Christ"s College.
lieutenant is believed he was of Christ"s College, Cambridge at the University of Cambridge, where he proceeded Master of Arts According to the Dictionary of National, he is described "by one not given to laudation" as having been ‘a hard student, a good scholar,’ and it is added he was ‘an excellent preacher, a grave and pious divine, and a man of a most humble, heavenly, and courteous behaviour, full of sweet christian love to all.’ Nonetheless was he exposed to the politico-religious persecutions of the times. Being ‘settled’ at Ipswich, he came under the ban of Bishop Wren. He voluntarily left his ‘cure’ and removed to London, rather than be contentious.
To America
Nine Positions
This in turn was replied to by John Ball on behalf of the English divines, and to this finally a very able and pungent answer was given by Allen along with Thomas Shepard, entitled ‘A Defence of the Nine Positions.’
Allen was foremost in the fray, and published a vigorous ‘Defence of the Synod held at Boston in the year 1662.’ He was likewise associated with Shepard in a treatise on ‘Church Reformation.’
Limitation of colonial allegiance
But Allen was more than a pastor and preacher.
Though of rare patience and peacefulness, he could take a stand when called to lieutenant Necessity was laid on him to do so very strongly and peremptorily.
In 1646 an attempt which was made to bring the colonists into subjection to the British parliament produced passionate resistance. Allen was chosen to be the ‘voice’ of the colony, and he submitted a statesmanlike paper in ‘a manly and decided tone,’ marking the just limitations of colonial allegiance and imperial rights, and fully sustaining the colonists.
Personal life
He was twice married.
He left three sons, and all over the United States to-day families are found to trace their descent from him. He died on 26 August 1671. His bereaved congregation published his last two sermons: the one from Song of Solomon viii.
5, and the other from Saint John xiv.
22. In their preface the editors denominate him ‘a constant, faithful, diligent steward in the house of God, a man of peace and truth, and a burning and shining light.’ These two sermons were some years since reprinted in a memorial volume, entitled The Dedham Pulpit.