Memoirs of the Puritans
The life and death of Mr. Daniel Cawdrey.
MR. CAWDREY was the son of Robert Cawdrey, a nonconforming minister, who, being deprived, had a hard struggle with the bishops, and suffered great injustice from these domineering ecclesiastics. His whole case was published to the world, much to the discredit of those concerned in these intolerant acts of spiritual tyranny. Daniel was the youngest of many sons. He was educated at Peter’s House, in the university of Cambridge. We have to regret the want of information respecting the particulars of this divine’s life. It is known, however, he was a distinguished minister of Christ in his time. From the title page of his sermons, which are entitled, Humility the Saint’s Livery, it appears that, in 1624, he was minister of Little Illford, in the county of Essex. He was afterward settled at Great Billing in Northamptonshire. Dr. Calamy says, “He was a man of great consideration, eminently learned, and a noted member of the assembly of divines. He preached sometimes to the members of parliament; and, on one occasion, attacked these seminaries of irreligion, stage plays, with uncommon severity. Amongst many other things on this subject, he said, “Among open scorners and revilers of religion, you may reckon your stage players, who have already scoffed religion out of countenance with thousands; you have done well to put them down, and shall do better if you keep them so.”
Mr. Cawdrey was ejected from his living at Great Billing, and separated from his friends and his flock, by the act of uniformity, after having labored, for the edification of his people in that place, for thirty-six or thirty-seven years. From this place he removed into Wellingborough, where he had a daughter married, with whom he abode till his death; receiving all who came to him, and encouraging them to prosecute their journey heavenward, and not to deviate from the narrow path of purity and holiness of life; assuring them that their pilgrimage would then be pleasant, and the end of their journey inconceivably glorious. He died in 1664, aged almost seventy-six years.
His works are, 1. Humility the Saints’ Livery.—2. An Assize Sermon at Northampton.—3. Superstitio Superstes.—4. The Good Man a Public Good.—5. Vindicse Clavium, or a Vindication of the Keys in the hands of the right Owners.— 6. Sabhatum Redivivum.—7. A Diatribe, against Dr. Hammond on Superstition and Festivals.—8. A Vindication of the same. —9. A sober Answer to a serious Question against Mr. Freman. —10. A Sermon at St. Paul’s.—11. Self-examination.—12. Family Reformation Promoted.—13. Church Reformation Promoted.—14. Bowing to, or towards, the Communion Table, superstitious.—15. An Essay against Usury.—16. The grand Case, with Reference to the New Conformity.
