Dering, Edward
, a puritan divine of the sixteenth
century, was a native of the county of Kent, and related
to the Derings of Surrenden. He was educated at Christ’s
college, Cambridge, of which he was chosen fellow ia
1668, and then took his degree of bachelor of divinity.
The year before, according to Mr. Cole, he was admitted
lady Margaret’s professor of divinity. He was also one of
the preachers at St. Paul’s, and in 1569 obtained the rectory of Pluckley in the diocese of Canterbury, and became
chaplain to the duke of Norfolk. On Dec. 20, 1571, he
was presented by the queen to the prebend of Chardstoke
in the cathedral of Salisbury. He was much celebrated
for his eloquence in the pulpit, and for his general learning and acuteness as a disputant, of which last he gave a
proof, in a work written against the popish Dr. Harding,
entitled “A Sparing Restraint of many lavish Untruths,”
&c. 1568, 4to. But at length he not only adopted the
sentiments of Cartwright and others on the subject of habits
and ceremonies, but contended in the pulpit for the entire
change of church government by bishops, &c. for which he
was, after a long examination and controversy, suspended
from preaching in 1573. Strype has given a particular
account of his prosecution and answers. He died June 26,
1576, lamented for his piety and usefulness. But he appears
| to have carried his resistance to the established religion to
a greater height than most of his brethren, and did not
spare the queen herself. Once when preaching before her
majesty, he told her, that when she was persecuted by
queen Mary, her motto was tanquam ovis (“like a sheep”),
but now it might be tanquam indomita juvjenca (“like an untamed heifer”). The queen, however, retained so much
of her milder character as only to forbid his preaching at
court; to which Neal, who quotes Fuller for this anecdote,
adds that “he lost all his preferments in the church,” although no such words are to be found in Fuller. His principal works are, 1. a A Lecture or Exposition upon a part
of the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, as it was
read in St. Paul’s, Dec. 6, 1572,“Lond. 1581, Itnno.
This work was extended to” Twenty-seven Lectures or
Readings upon part of that Epistle,“1576. 2.” A Sermon preached before the Queen’s Majesty, Feb. 25, 1569,“Lond. 1584. 3.” A Sermon preached at the Tower of
London, Dec. 11, 1569,“ibid. 158-k These three are
noticed, with extracts, in the Bibliographer, vol. I. 4.” Certain godly and comfortable Letters, full of Christian consolation," &c. no date, 4to, all which, with some other
tracts of Dering’s, were collected and printed in one vol.
8vo, by Field in 1595. His correspondence with lord
Burleigh may be seen in Strype’s Annals. 1
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Works found by this author (or others with similar names) in the Early English Books Online Collection:
A sparing restraint, of many lauishe vntruthes, which M. Doctor Harding do the chalenge, in the first article of my Lorde of Sarisburies replie. By Edward Dering student in Diuinitie. With an answere vnto that long, and vncourteous epistle, entituled to M. Juel, and set before M. Hardings Reioinder (1568) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
A sermo[n] preached before the Quenes Maiestie, By Maister Edward Dering, the. 25. day of February. Anno. 1569Sermon preached before the Quenes Majestie (1569) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
A sermon preached at the Tower of London, by M. Dering the xi. day of Dece[m]ber. 1569Sermon preached at the Tower of London, the eleventh day of December. 1569 (1569) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
A briefe & necessary instruction verye needefull to bee knowen of all housholders, whereby they maye the better teach and instruct their families in such points of Christian religion as is most meete. Not onely of them throughly to be vnderstood, but also requisite to be learned by hart of all suche as shall bee admitted vnto the Lordes Supper. (1572) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
A lecture or exposition vpon a part of the. v. chapter of the epistle to the Hebrues As it was read in Paules the. 6. day of December. 1572. By Edward Deryng. Prepared and geuen for a new yeres gift to the godly in London and els where, for this yeare. 1573. (1573) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
XXVII. lectures, or readings, vpon part of the Epistle written to the Hebrues. Made by Maister Edward Deering, Bachelour of Diuinitie (1577) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
Godly priuate prayers for housholders to meditate vpon, and to say in their familiesGodlye private praiers for housholders in their families (1578) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
A preparation into the waye of lyfe vvith a direction into the right vse of the Lords Supper: gathered by VVilliam Hopkinson, preacher of the worde of God. (1581) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
A fruitfull sermon, vpon the 3.4.5.6.7.&8. verses of the 12. chapiter of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Romanes very necessarie for these times to be read of all men, for their further instruction and edification, in things concerning their fayth and obedience to saluation. (1584) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
Certaine godly and verie comfortable letters, full of christian consolation. Written by M. Ed Dering vnto sondry of his friends. And nowe published, for the proffite of the Church of God (1590) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.
Mr. Edward Dering, his godly priuate prayers for Christian families Whereunto is annexed, his briefe and necessary catechisme for housholders. (1624) by Dering, Edward, 1540?-1576.