Wadsworth, Thomas

, an eminent nonconformist, was born in St. Saviour’s, Southwark, in 1630, and educated in Christ’s college, Cambridge, where he was under the tuition of Dr. Owtram, a tutor of eminence. In 1652 he was appointed minister of Newington Butts, where he not only spent his time, but a great part of his fortune in works of piety and charity. He distributed Bibles among the poor, and constantly visited his parishioners, and instructed them from house to house. There was a singular circumstance, very creditable to him in this appointment to St. Mary’s Newington. Our readers perhaps need not be told that at this- time the elections to churches were popular; and it so happened that the parishioners were divided into two parties, each of which, unknown to the other, presented its petition at Westminster to the committee who determined | church preferments; and when these petitions were opened, they were found to be both in favour of Mr. Wadsworth. He also lectured occasionally in various city churches, and at last was chosen to the living of St. Lawrence Pountney, whence he was ejected at the restoration. He afterwards preached privately at Newington, Theobalds, and Southwark. He received nothing Tor his labours, but was content to spend and be spent in his great master’s service. His diary, printed at the end of his life, contains the strongest proofs of his being an excellent Christian; and it is no less evident, says Granger, from his practical works, that he strove to make others as good Christians as himself. He died of the stone, the 29th of October, 1676, aged forty-six. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Bragge. He published various pious treatises, enumerated by Calamy, few of which have descended to our times. ¹