols

Josias Nichols was a worthy minister of the gospel, an humble servant of Christ, and a man of distinguished eminence in his day. Certain writers in defence of the church and its ceremonies, having charged the puritans with being as factious, seditious, and as great enemies to the queen, as the papists; Mr. Nichols, in answer to these malicious imputations, published n book, entitled " A Plea for the Innocent; or, a Defence of the Puritans," 1002. Tho author proves that the charges against the puritans were malicious and false. He fully answers all the calumnies and slanders cast upon them, and, with great impartiality, blames both parties in those things wherein they were culpable. The book is written with great modesty, humility, and temper, and with great reverence of the bishops; in soft and gentle language, with good strength of argument, liveliness of affection, and a deep sense of the common danger then threalening both the church and the state.+ In this work, he observes, in defence of himself and his brethren, " We subscribe willingly to the book of articles, according to the statute in that behalf provided: viz. to those articles which only concern the confession of the true faith, and the doctrine of the sacraments, as the statute expressly commandeth and limitcth."t Mr. Nichols subscribed the " Book of Discipline.''^