Memoirs of the Puritans
William Carter
The life and death of Mr. William
Carter.
WILLIAM CARTER.
THIS laborious divine
was born in 1605S and educated in the university of Cambridge; after
leaving which, he became preacher in London, where he was exceeding
popular. In 1643 he was appointed licenser of the press, and, during the
same year, chosen one of the assembly of divines, where he was a
constant attendant. After some time he joined with the independents, and
was one of the dissenting brethren in the assembly, where he discovered
much learning and moderation in supporting their particular opinions. In
1654 he was appointed one of the triers of public preachers; in which
capacity Dr. Walker has attempted to lessen his reputation as well as
that of other very learned and otherwise worthy divines. He had frequent
offers of preferment, but, dissatisfied with the parochial discipline of
these times, he declined accepting any of them. He was, nevertheless,
indefatigable in his ministerial labors, preaching twice every Sabbath
to two large congregations in the city, beside weekly lectures, and
other occasional services. He was one of the preachers before the
parliament; and his incessant and arduous exertions wasted his strength,
and hastened his death. He died about the month of June 1658, aged
fifty-three years. He was a good scholar, an admired preacher, and a man
of most exemplary piety. His pious and compassionate soul mourned over
the vast numbers of those thoughtless persons who had no concern for
themselves and he longed and labored to spread, the knowledge of God and
religion amongst them till the end of his life. His relations, by
purchasing bishops' lands, became great sufferers after the restoration,
when prelacy came to be reestablished; but he himself did not live to
see the evil that came upon either his relatives or the nation at large.
He was author of a
Sermon, entitled Israel's Peace with God Benjamin's Overthrow, preached
before the Commons, July 27th, 1642; and another, entitled Light, in
Darkness, preached also before the House of Commons, November 24th,
1647. |
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