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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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i 6 g 2 i when on Jan . 6 th , he died , his tomb-stone says in his 59 th year , his funeral sermon says in his 6 3 d . His courage and spirits returned before his death , and he departed with great joy , uttering these words , 4 * For I know that if my earthly house of this tabernacle b * : dissolved , I have a building of God an house not made with hands ,
eternal in the heavens . * ' 2 Cor . v . 1 . Mr . Hoi reft seems to have been one of r ' * uncommon men in " whom the exct-iii licies of several men centered . H » s learning was enough to have gained him an ample reputation ; but his comp rehensive knowledge of the gospel of Christ was his greatest glory . His
preaching was less methodical ^ than that of his cotemporaries ; but then it was more useful . i : It appeared to me , " ( says Mr . Milway in his funeral sermon ) " truly apostolical , primitive , and divine . " His words were sharp arrows in the people ' s hearts ; they had a quick
penetrating power and efficacy , so that his converts were very numerous . He % vas so indefatigable in his labours that he preached perpetually : there is scarcely a village ab ® ut Cambridge , but some old person can shew you the barn where Holcroft preached . He had a lion-like courage , tempered with the
most winning affability in his whole deportment . His doctrines were moderate Calvinism , and he had a great zeal for nonconformity , though a greater still for true piety , which he revered even in his enemies ; if indeed any such could be enemies to so good a man . louring the twelve years of his
imprisonment in Cambridge castle , he was of the most cheerful disposition ; and though in the latter part o £ his life his spirits failed , yet all his conversation was heavenly and useful . He died at Triplow * ; his funeral sermon was preached at Cambridge , by Mr . Milway of Bury ,
from Zcch . i . 5 , 6 , and Was afterwards printed with a preface , by Messrs * Taylor and ti u ^ scy , and with two copies of verses on his death , and also an epitaph by Mr . Haw or th . Mr . Ho [ cr 6 ft \^ ft ( nn estate in the Isle of Ely ( at Sufctori ) to the poor of his chiirch , f and also a piece
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of ground at Oalungton to bury in , and there himself was buried , and a tomb erected to his memory . Several of Mr . Holcroft ' s congregations , who did not chuse to embody
separately during his life , thought themselves now called in providence to imitate their brethren , and to form themselves also into churches ; especially as several ejected ministers had lately died , and others were too far advanced in
years to supply them much longer . Bradshaw , ( who had been ejected from Willingham , and from his senior fellowship in Trinity College ^ and who had since preached at Childerly , Willingham , Cottenham , & c , ) died at St . lyes , i 69 O , » tat . 71 . Scandcret was advancing towards 70 ; and others were hastening home . Accordingly in the year i 6 oz ,
the Baptist congregation at Wesbich built a meeting and settled a minister . In 16 94 , the Independants at Cottenham and Willingham embodied themselves and settled young Mr . O & land ; and in the same year the congregation at Croyden , since at Gransden , settled ; as did also Chishill and JVlelbourn .
Keedingworth , Guyhorn , & c . Several of these churches subsist still , aad some of them are dissolved or united to other churches ; but almost all contend for the honour of having Holcroft for their first pastor . In fact he vras pastor of all , and exercised that office over all till the Toleration Act took place , and over many till his death .
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CAMBRIDGE TOWN . Puritanism , which from its first rise abounded in the University , was plentifully communicated to the town by the members of that learned body . Three things contributed chiefly to 4 o this ; first , the part that the University took in Puritanism j for they petitioned Queen
Elizabeth 1565 , against the surplice and other habiu , and they retained the privilege of licensing twelve preachers , and indulged the Puritans with those licences against all the power and influence of Archbishop Parker , who endeavoured to deprive them of their right ; and these contentions between the court and
* Triplow is eight miles from Cambridge . f This estate is enjoyed by the two congregations of Evcrtden and Gransden . It p roduces 5 or 61 r per aim . The present trustees [* 774 j are James Wood pi Needingworth , Deacon of iJjran s ^ en ^ and Mr . Elli s of " Haflton / Deiacon of fiarrington and Eversdeh .
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624 Protestant Dissenting Churches in Cambridgeshire
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1810, page 624, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1708/page/4/
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