Christopher Feake

Christopher Feake was first a minister in the established church, afterwards he joined the brethren of the separation, espoused the sentiments of the baptists, became a fifth monarchy-man, and was exceedingly zealous in the cause. Edwards, who styles him a great sectary, gives the

• Clark's Lives, p. 823.

♦ Gn-y's Examination, rot. ii. p. 298, 299. J Wood's Athena? Oxon. vol. ii. p. 748.

S Clark's Lives, p. 336—338. | Wltklns on Preaching, p. 82, 83.

following curious and amusing account of him: "This Master Feake, within this twelvemonth, was preacher in London, and hath preached many strange and odd things at Peter's in Cornhill, besides Wool-church, and other places: as, for separation from our assemblies, expressing many heterodox things about mixed communion at the Lord's ■upper, against maintenance of ministers by tithes; and, in sermons and prayers, hath bad many flings at the assembly; but now is preacher in the town of Hertford, and in All-saints, the greatest parish and church of that town, being put into a sequestrated living by the power of some of the independents. As for his carriage at Hertford, where he hath preached since last January, it hath been as follows: His preaching and praying shews him to be no friend to the assembly, nor to the directory; he hath never used the Lord's prayer since he went thither, but hath preached against the use of it as a prayer. It is observed of him by understanding men, his auditors, that they never heard him appoint or sing a psalm; he reads but one chapter, or a piece of a chapter, and hath not baptized any since his going. One of the committee, a justice of peace, put up some articles against him at the assizes at Hertford, to both judges then on the bench. The first was this, 'That God would destroy not only unlawful government, but lawful government, not only the abuse, but the use of it; and as he had begun to destroy it in England, so would he, by raising combustions in the bowels of France and Spain; and that he would destroy aristocracy in Holland, for tolerating armiuianism.' When he denied the words, one being present and asked, affirmed him to have preached thus; and there are found four others, understanding men and of good worth, who will testify the same. When Master Feake explained himself before the judges, that there was in monarchy and aristocracy an enmity against Christ, which he would destroy; and as he was preaching, some turbulent fellows and sectaries clambered up by the bench, and cried out, 'My lord, my lord, Mr. Pr. doth it in malice: we will maintain our minister with our blood.' Whereupon the judge threw away the paper, and said he would hear no more of it, though he had before commanded Master Eldred to read openly all those heterodoxies. The Lord's day following Muster Feake in the pulpit endeavoured to answer all the articles put up against him to the judges, iu a great auditory."*

'• Edward.'e Gangrana, part iii. p. 81, 147, 148.

Upon the sequestration of Mr. William Jcnkin he became minister of Christ's church, Loudon,* • aud afterwards oue of the'lecturers at Blackfriars; but was most violent against Cromwell's government. He is denominated a bold and crafty orator, of high reputation among the anabaptists. He preached with great bitterness against the civil administration during the commonwealth, but especially against the protector, calling him "the man of sin, the old dragon, and the most dissembling and perjured villain in the world;" and desired, that if any of his friends were present, they would go and tell him what he said.t The protector, therefore, to support his own authority, ordered him to be taken into custody. He was apprehended in the year 16.33, when he was carried before Cromwell and the council, and committed prisoner to Windsor-castle.J '1 he baptists, disliking the proceedings of government, protested against them m a work entitled, " A Declaration of several of the Churches of Christ, and godly people in and about the city of London, concerning the kingly interest of Christ, and the present sufferings of his cause and saints in England,'" lt>54. In this piece they declare, "That they value the churches of Christ, which are the lot of God's inheritance, a thousand times bevond their own lives; that it is their duty to persevere therein to the utmost hazard of their lives; that the Lord made them instruments to vex all in his sore displeasure, who take counsel against Christ, whom the Lord hath anointed and decreed king; and that they were not merely the servants of man; and that they not only proclaimed Jesus Christ to be king, but that they would submit to him aloue upon his own terms, and admit him only to the exercise of his royal authority." This declaration was subscribed by a great number of persons; ten of whom are said to be "of the church that walks with Mr. Feake, now close prisoner for this cause of Christ, at W indsor-castle."$ He remained under confinement several years; was in prison in 1655; but enjoyed his liberty in 1657 II These tribulations did not cause him to desist from his public labours. For he was no sooner released from prison than he renewed his ministerial exercise, and was preacher in the city, most probably at various places, in the year 1G58 ;f but when he died we are not able to learn.- He was author of several pieces, the titles of which have not come to our knowledge.

• Kcnnet's Chroniele, p. 793.

+ Thurloe's State Papers, vol. i. p. 621.

i Ibid. vol. ii. p. 67. S Declaration, p. 9, 21.

It Thurloe's Stale Papers, vol. iii. p. 485. v. 755.

S Ibid. vol. vii. p. 57.