Dr. Colman preached a funeral sermon upon Mr. Brattle, which may be read as a most beautiful eulogy from the hand of a wise and judicious friend.

Mr. Brattle published a compendium of logick, "secundum principia D. Renati cartesii plerumque efformatum, et cate chistice propositum." This passed through several editions. It was studied in college till the year 1765, and is now valued by men of learning as an excellent compendious system; but is found only among rare and curious books.

BREWSTER WILLIAM, a distinguished character among the first planters, was born, 1560. He was educated at the university of Cambridge. When queen Elizabeth made a league with the states of Holland, she sent Davison, as her ambassador, who carried Mr. Brewster with him, as his secretary, in whom he placed the greatest confidence, and who gained the esteem of that people. The keys of Flushing were committed to him while the negotiation was pending, and when the business was finished, he received from the states a golden chain, as a reward of merit. The ambassador was afterwards disgraced, owing to the capricious humour of his mistress, who always laid her own faults upon her courtiers. His faithful secretary adhered to him, like the true friend, in the time of adversity. The same integrity Mr. B. manifested in all his affairs, and through all the changing scenes of life; for his pious zeal operated upon the virtuous affections of his soul. He was so highly respected in the church of Leyden, as to be chosen their ruling elder; and he acted like a shepherd in leading the flock through the paths of the wilderness. He would not accept the office of pastor, but preached to the people who came over with him to Plymouth, and performed most part of a minister's duty. The church were benefitted by his labours, and would have been happy if he had consented to administer the ordinances, for he was wise, learned and prudent. By his influence he might have prevented those disorders

which sprang from the gifted brethren, who, were apt to speak; and from those ignorant or designing men, who took upon themselves the pastoral office.

Elder Brewster was as bold in defending the plantation against the Indians, as he was meek and humble when diffusing the light of truth, or describ. ing the offices of love. He lived to be 84 years old, and his usefulness increased with his years. He was able to work in the field and preach to the people till he was called out of the world, April 16, 1644. Morton, Prince, Belknap.

BRIDGE THOMAS, pastor of the old or first church, was born at Hackney, in England, 1657; had a liberal education, and, as a man of business, travelled over different parts of Europe; and from being a merchant of integrity and honour, he be came a pious and useful minister of religion. From the Mediterranean sea he made a voyage to the West Indies. He first preached at Jamaica; from that island he went to New Providence, and while he resided there was the principal man in the place. Thence he proceeded to Bermuda, and was remark. ably assiduous in a time of pestilence and great mortality. It is said he preached twenty nine times in one month. His first place of residence in North America was West Jersey, and he came to Boston about the year 1705. He was ordained in May, of the same year, being invited to the pastoral care of a flock, whose famous predecessors were to be succeeded. "The light was now fixed in a candlestick," according to the language of Cotton Mather, and shone for eleven years together, some of the rays of which we have in his printed composition." He died, Sept. 26, 1715, aged 58.

He has been thus characterised by a writer more elegant, though less learned, than Dr. Mather, as a man upright and conscientious, meek, mild, quiet, gentle; not the brightest and most active of his brethren, but a goodly speaker; his gravity and composure were neither frigid, nor austere; prayer

was his gift, the bible was his library.* Colman's funeral sermon.

BUCKMINSTER JOSEPH, minister of the church in Rutland, was educated at Harvard College. He received the honours of the seminary, 1739; was ordained at Rutland, 1742; and continued a faithful and laborious pastor of that church above 50 years. He was highly respected by the neighbouring clergy, for his piety and usefulness, and as much esteemed by his flock. He was in principle a sublapsarian Calvinist. In defence of these sentiments he engaged in a controversy, and his writings discover solidity and strength of mind, attention to theology, and an ardent desire that all men should believe what he supposed the doctrines of the scriptures. In 1719, Mr. Foster, of Stafford, printed a sermon, in which he held forth a twofold justification; and, "a remedial law, or law of grace, whose precepts are brought down to a level with the fallen sinner's abilities;" according to which they are able to do well, and so ensure their future felicity. This was judged a heretical sentiment by the ministers in Worcester county, and Mr. B. printed a pamphlet on Rom. x. 4, which is an answer to Mr. Foster, and for which he received a vote of thanks from the association, signed by Nathan Fisk, scribe. Mr. F. replied, and several pamphlets were written.

Mr. Buckminster also published dissertations upon gospel salvation, Ephes. ii. 9, 10, 11. In these he holds the doctrine of election against the Arminians; but on the other hand in opposition to the supralapsarians, he says, The decrees have no di. rect positive influence upon us. We are determined by motives, but act freely and voluntarily. They lie in the foundation of the divine proceedings, and compose his plan of operation. They infer the certain futurition of things, but have no influence ab

His printed discourses are, 1. The mind at ease. 2. What faith can do. 3. Jethro's counsel. 4. A sermon to the artillery company.

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extra to bring them to pass. Whom God chooses, he calls; yet choosing is one thing, and calling another," &c. And although Mr. B. allows "no promises of special favours to the unregenerate ;" yet he will grant "that encouragements are given as grounds of hope; and which carry the nature of a promise."

Mr. B. died in the 73d year of his age, Nov. 27, 1792.* He left a son in the ministry, rev. J. Buckminster, D. D. of Portsmouth, whose son, the rev. J. S. Buckminster, is minister of the church in Brattle street, Boston.

BULKLEY PETER, the first minister of Concord, Massachusetts, was the son of Edward Bulkley, D. D. an eminent minister in Bedfordshire, whose name is mentioned with respect in the book of the martyrs. At the age of sixteen years he was admitted a member of St. John's college, Cambridge, and while he was junior bachelor, was chosen fellow; and then proceeded bachelor of divinity. He came to New England, 1635; resided at Cambridge some months, and then preferred a place in the more interior part of the country. The spot was pleasant, and from being one of the towns of the first planters, has since become one of the most flourishing in the county of Middlesex. It still bears the name of Concord, which he gave it; and the twelfth church was gathered here, which had been founded in the colony. He possessed a handsome estate; and it is also reported of him that he gave away a number of farms to several persons who became good husbandmen. Some of them had been his servants, and became respectable men among the yeomanry. Dr. Mather says he was a most excellent scholar, a per. son of extensive reading, who gave advice to young students. He was also a benefactor to Harvard

His publications are, an ordination sermon, a sermon upon family religion, paraphrase on Rom. x. 4, dissertations on Ephes. ii. 9, 10, 11, and a sermon upon the covenant made with Abra ham, &c.

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College at the beginning of that literary institution. Having a handsome library of his own, he endowed the publick library at Cambridge with a considerable part of it. He was a man of hasty spirit, and quick at shewing resentment; disposed likewise to make severe remarks in his sermons: was one of the strictest of the puritans, and had given offence on this account to some of the moderate party in the old country, as well as to the enemies of the dissenting interest.

During his ministry the pastor and ruling elder had a dispute, and it ended in requiring the elder to abdicate his seat. They called an ecclesiastical council, and this was the advice. The improvement he made of this unhappy contention may be profitable to ministers in other places, some of whom meet with trials from false brethren; or those who are wise in their own conceit. Mr Bulkley learned from it, to "know more of God, more of himself, and more of men."

This worthy man died, A. D. 1658, aged 77. He was an author of uncommon reputation, and wrote handsomely in Latin or English. The first settlers of Massachusetts were in general excellent latin scholars, and many of them made a figure in the universities of Europe. It seems Mr. Bulkley was a poet; he wrote poems when he was above 72, which have been praised by scholars of the next age.* The year before he died he composed the following epigram,

Pigra senectutis jam venit inutilis etas,

Nil aliud nunc sum quam fere pondus iners.

He printed several books; one upon the covenant; several sermons upon Zec. ix. 11. Concerning these, Mr. Shepherd of Cam"bridge, says, The church of God is bound to bless God, for the holy, judicious and learned labours of this aged servant of Christ, who has taken pains to discover, and that, not in words and allegories, but in demonstration and evidence of spirit, the great mystery of godliness wrapt up in the covenant.