, one of the earliest puritan divines, was born at Sidmanton, in Hampshire,
, one of the earliest puritan
divines, was born at Sidmanton, in Hampshire, in 1538,
educated at Corpus Christi college, Oxford, and elected
fellow of All-souls in 1558. He first studied civil law, and
had made very considerable proficiency in it, when a careful perusal of the Holy Scriptures led him to the profession of divinity. So much was he intent on the sacred
volume, and such his strength of memory, that he could
readily repeat by heart in Greek, the whole of the Epistles
to the Romans and Galatians, the first Epistle of John,
and other parts of the New Testament. Having taken
orders, he became very early an admired preacher at Oxford, at a time when preachers were so scarce, the Roman
catholic clergy having left the place, that Wood informs
us Dr. Humphrey, Dr. Sampson, and Mr. Kingsmill, were
all the university could boast. It appears, however, that
Mr. Kingsmill was dissatisfied with the habits or ceremonies, and went therefore to Geneva, where he found a
church more suited to his opinions on these points, and
where he was much admired for his learning and piety.
He removed afterwards to Lausanne, and died there in
September 1569, in his thirty-first year. Wood says he
was too good for this world, and left behind him a most
excellent pattern of piety, devotion, and every other
virtue. He published, 1. “A View of Man’s Estate,
wherein the great mercy of God in man’s free justification
is shewed,
” Lond. A Godly
Advice touching Marriage,
” ibid. Excellent and comfortable Treatise for such as are either
troubled in mind, or afflicted in body,
” ibid. Godly and learned Exhortation to bear patiently all afflictions for the Gospel of Christ,
” Conference between a learned godly Christian, and an
afflicted Conscience,
” ibid. Hist,
of the Reformation.
” Thomas Kingsmill, Hebrew professor at Oxford in 1569, was probably a near relation of this
author, as he was born at the same place. In 1579 he became disordered in his senses, and the celebrated Hooker
was his substitute as Hebrew professor for some years.