Bates, William
, an eminent nonconformist divine of
the seventeenth century, was born in November 1625,
and after a suitable school education, was sent to Cambridge, where he was admitted of Emanuel college, from
which he removed to King’s, in 1644. He commenced
bachelor of arts in 1647, and applying himself to the study
of divinity, became a distinguished preacher among the
Presbyterians. He was afterwards appointed vicar of
St. Dunstan’s in the West, London; and joined with several other divines in preaching a morning exercise at Cripplegate church. At this exercise Dr. Tillotson preached,
in September 1661, the first sermon which was ever
printed by him. Upon the restoration of Charles II.
Mr. Bates was made one of his majesty’s chaplains; and,
in the November following, was admitted to the degree of
doctor in divinity in the university of Cambridge, by royal
mandate. The king’s letter to this purpose was dated on
the 9th of that month. About the same time, he was
offered the deanery of Lichfield and Coventry, which he
refused; and it is said that he might afterwards have been
raised to any bishopric in the kingdom, if he would have
conformed to the established church. Dr. Bates was one
of the commissioners at the Savoy conference in 1660, for
reviewing the public liturgy, and was concerned in drawing
| up the exceptions against the Common Prayer. He was,
likewise, chosen on the part of the Presbyterian minfoters,
together with Dr. Jacomb and Mr. Baxter, to manage the
dispute with Dr. Pearson, afterwards bishop of Chester,
Dr. Gunning, afterwards bishop of Ely, and Dr. Sparrow,
afterwards bishop of Ely. In 1665, he took the oath required of the nonconformists by the act commonly called
the Five Mile Act, and which had passed in the parliament
held that year at Oxford, on account of the plague being
in London.*
When, about
January 1667-8, a treaty
was proposed by sir
Orlando Bridgman, lord keeper of
the great seal, and countenanced by the lord chief baron
Hale, for a comprehension of such of the dissenters as
could be brought into the communion of the church, and
for a toleration of the rest, Dr. Bates was one of the divines
who, on the Presbyterian side, were engaged in drawing
up a scheme of the alterations and concessions desired by
that party. He was concerned, likewise, in another fruitless attempt of the same kind, which was made in 1674.
His good character recommended him to the esteem and
acquaintance of lord keeper Bridgman, lord chancellor
Finch, and his son, the earl of
Nottingham. Dr. Tillotson had such an opinion of his learning and temper, that it
became the ground of a friendship between them, which
continued to the death of that excellent prelate, and Dr.
Bates, with great liberality, used his interest with the archbishop, in procuring a pardon for Nathaniel lord
Crewe,
bishop of
Durham, who, for his conduct in the ecclesiastical commission, had been excepted out of the act of
|
indemnity, which passed in 1690. When the dissenters presented their address to king William and queen
Mary, on
their accession to the throne, the two speeches to their
majesties were delivered hy Dr. Bates, who was much respected by that monarch; and queen
Mary often entertained herself in her closet with his writings. His residence, during the latter part of his life, was at
Hackney,
where he preached to a respectable society of Protestant
dissenters, in an ancient irregular edifice in Mare-street,
which was pulled down in 1773. He was also one of the
Tuesday lecturers at Salter’s hall. He died at
Hackney,
July 14, 1699, in the 74th year of his age. After his death,
his works, which had been separately printed, were collected into one volume fol. besides which a posthumous
piece of his appeared in 8vo, containing some “
Sermons
on the everlasting rest of the Saints.” He wrote, likewise,
in conjunction with Mr. Howe, a prefatory epistle to Mr.
Chaffy’s treatise of the
Sabbath, on its being reprinted;
and another before lord Stair’s vindication of the Divine
Attributes. Dr. Bates is universally understood to have
been the politest writer among the nonconformists of the
seventeenth century. It is reported, that when his library
came to be disposed of, it was found to contain a great
number of romances; but, adds his biographer, it should
be remembered that the romances of that period, though
absurd in several respects, had a tendency to invigorate
the imagination, and abounded in heroic sentiments of honour and virtue. Dr. Bates’s works, however esteemed
about a century ago, are not among those which have been
of late years revived among the dissenters by republication.
Besides those included in the folio edition, he was the
editor of a valuable collection of lives of eminent persons,
princes, and men of rank, churchmen, and men of learning,
amounting to thirty-two, all in Latin, under the title of
“Vitse selectorum aliquot virorum qui doctrina, dignitate,
aut pietate inclaruere,” Lond. 4to, 1681. Six of them are
anonymous, and the rest are taken from very scarce tracts.
The life of B. Gilpin by Carleton, written in English, was
translated into Latin by Dr. Bates and another written in
French, translated by another person, at his request. Dr.
Bates’s name is not in the title page, but it is at the end of
the dedication to the celebrated lord Russel, and the work
is generally quoted by the title of “Batesii Vitse selects.”
| It is now, although scarce, much less valued than such a
collection deserves. 1
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Works found by this author (or others with similar names) in the Early English Books Online Collection:
Christ in the clouds coming to judgment; or The dissolution of all things. Wherein is plainly set forth the second coming of Christ to judgment. ... / Being the substance of a sermon preached by that Reverend Divine, Dr. Bates, deceased.Christ in the clouds coming to judgment by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The peace-maker, or, Two farewel-sermons preached at St. Dunstans in the West, London, August the 17th, 1662, by William Bates. (1662) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The Second and last collection of the late London ministers farewel sermons preached by Dr. Seaman, Dr. Bates, Mr. Caryll, [brace] Mr. Brooks, Mr. Venning, and Mr. Mead ; to which is added a farewell sermon preached at Dedham in Essex by Mr. Matthew Newcomen ; as also Mr. Lyes sermon at the conclusion of the last morning-exercise at All-hallows in Lumbard-street, being a summary rehearsal of the whole monthly-lectures. (1663) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates. (1674) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with the recompences of the future state for the cure of infidelity, the hectick evil of the times / by William Bates ... (1676) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The divinity of the Christian religion, proved by the evidence of reason and divine revelation by William Bates ... (1677) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
A funeral sermon preached upon the death of the reverend and excellent divine Dr. Thomas Manton who deceas'd the 18th of October 1677 / by William Bates. (1678) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
A funeral sermon preached upon the death of the Reverend and Excellent Divine Dr. Thomas Manton, who deceas'd Octob. 18, 1677 by William Bates ... ; to which is now added, the last publick sermon Dr. Manton preached. (1678) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The soveraign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it by William Bates ... (1680) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
Vitæ selectorum aliquot virorum qui doctrinâ, dignitate, aut pietate inclaruere (1681) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
One hundred and ninety sermons on the hundred and nineteenth Psalm preached by the late reverend and learned Thomas Manton, D.D. ; with a perfect alphabetical table directing to the principal matters contained therein. (1681) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
Sermons upon death and eternal judgment by William Bates. (1683) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The great duty of resignation to the divine will in afflictions enforced from the example of our suffering Saviour / by William Bates ... (1684) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The danger of prosperity discovered in several sermons upon Prov. I. 27 / by William Bates ... (1685) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
A short description of the blessed place and state of the saints above in a discourse upon the words of Our Blessed Saviour, John XIV, 2, in my father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you / by William Bates. (1687) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The way to the highest honour a funeral sermon, on John XII, 26, preach'd upon the decease of the Rnd Tho. Jacomb ... April 3, 1687 / by William Bates ... (1687) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The speedy coming of Christ to judgment represented in a funeral sermon on the death of Mr. Benjamin Ashurst, who deceased the 11th of September, 1687 / by William Bates ... (1687) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The sure trial of uprightness open'd in several sermons upon Psal. xviii, v. 23 ... / by William Bates. (1689) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in several discourses / by William Bates. (1691) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
A funeral-sermon for the reverend, holy and excellent divine, Mr. Richard Baxter who deceased Decemb. 8, 1691 : with an account of his life / by William Bates ... (1692) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The upright Christian discovered by keeping himself from his iniquity, and resignation to the divine will. By way of question and answer. Gathered out of the judicious treatises of William Bates, D.D. (1693) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
Sermons preach'd on several occasions by William Bates. (1693) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
The almost Christian discovered, in some sermons on Acts 26, 28 with a blow at profaneness / by the R.R. Ezekiel Hopkins, late Lord Bishop of London-Derry ; to which is added the upright Christian discovered, gathered out of the judicious treatises of William Bates, D.D. (1693) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
A sermon preached upon the much lamented death of our late gracious sovereign Queen Mary to which is added The address of condolence to His Majesty by the dissenting ministers / by William Bates ... (1695) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
Sermons upon Psalm CXXX, ver. 4 but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared / by William Bates. (1696) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.
Spiritual perfection, unfolded and enforced from 2 Cor. VII, 1 having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God / by William Bates ... (1699) by Bates, William, 1625-1699.