John Beverly

John Beverly was fellow of Trinity college, Cambridge, where he most probably received his education. Towards the close of life he settled at Rowell in Northamptonshire; where, by his pious and useful labours, he gathered a church according to the model of the independents. Having been instrumental in the conversion' of about thirty persons, he united them irl church fellowship, upon congregational principles, when they entered into a covenant to walk' with each other in the order of the gospel. The tenor of their covenant was, " To walk together with God, in gospel faith and order, as a particular church, iri the performance of all duties towards God, towards each other, and towards'aR men, in the strength of the spirit of Christ, and according to his word." They chose Mr. Beverly their pastor, two elders, and two deacons. This was in the year 1656. Under Mr. Beverly's ministry, many of the inhabitants of the town were awakened and received into the church. But his excellent and useful labours were nrtf long' continued among them after the above period; for' he died in the month of June, 1658. After his death, the good people who composed his church mostly attended upon the ministry of Mr. Thomas Browning of Desborough. Upon his ejection, in 1662, they invited him to the' office of pastor, and he continued with them to the day of his death. This church is still in existence, and in rather a flourishing state, under the pastoral care of Mr. John Wood. Mr. Beverly was author of several pieces on church government: as," The Grand Point of Church Matters."—A Tract against Hornbeck de 1ndepentismo, in Latin.—And a piece against free Admission, opposed to the Contradictions of Timson, published in 1659.'

* Wood's Athens Oxoo. Toi. ii. 9.149.