Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 09.djvu/271

 Street in London,' called 'God's Waiting to be Gracious,' were by the committee for printing ordered (27 June 1642) to be issued. This volume, which was dedicated to Major-general Skippon and Richard Aldworth, esq., parishioners, abounds in that kind of oratory which had become popular. His resentment against the late episcoW government is shown to be very deep. He asserted that the Anglican church was the Babylon of Rev. xviii. 4 ; and he enumerates 'her idolatrous bowings, cringinss, altars, crosses, and ciiraed ceremonies, false worehip, false doctrine' (p. 68). Walker (Suffering, ii. 48) justly takes exception to some of his sentiments, which Calamy (Continuation, pp. 14-15) In part exciiaes. A work entitled 'Evangelium Armatum,' 4to, 1663 (, Register, pp, 743, 855), quotes some reprehensible passages from Case's sermons; others are g-iven in Zachary Grey's 'Century of Presbyterian Preachers,' 1723, 8vo (App. pp. v-vi ! and cf., Athenæ, iv. 46-7). It. is said to have been usual with Case at St, Maudlin's to invite his hearers to the Lord's table with the words, 'You that have freely and liberally contributed to the parliament for the defence of God's cause and the Gospel, draw near.' On 16 Oct, 1641-2 the House of Commons recommended him to the parishioners to be lecturer of St. Martin's-in-the-Fielda, to preach there every Sunday alVemoon and every Thursday, and Dr. William Bray, the vicar, was enjoined to give him liberty of the pulpit. Caae was connected with this church for twenty years, Se wasalso appointed lecturer at St, Mary Aldentianbury, where the Rev. Edmund Calamy the elder [q. v.] was rector. In these positions Case was a lealous advocate for the solemn league and covenant. He became one of the 'confessors' of the Long parliament, and often preached before them. Wood, after closely perusing certain of these discourses, termed him 'a great boutifieu and fire-brand in the church, and Butler in 'Hudibras' introduced him as a typical pulpit-character of the time: Whence had they all their gifted phrases, But from our Calamies and Cases?

There was a well-known peculiarity in Case's voice or manner, which Pepys, who used to bear him, has noticed (Diary, ed. Bright, i. 208). On 26 Oct. 1642 Case preached a fast-sermon before the commons, dedicated on publication to Sir William Brereton. This general was again prominently introduced iito Case's sermon before the commons on 10 Feb. 1646, concerning his capture of Chester. In this discourse the senators, the d tha league and covenant, are told what some had affirmed, that there were no less than one hundred and eighty several heresies propagated in London, insomuch that the errors and innovations under which they had lately groaned were but tolerabiles ineptiæ compared with those damnable doctrines (pp. 24-5; cf., Commonplace Book, iii. 64; Patrick's Works, ed. Taylor, t. 444). Case had meanwhile become a member of the assembly of divines, and he took a prominent part in their discussions. On 8 Jan. 1644-5 he was one of those who petitioned for arrears of pay as members of the assembly. He favoured the establishment of presbyterianism (, Seal Examined, vol. ii, App, p. 89). His occasional abode in Lancashire, or at any rate his continued interest in that county, is shown by the fact that to his hands and to those of the Rev. Charles Herle of Winwick were entrusted the charitable collections for those distressed by famine and war in the district, September 1644. That a change in the course of years came over the political views of Case is shown by suggestive feets. In 1648 he begged to be excused from preaching before the commons when asked at their July fast. In the game year he subscribed the paper declaring against the proceedings of the parliament and the brinpne of the king to trial. Through refusing in 1649 the 'engagement' 'to be true and faithful to the government established without a king or house of peers,' he lost his place at Milk Street, and Anthony Faringdon succeeded him. In 1661, when the prince and the Scots were preparing to amrcn through Lancashire, to the gratification of Case's friends there. Case was preaching against the proceedings of the parliament, and deeply implicating himself with the presbyterians in the London conspiracy for the restoration of the prince, known as Love's plot. On 10 May the privy council committed him close prisoner to the Tower under a charge of high treason, and his property was sequestrated. He was imprisoned for over six months, and his wife obtained permission to lodge with him. On 30 Sept. He and Heyrick (who had I also been concerned in the plot with other Lancashire ministers) were ordered to be brought to trial; but in the following month he addressed a petition to the parliament which was deemed sufficiently submissive, and they were pardoned under the great seal, the speaker's warrant for their discharge being dated 16 Oct. During his imprisonment Case penned some appropriate thoughts which he preached at first in the course of his ministry at Aldermanbury, and afterwards published in 1653 under the title of 'Correction