of Cuxham in Oxfordshire, principal of St. Alban’shail, divinity-reader of Magdalen-college, regius professor of divinity, and took his doctor’s degree in that faculty. In
, a learned popish divine, but of great fickleness in his principles, was born in Worcestershire in 1500, and educated at Oxford. In 1527 he was admitted a probationary fellow of Mer ton-college, took the degree of M. A. in 1530, and was elected registrar of the university the year following. He afterwards became rector of Cuxham in Oxfordshire, principal of St. Alban’shail, divinity-reader of Magdalen-college, regius professor of divinity, and took his doctor’s degree in that faculty. In 1537, he was made master of Wittington-college in London, of which he was deprived in the reign of Edward VI. In the first year of this reign, he recanted his opinions at St. Paul’s-cross, yet was obliged to resign his professorship at Oxford, in which he was succeeded by the celebrated reformer Peter Martyr, with whom he had afterwards a controversy. From Oxford he went first to St. Andrew’s in Scotland, and thenceto Paris, in 1550, and from Paris to Lovaine, where he was complimented with the professorship of theology.
, introduced by Smith, prevailed every where in the university; and was followed even by Redman, the professor of divinity.
About this time he and Cheke introduced a new mode of
reading Greek, being dissatisfied with the corrupt and vicious pronunciation which then prevailed. As this was accounted an innovation of the most important, and even
dangerous tendency, and exhibits a curious instance of the
manners and sentiments of the times, we shall give a more
particular account of it in the plain language of honest
Strype. According to this biographer, it appears that
“custom had established a very faulty manner of sounding
several of the vowels and diphthongs; for, i, n 9 v, ei, 01, w,
were all pronounced as lura;
” nihil fere aliud,“says Smith,
” haberet ad loquendum, nisi lugubrss sonos et illud flebile
/wra.“He conferred therefore with Cheke upon this point,
and they perceived that the vulgar method of pronouncing
Greek was false; since it was absurd, that so many different letters and diphthongs should all have but one sound.
They proceeded to search authors for the determination of
this point: but the modern writers little availed them;
they had not seen Erasmus’s book, in which he excepted
against the common way of reading Greek. But though
both of them saw these palpable errors, they could not
agree among themselves, especially concerning the letters
vna and i/4-jXov. Soon after, having procured Erasmus’s
book, andTerentianus
” de literis et syllabis,“they began
to reform their pronunciation of Greek privately, and only
communicated it to their most intimate friends. When
they had sufficiently habituated themselves to this new method of pronunciation, with which they were highly pleased,
on account of the fullness and sweetness of it, they resolved to make trial of it publicly; and it was agreed that
Smith should begin. He read lectures at that time upon
Aristotle
” de Republic^,“in Greek, as he had done some
years before: and, that the novelty of his pronunciation
might give the less offence, he used this artifice, that in
reading he would let fall a word only now and then, uttered in the new correct sound. At first no notice was
taken of this; but, when he did it oftener, his auditors
began to observe and listen more attentively; and, when
he had often pronounced n and 01, as e and w, they, who
three years before had heard him sound them after the old
way, could not think it a slip of the tongue, but suspected
something else, and laughed at the unusual souncks. He
again, as though his tongue had slipped, would sometimes
correct himself, and repeat the word after the old manner.
But, when he did this daily, some of his friends came to
him, and told him what they had remarked in his lectures:
upon which he owned that he had been thinking of something privately, but that it was not yet sufficiently digested
and prepared for the public. They, on the other hand,
prayed him not to conceal it from them, but to acquaint
them with it frankly; and accordingly he promised them
that he would. Upon this rumour many resorted to him,
whom he desired only to hear his reasons, and to have
patience with him three or four days at most; until the
sounds by use were made more familiar to their ears, and
the prejudice against their novelty worn off. At this time
he read lectures upon Homer’s
” Odyssey,“in his own
college; and there began more openly to shew and determine the difference of the sounds: Cheke likewise did
the same in his college. After this, many came to them,
in order to learn of them how to pronounce after the new
method; and it is not to be expressed with what greediness
and affection this was received among the youth. The
following winter there was acted in St. John’s college,
Aristophanes’ s
” Plutus," in Greek, and one or two more
of his comedies, without the least dislike or opposition from
any who were esteemed learned men and masters of the
Greek language. Ponet, a pupil of Smith, and afterwards
bishop of Winchester, read Greek lectures publicly in the
new pronunciation; as likewise did Roger Ascham, who
read Isocrates, and at first was averse to this pronunciation,
though he soon became a zealous advocate for it. Thus,
in a few years, this new way of reading Greek, introduced by Smith, prevailed every where in the university; and was followed even by Redman, the professor of
divinity.
to was one of those Spanish divines who attended him to England, and settled at Oxford, where he was professor of divinity, and sometimes read a Hebrew lecture, as Wood supposes,
, a contemporary of the preceding, but
more connected with this country, was born at Cordova,
and educated among the Dominicans of Salamanca. Having distinguished himself in the duties of the cloister, and
made an eqiujl progress in learning, especially divinity and
the sacred languages, he was called to court, and was successively confessor to the king of Spain, and to Charles V.
of Germany, who employed him to write against the Lutherans. When Philip of Spain married our queen Mary,
Soto was one of those Spanish divines who attended him to
England, and settled at Oxford, where he was professor of
divinity, and sometimes read a Hebrew lecture, as Wood
supposes, for Dr. Bruerne, the Hebrew professor. This
occurred in 1556; and, the year before, Soto had been
incorpora; ed D. D. in this university. After the death of
queen Mary, he was called to the council of Trent, where
be died in April 1563. He published “Institutiones Chris,
tiana?,
”
, professor of divinity at Leyden, was born at Amberg in the Upper Palatinate,
, professor of divinity at Leyden, was born at Amberg in the Upper Palatinate, Jan. 1,
1600, of a good family. His father Wigand Spanheim,
doctor of divinity, was a very learned man, and ecclesiastical counsellor to the elector-palatine; he died in 1620,
holding in his hand a letter from his son, which had made
him weep for joy. Frederic was educated with great care
under the inspection of this affectionate parent; and, having studied in the college of Amberg till 1613, was sent
the next year to the university of Heidelberg, which was
then in a very flourishing condition. He there made such
progress both in languages and philosophy, as to justify
the most sanguine hopes of his future success. After paying a visit to his father in 1619, he went to Geneva to study
divinity. In 1621, after his father’s death, he went into
Dauphine, and lived three years with the governor of Ambrun, as tutor in his family. He then returned to Geneva,
and went afterwards to Paris, where he met with a kind
relation, Samuel Durant, who was minister of Charenton,
and dissuaded Spanheim from accepting the professorship
of philosophy at Lausanne, which the magistrates of Berne
then offered him.
In April 1625, he paid a visit of four months to England, and was at Oxford; but the plague having broke out
there, he returned to Paris, and was present at the death
of his relation Durant, who, having a great kindness for
him, left him his whole library. He had learned Latin and
Greek in his own country, French at Geneva, English at
Oxford; and the time which he now spent at Paris, was
employed in acquiring the oriental tongues. In 1627, he
disputed at Geneva for a professorship of philosophy, and
was successful; and about the same time married a lady,
originally of Poitou, who reckoned among her ancestors the
f;unous Budtrus. He was admitted a minister some time
after; and, in 1631, succeeded to the chair of divinity,
which Turretin had left vacant. He acquitted himself of
liis functions with such ability, as to receive the most liberal offers from several universities: but that of Leyden prevailed, after the utmost endeavours had been used to keep
him at Geneva. He left Geneva in 1642; and taking a
doctor of divinity’s degree at Basil, that he might conform
to the custom of the country to which he was going, he arrived at Leyden in October that year. He not only supported, but even increased the reputation he had brought
with him but he lived to enjoy it only a short time, dying
April 30, 1649. His great labours shortened his days.
His academical lectures and disputations, his preaching (for he was minister of the Walloon church at Leyden), the
books he wrote, and many domestic cares, did not hinder
him from keeping up a great literary correspondence. Besides this, he was obliged to pay many visits he visited
the queen of Bohemia, and the prince of Orange and was
in great esteem at those two courts. Queen Christina did
him the honour to write to him, assuring him of her esteem,
and of the pleasure she took in reading his works. It was
at her request that he wrote some memoirs of Louisa Juliana, electress palatine. He was also the author of some
other historical as well as theological works the principal
of which are his “Dubia evangelica discussa et vindicata,
”
Genev. Exercitationes de Grafla universali,
” Leyden, Epistolae ad Davidem Bu
chananum super controversies quibusdam, quse in ecclesiis
Anglicanis agitantur,
” ibid. Vitas selectorupi aliquot virorum.
” He was a correspondent of, and highly
esteemed by archbishop Usher.
al invitations from other universities; but he only accepted that from Leyden, where he was admitted professor of divinity and sacred history, with general applause, in 1670.
, brother of Ezekiel Spanheim, and also a man of great learning, was born at Geneva in 1632, and, at ten years of age, carried by his father to Leyden. He studied philosophy under Hereboord, and was admitted doctor July 12, 1651. He had lost his father two years before; and, as he had been designed for the ministry, he applied himself vigorously to the study of divinity and the languages. Boxhorn was his master in Greek and Latin; and Golius in Arabic. He was a candidate for the ministry in 1652, and soon after preached in several parts of Zealand. He discharged the functions of a minister at Utrecht for one year with a reputation that raised some jealousy in the mind of Alexander Morus, whose name was then famous in the United Provinces. He received soon after an invitation from Charles Louis elector-palatine, who had resolved to re-establish his university at Heidelberg, and gave him the professorship of divinity, though he was then but twenty-three. Before he went to take possession of that post, he was admitted doctor of divinity at Leyden in!655. He gained great reputation at Heidelberg; and the elector palatine always shewed him the highest marks of his esteem and confidence; but these favours did not prevent him from opposing the elector with great freedom, when heattempted to divorce himself from the princess his wife, in order to marry another. His merit procured him, during the time he lived in the palatinate, several invitations from other universities; but he only accepted that from Leyden, where he was admitted professor of divinity and sacred history, with general applause, in 1670. Here his reputation was raised to the greatest height. He was four times rector of the university of Leyden, and had also the post of librarian. Many years before hisdeath, he was excused from reading public lectures, that he might have the more leisure to apply himself to several works which he published. In 1695, he was attacked by a palsy, which affected half his body: of which, however, he afterwards appeared to be tolerably well recovered. He did not indeed enjoy a perfect state of health from that time; and not being able to restrain himself from his studies and labours, which was absolutely necessary, he relapsed, and died May 18, 1701. He was thrice married, and had several children; but only one, whose name was Frederic, survived him.
t returned to Louvain, where he translated Bede’s Church History into English. He then became regius professor of divinity in the new university of Douay, and canon in the
, a celebrated controversialist on the side of the papists, was born at Henfield, in Sussex, in 1535, of a genteel family from Yorkshire. Having been educated at Canterbury and Winchester, he was removed to New college, Oxford, where he obtained a perpetual fellowship in 1554. In the same reign, which was that of Mary, he was made prebendary of Chichester; but on the accession of Elizabeth, left the kingdom, vith his father and other relations, and settled at Louvain, where he distinguished himself by his controversial writings against Jewel, Home, Whitaker, and other eminent divines of the English church. He also visited Paris and Rome, but returned to Louvain, where he translated Bede’s Church History into English. He then became regius professor of divinity in the new university of Douay, and canon in the church of St. Amoiue. He became a Jesuit, but again relinquished the order, and returning to Louvain, was appointed regius professor in divinity there, canon of St. Peter’s, and dean of Hillerbeck. He died in 1598, and was buried in the church of St. Peter at Louvain. Clement VIII. had invited him to Rome, but he did not choose to go. This pope, it is said, intended to bestow upon him a cardinal’s hat, and that this honour was prevented by his death. He was, however, so great an admirer of Stapleton’s writings, that he ordered them to be read publicly at his table. Cardinal Perron, who was an eminent author himself, esteemed him, both for learning and acuteness, the first polemical divine of his age; and Whitaker himself, seems to allow no less.
re the university of Cambridge, on Wednesday, May 29, 1776, by Richard Watson, D.I). F II. S. Regius professor of divinity in that university” an<1, the other, “The Revolution
In 1773 Mr. Stevens first appeared as an author, if we
may say so of one who never put his name to his writings, by publishing “An Essay on the nature and constitution of the Christian church, wherein are set forth the
form of its government, the extent of its powers, and
the limits of our obedience, by a layman.
” This was published at a time (the preface says) “when the press
teemed with the most scurrilous invectives against the fundamental doctrines of our religion: and even the newspapers were converted into trumpets of sedition by the
enemies of the church.
” Thirty years after the appearance of this tract the society for promoting Christian knowledge placed it on the catalogue of their publications with
the name of the author, one of whose primary motives for
writing it was the effort making in 1773 to get rid of subscription to the Thirty-nine articles. With the same view,
and about the same time, Mr. Woliaston, rector of Chislehurstin Kent, having published “An address to the Clergy
of the church of England in particular, and to all Christians in general,
” Mr. Stevens printed “Cursory Observations
” on this pamphlet, with a mixture of playfulness
and argument, censuring him for being friendly to the
scheme then in view. In 1776 he published “A discourse
on the English Constitution, extracted from a late eminent
writer, and applicable to the present times,
” which were,
it may be remembered, times of great political turbulence.
In the following year he published two distinct works: the
one, “Strictures on a sermon entitled, The Principles of
the Revolution vindicated — preached before the university
of Cambridge, on Wednesday, May 29, 1776, by Richard
Watson, D.I). F II. S. Regius professor of divinity in that
university
” an<1, the other, “The Revolution vindicated,
and constitutional liberty asserted in answer to the Rev.
Dr. Watson’s Accession Sermon, preached before the university of Cambridge on Oct. 25, 1776.
” In both these
works, he contends that the preacher and his friends
deavouf to support doctrines which, if followed, would destroy, and not preserve the constitution, grounding all authority in the power of the people: that the revolution (in 1688) intended to preserve, and did preserve, the constitution, in its pristine state and vigour: and that this is manifest from the convention, founding the revolution entirely
on the abdication and vacancy of the throne.
amanca, and at Rome. He was afterwards invited to Coimbra in Portugal, where he became the principal professor of divinity. He is an author of the most voluminous kind: his
, a Spanish Jesuit, born at Grenada,
Jan. 5, 1548, was a professor of reputation at Alcala, at
Salamanca, and at Rome. He was afterwards invited
to Coimbra in Portugal, where he became the principal professor of divinity. He is an author of the most
voluminous kind: his works extended to twenty -three
volumes, in folio; and so extraordinary was his memory,
that if any passage was cited from them, he could' immediately go on to the end of the chapter or book. Yet,
with all his talents, his examiners had such an indifferent
opinion of him, that it was with some difficulty he gained
admission into the order of Jesuits. He died at Lisbon,
Sept. 25, 1617. By order of pope Paul V. he wrote a
book “against the errors of the English sect,
” which
James I. caused to be publicly burnt at St. Paul’s. “Happy
should I be,
” said he, “could I seal with my blood the
truths I have defended with my pen.
” Yet unpopular as
this work must have rendered his name in this country,
his treatise on law, “Tractatus de Legibus,
” was printed
in London in
future advancement. In 1711 Theophanes was nominated abbot of Bratskoi, rector of the seminary, and professor of divinity. His censures against the ignorance and indolence
, an historian who may
be ranked among those to whom Russia is chiefly indebted
for the introduction of polite literature, was the son of a
burgher of Kiof; born in that city, June 9, 1681, and
baptised by the name of Elisha. Under his uncle, Theophanes, rector of the seminary in the Bratskoi convent at
Kiof, he commenced his studies, and was well grounded
in the rudiments of the Greek, Latin, and Hebrew tongues.
Though his uncle died in 1692, he completed his education in that seminary; and in 1698, in the eighteenth year
of his age, he travelled into Italy. He resided three years
at Rome, where, beside a competent knowledge of Italian,
he acquired a taste for the fine arts, and improved himself
in philosophy and divinity. Upon his return to Kiof he
read lectures on the Latin and Sclavonian art of poetry in
the same seminary in which he had been educated: and,
with the monastic habit, assumed the name of Theophanes.
Before he had attained the twenty-fifth year of his age he
was appointed praefect, the second office in the seminary,
and professor of philosophy. In 1706 he distinguished
himself hy speaking a Lain oration before Peter the Great;
and still more by a sermon, which in 1701) he preached
before the same monarch after the battle of Pultawa. Having once attracted the notice, he soon acquired the protection of Peter, who was so captivated with his great talents, superior learning, and polite address, as to select
him for a companion in the ensuing campaign against the
Turks; a sure prelude to his future advancement. In 1711
Theophanes was nominated abbot of Bratskoi, rector of
the seminary, and professor of divinity. His censures
against the ignorance and indolence of the Russian clergy,
and his endeavours to promote a taste for polite literature
among his brethren, rendered him a fit instrument in the
hands of Peter for the reformation of the church, and the
final abolition of the patriarchal dignity. He was placed
at the head of the synod, of which ecclesiastical establish*
merit he himself drew the plan; was created bishop of
Plescof; and, in 1720, archbishop of the same diocese;
soon after the accession of Catharine he was consecrated
archbishop of Novogorod, and metropolitan of all Russia;
and died in 1736. Beside various sermons and theological
disquisitions, he wrote a treatise on rhetoric, and on the
rules for Latin and Sclavonian poetry; he composed verses
in the Latin language; and was author of a “Life of Peter
the Great,
” which unfortunately terminates with the battle
of Pultawa. in this performance the prelate has, notwithstanding his natural partiality to his benefactor, avoided
those scurrilous abuses of the contrary party, which frequently disgrace the best histories; and has been particularly candid in his account of Sophia. Peter, from a
well-grounded experierce, had formed such a good opinion of the talents of Theophanes, as to employ him in
composing the decrees which concerned theological questions, and even many that related to civil atf'airs. Theophanes may be said not only to have cultivated the sciences,
and to have promoted them during his life, but likewise to
have left a legacy to his cou itrymen, for their further progress after hi-, decease, by maintaining in his episcopal
palace fifty hoys, who>e education he superintended under his an>piccs they were instructed in foreign languages,
and in various branches of polite knowledge, which had
teen hitherto censured by many as profane acquisitions
thus transmitting the rays of learning to illuminate future
ages and a distant posterity.
re he had been educated. After teaching ethics in his congregation, and philosophy, he was appointed professor of divinity at Saumur, and introduced in his school the method
, a learned French divine, was
born Aug. 28, 1619, at Aix in Provence, of a good and
ancient family, and admitted at the age of fourteen into
the congregation of the oratory, where he had been educated. After teaching ethics in his congregation, and
philosophy, he was appointed professor of divinity at Saumur, and introduced in his school the method of treating
theological subjects according to the scriptures, the fatheri,
and councils. Being invited to Paris in 1654, he began
to bold conferences of positive theology in the seminary of
St. Magloire, according to the method he had adopted it
Saumur, and continued them till 166S, at which time his
superiors and several eminent prelates persuaded him to
give the fruits of his labours to the public. He complied,
and afterwards became so celebrated by his works, that
pope Innocent XI. endeavoured to draw him to Koine,
with an intention of giving him a cardinal’s hat, and
making use of his talents; but the king of France replied
that so learned a man was necessary in his dominions. The
French clergy gave him a pension of Jooo livres, which
the poor always shared with him. He was mild, modest,
active, agreeable in his manners, and very assiduous in all
his pursuits. He died December 25, 1695, aged seventyseven. His principal works are: 1. A large treatise on
“Ecclesiastical Discipline,
” reprinted Theological
Dogmas,
” Tracts on the
Divine office, 8 vo; on the Feasts, 8vo; on the Fasts, 8 vo; on
Truth and Falsehood, 8vo; on Alms, 8vo on Trade and on
Usury, 8vo; 4.
” Tr. dogmatique des Moyens dont on s’est
servi dans tous les terns pour maintenir Tunite de i'Eglise,“1703, 3 vols. 4to. To these may be added,
” Directions for
studying and teaching philosophy in a Christian manner,“8vo the same
” for the profane historians,“8vo; apian
of the same kind for grammar or the languages with relation to the Holy Scriptures, 2 vols. 8vo;
” A Universal
Hebrew Glossary,“printed at the Louvre, 1697, fol.
” Dissertations on the Councils,“in Latin, 1667, 1 vol.
4to;
” Memoires sur la Grace," 1682, 4to, &c. His Life,
written by father Bordes, is prefixed to his Hebrew Glossary.
ed Toussain to Newstadt, made him superintendant of the churches there, and on the death of Ursinus, professor of divinity. He also officiated in the church of St. Lambert,
While Tossanus was here, he was frequently exposed to the greatest dangers during the war which broke out between the catholics and protestants, Orleans being besieged, and being full of adherents to the duke of Guise and his party. But by various means, although much persecuted, he escaped all, and finally reached Heidelberg, whither he had been invited by the pious Frederick III. elector palatine; and was so well received by that prince and by all descriptions of people, as soon to be able to forget his many dangers and sufferings. The prince afterwards employed him in visiting the reformed churches in his dominions, and in composing some differences of opinion among them, which he is said to have performed with equal ability and zeal. On the death of that prince, however, in 1576, he experienced a reverse, his son Louis being a Lutheran, and unwilling to retain Toussain, who was a Calvinist, in his service. His brother prince Casimir, who was of his father’s persuasion, then invited Toussain to Newstadt, made him superintendant of the churches there, and on the death of Ursinus, professor of divinity. He also officiated in the church of St. Lambert, composed of refugees; and preached to them in French, and by the prince’s desire, joined Zanchius and Ursinus in the publication of various works in support of the reformation. In 1578 he presided at a synod which prince Casimir had assembled for the purpose of establishing conformity in doctrine and discipline, and of assisting the exiles of the palatinate. With this prince Toussain became so great a favourite, that his highness took no steps in ecclesiastical matters without consulting him, and such was the general report of his character, that foreign princes or ambassadors who visited the court at Newstadt, made it a point to pay their respects to Toussain. On the death of the elector Louis IV. in 1583, prince Casimir, his brother, had the charge of his infant son and successor Frederick IV. On this he removed to Heidelberg, in order to take the regency into his own hands, and employed Toussain in promoting the reformed religion. In this, however, he was much obstructed by the violence of the Lutheran party; and the prince, after in vain endeavouring by conferences to allay the fervour of their zeal, was under the necessity of dismissing the most turbulent from their situations in the church or university. This was no more than had been done by the late elector without any ceremony: but the prince regent in the present case took every pains to show that it was a matter of necessity with him, all other means of pacification having failed.
In the mean time Grynaeus, first professor of divinity at Heidelberg, having been removed to Basil in 1586,
In the mean time Grynaeus, first professor of divinity at Heidelberg, having been removed to Basil in 1586, Toussain was appointed to succeed him, and after entering on the office, complied with the statutes of the university by taking his doctor’s degree. In 1587 his wife died, and about a year and a half after he married the widow of M. Chapelle, who had been chaplain to the prince of Conde. In 1592 he lost his illustrious patron prince Casimir, but as the young elector adhered to the same sentiments in religion, no change took place in ecclesiastical matters. In 1594, Toussain was chosen rector of the university, an office which he filled with great credit. In 1596 when the plague had driven not only the court, but most of the professors and students from Heidelberg, Toussain remained at his post, preaching, and administering what support and consolation he could to the sufferers. Beginning now to feel the infirmities of age, he would have resigned his professorship, but this was not accepted, although he was permitted to relax in every way suitable to his health. He died Jan. 10, 1602, in the sixty-first year of his age, and was buried in the chapel belonging to the university.
ged him to join his father in Holland, where he resumed his divinity studies, and assisted Nethenus, professor of divinity at Utrecht, in the republication of Rutherford’s
His son, Robert, the subject of this memoir, was born
at Ely in May 1642. After the usual course of education
at home, he was sent to the university of Edinburgh, where
he recommended himself to the several professors by his
capacity and diligent application to his studies. Having
determined to devote himself to the church, he pursued
the study of divinity with great ardour for several years.
Partaking with his father in zeal for the principles and
discipline of the presbyterian church, he became a sufferer
in its cause, unusual severity being exercised against those
who would not accede to the introduction of episcopacy.
In 1666 he was obliged to secrete himself, together with
his mother and elder brother, because some copies of a
book entitled “An apologetic Relation,
” &c. which the
privy council had ordered to be publicly burnt, were found
in Mrs. Traill’s house; and in the following year, being
suspected as having been one of those who took up arms
and resisted the king’s forces, or of being a favourer of
their cause, a proclamation was issued for apprehending
him. This obliged him to join his father in Holland, where
he resumed his divinity studies, and assisted Nethenus,
professor of divinity at Utrecht, in the republication of
Rutherford’s “Examination of Arminianism.
” In the preface to his edition of that book, Nethenus speaks of Mr.
Robert Traill as a pious, prudent, learned, and industrious
young man.
s, where he succeeded Aaron Morus, the brother of Alexander. In 1653 he was recalled to Geneva to be professor of divinity, an office which Theodore Tronchin was now about
, son to the preceding, was born
at Geneva, Oct. 17, 1623. After pursuing his studies in
the classics and philosophy with great credit, he entered
on the study of divinity, under the celebrated Calvinistic
professors, John Diodati, Theodore Tronchin, Frederick
Spanheim, &c. While a student he supported in 1640
and 1644, two theses, “De felicitate morali et politica,
”
and “De necessaria Dei gratia.
” He afterwards went to
Leyden, and formed an acquaintance with the most eminent scholars there; and afterwards to Paris, where he
lodged with the celebrated Daille", and studied geography
under Gassendi, whose philosophical lectures he also attended. He then visited the schools of Saumur and Montauban, and on his return to Geneva in 1647 was ordained,
and in the following year served both in the French and
Italian churches of that city. In 1650 he refused the professorship of philosophy, which was offered to him more
than once, but accepted an invitation to the pastoral office
at Lyons, where he succeeded Aaron Morus, the brother
of Alexander. In 1653 he was recalled to Geneva to be
professor of divinity, an office which Theodore Tronchin
was now about to resign from age, and Turretin continued in
it during the rest of his life. In 1661 he was employed on
a similar business as his father, being sent to Holland to
obtain assistance from the States General to fortify the city
of Geneva. Having represented the case, he obtained the
sum of 75,000 florins, with which a bastion was built, called
the Dutch bastion. He had an interview with the prince
and princess dowager of Orange at Turnhout in Brabant;
a.nd having often preached while in Holland, he was so
much admired, that the Walloon church of Leyden, and
the French church at the Hague, sent him invitations to
settle with them; but this he declined, and returned to Geneva in 1662. He had not been here long before the
states general of Holland wrote most pressingly to the republic, requesting that Turretin might be permitted to
settle in Holland and similar applications were made
from Leyden, &c. in 1666 and 1672 but he could not be
reconciled to the change, and resuming his functions, acquired the greatest fame, both as a divine and professor.
He died Sept. 28, 1687.
fter this he exercised the function as a minister at Enckhuisen till 1585, when he was invited to be professor of divinity at the university of Franeker, then founded, pi'onounced
, a learned professor of physic at Leyden, was descended from ancestors distinguished in the republic of letters. His grandfather, Henry, born in 1546, was a master of the learned languages, and suffered greatly on account of the reformation, which he embraced very young, having lost his father, his wife’s father, and other relations and friends, in the Spanish massacre at Naerden in 1572. After this he exercised the function as a minister at Enckhuisen till 1585, when he was invited to be professor of divinity at the university of Franeker, then founded, pi'onounced the inaugural oration when it was opened, and was the first lecturer. He died there in 1614, and left, among other children, a son, named Antony, also a man of talents and learning, and on that account promoted by the magistrates of Enckhuisen to be rector of their college. He was skilled in music, and no stranger to divinity; but his leading study was physic, in which faculty, having taken the degree of doctor at Franeker in 1608, he practised with success and reputation, first at Enckhuisen, and afterwards at Amsterdam, to which he removed in 1625.
blished nothing that was at all considerable. One small publication was a letter to Dr. Watson, then professor of divinity at Cambridge (afterwards bishop of Llandaff) on
He had three principal objects of pursuit; theology,
classical learning, and history in all its branches. Historical research was his peculiar delight, including geography,
navigation, commerce, and even the military art, as illustrating the history of men, and connecting the memorials
of remote periods. To this taste, perseveringly indulged,
we owe his various works, particularly those on ancient
commerce and navigation, on which his reputation chiefly
rests. Yet he was no impatient candidate for fame. During the whole period of his being under-master, which
was no less than seventeen years, he published nothing that
was at all considerable. One small publication was a letter to Dr. Watson, then professor of divinity at Cambridge
(afterwards bishop of Llandaff) on the subject of a sermon
preached by him in 1780; a production neither then nor
afterwards publicly avowedi; though far from being unworthy of his principles or talents, being a very clear and able
argument against such theories as tend to overturn governments, and against the spirit of opposition in those times.
The, other tract was entitled “Considerations on Parochial
Music
” (
bservationes sacrae,“17U,4to, &c. Campegius Vitringa, one of his sons, born March 23, 1693, was also professor of divinity at Franeker, and died nine months after his father,
, an eminent and learned protestant divine, was born May 16, 1659, at Leuwarden, in
Friesland. He took a doctor’s degree in divinity at Leyden, July 9, 1679, and was successively professor of oriental languages, divinity, and sacred history at Franeker,
in which city he married, 1681, and died March 3, 1722,
of an apoplexy. His works are, 1. an excellent “Commentary on Isaiah,
” 2 vols. fol. in Latin. 2. “Apocalypseos anachrisis,
” Typus Theologiae Practices,
” 8vo, 4. “Hypotyposis Historiae et Chronologies
sacra,
” 8vo. 5. “Synagoga vetus,
” 4to. 6. “Archisynagogus, 4to. 7.
” De Decemviris otiosis Synagoga?,“4io.
8.
” Observationes sacrae,“17U,4to, &c. Campegius Vitringa, one of his sons, born March 23, 1693, was also professor of divinity at Franeker, and died nine months after
his father, January 11, 1723, aged thirty-one, leaving an
”Abridgment of natural Theology,“1720, 4to, and
” Sacred Dissertations," which do him honour.
e, and was one of those who drew up the canons of the famous synod of Dort. Walæus became afterwards professor of divinity at Leyden, and died July 9, 1639, leaving “Compendium
, a very eminent Protestant divine, was born October 3, 1573, at Ghent, of an ancient
family, which has produced many distinguished magistrates.
He officiated as pastor at several different places; declared
in favour of the Counter-remonstrants, enjoyed the friendship and confidence of prince Maurice, and was one of those
who drew up the canons of the famous synod of Dort.
Walæus became afterwards professor of divinity at Leyden,
and died July 9, 1639, leaving “Compendium EthicaeAristotelicae,
” Leyden, Epistolas de motu chyli et sanguinis,
” Leyd.
dare, irr the early part of the seventeenth century. He was a friar of the Franciscan order, and was professor of divinity at Louvain, where he probably was educated. Returning
, an Irish catholic of great learning liberality, was born at Moortown, in the county of Kildare, irr the early part of the seventeenth century. He was a friar of the Franciscan order, and was professor of divinity at Louvain, where he probably was educated. Returning to Ireland, he went to Kilkenny at the time the pope’s nuncio was there, but was not of his party. On the contrary, he made many endeavours to persuade the Ifish Roman catholics to the same loyal sentiments as he himself held; and after the restoration of Charles II. when he was procurator of the Romish clergy of Ireland, he persuaded many of them to subscribe a recognition or remonstrance, not only of their loyalty to the king, but of their disclaiming the pope’s supremacy in temporals. This drew upon him the resentment of many of his brethren, and particularly of the court of Rome. Such hopes, however, were entertained of this important change in the sentiment! of the Irish catholics, that in 1666 the court thought proper to permit their clergy to meet openly in synod at Dublin, in order, as was expected, to authorize the above remonstrance by a general act of the whole body. But this assembly broke up without coming to any decision, and the duke of Ormond, then lord lieutenant, considered it necessary to proceed against those who refused to give any security for their allegiance. But when, in 1670, lord Berkeley succeeded him, by some secret orders or intrigues of the popishly-affected party in England, Walsh, and those who had signed the remonstrance, were so persecuted as to be obliged to leave the country. Walsh came to London, and by the interest of the duke of Ormond, got an annuity of lOOl. for life. He had lived on terms of intimacy with the duke for nearly forty years, and had never touched much on the subject of religion until the reign of James II. when he made some overtures to gain the duke over to popery; but desisted when he found his arguments had no effect. Dodwell took some pains, although in vain, to convert Walsh, hoping, that as they had cast him out of the communion of the church of Rome, he might be persuaded to embrace that of the church of England. Walsh died in September 1687, and was buried in St. Dun* stan’s in the West.
h. In 1620 he was vice-chancellor of the university, and the year following was made lady Margaret’s professor of divinity. In 1622 he was at Salisbury with bishop Davenant,
, master of Sidney-Sussex college, Cambridge, a learned divine of the seventeenth century, was born of a good family in the bishopric of Durham, at a place called Bishops-Middleham. He was first sent to Christ’s college, Cambridge, where he became a scholar of the house, whence he was, on account of his extraordinary merit, elected into a fellowship at Emmanuel, and succeeded to the mastership of Sidney-Sussex college on Jan. 5, 1609. On April 29, 1615, he was installed archdeacon of Taunton, and was at that time D. D. and prebendary of Bath and Wells. On Feb. 11, 1617, he was promoted to a stall in the metropolitical church of York, where he had the prebend of Ampleford, which he kept to his death. In 1620 he was vice-chancellor of the university, and the year following was made lady Margaret’s professor of divinity. In 1622 he was at Salisbury with bishop Davenant, his intimate and particular friend, with whom, together with bishops Hall and Carleton, he had been sent by king James to the synod of Dort in 1613, as persons best able to defend the doctrine of the Church of England, and to gain it credit and reputation among those to whom they were sent.
ge; but his private tutor and chamber-fellow was Dr. Joshua Hoyle, an Oxford scholar, and afterwards professor of divinity. Here Mr. Ware applied to his studies with such
, an eminent antiquary, was descended from the ancient family of De Ware, or De Warr in Yorkshire, the only remains of which are, or lately were, in Ireland. His grandfather, Christopher Ware, was an early convert to the protestant religion in the beginning of the reign of queen Elizabeth, and that principally by the arguments and persuasion of Fox, the celebrated martyrologist. His father James, who was liberally educated, was introduced to the court of queen Elizabeth, where he soon because noticed by the ministers of state, and in 1588 was sent to Ireland as secretary to sir William Fitz-Wiiliams, the lord deputy. He had not filled this office long before he was made clerk of the common pleas in the exchequer, and afterwards obtained the reversion of the patent place of auditor general, a valuable appointment, which remained nearly a century in his family, except for a short time during the usurpation; and his income having enabled him to make considerable purchases in the county and city of Dublin, &c. his family may be considered as now removed finally to Ireland. While on a visit ui E;i^l md, James I. bestowed on him the honour of knighthood, and as a particular mark of favour, gave his eldest son the reversion of the office of auditor general. He also sat in the Irish parliament which began May 1613, for the borough of Mallow in the county of Cork. He died suddenly, while walking the street in Dublin, in 1632. By his lady, Mary, sister of sir Ambrose Briden, of Maidstone in Kent, he had five sons and five daughters. His eldest son, the subject of this article, was born in Castlestreet, Dublin, Nov. 26, 1594, and discovering early a love of literature, his father gave him a good classical education as preparatory to his academical studies. In 1610, when sixteen years of age, he was entered a fellow commoner in Trinity college, Dublin, under the immediate tuition of Dr. Anthony Martin, afterwards bishop of Meath, and provost of the college; but his private tutor and chamber-fellow was Dr. Joshua Hoyle, an Oxford scholar, and afterwards professor of divinity. Here Mr. Ware applied to his studies with such success, that he was admitted to his degree of M. A. much sooner than usual.
On the death of Dr. James, regius professor of divinity, Mr. Waterland was generally considered as fit to
On the death of Dr. James, regius professor of divinity,
Mr. Waterland was generally considered as fit to succeed
him, but his great esteem for Dr. Bentley, who was elected,
prevented his using his interest. He was soon after appointed one of the chaplains in ordinary to George I. who,
on a visit to Cambridge in 1717, honoured him with the
degree of D.D. without his application; and in this degree
he was incorporated at Oxford, with a handsome encomium
from Dr. Delaune, president of St. John’s college in that
university. In 1719, he gave the world the first specimen of
his abilities on a subject which has contributed most to his
fame. He now published the first “Defence of his
Queries,
” in vindication of the divinity of Christ, which engaged him in a controversy with Dr. Clarke. (See Clarke, p. 409.) The “Queries
” which he thus defended were
originally drawn up for the use of Mr. John Jackson the
rector of Rossington in Yorkshire (See Jackson, p. 420),
and it was intended that the debate should be carried on
by private correspondence; but Jackson having sent an
answer to the “Queries,
” and received Waterland’s reply,
acquainted him that both were in the press, and that he
must follow him thither, if he wished to prolong the controversy. On this Dr. Waterland published “A vindication of Christ’s Divinity: being a defence of some queries,
&c. in answer to a clergyman in the country;
” which being
soon attacked by the Arian party, our author published in
A second vindication of Christ’s Divinity, or, a
second defence of some queries relating to Dr. Clarke’s
scheme of the holy Trinity, in answer to the country
clergyman’s reply,
” &c. This, which is the longest, has
always been esteemed Dr. Waterland’s most accurate performance on the subject. We are assured that it was
finished and sent to the press in two months; but it was a
subject he had frequently revolved, and that with profound attention. In answer to this work, Dr. Clarke published in the following year, “Observations on the second
defence,
” &c. to which Dr. Waterland replied in “A
farther defence of Christ’s divinity,
” &c. It was not to
be expected that these authors would agree, as Dr. Clarke
was for explaining the text in favour of the Trinity, by
what he called the maxims of right reasoning, while Dr.
Waterland, bowing to the mysterious nature of the subject,
considered it as a question above reason, and took the texts
in their plain and obvious sense, as, he proved, the fathers
had done before him.
f chemistry in Nov. 1764; became one of the head tutors of Trinity college in 1767; appointed regius professor of divinity (on the death of the learned Dr. Rutherforth) in
, a late eminent and learned prelate, was born in August 1737, at Heversham in Westmoreland, five miles from Kendal, in which town his father, a clergyman, was master of the free grammar-school, and took upon himself the whole care of his son’s early education. From this seminary he was sent, in November 1754, with a considerable stock of classical learning, a spirit of persevering industry, and an obstinate provincial accent, to Trinity college, Cambridge, where, from the time of his admission, he distinguished himself by close application to study, residing constantly, until made a scholar in May 1757. He became engaged with private pupils in November following, and took the degree of B. A. (with superior credit, being second Wrangler,) in January 1759. He was elected fellow of Trinity college in Oct. 1760; was appointed assistant tutor to Mr. Backhouse in November that year; took the degree of M. A. in 1762, and was made moderator, for the first time, in October following. He was unanimously elected professor of chemistry in Nov. 1764; became one of the head tutors of Trinity college in 1767; appointed regius professor of divinity (on the death of the learned Dr. Rutherforth) in Oct. 1771, with the rectory of Somersham in Huntingdonshire annexed.
preface to the last of these volumes, he introduces the following observations: “When I was elected professor of divinity in 1771, I determined to abandon for ever the study
So extraordinary a letter surely requires no comment.
In 1781, he published a volume of “Chemical Essays,
”
addressed to his pupil the duke of Rutland, which was received with such deserved approbation, as to induce the
author to give to the world, at ditferent times, four additional volumes of equal merit with the first. It has been
stated, that when bishop Watson obtained the professorship
of chemistry, without much previous knowledge of that
science, he deemed it his duty to acquire it; and accordingly
studied it with so much industry, as materially to injure his
health: with what success, his publications on that branch
of philosophy demonstrate. When he was appointed to
that professorship, he gave public lectures, which were
attended by numerous audiences; and his “Chemical Essays
” prove that his reputation was not undeserved. They
have passed already through several editions, and are accounted a valuable manual to those who pursue that branch
of science. “The subjects of these Essays,
” to use the
author’s own words, “have been chosen, not so much with
a view of giving a system of Chemistry to the world, as
with the humble design of conveying, in a popular way,
a general kind of knowledge to persons not much versed in
chemical inquiries.
” He accordingly apologizes to chemists, for having explained common matters with, what will
appear to them, a disgusting minuteness; and for passing
over in silence some of the most interesting questions, such
as those respecting the analysis of air and fire, &c. The
learned author also apologizes to divines; whose forgiveness
he solicits, for having stolen a few hours from the studies
of his profession, and employed them in the cultivation of
natural philosophy; pleading, in his defence, the example
of some of the greatest characters that ever adorned either
the University of Cambridge, or the Church of England.
In the preface to the last of these volumes, he introduces
the following observations: “When I was elected professor of divinity in 1771, I determined to abandon for
ever the study of chemistry, and I did abandon it for several years but the veteris vestigia jtamm& still continued
to delight me, and at length seduced me from my purpose. When I was made a bishop in 1782, I again determined to quit my favourite pursuit: the volume which
I now offer to the public is a sad proof of the imbecility
of my resolution. I have on this day, however, offered a
sacrifice to other people’s notions, I confess, rather than to
my own opinion of episcopal decorum. I have destroyed
all my chemical manuscripts. A prospect of returning
health might have persuaded me to pursue this delightful
science; but I have now certainly done with it for ever
at least I have taken the most effectual step I could to wean
myself from an attachment to it: for with the holy zeal of
the idolaters of old, who had been addicted to curious arts
I have burned my books.
”
re of the guardians of Dr. Watson’s children, whom he had by his wife, who was daughter to Mr. Shaw, professor of divinity in St. Mary’s-college, St. Andrew’s.
At this time he had become a preacher; and a vacancy
having happened in one of the churches of St. Andrew’s,
he offered himself a candidate for that living, but was dis^appointed, yet he succeeded in what proved more advantageous. Mr. Henry Rymer, who then taught logic at St.
Salvador’s college, was in a very infirm state of health,
and entertaining thoughts of retiring. Mr. Watson purchased, for no great sum of money, what, in familiar
phraseology, may be termed the good-will of Mr. Rymer’s
place; and with the consent of the other masters of St.
Salvador’s, was appointed professor of logic. He obtained
also a patent from the crown, constituting him professor of
rhetoric and belles-lettres. The study of logic in St. Andrew’s, as in most other places, was at this time confined
to syllogisms, modes, and figures. Mr. Watson, whose
mind had been opened by conversation, and by reading
the writings of the literati who had begun to flourish in the
Scotch capital, prepared, and read to his students, a
course of metaphysics and logic on the most enlightened
plan; in which he analyzed the powers of the mind, aod
entered deeply into the nature of truth or knowledge. Oil
the death of principal Tullidelph, Dr. Watson, through
the interest of the earl of Kinnoul, was appointed his successor, in which station he lived only a few years, dying
in 1780. He is chiefly known in the literary world by his
“History of Philip II.
” a very interesting portion of history, and in which the English, under queen Elizabeth,
had a considerable share. He wrote also the history of
Philip III. but lived only to complete four books; the last
two were written, and the whole published in 4to, 1783
(afterwards reprinted in 2 vols. 8vo), by Dr. William Thomson, at the desire of the guardians of Dr. Watson’s children, whom he had by his wife, who was daughter to
Mr. Shaw, professor of divinity in St. Mary’s-college, St.
Andrew’s.
667 and 1668. His sermons, preached at that time from Psalm xci. have been printed. He was appointed professor of divinity in 1675, and died May 23, 1703, aged seventy-six,
, an eminent protestant divine,
was the grandson of John James Werenfels, a clergyman
at Basil, who died November 17, 1655, leaving ' Sermons“in German, and
” Homilies on Ecclesiastes“in Latin. He
was the son of Peter Werenfels, likewise an eminent protestant divine, born 1627, at Leichtal; wtio, after having
been pastor of different churches, was appointed archdeacon of Basil in 1654, where he gave striking proofs of his
piety and zeal during the pestilence which desolated the
city of Basil in 1667 and 1668. His sermons, preached at
that time from Psalm xci. have been printed. He was appointed professor of divinity in 1675, and died May 23,
1703, aged seventy-six, leaving a great number of valuable
”Dissertations,“some
” Sermons,“and other works. His
son, the immediate subject of the present article, was born
March I, 1657, at Basil. He obtained a professorship of
logic in 1684, and of Greek in the year following, and
soon after set out on a literary journey through Holland and
Germany, and then into France, with Burnet, afterwards
bishop of Salisbury, and Frederick Battier. At his return
to Basil he was appointed professor of rhetoric, and filled
the different divinity chairs successively. He died in that
city, June 1, 1740. His works have all been collected and
printed in 2 vols. 4to; the most complete edition of them
is that of Geneva and of Lausanne, 1739. They treat of
philology, philosophy, and divinity, and are universally
esteemed, particularly the tract
” De Logomachiis Eruditorum.“In the same collection are several poems, which
show the author to have been a good poet as well as an
able philosopher and learned divine. We have also a vol.
8vo, of his
” Sermons," which are much admired.
erwards of divinity, and died at Basil April 21, 1711, leaving two sons, one of whom, Rodolphus, was professor of divinity at Basil, and the other, John Henry, a bookseller
, mentioned above as one of
the tutors to John James Wetstein, was born September
1, 1647, at Basil, and was grandson of John Rodolphus
Wetstein, burgomaster of that city, a man of great merit,
who rendered important services to his country at the peace
of Munster, in the Imperial court, and in his native place.
John Rodolphus, the subject of this article, succeeded his
father as professor of Greek, and afterwards of divinity,
and died at Basil April 21, 1711, leaving two sons, one
of whom, Rodolphus, was professor of divinity at Basil,
and the other, John Henry, a bookseller at Amsterdam.
He had published, in 1673, with notes, Origen’s “Dialogue against the Marcionites,
” with the “Exhortation to
Martyrdom,
” and the letter to Africanus concerning the
“History of-Susanna,
” which he first took from the Greek
Mss. We have several other valuable discourses or dissertations of his. Henry Wetstein, one of his brothers,
also well acquainted with Greek and Latin, settled in Holland, where he followed the business of a bookseller, became a celebrated printer, and died April 4, 1726. His
descendants long remained in Holland.
of King’s-college, Dr. Samuel Collins, who had been in that office thirty years, and was also regius professor of divinity. This choice was perfectly agreeable to Dr. Collins
, an English divine of great
name, was descended of an ancient and good family in the
county of Salop, and was the sixth son of Christopher
Whichcote, esq. at Whichcote-hall in the parish of Stoke,
where he was born March 11, 1609-10. He was admitted
of Emanuel-college, Cambridge, in 1626, and took the
degrees in arts: that of bachelor in 1629; and that of
master in 1633. The same year, 1633, he was elected
fellow of the college, and became a most excellent tutor;
many of his pupils, as Wallis, Smith, Worthington, Cra,dock, &c. becoming afterwards men of great eminence.
Jn 1636 he was ordained both deacon and priest at Buckden by Williams bishop of Lincoln; and soon after set up
an afternoon-lecture on Sundays in Trinity church at Cambridge, which, archbishop Tillotson says, he served near
twenty years. He was also appointed one of the university-preachers; and, in 1643, was presented by the master and fellows of his college to the living of North-Cadbury in Somersetshire. This vacated his fellowship; and
upon this, it is presumed, he married, and went to his
living; but was soon called back to Cambridge, being appointed to succeed the ejected provost of King’s-college,
Dr. Samuel Collins, who had been in that office thirty
years, and was also regius professor of divinity. This
choice was perfectly agreeable to Dr. Collins himself;
though not so to Dr. Whichcote, who had scruples about
Accepting what was thus irregularly offered him: however,
after some demurring, he complied, and was admitted pro-r
vost, March 16, 1644. He had taken his bachelor of divinity’s degree in 1640; and he took his doctor’s in 1649.
He now resigned his Somersetshire living, and was presented by his college to the rectory of Milton in Cambridgeshire, which was void by the death of Dr. Collins.
Jt must be remembered, to Dr. Whichcote’s honour, that,
during the life of Dr. Collins, one of the two shares out of
the common dividend allotted to the provost was, not only
with Dr. Whichcote’s consent, but at his motion, paid
punctually to him, as if he had still been provost. Dr.
Whichcote held Milton as long as he lived; though, after
the Restoration, he thought proper to resign, and resume
it by a fresh presentation from the college. He still continued to attend his lecture at Trinity, church with the same
view that he had at first set it up; which was, to preserve
and propagate a spirit of sober piety and rational religion
in the university of Cambridge, in opposition to the style
of preaching, and doctrines then in vogue: and he may
be said to have founded the school at which many eminent
(divines after the Restoration, and Tillotson among them, who had received their education at Cambridge, were formed, and were afterwards distinguished from the more orthodox by the epithet latitudinarian. In 1658 he wrote verses upon the death of Oliver Cromwell, which, his biographer supposes, were done entirely out of form, and not put of any regard to the person of the protector. Nor had Dr. Whichcote ever concurred with the violent measures of those times by signing the covenant, or by any injurious
sayings or actions to the prejudice of any man. At the
Restoration, however, he was removed from his provostship by especial order from the king; but yet he was not
disgraced or frowned upon. On the contrary, he went to
London, and in 1662 was chosen minister of St. Anne’s,
Blackfriars, where he continued till his church was burned
down in the dreadful fire of 1666. He then retired to Milton for a while; but was again called up, and presented
by the crown to the vicarage of St. Lawrence Jewry, vacant by the promotion of Dr. VVilkins to the see of Chester. During the building of this church, upon invitation
of the court of aldermen, in the mayoralty of sir William
Turner, he preached before the corporation at Guildhall
chapel, with great approbation, for about seven years.
When St. Lawrence’s was rebuilt, he preached there twice
a week, and had the general love and respect of his parish,
and a very considerable audience, though not numerous,
owing to the weakness of his voice in his declining age. A
little before Easter in 1683, he went down to Cambridge;
where, upon taking cold, he fell into a distemper, which
in a few days put an end to his life. He died at the house
of his ancient and learned friend Dr. Cuclworth, master of
Christ’s-college, in May 1683 and was interred in the
church of St. Lawrence Jewry. Dr. Tillotson, then lecturer there, preached his funeral-sermon, where his character is drawn to great advantage. Burnet speaks of him
in the following terms: “He was a man of a rare temper;
very mild and obliging. He had credit with somewhat had
been eminent in the late times; but made all the use he
could of it to protect good men of all persuasions. He was
much for liberty of conscience; and, being disgusted with
the dry systematical way of those times, he studied to raise
those who conversed with him to a nobler set of thoughts,
and to consider religion as a seed of a deiform nature (to use one of his own phrases). In order to this, he set
young students much on reading the ancient philosophers, chiefly Plato, Tully, and Piotin; and on considering the Christian religion as a doctrine sent from God,
both to elevate and sweeten human nature, in which he
was a great example as well as a wise and kind instructor. Cudworth carried this on with a great strength
of genius, as well as a vast compass of learning.
” Baxter
numbers him with “the best and ablest of the conformists.
”
hiefly at the instigations of Dr. George Leyburn, president of the English college, and John Warner, professor of divinity in the same house. He was again censured for his
Dodd has given a catalogue of forty-eij*ht publications
by White, and endeavours to vindicate his character with
considerable impartiality. He says, White was “a kind of
enterprizer in the search of truth, and sometimes waded too
deep; which, with the attempt of distinguishing between
the schoolmen’s superstructures, and strict fundamentals,
laid him open to be censured by those that were less inquisitive. It must be owned he sometimes lost himself, by
treading in unbeaten paths, and adhered too stiffly to
dangerous singularities. This created him adversaries from
all quarters. Besides Protestants, who engaged with him.
upon several controversial matters, he had several quarrels, both with the clergy and religious of his own communion, who attacked his works with great fury. His
book of the
” Middle State of Souls’.' gave great scandal,
(though I find mention made of it by the learned Mabillon, as a master-piece in its kind). This performance was so
represented by his adversaries, as if it rendered prayers
for the dead an insignificant service: and the representation was so prejudicial to many of the clergy, that they
were neglected in the usual distributions bestowed for the
benefit of the faithful deceased. Another work, which
drew a persecution upon him, was entitled, “Institutiones
Sacrae,
” &c. from whence the university of Douay drew
twenty-two propositions, and condemned them, under
respective censures, Nov. 3, 1660, chiefly at the instigations of Dr. George Leyburn, president of the English
college, and John Warner, professor of divinity in the
same house. He was again censured for his political
scheme, exhibited in his book styled “Obedience and
Government;
” wherein he is said to assert an universal
passive obedience to any species of government which has
obtained an establishment; and, as his adversaries insinuated, was designed to flatter Cromwell in his usurpation, and incline him to favour the Catholics, upon the
hopes of their being influenced by such principles. These,
and several other writings, having given great offence,
and the see of Rome being made acquainted with their
pernicious tendency (especially when he had attacked the pope’s personal infallibility), they were laid before the
inquisition, and censured by a decree of that court,
May 14, 1655, and Sept. 7, 1657. Mean time, a body of
clergymen, educated in the English college at Douay, signed
a public disclaim of his principles. Mr. White had several
things to allege against these proceedings. It appeared to
him, that neither the court of inquisition, nor any other
inferior court, though assembled by his holiness’s orders,
were invested with sufficient power to issue out decrees
that were binding over the universal church: he exposed,
at the same time, the methods and ignorance of the cardinals and divines who were sometimes employed in censuring books; and hinted, how unlikely it was that his
holiness either would or could delegate his power to such
kind of inferior courts. As to his brethren who had disclaimed his doctrine, he takes notice that they were persons entirely under Dr. Leyburn’s direction, who was his
grand adversary, and was continually labouring to discredit
his writings. Afterwards, when prejudices were removed,
and passion had sufficiently vented itself on both sides,
they both came to temper; and Mr. White submitted himself and his writings to the catholic church, and, namely,
to the see of Rome. Yet, notwithstanding this submission,
a great many, who had conceived almost an irreconcileable
idea both of his person and writings, could scarce endure
to hear him named. They represented him to be as obstinate
as Luther, who, at first, humbled himself to the pope,
only to gain time to spread his pestiferous opinions: they
would have it, that his design was, visibly, to establish a
new heresy. Nay, they pryed into his morals and conduct
in private life; miscarriages, in that way, being commonly the forerunners of heresy. But those that were not
hurried away with passion and prejudice judged more
favourably of him. They owned his rashness, and that he
had propagated several singularities, that had given scandal, were erroneous, and carried on with too much violence
and disrespect to superior powers: yet that all this was
done without any intention of breaking out of the pale of,
the church, or opposing the supremacy of the see of Rome.
Some, who have calmly reflected upon these matters, have
been pleased to observe the wise conduct of the see of
Rome upon the occasion, which was far different from that
of Mr. White’s adversaries; who, transported with zeal for
religion, and, it is to be feared, sometimes with less commendable views, made every thing appear with a formidable aspect: whereas the see of Rome, governed by
milder counsels, proceeded with their usual caution, and
only barely censured some of his works, wherein Mr. White
had the fate of a great many other pious and learned
authors, when they happened to advance propositions any
way prejudicial to religion. Whatsoever opinion the see of
Rome might have of Mr. White’s case, tney judged it a
piece of wisdom to let it die gradually. They were well
assured, that though he had wit and learning sufficient to
have raised a great disturbance in the church, yet he
wanted interest to make any considerable party; and they
had the charity to think he wanted a will. It is true, several eminent clergymen, who had been his scholars, and
were great admirers of his virtue and learning, were unwilling to have his character sacrificed, and his merits lie
under oppression, by unreasonable oppositions; and therefore they supported him in some particular controversies
he had with doctor Leyburn and others: which was misrepresented by some, as a combination in favour of the novelties he was charged with in point of doctrine. But,
adds Dodd, time and recollection have placed things in a
true light."
was chaplain to queen Anne Boleyn. Wood says, he was “a great light of learning, and a most heavenly professor of divinity.” Archbishop Cranmer says that “he was endowed with
, an eminent divine of the sixteenth century, was of the family of Whiteheads of Tuderiey in Hampshire, and was educated at Oxford, but whether
at All Souls or Brasenose colleges, Wood has not deter*
mined. He was chaplain to queen Anne Boleyn. Wood
says, he was “a great light of learning, and a most heavenly
professor of divinity.
” Archbishop Cranmer says that “he
was endowed with good knowledge, special honesty, fervent zeal, and politic wisdom,
”' for which, in 1552, he nominated him as the fittest person for the archbishopric of
Armagh. This nomination, however, did not succeed. lit
the beginning of the tyrannic reign of queen Mary, he retired, with/many pf his countrymen, to Francfort, where
he was chosen pastor to the English congregation of exiles,
and when differences arose respecting church discipline,
endeavoured to compose them by the moderation of his
opinions. On the accession of queen Elizabeth, he “returned to England, and was one of the committee appointed
to review king Edward’s liturgy; and in 1559 was also appointed one of the public disputants against the popish
bishops* In this he appeared to so much advantage, that
the queen is said to have offered him the archbishopric of
Canterbury, but this he declined, as well as the mastership
of the Savoy, excusing himself to the queen by saying that
he could live plentifully by the preaching of the gospel
without any preferment. He was accordingly a frequent
preacher, and in various places where preaching was most
wanted. He remained a single man, which much pleased
the queen, who had a great antipathy against the married
clergy. Lord Bacon informs us that when Whitehead was
one day at court, the queen said,
” I like thee better,
Whitehead, because thou livest unmarried.“” In troth,
madam,“he replied,
” I like you the worse for the same
cause.“Maddox, in his examination of Neal’s History of
the Puritans, thinks that
” Whitehead ought to be added
to the number of those eminent pious men, who approved
of the constitution, and died members of the church of
England;“but it appears from Strype’s life of Grindal,
that he was deprived in 1564 for objecting to the habits;
how long he remained under censure we are not told. He
died in 1571, but where buried, Wood was not able to discover. The only works attributed to his pen are,
” Lections and Homilies on St. Paul’s Epistles“and in a
” Brief Discourse of the Troubles begun at Francfort,“1575, 4to, are several of his discourses, and answers to the
objections of Dr. Home concerning matters of discipline
and worship. In Parkhurst’s
” Epigram. Juvenil." are some
addressed to Whitehead; and from the same authority we
learn that he had been preceptor to Charles Brandon, duke
of Suffolk.
ded bachelor of divinity, and Matthew Button, then fellow of Trinity-college, being appointed regius professor of divinity, the same year Whitgift succeeded him as lady Margaret’s
Soon after this, as he was recovering from a severe fit of
sickness, happened the remarkable visitation of his university by cardinal Pole, in order to discover and expel the
heretics, or those inclined to the doctrines of the reformation. To avoid the storm, Whitgift thought of going
Abroad, and joining the other English exiles; but Dr.
Perne, master of his college, although at that time a professed papist, had such an esteem for him, that he undertook to screen him from the commissioners, and thus he
was induced to remain; nor was he deceived in his confidence in Dr. Perne’s friendship, who being then vicechancellor, effectually protected him from all inquiry, not
withstanding the very strict severity of the visitation.
In 1560 Mr. Whitgift entered into holy orders, and
preached his first sermon at St. Mary’s with great and general approbation. The same year he was appointed chaplain to Cox, bishop of Ely, who gave him the rectory of
Teversham in Cambridgeshire. In 1563 he proceeded
bachelor of divinity, and Matthew Button, then fellow of
Trinity-college, being appointed regius professor of divinity, the same year Whitgift succeeded him as lady Margaret’s professor of divinity. The subject of his lectures was the book of Revelations and the whole Epistle
to the Hebrews, which he expounded throughout. These
lectures were prepared by him for the press; and sir
George Paule intimates, that they were likely in his time
to be published; but whatever was the reason, they have
never appeared. Strype tells us, that he saw this manuscript of Dr. Whitgift' s own hand -writing, in the possession of Dr. William Payne, minister of Whitechapel
London; and that after his death it was intended to be
purchased by Dr. John More, lord bishop of Ely. This
manuscript contained likewise his thesis, when he afterwards kept his act for doctor of divinity, on this subject,
that “the Pope is Antichrist.
”
n April to Pembroke-hall, being chosen master of that house, and not long after was appointed regius professor of divinity. In both these prejfertnents he succeeded his old
He had the year before been a considerable benefactor to Peter-house, where, in 1567, he held the place of president, but was called thence in April to Pembroke-hall, being chosen master of that house, and not long after was appointed regius professor of divinity. In both these prejfertnents he succeeded his old frrend Dr. Hutton, now made dean of York, and to the first was recommended, as Dr. Hutton had been, by Grindal, then bishop of London. But he remained at Pembroke-hall only about three months, for upon the death of Dr. Beauchamp, the queen promoted him to the mastership of Trinity-college. This place was procured for him, chiefly by the interest of sir William Cecil, who, notwithstanding some objections had been made tq his age, secured the appointment. The same year he took his degree of doctor in divinity; and in 1570, having first applied to Cecil for the purpose, he compiled a new body of statutes for the university, which were of great service to that learned community.
point of scripture-chronology. These were Hugh Brouohton the celebrated Hebraist, and Dr. Reynolds, professor of divinity at Oxford. The point in dispute was, “Whether the
On the alarm of the Spanish invasion in 1588, he procured an order of the council to prevent the clergy from
being cessed by the lord-lieutenants for furnishing arms,
and wrote circular letters to the bishops, to take care that
their clergy should be ready, with a voluntary appointment
of arms, &c. This year the celebrated virulent pamphlet,
entitled “Martin Mar-prelate
” was published, in which
the archbishop was severely handled in very coarse language, but without doing him any injury in the eyes of
those whom he wished to please. The same year, the
university of Oxford losing their chancellor, the earl of
Leicester proposed to elect Whitgift in his stead; but this,
being a Cambridge-man, he declined, and recommended
his friend sir Christopher Hatton, who was elected, and
thus the archbishop still had a voice in the affairs of that
university. In 1590, Cartwright being cited before the
ecclesiastical commission, for several misdemeanours, and
refusing to take the oath Whether the chronology of the times from Adam to Christ
could be ascertained by the holy Scriptures?
” The first
held the affirmative, which was denied by the latter. (See Broughton, p. 82.)
ation of the university of Jena by the elector of Saxony, he was solicited by his highness to become professor of divinity, and performed the duties of that office until some
His great delight, in the way of relaxation from his more
serious engagements, was in his garden, in which he
formed a great collection of curious plants. Haller mentions his publication “De succino Borussico, de. Alee, de
Herbis Borussicis, et de Sale,
” The Magdeburg
Centuries,
” which Sturmius used to say had four excellent
qualities, truth, research, order, and perspicuity. In 1560,
on the foundation of the university of Jena by the elector of
Saxony, he was solicited by his highness to become professor of divinity, and performed the duties of that office
until some angry disputes between Illyricus and Strigelius
inclined him to resign. He was after a short stay at Magdeburg, chosen, in 1562, to be superintendant at Wismar.
He now took his degree of doctor in divinity at the university of Rostock, and remained at Wismar seven years, at
the end of which a negociation was set on foot for his return to Jena, where he was made professor of divinity and
superintendant. Five years after he was again obliged to
leave that university, when the elector Augustus succeeded
his patron the elector William. On this he went to the duke
of Brunswick who entertained him kindly, and he was soon
after invited to the divinity-professorship of Konigsberg,
and in two years was appointed bishop there. He died
1587, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He wrote a prodigious number of works, principally commentaries oa
different parts of the Bible, and treatises on the controversies with the popish writers. He was esteemed a man
of great learning, a profound theologian and no less estimable in private life. He ranks high among the promoters
of the reformation in Germany.
ed. 4. “Discourse upon Usury,” Lond. 1572, a work much praised by Dr. Lawrence Humphrey, the queen’s professor of divinity at Oxford, in his life of Jewell. Wilson also translated
Sir Thomas Wilson wrote, 1. “Epistola de vita et obita
duorum fratrum SufFolciensium, HenricietCaroli Brandon,
”
Lond. The rule of Reason, containing the art of Logic,
” The art of Rhetoric,
” Discourse upon Usury,
” Lond.
Lond. 1570. Of his
” Art of Logic,“Mn
Warton says that such a
” display of the venerable mysteries of this art in a vernacular language, which had
hitherto been confined within the sacred pale of the learned
tongues, was esteemed an innovation almost equally daring with that of permitting the service of the church to be
celebrated in English; and accordingly the author, soon,
afterwards happening to visit Rome, was incarcerated by
the inquisitors of the holy see, as a presumptuous and
dangerous heretic.“Of his
” Art of Rhetoric," Mr. Wartori says, it is liberal and discursive, illustrating the arts of
eloquence by example, and examining and ascertaining
the beauties of composition with the speculative skill and
sagacity of a critic. It may therefore be justly considered
as the first book or system of criticism in our language.
This opinion Mr. Warton confirms by very copious extracts.
deprived of the celebrity he deserved, was a native of Zuric, born in 1640, the son of a canon, and professor of divinity in its college, and appears to have had a liberal
, an artist, whom, Fuseli says, situation,
temper, and perhaps circumstances, hav:e deprived of the
celebrity he deserved, was a native of Zuric, born in 1640,
the son of a canon, and professor of divinity in its college,
and appears to have had a liberal education. Thoqgb,
when a youth, he lost one eye, he was bound to Conrad
Meyer, of whom, with the elements of painting, he
acquired the mystery of etching. As a painter he devoted
himself to portraiture, which he exercised with success,
and in a style little inferior and sometimes equal to that of
S. Hofmann; but the imitation of dormant or insipid countenances, unable to fill a mind so active and open to impression, in time gave way to composition in art and writing, both indeed devoted to the most bigoted superstition,
and theologic rancour, for in his Dialogues ofi the Apocalypsis of S, John, blind zeal, legendary falsehood, and barbarism of style, go hand in hand with shrewdness of observation, controversial acuteness, and blunt naivete a heterogeneous mass, embellished by ah etched series of poetic
and historic subjects, in compositions dictated.by the most
picturesque fancy, original, magnificent, various, romantic,
terrible, and fantastic; though in small, on a scale of arrangement and combinations to fill the pompous scenery of
Paolo, or challenge the wildest caprice of Salvator; and in
the conception of the Last Judgment, for sublimity far superior to Michael Agnolo. With these prerogatives, and
neither insensible to beauty nor form, the artist is often
guilty of ludicrous, nay, even premeditated incorrectness,
and contortions which defy possibility. His style of etching, free, spirited, and yet regular, resembles that of Wilhelm Baur; and though no vestiges remain of his having
seen Italy, it is difficult to conceive by what other means
he could acquire that air of Italian scenery, and that minute acquaintance with the architecture, the costume, and
ceremonies, of that country, without having visited it himself. His dialogues, above mentioned, were published in
1677, 8vo, entitled “J. Wirzii Romse animale exemplum,
&c.
” with 42 plates. Wirz resided and died in 1709, at
a small villa which he possessed near Zuric.
him, although he has contributed so muc)i to our knowledge of other eminent men. He was a divine and professor of divinity at Riga, where he died Jan. 22, 1696. Morhoff bestows
, or W1TTEN (Henningus), a German biographer, was born in 1634. We find very few particulars
of him, although he has contributed so muc)i to our knowledge of other eminent men. He was a divine and professor of divinity at Riga, where he died Jan. 22, 1696.
Morhoff bestows considerable praise on his biographical labours, which were principally five volumes of memoirs of
the celebrated men of the seventeenth century, as a sequel
to those of Meichior Adam. They were octavo volumes,
and published under the titles of “Memoria Theologorum
nostri seculi,
” Franc. Memoria Medicorum
” “Memoria Jurisconsultorum
”
“Memoria Philosophorum,
” &c. which last includes poets
and polite scholars. The whole consist of original lives, or
eloges collected from the best authorises. The greater
part are Germans, butthere are a few French and English.
In 1688 he published, what we have often found very useful, his * 4 Diarium Biographicum Scriptorum seculi xvii.“vol. I. 4to, 1688, vol, II. 1691. It appears that Wittepaid
a visit to England in 1666, and became acquainted with
the celebrated Dr. Pocock, to whom he sent a letter ten
years afterwards, informing the doctor that he had for some
time been engaged in a design of writing the lives of the
most famous writers of that age in each branch of literature, and had already published some decades, containing
memoirs of divines, civilians, and physicians;
” that he
was now collecting eloges on the most illustrious phiiologers, historians, orators, and philosophers; but wanted memoirs of the chief Englishmen who, in the present (seventeenth) century, have cultivated these sciences, having no
relation of this sort in his possession, except of Mr. Camden; he begs, therefore, that Dr. Pocock, would, by the
bearer, transmit to him whatever he had to communicate
in this way."
, a Scotch ecclesiastical historian, son to the rev. James Wodrow, professor of divinity in the university of Glasgow, was born there in
, a Scotch ecclesiastical historian,
son to the rev. James Wodrow, professor of divinity in the
university of Glasgow, was born there in 1679, and after
passing through his academic course, was chosen in 1698
librarian to the university. He held this office for four
years, during which he had many valuable opportunities for
indulging his taste in the history and antiquities of the
church of Scotland. In 1703 he was ordained minister of
the parish of Eastwood, in which humble station he continued all his life, although he had encouraging offers of
greater preferment in Glasgow and Stirling. He died in
1734, at the age of fifty-five. He published in 1721, in
2 vols. folio., a “History of the singular sufferings of the
Church of Scotland, during the twenty-eight years immediately preceding the Revolution,
” written with a fidelity
which has seldom been disputed, and confirmed, at the end
of each volume, by a large mass of public and private records. In England this work has been little known, except perhaps by an abridgment in 2 vols. 8vo. by the Rev.
Mr. Cruickshanks, but since the publication of the historical work of the Hop. Charles James Fox, as well as by the
writings of Messrs. Sommerville and Laing, it has greatly
risen in reputation as well as price. “No historical facts,
”
Mr. Fox says, “are better ascertained than the accounts
which are to be found in Wodrow. In every instance
where there has been an opportunity of comparing these
accounts with the records and authentic monuments, they
appear to be quite correct.
” Mr. Wodrow also left a greafc
many biographical memoirs of the Scotch reformers and
presbyterian divines, which are preserved in the university
library of Glasgow.
although he performed his probationary exercises with general applause. In March 1596 he was chosen professor of divinity in Gresham-college, upon the first settlement of
, ranked by Fuller among the learned writers of JCing’s-college, Cambridge, was born in London, about the latter part of the sixteenth century, and educated at Eton, whence, being elected to King’scollege, he was entered, Oct. 1, 1579, commenced B. A. in 1583, M. A. in 1587, and B. D. in 1594. He was also fellow of that college, and some time chaplain to Robert earl of Essex. On the death of Dr. Whitaker in 1596 he stood candidate for the king’s professorship of divinity in Cambridge, with Dr. John Overall of Trinity-college; but failed, by the superior interest of the latter, although he performed his probationary exercises with general applause. In March 1596 he was chosen professor of divinity in Gresham-college, upon the first settlement of that foundation, and in 1598 quitted his fellowship at Cambridge, and marrying soon after, resigned also his professorship. He was then chosen lecturer of Allhallows Barking; but in 1604 was silenced by Dr. Bancroft, bishop of London, for some expressions used either in a prayer or sermon, which were considered as disrespectful to the king; but it does not appear that he remained long under suspension; at least, in a volume of sermons printed in 1609 he styles himself minister of Allhallows.
hich are esteemed. John Rodolphus Zwinger, his brother, minister of several protestant churches, and professor of divinity, died 1708, leaving also some works.
, a celebrated
physician of Basil, was nephew, on the mother’s side, to
John Oporinus, the famous printer. He studied at Lyons,
Paris, and Padua; and afterwards taught Greek, morality,
politics, and physic, at his native place. He died in 1588,
aged 54. His principal work is, the “Theatrum Vitae
humanae,
” which had been begun by Conrad Lycosthenes,
his father-in-law. Of this voluminous compilation there is
a most splendid copy on vellum in the British Museum.
Zwiriger’s family has produced many other illustrious men,
and his descendants have distinguished themselves greatly
in the sciences. James Zwinger, his son, who died in
1610, was also a skilful physician; he both enlarged and
improved the “Theatrum Vitae humanse,
” Leyden, Theatrum Botanicum,
” Basil, Fasciculus Dissertationum,
” Triga Dissertationum,
”