many a parallel in those times, no doubt occurred.  “On the 12th of Oct., 1653,” says the author of the Athenae.,[25] “he (i.e. William Erbury) with John Webster, sometimes a Cambridge scholar, endeavoured to knock down learning and the ministry both together, in a disputation that they then had against two ministers in a church in Lombard-street, in London.  Erbury then declared that the wisest ministers and purest churches were at that time befool’d, confounded, and defil’d, by reason of learning.  Another while he said, that the ministry were monsters, beasts, asses, greedy dogs, false prophets; and that they are the Beast with seven heads and ten horns.  The same person also spoke out and said that Babylon is the Church in her ministers, and that the Great Whore is the Church in her worship, &c.; so that with him there was an end of ministers and churches and ordinations altogether.  While these things were babbled to and fro, the multitude being of various opinions, began to mutter, and many to cry out, and immediately it came to a meeting or tumult, (call it which you please,) wherein the women bore away the Bell, but lost some of them their kerchiefs:  and the dispute being hot, there was more danger of pulling down the church than the ministry."[26]

[Footnote 23:  “Poems, by the Rev. R. Parkinson, Canon of Manchester,” 1845, 12mo. (Hunter’s Song.) A most pleasing volume of a very accomplished author.  Long may he survive to add honours to the ancient stock of which he has given so interesting an account, by well-earned trophies gathered from the fair fields of literature and theology, and by a most exemplary discharge of the appropriate duties of his own sacred profession.]

[Footnote 24:  “The Saints’ Guide, or Christ the Rule and Ruler of Saints.  Manifested by way of Positions, Consectaries, and Queries.  Wherein is contained the Efficacy of Acquired Knowledge; the Rule of Christians; the Mission and Maintenance of Ministers; and the Power of Magistrates in Spiritual Things.  By John Webster, late Chaplain in the Army.” London, 1653, 4to.

“The Judgement Set, and the Bookes Opened.  Religion Tried whether it be of God or of men.  The Lord cometh to visit his own, For the time is come that Judgement must begin at the House of God.

{ The Sheep from the Goats,
To separate { and
{ The Precious from the Vile.

And to discover the Blasphemy of those that say,

{ Apostles, }           { Found Lyars,
{ Teachers, }           { Deceivers,
They are { Alive,    } but are { Dead,
{ Rich,     }           { Poore, blind, naked,
{ Jewes,    }           { The Synagogue of Satan.

In severall Sermons at Alhallows Lumbard-street, By John Webster, A servant of Christ and his Church.  Micah 3. 5. &c.  Thus saith the Lord, concerning