, one of the most popular writers of pious tracts in the seventeenth
, one of the most popular writers of
pious tracts in the seventeenth century, and whose works
are still in vogue, was the son of a clergyman, and born at
or near Dudley, in Worcestershire, in 158S, and studied
for some time at St. Mary Hall, Oxford. He left the university without taking a degree, and became beneficed at
Vrittlewell, in Essex, and afterwards, as Wood says, in
his own country, but,“according to Calamy, he had the
perpetual curacy of Cressedge and Cound, in Shropshire.
On the breaking out of the rebellion he came to London,
sided with the presbyterians, and became a frequent and
popular preacher. On his return to the country he was
appointed an assistant to the commissioners for the ejection
of those they were pleased to term
” scandalous and ignorant ministers and schoolmasters.“At the restoration he
was ejected from Cressedge, but neither Wood nor Calamy
have ascertained when he died. The former says
” he was
living an aged man near Dudley in His works are,
J.
” David’s blessed man; or a short exposition upon the
first Psalm,“Lond. 8vo, of which the fifteenth edition, in
12mo, was printed in 1686. 2.
” The Great Assize, or
the Day of Jubilee,“12mo, which before 1681 went
through thirty-one editions, and was often reprinted in the
last century. 3.
” A Fold for Christ’s Sheep,“printed
thirty-two times. 4.
” The Christian’s Guide," of which
there were numerous editions. He published some other
tracts and sermons, which also had a very numerous class
of readers.