Memoirs of the Puritans
The life and death of Mr. 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.
