, a dissenting minister of considerable note in the beginning of
, a dissenting minister of considerable note in the beginning of the last century, was born
at Temple-hall, in the hamlet of Whellesburgh in Leicestershire, in 1674; and educated, it is believed, at the
neighbouring free-school of Market Bosworth. After going
through a course of theological studies, he was first settled
as a preacher at a meeting-house, erected in 1710, on
Temple Farm, the place of his nativity, from which he was
called to succeed Dr. Gilpin at Newcastle upon Tyne, where
he continued until his death, Sept. 1, 1726, exercising his
ministerial functions with success and popularity, and acquiring a high character among hi* brethren for his talents
and piety. He wrote several books, 1. “A memorial of the
Reformation,
” A Defence
” of the same, Discourses on Popery,
”
Irenicum, or a review of some late controversies about the Trinity, &c.
” like many other good men,
he was not aware of the pernicious effects of Arianism, and
entertained a more favourable idea of the sentiments of some
of the dissenting ministers than they deserved. The general
principles of the book are good, but not suitably applied.
”
5. “Sermons on the Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.
”
But his most popular work, and which has gone through
many editions, is his “Christian Oratory,
” which the biographer just quoted calls the “Dissenters’ Whole Duty of
Man.
” Job Orton, a very emiitent divine among the dissenters, appears by one of his letters, to have read this
book at least ten times.