ade prebendary of Normanton in the church of Southwell; and in 1612 his majesty appointed him regius professor of divinity at Oxford; in which station he acquired the character
, eldest brother to the archbishop,
was born also in the town of Guildford in 1560; educated
by the same schoolmaster; and afterwards sent to Balliol
college, Oxford, in 1575. In 1582 he took his degree of
M. A. and soon became a celebrated preacher; to which
talent he chiefly owed his preferment. Upon his first sermon at Worcester, he was chosen lecturer in that city, and
soon after rector of All Saints in the same place. John
Stanhope, esq. happening to hear him preach at Paul’s
cross, was so pleased with him, that he immediately presented him to the rich living of Bingham in Nottinghamshire. In 1594 he became no less eminent for his
writings than he had been for his excellence in preaching.
In 1597 he took his degree of D. D. In the beginning of
king James’s reign he was appointed chaplain in ordinary
to his majesty; who had such an opinion of him as a writer, that he ordered the doctor’s book “De Antichristo
”
to be reprinted with his own commentary upon part of the
Apocalypse. He had also acquired much reputation for his
writings against Dr. William Bishop, then a secular priest,
but afterwards titular bishop of Chalcedon. In 1609 he
was elected master of Balliol college; which trust he discharged with the utmost care and assiduity, by his frequent lectures to the scholars, by his continual presence at
public exercises, and by promoting discipline in the society. In May 1610 the king nominated Dr. Abbot one of
the fellows in the college of Chelsea, which had been,
lately founded for the encouragement and promotion of
polemical divinity. In November 1610 he was made prebendary of Normanton in the church of Southwell; and in
1612 his majesty appointed him regius professor of divinity
at Oxford; in which station he acquired the character of a
profound divine, though a more moderate Calvinist than
either of his two predecessors in the divinity-chair, Holland and Humphrey: for he countenanced the sublapsarian tenets concerning predestination. He was not, however, less an enemy to Dr. Laud than his brother; and in
one of his sermons pointed at him so directly, that Laud
intended to have taken some public notice of it.
hard, because king James had been known to censure the partiality of these annotations. While king’s professor of Divinity, he had neither the canonry of Christ church, nor
A few paritculars [sic] hitherto unnoticed by his biographers
may be gleaned from Wood’s Annals, published by Mr.
Gutch. It appears that in 1596 the corporation of London
requested the two universities to send them a list of persons properly qualified for the professorships of Gresham
college, just founded. On this occasion Mr. Abbot, then
M. A. of Balliol college, was chosen with three others, but
the election ultimately fell upon a gentleman of Cambridge. In 1612, Dr. John Howson, one of the canons of
Christ church, preaching at St. Mary’s, reflected on the
Annotations to the Geneva translation of the Bible, “as
guilty of misrepresenting the divinity of Christ and his
Messiahship.
” For this he was afterwards suspended, or
forced to recant, by Dr. Abbot, then pro-vicechancellor.
Wood thinks this the more hard, because king James had
been known to censure the partiality of these annotations.
While king’s professor of Divinity, he had neither the
canonry of Christ church, nor the rectory of Ewelme
usually annexed; and his only profits were some fees from
those who performed exercises in divinity, and a salary of
forty pounds a-year paid by the dean and canons of Christ
church. In dislike to Laud, as already noticed, he shared
amply with his brother; but Wood’s account of the sermon
he preached against him is more particular than that in the
Biographia, and throws some light on the controversies as
well as the manners of the times. “On Shrove Sunday
towards the latter end of this year (1614), it happened that
Dr. Laud preached at St. Mary’s, and in his sermon insisted on some points which might indifferently be imputed
either to Popery or Arminianism (as about this time they began to call it), though in themselves they were by some
thought to be no other than the true doctrine’s of the
Church of England. And having occasion in th-it sermon
to touch upon the Presbyterians and their proceedings, he
used some words to this etfect, viz. `that the Presbyterians were as bad as the Papists.' Which being directly
contrary to the judgment and opinion of Dr. Robert Abbot,
the king’s professor of Divinity, and knowing how much
Dr. Laud had been distasted by his brother when he lived
in Oxford, conceived he could not better satisfy himself
and oblige his brother, now archbishop of Canterbury,
than by exposing him (on the next occasion) both to shame
and censure, which he did accordingly. For preaching at
St. Peter’s in the East upon Easter-day (1615) in the afternoon, in the turn of the vicechancellor, he pointed at him
so direptly, that none of the auditors were so ignorant as
not to know at whom he aimed. Dr. Laud, being not
present at the first preaching of the sermon, was by hiss
friends persuaded to shew himself at St. Mary’s the Sunday
after, when it should come to be repeated (according to the ancient custom in this university); to whose persuasions
giving an unwilling consent, he heard himself sufficiently
abused for almost an hour together, and that so palpably
and grossly, that he was pointed to as he sate.” It appears that Laud consulted his patron, Dr. Neal, bishop of
Lincoln, who probably dissuaded him from taking any notice of the matter, as we do not find that he wrote any
answer, or vindication.
, a learned Orientalist, and professor of divinity at Breslaw, was born at Bernstadt, March 6, 1654.
, a learned Orientalist, and
professor of divinity at Breslaw, was born at Bernstadt,
March 6, 1654. It is said that, at six years of age, he
could speak Hebrew. He died Nov. 4, 1704. His most
celebrated works are some chapters of a polyglot Koran,
which he intended to have completed. The specimen,
which is very scarce, is “Tetrapla Alcoranica, sive Specimen Alcorani quadrilinguis Arabici, Persici, Turcici, et
Latini,
” Berlin, Obadias
Armenus et Latinus, cum annotationibus,
” Leipsic,
he expences of his advancement to the degree of doctor. He became successively a canon of St. Peter, professor of divinity, dean of the church of Louvain, and fastly, vic
, pope, who deserves some notice on account of his personal merit, was born in Utrecht, 1459, of
parents reputed mean, who procured him a place among
the poor scholars in the college of Louvain, where his application was such as to induce Margaret of England, the
sister of Edward IV. and widow of Charles duke of Burgundy, to bear the expences of his advancement to the degree of doctor. He became successively a canon of St.
Peter, professor of divinity, dean of the church of Louvain,
and fastly, vice-chancellor of the university. Recollecting
his own condition, he generously founded a college at Louvain, which bears his name, for the education of poor students. Afterwards Maximilian I. appointed him preceptor
to his grandson Charles V. and sent him as ambassador to
Ferdinand king of Spain, who gave him the bishoprick of
Tortosa. In 1517 he was made cardinal, and during the
infancy of Charles V. became regent; but the duties of the
office were engrossed by cardinal Ximenes. On the death
of Leo X. Charles V. had so much influence with the cardinals as to procure him to be chosen to the papal chair, in
1522. He was not, however, very acceptable to the college, as he had an aversion to pomp, expence, and pleasure.
He refused to resent, by fire and sword, the complaints
urged by Luther; but endeavoured to reform such abuses
in the church as could neither be concealed or denied. To
this conduct he owed the many satires written against him
during his life, and the unfavourable representations made
by the most learned of the Roman Catholic historians. Perhaps his partiality to the emperor Charles might increase
their dislike, and occasion the suspicion that his death,
which took place Sept. 24, 1523, was a violent one. For
this, however, we know no other foundation, than a pasquinade stuck upon the house of his physician “To the deliverer of his country.
” He is said to have composed an epitaph for himself, expressing, that the greatest misfortune of
his life was his being called to govern. He has left some
writings, as, 1. “Questiones et Expositiones in IV. Sententiarum,
” Paris, 1512 and 1516, fol.; 1527, 8vo. In this
he advanced some bold sentiments against papal infallibility.
Although he wrote the work before he was pope, he reprinted it without any alteration. 2. “Questiones Quodlibeticae,
” Louvain, Analecta Historica de Adriano VI. Trajectino,
Papa Romano,
” Utrecht, 1727, 4to.
, professor of Divinity in the university of Leyden, was born 1698, at Asse
, professor of Divinity in the university of Leyden, was born 1698, at Asse in Holland.
After the example of Eisner, Raphelius, and the celebrated Lambert Bos, who had been his tutors at the university of Franeker, and of some other divines who have
been called sacred philologians, he collected from prophane
authors all the parallel passages in favour of the Greek
phrases in the New Testament, with a view to defend the
style of the evangelists and apostles against those critics
who maintain that it is barbarous and full of Hebraisms.
The result of his labours he published in 1725, under the
title of “Observationes Philologicæ in sacros Novi Feederis
libros,
” 8vo, Leyden; and encouraged by the reputation
he derived from this work, he next published “Periculum criticum in quo loca quædam cum V. ac N. T. tum
Hesychii et aliorum, illustrantur, vindicantur, emendantur,
”
Leyden, Glossarium Græcum in sacros N. T. libros. Accedunt miscellanæ critica in glossas nomicas, Suidam,
Hesychium, et index auctorum ex Photii lexico inedito,
”
Leyden, 8vo. Ten years after, in
, professor of divinity at Leipsic, was born in 1635, at Lehna in Silesia,
, professor of divinity at Leipsic, was born in 1635, at Lehna in Silesia, and died at
Leipsic in 1697. He wrote a great many controversial
treatises against Puffendorf, Thomasius, the Cartesians,
Cocceians, and the adversaries of the Augsburgh
communion, especially Bossuet and count Leopold de Collonitsch,
bishop of Wienerisch-Nenstadt. Alberti attacked also the
orthodoxy of the pious Spener, the Fenelon of the Lutheran church, but who has been censured for his leaning
too ranch to the pietists and mystics. Among his writings,
which have been most favourably received and frequently
reprinted, we may notice his “Compendium Juris naturae,
”
against Puffendorff, and his “Interesse prsecipuarum religionum Christian.
” He also wrote two curious dissertations, “De fide hsereticis servanda,
” Leipsic,
conjunction with Dr. Mew, bishop of Winchester, Dr. Sprat, bishop of Rochester, and Dr. Jane, regius professor of divinity in the university of Oxford, either did not appear
, an eminent scholar and divine,
was son of Henry Aldrich of Westminster, gentleman, and
born there in 1647. He was educated at Westminster
under the celebrated Busby, and admitted of Christ Church,
Oxford, in 1662. Having been elected student, he took the
degree of M. A. in April 1669; and, entering soon after into
orders, he became an eminent tutor in his college. Feb.
1681, he was installed canon of Christ Church; and in
May accumulated the degrees of B. and D. D. In the
controversy with the papists under James II. he bore a
considerable part; and Burnet ranks him among those
eminent clergj T men who “examined all the points of popery with a solidity of judgment, a clearness of arguing, a
depth of learning, and a vivacity of writing, far beyond
any thing which had before that time appeared in our language.
” In short, he had rendered himself so conspicuous,
that, at the Revolution, when Massey, the popish dean of
Christ Church, fled beyond sea, the deanry was conferred
upon him, and he was installed in it June 17, 1689. In
this station he behaved in a most exemplary manner, zealously promoting learning, religion, and virtue in the college where he presided. In imitation of his predecessor
bishop Fell, he published generally every year some Greek
classic, or portion of one, as a gift to the students of his
house. He wrote also a system of logic, entitled “Artis
Logicae compendium;
” and many other things. The
publication of Clarendon’s History was committed to him
and bishop Sprat; and they were charged by Oldmixon
with having altered and interpolated that work; but the
charge was sufficiently refuted by Atterbury. In the same
year that he became dean of Christ Church he was appointed one of the ecclesiastical commissioners who were
to prepare matters for introducing an alteration in some
parts of the church service, and a comprehension of the
dissenters. But he, in conjunction with Dr. Mew, bishop
of Winchester, Dr. Sprat, bishop of Rochester, and Dr.
Jane, regius professor of divinity in the university of Oxford, either did not appear at the meetings of the committee, or soon withdrew from them. They excepted to
the manner of preparing matters by a special commission,
as limiting the convocation, and imposing upon it, and
they were against all alterations whatever. Besides attainments in polite literature, classical learning, and an elegant turn for Latin poetry, of which some specimens are in
the Musae Anghcanae, he possessed also great skill in architecture and music; so great, that, as the connoisseurs
say, his excellence in either would alone have made him
famous to posterity. The three siues of the quadrangle
of Christ Church, Oxford, called Peck water-square, were
designed by him; as was also the elegant chapel of Trinity
college, and the church of All-Saints in the High-street;
to the erection of which Dr. Ratcliff, at his solicitation,
was a liberal contributor. He cultivated also music, that
branch of it particularly which related both to his profession and his office. To this end he made a noble collection of church music, and formed also a design of writing
a history of the science; having collected materials, which
are still extant in the library of his own college. His
abilities indeed as a musician have caused him to be
ranked among the greatest masters of the science: he
composed many services for the church, which are well
known; as are also his anthems, to the number of near 20.
In the “Pleasant Musical Companion,
” printed Hark the bonny Christ
Church Bells,
” the other entitled “A Smoking Catch;
”
for he himself was, it seems, a great smoaker. Besides
the preferments already mentioned, he was rector of Wem
in Shropshire. He was elected prolocutor of the convocation in February 1702, on the death of Dr. Woodward,
dean of Sarum. He died at Christ Church, December
14, 1710. The tracts he published in the popish controversy were two, “Upon the Adoration of our Saviour in
the Eucharist,
” in answer to O. Walker’s discourses on the
same subject, printed in
hese favourites, he was obliged to return to Germany, where the elector of Brandenburg appointed him professor of divinity at Francfort upon the Oder, in 1540. Two years afterwards
, a celebrated divine of the confession of Augsbourg, was born at Edinburgh, April 23,
1500. He soon made a considerable progress in schooldivinity, and entered the lists very early against Luther;
this being then the great controversy in fashion, and the
grand field in which all authors, young and old, were accustomed to display their abilities. Soon after he had a
share in the dispute which Patrick Hamilton maintained
against the ecclesiastics, in favour of the new faith he had
imbibed at Marpurgh: he endeavoured to bring him back
to the catholic religion; but this he could not effect, and
even began himself to doubt about his own religion, being
much affected by the discourse of this gentleman, and
more still by the constancy he shewed at the stake, where
David Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrew’s, caused him to
be burnt. The doubts of Ales would perhaps have been
carried no further, if he had been left unmolested to enjoy his canonry in the metropolitan church of St. Andrew’s;
but he was persecuted with so much violence by the provost of St. Andrew’s, whose intrigues he preached against
that he was obliged to retire into Germany, where he became at length a perfect convert to the Protestant religion,
and persevered therein till his death. In the different
parties which were formed, he sometimes joined with
those that were least orthodox; for, in 1560, he maintained the doctrine of George Major, concerning the necessity of good works. The change of religion, which
happened in England after the marriage of Henry VI IL
with Anna Boleyn, induced Ales to go to London, in U35,
where he was highly esteemed by Cranmer, archbishop of
Canterbury, Latimer, and Thomas Cromwel, who were at
that time in favour with the king. Upon the fall of these
favourites, he was obliged to return to Germany, where
the elector of Brandenburg appointed him professor of divinity at Francfort upon the Oder, in 1540. Two years
afterwards he had a dispute there, upon the question
“Whether the magistrate can and ought to punish fornication
” and he maintained the affirmative with Melancthon. He was greatly offended at their not deciding this
dispute, and perhaps his discontent was the reason of his
quitting Francfort precipitately; and it is certain that the
court of Brandenburgh complained of him, and wrote to
the university of Wittemberg to have him punished. He
retired, however, to Leipsic; and while he was there, he
refused a professor’s chair, which Albert duke of Prussia
intended to erect at Koningsberg, and which was erected
the year following. Soon after, he was chosen professor
of divinity at Leipsic, and enjoyed it till his death, which
happened on the 17th of March 1565. The following are
the titles of his principal works: 1. “De necessitate et
merito Bonorum Operum, disputatio proposita, in celebri
academia Lipsica ad 29 Nov. 1560.
” 2. “Commentarii
in evangelium Joannis, et in utramque epistolam ad Timotheum.
” 3. “Expositio in Psalmos Davidis.
” 4. “De
Justificatione, contra Osiandrum.
” 5. “De Sancta Trinitate, cum confutatione erroris Valentini.
” 6. “Responsio ad triginta et duos articulos theologorum Lovaniensium.
”
degree, of D.D. and was appointed one of the king’s chaplains in ordinary, and in Sept. 1663, regius professor of divinity, in which chair he sat seventeen years, and acquitted
Soon after the restoration, Mr. Allestry was made a canon of Christ-church; at the same time he undertook one of the lectureships of the city of Oxford, but never received any part of the salary; for he ordered it to be distributed amongst the poor. In October 1660, he took the degree, of D.D. and was appointed one of the king’s chaplains in ordinary, and in Sept. 1663, regius professor of divinity, in which chair he sat seventeen years, and acquitted himself with honour. In 1665 he was appointed provost of Eton college, where he raised the school, which he found in a low condition, to an uncommon pitch of reputation. The west side of the outward quadrangle of that college was built from the ground at his expense. The excellent Dr. Hammond, who was his intimate friend, left him his valuable library, which he bequeathed himself to his successors in the divinity chair. His eagerness for study 3 and his intention of mind while he was employed in it was so great, that it impaired his constitution, and hastened his death. In 1680, finding his health and sight much weakened, he resigned his professorship of divinity to Dr. Jane. And now the decay of his constitution terminating in a dropsy, he removed to London, to have the advice of physicians; but medicines proving ineffectual, he died January 27th, 1680; and was buried in EJton chapel, where a marble monument, with an, elegant Latin inscription, was erected to his memory.
, professor of divinity in the college of Navarre, at Paris, and one of
, professor of divinity in the college
of Navarre, at Paris, and one of the most able scholastic
writers of his time, was a native of Sens, and died young at
Paris in 1515. During his short life, he published a considerable number of works, on logic, physics, morality, and
divinity. The two which procured him most fame are,
1. “De autoritate Ecclesise, &c.
” Paris, De potestate ecclesiastica et laicali
contra Ockam.
” These are both in the edition of his
works, published at Paris, Moralia,
” Paris,
itted doctor of philosophy the 21st of October 1645, preacher to the academy in 1647, and doctor and professor of divinity in 1667. He had visited Heidelberg in 1662, where
, son of the above Henry, was born
at Heidelberg the 27th of September 1618, at which time
his father was deputy at the synod of Dort. He went
through his studies at Groningen with great success; and
being desirous to acquire knowledge in the Oriental languages, removed to Embden in 1638, to improve himself
under the rabbi Gamprecht Ben Abraham. He came over
to England in 1640, where he became acquainted with
many persons of the greatest note; he preached here, and
was ordained a priest of the church of England by Dr.
Prideaux, bishop of Worcester. He had once resolved to
pass his life in England, but afterwards accepted the Hebrew professorship at Groningen, offered him upon the
death of Goraarus. He entered upon this office the 13th
of January 1643, the very day that Samuel des Marets was
installed in the professorship of divinity, which had been
held by the same Gomarus. Alting was admitted doctor
of philosophy the 21st of October 1645, preacher to the
academy in 1647, and doctor and professor of divinity in
1667. He had visited Heidelberg in 1662, where he received many marks of esteem from the elector Palatine,
Charles Lewis, who often solicited him to accept of the
professorship of divinity, but he declined this offer. In a
little time a misunderstanding arose betwixt him and Samuel des Marets, his colleague, owing to a difference in
their method of teaching, and in many points in their principles. Alting kept to the scriptures, without meddling
with scholastic divinity: the first lectures which he read at
his house upon the catechism, drew such vast crowds of
hearers, that, for want of room in his own chamber, he was
obliged to make use of the university hall. His colleague
was accustomed to the method and logical distinctions of
the schoolmen; had been a long time in great esteem, had
published several books, and to a sprightly genius had added
a good stock of learning; the students who were of that
country adhered to him, as the surest way to obtain church
preferment, for the parishes were generally supplied with
such as had studied according to his method. This was
sufficient to raise and keep up a misunderstanding betwixt
the two professors. Alting had great obstacles to surmount:
a majority df voices and the authority of age were on his
adversary’s side. Des Marets gave out that Alting was an
innovator, and one who endeavoured to root up the boundaries which our wise forefathers had made between truth
and falsehood; he accordingly became his accuser, and
charged him with one-and-thirty erroneous propositions.
The curators of the university, without acquainting the
parties, sent the information and the answers to the divines
of Leyden, desiring their opinion. The judgment they
gave is remarkable: Alting was acquitted of all heresy, but
his imprudence was blamed in broaching new hypotheses;
on the other hand, Des Marets was censured for acting
contrary to the laws of charity and moderation. The latter
would not submit to this judgment, nor accept of the silence which was proposed. He insisted on the cause being
heard before the consistories, the classes, and the synods;
but the heads would not consent to this, forbidding all
writings, either for or against the judgment of the divines
of Leyden; and thus the work of Des Marets, entitled
“Audi et alteram partem,
” was suppressed. This contest
excited much attention, and might have been attended with
bad consequences, when Des Marets was called to Leyden,
but he died at Groningen before he could take possession of
that employment. There was a kind of reconciliation effected
betwixt him and Alting before his death: a clergyman of
Groningen, seeing Des Marets past all hopes of recovery,
proposed it to him; and having his consent, made the same
proposal to Alting, who answered, that the silence he had
observed, notwithstanding the clamours and writings of his
adversary, shewed his peaceable disposition; that he was
ready to come to an agreement upon reasonable terms, but
that he required satisfaction for the injurious reports disseminated against his honour and reputation; and that he
could not conceive how any one should desire his friendship, whilst he thought him such a man as he had represented him to be. The person, who acted as mediator,
some time after returned, with another clergyman, to Alting, and obtained from him a formulary of the satisfaction
he desired. This formulary was not liked by Des Marets,
who drew up another, but this did not please Alting: at
last, however, after some alterations, the reconciliation was
effected; the parties only retracted the personal injuries,
and as to the accusations in point of doctrine, the accuser
left them to the judgment of the church. Alting, however,
thought he had reason to complain, even after he was delivered from so formidable an adversary. His complaint
was occasioned by the last edition of Des Marets’s system,
in which he was very ill treated: he said, his adversary
should have left no monuments of the quarrel; and that
his reconciliation had not been sincere, since he had not
suppressed such an injurious book. The clergy were continually murmuring against what they called innovations;
but the secular power wisely calmed those storms, which
the convocations and synods would have raised,
threatening to interdict those who should revive what had obtained
the name of the Maresio-Altingian controversy. Alting
enjoyed but little health the last three years of his life;
and being at length seized with a violent fever, was carried
off in nine days, at Groningen, August 20, 1679. His
works, which consist of dissertations on various points of
Hebrew and Oriental antiquities; commentaries on many
of the books of the Bible; a Syro-Chaldaic Grammar; a
treatise on Hebrew punctuation, &c. &c. were collected in
5 vols. fol. and published by Balthasar Boeker, Amst. 1687,
with a life by the same editor.
me that the church of Saumur desired him for their minister, the academic council fixed upon him for professor of divinity; and his admission to the professorship, his previous
, an eminent French divine, was
born in September 1596, at Bourgueil, a small town of
Touraine, of an ancient family originally from Orleans.
Having gone through his course of philosophy, he was sent
to Poictiers, to read law; to which he applied himself with
great assiduity, and is said to have spent fourteen hours a
day in that study. At the end of his first year, he took the
degree of licentiate; but Mr. Bouchereau, minister of Saumur, advising him to study divinity, and the reading of
Calvin’s Institutions having strongly inclined him to follow
this advice, he acquainted his father that he earnestly
desired to be a clergyman, and obtained his assent, though
tiot without difficulty. He then went to study at Saumur,
where he continued a considerable time as student of divinity. Upon his admission into orders, he was presented
to the church of St. Agnau, in the country of Mayne, and
eighteen months after, he was invited to Saumur, to succeed Mr. Daillé, appointed minister of Charenton. About
the same time that the church of Saumur desired him for
their minister, the academic council fixed upon him for
professor of divinity; and his admission to the professorship,
his previous examination, and his inaugural thesis “De
sacerdotio Christi,
” redounded much to his reputation.
tor of the churches which belong to that county, and his mother, daughter to John Piscator, a famous professor of divinity at Herborn, in the county of Nassau. He performed
, professor of history and Greek at Groningen, was born at Braunfels, in the county of Solras, August 10th, 1604. His father was minister to count de Solms-Braunfels, and Inspector of the churches which belong to that county, and his mother, daughter to John Piscator, a famous professor of divinity at Herborn, in the county of Nassau. He performed his humanity-studies at Herborn, and then studied philosophy at the same place, under Alstedius and Piscator, after which he went to Bremen, where he lived seven years. He was one of the most constant auditors of Gerard de Neuville, a physician and a philosopher; and, as he had a desire to attain a public professorship, he prepared himself for it by several lectures which he read in philosophy. He returned to his own country in 1628, where he did not continue long, but went to Groningen, on the invitation of his kind patron, Henry Alting. He read there, for some time, lectures upon all parts of philosophy, after which Alting made him tutor to his sons, and wheo they had no longer occasion for his instruction, he procured him the same employment with a prince Palatine, which lasted for three years; part of which he spent at Leyden, and part at the Hague, at the court of the prince of Orange. He was called to Groningen in 1634, to succeed Janus Gebhardus, who had been professor of history and Greek. He filled that chair with great assiduity and reputation till his death, which happened October 17, 1676. He was library -keeper to the university, and a great frierAi to Mr. Des Cartes, which he shewed both during the life and after the death of that illustrious philosopher. He married the daughter of a Swede, famous, among other things, for charity towards those who suffered for the sake of religion.
r their solidity and learning, that he was much followed, and universally applauded. Martin Lyclius, professor of divinity at Franeker, thought him a fit person to refute
, founder of the sect of Arminians,
or Remonstrants, was born at Oudewater in Holland, 1560.
He lost his father in his infancy, and was indebted for the
first part of his education to a clergyman, who had imbibed
some opinions of the reformed, and who, to avoid being
obliged to say mass, often changed his habitation. Arminius was a student at Utrecht, when death deprived him
of his patron, which loss would have embarrassed him
greatly, had he not had the good fortune to be assisted by
iiodolphus Snellius, his countryman, who took him with him
to Marpurg in 1575. Soon after his arrival here, he heard
the news of his country having been sacked by the Spaniards: this plunged him into the most dreadful affliction,
yet he visited Holland, to be himself an eye-witness of the
state tc which things were reduced; but having found that
his mother, his sister, his brothers, and almost all the
inhabitants of Oude-water, had been murdered, he returned
to Marpurg. His stay here was, however, but short; for,
being informed of the foundation of the university of Leyden, he went again to Holland, and pursued his studies at
this new academy with so much assiduity and success, that
he acquired very great reputation. He was sent to Geneva in 1583, at the expeuce of the magistrates of Amsterdam, to perfect his studies; and here he applied himself
chiefly to the lectures of Theodore Beza, who was at this
time explaining the Epistle to the Romans. Armiuius had
the misfortune to displease some of the leading men of the
university, because he maintained the philosophy of Ramus in public with great warmth, and taught it in private:
being obliged therefore to retire, he went to Basil, where
he was received with great kindness. Here he acquired
such reputation, that the faculty of divinity offered him
the degree of doctor without any expence, but he modestly
excused himself from receiving this honour, and returned
to Geneva; where having found the adversaries of Ramism.
less violent than formerly, he became also more moderate.
Having a great desire to see Italy, and particularly to hear
the philosophical lectures of the famous James Zabarella,
at Padua, he spent six or seven months in the journey:
and then returned to Geneva, and afterwards to Amsterdam; where he found many calumnies raised against him,
on account of his journey to Italy, which had somewhat
cooled the affections of the magistrates of Amsterdam, his
friends and patrons. He easily justified himself to some,
but others remained prejudiced against him. He was ordained minister at Amsterdam in 1588, and soon distinguished himself by his sermons, which were so esteemed
for their solidity and learning, that he was much followed,
and universally applauded. Martin Lyclius, professor of
divinity at Franeker, thought him a fit person to refute a
writing, wherein the doctrine of Theodore Beza upon Predestination had been attacked by some ministers of Delft:
Beza, and his followers, represented man, not considered
as fallen, or even as created, as the object of the divine
decrees. The ministers of Delft, on the other hand, made
this peremptory decree subordinate to the creation and
fall of mankind. They submitted their opinion to the public, in a book entitled “An Answer to certain arguments
of Beza and Calvin, in the treatise concerning Predestination, upon the ninth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
”
This piece, which contained several difficulties, with which
the doctrine of the divines of Geneva seemed to be embarrassed, was transmitted by the ministers of Delft to
Martin Lydius, who promised to write a reply; but he
applied to Arminius to take this upon him. Arminius,
accordingly, at his earnest entreaty, undertook to refute
this piece: but, upon examining and weighing the arguments on both sides, he embraced the opinions he proposed to confute; and even went farther than the ministers of Delft. He was threatened with some trouble about
this at Amsterdam, being accused of departing from the
established doctrine; but the magistrates of Amsterdam
interposing their authority, prevented any dissension. In
1603, he was called to the professorship of divinity at Leyden: he began his lectures with three elegant orations;
the first, Of the Object of Theology; the second, Of the
Author and End of it; and the third, Of the Certainty of
it; and then proceeded to the exposition of the prophet
Jonah. The disputes upon grace were soon after kindled
in the university, and the states of the province were forced
to appoint conferences betwixt him and his adversaries.
Gomarus was the great antagonist of Arminius; but the
reputation of the latter was so well established, that he
was continually attended by a numerous audience, who
admired the strength of argument and solid learning which
he shewed in all his lectures: this exposed him to the
envy of his brethren, who treated him with great outrage.
In 1607, he wrote an excellent letter to the ambassador of
the elector Palatine, to vindicate his conduct with regard
to the contests about religion, in which he was engaged:
and the same year gave a full account to the states of Holland, of his sentiments with regard to the controverted
points. These contests, however, his continual labour,
and his uneasiness at seeing his reputation attacked in all
quarters, threw him into a fit of sickness, of which he died
the 19th of October, 1609.
, professor of divinity at Franeker, was born at Lesna, a city of Poland,
, professor of divinity at Franeker,
was born at Lesna, a city of Poland, Dec. 17, 1618. He
was educated in the college of Lesna, particularly under
Comenius, and was afterwards created subdeacon to the
synod of Ostrorog, at the age of fifteen, and in that quality
accompanied Arminius for two years in his visitation of the
churches of Poland, after which he was sent to Dantzick,
in 1635, and applied himself to the study of eloquence
and philosophy. He returned to Poland in 1638, and
pursued his divinity studies for about a year, after which
he was sent into Podolia to be rector of the school of Jablonow. Having exercised that employment three months,
he performed the office of a minister the two following
years at a nobleman’s house. As it was observed that his
talents might be of great service to the church, it was
thought proper that he should visit the most celebrated
academies. With this view he set out, in 1641, and after
visiting Franeker, Groningen, Leyden, and Utrecht, he
came over to England; but unfortunately this purpose was
frustrated by the rebellion, which then raged in its utmost
violence, and had suspended the literary labours of Oxford
and Cambridge. On his return to his own country, he
preached with great success and approbation, and in 1651
was chosen to succeed Cocceius as professor of divinity at
Franeker, which office he discharged until his death, Oct.
15, 1680, after a long illness, in which he gave many instances of his piety, and resignation to the Divine will.
His works are very numerous, and were written principally
against the Socinian tenets. Among these Bayle enumerates his “Refutation of the Catechism of the Socinians,
”
his “Anti-Bidellus,
” “Anti-Echardus,
” his book “against
Brevingius,
” his “Apology for Arnesius against Erbermann,
” the defender of Bellarmin; “Theological disputes on select subjects,
” “Commentary on the Epistle
to the Hebrews,
” &c. He wrote with learning and spirit,
and had a powerful host of enemies to contend with in
Poland, where Socinian opinions were very extensively
disseminated.
thence went to Oxford in 1637-8, to finish his studies Under the tuition of Dr. Prideaux, the regius professor of divinity. Soon after he was appointed chaplain to James marquis
, bishop of Galloway in Scotland, was the son of Henry Atkins, sheriff and commissary of Orkney, and was born in the town of Kirkwall, in the stewartry of Orkney. He was educated in the college of Edinburgh, where he commenced M, A. and from thence went to Oxford in 1637-8, to finish his studies Under the tuition of Dr. Prideaux, the regius professor of divinity. Soon after he was appointed chaplain to James marquis of Hamilton, his majesty’s high-commissioner for Scotland, in which station he acquitted himself so well, that, by the application of his noble patron upon his return to England, he obtained from the king a presentation to the church of Birsa, in the stewartry of Orkney. Here he continued some years, and his prudence, diligence, and faithfulness in the discharge of his office, procured him much veneration and respect from all persons, especially from his ordinary, who conferred upon him the dignity of Moderator of the presbytery. In the beginning of 1650, when James marquis of Montrosc landed in Orkney, Dr. Atkins was nominated by the unanimous votes of the said presbytery, to draw up a declaration in their names, containing the strongest expressions of loyalty and allegiance to king Charles II., for which the whole presbytery being deposed by the assembly of the kirk at that time sitting at Edinburgh, Dr. Atkins was likewise excommunicated as one who held a correspondence with the said marquis. At the same time the council passed an act for the apprehending and bringing him to his trial but upon private notice from his kinsman sir Archibald Primrose, then clerk of the council, he fled into Holland, where he lay concealed till 1653, and then returning into Scotland, he settled with his family at Edinburgh, quietly and obscurely, till 1660. Upon the restoration of the king, he accompanied Dr. Thomas Sydserf, bishop of Galloway (the only Scotch bishop who survived the calamities of the usurpation) to London, where the bishop of Winchester presented him to the rectory of Winfrith in Dorsetshire. In 1677, he was elected and consecrated bishop of Murray in Scotland, to the great joy of the episcopal party; and, in 1680, he was translated to the see of Galloway, with a dispensation to reside at Edinburgh, on account of his age, and the disaffection of the people to episcopacy. At this distance, however, he continued to govern his diocese seven years, and died at Edinburgh of an apoplexy, October 28th, 1687, aged seventy -four years. His body was decently interred in the church of the Grey-friars^ and his death was extremely regretted by all good and pious men.
journal of the trial of the earl of Strafford. Not long after, on his return, he was appointed joint professor of divinity with Mr. David Dickson, in the university of Glasgow,
, an eminent Presbyterian divine
of the seventeenth century, was born at Glasgow in the
year 1599. His father, Mr. Thomas Baillie, was a citizen
of that place, and son to Baillie of Jerviston. Our Robert Baillie was educated in the university of his native
city where, having taken his degrees in arts, he turned
his thoughts to the study of divinity and, receiving orders
from archbishop Law, he was chosen regent of philosophy
at Glasgow. While he was in this station, he had, for
some years, the care of the education of Lord Montgomery, who, at length, carried him with him to Kilwinning;
to which church he was presented by the earl of Eglintoun. Here he lived in the strictest friendship with that
noble family, and the people connected with it; as he did
also with his ordinary the archbishop of Glasgow, with
whom he kept up an epistolary correspondence. In 1633,
he declined, from modesty, the offer of a church in Edinburgh. Being requested in 1637, by his friend the archbishop, to preach a sermon before the assembly at Edinburgh, in recommendation of the canon and service book,
he refused to do it; and wrote a handsome letter to the
archbishop, assigning the reasons of his refusal. In 1638
he was chosen by the presbytery of Irvine, a member of
the famous assembly at Glasgow, which was a prelude to the
civil war. Though Mr. Baillie is said to have behaved in
this assembly with great moderation, it is evident that he
was by no means deficient in his zeal against prelacy and
Arminianism. In 1640 he was sent by the covenanting
lords to London, to draw up an accusation against archbishop Laud, for his obtrusions on the church of Scotland.
While he was in England, he wrote the presbytery a regular account of public affairs, with a journal of the trial
of the earl of Strafford. Not long after, on his return, he
was appointed joint professor of divinity with Mr. David
Dickson, in the university of Glasgow, and his reputation
was become so great, that he had before this received
invitations from the other three universities, all of which
he refused. He continued in his professorship till the
Restoration but his discharge of the duties of it was interrupted for a considerable time, by his residence in
England for, in 1643, he was chosen one of the commissioners of the church of Scotland to the assembly of divines
at Westminster. Though he never spoke in the debates
of the assembly, he appears to have been an useful member, and entirely concurred in the principles and views of
its leaders. Mr. Baillie returned again to his own country
in the latter end of 1646. When, after the execution of
Charles I. Charles II. was proclaimed in Scotland, our professor was one of the divines appointed by the general assembly to wait on the king at the Hague; upon which occasion,
March 27, 1649, he made a speech in the royal presence,
expressing in the strongest terms his abhorrence of the
murder of the late king and, in his sentiments upon this
event, it appears that the Presbyterian divines of that
period, both at home and abroad, almost universally
agreed. After the restoration of Charles II. Mr. Baillie,
Jan. 23, 1661, by the interest of the earl of Lauderdale,
with whom he was a great favourite, was made principal
of the university of Glasgow, upon the removal of Mr.
Patrick Gillespie, who had been patronised by Cromwell.
It is said by several writers, that Mr. Baillie had the offer
of a bishopric, which he absolutely refused. Though he
was very loyal, and most sincerely rejoiced in his majesty’s
restoration, he began, a little before his death, to be extremely anxious for the fate of Presbytery. His health
failed him in the spring of 1662. During his illness he
was visited by the new-made archbishop of Glasgow, to
whom he is said to have addressed himself in the following
words “Mr, Andrews (I will not call you my lord), king
Charles would have made me one of these lords but I do
not find in the New Testament, that Christ has any lords
in his house.
” Notwithstanding this common-place objection to the hierarchy, he treated the archbishop very
courteously. Mr. Baillie died in July 1662, being 63 years
f age. By his first wife, who was Lilias Fleming, of the
family of Cardarroch, in the parish of Cadder, near Glasgow, he had many children, five of whom survived him,
viz. one son, and four daughters. The posterity of his
son, Mr. Henry Baillie, who was a preacher, but never
accepted of any charge, still inherit the estate of Carnbrae,
in the county of Lanerk, an ancient seat of the Baillies.
Mr. Baillie’s character ha% been drawn to great advantage,
not only by Mr. Woodrow, but by an historian of the opposite party. His works, which were very learned, and
acquired him reputation in his own time, are 1. “Opus
Historicum et Chronologicum,
” Amsterdam, A Defence of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, against Mr. Maxwell, bishop of Ross.
” 3. “A Parallel betwixt the Scottish Service-Book and the Romish
Missal, Breviary,
” &c. 4. “The Canterburian Self-Conviction.
” 5. “Queries anent the Service-Book.
” 6. “Antidote against Arminianism.
” 7. “A treatise on Scottish
Episcopacy.
” 8. “Laudensium.
” 9. “Dissuasive against
the Errors of the Times, with a Supplement.
” 10. “A
Reply to the Modest Enquirer,
” with some other tracts,
and several sermons upon public occasions but his “Opus
Historicum et Chronologicum,
” was his capital production. The rest of his writings, being chiefly on controversial
and temporary subjects, can, at present, be of little or no
value. But his memory is perhaps yet more preserved by a
very recent publication, “Letters and Journals, carefully
transcribed by Robert Aiken containing an impartial account of public transactions, civil, ecclesiastical, and military, both in England and Scotland, from 1637 to 1662 a
period, perhaps, the most remarkable that is to be met
with in the British History. With an Account of the
Author’s life, prefixed and a Glossary annexed,
” Edinburgh,
was born at Melun, in the territory of Ath, in 1513. The emperor Charles V. made choice of him to be professor of divinity in the university of Louvain. He was afterwards
, was born at Melun, in the territory of Ath, in 1513. The emperor Charles V. made choice of him to be professor of divinity in the university of Louvain. He was afterwards chancellor of that body, guardian of its privileges, and inquisitor-general. The university, in concert with the king of Spain, elected him deputy to the council of Trent, whiere he acquired reputation. He had already published several small pieces, but was destined to be involved in controversy. Like the other followers of Augustin, he had an invincible aversion to that contentious, subtle, and intricate manner of teaching theology, that had long prevailed in the schools; and, under the auspicious name of that famous prelate, who was his darling guide, he had the courage to condemn, in an open and public manner, the tenets commonly received in the church of Rome, with respect to the natural powers of man, and the merit of good works.
, doctor and professor of divinity in the university of Copenhagen, was born in 1600,
, doctor and professor of divinity in
the university of Copenhagen, was born in 1600, and was
educated first in the college of Ottensee in the isle of Funen, and then at Copenhagen. Caspar Brochmand, professor of divinity and bishop of Selande, made him tutor to
his son and he was preceptor at the same time to Christian
Friis, eldest son to the chancellor of Denmark. After he
had continued in that employment above five years, he obtained a pension from the king, and went to Rostoch, from
whence he returned to Copenhagen, when the emperor’s
troops drew near to the Baltic sea. He finished his course
of divinity under professor Brochmand, and afterwards went
to Franeker, where he learned rabbinical and Chaldee
learning under Sixtinus Amama, by whom he was greatly
esteemed. He studied afterwards at Wittemberg, and received there, in 1630, a letter from the rector and academical council of Copenhagen, with an offer of the professorship in Hebrew, which he accepted, on condition that he
should be permitted to employ the revenue of that place
in studying for some years the Arabic and Syriac tongues
under Gabriel Sionita. He discharged the professorship
with great advantage to students till 1652, when he was
raised to the professorship of divinity, vacant by the death
of Mr. Brochmand. He was promoted to the doctorship in
the same faculty in 1653, in the presence of the king and
queen. In 1656 he was* appointed librarian of the academy. He died Oct. 27, 1661, of an illness of only six
days, leaving a widow atid fourteen children. He was the
author of several learned works on the Hebrew language
and criticism, among which are, “Observationes Philologicce,
” Copenhagen, Hebrew Lexicon,
”
gust, 1660, he was not only created doctor in divinity among the royalists, but also chosen Margaret professor of divinity, the 1st of September following, upon the ejection
, a very learned divine and bishop
in the seventeenth century, was born at Langhill, in the
parish of Orton, in Westmorland, in 1607; being the son
<*f Mr. Richard Barlow, descended from the ancient family
of Barlow-moore in Lancashire. He had his first education at the free-school at Appleby, in his own country.
From thence being removed, in the sixteenth year of his
age, to Queen’s college in Oxford, he took his degrees in
arts, that of master being completed the 27th of June,
1633, and the same year was chosen fellow of his college.
In 1635, he was appointed metaphysic-reader in the university; and his lectures being much approved of, were
published in 1637 for the use of the scholars. When
the garrison of Oxford surrendered to the parliament
in 1646, he submitted to the persons then in power and
by tb-^ interest of colonel Thomas Kelsey, deputy governor of that garrison, or more likely by that of Selden or
Dr. Owen, preserved his fellowship, notwithstanding the
parliamentary visitation, of which he gave a ludicrous account, in a pamphlet entitled “Pegasus.
” In The case of a Toleration in matters of religion,' 7 addressed to the famous Rob. Boyle, esq. in which
that subject fs handled with great candour. In 1661, he was
appointed archdeacon of Oxford, in the room of Dr. Barten Holiday, deceased but he was not installed till June 13,
1664, owing to a contest between him and Dr. Thomas
Lamplugh about thut dignity, which, after having lasted
some time, was at length decided in favour of Dr. Barlow, at the assizes held at Oxford, March 1, 1663-4. Being eminent for his skill in the civil and canon law, he was
often applied to as a casuist, to resolve cases of conscience,
about marriage, &c. And on one of these occasions, in
1671, he wrote
” Mr. Cottington’s case of Divorce,“in
which is discussed the validity of his marriage with a lady
whose former husband was living and some years after,
another case of marriage, inserted in his
” Genuine remains.“Upon the death of Dr. W. Fuller, bishop of
Lincoln, which happened April 22, 1675, he obtained, the
same day, a grant of that bishopric, at the recommendation of some of the nobility, and chiefly through the interest of the two secretaries of state, Henry Coventry, esq.
and sir Joseph Williamson, both some time of his college,
and the first formerly his pupil. The 27th of June following, he was consecrated at Ely-house chapel. Archbishop
Sheldon opposed his promotion, though the reasons of it
are not assigned. After his advancement to this see,
bishop Barlow wrote several curious things. They were
generally short, and most of them by way of letter. The
most considerable are these: In 1676,
” The original of
Sine Cures >“concerning
” Pensions paid out of Churchlivings“and a” Survey of the numbers of Papists within
the province of Canterbury
” in 1679, “A letter concerning the Canon Law, allowing the whipping of heretics.
”
But he was most distinguished by his writings against
popery the chief of which were, “Popery, or the principles and positions approved by the Church of Rome, &c.
are very dangerous to all,
” and “A discourse concerning
the Laws ecclesiastical and civil, made against heretics by
popes, emperors, and kings, provincial and general councils, approved by the Church of Rome,
” evidently levelled
against the duke of York. He expressed his zeal against
the papists, not only in writing, but in action. For when,
in 1678, after the discovery of the popish plot, a bill was
brought into parliament, requiring all members of either
house, and all such as might come into the king’s court, or
presence, to take a test against popery our bishop appeared for that bill in the house of lords, and spoke in favour of it. Notwithstanding which we are told, that after
king James II.'s accession to the throne, bishop Barlow
took all opportunities to express his affection, or submission, to him for he sent up an address of thanks to him,
for his first declaration for liberty of conscience, signed by
six hundred of his clergy. He wrote reasons for reading
that king’s second declaration for liberty of conscience
he caused it to be read in his diocese , nay, he was
prevailed upon to assert and vindicate the regal power of dispensing with penal laws, in an elaborate tract, with numerous quotations from canonists, civilians, and divines.
And yet, after the revolution, he was one of those bishops
who readily voted that king James had abdicated his kingdoms. He took the oaths to his successors and no bishop
was more ready than he, to fill the places of such clergymen as refused to take the oaths to king William and queen
Mary. There was nothing in this, however, inconsistent
in one who held his sentiments *in favour of toleration. It
is more doubtful that he was entirely addicted to the Aristotelian philosophy, and a declared enemy to the improvements made by the royal society, and to what he called in
general the new philoso'phy. He was, however, a rigid
Calvinist, and the school divinity was that which he most
admired but when his attachment to Calvin’s notions engaged him in a public opposition to some of Mr. Bull’s
works, he declined a public disputation on the subject.
He has also been blamed for never appearing in his cathedral, nor visiting his diocese in person, but residing constantly at his manor of Bugden but against this he appears to have vindicated himself. His enemies are willing
to allow that he was a good casuist, a man of very exten^
sive learning, an universal lover and favourer of learned
me if, of what country or denomination soever, and a great
master of the whole controversy between the Protestants
and Papists. He died at Bugden, October 8, 1691, in the
eighty-fifth year of his age; and was buried the llth of
the said month, on the north side of the chancel belonging to
that church, near the body of Dr. R. Sanderson, some time
bishop of Lincoln, and, according to his own desire, in the
grave of Dr. William Barlow, formerly bishop of the same
see to whose memory, as well as his own, is erected a
monument, with an inscription which he composed himself
a few days before his death. He bequeathed to the
Bodleian library, all such books of his own, as were not in that
noble collection at the time of his death and the remainder he gave to Queen’s college in Oxford, on which the
society erected, in 1694, a noble pile of buildings, on the
west side of their college, to receive them. All his manuscripts, of his own composition, he left to his two domestic
chaplains, William Otfley and Henry Brougham, prebendaries of Lincoln, with a particular desire that they
would not make any of them public after his decease.
Besides the works already mentioned, he wrote against
popery, 1.'“Confutation of the infallibility of the church
of Rome,
” written in 167S. 2. “A letter to J. Evelyn,
esq. concerning invocation of Saints, and adoration of the
Cross,
” London, The Gun-powder Treason, with a discourse of the manner of its discovery, &c.
” printed at first
in A preface
touching that horrid conspiracy, dated Feb. 1, 1678-9.
”
4. “Brutum Fulmen, or the bull of pope Pius Sextus
against queen Elizabeth,
” Whether the
pope be Antichrist, &c.
” 6. “A few plain reasons why
a Protestant of the church of England should not turn
Roman catholic,
” Pietas in Patrem, or a few tears upon
the lamented death of his most dear and loving Father
Richard Barlow, late of Langhill in Westmorland, who
died December 29, 1636,
” Oxford, A
letter to Mr. John Goodwin, concerning Universal Redemption, by J. Christ,
” For toleration of the Jews,
”
3655. 10. “A letter to Mr. John Tombes in defence of
Anabaptism, inserted in one of Tombes’s books.
” 11. “A
tract to prove that true grace doth not lie so much in the
degree, as in the nature.
” This also is inserted in a book,
entitled Sincerity and Hypocrisy, &c. written by William
Sheppard, esq. 12. “The Rights of the Bishops to judge
in capital eases in parliament cleared, &c.
” Lond. A letter (to his clergy) for the putting in execution the Laws against
Dissenters, written in concurrence to that which was drawn
up by the justices of the peace of the county of Bedford,
at the quarter-sessions held at Ampthill for the said county,
Jan. 14, 1684.
” After his decease, sir Peter Pett
lisbed in Several miscellaneous and weighty
cases of conscience, learnedly and judiciously resolved by
the right rev. father in God, Dr. T ho. Barlow, late lord
bishop of Lincoln.
” Sir Peter published also in The genuine Remains of that learned
prelate, Dr. Thomas Barlow, late lord bishop of Lincoln,
containing divers discourses, theological, philosophical,
historical, &c. in letters to several persons of honour and
quality.
” But these two volumes being published without
the knowledge or consent of the bishop’s two chaplains
above-mentioned, to whom he had left all his manuscripts,
with orders that they should not be published, they severely
Reflected upon the publisher, for the unwarrantable liberty
he had taken.
, professor of divinity, and chaplain to Henry VIII. king of England, was
, professor of divinity, and chaplain to Henry VIII. king of England, was sent to Germany by his master in 1535, where he held a conference
with the protestant divines upon the affair of the divorce
after that he had several audiences of the elector of Saxony, and joined with the English ambassadors, who proposed to this elector an alliance against the pope, and desired that Henry VIII. might be associated in the league
of Smalcalde. He gave them hopes of a reformation in
England but in fact, they had no other design than to
obtain their doctors approbation of the divorce of their
master, and a political alliance, in order to find the emperor more employment, who threatened to revenge the
injury upon king Henry for divorcing his aunt. They carried away with them the opinion of the divines of Witternberg which was not entirely favourable to them but they
suppressed the conclusion, wjien they shewed it to the
king. Barnes’s conduct however pleased the king, and
induced him to employ him in carrying on a correspondence with the princes of Germany. He was sent several
times to those courts and among other negociations, he
w r as the first who was employed in the project of the marriage with Anne of Cleves. He was a zealous Lutheran,
which he did not conceal in his sermons for in Lent in
1540 he confuted the sermon, which bishop Gardiner had
preached against Luther’s doctrine. He took the same
text as Gardiner had done, and taught a doctrine absolutely contrary to what this prelate had laid down concerning
justification nay he even attacked the bishop personally,
and jested upon the name of Gardiner. Gardiner’s friends
complained to the king of this, who ordered 'Barnes to
give him satisfaction, to sign certain articles, and to make
a formal recantation in the pulpit. All this was done, but
in such a manner, that there was a complaint, that in one
part of his sermon he artfully maintained what he had retracted in the other. Upon these complaints he was sent
to the Tower by the king’s command, which he never
came out of but to suffer death in the midst of the flames
for he was condemned* as an heretic by the parliament,
without being permitted to make his defence. He declared his belief a little before his death he rejected justification by works, invocation of saints, &c. and desired
that the king would undertake a thorough reformation.
His freedom of speech had for a long time before exposed
him to trouble. While Wolsey was in favour, he preached
so vehemently at Cambridge against the luxury of prelates,
that every body saw immediately that he designed it
against the cardinal. Upon that account he was carried to
London, where by the solicitations of Gardiner and Fox,
he was rescued from that prosecution, having agreed to
abjure some articles which were proposed to him. Afterwards he was again committed to prison upon some newaccusations and then it was generally believed that he
would be burnt, but he escaped, and went over into Germany, where he applied himself entirely to the study of
the bible and divinity in which he made so great a progress, that he was very much esteemed by the doctors and
princes. When the king of Denmark sent ambassadors to
England, he desired Barnes to accompany them, or even
to be one of them. We have at least two books written
by Barnes, one, the “Articles of his Faith,
” published in
Latin, with a preface by Pomeranus, and again in Dutch
in Lives of the Popes,
” from
St. Peter to Alexander II. published, with a preface by
Luther, at Wirtemberg, 1536, and afterwards at Leyden,
1615; together with Bale’s Lives of the Popes. Luther
also published an account of his martyrdom.
doctrine of the church of England. The chief advocates for it at Cambridge were Dr. Whitacre, regius professor of divinity, Dr. Humphry Tindal, and most of the senior members
, a learned divine, born at Estampes in France, was of the Protestant religion, and. obliged to leave his native country in order to avoid persecution. He removed to England, where he was kindly received and generously supported by lord treasurer Burleigh, who admitted him into his family. He afterwards settled in Cambridge, upon the invitation of Dr. Pierce, master of Peterhouse. In 1574, he was chosen the lady Margaret’s professor at Cambridge, which he enjoyed for some years very quietly; but, on account of some opinions which he held, a party was at length formed against him in the university. At this time absolute predestination in the Calvinistical sense was held as the doctrine of the church of England. The chief advocates for it at Cambridge were Dr. Whitacre, regius professor of divinity, Dr. Humphry Tindal, and most of the senior members of the university. Dr. Baro had a more moderate notion of that doctrine: and this occasioned a contest between him and Mr. Laurence Chadderton, who attempted to confute him publicly in one of his sermons. However, after some papers had passed between them, the affair was dropped.
self to no other study than that of divinity. He recovered, and kept his promise. Conrad Aslach, the professor of divinity, dying some years after Caspar was appointed his
Bartholine now began his travels; and, after having
gone through part of Germany, Flanders, and Holland, he
passed over to England, whence he removed to Germany,
iii order to proceed to Italy. After his departure from
Wirtemberg, he had made physic his principal study, and
neglected nothing to improve himself in the different universities through which he passed. He received everywhere marks of respect at Naples particularly they solicited him to be anatomical professor, but he declined it.
In France he was offered the Greek professorship at Sedan,
which he also refused. After he had travelled as far as the
frontiers of Spain, he returned to Italy, in order to perfect
himself in the practice of medicine. He went from thence
to Padua, where he applied with great care to anatomy
and dissection. After some stay in this place he removed
to Basil, where he had studied physic some time before;
and here he received his doctor’s degree in physic in 1610.
He next went to Wirtemberg and Holland, and intended
to have extended his travels still farther, had he not been
appointed professor of the Latin tongue at Copenhagen;
but he did not enjoy this long; for, at the end of six
months, in 1613, he was chosen professor of medicine,
which was much more adapted to his talents and disposition. He held this professorship eleven years, when he
fell into an illness, which made him despair of life: in this
extremity he made a vow, that if he was restored to health,
he would apply himself to no other study than that of divinity. He recovered, and kept his promise. Conrad
Aslach, the professor of divinity, dying some years after
Caspar was appointed his successor, the 12th of March
1624; the king also gave him the canonry of Roschild.
He died of a violent colic, the 13th of July 1629, at Sora,
whither he had gone to conduct his eldest son. His works
are, 1. “Problematum philosophicorum et medicorum miscellaneae observationes,
” Opuscula quatuor singularia, de lapide nephritico, &c.
” Hafniye, Anatomicac institutiones,
” Controversial Anatomicat,
” Syntagma medicum et chirurgicum de cauteriis,
” Enchiridion physicum,
” Systema physicum,
”
Manuductio ad veram phycologiam ex sacr.
litter. &c.
”
, in his sixtieth year. In the Heerologia, a work not much to be depended on, it is said that he was professor of divinity at Oxford, an assertion contrary to all other authority.
, one of the English
reformers, was a native of Norfolk, or Suffolk, and educated at Cambridge, where he took his bachelor’s degree
in 1530. He was presented on May 24, 1547, to the
rectory of St. Stephen Walbrook, ol which he was deprived in 1554, and imprisoned twice in queen Mary’s
time, but escaped to Marpurg. From Strasburgh, in the
same year, we find him addressing an “Epistle to the
Faithful in England,
” exhorting them to patient perseverance in the truth. After queen Mary’s death, he returned to England, and in 1560 was preferred to the rectory of Buckland, in Hertfordshire, and in 1563 to that of
St. Dionis Backchurch, in London. He was also a prebend of the fourth stall in Canterbury cathedral, and had
been, in Cranmer’s time, chaplain to that celebrated prelate. Tanner’s account of his promotions is somewhat different. We learn from Strype, in his life of Grindall,
that he objected at first, but afterwards conformed to the
clerical dress, some articles of which at that time were
much scrupled by the reformers who had lived abroad.
He died at Canterbury, about 1570, in his sixtieth year.
In the Heerologia, a work not much to be depended on,
it is said that he was professor of divinity at Oxford, an
assertion contrary to all other authority. He wrote:
, D. D. master of Peter-house, Cambridge, and king’s professor of divinity, was a descendant of the ancient family of Beaumont
, D. D. master of Peter-house,
Cambridge, and king’s professor of divinity, was a descendant of the ancient family of Beaumont in Leicestershire.
His father, who died in 16 53, had been a woollen manufacturer
at Hadleigh in Suffolk, where our author, his eldest son, was
born March 13, 1615. His father, who discovered in him
a turn for letters, placed him at the grammar school of his
native place, where he made uncommon proficiency in
classical learning, and in his sixteenth year was removed to
Peterhouse in Cambridge, and distinguished himself, not
more by his literary acquirements than by his pious and
orderly deportment, acquiring the high esteem of Dr. Cosins, then master of that college, and afterwards bishop of
Durham. After taking his degree of A. B. he was elected
fellow, and afterwards tutor and moderator. In 1643, as
he adhered loyally to his sovereign, he was obliged to leave
the university, then in possession of the usurping powers,
and being ejected from his fellowship, he retired to Hadleigh, where he associated with some other persons of his
own sentiments, chiefly his former pupils and the sons of
his friend and patron bishop Wren; and here he appears
to have amused himself in writing his “Psyche,
” which
was begun in April Intercourse between Christ and the Soul,
”
which was much admired in his time, but has not preserved
its popularity. Pope is reported to have said of it, that
“there are in it a great many flowers well worth gathering,
and a man who has the art of stealing wisely will find his
account in reading it.
” His biographer, however, confesses that he has generally preferred the effusions of fancy to
the corrections of judgment, and is often florid and affected,
obscure and perplexed. His Latin poems, although
perhaps superior in style, are yet below the purity of
the Augustan age. All his poetical efforts were the
amusement of his leisure hours during the rebellion, by
which he lost, besides his fellowship, some preferments
which bishop Wren had bestowed on him, as the rectory of
Kelshall in Hertfordshire in 1643, that of Elm with the
chapel of Emneth in 1646, and the seventh canonry and
prebend in the cathedral of Ely in 1647. And so zealous
was bishop Wren for his interest and happiness, that he
took him into his house as his domestic chaplain, and married him to his step-daughter in 1650. With her Mr.
Beaumont retired to Tatingston-place, where they lived in
a private manner until the restoration. On that event he
took possession of his former livings, and was also admitted
into the first list of his majesty’s chaplains, and by his majesty’s mandamus was created D. D. in 1660. In 1661 he
removed, at bishop Wren’s desire, to Ely, where he had the
misfortune to lose his wife in 1662. In April of that year,
on the resignation of Dr. Pearson, master of Jesus’ college,
Cambridge, the bishop of Ely appointed him successor,
and in 1663, on the death of Dr. Hale, master of Peterhouse, he was removed to the headship of that college,
which he governed with great care and liberality. The
same year he was instituted to the rectory of Teversham
near Cambridge, and in 1664 to that of Barley in Hertfordshire, where he alternately resided in the vacation
months every summer, feeding the poor, instructing the
ignorant, and faithfully discharging his pastoral charge. In
1665 he was drawn into a controversy with Dr. Henry
More, who had advanced some doctrines in his “Mystery
of Godliness,
” which our author thought subversive of our
constitution in church and state, and productive of manyevils to the Christian religion; Dr. More replied to
this charge, but Dr. Beaumont received the thanks of the
university for his services on this occasion. In 1670 he
was elected to the divinity chair. In the course of his
leetures, which he read for twenty-nine years, he went through
the two epistles to the Romans and Colossians, with a view
to explain the difficulties and controversies occasioned by
some passages hi them. In 1689, when the Comprehension was attempted, in order to unite the church and dissenters, he was one of the commissioners appointed for that
purpose, but never took his place at the board, convinced
of the little probability that such a scheme should succeed.
He continued to discharge the several duties of his office,
even when advanced to his eighty-fourth year, and preached
before the university in turn, Nov. 5, 1699; but a high fever came on the same evening, which, with the addition of
the gout in his stomach, proved fatal on the 23d of the same
month. His biographer sums up his character in these
words “He was religious without bigotry, devout without superstition, learned without pedantry, judicious without censoriousness, eloquent without vanity, charitable
without ostentation, generous without profusion, friendly
without dissimulation, courteous without flattery, prudent
without cunning, and humble without meanness.
” Mr.
Cole informs us, that in Psyche
” was reprinted, with many
of the author’s corrections, and the addition of four cantos,
in 1702, by his son Charles Beaumont, A.M. of Peterhouse, who informs us that his father left all his works, critical and polemical, to the college, strictly forbidding the
printing of any of them. In 1749 was published his lesser
“Poems in English and Latin, with an appendix, containing some dissertations and remarks on the Epistle to the
Colossians,
” 4to. To this is prefixed an account of his
life, from which the present sketch has been taken.
, a Lutheran divine, was born at Strasburg, in 1632, where he was first pastor and professor of divinity and ecclesiastical history, and afterwards professor
, a Lutheran divine, was born
at Strasburg, in 1632, where he was first pastor and professor of divinity and ecclesiastical history, and afterwards
professor of divinity, pastor and superintendant general
at Wittemberg, where he died of an apoplexy, Oct.
2, 1686. When very young he wrote “Theses Philologicae de re nummaria veterum,
” and “Disputationes
Philologicae de Theologia Gentili ex antiquis nummis
eruta,
” Wittemberg, Dissertatio de aris et mensis Eucharisticis veterum,
” Strasb. Antiquitates Ecclesise,
” ibid.
Ecclesia Antediluviana vera et falsa,
” ibid. Memorabilia Hist. Ecclesiasticoe recentioris,
” Dresden,
hed it was immediately condemned. In 1587 king Henry III. appointed Benedict to be reader and regius professor of divinity in the college of Navarre at Paris. He had been
, a famous doctor of
the Sorbonne, and curate of St. Eustathius at Paris in the
sixteenth century, was born at Sevenieres near Angers.
He was a secret favourer of the protestant religion; and
that his countrymen might be able to read the Bible in their
own tongue, he published at Paris the French translation
which had been made by the reformed ministers at Geneva.
This translation was approved by several doctors of the
Sorbonne before it went to the press; and king Charles IX.
had granted a privilege for the printing of it, yet when
published it was immediately condemned. In 1587 king
Henry III. appointed Benedict to be reader and regius
professor of divinity in the college of Navarre at Paris.
He had been before that time confessor to the unhappy
Mary queen of Scotland, during her stay in France, and
attended her when she returned into Scotland. Some time
before the death of Henry III. Benedict, or some of his
friends with his assistance, published a book, entitled
“Apologie Catholique,
” to prove that the protestant religion, which Henry king -of Navarre professed, was not a
sufficient reason to deprive him of his right of succeeding
to the crown of France; first, because the Huguenots admitted the fundamental articles of the catholic faith, and
that the ceremonies and practices which they exploded had
been unknown to the primitive church. Secondly, because the council of Trent, in which they had been condemned, was neither general, nor lawful, nor acknowledged
in France. After the murder of Henry III. a factious divine wrote an answer to that book, which obliged Benedict to publish a reply. When king Henry IV. was
resolved to embrace the Roman Catholic religion, he wrote
to Benedict, commanding him to meet him, The doctor
on this consulted with the pope’s legate, who was then at
Paris, and advised him to answer the king, that he could
not go to him without the pope’s leave, which exasperated
the people at Paris, because they understood by this advice, that he favoured the Spanish faction, and endeavoured only to protract the civil war. However, Benedict
assisted some time after at the conference which was held
at St. Dennis, and in which it was resolved, that the king,
having given sufficient proofs of his fa^h and repentance,
might be reconciled to the church, without waiting for the
pope’s consent. Benedict also assisted at that assembly, in
which king Henry abjured the reformed religion, and having embraced the Roman Catholic faith, was absolved by
the archbishop of Bourges. The king promoted him afterwards, about 15^7, to the bishopric of Troyes in Champagne,
but he could never obtain the pope’s bulls to be installed,
and only enjoyed the temporalities till 1604, when he resigned it with the king’s leave to Renatus de Breslay, archdeacon of Angers, He died at Paris, March 7, 1608, and
was buried near the great altar in his parish church of St.
Eustathius. Dr. Victor Cayet made his funeral oration.
Besides the books, which we have mentioned, he wrote
three or four other pieces, the titles of which are mentioned
by father le Long, but they are of little note, except perhaps his history of the coronation of king Henry III. “Le
Sacre et Couronnement du roi Henry III. Pan 1575, par
Rene Benoit, docteur en theologie,
” Reims, 1575, 8vo,
and inserted in Godefrey’s “Ceremonial de France,
” Paris,
, canon of Christ-church, Oxford, and king’s professor of divinity in that university, was born in the college at Ely,
, canon of Christ-church, Oxford, and king’s professor of divinity in that university,
was born in the college at Ely, July 23, 1707. His father,
Mr. Samuel Bentham, was a very worthy clergyman, and
vicar of Witchford, a small living near that city; who having a numerous family, his son Edward, on the recommendation of Dr. Smalridge, dean of Christ-church, was
sent in 1717 to the school of that college. Having there
received the rudiments of classical education, he was in
Lent term 1723, when nearly 16 years of age, admitted of
the university of Oxford, and placed at Corpus-Christi
college under his relation Dr. John Burton. In this situation, his serious and regular deportment, and his great
proficiency in all kinds of academical learning, recommended him to the notice of several eminent men; and,
among others, to the favour of Dr. Tanner, canon of
Christ-church, by whose death he was disappointed of a
nomination to a studentship in that society. At CorpusChristi college he formed a strict friendship with Robert
Hoblyn, esq. of Nanswydden in Cornwall, afterwards representative for the city of Bristol, whose character, as
a scholar and a member of parliament, rendered him deservedly esteemed by the lovers of literature and of their
country. In company with this gentleman and another
intimate friend, Dr. Ratcliff, afterwards master of Pembroke college, Mr. Bentham made, at different times, the
tour of part of France, and other countries. Having taken
the degree of B. A. he was invited by Dr. Cotes, principal
of Magdalen-hall, to be his vice-principal; and was accordingly admitted to that society, March 6, 1730. Here
he continued only a short time, for, on the 23d of April
in the year following, he was elected fellow of Oriel college. In act term, 1732, he proceeded to the degree of
M. A. and, about the same time, was appointed tutor in
the college; in which capacity he discharged his duty, in
the most laborious and conscientious manner, for more
than twenty years. March 26, 1743, Mr. Bentham took
the degree of B. D.; and April 22, in the same year, was
collated to the prebend of Hundreton, in the cathedral
church of Hereford. July 8, 1749, he proceeded to the
degree of D. D.; and in April 1754 was promoted to the
fifth stall in that cathedral. Here he continued the same
active and useful course of life for which he had always
been distinguished. He served the offices of sub-dean
and treasurer, for himself and others, above twelve years.
The affairs of the treasury, which Dr. Bentham found in
great confusion, he entirely new modelled, and put into a
train of business in which they have continued ever since,
to the great ease of his successors, and benefit of the society. 80 intent was he upon the regulation and management of the concerns of the college, that he refused several preferments which were offered him, from a conscientious persuasion that the avocations they would produce
were incompatible with the proper discharge of the offices
he had voluntarily undertaken. Being appointed by the
king to fill the divinity chair, vacant by the death of Dr.
Fanshavve, Dr. Bentham was, with much reluctance, and
after having repeatedly declined it, persuaded, by archbishop Seeker and his other learned friends, to accept of
it; and, on the 9th of May, 1763, he was removed to the
8th stall in the cathedral. His unwillingness to appear in
this station was increased by the business he had to transact in his former situation, and which he was afraid would
be impeded by the accession of new duties: not to say
that a life spent in his laborious and sedentary manner had
produced some unfavourable effects on his constitution,
and rendered a greater attention than he had hitherto shewn
to private ease and health, absolutely necessary. Besides,
as the duties, when properly discharged, were great and
interesting, so the station itself was of that elevated and
public nature to which his ambition never inclined him:
66 latere maluit atque prodesse.“The diffidence he had of
his abilities had ever taught him to suspect his own sufficiency; and his inauguratory lecture breathed the same
spirit, the text of which was,
” Who is sufficient for these
things?" But whatever objections Dr. Bentham might have
to the professorship before he entered upon it, when once
he had accepted of it, he never suffered them to discourage
him in the least from exerting hi* most sincere endeavours
to render it both useful and honourable to the university.
He set himself immediately to draw out a course of lectures for the benefit of young students in divinity, which
he constantly read at his house at Christ-church, gratis-^
three times a week during term-time, till his decease. The
course took up a year; and he not only exhibited in it a
complete system of divinity, but recommended proper
books, some of which he generously distributed to his auditors. His intense application to the pursuit of the plan
he had laid clown, together with those concerns in which
his affection for his friends, and his zeal for the public
good in every shape, involved him, proved more than a
counterbalance for all the advantages of health and vigour
that a strict and uniform temperance could procure. Jt is
certain that he sunk under the rigorous exercise of that
conduct he had proposed to himself: for though 6-; years
are a considerable proportion in the strongest men’s lives,
yet his remarkable abstemiousness and self-denial, added to
a disposition of body naturally strong, promised, in the
ordinary course of things, a longer period. Dr. Bentham
was a very early riser, and had transacted half a day’s
business before many others begin their day. His countenance was uncommonly mild and engaging, being strongly
characteristic of the piety and benevolence of his mind;
and at the same time it by no means wanted expression,
but, upon proper occasions, could assume a very becoming and affecting authority. In his attendance upon the
public duties of religion, he was exceedingly strict and
constant; not suffering himself ever to be diverted from it
by any motives, either of interest or pleasure. Whilst he
was thus diligent in the discharge of his own duty, he was
not severe upon those who were not equally so in theirs.
He could scarcely ever be prevailed upon to deliver his
opinion upon subjects that were to the disadvantage of
other men; and when he could not avoid doing it, his sentiments were expressed with the utmost delicacy and candour. No one was more ready to discover, commend, and
reward every meritorious endeavour. Of himself he never
was he? rd to speak and if his own merits were touched
upon in the slightest manner, he felt a real uneasiness.
Though he was not fond of the formalities of visiting, he
entered into the spirit of friendly society and intercourse
with great pleasure. His constant engagements, indeed,
of one kind or other, left him not much time to be devoted
to company; and the greater part of his leisure hours he
spent in the enjoyment of domestic pleasures, for which
his amiable and peaceable disposition seemed most calculated.
ng then about forty-six years of age. On the 30th of October 1556, he was created, with some others, professor of divinity at London, by Laurence Humphrey, S.T.P. and John
, a learned and pious English divine, bishop of Litchfield and Coventry in the sixteenth
century, was born about the year 1513, at Shirebourne in
Yorkshire, and educated at Magdalen-college in Oxford.
He took his bachelor’s degree in arts, Feb. 20, 1543, and
was admitted perpetual fellow of that college, November
16, 1546, and took his master’s degree in arts the year
following, about which time he applied himself wholly to
the study of divinity and the Hebrew language, in which
he was extremely well skilled, as well as in the Latin and
Greek tongues. The compiler of “Anglorum Speculum
”
tells us, that he was converted from popery in the first
year of queen Mary; but we find him very zealous
against the popish religion during the reign of king Edward VI. upon which account, and his assisting one Henry
Bull of the same college, in wresting the censer out of the
bands of the choristers, as they were about to offer their
superstitious incense, he was ejected from his fellowship
by the visitors appointed by queen Mary to regulate the
university; soon after which he retired to Zurich, and afterwards to Basil in Switzerland, and became preacher to
the English exiles there, and expounded to them the entire
book of the Acts of the Apostles; a proper subject and
portion of scripture, Fuller observes, to recommend patience to his banished countrymen; as the apostle’s sufferings so far exceeded theirs. This exposition was left by
him at the time of his death, very fairly written, and
fit for the press, but it does not appear to have been
printed. In exile, as at home and in college, he led a
praise-worthy, honest, and laborious life, with little or no
preferment. Afterwards, being recalled by some of his
brethren, he returned to London under the same queen’s
reign, where he lived privately and in disguise, and was
made superintendent of a protestant congregation in that
city; whom Bentham, by his pious discipline, diligent care
and tuition, and bold and resolute behaviour in the protestant cause, greatly confirmed in their faith and religion;
so that they assembled with the greatest constancy to divine worship, at which there often appeared an hundred,
sometimes two hundred persons; no inconsiderable congregation this to meet by stealth, notwithstanding the
danger of the times, daily, together at London, in spite
of the vigilant and cruel Bonner. At length, when queen
Elizabeth came to the throne, he was, in the second year
of her reign, nominated for the see of Litchfield and Coventry, upon the deprivation of Dr. Ralph Bayne, and had
the temporalities of that see restored to him, Feb. 20, 1559,
being then about forty-six years of age. On the 30th of
October 1556, he was created, with some others, professor of divinity at London, by Laurence Humphrey, S.T.P.
and John Kenal, LL. D. who were deputed by the university of Oxford for that purpose; and in the latter end of
October 1568, he was actually created doctor of divinity,
being then highly esteemed on account of his distinguished
learning. He published a Sermon on Matth. iv. 1—11,
printed at London, 8vo. Bishop Burnet, in his History of
the Reformation, tells us, that our author translated into
English the Book of Psalms, at the command of queen
Elizabeth, when an English version of the Bible was to
be made, and that he likewise translated Ezekiel and
Daniel. He died at Eccleshal in Staffordshire, the seat belonging to the see, Feb. 19, 1578, aged sixty-five years,
and was buried under the south wall of the chancel of that
church.
, regius professor of divinity, and master of Trinity college, Cambridge, a very
, regius professor of divinity, and
master of Trinity college, Cambridge, a very eminent critic
of*he last age, was born January 27, 1661-2, at Oulton, in
the parish of Wakefield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
His ancestors, who were of some consideration, possessed
an estate, and had a seat at Hepenstall, in the parish of Halifax. His grandfather, James Bentley, was a captain in
king Charles I.'s army, at the time of the civil wars, and being involved in the fate of his party, had his house plundered, his estate confiscated, and was himself carried prisoner to Pomfret castle, where he died. Thomas Bentley,
the son of James, and father of Dr. Bentley, married the
daughter of Richard Willis of Oulton, who had been a major in the royal army. This lady, who was a woman of exceeding good understanding, taught her son Richard his
accidence. To his grandfather Willis, who was left his
guardian, he was, in part, indebted for his education; and
having gone through the grammar-school at Wakefield with
singular reputation, both for his proficiency and his exact
and regular behaviour, he was admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge, under the tuition of Mr. Johnson, on the
24th of May, 1676, being then only four months above
fourteen years of age. On the 22d of March, 1681-2, he
stood candidate for a fellowship, and would have been unanimously elected, had he not been excluded by the statutes, on account of his being too young for priest’s orders.
He was then a junior bachelor, and but little more than
nineteen years old. It was soon after this that he became
a schoolmaster at Spalding. But that he did not continue
Jong in this situation is certain from a letter of his
grandfather Willis’s, still preserved in the family, from which it
appears that he was with Dr. Stillingfleet, at the deanery of
St. Paul’s, on the 25th of April, 1683. He had been recommended by his college to the dean, as preceptor to his
son and Dr. Stillingfleet gave Mr. Bentley his choice,
whether he would carry his pupil to Cambridge or Oxford.
He fixed upon the latter university, on account of the Bodleian library, to the consulting of the manuscripts of which
he applied with the closest attention. Being now of age,
he made over a small estate, which he derived from his family, to his elder brother, and immediately laid out the
money he obtained for it in the purchase of books. It is
recorded of him, that having, at a very early age, made
surprising progress in the learned languages, his capacity
for critical learning soon began to display itself. Before
the age of twenty-four, he had written with his own hand
a sort of Hexapla, a thick volume in 4to, in the first column
of which was every word of the Hebrew bible, alphabetically
disposed, and in five other columns all the various interpretations of those words, in the Chalclee, Syriac, Vulgate Latin, Septuagint, and Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodosian,
that occur in the whole Bible. This he made for his own
private use, to know the Hebrew, not from the late rabbins,
but the ancient versions, when, excepting Arabic, Persic,
and Ethiopic, he must then have read over the whole Polyglott. He had also at that time made, for his own private
use, another volume in 4 to, of the various lections and
emendations of the Hebrew text, drawn out of those ancient
versions, which, though done at such an early age, would
have made a second part to the famous Capellus’s “Critica Sacra.
”
y, &c.” This was printed in 1717, in 8vo. In 1716, at which time he succeeded to the chair of Regius professor of divinity, the doctor had two printed letters inscribed to
On the 4th of July, 1.689, being already M.A. in the
university of Cambridge, he was incorporated as such in
the university of Oxford, in Wadham college, and is mentioned by Anthony Wood (though then but a young man, a good deal under thirty) as a genius that was promising,
and to whom the world was likely to be obliged, for his future studies and productions. In 1691 he published a Latin epistle to John Mill, D.D. containing some critical
observations relating to Johannes Malala, Greek historiographer, published at the end of that author, at Oxon, in
1691, in a large 8vo. This was the first piece that our
author published. Nor was religion less indebted to him
than learning, for in 1691-2, he had the honour to be
selected as the first person to preach at Boyle’s lectures
(founded by that honourable gentleman, to assert and vindicate the great fundamentals of natural and revealed religion), upon which occasion he successfully applied sir Isaac
Newton’s “Principia Mathematica,
” to demonstrate the
being of God, and altogether silenced the Atheists, who, in
this country, have since that time, for the most part, sheltered themselves under Deism. The subject of his discourses was the folly of atheism, even with respect to the
present life, and that matter and motion cannot think; or a
confutation of atheism from the faculties of the soul, from
the structure and origin of human bodies, and the origin
and trame of the world itself; and though he was bnt
young, and even only in deacon’s orders, he laid the basis
and foundation upon which all the successors to that worthy
office have since built. Though this was a task of great
extent, and no small difficulty, yet Mr. Bentley acquitted
himself with so much reputation, that the trustees not only
publicly thanked him for them, but did moreover, by especial command and desire, prevail upon him to make the
said discourses public, upon which he gave the world a volume, 1693, 4to, containing eight sermons, which have not
only undergone a number of editions, but have been translated abroad into several languages. On the 2d of October, 1692, he was installed a prebendary of Worcester by
bishop Stillingfleet. Upon the death of Mr. Justel, Mr.
Bentley was immediately thought upon to succeed him, as
keeper of the royal library at St. James’s; and accordingly,
a few months after his decease, he had a warrant made out
for that place, from the secretary’s office, December 23,
1693, and had his patent for the same in April following.
Soon after he was nominated to that office, before his patent was signed, by his care and diligence he procured no
less than a thousand volumes of one sort or other, which
had been neglected to be brought to the library, according
to the act of parliament then subsisting, which prescribed
that one copy of every book printed in England, should
be brought and lodged in this library, and one in each
university library. It was about this time and upon this
occasion of his being made library-keeper, that the famous
dispute between him and the honourable Mr. Boyle, whether the epistles of Phalaris were genuine or riot, in some
measure, at first took rise, which gave occasion to so maiw
books and pamphlets, and has made so much noise in the
world. This controversy upon a point of learning, in itself
not very entertaining, was managed with a wit and humour
which rendered it interesting to the public. The world
was at that time a little biassed in favour of the production
of the young nobleman, at least as to the genteel raillery
of his pieces; for as to the dispute itself, viz. the genuineness of the Epistles of Phalaris, the best judge^s almost universally now give the preference to Dr. Bentley; nor does
he much, if at all, fall short of Mr. Boyle, in throwing a deal
of life and spirit into the controversy, particularly in his
answer to Mr. Boyle, which is interspersed, as well as Mr.
Boyle’s piece, with abundance of wit and humour, and is,
upon the whole, reckoned much the best book. When, in
1696, he was admitted to his degree of D. D. he preached,
on the day of the public commencement, from 1 Peter iii.
15. “Be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.
”
About this time the university entered upon a design of
publishing some editions, in 4to, of some classic authors,
for the use of the duke of Gloucester. Dr. Bentley, who
was consulted upon the occasion, advised Laughton, to
whose care the edition of Virgil was committed, to follow
Heinsius very close, but his advice was not complied
with. Terence was published by Leng, Horace byTalbot,
and Catullus, Tibnllus, and Propertius, by Mr. Annesley,
afterwards earl of Anglesey. Dr. Bentley procurecUfrom
Holland the types with which these books were printed.
At the express desire of his friend Mr. Graevius, he published his “Animadversions and remarks on the poet Callimachus,
” making, at the same time, a collection of some
scattered pieces or fragments of that author. These he
finished and sent over to Mr. Grarmus, towards the latter
end of his dispute with Mr. Boyle, and Mr. Graevius published them abroad in 1697. in 1700, upon the death of
Dr. Montague, he was by the crown presented to the mastership of Trinity-college, Cambridge, which is reckoned
worth near 1000l. per annum, upon obtaining which preferment he resigned his prebend of Worcester; but June
12, 1701, on Dr. Say well’s death, he was collated archdeacon of Ely. What next employed his critical genius
were the two first comedies of Aristophanes. Upon these
he made some curious annotations, which were published at
Amsterdam in 1710; as was much about the same time, at
Rheims, his emendations, &c. on the fragments of
Menancler and Philemon, in the feigned name of “Philcleutherus
Lipsiensis.
” Under this character he appeared again, in
The odes and epodes of Horace
in Latin and English, with a translation of Dr. Bentley’s
notes. To which are added notes upon notes, done in the
Bentleian style and manner.
” In the preface they “humbly hope that the reader will encourage the following
essays, upon several accounts. First, as they are designed
to shew him the best author of Augustus’s age in his native
purity. Secondly, to give him a further proof how far all
attempts to render him into English, even after the best
version now extant has succeeded no better, must fall short
of the original. Thirdly, to convince him how ridiculous
it is to presume to correct Horace without authority, upon
the pretended strength of superior judgment in poetry.
And lastly, how easily such a presumption may be turned
upon the authors, and sufficiently expose them in their
own way.
” This last paragraph seems indeed to express
the greatest part of the design of this work, which is executed with a great deal of spirit and humour. On the 5th
of November, 1715, the doctor preached a sermon before
the university against popery, on which somebody soon
after published remarks, which occasioned Dr, Bentley’s
answer, entitled “Reflections on the scandalous aspersions
cast on the Clergy, by the author of the Remarks on Dr.
Bentley’s Sermon on Popery, &c.
” This was printed in
The time, manner, and
other circumstances of these proposals,
” says he, “make
it but too evident, that they were hastened out to serve
quite different ends than those of common Christianity;
and I think it my duty to obviate, as far as I am able, the
influence they might have on some, whom big words, and
bold attempts, are apt to lead implicitly into an high opinion and admiration of the merit and abilities of the undertaker.
” Dr. Middleton then proceeds to criticise, paragraph by paragraph, Dr. Bentley’s proposals. Soon after
these Remarks, paragraph by paragraph, the Proposals
appeared, with a pamphlet entitled “A full answer to all
the Remarks of a late pamphleteer, by a member of Trinity
college, Cambridge,
” Remarks, &c. containing a full answer to the editor’s late defence -of his
Proposals, as well as all his objections there made against
my former remarks, by Conyers Middleton, D. D.
” As
also, an anonymous letter to the reverend master of Trinity
college, Cambridge, editor of a new Greek Testament.
We also find, under the Catalogue of the doctor’s works in
the Bibliotheca Bodleiana,-much about this time, another
publication, somewhat analogous, and relating to this affair,
viz. “An enquiry into the authority of the primitive Complutensian edition of the New Testament, in a letter to
archdeacon Bentley,
” that some noise should be made
in the world in his favour, to support his declining character by something great and popular, to recover esteem and
applause to himself, and throw an odium and contempt
upon his prosecutors, &c.
” In 1725, at a public commencement on the 6th of July, the doctor made an elegant
Latin speech, on creating seven doctors of divinity, in
which, at the several periods, by little notes below, is set
forth the whole form of the creation of a doctor of divinity.
This piece is usually joined to his edition of Terence and
Phsedrus: at least it is added to the Amsterdam edition of
them in 1727, a very neat edition, corrected for the press by
the doctor. To these notes on Terence, he has also added
those of the learned Gabriel Faernius, and taken great
pains in amending and correcting the author, not only from
those ancient manuscripts which Gabriel Faernius had procured, but also from whatever manuscripts the royal library, those of Cambridge, or any of his friends, could
afford; some of which, he assures us, were of great antiquity, and at least next, and very little inferior, to those of
Faernius, the orthography of which, as the most ancient
manuscript, he altogether follows. He has likewise altered the text in abundance of places, and assigns in the
notes the reason for such alteration. Then follows the
Schediasma of the metre and accents of Terence, by which
the doctor proves that Terence is written all in Verse.
This, however', was a matter of some controversy betw-een
the learned bishop Hare and our author; and during the
warmth of the debate. Will. Whiston remarked how intolerable it was, that while Grotius, Newton, and Locke, all
laymen, were employing their talents on sacred studies, such
clergymen as Dr. Bentley and bishop Hare were fighting
about a play-book. About 1732, the doctor published his
Milton’s “Paradise Lost,
” when he was, as he says in his
preface, about seventy years old. This is a very elegant
and beautiful edition of that poem, but cannot be said to
have contributed much to the editor’s deputation. Dr.
Bentley tells us, that he had prepared a new edition of the
poet Manillas for the press, which he would have published,
had not the clearness of paper, and the want of good types,
and some other occasions, hindered him. He had also
some design of publishing an edition of Hesychius, as we
find by Mr. Graevius’s letter to him, and assured Dr. Mill,
he could, if he pleased, correct five thousand faults in that
author. His emendations on the Tusculan Questions of
Cicero are adjoined to Mr. Davis’s edition of that author.
From this produce of his studious, we must now pass to
that of his more active, life, in the memorable complaints
of rrial -administration urged against him by the college,
which were the occasion of a long suit, whether the Crown‘
or the bishop of Ely was general visitor. A party in the
college, displeased at some of his regulations, began to
talk of the fortieth statute, de Magistri (si res exigat)
Amotionc, and meditated a complaint to the bishop of Ely.
The master hearing this, went to bishop Patrick, then at
Ely, who told him, he had never heard before, that, as
bishop of Ely, he had any thing to do in the royal college
of Trinity; called his secretary to him, and bid him seek
if there was any precedent for it in the bishop’s archives;
but not one was found, nor so much as a copy of Trinity
college statutes. Upon that, the doctor lent him one; and
during that bishop’s time the matter was dropped. But in
his successor Dr. Moore’s time, the party were encouraged to apply to the bishop, in 1709, and avast number
of articles about dilapidations, but not one of immorality,
bribery, or fraud, were exhibited against the master.
These were, however, the subject of many pamphlets on
both sides. His lordship received the charge, intending
to proceed upon it, which he conceived himself sufficiently
authorised to do, and required Dr. Bentley’ s answer, which
he declined for some time to give, pleading want of form
in the charge; because other members of the college,
besides the seniors, had joined in the accusation, and the seniors themselves, as he alleged, had never yet admonished
him; from whence he inferred, that all proceedings on
such a charge, and whatsoever should follow on the same
foot, would be ipso facto null and void. The bishop, however, did not, it seems, think this plea to be material; for
he insisted upon Dr. Bentley’s answer to the charge; who,
upon that, began to question what authority his lordship had over him; and, by a petition presented to queen
Anne, prayed “that her majesty would take him and the
college into her protection, against the bishop’s pretensions, and maintain her sole power and jurisdiction
over her royal foundation, and the masters thereof.
”
This petition was referred to the then attorney and solicitor-general, and they were ordered fully to consider the
matter, and report their opinions. Notice was given at
the same time to the bishop, that her majesty having taken
this affair into her cognizance, his lordship was to stay
proceedings till the queen’s pleasure was farther known.
Mr. attorney and solicitor-general took some time to consider; and were of opinion, the bishop had power over the
master. But this report not proving satisfactory to some
persons then in administration, a letter was brought to the
bishop from Mr. secretary St. John, dated 18th June, 1711,
acquainting him, “that the matter of the petition of Dr.
Richard Bentley, master of Trinity-college in Cambridge,
together with the report of Mr. attorney and Mr. solicitorgeneral, being then before the queen, and ordered to be
taken into consideration by my lord keeper, assisted by
her majesty’s counsel learned in the law, her majesty
thought it to be a business of such weight and consequence,
that she had commanded him (the secretary) to signify her
pleasure to his lordship, that he should stop all further
proceedings, according to her majesty’s direction.
” But
the master seeing that all discipline and studies would be
lost in the college, if that controversy were not one way
or other decided, requested of the ministry that he might
be permitted to take his trial under any visitor the queen
should appoint; or if none could be so appointed, that he
might have leave, salvo jure regio, to be voluntarily tried
under the bishop. Upon this the inhibition was taken off
by Mr. secretary St. John, by order of the queen, signifying, “that his lordship was at liberty to proceed, so far as
by the law he might.
” But his lordship did not think fit to
proceed, till he was served uith a rule of court from the
king’s-bench, in Easter-term 1714, to shew cause why a
writ of mandamus should not issue out against him. The
bishop, being then at Ely, was applied to by joint messengers on both sides, to go to the college, where he might
have ended the matter in two days. But this was not
thought so proper, and Ely-house at London was pitched
on, where, instead of two days, the trial lasted at least six
weeks, and the college paid a thousand pounds for it;
three learned lawyers, who could know but very little of
the matter, being admitted on each side, to make eloquent
harangues, answers, and replies, upon questions arisingfrom above fifty articles, in which there was scarcely any
thing material that might not easily be determined upon a
bare inspection of the college statutes, registers, and books
of accounts. The trial being ended, and the cause ripe
for sentence, the bishop’s death prevented his giving judgment. Thus the matter dropped for the present; but was
afterwards revived in 1728, when new articles of complaint
against Dr. Bentley, charging him with having in many
instances made great waste of the college revenue, and
violated the statutes, all founded on the 40th of Elizabeth,
were again exhibited to the bishop of Ely, as specially authorised and appointed to receive the same, and to proceed thereupon; though the matter had been long before
decided in favour of the crown, as having the general visitatorial power. Upon this, a petition was subscribed by
the college, and presented to his majesty under the common-seal, the 10th of August 1728, and the cause carried
before the king in council for the college itself now engaged as party in the cause against the bishop, and above
fifteen hundred pounds out of the revenues of the college,
were spent in carrying it on. This being referred to a
committee of his majesty’s most honourable privy-council,
Dr. Fleetwood, the lord bishop of Ely, on the 2nd of November, 1728, also presented a petition to his majesty, to
be heard touching his right, which was likewise referred
to the said committee. The lords committee, just before
the clay appointed for a hearing, viz. March 13, 1728, had
a printed pamphlet put into their hands, entitled, “The
Case of Trinity-college; whether the Crown or the Bishop
of Ely be General Visitor;
” at the end of which, as well
as in their petition, the college applied to the king, to take
the visitatorial power (as by the opinion of council he might with their consent) into his own hands, that they might b0
only visited by the crown, but not with a view or intent of
avoiding a visitation or inquiry into the state of the society,
for which they were very pressing, both in their petition,
and at the end of this pamphlet. On the fifteenth the cause
came on before the lords of the committee of privy-council,
but was from thence referred to the king’s bench, where
the May following it was tried by way of prohibition, and
after a long pleading, the judges unanimously determined
it in favour of the bishop, as to his visitatorial power over
the doctor; and the June following, the fellows exhibited
their articles of complaint against him before the bishop of
Ely, his lordship having two assistants, viz. sir Henry Penrice, and Dr. Bettesworth. But it being urged, that the
bishop was going to exercise a general visitatorial power,
another petition was preferred to his majesty and council,
by the master and fellows, and a farther hearing appointed
in the cause, in the court of king’s bench, in November,
1729, &c. and in November, 1731, we find the cause had
gone against the bishop of Ely, by his taking out a writ of
error, for carrying the' cause by appeal into the house of
lords. The crown, however, at last, to put an end to the
dispute and disturbance, (as fully impowered to do) took
both college and master, according to their petition, into
its own jurisdiction and visitation, and here the matter
ended.
e librarian to the university of Upsal. He was afterwards for many years, and with great reputation, professor of divinity, and became successively bishop “of Gotcenburgh
, archbishop of Upsal, and one of
the sons of the preceding, was born at Upsal in 1675.
When he had finished his studies, his father sent him on
his travels to the principal countries of Europe, and on his
return, he was made librarian to the university of Upsal.
He was afterwards for many years, and with great
reputation, professor of divinity, and became successively bishop
“of Gotcenburgh and Linkseping, and archbishop of Upsal,
where he died in 1743. He was not only an able theologian, but versed in languages, history, and antiquities,
and in all his wn< ings displays erudition and critical acumen.
He published, 1.
” vicnun*snta historica vetera Ecclesiae
Sueco-Gothicit,“Upsal, 1704, 4to. 2.
” Johannis Vastovii Vitis Aquilonia. sive Yitae Sanctorum regni SueeoGothici,“ibid. 1708, 4to. 3.
” Dissertatio de Alexandria
Ægypti,“ibid. 1711, 8vo. 4.
” Laudatio funebris Michael.
Enemanni,“Upsal, 1715, 4to. 5.
” Dissertatio de re litteraria Judaeorum,“ibid. 1716, 4to. 6.
” Acta Litteraria
Suecia-, ab 1720 usque ad 1753,“ibid. 3 vols. 4to. 7.
” Periculum Runicum, sive de origine et antiquitate Runarum,“ibid. 1724, 8vo. 8.
” Oratio funebris in memoriam Laurcntii Molini, theologi Upsaliensis," ibid. 4to. Thesfe
learned and ingenious works procured him very great reputation, and the correspondence of the most eminent men
of learning in every part of Europe. In 1720, when librarian to the university, he associated with some of the
professors in founding the academy of sciences of Upsal,
which was soon after established by government, and is the
oldest institution of that kind in the north; and when the
academy of Stockholm was founded in 1739, Benzelius was
admitted one of its first members.
nativity, who was a Carmelite monk in the fourteenth century, and a very learned man, and doctor and professor of divinity at Oxford. He flourished about 1390, in the reign
, in Latin Beverlacius, archbishop of York in the eighth century, was born of a noble
family among the English Saxons, at Harpham, a small
town in Northumberland. He was first a monk, and afterwards abbot of the monastery of St. Hilda. He was instructed in the learned languages by Theodore, archbishop
of Canterbury, and was justly esteemed one of the best
scholars of his time. Alfred of Beverly, who wrote his
life, pretends that he studied at Oxford, and took there
the degree of master of arts; but bishop Godwin assures
us this cannot be true, because such distinction of degrees
was not then known at Oxford, nor any where else. Our
abbot’s merit recommended him to the favour of Alfred,
king of Northumberland, who, in the year 685, advanced
him to the see of Hagustald, or Hexham, and, upon the
death of archbishop Bosa in 687, translated him to that of
York. This prelate was tutor to the famous Bede, and
lived in the strictest friendship with Acca, and other AngloSaxon doctors, several of whom he put upon writing comments on the scriptures. He likewise founded, in 704, a
college at Beverly for secular priests. After he had governed the see of York thirty-four years, being tired with
the tumults and confusions of the church, he divested himself of the episcopal character, and retired to Beverly;
and four years after died May 7, 721. The day of his
death was appointed a festival by a synod held at London
in 1416. Bede, and other monkish writers, ascribe several miracles to him. Between three and four hundred years
after his death, his body was taken up by Alfric, archbishop of York, and placed in a shrine richly adorned with
silver, gold, and precious stones. Bromton relates, that
William the conqueror, when he ravaged Northumberland
with a numerous army, spared Beverly alone, out of a religious veneration for St. John of that place. This prelate
wrote some pieces, 1. “Pro Luca exponendo;
” an essay
towards an exposition of St. Luke, addressed to Bede.
2. “Homiliee in Evangelia.
” 3. Epistolae ad Hildara Abbatissam.“4.
” Epistolse ad Herebaldum, Andenum, et
Bertinum.“- -Pits mentions another John of Beverly, so
called from the place of his nativity, who was a Carmelite
monk in the fourteenth century, and a very learned man,
and doctor and professor of divinity at Oxford. He flourished about 1390, in the reign of Richard II. and wrote,
1.
” Questiones in magistrum sententiarum“in four
books. 2.
” Disputationes ordinariae" in one book.
at least, if not more ancient. In 1787, the university appointed the rev. Dr. Kipling, deputy regius professor of divinity, to superintend the publication of a fac simile
Some notice yet remains to be taken of Beza’s principal
works, and their different editions: 1. “Poemata juvenilia,
”
Paris, by Conrad Badius, Ad insigne capitis mortui,
” was
long prior to this, and we suspect the only edition which
Beza printed. Those of 156 1576, and 1594, the two
former in 8vo, and the latter in 4to, contain only a part of
these poems, the offensive ones being omitted. In 1599,
an edition was printed at Geneva, 16mo, with his translation of the Song of Solomon. They were also reprinted
with the poems of Muret and Jean Second, Paris, by Barbou, 1757, 12mo, and under the title of “Amoenitates
Poeticae,
” &c. Tragedie Franchise du
Sacrifice d' Abraham,
” Lausanne, Confessio Christiana? fidei, cum Papisticis haeresibus, ex typ. I. Bonoe fidei,
” De haereticis a civili magistratu puniendis sub Oliva Rob. Stephani,
”
Comedie du Pape malade, par Thrasibule
Phenice,
” Geneva, Traduction en vers Franais des Pseaumes omis par Marot,
”
Lyons, Histoire de la
Mappemonde papistique, par Fragidelphe EscorcheMesses,
” Luce-Nouvelle (Geneva), Le
Reveilmatin des Francois et de leurs voisin, par Eusebe
Philadelphe,
” Edinburgh, Geneva, 1570, 8vo; Leyden, 1636, 12mo. This is one
of the scarcest of Beza’s works. 10.
” Histoire
ecclesiastique des Eglises reformees au royaume de France, depols
Tan 1521 jusqu'en 1563,“Antwerp (Geneva), 1580, 3 vols.
8vo. 11.
” Icones Virorum Illustrium,“1580, 4to, translated into French, by Simon Goulet, under the title of
” Vrais Pourtraits, &c.“Geneva, 1581, 4to. 12.
” Tractatio de Repudiis et Divortiis accedit tractatus de Polygamia,“Geneva, 1590, 8vo. 13.
” Epistola magistri Passavantii ad Petrum Lysetum," a satire on the latter. 14.
His translation of the New Testament, with the original
texts and notes, often reprinted. The best edition is that
of Cambridge, 1642, fol. a work still in much estimation.
He had also a share in the Geneva translation of the Bible,
1588, fol. Several of his controversial and practical tracts
were translated into English, and printed here in the time
of queen Elizabeth, of which the titles may be found in
Ames. Among the Greek Mss. of the university of Cambridge, is one of the Four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles,
presented by Beza, which is supposed to be of the third or
fourth century at least, if not more ancient. In 1787, the university appointed the rev. Dr. Kipling, deputy regius professor of divinity, to superintend the publication of a fac
simile of this valuable manuscript, which accordingly appeared in 1793, 2 vols. fol. a splendid and accurate work.
The Latin epistle which Beza sent with this manuscript,
and which is prefixed to it in his own hand-writing, may
be seen in the note .
, in Latin Binius, was born at Randelraidt, in the country of Juliers, and became canon and professor of divinity at Cologn, where he died in 1641. He is known, and
, in Latin Binius, was born at Randelraidt, in the country of Juliers, and became canon and
professor of divinity at Cologn, where he died in 1641.
He is known, and not much to his credit, as the editor of
a “Collection of the Councils,
” Cologne, Contaminator Conciliorum.
”
from whence he was removed in 1700 to be one of the ministers of Aberdeen. He was afterwards elected professor of divinity in the Marischal college of that city, and in 1717
, an ingenious and very learned
writer of the last century, was born August 4, 1701, in the
city of Aberdeen. His father, the rev. Mr. Thomas Blackwell, was minister of Paisley in Renfrewshire, from whence
he was removed in 1700 to be one of the ministers of
Aberdeen. He was afterwards elected professor of divinity
in the Marischal college of that city, and in 1717 was presented by his majesty to be principal of the college, in
both which offices he continued until his death in 1728.
His mother’s name was Johnston, of a good family near
Glasgow, and sister to Dr. Johnston, who was many years
professor of medicine in the university of Glasgow. Our
author received his grammatical education at the grammarschool of Aberdeen, studied Greek and philosophy in the
Marischal college there, and took the degree of master of
arts in 1718; which, as he was at that time only seventeen years of age, must be regarded as a considerable testimony of his early proficiency in literature. A farther
proof of it was his being presented, on the 28th of November 1723, by his majesty king George the First, to
the professorship of Greek, in the college in which he had
been educated. He was admitted into this office on the
13th of December in the same year; and after that continued to teach the Greek language with great applause.
His knowledge of that language was accurate and extensive, and his manner of communicating it perspicuous and
engaging. He had a dignity of address which commanded
the attention of the students, a steadiness in exacting the
prescribed exercises which enforced application, and an
enthusiasm for the beauties of the ancients, and utility of
classical learning, which excited an ardour of study, and
contributed much to diffuse a spirit for Grecian erudition
far superior to what had taken place before he was called
to the professorship. Together with his lessons in the
Greek tongue, he gave, likewise, lessons on some of the
Latin classics, chiefly with a view to infuse a relish for
their beauties. To his zeal and diligence in discharging
the duties of his station, it is probable that the world was,
in part, indebted for such men as Campbell, Gerard, Reid,
Beattie, Duncan, and the Fordyces, who have appeared
with so much eminence in the republic of letters. When
the celebrated Dr. Berkeley was engaged in the scheme
of establishing an American university in the Summer
Islands, Mr. Blackwell was in treaty with him for going
out as one of his young professors; but the negociation
did not take effect. In 1735 was published at London, in
octavo, without the name of the bookseller, and without
his own name, our author’s “Enquiry into the Life and
Writings of Homer
” a work, the great ingenuity and
learning of which will be acknowledged by all who have
perused it. It was embellished with plates, designed by
Gravelot, and executed by different engravers. This we
apprehend to be the most esteemed, and it is, in our
opinion, the most valuable, of Mr. Blackwell’s performances. The second edition appeared in 1736; and, not
long after, he published “Proofs of the Enquiry into Homer’s Life and Writings, translated into English being a
key to the Enquiry with a curious frontispiece.
” This
was a translation of the numerous Greek, Latin, Spanish,
Italian and French notes which had been subjoined to the
original work. In 1748, came out, in London, “Letters
concerning Mythology,
” in a large octavo, but without
the bookseller (Andrew Millar’s) name. On the 7th of
October, in the same year, our author was appointed by
his late majesty, George II. to be principal of the Marischal college in Aberdeen, and was admitted to the office on the 9th of November following. He continued,
also, professor of Greek till his death. He is the only
layman ever appointed principal of that college, since the
patronage came to the crown, by the forfeiture of the
Marischal family in 1716 all the other principals having
been ministers of the established church of Scotland.
When Robert and Andrew Foulis, printers at Glasgow, intended to publish an edition of Plato, Mr. Blackwell proposed to furnish them with several critical notes for it,
together with an account of Plato’s Life and Philosophy
but the printers not acceding to the terms which he demanded for this assistance, he promised, by a Latin advertisement in 1751, himself to give an edition of Plato.
His design, however, was not carried into execution nor
did it appear, from any thing found among his papers after his death, that he had made any considerable progress
in the undertaking. On the 3d of March, 1752, he took
the degree of doctor of Laws. In the following year, appeared the first volume of his “Memoirs of the Court of
Augustus,
” in 4to. The second volume came out in Enquiry into the Life of Homer
” was not
free from it it was still more discernible in his “Letters
concerning Mythology
” and was most of all apparent in
his “Memoirs of the Court of Augustus.
” We perceive
in his various productions a mixture of pedantry but it is
not the sober dull pedantry of the merely recluse scholar.
In Dr. Blackwell it assumes a higher form. Together with
the display of his erudition, he is ambitious of talking like
a man who is not a little acquainted with the world. He
is often speaking of life and action, of men and manners; and aims at writing with the freedom and politeness
of one who has been much conversant with the public. But;
in this he is unsuccessful: for though he was not destitute
of genius or fancy, and had a high relish for the beauties
of the ancient authors, he never attained that simplicity of
taste, which leads to true ease and elegance in composition. It is probable, also, that, like many others at
that time, he might be seduced by an injudicious imitation
of lord Shaftesbury; a writer, whose faults have been
found more easily attainable than his excellences.
, professor of divinity and Greek in the university of Konigsberg, was born
, professor of divinity and
Greek in the university of Konigsberg, was born in that
city, May 20, 1716, and died in 1786. Among his numerous works on theology, education, and natural history, which are much esteemed in his own country, we
may enumerate, 1. “Specimen theologiae naturalis,
” Zullichau, Historia Socinianismi Prussic.
”
Konigsberg, 1774 1784, 2 vols.
8vo. 4.
” A manual of Education,“1780, 8vo, in German.
5.
” Essay on the natural history of east and west Prussia,“Dessau, 1782 1784, 5 vols. 8vo. 6.
” Prussian Ornithology,“published in the 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, and 17th
numbers of the
” Observator of nature.“7.
” Essay on
the natural history of the Herring," Konigsberg, 1769, 8vo:
all the preceding are in German.
h of the famous bishop Jewel, inserted in Humphrey’s life of that prelate. Dr. John Prideaux, regius professor of divinity and rector of Exeter college, dedicated an act sermon
, a younger brother of sir Thonas Bodley, and, as already noticed, a benefactor to his library, was born in the city of Exeter, about the year 1546. After a suitable education, though in what school is not known, he was sent to Christ-church-college in Oxford, where he took the degrees of bachelor and master of arts. From thence he removed into his native country, where his merit became so conspicuous, that he was made one of the canons, residentiary of Exeter cathedral, and rector of Shobroke, about seven miles from that city, near Crediton. He was chief mourner at his brother’s funeral and, March 30, 1613, was created doctor in divinity, as a member of Christ-church. He died April the 19th, 1615, in the seventieth year of his age, and was interred in St. Peter’s cathedral in Exeter, near the choir, under a flat marble stone, with an epitaph. As to his character we are told, that for his pious zeal, and continual labour in the faithful discharge of the duties of his function, he cannot be over-praised, and that he was of an hospitable disposition, very charitable, and pious. In his will, he bequeathed to the mayor and chamber of Exeter, four hundred pounds in money, to purchase twenty pounds a year in lands, towards the maintenance of a preacher in that city. There is nothing of his writing extant, except an. elegy on the death of the famous bishop Jewel, inserted in Humphrey’s life of that prelate. Dr. John Prideaux, regius professor of divinity and rector of Exeter college, dedicated an act sermon to him, and acknowledges himself indebted to him for some preferment. Prideaux entered Exeter college as a poor servitor, and probably was then indebted to Dr. Bodley for his advancement.
, the idol of the times. This drew upon him the outrageous invectives of Mr. R. Andala, a Cartesian, professor of divinity and philosophy at Franeker, who sounded the alarm,
His progress in physic hitherto was without any assistance from lectures, except those mentioned in anatomy,
and a few by professor Drelincourt on the theory; nor had
he yet any thoughts of declining the priesthood: amidst
mathematical, philosophical, anatomical, chemical and medical researches, he still earnestly pursued divinity. He
went to the university of Harderwick in Guelderland, and
in July 1693 was created there M. D. Upon his return to
Leyden, he still persisted in his design of engaging in the
ministry, but found an invincible obstruction to his intention. In a passage-boat where he happened to be, some
discourse was accidentally started about the doctrine of
Spinosa, as subversive of all religion and one of the passengers, who exerted himself most, opposing to this philosopher’s pretended mathematical demonstrations only the
loud invective of a blind zeal, Boerhaave asked him calmly,
“Whether he had ever read the works of the author he
decried
” The orator was at once struck dumb, and fired
with silent resentment. Another passenger whispered the
person next him, to learn Boerhaave’s name, and took it
down in his pocket-book; and as soon as he arrived at
Leyden, gave it out every where, that Boerhaave was become a Spinosist. Boerhaave, finding that such prejudices
gained ground, thought it imprudent to risque the refusal
of a licence for the pulpit, when he had so fair a prospect
of rising by physic. He now therefore applied wholly to
physic, and joined practice with reading. In 1701, he
took the office of lecturer upon the institutes of physic
and delivered an oration the 18th of May, the subject of
which was a recommendation of the study of Hippocrates:
apprehending that, either through indolence or arrogance,
this founder of physic had been shamefully neglected by
those whose authority was likely to have too great weight
with the students of medicine. He officiated as a professor,
with the title of lecturer only, till 1709, when the professorship of medicine and botany was conferred on him:
his inaugural oration was upon the simplicity of true medical science, wherein, exploding the fallacies and ostentation of alchemistical and metaphysical writers, he reinstates
medicine on the ancient foundation of observation and experiments. In a few years he enriched the physic-garden
with such a number of plants, that it was found necessary
to enlarge it to twice its original extent. In 1714, he arrived to the highest dignity in the university, the rectorship; and, at its expiration, delivered an oration on the
method of obtaining certainty in physics. Here, having
asserted our ignorance of the first principles of things, and
that all our knowledge of their qualities is derived from
experiments, he was thence led to reprehend many systems
of the philosophers, and in particular that of Des Cartes,
the idol of the times. This drew upon him the outrageous
invectives of Mr. R. Andala, a Cartesian, professor of divinity and philosophy at Franeker, who sounded the alarm,
that the church was in danger; and that the introduction
of scepticism, and even Spinosism, must be the
consequence of undermining the Cartesian system by such a
professed ignorance of the principles of things his virulence was carried to such a degree, that the governors of
the university thought themselves in honour obliged (notwithstanding Boernaave’s remonstrances to the contrary) to
insist upon his retracting his aspersions. He accordingly
made a recantation, with offers of further satisfaction to
which Boerhaave generously replied, that the most agreeable satisfaction he could receive was, that so eminent a
divine should have no more trouble on his account. In
1728, he was elected of the academy of sciences at Paris;
and, in 1730, of the royal society of London. In 1718,
he succeeded Le Mort in the professorship of chemistry
and made an oration on this subject, “That chemistry was
capable of clearing itself from its own errors.
” August
An imposthumation of
the lungs, which has daily increased for these last three
months, almost suffocates me upon the least motion if it
should continue to increase without breaking, I must sink
under it; if it should break, the event is still' dubious
happen what may, why should I be concerned since it
cannot be but according to the will of the Supreme Being,
what else should 1 desire God be praised In th mean
time, I am not wanting in the use of the most approved
remedies, in order to mitigate the disease, by promoting
maturation, but am no ways anxious about the success of
them I have lived to upwards of sixty-eight years, and
always cheerful.
” Finding also unusual pulsations of the
artery in the right side of the neck, and intermissions of
the pulse, he concluded there were polypous concretions
between the heart and lungs, with a dilatation of the vessels. Sept. 8, 1738, he wrote his case to Dr. Mortimer,
secretary of the royal society and for some days there
were flattering hopes of his recovery but they soon vanished, and he died the 23d, aged almost seventy.
prince elector Palatine, who was carrying on the reformation in his churches. Here he was appointed professor of divinity, and continued in this office about twenty years,
, or Boquinus, a French divine, and one of the contributors to the reformation, was
born in Aquitaine, and educated in a monastery at Bourges,
of which he became prior, and in high estimation with his
brethren. Having, however, perused some of the writings
of Luther, Bucer, &c. he imbibed their sentiments, and
went to Wittemberg, where he became acquainted with
Luther and Melancthon, and at Basil he attended the lectures of Myconius, Carlostadt, and Sebastian Muncer.
Melancthon afterwards recommended him as a proper person to supply Calvin’s place at Strasburgh, who had gone
back to Geneva; and there he gave lectures on the epistle
to the Galatians, and soon after had for his coadjutor
Peter Martyr. Boquine being at some distance of time
invited by his brother, who was a doctor in divinity, and
not an enemy to the reformation, removed to Bourges, in.
hopes that the French churches were friendly to his doctrine, and there he publicly read and expounded the Hebrew Bible. About this time, Francis, king of France,
being dead, the queen of Navarre came to Bourges, when
Boquine presented her with a book he had written on the
necessity and use of the Holy Scriptures, which she received very graciously, allowed him a yearly stipend out
of her treasury, and appointed him to preach a public lecture in the great church of Bourges, with the consent of
the archbishop. He remained in like favour with her successor, king Henry’s sister; but the enemies of the reformation threatening his life, he was obliged to desist
from his labours, and went back to Strasburgh, where he
was appointed pastor to the French church. This office,
however, he filled only about four months, and in 1557
went into Heidelberg, at the invitation of Otho Henry,
prince elector Palatine, who was carrying on the reformation in his churches. Here he was appointed professor of
divinity, and continued in this office about twenty years,
under Otho and Frederic III. After the death of the latter in 1576, the popish party again prevailing, drove him
and the rest of the reformed clergy from the place, but
almost immediately he was invited to Lausanne, where he
remained until his death in 1582. He left various works,
the dates of which his biographers have not given, except
the following “Oratio in obitum Frederici III. Comit.
Palatini,
” Leyden, 1577, 4to; but their titles are, 1. “Defensio ad calumnias Doctoris cujusdam Avii in Evangelii
professores.
” 2. “Examen libri quern Heshusius inscripsit.de praesentia corporis Christi in coena Domini.
”
3. “Theses in ccena Domini.
” 4. “Exegesis divinsc
communicationis.
” 5. “Adsertio veteris, ac veri Christianismi adversus novum et fictum Jesuitismum.
” This
appears to have been one of his ablest works, and was
translated into English under the title, “A defence of the
old and true profession of Christianitie against the new
counterfeite sect of Jesuites, by Peter Boquine, translated
by T. G.
” London, Notatio praecipuarum causarum diuturnitatis controversial de crena Domini,
” &c.
* learning pointed him out to the associate synod, or synod of seceders, as a fit person to be their professor of divinity, and train up young men, who had had a previous
, a clergyman of the church of Scotland, who long kept an academy for the education of
young men for the ministry among the class called Seceders in that country, was born in 1722, in a village
called Kerpoo, in the county of Perth. His parents died
when he was very young, leaving him almost destitute,
but by some means he contrived to obtain books, if not
regular education, and by dint of perseverance acquired a
considerable knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew,
with which last he was critically conversant. He could
also read and translate the French, Italian, German, Arabic, Persian, Syriac, and Ethiopic, but his favourite studies were divinity, and history both ecclesiastical and
civil. His principles being Calvinistic, his reading was
much confined to writers of that stamp, but he appears to
have studied every controversy in which the church has
been involved, with much attention. At what time he was
ordained, does not appear, but his extensive* learning
pointed him out to the associate synod, or synod of seceders, as a fit person to be their professor of divinity,
and train up young men, who had had a previous education, for the office of the ministry within their pale. His
residence was at Haddington, where he was preacher to a
numerous congregation of the seceders. At one time he
received a pressing invitation from the Dutch church in
the province of New York, to be their tutor in divinity,
which he declined. He died June 19, 1787. His principal works are, 1. An edition of the Bible, called “The
Self-interpreting Bible,
” from its marginal references,
which are far more copious than in any other edition, London, 1791, 2 vols. 4to, and since reprinted. 2. “Dictionary
of the Bible, on the plan of Calmet, but principally adapted
to common readers; often reprinted, 2 vols. 8vo. 3.
” Ex->
plication of Scripture Metaphors,“' 12mo. 4.
” History of
the Seceders,“eighth edition, 1802, 12mo. 5.
” The
Christian Student and Pastor,“1781, an abridgment of the
Lives of Pious Men. 6.
” Letters on the Government of
the Christian Church.“7.
” General History of the
Church,“1771, 2 vols. 12mo, a very useful compendium
of church history, partly on the plan of Mosheim, or
perhaps rather of Lampe. After his death appeared a volume entitled
” Select Hemains," with some account of
his life.
justification. It was particularly opposed by Dr. Morley, bishop of WinChester; Dr. Barlow, Margaret- professor of divinity at Oxford; Mr. Charles Gataker, a presbyterian divine;
Whilst he remained minister of this parish, the providence of God wonderfully interposed for the preservation
of his life; for his lodgings being near a powder-mill, Mr.
Morgan, a gentleman of the parish, represented to him.
the danger of his situation, and at the same time invited
him to his own house. Mr. Bull, at first, modestly declined the offer, but after some importunity accepted it;
and, not many days after his removal to Mr. Morgan’s, the
mill was blown up, and his apartment with it. In this part
of his life he took a journey once a year to Oxford, where
he stayed about two months, to enjoy the benefit of the
public libraries. In his way to and from Oxford, he always
paid a visit to sir William Masters, of Cirencester, by
which means he contracted an intimacy with Mr. Alexander pregory, the minister of the place, and after some
time married Bridget, one of his daughters, on the 20th
of May, 1658. The same year he was presented by the
lady Pool, to the rectory of Suddington St. Mary, near
Cirencester, in Gloucestershire. The next year, 1659,
he was made privy to the design of a general insurrection in favour of king Charles II. and several gentlemen
of that neighbourhood who were in the secret, chose
his house at Suddington for one of the places of their
meeting. Upon the restoration, Mr. Bull frequently
preached for his father-in-law, Mr. Gregory, at Cirencester, where there was a large and populous congregation; and his sermons gave such general satisfaction,
that, upon a vacancy, the people were very solicitous to
have procured for him the presentation; but the largeness
of the parish, and the great duty attending it, deterred
him Trom consenting to the endeavours they were making
for that purpose. In 1662, he was presented by the lord
high-chancellor, the earl of Clarendon, to the vicarage of
Suddington St. Peter, which lay contiguous to Suddington
St. Mary, at the request of his diocesan Dr. Nicholson,
bishop of Gloucester, both livings not exceeding 100l. a
year. When Mr. Bull came first to the rectory of Suddington, he began to be more open in the use of the liturgy of the church of England, though it was not yet
restored by the return of the king; for, being desired to
marry a couple, he performed the ceremony, on a Sunday
morning, in the face of the whole congregation, according
to the form prescribed by the book of common -prayer.
He took the same method in governing these parishes, as
in that of St. George’s, and with the same success; applying himself with great diligence to the discharge of his
pastoral functions, and setting the people an admirable
example in the government and œconomy of his own
family. During his residence here, he had an opportunity of confirming two ladies of quality in the protestant
communion, who were reduced to a wavering state of mind
by the arts and subtleties of the Romish missionaries. The
only dissenters he had in his parish were quakers; whose
extravagances often gave him no small uneasiness. In
this part of his life, Mr. Bull prosecuted his studies with
great application, and composed most of his works during
the twenty-seven years that he was rector of Suddington.
Several tracts, indeed, which cost him much pains, are entirely lost, through his own neglect in preserving them;
particularly a treatise on the posture used by the ancient
Christians in receiving the Eucharist; a letter to Dr. Pearson concerning the genuineness of St. Ignatius’ s epistles; a
long one to Mr. Glanvil, formerly minister of Bath, concerning the eternity of future punishments; and another,
on the subject of popery, to a person of very great quality.
In 1669, he published his Apostolical Harmony, with a
view to settle the peace of the church, upon a point of the
utmost importance to all its members; and he dedicated it
to Dn William Nicholson, bishop of Gloucester. This
performance was greatly disliked, at first, by many of the
clergy, and others, on account of the author’s departing
therein from the private opinions of some doctors of the
church, and his manner of reconciling the two apostles St.
Paul and St. James, as to the doctrine of justification. It
was particularly opposed by Dr. Morley, bishop of
WinChester; Dr. Barlow, Margaret-professor of divinity at Oxford; Mr. Charles Gataker, a presbyterian divine; Mr. Joseph Truman, a non-conformist minister; Dr. Tully, principal of St. Edmund’s-hall; Mr. John Tombes, a famous
anabaptist preacher; Dr. Lewis Du Moulin, an independent; and by M. De Marets, a French writer, who tells
us, “that the author, though a professed priest of the
church of England, was more addicted to the papists, remonstrants, and Socinians, than to the orthodox party.
”
Towards the end of 1675, Mr. Bull published his “Examen Censuræ,
” &c. in answer to Mr. Gataker, and his
“Apologia pro Harmonia,
” &c. in reply to Dr. Tully. Mr.
Bull’s notion on this subject was “That good works, which
proceed from faith, and are conjoined with faith, are a
necessary condition required from us by God, to the end
that by the new and evangelical covenant, obtained by
and sealed in the blood of Christ the Mediator of it, we
may be justified according to his free and unmerited
grace.
” In this doctrine, and throughout the whole book,
Mr. Bull absolutely excludes all pretensions to merit on
the part of men; but the work nevertheless excited the
jealousy of many able divines both in the church and
among the dissenters, as appears from the above list.
About three years after, he was promoted by the earl of
Nottingham, then lord chancellor, to a prebend in the
church of Gloucester, in which he was installed the 9th of
October, 1678. In 1680, he finished his “Defence of
the Nicene Faith,
” of which he had given a hint five years
before in his Apology. This performance, which is levelled
against the Arians and Socinians on one hand, and the
Tritheists and Sabellians on the other, was received with
universal applause, and its fame spread into foreign countries, where it was highly esteemed by the best judges of
antiquity, though of different persuasions. Five years after
its publication, the author was presented, by Philip Sheppard, esq. to the rectory of Avening in Gloucestershire, a
very large parish, and worth two hundred pounds per annum. The people of this parish, being many of them
very dissolute and immoral, and many more disaffected to
the church of England, gave him for some time great trouble and uneasiness; but, by his prudent conduct and diligent discharge of his duty, he at last got the better of their
prejudices, and converted their dislike iuto the most cordial love and affection towards him. He had not been
long at Avening, before he was promoted, by archbishop
Sancroft, to the archdeaconry of Landaff, in which he was
installed the 20th of June, 1686. He was invited soon
after to Oxford, where the degree of doctor in divinity
was conferred upon him by that university, without the
payment of the usual fees, in consideration of the great
and eminent services he had done the church. During the
reign of James II. the doctor preached very warmly against
popery, with which the nation was then threatened. Some
time after the revolution, he was put into the commission
of the peace, and continued in it, with some little interruption, till he was made a bishop. In 1694, whilst he
continued rector of Avening, he published his “Judicium
Ecclesia? Catholicse, &c.
” in defence of the “Anathema,
”
as his former book had been of the Faith, decreed by the
first council of Nice. The last treatise which Dr. Bull
wrote, was his “Primitive Apostolical Tradition,
” &c.
against Daniel Zwicker, a Prussian. All Dr. Bull’s Latin
works, which he had published by himself at different times,
were collected together, and printed in 1703, in one volume in folio, under the care and inspection of Dr. John
Ernest Grabe, the author’s age and infirmities disabling
him from undertaking this edition. The ingenious editor
illustrated the work with many learned annotations, and
ushered it into the world with an excellent preface. Dr,
Bull was in the seventy-first year of his age, when he was
acquainted with her majesty’s gracious intention of conferring on him the bishopric of St. David’s; which promotion he at first declined, on account of his ill state of health
and advanced years; but, by the importunity of his friends,
and strong solicitations from the governors o*f the church,
he was at last prevailed upon to accept it, and was accordingly consecrated in Lambeth-chapel, the 29th of April,
1705. Two years after, he lost his eldest son, Mr. George
Bull, who died of the small-pox the 11th of May, 1707, in,
the thirty-seventh year of his age. Our prelate took his
seat in the house of lords in that memorable session, when
the bill passed for the union of the two kingdoms, and
spoke in a debate which happened upon that occasion, in
favour of the church of England. About July after his
consecration, he went into his diocese, and was received
with all imaginable demonstrations of respect by the gentry and clergy. The episcopal palace at Aberguilly being
much out of repair, he chose the town of Brecknock for
the place of his residence; but was obliged, about half a
year before his death, to remove from thence to Abermarless, for the benefit of a freer air. He resided constantly in his diocese, and carefully discharged all the episcopal functions. Though bishop Bull was a great admirer
of our ecclesiastical constitution, yet he would often lament the distressed state of the church of England, chiefly
owing to the decay of ancient discipline, and the great
number of lay-impropriations, which he considered as a
species of sacrilege, and insinuated that he had known instances of its being punished by the secret curse which
hangs over sacrilegious persons. Some time before his
last sickness, he entertained thoughts of addressing a circular letter to all his clergy; and, after his death, there was
found among his papers one drawn up to that purpose. He
had greatly impaired his health, by too intense and unseasonable an application to his studies, and, on the 27th of
September, 1709, was taken with a violent fit of coughing,
which brought on a spitting of blood. About the beginning of February following, he was seized with a distemper, supposed to be an ulcer, or what they call the inward
piles; of which he died the 17th of the same month, and
was buried, about a week after his death, at Brecknock/
leaving behind him but two children out of eleven.
ons, and Dijon, and a corresponding member of the academy of inscriptions, was born in 1699, and was professor of divinity in the university of Besangon from the year 1728;
, a learned French writer,
member of the academies of Besanc, on, Lyons, and Dijon,
and a corresponding member of the academy of inscriptions, was born in 1699, and was professor of divinity in
the university of Besangon from the year 1728; and afterwards dean. He had a surprising memory, and although
devoted to controversial -studies, was of a mild and affable
disposition. His works are of two kinds; some turning
on religious matters, and others on literary inquiry. They
are all accurate and solid; but we are not to look in them
for elegance of style. The principal of them are: 1 “History of the establishment of Christianity, taken from Jewish
and Pagan authors alone,
” The existence of God demonstrated by nature,
” 2 vols. 8vo. 3.
“Answer to some objections of unbelievers to the Bible,
”
3 vols. 12mo. 4. “De apostolica ecclesise Gallicanae origiue,
” Memoirs on the Celtic tongue,
”
Researches into the history of
Cards,
” A dissertation on the history of
France,
”
, the first upon record of a very learned family, and professor of divinity at Utrecht, was the son of Peter Burman, a Protestant
, the first upon record of a very
learned family, and professor of divinity at Utrecht, was
the son of Peter Burman, a Protestant minister at Frankendal, and was born at Leyden in 1632, where he pursued his studies. At the age of twenty-three he was
invited by the Dutch congregation at Hanau, in Germany,
to be their pastor, and thence he was recalled to Leyden,
and chosen regent of the college in which he had been
educated. Before he had been here a year, his high reputation occasioned his removal to Utrecht, where he was
appointed professor of divinity, and one of the preachers;
Here he acquired additional fame by his learning, and the
flourishing state to which he advanced the university. He
was reckoned an excellent philosopher, an eminent scholar
in the learned languages, and a good preacher. He died
Nov. 10, 1679. His principal works are Commentaries on
some of the books of the Old Testament, in Dutch,
besides which he wrote in Latin: 1. “An Abridgment of
Divinity,
” Utrecht, De Moralitate Sabbati,
” Narratio de controversiis
nuperius in academia Ultrajectina motis, &c.
” Utrecht,
Exercitationes Academic^,
” Rotterdam,
Tractatus de Passione Christi,
”
Academical discourses,
” published
by Grasvius, with some account of the author, Utrecht,
the vacant churches; a step which he himself has since condemned as indiscreet. In 1669, he was made professor of divinity at Glasgow; in which station he executed the following
About six months after he returned to Scotland, where
he declined accepting the living of Saltoun, offered him
by sir Robert Fletcher of that place, resolving to travel for
some time on the continent, in 1664, he went over into
Holland; where, after he had seen what was remarkable
in the Seven Provinces, he resided for some time at Amsterdam, and afterwards at Paris. At Amsterdam, by the
help of a learned Rabbi, he increased his knowledge in
the Hebrew language, and likewise x became acquainted
with the leading men of the different persuasions tolerated
in that country: among each of whom, he used frequently
to declare, he had met with men of such real piety and
virtue, that he contracted a strong principle of universal
charity. At Paris he conversed with the two famous
ministers of Charenton, Dailie and Morus. His stay in
France was the longer, on account of the great kindness
with which he was treated by the lord Holies, then ambassador at the French court. Towards the end of the
year he returned to Scotland, passing through Londo/rr,
where he was introduced, by the president sir Robert
Murray, to be a member of the royal society. In 1665,
he was ordained a priest by the bishop of Edinburgh, and
presented by sir Robert Fletcher to the living of Saitoun,
which had been kept vacant during his absence. He soon
gained the affections of his whole parish, not excepting the
presbyterians, though he was the only clergyman in Scotland that made use of the prayers in the liturgy of the
church of England. During the five years he remained at
Saitoun, he preached twice every Sunday, and once on
one of the week-days; he catechized three times a-week,
so as to examine every parishioner, old or young, three
times in the compass of a year: he went round the parish
from house to house, instructing, reproving, or comforting
them, as occasion required: the sick he visited twice a
day: he administered the sacrament four times a year, and
personally instructed all such as gave notice of their intention to receive it. All that remained above his own necessary subsistence (in which he was very frugal), he gave
away in charity. A particular instance of his generosity
is thus related: one of his parishioners had been in execution for debt, and applied to our author for some small
relief; who inquired of him, how much would again set
him up in his trade: the man named the sum, and he as
readily called to his servant to pay it him: “Sir,” said he,
“it is all we have in the house.” “Well,” said Mr. Burnet, “pay it this poor man: you do not know the pleasure
there is in making a man glad.” This may be a proper
place to mention our author’s practice of preaching extempore, in which he attained an ease chiefly by allotting many
hours of the day to meditation upon all sorts of subjects,
and by accustoming himself, at those times, to speak his
thoughts aloud, studying always to render his expressions
correct. His biographer gives us here two remarkable
instances of his preaching without book. In 1691, when
the sees, vacant by the deprivation of the nonjuring
bishops, were filled up, bishop Williams was appointed to
preach one of the consecration -sermons at Bow-church;
but, being detained by some accident, the archbishop of
Canterbury desired our author, then bishop of Sarum, to
supply his place; which he readily did, to the general satisfaction of all present. In 1705, he was appointed to preach
the thanksgiving-sermon before the queen at St. Paul’s; and
as it was the only discourse he had ever written before-hand,
it was the only time that he ever made a pause in preaching, which on that occasion lasted above a minute. The
same year, he drew up a memorial of the abuses of the
Scotch bishops, which exposed him to the resentments of
that order: upon which, resolving to confine himself to
study, and the duties of his function, he practised such a
retired and abstemious course, as greatly impaired his
health. About 1668, the government of Scotland being in
the hands of moderate men, of whom the principal was sir
Robert Murray, he was frequently consulted by them; and
it was through his advice that some of the more moderate
presbyterians were put into the vacant churches; a step
which he himself has since condemned as indiscreet. In
1669, he was made professor of divinity at Glasgow; in
which station he executed the following plan of study.
On Mondays, he made each of the students, in their turn,
explain a head of divinity in Latin, and propound such
theses from it as he was to defend against the rest of the
scholars; and this exercise concluded with our professor’s
decision of the point in a Latin oration. On Tuesdays, he
gave them a prelection in the same language, in which he
proposed, in the course of eight years, to have gone
through a complete system of divinity. On Wednesdays,
he read them a lecture, for above an hour, by way of a
critical commentary on St. Matthew’s Gospel;' which he
finished before he quitted the chair. On Thursdays, the
exercise was alternate; one Thursday, he expounded a
Hebrew Psalm, comparing it with the Septuagint, the
Vulgar, and the English version; and the next Thursday,
he explained some portion of the ritual and constitution
of the primitive church, making the apostolical canons his
text, and reducing every article of practice under the head
of one or other of those canons. On Fridays, he made
each of his scholars, in course, preach a short sermon upon
some text he assigned; and, when it was ended, he observed upon any thing that was defective or amiss in the
handling of the subject. This was the labour of the mornings: in the evenings, after prayer, he every day read
some parcel of scripture, on which he made a short
discourse; and, when that was over, he examined into
the progress of their several studies. Ail this he performed
during the whole time the schools were open; and, in
order to acquit himself with credit, he was obliged to study
hard from four till ten in the morning; the rest of the day
being of necessity allotted, either to the care of his pupils,
or to hearing the complaints of the clergy, who, rinding he
had an interest with men of power, were not sparing in
their applications to him. In this situation he continued
four years and a half, exposed, through his principles of
moderation, to the censure both of the episcopal and presbyterian parties. The same year he published his “Modest and free Conference between a Conformist and a Nonconformist.
” About this time he was entrusted, by the
duchess of Hamilton, with the perusal and arrangement
of all the papers relating to her father’s and uncle’s
ministry; which induced him to compile “Memoirs of the
Dukes of Hamilton,
” and occasioned his being invited to
London, to receive farther information, concerning the
transactions of those times, by the earl of Lauderdale; between whom and the duke of Hamilton he brought about
a reconciliation. During his stay in London, he was offered a Scotch bishopric, which he refused. Soon after
his return to Glasgow, he married the lady Margaret Kennedy, daughter of the earl of Cassilis. In 1672, he published his “Vindication of the Authority, Constitution, and
Laws, of the Church and State of Scotland,
” against the
principles of Buchanan and others; which was thought, at
that juncture, such a public service, that he was again
courted to accept of a bishopric, with a promise of the
next vacant archbishopric, but he persisted in his refusal
of that dignity. In 1673, he took another journey to
London; where, at the express nomination of the king,
after hearing him preach, he was sworn one of his majesty’s
chaplains in ordinary. He became likewise in high favour
with his majesty and the duke of York . At his return to
Edinburgh, finding the animosities between the dukes of
Hamilton and Lauderdale revived, he retired to his station
at Glasgow; but was obliged the next year to return to
court, to justify himself against the accusations of the duke
of Lauderdale, who had represented him as the cause and
instrument of all the opposition the measures of the court
had met with in the Scotch parliament. Thus he lost the
favour of the court; and, to avoid putting himself into the
hands of his enemies, he resigned the professor’s chair at
Glasgow, and resolved to settle in London, being now
about thirty years of age. Soon after, he was offered the
living of St. Giles’s Cripplegate, which he declined accepting, because he heard that it was intended for Dr.
Fowler, afterwards bishop of Gloucester. In 1675, our
author, at the recommendation of lord Holies, and notwithstanding the interposition of the court against him, was
appointed preacher at the Rolls chapel by sir Harbottle
Grimstone, master of the Rolls. The same year he was
examined before the house of commons in relation to the
duke of Lauderdale, whose conduct the parliament was
then inquiring into. He was soon after chosen lecturer of
St. Clement’s, and became a very popular preacher. In
1676, he published his “Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton;
” and the same year, “An account of a Conference
between himself, Dr. Stillingfleet, and Coleman.
” About
this time, the apprehensions of popery increasing daily, he
undertook to write the “History of the Reformation of the
Church of England.
” The rise and progress of this his
greatest and 'most useful work, is an object of too great
curiosity to require any apology on account of its length.
His own account of it is as follows: “Some time after I
had printed the ‘ Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton,’
which were favourably received, the reading of these got
me the acquaintance and friendship of sir William Jones,
then attorney-general. My way of writing history pleased
him; and so he pressed me to undertake the History of
England. But Sanders’s book, that was then translated
into French, and cried up much in France, made all my
friends press me to answer it, by writing the History of
the Reformation. So now all my thoughts were turned
that way. I laid out for manuscripts, and searched into
all offices. I got for some days into the Cotton Library.
But duke Lauderdale hearing of my design, and apprehending it might succeed in my hands, got Dolben, bishop
of Rochester, to divert sir John Cotton from suffering me
to search into his library. He told him, I was a great
enemy to the prerogative, to which Cotton was devoted,
even to slavery. So he said, I would certainly make an ill
use of all 1 had found. This wrought so much on him,
that I was no more admitted, till my first volume was published. And then, when he saw how I had composed it,
he gave me free access to it.
” The first volume of this
work lay near a year after it was finished, for the perusal
and correction of friends; so that it was not published tiii
the year 1679, when the affair of the popish plot was in
agitation. This book procured our author an honour never
before or since paid to any writer: he had the thanks of
both houses of parliament, with a desire that he would
prosecute the undertaking, and complete that valuable
work. Accordingly, in less than two years after, he
printed the second volume, which met with the same general approbation as the first: and such was his readiness
in composing, that he wrote the historical part in the
compass of six weeks, after all his materials were laid in
order. The third volume, containing a supplement to the
two former, was published in 1714. “The defects of
Peter Heylyn’s
” History of the Reformation,“as bishop
Kicolson observes,
” are abundantly supplied in our
author’s more complete history. He gives a punctual account of all the affairs of the reformation, from its beginning in the reign of Henry VIII. to its final establishment
under queen Elizabeth, A. D. 1559. And the whole is
penned in a masculine style, such as becomes an historian,
and is the property of this author in all his writings. The
collection of records^ which he gives at the end of each
volume, are good vouchers of the truth of what he delivers
in the body of the history, and are much more perfect than
could reasonably be expected, after the pains taken, in
queen Mary’s days, to suppress every thing that carried
the marks of the reformation upon it.“Our author’s performance met with a very favourable, reception abroad, and
was translated into most of the European languages; and
even the keenest of his enemies, Henry Wharton, allows it
to have
” a reputation firmly and deservedly established.“The most eminent of the French writers who have attacked
it, M. Varillas and M. Le Grand, have received satisfactory
replies from -the author himself. At home it was attacked
by Mr. S. Lowth, who censured the account Dr. Burnet
had given of some of archbishop Cranmer’s opinions, asserting that both our historian and Dr. Stillingfleet had imposed upon the world in that particular, and had
” unfaithfully joined together“in their endeavours to lessen
episcopal ordination. Our author replied to Mr. Lowth,
in some
” letters. in answer“to his book. The next assailant was Henry Wharton, who, under the name of Anthony
Harrner, published
” A specimen of some Errors and
Defects in the History of the Reformation,“1693, 8vo, a
performance of no great candour; to which, however, our
historian vouchsafed a short answer, in a
” Letter to the
Bishop of Lichfield.“A third attack on this History was
made by Dr. Hickes in
” Discourses on Dr. Burnet and
Dr. Tillotson;“in which the whole charge amounts to no
more than this, that,
” in a matter of no great consequence,
there was too little care had in copying or examining a
letter writ in a very bad hand,“and that there was some
probability that Dr. Burnet
” was mistaken in one of his
conjectures.“Our author answered this piece, in a
” Vindication“of his History. The two first parts were translated into French by M. de Rosemond, and into Latin by
Melchior Mittelhorzer. There is likewise a Dutch translation of it. In 1682, our author published
” An abridgment of his History of the Reformation," in 8vo, in which
he tells us, he had wholly waved every thing that belonged
to the records, and the proof of what he relates, or to the
confutation of the falsehoods that run through the popish
historians; all which is to be found in the History at large.
And therefore, in this abridgment, he says, every thing is
to be taken upon trust; and those who desire a fuller satisfaction, are referred to the volumes he had before published.
As we have before given some account of his conduct as a parish priest, and as professor of divinity, it is no less necessary to specify some particulars
As we have before given some account of his conduct as a parish priest, and as professor of divinity, it is no less necessary to specify some particulars of his management when in this higher station.
ich he discovered some things irreconcileable with the opinions of the church. He was next appointed professor of divinity, and while at this college published his first work,
, author of the “Lives of the Saints,
”
the second son of Simon Butler, esq. of Appletree, in the
county of Northampton, was born in 1710, and educated
for a short time at a school in Lancashire, whence in his
eighth year he was sent to the English college at Douay,
where he applied himself with uncommon diligence to the
studies prescribed in that Roman catholic seminary, and
was admired for his early piety. After completing his
course, he was admitted an alumnus, and appointed professor of philosophy, in lecturing on which he followed the
Newtonian system, then gaining ground in the foreign
universities, in preference to the systems of Wolfe and
Leibnitz, in which he discovered some things irreconcileable with the opinions of the church. He was next appointed professor of divinity, and while at this college
published his first work, “Letters on the History of the
Popes, published by Mr. Archibald Bower,
” which were
written with ease and good humour, and shew various and
extensive learning. In 1745 he accompanied the late earl
of Shrewsbury, and the hon. James and Thomas Talbot, on
their travels through France and Italy. On his 1 return from
these travels, he was sent on the English mission, and
wished to be settled in London; where he might have access to literary society and the public libraries, with a view
to complete his “Lives of the Saints,
” on which he had
long been engaged; but the vicar apostolic of the middle
district claimed him, as belonging to that district, and appointed him, much against his will, to a mission in Staffordshire. Here, however, he did not remain long, being
appointed chaplain to Edward duke of Norfolk, and to
superintend the education of Mr. Edward Howard, his
nephew and presumptive heir, whom he accompanied
abroad, but who died soon. During his being at Paris, on
this occasion, he completed and sent to press his “Lives
of the Saints, which is said to have cost him the labour of
thirty years. At the finishing of it he gave, what hisbiographer very truly calls, a very edifying instance of
humility. The manuscript of the first volume having been,
submitted to Mr. Cnalloner, the vicar-apostolic of the
London district, he recommended the omission of all the
notes, that the work might be less expensive and more
useful. It is easy to suppose what it must have cost our
author to consign to oblivion the fruit of so much labour.
He obeyed, however, and to this circumstance it is owing,
that in the first edition the notes.are omitted. Some years
after, he published the
” Life of Mary of the Cross,“a
nun in the English convent of the poor Clatvs at Rouen,
not, strictly speaking, apiece of biography, but a vehicle for
instructions on religious life on Roman catholic principles.
Sometime after our author’s return to England from his
travels with Mr. Edward Howard, he was chosen president
of the English college at St. Omer’s, in which station he continued until his death. He had projected many works
besides those already mentioned, and among them, his
treatise on the
” Moveable Feasts,“which was published,
after his death, under the inspection of Mr. Challoner.
He proposed writing the lives of bishop Fisher and Sir
Thomas More, and had made copious collections for both,
some of which are in the hands of his biographer. He had
begun a treatise on
” Natural and revealed religion,“being dissatisfied with what Bergier had published on those
subjects. Three volumes of his
” Discourses“have been
published since his decease. As a preacher, however, we
are told, that he almost wholly failed. His sermons were
sometimes interesting and pathetic; but they were always
desultory, and almost always immeasurably long. His
” Short
life of Sir Toby Matthews,“has lately been published by
his biographer. His literary correspondence was very extensive, and among other correspondents of distinction,
may be mentioned the learned Lambertini, afterwards pope
Benedict XIV. and the late Dn Lowth, bishop of London;
and the assistance he afforded to English men of literature
has been liberally acknowledged by Dr. Kennicot, and
others. After a life spent in devotion to his profession,
and in various studies, he died May 15, 1773, in the sixtythird year of his age; and was interred in the chapel of
the English college at St. Omers, where a monument of
white marble was erected to his memory, with an elegant
Latin inscription. His
” Lives of the Saints," although
run free from the peculiarities of his predecessors in that
branch of biography, is a work of great value and research.
It was first published in 1745, 5 vols. 4to; and in 1779, or
1780, an edition was published at Dublin, in 12 vols. 8vo;
and in 1799 1800, at Edinburgh, in the same form, to
which his nephew, Charles Butler, esq. barrister at law,
prefixed a life, from which the preceding sketch is taken.
essor of philosophy, and with John Cæsar, a protestant minister of Dantzic. In 1650 he was appointed professor of divinity at Wittemberg, and became one of the warmest opponents
, a celebrated Lutheran divine,
and one of the ablest opponents of the Socinians of his
time, was born Aug. 16, 1612, at Morungen in the duchy
of Brunswick, where his father was a man of some consequence. Having finished his studies, and especially distinguished himself by his knowledge in oriental languages,
he came to Rostock, where, in 1637, he took his doctor’s
degree in divinity, and some time after was made professor
of that faculty. He was very rigid in adhering to the Lutheran tenets, and the firmness he displayed in a controversy with John Bergius, a protestant divine, on the
subject of the Lord’s supper, occasioned his being appointed
visitor of the churches and schools of the circle of Samlande
in Prussia, and counsellor in the court of justice. In 1643
he was invited to Dantzic, and made rector of the college.
He carried on several controversies, especially with Martin
Statins, a Lutheran deacon, with Henry Nicolai, professor
of philosophy, and with John Cæsar, a protestant minister
of Dantzic. In 1650 he was appointed professor of divinity
at Wittemberg, and became one of the warmest opponents
of the comprehending system proposed by Calixtus (see Calixtus), and the partizans of the respective combatants
were called Calixtins and Calovians. This dispute, conducted with much intemperance on both sides, lasted until
his death, Feb. 20, 1686. His principal works, exclusive
of those he wrote against Bergius, Nicolai, and Calixtus,
were, 1. “Metaphysica divina, etaliascriptaphilosopbica.
”
2. “Criticus sacer Biblicus.
” 3. “Socinianismus profligatus.
” 4. “Systema locorum theologicorum.
” 5. “Conlideratio Arminianismi.
” 6. “Biblia iilustrata,
” a German
Bible with Luther’s notes. His “Historia Syncretistica,
”
first published in
agistrates of Geneva made of him, with the consent of the, people, to be one of their ministers, and professor of divinity. It was his own wish to undertake only this last
, one of the chief reformers of the
church, was born at Noyon in Picardy, July 10, 1509. He
was instructed in grammar at Paris under Maturinus Corderius, to whom he afterwards dedicated his Commentary
on the first epistle of the Thessalonians, and studied philosophy in the college of Montaigu under a Spanish professor. His father, uho discovered many marks of hitf
early piety, particularly in his reprehensions of the vices of
his companions, designed him for the church, and got him
presented, May 21, 1521, to the chapel of Notre Dame
de la Gesine, in the church of Noyon. In 1527 he was
presented to the rectory of Marteville, which he exchanged
in 1529 fortlie rectory of Pont I‘Eveque near Noyon. His
father afterwards changed his resolution, and would have
him study law; to which Calvin, who, by reading the
scriptures, had conceived a dislike to the superstitions of
popery, readily consented, and resigned the chapel of Gesine and the rectory of Pont l’Eveque in 1534. He had
never, it must here be observed, been in priest’s orders, and
belonged to the church only by having received the tonsure.
He was sent to study the law first under Peter de l'Etoile
(Petrus Stella) at Orleans, and afterwards under Andrew
Alciat at Bourges, and while he made a great progress in
that science, he improved no less in the knowledge of divinity by his private studies. At Bourges he applied to the
Greek tongue, under the direction of professor Wolmar.
His father’s death having called him back to Noyon, he
staid there a short time, and then went to Paris, where he
wrote a commentary on Seneca’s treatise “De dementia,
”
being at this time about twenty- four years of age. Having
put his name in Latin to this piece, he laid aside his surname Cauvin, for that of Calvin, styling himself in the
title-page “Lucius Calvinus civis Romanus.
” He soon
made himself known at Paris to such as had privately embraced the reformation, and by frequent intercourse with
them became more confirmed in his principles. A speech
of Nicholas Cop, rector of the university of Paris, of which
Calvin furnished the materials, having greatly displeased
the Sorbonne and the parliament, gave rise to a persecu^
tion against the protestants; and Calvin, who narrowly escaped being taken in the college of Forteret, was forced to
retire to Xaintonge, after having had the honour to be introduced to the queen of Navarre, who allayed this first storm
raised against the protestants. Calvin returned to Paris in
1534. This year the reformed met with severe treatment,
which determined him to leave France, after publishing a
treatise against those who believe that departed souls are
in a kind of sleep. He retired to Basil, where he studied
Hebrew; at this time he published his “Institutions of the
Christian Religion,
” a work well adapted to spread his fame,
though he himself was desirous of living in obscurity. It
is dedicated to the French king, Francis I. This prince
being solicitous, according to Beza, to gain the friendship
of the Protestants in Germany, and knowing that they
were highly incensed by the cruel persecutions which their
brethren suffered in France, he, by advice of William de
Bellay, represented to them that he had only punished
certain enthusiasts, who substituted their own imaginations
in the place of God’s word, and despised the civil magistrate. Calvin, stung with indignation at this wicked evasion, wrote this work as an apology for the Protestants who
were burnt for their religion in France. The dedication to
Francis I. is one of the three that have been highly admired: that of Thuanus to his history, and Casaubon’s to
Polybius, are the two others. But this treatise, when first
published in 1555, was only a sketch of a larger work.
The complete editions, both in Latin and in French, with
the author’s last additions and corrections, did not appear
till 1558. After the publication of this work, Calvin went
to Italy to pay a visit to the duchess of Ferrara, a lady of
eminent piety, by whom he was very kindly received.
Prom Italy he came back to France, and having settled his
private affairs, he purposed to go to Strasbourg, or Basil,
in company with his sole surviving brother Antony Calvin;
but as the roads were not safe on account of the war, except through the duke of Savoy’s territories, he chose that
road. “This was a particular direction of Providence,
”
says Bayle; “it was his destiny that he should settle at
Geneva, and when he was wholly intent on going farther,
he found himself detained by an order from heaven, if I
may so speak.
” William Farel, a man of a warm enthusiastic temper, who had in vain used many entreaties to
prevail with Calvin to be his fellow-labourer in that part of
the Lord’s vineyard, at last solemnly declared to him, in
the name of God, that if he would not stay, the curse of
God would attend him wherever he went, as seeking himself and not Christ. Calvin therefore was obliged to
comply with the choice which the consistory and magistrates of Geneva made of him, with the consent of the,
people, to be one of their ministers, and professor of divinity. It was his own wish to undertake only this last
office, but he was gbliged to take both upon him in August
1536. The year following he made all the people declare,
upon oath, their assent to a confession of faith, which contained a renunciation of Popery: and because this reformation in doctrine did not put an entire stop to the immoralities that prevailed at Geneva, nor banish that spirit of
faction which had set the principal families at variance,
Calvin, in concert with his colleagues, declared that they
could not celebrate the sacrament whilst they kept up their
animosities, and trampled on the discipline of the church.
He also intimated, that he could not submit to the regulation which the synod of the canton of Berne had lately
made *. On this, the syndics of Geneva summoned an assembly of the people; and it was ordered that Calvin,
Farel, and another minister, should leave the town in two
days, for refusing to administer the sacrament. Calvin'
retired to Strasbourg, and established a French church in
that city, of which he was the first minister; he was also
appointed to be professor of divinity there* During his
stay at Strasbourg, he continued to give many marks of
his affection for the church of Geneva; as appears, amongst
other things, by the answer which he wrote in 1539, to the
beautiful but artful letter of cardinal Sadolet, bishop of
Carpentras, inviting the people of Geneva to return into
the bosom of the Romish church. Two years after, the
divines of Strasbourg being very desirous that he should
assist at the diet which the emperor had appointed to be
held at Worms and at Ratisbon, for accommodating religious differences, he went thither with Bucer, and had a
conference with Melancthon. In the mean time the people
of Geneva (the syndics who promoted his banishment being now some of them executed, and others forced to fly their country for their crimes), entreated him so earnestly to
return to them, that at last he consented. He arrived at
Geneva, Sept. 13, 1541, to the great satisfaction both of
the people and the magistrates; and the first measure ha
adopted after his arrival, was to establish a form of church,
discipline, and a consistorial jurisdiction, invested with,
the power of inflicting censures and canonical punishments,
r. He now came over to England with his family, and was recommended to king James, who appointed him professor of divinity at Glasgow, in the room of Robert Boyd, of Trochrig,
, one of the most famous divines of
the seventeenth century, among the French Protestants,
was born at Glasgow, in Scotland, about the year 1580,
and educated at the university of his native city. After
reading lectures on the Greek language for a year, he began his travels in 1600, and at Bourdeaux evinced so much
ability and erudition, that the ministers of that city appointed him master of a college which they had established
at Bergerac, for teaching Greek and Latin; and from this
the duke de Bouillon removed him to the philosophical
professorship at Sedan, where he remained for two years.
He then went to Paris, and from Paris to Bourdeaux,
where he arrived in 1604, and began his divinity studies, and in 1608 was appointed one of the ministers
of Bourdeaux, and officiated there with such increasing
reputation, that the university of Saumur judged him worthy to succeed Gomarus in the divinity chair. Having
accepted this offer, he gave his lectures until 1620, when
the university was almost dispersed by the civil war. He
now came over to England with his family, and was recommended to king James, who appointed him professor
of divinity at Glasgow, in the room of Robert Boyd, of
Trochrig, (whom Bayle and his translators call Trochoregius), because he was supposed to be more attached to the
episcopal form of church government. This situation,
however, not suiting his taste, he returned to Saumur in
less than a year; but even there he met with opposition,
and the court having prohibited his public teaching, he was
obliged to read lectures in private. After a year passed in
this precarious state of toleration, he went in 1624 to Montauban, where he was chosen professor of divinity, but
having declared himself too openly against the party which
preached up the civil war, he created many enemies, and
among the rest an unknown miscreant who assaulted him
in the street, and wounded him so desperately as to occasion his death, which took place, after he had languished a
considerable time, in 1625. Bayle says, he was a man of
a great deal of wit and judgment, had a happy memory,
was very learned, a good philosopher, of a chcarful temper,
and ready to communicate not only his knowledge, but
even his money: he was a great talker, a long preacher,
little acquainted with the works of the fathers, obstinate
in his opinions, and somewhat troublesome. He frankly
owned to his friends, that he found several things still to
reform in the reformed churches. He took a delight in
publishing particular opinions, and in going out of the
beaten road; and he gave instances of this when he was a
youth, in his theses “De Tribus Frederibus,
” which he
published and maintained at Heidelberg, although yet
but a proposant, or candidate for the ministry. He also
mixed some novelties in all the theological questions
which he examined; and when in explaining some passages of the holy scripture, he met with great difficulties,
he took all opportunities to contradict the other divines,
and especially Beza; for he pretended that they had not
penetrated into the very marrow of that science. It was
from him that monsieur Amyraut adopted the doctrine of
universal grace, which occasioned so many disputes in
France, and will always be found, at least upon Amyraut’s
principles, to be too inconsistent for general belief. Cameron’s works are his “Theological Lectures,
” Saumur,
Myrothecium
Evangelicum.
”
, a very learned divine of the church of Scotland, and principal and professor of divinity of the Marischal college, Aberdeen, was born in
, a very learned divine of the church of Scotland, and principal and professor of divinity of the Marischal college, Aberdeen, was born in that city Dec. 25, 1719. His father, the rev. Colin Campbell, who was one of the ministers of Aberdeen, and a man of primitive piety and worth, died in 1728. George, the subject of this article, who was his youngest son, was educated in the grammar-school of his native city, and afterwards in Marischal college, but appears to have originally intended to follow the profession of the law, and for thatpurpose served an apprenticeship to a writer of the signet in Edinburgh. By what inducements he was made to alter his purpose we are not told; but in 1741 he began to study divinity at the university of Edinburgh, and continued the same pursuit both in King’s college and Marischal college, Aberdeen and here he delivered, with great approbation, those discourses, which are usually prescribed to students of divinity in the Scotch universities. After studying the usual number of years at the divinity hall, he was, according to the practice of the Scotch church, proposed to the Synod; and having undergone the ordinary trials before the presbytery of Aberdeen, was licensed as a probationer, or preacher of the gospel, on the llth of June, 1746. In this rank he remained two years, before he obtained a settlement in the church of Scotland, but at the end of that period was presented to the church of Banchory Ternan, about seventeen miles west from Aberdeen, and was ordained June 2, 1748.
, were such as maintained his reputation. In June 1771, he was, on a vacancy by resignation, elected professor of divinity in Marischal college. This appointment was attended
Dr. Campbell continued for twelve years to discharge
the offices of principal of Marischal college-, and of one of
the ministers of Aberdeen. In the former capacity he was
equally esteemed by the professors and students; as he
united great learning to a conduct strictly virtuous, and to
manners equally gentle and pleasant. lit the latter office
he lived in the greatest harmony with his colleagues, over
whom he affected no superiority; and by all his hearers
was esteemed as a worthy man, a good preacher, and one
of the best lecturers they had ever heard. In lecturing,
indeed, he excelled, while he rarely composed sermons, but preached from a few, and sometimes without
any notes. Yet his discourses on particular occasions,
were such as maintained his reputation. In June 1771,
he was, on a vacancy by resignation, elected professor of
divinity in Marischal college. This appointment was attended with the resignation of his pastoral charge, as one
of the ministers of Aberdeen; but as minister of Gray
Friars, an office conjoined to the professorship, he had to
preach once every Sunday in one of the churches, and
besides this, had the offices both of principal and professor of divinity to discharge. In the latter office he increased the times of instructing his pupils, so thak they
heard nearly double the number of lectures which were
usual with his predecessors, and he so arranged his subjects, that every student who chose to attend regularly
during the shortest period prescribed by the laws of the
church, might hear a complete course of lectures on thelgy embracing, under the theoretical part, every thing
that the student of divinity should know; and under the
practical branch, every thing that he should do, as a
reader of sacred or church history, a biblical critic, a polemic divine, a pulpit orator, a minister of a parish, and a
member of the church courts on the Scotch establishment.
Some idea may be formed of the value of his labours, by
the canons of scripture criticism, and a few other
prelections on the same subject, which are included in preliminary dissertations/printed along with his “Translation of the
Gospels,
” and by the “Lectures
” published after his death.
In Philosophy of
Rhetoric,
” which established his reputation as an excellent
grammarian, an accurate and judicious critic, a scholar of
delicate imagination and taste, and a philosopher of great
acuteness and deep penetration. Our author also published a few occasional sermons, which were much admired, but not equally. That “On the Spirit of the Gospel,
”
f religion. Dr. Campbell, knowing the excellence of his character, instantly resigned the offices of professor of divinity, and minister of Gray Friars church, which were
In his seventy-second year, he was seized with a severe
illness, from which he unexpectedly recovered, and though
his bodily strength was impaired, resumed his former occupations. Some years before his death, he made. a dis^
interested and unsolicited offer of resigning his professorship of divinity, provided that any one of three gentlemen
whom he named, and to whom he applied for their consent,
should succeed him; but this offer not being accepted by
the patrons of the professorship, he continued to hold his
office, lest an improper person should in his life-time be
chosen as his successor. But afterwards application was made
to him, and also to the patrons of the professorship, in Lehalf
of Dr. William Laurence Brown, late minister of the English
church, and professor of moral philosophy, &c. in the university of Utrecht. This gentleman had been driven from
these offices by the French invasion of Holland, on account
of his attachment to the house of Orange, and his native
country; and because, in some of his writings, he had
opposed the progress of French principles, and maintained
the cause of religion. Dr. Campbell, knowing the excellence of his character, instantly resigned the offices of
professor of divinity, and minister of Gray Friars church,
which were worth 160l. a year, and soon after his resignation, government, desirous of testifying in a public manner, the high respect so justly entertained of his abilities
and services, offered him, on condition of resigning the
principalship of Marischal college, a pension of 300l. a
year. Dr. Campbell accepted this token of his majesty’s
munificence, and was succeeded in the office of principal
also by Dr. Brown. This pension, however, he did not
long live to enjoy, though he continued writing till within
a week of his death; an event which he expected with
great tranquillity and composure. On the 31st of March,
1796, after some previous symptoms of uneasiness, he was
struck with the palsy, which deprived him of speech, and
under which he languished for a few days till he died.
He had long accustomed himself to prepare for death; and
in a former illness he had given the testimony of a dying
man in favour of religion. A funeral sermon was preached
on occasion of his death, by Dr. Brown, in which he has
given a sketch of his character as a public teacher, as the
head of a public seminary of learning, and as a private
Christian. His character is thus summed up in a few sentences by his biographer, Dr. Keith: “His imagination
was lively and fertile his understanding equally acute and
vigorous and his erudition was at once very deep and
wonderfully diversified. His piety was unfeigned his
morals unimpeached his temper chearful and his manners gentle and unassuming. His love of truth was even
more remarkable than the uncommon success with which
he sought after it. Where intuitive faculties could be of
service to any man, he saw at once if he saw at all. But
his deep perspicacity was not satisfied with a superficial
view of any thing; his piercing eye darted to the bottom
of every sul/ic < i to which discernment could be applied.
Where study aud reflection were necessary, he could
bestow as much time on patient thinking, as if he had been
possessed of no genius at all, and had acquired only a
small share of erudition. And when once he began to examine any subject, he was never satisfied till he had viewed
it in every light in which it could be seen. He always
sought for truth in the love of truth, but he could not bear
to be suspected of deviating from it for he neither courted
those who might support, nor feared those who did oppose
him. The tone of his mind was high, and he would not
let it down from the elevation of truth and of virtue. Whether engaged in conversation, or employed in study, he
could pass easily from the lightest subject to the most serious one. And the reach of his mind was so great, as to
comprehend a great variety of subjects. He could explore
the causes of that pleasure which arises in the mind from
dramatic entertainments, and lay down the rules of Scripture criticism. He could illustrate the whole theory of
evidence, or detect the false reasonings of Mr. Hume. He
could explain the spirit of the Gospel, marking the extremes of superstition and enthusiasm; and both as a philosopher and a divine, declare the nature, extent, and
importance of the duty of allegiance. While he zealously
contended for the faith, he could warn the Christian against
imbibing a persecuting spirit, and yet shew the influence
of religion upon civil society, warning his countrymen
against infidelity, before they had seen its dreadful effects.
He could with manly eloquence describe the success of the
fishermen of Galilee, while preaching the doctrine of the
cross to prejudiced Jews, learned Greeks, and ambitious
Romans; and at the same time, with well -applied erudition, he could delineate the characters of the pretended
successors of the apostles, and trace the progress of the
hierarchy through all the dark and middle ages, until the
reformation of religion. As the principal of a college, a
professor of divinity, or a minister of the Gospel, as a
true patriot, a good man, and a sincere Christian, qwndo
ullum invenies 'par tin
”
ent French protestant and learned divine, was born at Sedan, a town in Champagne, about 1579. He was professor of divinity and of the Oriental languages in the university
, an eminent French
protestant and learned divine, was born at Sedan, a town
in Champagne, about 1579. He was professor of divinity
and of the Oriental languages in the university of Saumur;
and so very deeply skilled in the Hebrew, that our learned
bishop Hall calls him “magnum Hebraizantium oraculurn
in Gallia,
” the great oracle of all that studied Hebrew in
France. He was the author of some very learned works;
but is now chiefly memorable for the controversy he had
with the younger Buxtorf concerning the antiquity of the
Hebrew points. Two opinions have prevailed concerning
the true date and origin of these points both of which
have been very warmly espoused. The first is, that the
points are coeval with the language, and were always in
use among the Jews: the second, that the points were not
known to the Jews before their dispersion from Jerusalem,
but invented afterwards by modern rabbis to prevent the
language, which was every day decaying, from being utterly lost; viz. that they were invented by the Masoreth
Jews of Tiberias, about 600 years after Christ . This
opinion of their late invention was taken up by Capellus,
who defended it in a very excellent and learned treatise
entitled “Arcanum punctuationis revelatum,
” &c. which
work, after being refused a licence in France and at Geneva, was printed in Holland, and caused a great clamour
among the protestants, as if it had a tendency to hurt their
cause. It is, however, certain, that Luther, Calvin, Zuinglius, and others, had espoused the same notion as well as
the Scaligers, Casaubons, Erpenius, Salmasius, Grotius,
and the Heinsii; and therefore it could not be said, that
Capellus introduced any novelty, but only more solidly
established an opinion, which had been approved of by the
most learned and judicious protestants. The true reason,
perhaps, why the German protestants in general so warmly
opposed Capellus’s opinion, was, that they had been accustomed to follow that of the two Buxtorfs, whom they
considered as oracles in Hebrew learning. Buxtorf the
father had written a little treatise in defence of the antiquity of the points; and as Buxtorfs credit was justly
great among them, they chose rather to rely upon his authority than to examine his arguments, in so abstruse an
inquiry. Buxtorf the son wrote against Capellus, and
maintained his father’s opinion. Capellus, however, has
been generally supposed to have put the matter beyond
any father dispute; on which account his scholars Bochart,
Grotius, Spanheim, Vossius, Daille, and almost all the
learned in Hebrew since, have very readily acceded to
his opinion.
sistency. We find Carolostadt, after this, at Zurich and at Basil, where he was appointed pastor and professor of divinity, and where he died with the warmest effusions of
Carolostadt now wandered from place to place through the higher Germany, and at length made a pause at Rotenburgh, where, as usual, he soon raised tumults, and incited the people to pull down the statues and paintings. When the seditious faction of the peasants, with Munzer their ringleader, was effectually suppressed, he became in the greatest difficulties, and even in danger of his life from his supposed connection with these enthusiastic rebels, and he narrowly escaped, through being let down by the wall of the town in a basket. Thus reduced to the last extremities, he and his wife incessantly intreatedboth the elector and Luther that they might be allowed to return into their own country. He said, he could clear himself of having had any concern in the rebellion; and if not, he would cheerfully undergo any punishment that could be inflicted upon him. With this view he wrote a little tract, in which he takes much pains to justify himself from the charge of sedition: and he sent a letter likewise to Luther, in which he earnestly begs his assistance in the publishing of the tract, as well as in the more general design of establishing his innocence. Luther immediately published Carolostadt’s letter, and called on the magistrates and on the people to give him a fair hearing. In this he succeeded; and Carolostadt was recalled about -the autumn of 1525, and then made a public recantation of what he had advanced on the sacrament, a condescension which did not procure a complete reconciliation between him and the other reformers, and indeed affords but a sorry proof of his consistency. We find Carolostadt, after this, at Zurich and at Basil, where he was appointed pastor and professor of divinity, and where he died with the warmest effusions of piety and resignation, ijec. 25, 1541, or 1543. He was a man of considerable learning, hut his usefulness both as a reformer and writer was perpetually obstructed by the turbulence of his temper, and his misguided zeal in endeavouring to promote that by violence which the other reformers projected only through the medium of reason and argument. That he should be censured by Moreri, Bossuet, and other Roman catholic writers, is not surprising, for he afforded too much ground of accusation; but it is more inexcusable in Mosheim, Beausobre, and some other ecclesiastical historians, to throw the blame of his banishment and restless life on Luther, and highly absurd to insinuate that the latter was jealous of his fame. The comparative merits of the conduct of Luther and Carolostadt throughout their whole connection, have been examined with great candour and perspicuity by Milner. One singularity in Carolostadt’s character still remains to be noticed, namely, that he was the first protestant divine who took a wife. His works were numerous, but are now fallen into oblivion. His followers, who for some time retained the name of Carolostadtians, were also denominated Sacramentarians and agree in most things with the Zuinglians.
the sermon noticed above, Dr. L. Chaderton wrote a treatise on Justification, which Anthony Thysius, professor of divinity at Leyden, published with other tracts on the same
, first master of Emanuel-college, Cambridge, and a benefactor to that house, was
born of an ancient family at Chatterton, in Lancashire, in
1546. His parents were papists, and educated him in that
religion, sending him afterwards to study law in one of the
inns of court, but in the twentieth year of his age, he renounced this pursuit, and went to Cambridge, where his
talents and industry recommended him to a scholarship in
Christ’s-college. His father, enraged at this, sent him a
bag with a groat in it, and told him he might beg, as he
meant to disinherit him, and afterwards executed his threat.
Young Chaderton, however, persisted in his studies, and
in 1567, when B.A., was chosen fellow of his college. In
1578 he commenced B, D. and in the same year preached
a sermon at St. Paul’s cross, which he afterwards printed.
He was then chosen lecturer of St. Clement’s church,
Cambridge, where he preached for about sixteen years,
much followed and admired. Such was his reputation for
learning and piety, that when sir Walter Mildmay refounded Emanuel college, in 1584, he chose Chaderton
for the first master, and on his expressing some reluctance,
declared that if Chaderton would not be master, the foundation should not go on. In the beginning of the reign
of James I. he was one of the four divines for the conference at Hampton-court, and the same year was chosen
one of the translators of the Bible, and was one of the
Cambridge divines who translated from Chronicles to Canticles inclusive. In 1612, when the prince elector palatine
visited Cambridge, he requested Mr. Chaderton to commence D. D. with which he complied; and having regretted
that the founder of Emanuel had provided for only three
fellows, he made such application among his friends, as to
make provision for twelve fellows, and above forty scholars,
and procured some church livings for the college. Towards the close of his life, when Arminian doctrines became prevalent, dreading lest he might have an Arminian
successor, he resigned in favour of Dr. Preston, but survived him, and lived also to see Drs. Sancroft and Holdsworth masters. He was a man of acknowledged piety,
benevolence, and learning, and lived in great respect for
many years after his resignation. He died Nov. 1640,
aged about ninety-four, and was buried in St. Andrew’s
church. He appears to have been related to Dr. William
Cha-derton, successively bishop of Chester and Lincoln,
of whom some account is given by Peck in the preface to
his “Desiderata.
” Besides the sermon noticed above,
Dr. L. Chaderton wrote a treatise on Justification, which
Anthony Thysius, professor of divinity at Leyden, published with other tracts on the same subject; and some of
his Mss. are still in the public libraries, particularly in
the Brit, Mus, among the Harleian Mss. Moreri says his
“Life
” was published by William Dillingham, at Cambridge, in
nts in his order. When he was arrived at a proper age, he was ordained priest; and became afterwards professor of divinity in the province of Lyons, and rector and provincial
, a Jesuit of uncommon abilities, and confessor to Lewis XIV. was born in the chateau
of Aix, in 1624, of an ancient but reduced family. He
gave early indications of talents when at school, and performed his philosophical exercises under father de Vaux,
who was afterwards advanced to the highest employments in
his order. When he was arrived at a proper age, he was
ordained priest; and became afterwards professor of divinity in the province of Lyons, and rector and provincial of
a college there. He spent at several seasons a good deal
of time in Paris, where his great address, his wit, and love
of letters, made him almost universally known: and in
1663, the bishop of Bayeux introduced him to cardinal
Mazarine, who shewed him many marks of favour, and
offered him his patronage. In 1665, he presented la
Chaise to the king, as a person of whose great abilities
and merit he was well convinced, and afterwards got him
admitted into the council of conscience, which indeed was
no less than to make him coadjutor to the confessor, and
when the cardinal died, he was made, in 1675, confessor
to the king; and about ten years after, was the principal
adviser and director of his marriage with madame de Maintenon. The king was then arrived at an age when confessors have more than an ordinary influence: and la Chaise
found himself a minister of state, without expecting, and
almost before he perceived it. He did business regularly
with the king, and immediately saw all the lords and all
the prelates at his feet. He had made himself a master in
the affairs of the church; which, by the disputes that often
arose between the courts of France and Rome, were become affairs of state.
Yet, in spite of all his address and the influence which
he had gained over the king, he was sometimes out of
favour with his master, and in danger of being disgraced.
Provoked at the ill success of the affair concerning the
electorate of Cologn in 1689, the king shewed his displeasure to the confessor, by whose counsels he had been influenced. La Chaise excused himself, by laying the blame
upon the marquis de Louvois; but the king told him with
some indignation, “that an enterprise suggested by Jesuits
had never succeeded; and that it would be better if they
would confine themselves to teaching their scholars, and
never presume to meddle in affairs of state.
” La Chaise
was very solicitous to establish an interest with madam e de
Maintenon; but does not appear to have done it effectually, till that favourite found herself unable, by all her
intrigues and contrivances, to remove him from the place
of confessor. The Jesuit, it has been said, had not religion enough for this devout lady. He loved pleasures,
had a taste for magnificence, and was thought too lukewarm in the care of his master’s conscience. The jealousy
and dislike with which she regarded him were expressed in
her letters; but her unfavourable representations of his
temper and character were counteracted by those of the
duke of St. Simon, who describes him as mild and moderate, humane and modest, possessed of honour and probity, and though much attached to his family, perfectly
disinterested. La Chaise died Jan. 1709, and possessed
to the very last so great a share of favour and esteem with
the king, that his majesty consulted him upon his death-bed about the choice of his successor.
New Testament, with practical observations written originally in French, by the rev. Mr. Ostervald, professor of divinity, and one of the ministers of the church at Neufchatel
, son to the preceding, was
admitted into Trinity college, Oxford, 1685; but it does
not appear that he took any degree. He continued his
father’s “Angliae Notitia,
” or “Present State,
” as long
as he lived, and it was continued after his death until 1755,
which, we believe, is the last edition. He translated, 1.
from French and Spanish, “The manner of making Tea,
Coffee, and Chocolate, London,
” 1685, 8vo. 2. From
Italian into English, “A Treasure of Health,
” London,
1686, 8vo, written by Castor Durant de Gualdo, physician
and citizen of Rome. 3. “The Arguments of the books
and chapters of the Old and New Testament, with practical observations written originally in French, by the rev.
Mr. Ostervald, professor of divinity, and one of the ministers of the church at Neufchatel in Swisserland, and by
him presented to the society for promoting Christian
knowledge,
” Lond. 1716, &c. 3 vols. 8vo. Mr. Chamberlay ne was a member of that society. 4. “The Lives of
the French Philosophers, translated from the French of M.
de Fontenelle, republished since in 1721, under the title
of
” Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Paris,
epitomized, with t[ie lives of the late members of that society,“8vo. 5.
” The Religious Philosopher; or, the
right use of contemplating the works of the Creator, &c.
translated from the original Dutch of Dr. Nieuwentyt,“Lond. 1713, &c. 3 vols. 8vo, reprinted several times since
in 8vo, and once in 4to. 6.
” The History of the Reformation in and about the Low Countries, translated from the
Dutch of Gerrard Brandt,“Lond. 1721, &c. 4 vols. fol.
7.
” The Lord’s Prayer in Dissertations historical, critical, theological, and moral, on the most memorable events of the
Old and New Testaments; wherein the spirit of the sacred
writings is shewn, their authority confirmed, and the sentiments of the primitive fathers, as well as the modern,
critics, with regard to the difficult passages therein, considered and compared; vol. I. comprising the events related
in the Books of Moses to which are added, chronological
tables, fixing the date of each event, and connecting the
several dissertations together,
” one Chamberlayne, secretary to the
reformers, and to the committee for propagating religion
in the Indies.
” There are some of tylr. Chamberlayne’s
letters in bishop Nicolson’s “Epistolary Correspondence
”
lately published. The bishop wrote a preface to Mr. Chamberlayne’s “Lord’s Prayer in 100 Languages.
”
long minister at Montelimart, in that province, from whence he removed in 16 12 to Montaubon, to be professor of divinity; and was killed at the siege of that place by a
, an eminent French protestant
divine, was born in Dauphiny, and was long minister at
Montelimart, in that province, from whence he removed
in 16 12 to Montaubon, to be professor of divinity; and
was killed at the siege of that place by a cannon ball in
1621. He was no less distinguished among his party as a
statesman than as a divine. No man opposed the artifices
employed by the court to distress the protestants with
more steadiness and inflexibility. Varillas says it was he
who drew up the edict of Nantz. Though politics took up
a great part of his time, he acquired a large fund of extensive learning, as appears from his writings. His treatise “De œcumenico pontifice,
” and his “Epistolæ Jesuiticæ,
” are commended by Scaliger. Hjs principal
work is his “Catholica Panstratia, or the Wars of the
Lord,
” in which the controversy between the protestants
and Roman catholics is learnedly handled. It was written
at the desire of the synod of the reformed churches in
France, to confute Bellarmine. The synod of Privas, in
1612, ordered him 2900 livres to defray the charges of the
impression of the first three volumes. Though this work
makes four large folio volumes, it is not complete: for it
wants the controversy concerning the church, intended
for a fifth volume, which the author’s death prevented
him from finishing. This body of controversy was printed
at Geneva in 1626, under the care of Turretin, professor
of divinity. An abridgment of it was published in the
same city in 1643, in one vol. folio, by Frederick Spanheim,
the father. His “Corpus Theologicum,
” and his “Epistolae Jesuiticae,
” were printed in a small folio volume, De cecumenico pontifice
” was also published in
8vo, Genev.
pprehension he might indulge it too much in his book, recommended the revisal of it to Dr. Prideaux, professor of divinity at Oxford, afterwards bishop of Worcester; and desired
As, in forsaking the church of England, as well as in
returning to it, he was solely influenced by a love of truth,
so, upon the same principles, even after his return to protestantism, he thought it incumbent upon him to re-examine the grounds of it. This appears from a letter he
wrote to Sheldon, containing some scruples he had about
leaving the church of Rome, and returning to the church
of England; and these scruples, which he declared ingenuously to his friends, seemed to have occasioned a report that he had turned papist a second time, and then
protestant again. It would have been more just, perhaps,
to conclude that his principles were still unsettled, but, as
his return to the protestant religion made much noise, he
became engaged in several disputes with those of the
Homish; and particularly with John Lewgar, John Floyd
a Jesuit, who went under the name of Daniel, or Dan. a.
Jesu, and White. Lewgar, a great zealot for the church
of Rome, and one who had been an intimate friend of our
author, as soon as he heard of his return to the church of
England, sent him a very angry and abusive letter; to which
Chillingvvorth returned so mild and affectionate an answer,
that Lewgar could not help being touched with it, and
desired to see his old friend again. They had a conference
upon religion before Skinner and Sheldon and we have a
paper of Chillingworth printed among the additional discourses above-mentioned, which seems to contain the abstract or summary of their dispute. Besides the pieces
already mentioned, he wrote one to demonstrate, that
“the doctrine of infallibility is neither evident of itself,
nor grounded upon certain and infallible reasons, nor warranted by any passage of scripture.
” And in two other
papers, he shews that the church of Rome had formerly
erred; first, “by admitting of infants to the eucharist,
and holding, that without it they could not be saved;
” and
secondly, “by teaching the doctrine of the millenaries,
viz. that before the world’s end Christ shall reign upon the
earth 1000 years, and that the saints should live under him
in all holiness and happiness;
” both which doctrines are
condemned as false and heretical by the present church of
Rome. He wrote also a short letter, in answer to some
objections by one of his friends, in which he shews, that
“neither the fathers nor the councils are infallible witnesses of tradition and that the infallibility of the church
of Rome must first of all be proved from Scripture.
” Lastly,
he wrote an answer to some passages in the dialogues published under the name of Rush worth. In 1635 he was
engaged in a work which gave him a far greater opportunity to confute the principles of the church of Rome, and
to vindicate the religion of protestants. A Jesuit called
Edward Knott, though his true name was Matthias Wilson,
had published in 1630 a little book called “Charity mistaken, with the want whereof catholics are unjustly charged,
for affirming, as they do with grief, that protestancy unrepented destroys salvation.
” This was answered by Dr.
Potter, provost of Queen Vcollege, Oxford, in Want of Charity justly charged on all
such Romanists as dare without truth or modesty affirm,
that protestancy destroyeth salvation.
” The Jesuit in
Mercy and Truth, or
Charity maintained by catholics with the want
whereof they are unjustly chargetl, for affirming that
protestancy destroyeth salvation.
” Knott being informed of Chillingworth’s intention to reply to this,
resolved to prejudice the public both against the author
and his book, in a pamphlet called “A Direction to be
observed by N. N. if he means to proceed in answering
the book entitled Mercy and Truth, &c. printed in 1636,
permissu superiorum:
” in which he makes no scruple to
represent Chillingworth as a Socinian, a charge which has
been since brought against him with more effect. Chillingworth’s answer to Knott was very nearly finished in
the beginning of 1637, when Laud, who knew our author’s
freedom in delivering his thoughts, and was under some
apprehension he might indulge it too much in his book,
recommended the revisal of it to Dr. Prideaux, professor
of divinity at Oxford, afterwards bishop of Worcester; and
desired it might be published with his approbation annexed
to it. Dr. Baylie, vice-chancellor, and Dr. Fell, lady
Margaret’s professor in divinity, also examined the book;
and at the end of the year it was published, with their approbation, under this title: “The religion of Protestants
a safe way to Salvation: or, an answer to a book entitled
Mercy and Truth, or Charity maintained by Catholics,
which pretends to prove the contrary.
” It was presented
by the author to Charles I. with a very elegant dedication i
from whence we learn this remarkable circumstance, that
Dr. Potter’s vindication of the protestant religion against
Knott’s books was written by special order of the king 5
and that, by giving such an order, that prince, besides
the general good, had also some aim at the recovery of
Chillingworth from the danger he was then in by the change
of his religion. This work was received with general applause; and what perhaps never happened to any other
controversial work of that bulk, two editions of it wer6
published within less than five months: the first at Oxford,
1638, in folio; the second at London, with some small
improvements, the same year. A third was published
in 1664 to which were added some pieces of Chillingworth a fourth in 1674; a fifth in 1684, with the
addition of his Letter to Lewgar, mentioned above. In
1687, when the nation was in imminent danger of popery,
and this work was in its Cull popularity, Dr. John Patrick,
at the request of the London clergy, published an abridgment of it in 4to, with the additional pieces, which we
have taken notice of already. The sixth edition of the
original appeared in 1704, with the “Additional Discourses,
” but full of typographical errors; the seventh
edition in Life of Mr. Chillingworth,
”by Dr. Birch',
which life was copied into the General Dictionary, 10 vols.
fol. The Jesuit Knott, as well as Floyd and Lacy, Jesuits,
wrote against Chillingworth; but their answers were soon
forgotten.
which was written by cardinal Richelieu against the protestants; but hearing that Martel, an eminent professor of divinity, had a synodical commission for that purpose, he
, an eminent French protestant clergyman, was born at Sauvetat in the province of Angenois, in
1619, and studied grammar and philosophy under his father Francis Claude, also a minister, ~and a man of great
piety, and afterwards went through a course of divinity at
Montauban, where he was ordained in 1645. He was
made minister of the church of la Treyne, where he officiated a year, and then became minister of a church of St.
Afric in Rovergne and eight years after, pastor of that
of Nismes. As the protestants had an university in the
city of Nismes, Claude had an opportunity of displaying
one of his chief talents, that of happily explaining a theological subject; and he used to read private lectures to
such as were candidates for the ministry. He had undertaken to refute the piece called “The Method,
” which
was written by cardinal Richelieu against the protestants;
but hearing that Martel, an eminent professor of divinity,
had a synodical commission for that purpose, he laid aside
that design. Havfng opposed, in the synod of the Lower
Languedoc, a person whom the court had won over to attempt a re-union between the Roman catholics and protestants, he was forbid, by a decree of council, the functions of a minister in Languedoc, after he had exercised
them eight years at Nismes. He went to Paris to get this
resolution taken off; and, after staying there six months
to no purpose, he went to Montauban, preached the day
after his arrival, and accepted an offer from the people of
that church.
, of another family, a German divine and poet, doctor and professor of divinity at the university of Kiel, was born in 1723, at
, of another family, a German
divine and poet, doctor and professor of divinity at the
university of Kiel, was born in 1723, at Jostadt, near Aunaberg. He was educated at Leipsic, where he made
great proficiency in learning, but was soon under the necessity of employing his talents to defray the expences of
the university, which he did partly in teaching, and partly
in translating for the booksellers. He soon, however, acquired great reputation, and in 1750 was invited to Copenhagen, where he became court-chaplain. In 1765 he
was appointed professor of divinity in the university of
Copenhagen, and in 1773 was appointed to the same office
in the university of Kiel, where he died June 12, 1738.
He ranks as an orator, historian, poet, and translator, but
his countrymen distinguish him principally as an historian,
and a poet. His translation of, and additions to Bossuet’s
“Introduction to Universal History,
” bespeak the highest
talents, and his translation of the “Psalms
” is said to
breathe the true spirit of Oriental poetry. His two lyric
odes of “David
” and “Luther
” are excellent; and, though
inferior to Klopstock and Ramler in spirit, he far surpasses them in versification and ease. His principal works
are: 1. “A Translation of the Sermons of St. Chrysostom,
with an Introduction and Remarks,
” ten parts, Leipsic,
Psalms,
” in
four parts, ibid. Gospel Imitation of the
Psalms of David, and other holy songs,
” Copenhagen,
Luther,
” an ode, Melancthon,
”
an ode. He was also concerned with Klopstock in publishing the “Northern Inspector,
” one of the best periodical publications in Germany.
ry in 1699. The same year he accompanied his brother to Herborn, where the latter had been appointed professor of divinity, and pursued his studies in that place for two years,
, a learned protestant
divine, was born at Elcau, Feb. 14, 1678, and was first
instructed in classical learning by his father, who was a
pastor of the reformed church, and who intended him for
the medical profession, but by the advice of his brother,
professor of the oriental languages at Zurich, he studied
divinity, after the death of his father, in 1693, and was
admitted into the ministry in 1699. The same year he accompanied his brother to Herborn, where the latter had
been appointed professor of divinity, and pursued his
studies in that place for two years, under the ablest professors. He then removed to Leyden, and having made
great progress in Hebrew antiquities, he published there,
in 1702, his “Seven Dissertations on the Hilcoth Biccurim.
” His brother dying at Zurich the same year, he
was unanimously chosen to succeed him as Hebrew professor, and on Sept. 18, he opened his lectures with a discourse “de philologis a reformatione in schola Tigurina
claris.
” In 1705 he was appointed to teach sacred and
profane history, and the year following succeeded to the
Hebrew professorship in the superior college. In 1725 he
succeeded John James Lavater, the elder, as professor of
theology, and after some other preferments, the duties of
which appear to have affected his health, he died July 14,
1737. His works are very numerous: 1. “Decas Thesium
Theologicarum,
” Constitutiones de primitivis R. Mosis F. Maimonis, &c. cum versione et notis
philologicis,
” Leyden, De Summa pryedicationis apostolicae, quod Jesus sit Christus,
” De genuina indole fidei Jesum ceu Christum recipientis,
” two parts, Dissertationes Theolog. VII. de benedictione Mosis in tribum
Levi enunciata,
” 1725, 1736, 4to. 6. “Positiones theolog. ex pastorali instructione sancti Pauli ad Titum data,
”
Demonstratio quibus in rebus S'erae religionis prsestantia ponenda sit,
” 172H. 8. “De nonnullis
Antichrist! characteribus,
” Meditatio sacra in verba S. Pauli,
quee beatitudinem in Domino morientium veram ac certam
demonstrat,
” Zurich,
ers and teachers, which obliged him to go to Ratisbon, and afterwards to Nuremberg. He was then made professor of divinity at Altdorff, which he enjoyed only four years, dying
, a learned Bohemian,
was born at Schlackowald, in 1584, and after receiving the
first rudiments of education at home, was sent in 1603,
first to Jena, and afterwards to Wittemberg, where he
studied divinity, philosophy, and the learned languages,
in which last, particularly the oriental languages, he became critically skilled. He also taught the oriental languages at Wittemberg, published several critical works,
which were highly esteemed, and had for his pupils many
young men who were afterwards authors of great name.
His reputation extending to Austria, he was invited in
1614 to become pastor at Geschwend, where he remained
five years, until he was induced to accept the pastoral office at Muhlgrub, the residence of a nobleman named
Fenzelius, who offered him the situation, with a liberal
income; and here, probably, he would have spent his
days, had not Ferdinand II, banished all Lutheran preachers
and teachers, which obliged him to go to Ratisbon, and
afterwards to Nuremberg. He was then made professor of
divinity at Altdorff, which he enjoyed only four years,
dying there, of what his biographers call the falling sickness, (comitialis morbus), Aug. 28, 1629. His principal
works are, 1. “A Dissertation on the Confusion of
Tongues.
” 2. “Exercitationes Hebraicse.
” 3. “Gymnasium & Lexicon Syriacum,
” 2 vols. 4to. 4. “Lingua
Samaritica,
” 4to. 5. “Grammatica Chaldaica,
” 4to.
6. “De auctoritate verbi divini in Hebraico codice,
” Amsterdam,
was sworn Greek lecturer of that college (an annual office) Oct. 2, 1602. In July 1604 he was chosen professor of divinity in Gresham college, to which he was recommended,
, one of the translators of the Bible, of whose family history we have no account, was educated at Westminster school, whence being removed to Cambridge, he was admitted of Trinity college May 8, 1587; chosen junior fellow there Oct. 3, 1593, and senior fellow March 16th following. In 1601 he took the degree of B. D. and was sworn Greek lecturer of that college (an annual office) Oct. 2, 1602. In July 1604 he was chosen professor of divinity in Gresham college, to which he was recommended, in the most honourable terms, not only by the vice-chancellor and several heads of houses at Cambridge, but also by some of the nobility, and even by king James I. in a letter to the Gresham committee. His majesty’s object seems to have been that Mr. Dakins should not be without a suitable provision while employed on the new translation of the Bible, undertaken by royal order, and for a part of which important work Mr. Dakins was considered as excellently qualified by his skill in the Oriental languages. The translators being divided into six classes, two of which were to meet at Westminster, two at Oxford, and two at Cambridge, Mr. Dakins was one of those at Westminster, and his part was the Epistles of St. Paul and the canonical Epistles. He did not, however, live to see the work completed, as he died in Feb. 1607, a few months after being chosen junior dean of Trinity college.
of the ablest divines of the protestant persuasion. At Geneva he became one of their preachers, and professor of divinity. In 15S1 he was invited to Leyden in the same character,
, an eminent
French protestant divine, was born at Orleans about the
year 1530. Having at first an inclination for the law, he
studied that science in his native city for four years under
Aune du Bourg, then a teacher of high reputation, and
who, after holding the office of clerk of the parliament of
Paris for two years, was strangled and burnt, Dec. 20,
1559, for his adherence to the protestant faith. Affected
by the constancy with which his master suffered, and of
which he appears to have been an eye-witness, and referring such constancy to its proper source, Daneau embraced
the principles of the deceased martyr, and the following
year retired to Geneva, where he could enjoy his religion
unmolested. From this time he gave over all thoughts of
the law, and began the study of divinity, in which he made
such progress as to be acknowledged one of the ablest divines of the protestant persuasion. At Geneva he became
one of their preachers, and professor of divinity. In 15S1
he was invited to Leyden in the same character, and taught
there about a year. He at length returned to France, and
after residing some time atOrthcs, finally took up his abode
at Castres, where he exercised the functions of the ministry until the year 1596, vvheu he died. His works are very
numerous. A considerable collection of them was published by himself at Geneva in 1583, in a large folio volume,
divided into three classes, didactic, exegetic, and polemic.
But, besides these, Niceron and other authors give a very
large catalogue of separate publications, commentaries on
the Holy Scriptures; and moral, historical, and geographical treatises. One of these, “Primi mundi antiquitatum
sectiones quatuor,
” was published in English by Thomas
Twine, under the title of “The wonderful workmanship
of the World,
” Les Sorciers
” was also
published here in A Dialogue of
Witches.
”
ired great reputation, and attracted a number of foreign students. Some time after, he was appointed professor of divinity, in which he was no less popular. He died of a stroke
, a learned German divine of the Lutheran church, and whose talents
contributed greatly to raise the reputation of the university
of Jena, was born Feb. 1, 1654, at Sandhusen, a village
near Gotha. He appears to have obtained the patronage
of the duke Frederick, who defrayed the expence of his
education, both at school, and at the university of Wittemberg, where he took his master’s degree in 1676.
Having devoted much of his attention to the Hebrew language and antiquities, he went to Hamburgh, where he
profited by the assistance of Esdras Edzardi and other
learned Jews, and was enabled to read the rabbinical writings with facility. From Hamburgh he went to Leipsic,
and thence to Jena, from which in 1683 he visited Holland and England, acquiring in both countries the acquaintance of men of learning. On his return, having determined to settle at Jena, he was appointed professor extraordinary of the oriental languages, and on the death of
the learned Frischmuth, was advanced to be professorordinary. In these offices he acquired great reputation,
and attracted a number of foreign students. Some time
after, he was appointed professor of divinity, in which he
was no less popular. He died of a stroke of apoplexy,
Dec. 20, 1727. He wrote, among many other works,
“Sinceritas sacrae Scripturae veteris testamenti triumphans,
cujus prodromus Sinceritas Scriptuvae Vet. Test, prevalente
Keri vacillans,
” Jena, Divina Elohim inter
coaequales de primo homine condendo deliberatio,
” Inauguratio Christi haud obscurior Mosaica, decem dissert, asserta,
” Jena, Davidis in Ammonitas devictos mitigata crudelitas,
”
ree of bachelor of divinity. The year before, according to Mr. Cole, he was admitted lady Margaret’s professor of divinity. He was also one of the preachers at St. Paul’s,
, a puritan divine of the sixteenth
century, was a native of the county of Kent, and related
to the Derings of Surrenden. He was educated at Christ’s
college, Cambridge, of which he was chosen fellow ia
1668, and then took his degree of bachelor of divinity.
The year before, according to Mr. Cole, he was admitted
lady Margaret’s professor of divinity. He was also one of
the preachers at St. Paul’s, and in 1569 obtained the rectory of Pluckley in the diocese of Canterbury, and became
chaplain to the duke of Norfolk. On Dec. 20, 1571, he
was presented by the queen to the prebend of Chardstoke
in the cathedral of Salisbury. He was much celebrated
for his eloquence in the pulpit, and for his general learning and acuteness as a disputant, of which last he gave a
proof, in a work written against the popish Dr. Harding,
entitled “A Sparing Restraint of many lavish Untruths,
”
&c. like a sheep
”),
but now it might be tanquam indomita juvjenca (“like an untamed heifer
”). The queen, however, retained so much
of her milder character as only to forbid his preaching at
court; to which Neal, who quotes Fuller for this anecdote,
adds that “he lost all his preferments in the church,
” although no such words are to be found in Fuller. His principal works are, 1. a A Lecture or Exposition upon a part
of the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, as it was
read in St. Paul’s, Dec. 6, 1572,“Lond. 1581, Itnno.
This work was extended to
” Twenty-seven Lectures or
Readings upon part of that Epistle,“1576. 2.
” A Sermon preached before the Queen’s Majesty, Feb. 25, 1569,“Lond. 1584. 3.
” A Sermon preached at the Tower of
London, Dec. 11, 1569,“ibid. 158-k These three are
noticed, with extracts, in the Bibliographer, vol. I. 4.
” Certain godly and comfortable Letters, full of Christian consolation," &c. no date, 4to, all which, with some other
tracts of Dering’s, were collected and printed in one vol.
8vo, by Field in 1595. His correspondence with lord
Burleigh may be seen in Strype’s Annals.
Sibbald, &c. of that city, which were afterwards published. In 1641 he was removed from Irvine to be professor of divinity in the university of Glasgow; and in 1643 he assisted
, an eminent divine of the church of
Scotland, the son of John Dickson, a merchant in Glasgow, was born about 1583, and educated at the university
of his native city. After taking the degree of M. A. he
was admitted regent, or professor of philosophy, an office
which, at that time, somewhat after the manner of the
foreign universities, was held only for a term of years (in this case, of eight years) after which these regents received ordination. Accordingly, in 1618, Mr. Dickson
was ordained minister of the town of Irvine, which preferment he held about twenty-three years, and became a very
popular preacher. Although always inclined to the presbyterian form of church-government, he had shewn no
great reluctance to the episcopal forms until the passing of
what are known, in the ecclesiastical history of Scotland,
by the name of the Perth articles; five articles, which enjoined kneeling at the sacrament; private adtninistratioa
of it in extreme sickness; private baptism, if necessary;
episcopal confirmation; and the observation of Epiphany,
Christmas, &c. These, however harmless they may appear to an English reader, were matters not only of objection, but abhorrence to a great proportion of the Scotch
clergy; and Mr. Dickson having expressed his dislike in
strong terms, and probably in the pulpit, was suspended
from his pastoral charge, and ordered to remove to Turriff,
in the north of Scotland, within twenty days. After much
interest, however, had been employed, for he had many
friends among persons of rank, who respected his talents
and piety, he was allowed in 1623 to return to Irvine.
As during the progress of the rebellion in England, the
power of the established church decayed also in Scotland,
Dickson exerted himself with considerable effect in the
restoration of the presbyterian form of church-government,
and there being a reluctance to this change on the part
of the learned divines of Aberdeen, he went thither in
1637, and held solemn disputations with Doctors Forbes,
Barron, Sibbald, &c. of that city, which were afterwards published. In 1641 he was removed from Irvine
to be professor of divinity in the university of Glasgow;
and in 1643 he assisted in drawing up some of those
formularies which are contained in the “Confession of
Faith,
” a book which is still subscribed by the clergy of
Scotland. The “Directory for public worship,
” and
“The sum of saving knowledge,
” were from his pen, assisted, in the former, by Henderson and Calderwood and
in the latter, by Durham. Some years after, probably
about 1645, he was invited to the elmir of professor of divinity at Edinburgh, which he held until the restoration,
when he was ejected for refusing the oath of supremacy.
He did not survive this long, dying in 1662. He was esteemed one of the ablest and most useful men of his time,
in the promotion of the church of Scotland as now established, and his writings have been accounted standard
books with those who adhere to her principles as originally
laid down. His principal works are, I. “A Commentary
on the Hebrews,
” 8vo. 2. “On Matthew,
” 4to. 3. “On
the Psalms,
” On the Epistles,
”
Latin and English, folio and 4to. 5. “Therapeutica Sacra, or Cases of Conscience resolved,
” Latin 4to, English
8vo. 6. “A treatise on the Promises,
” Dublin, Confession of
Faith,
” he lectured, when professor of divinity, on that
book, the heads of which lectures were afterwards published, as he had delivered them, in Latin, under the title
“Prelectiones in Confessionem Fidei,
” folio but they
have been since translated and often reprinted, under the
title of “Truth’s Victory over Error,
” one of the most
useful, and now, we believe, the only one of his works
which continues still popular in Scotland. Prefixed is a
life of the author by Woodrow, the ecclesiastical historian, from which we have extracted the above particulars.
venteenth year he went to Marpurg, and studied under Otto, the celebrated orientalist, and Tilemann, professor of divinity, with whom he lodged, and who afterwards procured
, professor of the law of nature and nations, and of history, at Francfort on the Oder, and a member of the royal society of Berlin, was born March 13, 1677, at Rottenburgh, in Hesse. His father was rector of that place, and became afterwards minister and dean. His son was at first educated under his care, which he amply repaid by a proficiency far beyond his years. In his seventeenth year he went to Marpurg, and studied under Otto, the celebrated orientalist, and Tilemann, professor of divinity, with whom he lodged, and who afterwards procured him the appointment of tutor to the two young barons of Morrien. Dithmar executed this office with general satisfaction, and when he went afterwards to prosecute his studies at Leyden, he was maintained at the expence of the landgrave of He^r Cusstl. He afterwards travelled over some parts of Germany and Holland, as tutor to the son of M. the great president Dancklemann. The learned Perizonius, with whom he became acquainted at Leyden, and who had a great esteem for him, procured him the offer of a professorship at Leyden, with a liberal salary but Dithmar thought himself obliged first to return M. Dancklemann’s sun to his father, who was so sensible of the value of his services, as to procure him a settlement at Francfort on the Oder. Here he was appointed professor of history, then of the law of nature and nations, and lastly, gave lectures on statistics and finance. He had been before this admitted a member of the royal society of Berlin, and was created a counsellor of the order of St. John. His situation at Francfort was in all respects so agreeable, that he refused many offers to remove, and in 1715 again declined a very honourable opportunity of settling at Leyden. He died at Francfort March 13, 1737, after a short illness; and with the reputation of one of the most learned men of his time.
omew made him change his resolution. Soon after this, he was invited to Cambridge by Cartwright, the professor of divinity; and also to Oxford, by Dr. Lawrence Humphrey, whither
, a learned protestant and eminent critic, was born at Oudenard, in Elandcrs, June 28, 1550. He was designed for the study of divinity, and sent very early to Ghent, to learn the languages there, and afterwards to Louvain, to pass through a course of philosophy; but his father having been outlawed for his religion in 1567, and deprived of his estate, retired to England, and Drusius soon followed him, though his mother, who continued a bigoted catholic, endeavoured to prevent him. Masters were provided to superintend his studies; and he had soon an opportunity of learning Hebrew under Anthony Cevellier, or rather Chevalier, who was come over to England, and taught that language publicly in the university of Cambridge. Drusius lodged at his house, and had a great share in his friendship. He did not return to London till 1571; and, while he was preparing to go to France, the news of the massacre of St. Bartholomew made him change his resolution. Soon after this, he was invited to Cambridge by Cartwright, the professor of divinity; and also to Oxford, by Dr. Lawrence Humphrey, whither he went, and became professor of the oriental languages there at the age of twenty-two. He taught at Oxford four years with great success*; after which, being desirous of returning to his own country, he went to Louvain, where he studied the civil law. The troubles on account of religion obliged him to come back to his father at London; but, upon the pacification of Ghent, in 1576, they both returned to their own country. The son tried his fortune in Holland, and was appointed professor of the oriental tongues there, in 1577. While he continued in this station at Leyden, he married in 1580 a young gentlewoman of Ghent, who was more than half a convert, and became a thorough protestant after her marriage. The stipend allowed to Drusius, in Holland, not being sufficient to support himself and family, he gave intimations that if better terms should be offered him elsewhere, he would accept of them. The prince of Orange wrote to the magistrates of Leyden, to take care not to lose a man of his merit; yet they suffered him to remove to Friesland, whither he had been invited to be professor of Hebrew in the university of Franeker. He was admitted into that professorship in 1585, and discharged the functions of it with great honour till his death, which happened in 1616.
t Troyes, and was afterwards recalled to St. Magloir, at Paris, where he gained great reputation, as professor of divinity, by his “Ecclesiastical Conferences.” Ill health
, a learned priest of the oratory, was born December 9, 1649, at Montbrison, the son
of Claude Duguet, king’s advocate in the presidial of that
city. Having entered the congregation of the oratory at
Paris, in 1667, he taught philosophy at Troyes, and was
afterwards recalled to St. Magloir, at Paris, where he
gained great reputation, as professor of divinity, by his
“Ecclesiastical Conferences.
” Ill health obliged him to
resign all his employments in 1680, and in 1685 he quitted
the oratory, and retired to M. Arnauld, at Brussels; but
returned to Paris afterwards, where he lived in a very retired manner, at the house of M. the president de Menars,
1690, where he continued till the death of that magistrate
and his wife. He was afterwards frequently forced to
change his dwelling and country, in consequence of his
opposition to the Constitution Unigenitus. He was successively in Holland, at Troyes, Paris, &c. and died in
the last-named city October 25, 1733, aged eighty-four.
His works are numerous, and well written in French. The
principal are, 1. “Lettres de Piete et de Morale,
” 9 vols,
12mo; 2. “La Conduite d'une Dame Chretienne,
” 12mo;
3. “Traite de la Priere publique, et des Saints Mysteres,
”
12mo; 4. “Traite dogmatique sur l‘Eucharistie, sur les
Exorcismes, et sur l’Usure.
” The three last are much
admired by Catholics, and are printed together, Commentaires sur l'Ouvrage des 6 jours.
”
12mo; 6. “Sur Job,
” 3 tom, in 4 vols. 12mo; 7. “Sur
la Genese,
” 6 vols. 12mo; 8. “Explication sur les
Pseaumes,
” 5 tom. in 8 vols. 12mo; 9. “Explication des
Rois, Esdras, et Nehemias,
” 6 tom. in 7 vols. 12mo; 10.
“Explication du Cantique des Cantiques, et de la Sagesse,
”
2vols. 12mo; 11. “Explication sur Isaïe, Jonas, et Habacuc,
” 6 tom. in 7 vols. 12mo; 12. “Regles pour l‘Intelligence de l’Ecriture Sainte,
” 12mo. The preface to
this work is by M. d'Asfeld. 13. “Explication du Mystere de la Passion de N. S. J. C.
” 9 tom. in 14 vols. 12mo;
14. “Les Characters de la Charité,
” 12mo; 15. “Traité
des Principes de la Foi Chretienne,
” 3 vols. 12mo; 16.
“De l‘Education d’un Prince,
” 4to, or in 4 vols. 12mo;
17. “Conferences Ecclesiastiques,
” 2 vols. 4to; 18. “Je
sus crucifié,
” 1 vol. or 2 vols. 12mo; and some other
pieces, which procured him considerable reputation while
works of piety remained popular in France. The history,
and an analysis of his work on the education of a prince, may
be seen in our third authority.
Wishart, then principal of the college of Edinburgh, by whose interest he was promoted to be regius professor of divinity and church history, 1716. In the discharge of his
was born at Glasgow,
where his father was principal of the university, 1692.
In 1712 he took the degree of A. M. and afterwards spent
two years in the university of Utrecht, having at that time
some thoughts of applying himself to the study of the law;
but he was diverted from that resolution by the persuasions
of Mr. Wishart, then principal of the college of Edinburgh,
by whose interest he was promoted to be regius professor
of divinity and church history, 1716. In the discharge of
his duty, Mr. Dunlop procured great honour: but his labours were not confined to the professional chair; he
preached frequently in the parish churches in Edinburgh,
and his sermons were delivered with such elegance and
justness of thought, that multitudes flocked after him. Increasing daily in promoting useful knowledge, and acquiring
the approbation of the virtuous of every denomination, he
adorned his profession by the most exalted piety, and lived
equal to the doctrines he taught. In the arduous discharge
of these important duties, he contracted a disorder which
brought on a dropsy; and after a lingering illness, he died
at Edinburgh 1720, aged twenty -eight. His works are:
Sermons in 2 vols. 12mo, and an “Essay on Confessions of Faith.
” He was an ornament to learning, and esteemed as a man of great piety and worth.
n’s other literary labours, he was commissary in most of the affairs of the faculty of theology, was professor of divinity in the royal college, and for many years editor
In addition to Dupin’s other literary labours, he was
commissary in most of the affairs of the faculty of theology,
was professor of divinity in the royal college, and for many
years editor of the “Journal des Scavans,
” carried on an
extensive correspondence with learned men, and was often
requested to prepare editions of works for the press, and to
write prefaces. Yet notwithstanding all this, and his more
urgent labours in preparing his own works, we are told
that he divided his time judiciously, and had leisure to visit
and receive the visits of his friends or strangers, whom he
entertained with as much apparent ease as if his time was
wholly unoccupied. His openness of temper, however,
and the general impartiality of his works, procured him
many enemies, whom the celebrated “Case of Conscience
”
afforded an opportunity of bringing him into fresh trouble.
This “Case of Conscience
” was a paper signed by forty
doctors of the Sorbonne, in Europe Savante,
” upon the first volume
of his “Bibliotheque des Auteurs separez de la Communion Romaine,
” and spoke of it with great severity, not
knowing that Courayer was the author of it. These fathers
then went up to the chamber of Le Cointe, who had written
in conjunction with Dupin, and was author of the answer
to that criticism, which had been erroneously ascribed to
Dupin himself. Le Cointe, who likewise knew not that
Courayer was their antagonist, began upon the same subject, and told them, that if he lived, he would never desist
from writing against those who had attacked Dupin, whom he
styled his dear master; and though he had but a very small
estate, would at his death leave money for a foundation to
support those who should defend his memory; but Le Cointe
died about fifteen days after, without performing his promise.
w escape from being killed in an engagement with the English, that, encouraged by Dr. David Dickson, professor of divinity at Glasgow, he determined to devote himself to the
, an eminent Scotch divine of the
seventeenth century, the eldest son of John Durham of
Easter-Powrie, esq. and descended from the ancient family
of Grange Durham in the county of Angus, was born
about 1622, and educated at the university of St. Andrew’s, which he left without taking a degree, as he had
then no design of following any of the learned professions.
When the civil wars broke out, he served in the army, with
the rank of captain, but was so much affected by his narrow escape from being killed in an engagement with the
English, that, encouraged by Dr. David Dickson, professor of divinity at Glasgow, he determined to devote himself to the church. With this view he went to Glasgow,
studied divinity under Dr. Dickson, and in 1646 was licensed by the presbytery of Irvine to preach. In the following year he was ordained minister of the Black-friars 7
church in Glasgow, where he became one of the most
popular preachers of his time. In 1650 he was chosen to
succeed Dr. Dickson as professor, and about the same time
attended Charles II. when in Scotland, as one of his chaplains. In 1651, when Cromwell and his army were at
Glasgow, Durham preached before the usurper, and upbraided him to his face for having invaded the country.
Next day Cromwell sent for him, and told him he thought
he had been a wiser man than to meddle with public affairs
in his sermons. Durham answered that it was not his common practice, but that he could not help laying hold of
such an opportunity of expressing his sentiments in his
presence. Cromwell dismissed him with a caution, but
met with so many other instances of similar rebuffs from
the Scotch clergy, that he thought it unadvisable to
pursue any more severe course. Durham was a man of such
moderation of temper and sentiment, as to be able to conduct himself without giving much offence in those troublesome times, and gained the favour of all parties by the
conscientious discharge of his pastoral duties. This character gave him unusual authority in the country where he
lived; but his incessant labours both as a preacher and
writer brought on a consumptive disorder, of which he died
June 25, 1658, in the prime of life. He wrote, 1. “A
Commentary on the Revelations.
” 2. “Sermons on the
liii. of Isaiah.
” 3. “Sermons on the Song of Solomon.
”
4. “A treatise on Scandal.
” 5. “An Exposition of the
Commandments:
” the two latter posthumous; with some
single sermons and pious tracts, which have been often
reprinted.
ege, Oxford, upon the 20th of May 1740, under the tuition of the rev. Dr. Bentham, afterwards regius professor of divinity in that university, where he prosecuted his studies
, late bishop of Durham, a descendant of the preceding, was the son of Henry Egerton, bishop of Hereford (fifth son of John third earl of Bridgewater, by lady Jane Powlett, first daughter of Charles duke of Bolton), who marrying lady Elizabeth Ariana Bentinck, daughter of William earl of Portland, had by her one daughter and five sons, of whom John was the eldest. He was born in London, on the 30th of November, 1721, was educated at Eton school, and admitted a gentleman commoner in Oriel college, Oxford, upon the 20th of May 1740, under the tuition of the rev. Dr. Bentham, afterwards regius professor of divinity in that university, where he prosecuted his studies extensively and successfully for six or seven years. He was ordained deacon privately by Dr. Benjamin Hoadly, bishop of Worcester, in Grosvenor chapel, Westminster, on the 21st of Dec. 1745, and the following day he was ordained priest, at a general ordination holden by the same bishop in the same place. On the 23d he was collated by his father to the living of Ross in Herefordshire, and on the 28th was inducted by Robert Breton archdeacon of Hereford. On the 3d of January 1746 (a short time before his father’s death, which happened on the 1st of April following), he was collated to the canonry or prebend of Cublington, in the church of Hereford. Upon the 30th of May 1746, he took the degree of bachelor of civil law, for which he went out grand compounder. On the 21st of November 1748 he married Indy Anne Sophia, daughter of Henry de Grey, duke of Kent, by Sophia, daughter of William Bentinck, earl of Portland. He was appointed chaplain in ordinary to the king upon the lyth of March 1749; and was promoted to the deanery of Hereford on the 24th of July 1750. He was consecrated bishop of Bangor on the 4th of July 1756, at Lambeth; and had the temporalities restored to him upon the 22d, previously to which, on the 21st of May, the university of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. by diploma, and he was empowered to hold the living of Ross, and the prebend of Cublington, with that bishopric, in commendam, dated the 1st of July. On the 12th of November 1768, he was translated to the see of Lichfield and Coventry, with which he held the prebend of Weldland, and residentiary ship of St. Paul’s, and also the two preferments before mentioned. He was inducted, installed, and enthroned at Lichfield by proxy, upon the 22d of November, and had the temporalities restored upon, the 26th. On the death of Dr. Richard Trevor, he was elected to the see of Durham, upon the 8th of July 1771, and was confirmed on the 20th in St. James’s church, Westminster. Upon the 2d of August following he was enthroned and installed at Durham by proxy. The temporalities of the see were restored to his lordship on the 15th of August, and on the 3d of September he made his public entry into his palatinate. On his taking possession of the bishopric, he found the county divided by former contested elections, which had destroyed the general peace: no endeavours were wanting on his part to promote and secure a thorough reconciliation of contending interests, on terms honourable and advantageous to all; and when the affability, politeness, and condescension, for which he was distinguished, uniting in a person of his high character and station, had won the affections of ll parties to himself, he found less difficulty in reconciling them to each other, and had soon the high satisfaction to see men of the first distinction in the county conciliated by his means, and meeting in good neighbourhood at his princely table. The harmony he had so happily restored, he was equally studious to preserve, which he effectually did, by treating the nobility and gentry of the county at all times with a proper regard, by paying an entire and impartial attention to their native interests, by forbearing to improve any opportunities of influencing their parliamentary choice in favour of his own family or particular friends, and by consulting on all occasions the honour of the palatinate. The same conciliating interposition he had used in the county, he employed in the city of Durham with the same success. At the approach of the general election in 1780 he postponed granting the Mew charter, which would considerably enlarge the number of voters, till some months after the election, that he might maintain the strictest neutrality between the candidates, and avoid even the imputation of partiality; and when he confirmed it, and freely restored to the city all its ancient rights, privileges, and immunities, in the most ample and advantageous form, he selected the members of the new corporation, with great care, out of the most moderate and respectable of the citizens, regardless of every consideration but its peace and due regulation; objects which he steadily held in view, and in the attainment of which he succeeded to his utmost wish, and far beyond his expectation. A conduct equally calculated to promote order and good government, he displayed, if possible, still more conspicuously in the spiritual than in the temporal department of his double office. Towards the chapter, and towards the body of the clergy at large, he exercised every good office, making them all look up to him as their common friend and father: and to those who had enjoyed the special favour of his predecessor, he was particularly kind and attentive, both from a sense of their merit, and that he might mitigate in some degree their loss of so excellent a friend and patron. In the discharge of all his episcopal functions, he was diligent and conscientious. He was extremely scrupulous whom he admitted into orders, in respect of their learning, character, and religious tenets. In his visitations, he urged and enforced the regularity, the decorum, and the well-being of the church, by a particular inquiry into the conduct of its ministers, encouraging them to reside upon their several henetices, and manifesting upon all opportunities, a sincere and active concern for the interests and accommodation of the inferior clergy. His charges were the exact transcripts of his mind. Objections have been made to some compositions of this kind, that they bear the resemblance of being as specious as sincere, and are calculated sometimes, perhaps, rather a little more to raise the reputation of their author as a fine writer, than to edify the ministry and advance religion. Of the charges his lordship delivered, it may truly be said, that, upon such occasions, he recommended nothing to his clergy which he did not practise in his life, and approve of in his closet.
rofessor extraordinary of ancient literature, in 1756 professor of eloquence, and in 1758 doctor and professor of divinity, the functions of all which offices he discharged
, was born at Tacnnstadt in
Thuringia, Aug. 4, 1707, was educated at Witternberg and
Leipsic, and became one of the most learned philologers
of Germany. He studied theology as a profession; and in
1734 was chosen rector of St. Thomas’s school. In 1742
he was appointed professor extraordinary of ancient literature, in 1756 professor of eloquence, and in 1758 doctor
and professor of divinity, the functions of all which offices
he discharged with great assiduity and high reputation,
and yet found leisure for his numerous original
publications, and those excellent editions of the classics which
have made his name familiar in the learned world. As a
divine, he disliked the modern philosophical innovations in
the study of theology, and was alike hostile to infidelity
and superstition. He died, with the character of a man of
consummate learning and irreproachable character, Sept.
11, 1781. Among his valuable editions of the classics are,
1. His “Homer,
” Leipsic, 1759, 5 vols. 8vo, which may
be ranked among the very best. It is formed on the basis
of Clarke’s, containing his text and notes, and the various
readings of a Leipsic manuscript, with those of the ancient
editions. 2. “Callimachus,
” Ley den, 1761, 2 vols. 8vo,
containing, besides the preface, notes, and version of
Ernesti, many grammatical and critical observations of
Hemsterhusius and Ruhnkenius, and the whole of what is
valuable in Gravius. 3. “Cicero,
” of whose works he
published three editions, the first at Leipsic, 1737, 5 vols.
the others at Halle, 1758 and 1774, in 8 vols. 8vo. The
second and third, which are the most correct, contain the
famous “Clavis Ciceroniana,
” which has been published
separately. 4. “Tacitus,
” Leipsic, Suetonius,
” two editions, at Leipsic, Leipsic, 1788, a very useful edition, with the
ancient scholia, and remarks by the editor and by Nagelius.
7. Xenophon’s
” Memorabilia,“of which there have been
several editions, 1737, 1742, 1755, &c. The best is that
of Leipsic, 1772. Ernesti’s other works are, 8.
” Initia
doctrinse solidioris,“Leipsic, 1783, 8vo, the seventh edition. 9.
” Institutio interpretis Novi Testamenti,“Leipsic,
1775, 8vo, the third edition, which Alberti of Leyden calls
a
” golden work.“10. An improved edition of Hederic’s
Lexicon, 1754 and 1767. 11. A
” Theological Library,“1760 1771, 11 vols. 8vo. 12.
” Opuscula Oratoria, Orationes, Prolusiones et Elogia x “Leyden, 1762, 8vo. This
contains thirteen very elegant and judicious academical
discourses, pronounced on different occasions, with the
same number of historical eloges. The subjects of the
discourses are, 1. Of the study of the belles lettres. 2.
That eloquence has its real source in the heart. 3. That
we must conform to the laws of criticism in the study of
divinity. 4. Of the revolutions of eloquence. 5. Of the
conditions to be observed for studying and teaching philosophy with success. 6. Of the advantages of real learning.
7. The arts of peace and war. 8. A parallel between the
Greek and Roman writers. 9. Of the name of on’s country. 10. Of joining the art of thinking to that of speaking.
11. Of the desire of praise and reputation. 12. Of popular philosophy and, 13. Of moral or practicable philosophy. These discourses are written in an easy flowing
style, and in elegant Latinity. II.
” Opusculorum oratoriorum, novum volumen,“Leipsic, 1791, 8vo: this and
another volume published in 1794, forms a complete collection of Ernesti’s smaller tracts. 12.
” Archaeologia literaria,“Leipsic, 1768, 8vo, to which we may add his excellent new edition, of which he lived to publish only 3
volumes, of
” Fabricii Bibl. Graeca." His nephew, Augustus William Ernes n, was born in 1733, and died in
1801 at Leipsic, where he was professor of eloquence in
that university from 1770, and well known by his edition
of Livy, Quintilian, and other classics. To the university
library there he bequeathed his very complete collection of
the works of Camerarius; and to that of the Senate, his
collection of the editions and Mss. of Cicero, to complete
the Ciceronian collection already in it.
y; and in 1651 was chosen minister of the church of Utrecht: two years after, he was appointed joint professor of divinity with Walter de Bruyn, and began his course of lectures,
, a learned and orthodox Dutch
divine, was born at Bommel, in the duchy of Guelderland,
in February 1618, and after having been instructed in
classical learning at home, was sent to Utrecht, where he
studied under Antonius Emilius, who was at that time moderator of the university. He then went through a course
of philosophy, mathematics, and theology, under the ablest
professors, and in 1639 his name was put into the list of
students who were candidates for the ministry. The following year he was admitted to his degree of M. A. In
1641 he was appointed pastor of the church of Nederlangbroeck. In 1645 he took his doctor’s degree in theology;
and in 1651 was chosen minister of the church of Utrecht:
two years after, he was appointed joint professor of divinity with Walter de Bruyn, and began his course of lectures, according to the usual mode, by a discourse “De
tractatione verbi divini.
” He died May 18, 1672, and an
eulogium was pronounced on him by his quondam fellowstudent, John Voetius, as appears by one of Graevius’s
letters in Burman’s “Sylloge,
” vol. IV. p. 419. His
works were, 1. “Triumphus Crucis, sive fides catholica
de satisfactione Jesu Christi,
” Amst. De
morah'tate Sabbathi,
” Disquisitio de moralitate
Sabbathi hebdomadalis,
” Dissertationes de
Decalogo et die Sabbathi adversus Abrahamum Heidanum,
” Utrecht, Vindiciae quarti praecepti in Decalogo,
” ibid. Defensio concilii Theologici Ultrajectini de Canonicatibus, Vicariatibns, &c.
” Vindicirc de Canonicis,
” printed at
Groningen, Systema Theologicum,
”
Utrecht, Synopsis
controversiarum Theologicarum, et index locorum totius
sacrae Scripturoc,
” Arnst. Compendium Theologiae dogmaticum,
”
Utrecht, Apologia pro ministris in Anglia non conformistis.
” The date of this is
not in our authority, but the work must not be mistaken
for one with a similar title, supposed by Hickman, mentioned in our account of Durell; (see Durell). 11. “Dissertatio de subjectione Christi ad legem divinam.
” 12.
“Doctrina de nostra redemptione per meritum Jesu
Christi.
” 13. “Instructio salutaris de Judaeis.
” 14. “Refutatio vere catholica contra pontificios.
” 15. “Oratio
de celsitudine perseverantiie.
” 16. “Oratio funebris in
obitum Gualteri de Bruyn,
” Utrecht, Oratio funebris in obitum Gisberti Voetii,
” ibid.
, professor of divinity in the university of Leipsic, was born at Amsterdam
, professor of divinity in the university of Leipsic, was born at Amsterdam April 10, 1663.
His father was a divine and pastor of the church of Meurs,
but he had the misfortune to lose both parents when he
was only five years old. His education then devolved upon
his maternal grandfather, Francis Felbier, who appears to
have done ample justice to him, and particularly introduced
him to that intimate acquaintance with the French language
for which he was afterwards distinguished. He began to
be taught Latin in the public school of Amsterdam in 1673;
“but in less than three months his grandfather died, and on
his death-bed advised him to devote himself to the study
of divinity, which was the wish and intention both of himself and of his parents. He accordingly pursued his classical studies with great assiduity; and in 1679, when in his
sixteenth year, was much applauded for a discourse he
pronounced, according to the custom of the school. His
subject was that
” justice elevates a nation.' 7 After this
he remained two more years at Amsterdam, and studied
philosophy and rhetoric under the ablest professors; and
at his leisure hours David Sarphati Pina, a physician and
rabbi, gave him lessons in the Hebrew, Chaldaic, and Syriac languages, and enabled him to read the works of the
Jewish doctors. In Sept. 1681 he removed to Leyden,
where for two years he studied philosophy, Greek and Roman antiquities, and ecclesiastical history and geography,
under the celebrated masters of that day, De Voider, Theodore Ryckius, James Gronovius, and Frederic Spanheim;
and went on also improving himself in the Oriental languages. Such was his proficiency in this last pursuit, that
he already was able to carry on a correspondence with his
master at Amsterdam, the above-mentioned Pina, in the
Hebrew language, and he translated the gospels of St.
Matthew and Mark into that language.
continued by queen Christina. He was also appointed minister of the principal church of Stettin, and professor of divinity. He died suddenly of an apoplectic stroke, Aug.
, a Lutheran divine, was born at
Coslin, a town of Pomerania, in 15D3. In his youth, as
his parents were poor, he contrived to defray the expences
of his education by instructing a few pupils in what he had
already learned, and having the charge of some of them
to Rostock, he soon distinguished himself among the
learned of that city. Having taken orders, he was chosen
preacher at Coslin, and chaplain to the duke Bogislaus XI V.
who five years after recommended him to a doctor’s degree at Gripswald. About this time the king of Sweden,
Gustavus Adolphus, arriving in Germany, made him his
confessor, and superintendant of his army; and after the
battle of Lutzen, in which that prince lost his life, the duke
Bogislaus recalled Fabricius, and made him superintendant
of Upper Pomerania, in which office he was afterwards continued by queen Christina. He was also appointed minister of the principal church of Stettin, and professor of divinity. He died suddenly of an apoplectic stroke, Aug.
11, 165+. His principal writings are, 1. “Disputationes
in Genesim, et in Kpistolam ad Romanes. 2.
” Probatio
visionum,“a work which involved him in disrepute with
some of his brethren, and obliged him to publish in defence
of it, 'J.
” Invictir visionum probationes.“4.
” JustaGustaviana." He published besides some pieces in German.
of the church of St. James at Hamburgh, ecclesiastic-counsellor to the king of Sweden, and honorary professor of divinity at Kiel. Being made acquainted with Fabricius’s
Besides his studies in the belles lettres and philosophy,
he had much inclination to that of medicine, and would
probably have pursued it as a profession; but Berger, the
medical professor, under whom he studied, being removed
from Leipsic, he thenceforth devoted himself entirely to
divinity. In April 1692 he had been admitted a preacher,
and his four disputations on subjects of theology procured
him the highest praises from his tutors. In 1693 he went
to Hamburgh, without any immediate design, except that
of visiting some relations, particularly his maternal uncle.
but intended afterwards to travel, from which he was diverted by an unexpected event. His guardian Valentine
Albert now wrote to him that his whole patrimony, amounting only to 1000 German crowns, had been expended in
his education, and that he was indebted to him for a considerable sum advanced. Fabricius returned an answer to
this letter, expressing his concern at the news, but full of
gratitude to his guardian for the care he had taken of him
and his property. He had, however, to seek for the means
of subsistence, and might have been reduced to the greatest
distress, had he not found a liberal patron in John Frederick
Mayer. This gentleman was minister of the church of St.
James at Hamburgh, ecclesiastic-counsellor to the king of
Sweden, and honorary professor of divinity at Kiel. Being
made acquainted with Fabricius’s situation, and probably
no stranger to the fame he had acquired at Leipsic, he gave
him an invitation to his house, and engaged him as his
librarian, on which office Fabricius entered in June 1694,
and during his residence here, which lasted five years,
divided his time betwixt study and preaching, in the
church of St. James, and other churches. In the month of
August 1695, he sustained a disputation at Kiel on the irrational logic of the popes, in the presence of the dukes of
Holstein and Brunswick. In 1697 he published the first
edition of his “Bibliotheca Latina,
” in a small volume, 8vo,
and appears to have prepared some of his other works for
the press; but a fuller list of these, with their dates, will
be given at the conclusion of this article.
abricius went to Leyden, where he took his degree of doctor in divinity. Soon after he was appointed professor of divinity at Heidelr berg, superintendant of the studies of
, an eminent protestant divine of the seventeenth century, was born at Schafhousen,
July 29, 1639. He began his studies under the inspection
of his father, who was rector of thq college; but in 1647
went to Cologne, where his brother Sebaldus lived, and
there for about a year studied Greek and Latin. In 1643
he returned to Schafhousen, but left it for Heidelberg in
the following year, where his brother had been appointed
professor of history and Greek. In 1650 he went to
Utrecht, and for about two years was employed in teaching. At the end of that time he visited Paris as tutor of
the son of M. de la Lane, governor of Reez, and remained
in tnis station for three years. Having returned to Heidelberg in 1656, he took his degree of master of arts, and the
following year was admitted into holy orders, and appointed
professor extraordinary of Greek, but was, not long after,
requested by the elector to go again to Paris as tutor to
the baron Rothenschild, and in 1659 he accompanied his
pupil to the Hague, and afterwards into England. On
their return to France they parted, and Fabricius went to
Leyden, where he took his degree of doctor in divinity.
Soon after he was appointed professor of divinity at Heidelr
berg, superintendant of the studies of the electoral prince,
inspector of the college of wisdom, and philosophy professor. In 1664 he was appointed ecclesiastical counsellor
to the elector, who, in 1666, sent him to Schafhousen to
explain to that canton the reasons for the war of Lorraine,
which office Dr. Boeckelman had discharged in the other
cantons. In 1674, when the French army advanced towards Heidelberg, Fabricius retired to Fredericksburgh,
and to Cologne, but returned the same year. In 168O,
although a Calvinist, he was commissioned with a Roman
catholic to open the temple of concord at Manheim. In
1688, the French, who had taken possession of Heidelberg,
showed so much respect for his character as to give him a
passport, which carried him safely to Schafhousen; but
the continuance of the war occasioned him again to shift
his place of residence, and when at Francfort, he was employed by the king of England (William III.) and the
States General to join the English envoy in Swisserland,
and watch the interests of the States General. In the
execution of this commission he acquitted himself with
great ability, and was particularly successful in adjusting
tjbe differences between the Vaudois and the duke of
Savoy, and afterwards in accomplishing an alliance between
the duke and the States General. We find him afterwards
at Heidelberg, and Francfort, at which last he died in
1697. From these various employments it appears that he
was a man of great abilities and political weight, and he
derived likewise considerable reputation from his writings
as a divine. Such was his abhorence of Socinianism that
he opposed the settlement of the Socinian Poles when
driven out of their own country in the Palatinate; in which,
however, at that time he was not singular, as, according
to Mosheim, none of the European nations could be persuaded to grant a public settlement to a sect whose members denied the divinity of Christ. The same historian
informs us that he “was so mild and indulgent
” as to
maintain, that the difference between the Lutherans and
Roman catholics was of so little consequence, that a Lutheran might safely embrace popery; an opinion, which,
mild and indulgent as Mosheim thinks it, appears to us
more in favour of popery than of Lutheranism. His works,
on controversial topics, were collected and published in a
quarto volume, by Heidegger with a life of the author,
printed at Zurich in 1698.
octor in divinity, being about that time domestic chaplain to James I. In 1626, he was made Margaret professor of divinity, and consequently had a prebend of Worcester, which
a learned divine, was born in
the parish of St. Clement Danes, London, 1594; elected
student of Christ Church from Westminster school in
1601; took a master of arts degree in 1608, served the
office of proctor in 1614, and the year following was admitted bachelor of divinity; and about that time became
minister of Freshwater in the Isle of Wight. In May 1619,
he was installed canon of Christ Church, and the same
year proceeded doctor in divinity, being about that time
domestic chaplain to James I. In 1626, he was made
Margaret professor of divinity, and consequently had a
prebend of Worcester, which was about that time annexed
to the professorship. He was then a Calvinist, but at
length, renouncing the opinions so called, he was, through
Laud’s interest, made dean of Lichfield in 1637; and the
year following, dean of Christ Church. In 1645, he was
appointed vice-chancellor, which office he served also in
1647, in contempt of the parliamentary visitors, who at
length ejected him from that and his deanery, and their
minions were so exasperated at him for his loyalty to the
king, and zeal for the church, that they actually sought
his life: and being threatened to be murdered, he was
forced to abscond. He died broken-hearted, Feb. 1, 1648-9;
that being the very day he was made acquainted with the
murder of his royal master king Charles. He was buried
in the chancel of Sunning-well church, near Abingdon, in
Berkshire (where he had been rector, and built the front of the parsonage-house) with only this short memorial, on a
small lozenge of marble laid over his grave, “Depositum
S. F. February 1648.
” He was a public-spirited man, and
had the character of a scholar. Wood, though he supposes
there were more, only mentions these two Small productions of his; viz. “Primitiae; sive Oratio habita Oxoniae in
Schola TheologiiE, 9 Nov. 1626,
” and, “Concio Latina
ad Baccalaureos die cinerum in Coloss. ii. 8.
” They were
both printed at Oxford in 1627. He contributed very largely
to Christ Church college, completing most of the
improvements begun by his predecessor, Dr. Duppa, and would
have done more had not the rebellion prevented him.
, a protestant minister and professor of divinity at Nismes, of the seventeenth century, is, contrary
, a protestant minister and professor of divinity at Nismes, of the seventeenth century, is,
contrary to his namesake in the preceding article, memorable for becoming a papist, even after having maintained in public disputation, in 1602, that “Pope Clement
the VHIth was properly the Antichrist,
” yet he was the
first who began to yield in the political assemblies of the
reformed in France. Many circumstances in his behaviour
had made him suspected as a pensioner of the court, as a
false brother, and a traitor to the churches. He did not,
however, openly change his religion till a popular tumult
arose against him > in which his house was plundered, and
himself so near being murdered, that, for the sake of
escaping he was obliged to lie three days concealed in a
tomb. After this he settled at Paris, where he endeavoured
to make his fortune. He published in 1614, the year after
his conversion, a book of controversy upon the subject
of antichrist. The king employed him in several important affairs; and in 1626 he was commanded to attend
his majesty to Britanny, where he was honoured with the
title of state and privy counsellor. Cardinal de Richelieu
had a particular esteem for him. He died of a hectic fever
in 1626. His family was numerous; and he made all his
children promise that they would live and die in the catholic faith. His only daughter married M. Tardieu, lieutennnt-criminel of Paris, concerning which couple some
curious anecdotes are recorded in Boileau’s tenth satire,
and in the notes of St. Marc. Ferrier was the reputed
author of a famous political work, entitled “Catholique
d'Etat,
” published in
astical counsellor, and superintendant of the diocese of Zerhst, in Anhalt. In 1709 he was appointed professor of divinity, and assessor of the ecclesiastical consistory of
, a Lutheran divine, was born in the duciiy of Holstein, in 1672. After an useful elementary education, he studied philosophy and theology at Rostock and Wittemberg, where he was created doctor in philosophy, in 1692. In 1697, he was appointed pastor and superintendant of the diocese of Jessen, and afterwards became pastor of the church of St. Bartholomew at Zerbst, preacher to the court, confessor and ecclesiastical counsellor, and superintendant of the diocese of Zerhst, in Anhalt. In 1709 he was appointed professor of divinity, and assessor of the ecclesiastical consistory of that city. At the same time he preached once a week before the eJectress of Saxony, and was honoured with the post of ecclesiastical counsellor to the duie of Saxe-Gotha. His last appointment was that of confessor to the electress of Saxony, in. 1712, an office that he enjoyed but a few months, as he died in 1713, when only forty-one years of age. His works, enumerated by Moreri, are very numerous, and chiefly on theological subjects, but are now little known.
eavouring to make proselytes, until he was imprisoned and banished. Those of his order then made him professor of divinity at Louvaine, and vice-provincial of the English
, an English Jesuit of the seventeenth
century, whose true name was Piercy, was born in Yorkshire, and admitted in the English college at Rome,
whence he removed to Louvaine, and became a Jesuit in
1594. Afterwards he was sent on a mission to England,
and laboured several years in endeavouring to make proselytes, until he was imprisoned and banished. Those of
his order then made him professor of divinity at Louvaine,
and vice-provincial of the English Jesuits. Returning thence
to England, he made a considerable figure in the reigns of
James I. and Charles I. in various controversies and conferences with some noted divines of the church of England.
His most remarkable conference was with Dr. Francis
White, dean of Carlisle, and afterwards bishop of Norwich, which was held in the king’s presence in 1622, at
three different times, at the request of the duke of Buckingham, on account of his duchess being a Roman catholic.
At the conclusion of these conferences, king James desired
Fisher to return an answer to nine points, proposed by his
majesty, which Fisher did in writing, except an article
concerning the supremacy, about which he desired to he
excused. He had conferences also with Laud, Featley,
and othrrs. He was alive in 1641, but how long afterwards we do not find. He published 1. “A Treatise of
Faith,
” Lond. A Defence of the preceding against Wooton and White,
” St.
Omers, A Challenge to Protestants; to shew
the succession of their pastors, from Christ down,
” ibid.
An Answer to nine points of Controversy proposed by king James I. with the censure of Mr. White’s
reply,
” The Romish Fisher caught in his own net,
” by Dr.
Featley, Lond. A Conference between bishop Laud
and Fisher,
” ibid. Reply to the relation, of the conference between Laud and Fisher,
” by an
anonymous author, Reply to Fisher’s
answer to some questions propounded by king James,
”
Orthodox faith and the
way to the church explained,
” by the same, Fisher’s folly unfolded,
” &c. by George Walker, Catalogus protestantium before Luther,
” by George
Webb, An answer to Mr. Fisher the Jesuit,
&c. in a dialogue,
” by Henry Rogers, The
Protestant church existent, and by whom their faith professed in all ages,
” by the same, A
Dialogue about this question, Where was your church before Luther?
” by C. W.
udied at Paris, was admitted doctor of the Sorbonne in 1542. Returning to Portugal, he was appointed professor of divinity at Coimbra, and preacher to the king. He left “Remarks
, a learned Dominican of
Lisbon, who studied at Paris, was admitted doctor of
the Sorbonne in 1542. Returning to Portugal, he was
appointed professor of divinity at Coimbra, and preacher
to the king. He left “Remarks on cardinal Cajetan’s
Commentaries on the Bible,
” Paris, 1539, fol.; “de Epidemia Febrili,
” 4to, and other works. We find no account of the time of his death.
, an eminent historian and biographer, was professor of divinity at Louvaine, and canon and archdeacon of Mechlin,
, an eminent historian and
biographer, was professor of divinity at Louvaine, and
canon and archdeacon of Mechlin, where he died July 16
1761, highly respected as a man of learning and virtue,
but of his private history we have no further particulars.
His first publication appears to have been “Batavia Sacra,
sive res gestae Apostolicorum virorum,
” fol. Historia Episcopatus Antverpiensis,
”
Brussels, Historia Episcopatus Sylvicducensis,
” ibid. Auberti Minci Opera Diplomatics et Historica,
” with large additions,
ibid, Diplomatum Belgicorum novu
collectio,
” being a supplement to the former, Chronologia sacra Episcoporum Belgii, ab anno 1561 ad annum 1761,
” 12mo, a work in verse,
with prose notes. He also published a new edition of the
“Basilica Bruxellensis
” of J. B. Christian, at Mechlin in
Bibliotheca
Belgica,
” or lives of the Belgic authors, Dictionnaire Historique.
” The
inaccuracies, as far as we have examined the work, are
few, and for an occasional want of liberality, we must seek
an apology in his religion. He has, however, taken some
credit to himself, for not omitting those epitaphs on protestant writers in which their principles are commended
and of this merit he ought not to be deprived.
Aberdeen, he gave such proofs of extensive knowledge and talents, that he was immediately appointed professor of divinity and ecclesiastical history in King’s college. How
, of Corse, second son to the preceding, was born May 2, 1593, and after his school education, was sent to the university of King’s college, Aberdeen,
in 1607. After a course of philosophy and theology here,
he went to Heidelberg, where he attended the lectures of
Paraeus, and afterwards spent some time at the other
universities of Germany. With theology he applied vigorously to the study of the Hebrew language, and according to Pictet, maintained, in 1608, a public dispute against
the archbishop and the Lutherans of Upsal. If there be
no mistake in this date, he could now have been only
fifteen or sixteen yeajs of age. He pursued his studies,
however, abroad until 1619, when returning to Aberdeen,
he gave such proofs of extensive knowledge and talents,
that he was immediately appointed professor of divinity
and ecclesiastical history in King’s college. How well he
was qualified for the office appears from his “Historicotheological Institutions,
” a work universally admired, even
by those who differed from him with regard to matters of
church-government. Having, however, subscribed the
Perth articles, as they were called, proposed by the synod
of Perth, as an introduction to episcopacy in Scotland,
the favourite measure of James I. which Dr. Forbes ably
defended, and having refused to subscribe to the national
league and covenant, he was ejected from his professorial
chair in 1640. He had before this made an ineffectual.
attempt to compose the religious dissentions in Scotland,
by publishing a work written with great moderation of sentiment, entitled “Irenicam,
” dedicated to the lovers of
truth and peace. This was printed at Aberdeen in 1629,
4to. In 1642 he went to Holland, where he remained a
few years, and revising the lectures he had delivered when
professor, he compiled from them the excellent work
abovementioned, which he published at Amsterdam in 1645,
fol. under the title of “Institutiones historico-theologicæ.
”
This was so much admired, and considered indeed as one
of the best works of the kind that had ever appeared, as to
pass through three editions in a very short time. In 1646
he published, at the same place, his father’s “Commentary
Oh the Apocalypse,
” 4to, translated into Latin. Returning then to Scotland, he spent the short remainder of his
life in retirement on his estate of Corse, where he died
April 29, 1648. Those who had ejected him from his professorship added two instances of persecution which are
peculiarly disgraceful. While professor, he had purchased
a house at Old Aherdeen, where King’s college is situated,
and made it over for the use of his successors; but having
forgot to secure his life-rent in it, the prevailing party
actually turned him out of it; and now, when dead, they
would not allow him to be buried beside his father, though
earnestly requested by many of his friends. The body was
afterwards carried to the church-yard of Leuchil, where it
lies without any monument. In 1703, a very elegant edition
of all his works, in 2 vols. fol. was printed by the Wetsteins at Amsterdam, under the care partly of Mr. George
Garden of Aberdeen, but principally of professor Gurtler
of Deventer. The whole indicates great learning, and
his “Exercitia Spiritualia,
” a kind of Diary, shows no less
piety.
ene, the daughter of Otho Henry de Worm, a person of distinction, he left Gotthelf Augustus Francke, professor of divinity and pastor of the church of Notre- Dame, and a daughter
The establishment of this great undertaking fills up many years of professor Francke’s history. The remaining events of his life are but few. He associated with himself John Anastasius Freylinghausen, in his charge as pastor, and had him and other men of character and talents as assistants in his school. The variety of his employments, however, injured his health, although he derived occasional benefit from travelling. One instance of his pious zeal is thus recorded: The duke Maurice, of Saxe-Zeitz, had embraced the Roman catholic religion, and professor Francke, at the request of the duchess, went to his court iti 1718, and in several, conferences so completely satisfied his mind, as to induce him to make a public profession of his return to the Protestant church. Francke’s death was occasioned by profuse sweats, which were checked by degrees, but followed by a retention of urine, and a paralytic attack, which proved fatal June 8, 1727. Amidst much weakness and pain, ie lectured as late as the 15th of May preceding. It would be difficult to name a man more generally regretted. Halle, Elbing, Jena, DeUxPonts, Augsbourgh, Tubingen, even Erfurt, where he was-so shamefully persecuted, Leipsio, Dresden, Wittemberg, &c. all united in expressing their sense of his worth, by culogiums written by the most eminent professors of these schools. By his wife, Anne Magdalene, the daughter of Otho Henry de Worm, a person of distinction, he left Gotthelf Augustus Francke, professor of divinity and pastor of the church of Notre- Dame, and a daughter who was married to M. Freylinghausen. In his learning, talents, eloquence, and piety, all his contemporaries seem agreed. As a public benefactor he has had few equals.
ance. Upon his return he was chosen master of Pembroke hall, and as Wood says in his Fasti, Margaret professor of divinity, but Baker, in a ms note on Wood, says he never
In 1571 the earl of Essex presented him to the rectory of Warley, in Essex, and soon after to the rectory of Kedington, in, Suffolk, and about this time he took his doctor’s degree at Cambridge, and was incorporated in the same at Oxford. His degree at Cambridge was in consequence of a mandamus from the earl of Essex, that he might be qualified to accompany the earl of Lincoln, who was then going as ambassador to the court of France. Upon his return he was chosen master of Pembroke hall, and as Wood says in his Fasti, Margaret professor of divinity, but Baker, in a ms note on Wood, says he never held the latter office.
n order at Urbino. After finishing his studies at various seminaries, he was appointed in 1740 to be professor of divinity in the college of St Bonaventure, at Rome. In this
, who was
elevated to the popedom by the name of Clement XIV.
was the son of a physician, and born in 1705. He was
educated at Rimini, near his birth-place, and at the age
of eighteen entered into the Franciscan order at Urbino.
After finishing his studies at various seminaries, he was
appointed in 1740 to be professor of divinity in the college
of St Bonaventure, at Rome. In this situation he gained
the good opinion of pope Benedict XIV. who gave him the
place of counsellor of the holy office; and in 1759 Clement XIII. made him a cardinal. It is said that in all
his intercourse with his brethren and at their public assemblies, he endeavoured to lower their tone, and to persuade
them that it was almost too late to oppose the will of the
sovereigns of Europe by a display of ecclesiastical power.
This could not be very acceptable to the cardinals, who
persisted in their opinion of the power of the reigning
pontiff, and encouraged him in his disputes with France
and other kingdoms. On the death of Clement XIII. Ganganelli was elected in his room In May 1769, chiefly by
the influence of the courts of France and Spain, who now
urged him to suppress the order of Jesuits, and although
he did not enter on that measure without much deliberation, it was at last carried, and forms the principal event
of his pontificate. He signed the brief for this purpose
on July 21, 1773, and it is said, with considerable reluctance. The consequence to papal power was no doubt
great, but it appeared after all to be but one link in the
great chain of causes which must relieve the world entirely
from its influence. Ganganelli did not long survive this
event, dying Sept. 22, 1773. After his death, a life of
him was published by Caraccioli, replete with anecdotes
illustrative of his amiable character and liberal sentiments;
but we know not how to give credit to a writer who soon
afterwards published some volumes of “Letters
” by Ganganelli, which, it is now universally acknowledged, were
forgeries.
ylaurens, when only twentyfour years of age, by the synod of Castres. He was afterwards minister and professor of divinity at Montauban, and died there in 1650. His principal
, a French protestant divine,
was born in 1587, at Montauban. During his academical
studies, he made so rapid a progress in divinity, that he
was appointed minister at Puylaurens, when only twentyfour years of age, by the synod of Castres. He was afterwards minister and professor of divinity at Montauban, and
died there in 1650. His principal works are, an epic poem
in 12 books, entitled “Adolphidos,
” in which he celebrates the great exploits of Gustavus Adolphus, in elegant
Latin verse another Latin poem in praise of the protestant Swiss Cantons several theological theses a treatise
“De Imputatione priuai peccati Adse,
” 8vo another, “De
Christo Mediators,
” 4to and an explanation in Latin of
Calvin’s Catechism, which he wrote with his colleague M.
Charles, 8vo, &c.
Gerard was ordained a minister of the church of Scotland, and in the following year he was appointed professor of divinity in the Marischal college, and about the same period
, an eminent divine of the
church of Scotland, eldest son of the rev. Gilbert Gerard,
minister of Chapel-Garioch, in Aberdeenshire, was born
there Feb. 22, 1728; he was educated partly at the parish
school of Foveran, whence he was removed to the grammar-school at Aberdeen, after his father’s death. Here
he made such rapid progress, that he was entered a student in Marischal-college when he was but twelve years
of age. He devoted his first four years to the study of
Greek, Latin, the mathematics, and philosophy, and was
at the close of the course admitted to the degree of M. A.
He now commenced his theological studies, whtch he prosecuted at the universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
Immediately on the completion of his twentieth year, in
1748, he was licensed to preach in the church of Scotland, and in 1750 was chosen assistant to Mr. David Fordyce, professor of philosophy in the Marischal college at
Aberdeen, and in two years afterwards, upon the death of
the professor, Gerard was appointed to succeed him.
Here, after a short time, the department assigned to Mr.
Gerard was confined to moral philosophy and logic, the
duties of which he discharged with conscientious and unwearied diligence, and with equal success and reputation.
He was a member of a literary society at Aberdeen, consisting of Drs. Blackwell, Gregory, Reid, Campbell,
Beattie, &c. which met very regularly every fortnight
during the winter, when the members communicated their
sentiments with the utmost freedom, and received mutual
improvement from their literary discussions; and hence originated those well-known works, Reid’s “Inquiry into the
Human Mind
” Gregory’s “Comparative View;
” Gerard’s
“Essay on Genius
” Beattie’s “Essay on Truth
” andCampbell’s “Philosophy of Rhetoric.
” In An Essay
on Taste,
” which was published in Dissertations on the Genius
and Evidences of Christianity,
” published in Essay on Gesius,
” and his sermons in 2 volumes. In 1799
his son and successor, Dr. Gilbert Gerard, gave the world
a posthumous work of much merit, which had been left
among the papers of his father, entitled “The Pastoral
Care,
” which made a part of his theological course of
lectures. As a clergyman the conduct of Dr. Gerard was
marked with prudence, exemplary manners, and the most
punctual and diligent discharge of his ministerial duties;
his sermons were simple and plain, adapted to the common
class of hearers, but so accurate as to secure the approbation of the ablest judges. As a professor of divinity, his
great aim was not to impose by his authority upon his
pupils any favourite system of opinions; but to impress
them with a sense of the importance of the ministerial office; to teach them the proper manner of discharging all
its duties; and to enable them, by the knowledge of the
scriptures, to form a just and impartial judgment on controverted subjects. Possessing large stores of theological
knowledge, he was judicious in selecting his subjects,
happy and successful in his manner of communicating instruction. He had the merit of introducing a new, and in
many respects a better plan of theological education, than
those on which it had formerly been conducted. Having
a constant regard to whatever was practically useful, rather
than to unedifying speculations, he enjoined no duty
which he was unwilling to exemplify in his own conduct.
In domestic life he was amiable and exemplary; in his
friendships steady and disinterested, and in his intercourse with society, hospitable, benevolent, and unassuming; uniting to the decorum of the Christian pastor,
the good breeding of a gentleman, and the cheerfulness,
affability, and ease of an agreeable companion.
was appointed by John Casimir, duke of Saxony, to a church in Franconia, and at the same time to be professor of divinity in the Casimirian college of Cobourg. In 1616. by
, an eminent German Lutheran divine, was born at Quedlinburgh, in Saxony, Oct. 17, 1582,
where he was partly educated, but in 1599, was sent to
Wittemberg, and studied philosophy and divinity under
the ablest masters. In 1601, by the advice of Rauchbach,
a counsellor and vice-chancellor of Saxony (for his father died in 1598) he went through a course of medical studies,
but about two years after, recollecting a vow he had made
during a fit of sickness, he returned again to divinity, the
study of which he farther prosecuted at Jena, to which
he first went as tutor to his friend llauchbach’s son. In
1603 he took his master’s degree here, and in 1604 removing with his pupil to Marpurg, he continued his theological studies, and learned Hebrew. In 1605 he returned
to Jena, took his degree in philosophy, and having been
ordained, was appointed by John Casimir, duke of Saxony,
to a church in Franconia, and at the same time to be professor of divinity in the Casimirian college of Cobourg.
In 1616. by consent of his liberal patron, he accepted the
professorship of divinity at Jena, and continued in that office during the remainder of his life. He was four times
chosen rector of the university, and encreased his reputation by a vast variety of publications which made him
known to all the literati of Europe, many of whom, both
protestants and catholics, bore testimony to his extensive
learning, piety, and usefulness, both as a divine and
teacher. He died of a fever, Aug. 17, 1637. His works,
which are written in Latin and German, consist of treatises
on various theological subjects, critical and polemical;
commentaries on various books of the Old and New Testament common-places, &c. &c. One only of these, his
“Meditations,
” is well known in this country, having gone
through many editions, and having also been translated
into most European languages and into Greek. He left a
numerous family, some of whom became distinguished
as divines, particularly his eldest son, John Ernest, who
was born at Jena in 1621, and studied at Altdorf. He was
appointed professor of philosophy at Wittemberg in 1616,
and in 1652 was nominated professor of history at Jena.
Like his father he devoted mucli of his time to biblical and
theological learning. He died in 1688. Among his works
are, “Harmonia Linguarnm Orientalium;
” “Dispurationum theologicarum Fasciculus;
” De F.cclesiae Copticæ
Ortu, Progressu, et Doctrina." There is a very minute
and curious history of this family in the work from which
these particulars have been taken, with much collateral information respecting the theological writers and controversies during the life of the elder Gerhard.
ble Livonian, and in 1583 was admitted to the degree of master of arts. In 1592 he was invited to be professor of divinity in the university of Witteniberg, and was at the
, a Lutheran divine, was born at
Boleslau, in Silesia, Nov. 8, 1559. After receiving the
early part of his education at his native place, he was sent
to Breslaw to pursue the studies preparatory to the profession of a divine, and thence to Strasburg, where having
obtained an academic exhibition for five years, he employed
that time in the study of philosophy, the mathematics, and
the learned languages, particularly the Oriental. He now
became private tutor to a noble Livonian, and in 1583 was
admitted to the degree of master of arts. In 1592 he was
invited to be professor of divinity in the university of Witteniberg, and was at the same time admitted to the degree
of doctor of divinity. He also occupied the important posts
of dean and rector of the university, assessor in the ecclesiastical consistory, and first preacher in the church; but
the duties of these, with his close application, injured his
health, and he fell a sacrifice to a complication of disorders,
Feb. 7, 1605. His works are a Latin translation of “The
Prophecy of Hosea;
” “Disquisitions on the Psalter,
” treating of the dignity, the use, the argument, and the connection of the Psalms, and many other works of a theological and controversial nature, to the amount of forty,
which are enumerated in our authorities, and of which his
commentaries and prelections on Isaiah, Joel, Obadiah, &c.
appear to be the most valuable.
ty, in a series of letters, addressed to Edward Gibbon, esq. By R. Watson, D. D. F. R. S. and regius professor of divinity in the university of Cambridge” (now bishop of Llandaff),
It may not be unuseful to give in this place the titles at
least, of the principal writings which his bold and disingenuous attack on Christianity called forth. These were,
i. “Remarks on the two last Chapters of Mr. Gibbon’s
History. In a letter to a friend.
” (See Art. 8.) 2. “An Apology for Christianity, in a series of letters, addressed to
Edward Gibbon, esq. By R. Watson, D. D. F. R. S. and
regius professor of divinity in the university of Cambridge
”
(now bishop of Llandaff), The History
of the establishment of Christianity, compiled from Jewish
and Heathen authors only; translated from the French of
professor Bullet, &c. By William Salisbury, B. D. with
notes by the translator, and some strictures on Mr. Gib bon’s Account of Christianity, and its first teachers,
” A Reply to the reasonings of Mr. Gibbon in his
History, &c. which seem to affect the truth of Christianity,
but have not been noticed in the answer which Dr. Watson
hath given to that book. By Smyth Loftus, A. M. vicar of
Coolock,
” Dublin, Letters on the prevalence of Christianity, before its civil establishment. With
observations on a late History of the Decline of the Roman
Empire. By East Apthorpe, M. A. vicar of Crovdon, 1778,
8vo. 6.
” An Examination of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth
Chapters of Mr. Gibbon’s History. In which his view of
the progressof the Christian religion is shown to be founded
on the misrepresentation of the authors he cites; and
numerous instances of his inaccuracy and plagiarism are produced. By Henry Edward Davis, B. A. of Baliol college,
Oxford,“1778, 8vo. 7.
” A few Remarks on the History
of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; relative
chiefly to the Two last Chapters. By a gentleman,“8vo.
8.
” Remarks on the Two last Chapters of Mr. Gibbon’s
History. By James Chelsum, D. D. student of Christ
Church, Oxford, and chaplain to the lord bishop of Worcester: the second edition enlarged," 1778, 12mo. This
is a second edition of the Anonymous Remarks mentioned
in the first article, and contains additional remarks by Dr.
Randolph, Lady Margaret’s professor of divinity in the
university of Oxford.
a private tutor, was sent in 1612 to Jena, where he was admitted to the degree of D. D. and was made professor of divinity. He was also appointed superintendant of the churches
, an eminent German divine and
critic, was born May 20, 1593, at Sondershausen, in
Thuringia, and after some education under a private tutor,
was sent in 1612 to Jena, where he was admitted to the
degree of D. D. and was made professor of divinity. He
was also appointed superintendant of the churches and
schools in the duchy of Saxe-Gotha, and exercised the
duties of these offices with great reputation. He died at
Gotha July 27, 1656. His principal work was published
in 1623, 4to, entitled “Philologia Sacra,
” which is pronounced by Mosheim and Buddeus to be extremely useful
for the interpretation of Scripture, as it throws much light
upon the language and phraseology of the inspired writers.
There have been several editions, the last at Leipsic, in
1776, by professor Dathius, under the title “Philologia
Sacra his temporibus accommodata.
” He was author, likewise, of “Onomatologia Messiac Prophetica
” “Christologia Mosaica et Davidica
” “Exegesis Evangeliorum et
Epistolarum,
” and some other pieces.
office until 1593, when his flock were dispersed by persecution. The following year he was appointed professor of divinity at Leyden, but before entering upon the office,
, one of the great opponents of Arminius, and from whom the Calvinists were at one time called Gomarists, was born at Bruges, Jan. 30, 1S63. His father and mother, Avho were protestants, retired into the palatinate in 1578, and sent him to Strasburgh to study under the celebrated John Stimulus. Three years after he went to prosecute his studies at Newstad, where the professors of Heidelberg found a refuge when Lewis, the elector palatine, had banished them because they were not Lutherans. In 1582 he came to England, and heard at Oxford the divinity lectures of Dr. John Rainolds, and at Cambridge those of Dr. William Whitaker, and at this latter university he was admitted to the degree of bachelor of divinity, June, 1584. The elector Lewis dying in 1583, prince Casimir, his brother, restored the professors of Heidelberg, to which place Gomar returned from Cambridge, and spent two years. In 1587 he accepted an invitation from the Flemish church at Francfort to be their minister, and exercised the functions of that office until 1593, when his flock were dispersed by persecution. The following year he was appointed professor of divinity at Leyden, but before entering upon the office, he took his degree of doctor at Heidelberg. Here he remained quietly until 1603, when his colleague Arminius began to place himself at the head of a party, known by his name ever since, and Gomarus resisted him with a zeal which his enemies have construed into bigotry and intolerance. The truth seems to have been that Arminius and his followers, while they disputed with equal warmth, chose to represent the subjects of their disputes as matters of indifference which need not interrupt church-fellowship, while Gomarus considered them as essentials. Vorstius having succeeded Arminius, Gomarus foresaw only a renewal of the controversy under such a colleague, and retired to Middleburgh in 1611, where he preached and read lectures until 1614. He was then invited by the university of Saumur to be professor of divinity, and four years after he exchanged this for the professorship of divinity and Hebrew at Groningen, where he remained during the rest of his life. The only times when he was absent were, once when he attended the synod of Dort, where the errors of Arminius were condemned; and again when he went to Leyden in 1633 to revise the translation of the Old Testament. He died Jan. 11, 1641. His various works, most of which had been published separately, were printed together at Amsterdam in 1644, fol. He was a man of acknowledged abilities, especially in the Oriental languages.
the Alexandrian ms. in the royal library at Buckingham-house, was the son of Martyn Sylvester Grabe, professor of divinity and history in the university of Koningsberg, in
, the learned editor of the
“Septuagint,
” from the Alexandrian ms. in the royal
library at Buckingham-house, was the son of Martyn Sylvester Grabe, professor of divinity and history in the university of Koningsberg, in Prussia, where his son Ernest
was borti Jan. 10, 1666. He had his education there, and
took the degree of M. A. in that university; after which,
devoting himself to the study of divinity, he read the works
of the fathers with the utmost attention. These he took
as the best masters and instructors upon the important
subject of religion. He was fond of their principles and
customs, and that fondness grew into a kind of unreserved
veneration for their authority. Among these he observed
the uninterrupted succession of the sacred ministry to be
universally laid down as essential to the being of a true
church: and this discovery so powerfully impressed his
mind, that at length he thought himself obliged, in conscience, to quit Lutheranism, the established religion of
his country, in which he had been bred, and enter within the pale of the Roman ctyurch, where that succession
was preserved. In this temper he saw likewise many other
particulars in the Lutheran faith and practice, not agreeable to that of the fathers, and consequently absolutely
erroneous, if not heretical.
e college of cardinal Le Moine. He was then admitted a doctor of the Sorbonne, and in 1638 appointed professor of divinity, which office he retained until his death, Nov.
, a learned French divine, was
born at St, Quentin, Nov. 11, 1604, and was educated ia
classic.il learning at Noyon and Amiens. At the age of
seventeen he came to Paris, where he studied divinity
under the Jesuit Mairat, and afterwards taught a course of
philosophy in the college of cardinal Le Moine. He was
then admitted a doctor of the Sorbonne, and in 1638
appointed professor of divinity, which office he retained
until his death, Nov. 16, 1691. He was a man of piety
and talents, and an elegant and correct speaker. His
course of theological lectures was published by M. du
Plessis d'Argemre, 1710—1712, in 6 vols. 4to, under the
title of “Opera Theoiogica.
”
lege, and was appointed bursar. In December 1748, on the death of Dr. Whalley, he was elected regius professor of divinity, with which office he held the living of Barrow
, an English prelate, was born about
1706, at Beverly, in Yorkshire, and received the rudiments of his education at a private school. From this he
was admitted a sizar in St. John’s college, Cambridge;
and after taking his degrees in arts, with great credit as a
classical scholar, engaged himself as usher to a school at
Lichfield, before Dr. Johnson and Mr. Garrick had left
that city, with both of whom he was of course acquainted,
but he continued here only one year. In 1730 he was
elected fellow of St. John’s, and soon after the bishop of
Ely procured him the vicarage of Hingeston from Jesus
college, which was tenable with a fellowship of St. John’s,
but could not be held by any fellow of Jesus. In 1744,
Charles duke of Somerset, chancellor of the university,
appointed Mr. Green (then B. D.) his domestic chaplain.
In January 1747, Green was presented by his noble patron
to the rectory of Borough-green, near New-market, which
he held with his fellowship. He then returned to college,
and was appointed bursar. In December 1748, on the
death of Dr. Whalley, he was elected regius professor of
divinity, with which office he held the living of Barrow in
Suffolk, and sodn after was appointed one of his majesty’s
chaplains. In June 170, on the death of dean Castle,
master of Bene't college, a majority of the fellows (after the headship had been declined by their president, Mr. Scottowe) agreed to apply to archbishop Herring for his
recommendation; and his grace, at the particular request
of the duke of Newcastle, recommended professor Green,
who was immediately elected. Among the writers on the
subject of the new regulations proposed by the chancellor,
and established by the senate, Dr. Green took an active
part, in a pamphlet published in the following winter, 1750,
without his name, entitled “The Academic, or a disputation on the state of the university of Cambridge.
” On
March 22, 1751, whenhis friend Dr. Keene, master of
St. Peter’s college, was promoted to the bishopric of Chester, Dr. Green preached the consecration -sermon in Elyhouse chapel, which, by order of the archbishop of York,
was soon after published. In October 1756, on the death
of Dr. George, he was preferred to the deanery of Lincoln,
and resigned his professorship. Being then eligible to the
office of vice-chancellor, he was chosen in November following. In June 1761, the dean exerted his polemical
talents in two letters (published without his name) “on the
principles and practices of the Methodists,
” the first addressed to Mr. Berridge, and the second to Mr. Whitfield.
On the translation of bishop Thomas to the bishopric of
Salisbury, Green was promoted to the see of Lincoln, the
last mark of favour which the duke of Newcastle had it in
his power to shew him. In 1762, archbishop Seeker (who had always a just esteem for his talents and abilities) being indisposed, the bishop of Lincoln visited as his proxy
the diocese of Canterbury. In 1763 he preached the 30th
of January sermon before the house of lords, which was
printed.
hop of London, who made him his chaplain in 1550; perhaps by the recommendation of Bucer, the king’s professor of divinity at Cambridge, who soon after his removal to London,
Thus distinguished in the university, his merit was observed by Hid ley, bishop of London, who made him his
chaplain in 1550; perhaps by the recommendation of Bucer, the king’s professor of divinity at Cambridge, who
soon after his removal to London, in a letter to that prelate, styles our divine “a person eminent for his learning
and piety.
” And thus a door being opened to him into
church -preferments, he rose by quick advances. tiis
patron the bishop was so much pleased with him, that he
designed for him the prebend of Cantrilles, in St. Paul’s
church, and wrote to the council (some of whom had procured it for furnishing the king’s stables) for leave
to give this living, as he says, “to his well deserving chaplain, who was without preferment, and to whom he would
grant it with all his heart, that so he might have him continually with him and in his diocese to preach,
” adding,
that “he was known to be both of virtue, honesty, discretion, wisdom, and learning.
” What effect this application
had does not appear, but the praecentor’s place becoming
vacant soon after, his lordship on August 24, 1551,
collated him to that office, which was of much greater
value, and likewise procured him to be made one of his
majesty’s chaplains, with the usual salary of 40l. in December of the same year. On July 2, 1552, he obtained a
stall in Westminster-abbey; which, however, he resigned
to Dr. Bonner, whom he afterwards succeeded in the
bishopric of London. In the mean time, there being a
design on the death of Dr. Tonstall, to divide the rich see
of Durham into two, Grindal was nominated lor one of
these, and would have obtained it, had not one of the
courtiers got the whole bishopric dissolved, and settled as
a temporal estate upon himself.
aris, entered the congregation of the priests of St. Lazare, and was sent by them into Poland, to be professor of divinity at Cracow. In a short time, however, he returned,
, a French topographer and engraver, was born in 1689 at Sedan, and going to Paris,
entered the congregation of the priests of St. Lazare, and
was sent by them into Poland, to be professor of divinity
at Cracow. In a short time, however, he returned, and
afterwards quitted his congregation to devote himself entirely to mathematics and topography. He published the
“Plan of Paris/' 1723, a very good work in itself, but
the engraving was too imperfect at which the abbe de
Grive was so vexed, that he broke the plates, and determined, in future, to engrave his works himself, which resolution he executed punctually. Being appointed geographer of Paris, he drew the course of the river Seine,
from its source to its mouth. M. de la Grive assisted M.
Cassini in determining the meridian of Paris, and undertook a very particular and circumstantial account of that
capital, which work was far advanced at the time of his
death, which happened April 1757. The first two drawings
of this vast plan have been published by M. Hugnin, hi*
pupil. The other most esteemed works of the abbe de la
Grive are, his
” Environs de Paris;“Jardins de Marly
”
“Terrier du Domaine du Roi aux Environs de Paris
”
Plan de Versailles,“&c. He also left
” Le Manuel de
Trigonometric Spherique," published in 1754.
y-five years of his life, excepting a voyage he made to England. The archbishop of Utrecht chose him professor of divinity in his seminary at Amersfort, and he died at Rhinwick,
, a learned French theologian,
was born in December 1675, at Rheims, of obscure and
poor parents. The religious of St. Genevieve, who served
the parish of St. Denis at Rheims, undertook his education, and he was admitted doctor of divinity in that city in
1702, and became successively chaplain at Notre Dame,
canon of the collegiate church of St. Symphorien, and, in
1704, canon of the cathedral at Rheims. He was also
made governor of the little seminary of St. James by M
Le Tellier, but was deprived of that office on this gentleman’s death in 1710, and forbidden to preach or confess,
on account of his zealous opposition to the bull Unigenitus.
Being afterwards excommunicated by M. de Maille, who
succeeded M. le Tellier as archbishop of Rheims, he went
to Paris, and afterwards to Holland, where he remained
ubout a year with father Quesnel and Messrs. Petitpied
and Fouillou; but when Louis XIV. died, the proceedings
at Rheims were declared null, and M. le Gros returned
thither in 1716. He was a zealous promoter of the appeal
to a future council, and was the soul of the faculty of theoJogy; but M. de Mailli obtained a lettre dt cachet against
him in 1721, by which he was banished to St. John de Luz.
This sentence, however, he evaded, by living concealed
four or five years. In 1725, he went into Italy to observe
what passed in the council appointed by Benedict XIIL
and at length retired to Holland, and there spent the last
twenty-five years of his life, excepting a voyage he made
to England. The archbishop of Utrecht chose him professor of divinity in his seminary at Amersfort, and he
died at Rhinwick, near Utrecht, December 4, 1751, aged
76. His principal works are, 1. “Le Renversement des
Libenes de l'Eglise Gallicane dans r affaire de la Constitution Unigenitus,
” 2 vols. 12mo. 2. “La Sainte Bible traduite sur les textes originaux, avec les differences de la
Vulgate,
” Sept Lettres
Theolo^iques contre le Traite des Prets de Commerce, et
en ge‘ne’ral contre toute Usure,
” 4to. 4. “Dogma Ecclesiae circa Usurum expositum, et vindicatum;
” with several
other pieces in Latin against usury, 4to. 5. “Observations sur une Lettre attribute a ieu M. de Launoi sur
l'Usure,
” 4to. 6. “Eclaircissement historique et dogmatique sur la Contrition,
” 12mo. 7. “Motifs invincible*
d‘Attachement a l’Eglise Romaine pour les Catholiqnes,
ou de Re-union pour les pretendus Reformes,
” 12mo.
8. “Meditations sur la Concorde des Evangiles,
” 3 vols.
12mo. 9. “Sur l'EpStre aux Remains,
” 2 vols. 12mo.
10. “SurlesEpitrescanoniques,
” 2 vols. 12mo. ll.“Memoire sur les Droits du second Ordre,
” 4to. 12. “Me
”moire sur l'Appel au futur Concile,“4to; several tracts
on the Constitution, the Miracles, ascribed to M.Paris;
the Convulsions, &c. 13.
” Manuel du Chretien,“which
contains the Psalms, the New Testament, and the Imitation, 24to. A book in twelves, entitled
” Eclaircissement sur les Conciles genéraux," is also attributed to M.
le Gros.
on of the year, he was made master of Corpus-Christi college, in Cambridge, and also lady Margaret’s professor of divinity, which he quitted on succeeding to the regius p
Being thus ejected, he removed to Oxford, where he was incorporated M. A. July 10; 1644, and kindly received by Dr. Pink, warden of New-college, who appointed him one of the chaplains of that house. During his residence there, he officiated two years at the curacy of Cassington, under Dr. Jasper Mayne, near Oxford, and sometimes preached before the court, for which service he was complimented, among many other Cambridge men, with the degree of B. D. June 23, 1646, the day before the surrender of that place to the parliament. Being thus obliged to quit the university, he became tutor to the lord Hatton and sir Francis Comptoti, and then chaplain to sir Robert Shirley, who was so much pleased with his behaviour in some disputations with a Romish priest, as well as with hris great worth and learning in general, that he settled upon him an annuity of 100l. Upon the decease of sir Robert, he held a congregation at the chapel of Exeter-house, in the Strand, where he duly performed all the parts of his office according to the liturgy of the church of England; yet he met with no other molestation from the usurper Cromwell, than that of being now and then sent for and reproved by him. On the return of Charles II. he was restored to his fellowship, and created D. D. by the king’s mandate, Septembers, 1660, having been first presented to a prebend in the church of Canterbury; soon after which he was instituted to the rectories of Cotesmore in Rutland, and of St^ke-Bruern in Northamptonshire. But this was not all; for, before the expiration of the year, he was made master of Corpus-Christi college, in Cambridge, and also lady Margaret’s professor of divinity, which he quitted on succeeding to the regius professorship of divinity, and the headship of St. John’s college, upon the resignation of Dr. Tuckney, who had been obliged June 12, 1661, to give way for Gunning; he being looked upon as the properest person to settle the university on right principles again, after the many corruptions that had crept into that body.
, and descended from a noble and ancient family of Franconia. He, became pastor, superintendant, and professor of divinity, at Geissen, where he died, April 1676, having had
, a learned Lutheran divine,
was born May 9, 1604, at Butzbach in Wetteraw, and descended from a noble and ancient family of Franconia. He,
became pastor, superintendant, and professor of divinity,
at Geissen, where he died, April 1676, having had 14
children and 46 grandchildren. He became eminent by
his writings, and appeared with great distinction at several
conferences on religious subjects. His principal works
are, “Heptas disputationum Anti-Wallemburgicarum,
”
in which he takes great pains to overthrow the principles
of Mess. de Walemburg, and in which he is esteemed verysuccessful by the Lutherans “Vindicatio Lutherans?, fidei
contra H. Ulricum Hunmum,
” 4to “Syntagma
Dissertationum Theologicarum,
” 1650 and 1652, 2 vols. 8vo;
“Anti-Valerianus,
” Relatio Actorum Colloquii Rheinfelsani,
” &c. All this author’s works are much
valued by those of his communion.
, a pious Scotch divine, and professor of divinity in the university of St. Andrew’s, was born at Duplin
, a pious Scotch divine, and
professor of divinity in the university of St. Andrew’s, was
born at Duplin in the parish of Aberdalgy, near Perth,
Dec. 25, 1674. His father had been minister of that
parish, from which he was ejected after the restoration, for
nonconformity. He died in 1682, and as the country was
still unsafe for those who professed the presbyterian religion, his mother went over to Holland with her son, then
about eight years old. During their stay there, he was
educated at Erasmus’s school, and made great proficiency
in classical literature. On his return to Scotland in 1687,
he resumed his studies, and was also sent to the university.
When he had finished his philosophical course there, he
entered upon the study of divinity; and being, in June
1699, licensed to preach, he was in May 1700, appointed
minister of the parish of Ceres, in which he performed the
part of a zealous and pious pastor; but his labours proving
too many for his health, the latter became gradually impaired. In April 1710, he was appointed by patent from
queen Anne, professor of divinity in the college of St.
Leonard at St. Andrew’s, through the mediation of the
synod of Fife. On this occasion he entered on his office
an inaugural oration, in qua, post exhibitam
rationem suscepti muneris, examinatur schedula nupera, cui
titulus ' Epistola Archimedis ad Regem Gelonem Albae
Graecae reperta anno serae Christianas 1688, A. Pitcarnio,
M. D. ut vulgo creditur, auctoreV Pitcairn’s reputation
as a deist was at that time very common in Scotland, however justly he may have deserved it; and Mr. Halyburton’s
attention had been much called to the subject of deism as
revived in the preceding century. He did not, however,
enjoy his professorship long, dying Sept. 23, 1712, aged
only thirty-eight. It does not appear that he published
any thing in his life-time; but soon after his death two
works were published, which still preserve his memory in
Scotland. 1. “The Great Concern of Salvation,
” Ten Sermons preached before and after the
celebration of the Lord’s Supper,
” Natural Religion insufficient; and
Revealed necessary to man’s happiness,
” Edinburgh, whosoever
carefully examines what this learned and pious author has
offered on these several heads, will find many excellent
things; though the narrowness of his notions in some points
has prejudiced some persons against his work, and hindered them from regarding and considering it so much as
it deserves.
”
cum Catholico Evangelicum” “De Justificatione Hominis,” &c. His son, Philip Lewis Hanneken, who died professor of divinity at Wittemberg, June 16, 1706, has also left several
, a celebrated Lutheran divine,
was born March 1, 1595, at Blaxen in the county of Oldenburg, into which county, and Delmenhorst, his ancestors
had introduced Lutheranism. He was professor of morality, afterwards of divinity and oriental languages at Marpurg, and, lastly^ superintendant of the churches of Lubec, where he died February 17, 1671. His principal
works are, “Scutum Catholic veritatis,
” against the Jesuit Thomas Henrici an “Examination of the Jesuit Becan’s Manual
” a “Hebrew Grammar
” “Expositio Epistolse Pauli ad Ephesios,
” Marpurg, Synopsis
Theologiae
” “Irenicum Catholico Evangelicum
” “De
Justificatione Hominis,
” &c. His son, Philip Lewis
Hanneken, who died professor of divinity at Wittemberg,
June 16, 1706, has also left several works on the Scriptures.
, an eminent doctor and minister of Bremen, son of Cornelius de Hase, minister and professor of divinity at Bremen, and Sarah Wolter, a lady distinguished
, an eminent doctor and minister
of Bremen, son of Cornelius de Hase, minister and professor of divinity at Bremen, and Sarah Wolter, a lady
distinguished by her learning, and her knowledge of Hebrew, was born November 30, 1682, and was appointed
professor of belles-lettres at Hanau, but recalled to Bremen the following year, to be minister and professor of
Hebrew, and admitted D. D. at Francfort upon Oder in
1712, though absent; and member of the royal society at
Berlin in 1718. In 1723 he was made professor of divinity
at, Bremen, and died there April 25, 1731. He left a
volume of “Dissertations,
” which are much esteemed; and
assisted M. Lampe in a journal begun under the title of
“Bibliotheca Historico-Philologico-Theoiogica,
” and continued under that of “Musieum Historico-PhilologicoTheologicum.
” His brother James was also a man of
considerable erudition. He published many classical
tracts, which were well received by the learned. He died
in 1723.
, a learned professor of divinity in the university of llinteln, in the country of
, a learned professor of divinity in
the university of llinteln, in the country of Hesse, was
born in January 1616. He was educated at Zell, Lunenburg, and Helmstad; and after having studied at this last
four years, was received doctor in philosophy. Having
afterwards read some lectures, and presided in public disputations, he gained the friendship in an especial manner of
doctor Calixtus and doctor Horneius, two famous divines.
He was appointed professor of metaphysics and of Hebrew,
in the university of Rinteln, in 1643; and a year and a
half after this, being invited to Bardewik, to be superintendant, he discharged the duties of that employment
during five years, with so much care and diligence, that
duke Augustus of Brunswick would have appointed him
&ole inspector of the diocese of Wolfenbuttel, but he returned to Rinteln in 1651, and was made professor of divinity, had a seat in the ecclesiastical consistory, and was
also made inspector of the churches in the earldom of
Schauemburg. He was a man of great candor and moderation, and ardently wished that there might be an union
between the Lutherans and Calvinists, which occasioned
his bein^ suspected bv both parties. He was himself a
Lutheran, and a man of great erudition. He died at Rinteln June 27, 1671, leaving the following works: 1. “DisserUitio de Majestate civili,
” Rintel. De
cultu creaturarum &, imaginufn dissert.
” ibid. De libertate Arbitrii, imprimis Je concursu causne secundce cum primis,
” ibid. De Officio boni
Principis piique Subditi,
” ibid. Dissertatio de Pceniteutia lapsorum,
” ibid. DC
Gratia & Prxdestinatione Dissertatio,
” ibid. 1663, 4to.
7. “Compendium S. Theologian,
” ibid. De Veritate Religionis Christiana?,
” ibid. Institutiones Theologica,
” Brunsvigce, Historiae Ecclesiasticoe & Civilis Pars I.
” Rinte).
Disputationes de Mysterio S. S. Trinitatis: de Confessione Augustini, de fide & operibus,
” &c.
office, became a very popular preacher, and was much followed by the puritans. In 1629 he was chosen professor of divinity at Gresham college, and in his lectures, afterwards
, sometimes written Oldsworth, and Oldisworth, a learned and loyal English divine,
the youngest son of Richard Holdsworth, a celebrated
preacher at Newcastlerupon-Tyne, was born in 1590, and
after the death of his father was committed to the care of
the rev. William Pearson, a clergyman of the same place,
who had married his sister. He was first educated at Newcastle, and in July 1607 admitted of St. John’s college,
Cambridge. Jn 1610 he took his bachelor’s degree, in
1613 was chosen fellow of his college, in 1614 was made
master of arts, and incorporated at Oxford in the same
degree in 1617, and in. 1620 was chosen one of the twelve
university preachers at Cambridge. While at college he
was tutor, among others, to the famous sir Symond D'Ewes.
After this he was for some time chaplain to sir Henry
Hobart, lord chief justice of the common pleas, and then,
had a living given him in the West Riding of Yorkshire,
which he exchanged for the rectory of St. Peter the Poor,
Broad-street, London. He settled there a little before
the great sickness in 1625, during which he continued to
do the duties of his office, became a very popular preacher,
and was much followed by the puritans. In 1629 he was
chosen professor of divinity at Gresham college, and in
his lectures, afterwards published, he discovered an unusual extent and variety of learning. They were frequented by a great concourse of divines and young scholars.
About 1631 he was made a prebendary of Lincoln, and in
1633 archdeacon of Huntingdon. In the same year he
stood candidate for the mastership of St. John’s college,
but neither he nor his competitor, Dr. Lane, being acceptable at court, the king, by mandate, ordered Dr.
Beale to be chosen. In 1637, however, Mr. Holdsworth
was elected master of Emanuel college, and created doctor
of divinity. In the same year he kept the act at Cambridge,
and in 1639 was elected president of Sion college by the
London clergy. In 1641 he resigned his professorship at
Gresham college, and the rebellion having now begun, he
was marked out as one of the sacrifices to popular prejudice, although he had before suffered somewhat from the
court. While vice-chancellor Dr. Holdsworth had supplied the king with money contributed by the university, a
crime not easily to be forgiven. When, however, the
assembly of divines was called, Dr. Holdsworth was nominated one of the number, but never sat among them.
Soon after in obedience to the king’s mandate, he caused
such of his majesty’s declarations to be printed at Cambridge as were formerly published at York, for which, and,
as Dr. Fuller says, a sermon preached then by him, he
was forced to leave the university before the expiration of
his office as vice-chancellor. After some concealment he
was apprehended near London, and imprisoned, first in
Ely house, and then in the Tower. Such was the regard,
however, in which he was held at Cambridge, that while
under confinement he was elected Margaret professor of
divinity, which he held until his death, although he could
Meither attend the duties of it nor receive the profits; but
his rectory of St. Peter the Poor, and the mastership of
Emanuel, were both taken from him. It seems uncertain
when he was released. We find him attending the king at
Hampton Court in 1647; and in January following, when
the parliament voted that no more addresses should be
made to the king, he preached a bold sermon against that
resolution, for which he was again imprisoned, but being
released, assisted, on the king’s part, at the treaty in the
Isle of Wight. The catastrophe that soon after befell his
royal master is thought to have shortened his life, which
terminated Aug. 29, 1649. He lived unmarried, and left
his property to charitable uses, except his books, part of,
which went to Emanuel college, and part to the public
library at Cambridge. He was buried in the chnrch of St.
Peter the Poor, where is a monument to his memory. He
was of a comely appearance and venerable aspect; warm
in his temper, but soon pacified; a great advocate for the
king, and zealous in the cause of episcopacy. He was
devout, charitable, and an excellent scholar. In his “Preelectiones
” he shows not only an intimate acquaintance with
the fathers and schoolmen, but likewise most of the eminent divines of later ages, popish as well as protestant,
and his style is good. His works are, 1. “A Sermon
preached in St. Mary’s, Cambridge, on his majesty’s inauguration,
” The Valley of Vision; or a clear sight of sundry sacred truths; delivered in twenty-one sermons,
” Lond.
Praelectiones
theologicae,
” Lond.
, an illustrious professor of divinity in the universities of Utrecht and Leyden, was born
, an illustrious professor of divinity in the universities of Utrecht and Leyden, was born
at Haerlem in 1617, and studied there till he was sixteen,
when he was sent to Leyden, and afterwards in 1635, went
to study at Utrecht. In 1632, he was admitted a minister,
went to pertform the functions of his office secretly at Cologne, and was never discouraged by the dangers to which
he was exposed, in a city where most of the inhabitants were
zealous papists. He returned to Holland in 1643, and that
year was made D. D. The proofs he gave of his great
learning were such> that he was chosen in 1644 to fill the
chair of divinity professor at Utrecht; and the next year
was made minister in ordinary of the church in that C;ty.
However difficult the functions of these two employments
were, yet he acquitted himself in them with great diligence
almost ten years. As a pastor, he often visited the members of his church: he encouraged the pious, instructed
the ignorant, reproved the wicked, refuted the heretics,
comforted the afflicted, refreshed the sick, strengthened
the weak, cheered the drooping, assisted the poor. As a
professor, he took as much care of the students in divinity,
as if they had been his own children: he used to read not
only public lectures, but even private ones, for them; and
to hold ordinary and extraordinary disputations. He was
chosen to exercise the same employments at Leyden
which he had at Utrecht, and accepted them in 1654. He
died in 1666; and though he was but forty-nine years of
age, yet considering his labours, it is rather a matter of
wonder that he lived so long, than that he died so soon.
He published a great number of works, didactical, polemical, practical, historical, and oratorical. The principal
are, “A Refutation of Socinianism,
” from Conviction of the Jews,
”
of the Gentiles,
” 1669, 4to “A System
of Practical Divinity,
” 4to “Theological Institutions,
”
&c. all in Latin. He understood many languages, both
ancient and modern the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Chaldaic,
Syriac, Rabbinical, Dutch, German, English, French, Italian, and some little of Arabic and Spanish. He never
departed one inch from the most strict orthodoxy; and
was not less commendable for his integrity, than for his
parts and learning. Bayle, who had little in common with
so sound a divine, exhibits him as the complete model of
a good pastor and divinity-professor. He married at
Utrecht in 1650; and left two sons.
In Oct. 1641, he was elected professor of divinity at Gresham-coliege, and in May 1647, was elected
In Oct. 1641, he was elected professor of divinity at Gresham-coliege, and in May 1647, was elected preacher to the honourable society of Gray’s-inn, of which he was also a member. In 1649 he was created D. D. and the ensuing year was chosen vice-chancellor of Cambridge. In 1651 he appears to have resigned the office of preacher of Gray’s-inn; and marrying about the same time, he procured an order from parliament that he should not be obliged by that step to vacate his professorship at Gresham college. The Gresham committee, however, referring to the founder’s will, came to a resolution that the place was vacant, but did not at this time proceed to an election. In August 1652, Dr. Horton was incorporated D. D. in the university of Oxford, and the year following was nominated one of the triers or commissioners for the approbation of young ministers. In 1656, the Gresham committee resumed the affair of his professorship, and proceeded to a new election, but Dr. Horton obtained a fresh dispensation from Cromwell by means of secretary Thurloe, and continued in quiet possession, holding with it his headship of Queen’s college, Cambridge. On the restoration he was obliged to resign the headship to Dr. Martin, who had been ejected by the parliamentary visitors; and although he had interest enough at court to retain his professorship for a little time, he was obliged in 1661 to resign it. When the Savoy conference was appointed, he was nominated as an assistant on the side of the presbyterians, but, according to Baxter, never sat among them; and although one of the number of the divines ejected by the Bartholomew act, he conformed afterwards,- and in June 1666, was admitted to the vicarage of Great St. Helen, in Bishopsgate-street, London, which he held till his death, in March 1673.
another was, that he should refrain from all heretical company. In 1560 he was appointed the queen’s professor of divinity at Oxford; and the year after elected president
, a learned English writer, was
born at Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire, about 1527,
and had his school education at Cambridge; after which
he became first a demy, then a fellow, of Magdalen-college
in Oxford. He took the degree of M. A. in 1552, and
about that time was made Greek reader of his college, and
entered into orders. In June 1555 he had leave from his
college to travel into foreign countries; he went to Zurich,
and associated himself with the English there, who had
fled from their country on account of their religion. After
the death of queen Mary he returned to England, and was
restored to his fellowship in Magdalen college, from which
he had been expelled because he did not return within the
space of a year, which was one condition on which he was
permitted to travel; another was, that he should refrain
from all heretical company. In 1560 he was appointed
the queen’s professor of divinity at Oxford; and the year
after elected president of his college. In 1562 he took
both the degrees in divinity; and, in 1570, was made
dean of Gloucester. In 1580 he was removed to the
deanery of Winchester; and had probably been promoted
to a bishopric if he had not been disaffected to the church
of England. For Wood tells us, that from the city of
Zurich, where the preaching of Zuinglius had fashioned
people’s notions, and from the correspondence he had at
Geneva, he brought back with him so much of the Calvinist both in doctrine and discipline, that the best which
could be said of him was, that he was a moderate and conscientious nonconformist. This was at least the opinion
of several divines, who used to call him and Dr. Fulke of
Cambridge, standard-bearers among the nonconformists;
though others thought they grew more conformable in the
end. Be this as it will, “sure it is,
” says Wood, that
“Humphrey was a great and general scholar, an able
linguist, a deep divine and for his excellency of style,
exactness of method, and substance of matter in his writings, went beyond most of our theologists .
” He died in
Feb. 1590, N. S. leaving a wife, by whom he had twelve
children. His writings are, 1 “Epistola de Graecis literis,
et Homeri lectione et imitatione;
” printed before a book
of Hadrian Junius, entitled “Cornucopias,
” at Basil, De Religionis conservatione et reformatione, deque
primatu regum, Bas. 1559.
” 3. “De ratione interpretandi auctores, Bas. 1559.
” 4. “Optimates: sive de nobilitate, ejusque autiqua origine, &c.
” Bas. Joannis Juelli Angli, Episcopi Sarisburiensis, vita et
mors, ejusque verae doctrinae defensio, &c. Lond. 1573.
”
6. “Two Latin orations spoken before queen Elizabeth;
one in 1572, another in 1575.
” 7. “Sermons;
” and 8.
“Some Latin pieces against the Papists, Campian in particular.
” Wood quotes Tobias Matthew, an eminent archbishop, who knew him well, as declaring, that “Dr.
Humphrey had read more fathers than Campian the Jesuit
ever saw; devoured more than he ever tasted; and taught
more in the university of Oxford, than he had either
learned or heard.
”
stly to the study of theology, and was so remarkable for his progress in it, that in 1576he was made professor of divinity at Marpurg. About the same period he married. He
, a celebrated Lutheran divine, was
born at Winende, a village in the duchy of Wirtemburg,
in 1550. He was educated at the schools in that vicinity,
and took his degree in arts at Tubingen, in 1567. He
then applied himself earnestly to the study of theology,
and was so remarkable for his progress in it, that in 1576he was made professor of divinity at Marpurg. About the
same period he married. He was particularly zealous
against the Calvinists, and not long after this time began
to write against them, by which he gained so much reputation, that in 1592 he was sent for into Saxony to reform
that electorate, was made divinity-professor at Wittemburg,
and a member of the ecclesiastical consistory. In these
offices he proved very vigilant in discovering those who
had departed from the Lutheran communion; and, from
the accounts of the severities practised against those who
would not conform to that rule, it appears that nothing less
than a strong persecution was carried on by him and his
colleagues. In 1595 he was appointed pastor of the church
at Wittemburg, and in the same year published his most
celebrated polemical work, entitled “Calvin us Judaizans,
”
in which he charges that reformer with all possible heresies.
At the same time he carried on a controversy with Hnberus,
about predestination and election. Against Calvin he
wrote with the most intemperate acrimony. Hunnius was
present at the conference at Ratisbon in 1601, between
the Lutherans and Roman catholics. He died of an inflammation brought on by the stone, in April 1603. His
works have been collected in five volumes; and contain,
funeral orations, a catechism, prayers, colloquies, notes
on some of the evangelists, &c. &c. His acrimony in
writing went beyond his judgment.
ich is prefixed, “Some account of the Life, Writings, and Character of the Author,” by Dr. Leechman, professor of divinity in the same university. Dr. Hutcheson’s system of
After he had taught in a private academy at Dublin for
seven or eight years with great reputation and success, he
was called in 1729 to Scotland, to be professor of philosophy at Glasgow. Several young gentlemen came along
with him from the academy, and his high reputation drew
many more thither both from England and Ireland. After
his settlement in the college, the profession of moral philosophy was the province assigned to him; so that now -he
had full leisure to turn all his attention to his favourite
study, human nature. Here he spent the remainder of his
life in a manner highly honourable to himself, and ornamental to the university of which he was a member. His
whole time was divided between his studies and the duties
of his office; except what he allotted to friendship and society. A firm constitution, and a pretty uniform state of
good health, except some few slight attacks of the gout,
seemed to promise a longer life; yet he did not exceed
his 53d year, dying in 1747. He was married soon after
his settlement in Dublin, to Mrs. Mary Wilson, a gentleman’s daughter in the county of Longford; by whom he
left behind him one son, Francis Hutcheson, M. D. By
this gentleman was published, from the original ms. of his
father, “A System of Moral Philosophy,
” in three books,
Glasgow, Some
account of the Life, Writings, and Character of the Author,
”
by Dr. Leechman, professor of divinity in the same university. Dr. Hutcheson’s system of morals is, in its foundation, very nearly the same with that of lord Shaftesbury.
He agrees with the noble author in asserting a distinct
class of the human affections, which, while they have no
relation to our own interest, propose for their end the welfare of others; but he makes out his position rather more
clearly than Shaftesbury, who cannot exclude somewhat of
the selfish as the spring of our benevolent emotions. Hutcheson maintains, that the pleasure arising from the performance of a benevolent action, is not the ruling principle in prompting to such actions; but that, independently
of the selfish enjoyment, which is allowed in part to exist,
there is in the human mind a calm desire of the happiness
of all rational beings, which is not only consistent with,
but of superior influence in regulating our conduct, to the
desire of our own happiness; insomuch that, whenever
these principles come into opposition, the moral sense decides in favour of the former against the latter. Dr. Hutcheson deduced all moral ideas from what he calls a moral
sense t implanted in our natures, or an instinct like that of
self-preservation, which, independently of any arguments
taken from the reasonableness and advantages of any action, leads us to perform it ourselves, or to approve it
when performed by others; and this moral sense he maintained to be the very foundation of virtue. His hypothesis was new, but whether much better than other theories of
the same kind, may be questioned. His fame, in the opinion of an eminfent author, rests now chiefly on the traditionary history of his academical lectures, which appear to
have contributed very powerfully to diffuse, in Scotland,
that taste for analytical discussion, and that spirit of liberal
inquiry, to which the world is indebted for some of the
most valuable productions of the eighteenth century."
, a celebrated Lutheran divine and professor of divinity, was born at Ypres in Flanders, whence he took his
, a celebrated Lutheran
divine and professor of divinity, was born at Ypres in
Flanders, whence he took his name, May 16, 1511. His
father, who was a civilian, and had sent him to study at
various places, when near his death in 1528, removed him
to Paris, where he studied philosophy for three years, in
the college of Calvi; and after he had taken a journey
to Ypres, he returned to Paris in 1532, and studied
divinity there till 1535. He went afterwards to Louvain, and then he travelled through several provinces
of the Low- Countries and of Germany which rendered
ineffectual the pains his friends had taken to procure him
a living without his knowledge; for as soon as it was represented to Carondilet, archbishop of Palermo and chancellor to the emperor, that he had travelled in Germany,
this rendered him so much suspected of heresy, that he
was obliged to think of a sanctuary. He went into England, and lived about four years with an English nobleman,
Charles lord Mountjoy, who was a lover of learning, and
settled a handsome pension on him. He crossed the sea
again in 1541, and designed to visit the university of
Strasburg, and particularly to see Bucer, who made that
university very famous. But as he passed through the
country of Hesse, he met at Marpurg with a professor of
divinity, named Geldenhaur, who was one of his friends,
and who, in order to keep him there, gave him hopes of
some employment in the university of that city. He
accordingly settled there, and soon after succeeded his
friend, who died in January 1542. He continued in that
employment until his death at Marpurg, February the 1st,
1564. He was author of numerous works, some of which
were published by himself, and the rest were published
after his death. They consist of “Commentaries on the
Scriptures;
” “Theological Dissertations;
” “Controversial Tracts;
” treatises in rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, optics, natural philosophy, &c. Several
of these, enumerated by Ames and Herbert, were translated into English, and published here in the sixteenth
century. Hyperius had a very clear head, and a very
happy talent in conveying instruction. He was meek and
polite in conversation, and delighted in social convivial intercourse, possessed true wit and good sense, and added to
those qualities a high degree of virtue and zeal.
neral and abbot of the monastery of Adelberg. At last he was promoted in 1702 to the places of first professor of divinity, chancellor of the university, and provost of the
, a Lutheran divine, was
born at Stutgard, 1647, of a father who was counsellor of
the dispatches to the duke of Wirtemberg. After he had
finished his studies, he was entrusted with the education
of duke Eberhard III. with whom he travelled into Italy
in 1676, as preceptor. This charge being completed, he
taught philosophy and divinity; and in 1698 was nominated
a counsellor to the duke of Wirtemberg. The following
year he became consistorial counsellor and preacher. to the
cathedral of Stutgard, and superintendant-general and
abbot of the monastery of Adelberg. At last he was promoted in 1702 to the places of first professor of divinity,
chancellor of the university, and provost of the church of
Tubingen. He died in 1720. His principal works are,
1. “Ecclesiastical History compared with Profane History,
”
2. “A System or Compendium of Divinity.
” 3. “Several Pieces upon Mystic Divinity, in which he refutes Poiret,
Fenelon,
” &c. “4.
” Observations upon Puffendorf and
Grotius, de jure belli & pacis.“5.
” A Treatise of Laws.“6.
” An Examination of the life and doctrine of Spinosa.“7.
” A Moral Theology," &c. All his works are in Latin.
l as Greek and Latin languages, and devoted himself to the study of the Scriptures. He was appointed professor of divinity at Louvain, and admitted to the degree of doctor
, a learned Flemish prelate,
was born at Hulst in the year 1510, and educated at Ghent
and Louvain. He became a proficient in the Hebrew, as
well as Greek and Latin languages, and devoted himself to
the study of the Scriptures. He was appointed professor
of divinity at Louvain, and admitted to the degree of
doctor of divinity. In the council of Trent he commanded
respect by his learning and modesty, and upon his return
to Flanders in 1568, was nominated the first bishop of Ghent,
where he died in 1576, His works were, “A Paraphrase
on the Psalms,
” with copious notes, in Latin, printed at
Louvain in Notes on the Books of Proverbs,
Ecclesiasticus, the Canticles, and the Book of Wisdom,
”
printed in Commentaries upon some passages in
the Old Testament,
” &c. His chief work, however, was
the “Concordia Evangelica,
” first printed in
rch 30, 1680; decessit 1691 became master in April 1711; and held also the office of lady Margaret’s professor of divinity. Dr. Lake being translated from the see of Bristol
, a learned English divine, son of Thomas Jenkin, gent, of Minster in the Isle of Thanet, was born Jan. 1656, and bred at the King’s school at Canterbury. He entered as sizar at St. John’s college, Cambridge, March 12, 1674, under the tuition of Mr. Francis Roper; became a fellow of that society March 30, 1680; decessit 1691 became master in April 1711; and held also the office of lady Margaret’s professor of divinity. Dr. Lake being translated from the see of Bristol to that of Chichester, in 1685, made him his chaplain, and collated him to the precentorship of that church, 1688. Refusing to take the oaths at the revolution, he quitted that preferment, and retired to his fellowship, which was not subject then to those conditions, unless the bishop of Ely, the visitor, insisted on it; and the bishop was, by the college statutes, not to visit unless called in by a majority of the fellows. By these means he and many others kept their fellowships. Retiring to the college, he prosecuted his studies without interruption, the fruits of which he gave to the public in several treatises which were much esteemed. Upon the accession of George I. an act was passed, obliging all who held any post of 5l. a-year to take the oaths, by which Dr. Jenkin was obliged to eject those fellows who would not comply, which gave him no small uneasiness and he sunk by degrees into imbecility. In this condition he removed to his elder brother’s house at South Rungton, in Norfolk, where he died April 7, 1727, in his seventieth year; and was buried, with his wife Susannah, (daughter of William Hatfield, esq. alderman and merchant of Lynne, who died 1713, aged forty-six), his son Henry, and daughter Sarah, who both died young in 1727, in Holme chapel, in that parish, of which his brother was rector. Another daughter, Sarah, survived him. A small mural monument was erected to his memory.
de a public declaration of his faith, and entered into a close friendship with Peter Martyr, who was professor of divinity at Oxford. Mr. Jewel was one of his most constant
He had early imbibed Protestant principles, and inculcated them among his pupils; but this was carried on privately till the accession of Edward VI. in 1546, when he made a public declaration of his faith, and entered into a close friendship with Peter Martyr, who was professor of divinity at Oxford. Mr. Jewel was one of his most constant hearers, and used to take down his lectures, by means of a kind of short-hand invented by himself, with so much accuracy, that he was frequently afterwards employed in taking down the substance of public debates on religion, which were then common. In 1551 he took the degree of B. D. and frequently preached before the university with great applause. At the same time he preached and catechised every other Sunday at Sunningwell in Berkshire, of which church he was rector. Thus he zealously promoted the Reformation during this reign, and, in a proper sense, became a confessor for it in the succeeding; so early, as to be expelled the college by the fellows, upon their private authority, before any law was made, or order given by queen Mary. On this occasion, they had nothing to object against him, but, 1, His followiug of Peter Martyr. 2. His preaching some doctrines contrary to popery. 3. His taking orders according to the laws then in force. 4. And, according to Fuller, his refusal to be present at mass, and other popish solemnities. At his departure he took leave of the college in a Latin speech, full of pathetic eloquence. Unwilling, however, to leave the university, he took chambers in Broadgate-halJ, now Pembroke college, where many of his pupils followed him, besides other gentlemen, who were induced by the fame of his learning to attend his lectures. But the strongest testimony to his literary merit was given by the university, who made him their orator, and employed him to write their first congratulatory address to her majesty. Wood indeed observes, that this task was evidently imposed upon him by those who meant him no kindness; it being taken for granted, that he must either provoke the Roman catholics, or lose the good opinion of his party. If this be true, which is probable enough, he had the dexterity to escape the snare; for the address, being both respectful and guarded, passed the approbation of Tresham the commissary, and some other doctors, and was well received by the queen; but his latest biographer attributes the appointment solely to the opinion the university had of him as an elegant writer, and therefore the most fit to pen an address on such an occasion.
us by the circumstance, that he was tutor to the second wrangler, now the learned Dr. Herbert Marsh, professor of divinity at Cambridge, who acknowledged that for the honour
, an eminent and learned tutor of the
university of Cambridge, was born at Beriew in Montgomeryshire, June 23, 1756. His education, till he entered
on his twelfth year, was confined to the instruction of a
common country school, first at Beriew, and afterwards in
the neighbouring parish of Kerry. During the time that
he frequented the latter school, the vicar of the parish,
discovering in him those talents which he afterwards so
eminently displayed, advised his mother (for he lost his father at an early age) to send him to the grammar-school
at Shrewsbury, where he continued nearly seven years,
and was inferior to none of his schoolfellows, either in
attention to study or in regularity of conduct. In May
1774, he was admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge,
and came to reside there in October following. From that
time the excellence of his genius became more particularly
conspicuous. He had acquired, indeed, at school, a competent share of classical learning; but his mind was less
adapted to Greek and Latin composition than to the investigation of philosophical truths. At the public examinations of St. John’s college he not only was always in the
first class, but was without comparison the best mathematician of his year. His first summer vacation was devoted
entirely to his favourite pursuit; and at that early period
he became acquainted with mathematical works, which are
seldom attempted before the third year of academical
study. He remained at St. John’s college till after the
public examination in June 1776, when, having no prospect
of obtaining a fellowship, there being already a fellow of
the diocese of St. Asaph in that college, and the statutes
limiting the fellowships to one from each diocese, he removed to Trinity college. Here he took his bachelor’s
degree in 1779, and his superiority was so decided, that
no one ventured to contend with him. The honour of
senior wrangler, as it is called in academical phrase, was
conceded before the examination began, and the second
place became the highest object of competition. If any
thing was wanting to shew his superiority, it would be
rendered sufficiently conspicuous by the circumstance, that
he was tutor to the second wrangler, now the learned Dr.
Herbert Marsh, professor of divinity at Cambridge, who
acknowledged that for the honour which he then obtained,
he was indebted to the instruction of his friend.
In the same year in which Mr. Jones took his bachelor’s
degree he was appointed assistant tutor at Trinity college.
In Oct. 1781 he was elected fellow, and in Oct. 1787, on
the resignation of Mr. Cranke, he was appointed to the
office of head tutor, which he held to the day of his death.
In 1786 and 1787 he presided as moderator in the philosophical schools, where his acuteness and impartiality were
equally conspicuous. It was about this time that he introduced a grace, by which fellow-commoners, who used to
obtain the degree of bachelor of arts with little or no examination, were subjected to the same academical exercises
as other under-graduates. During many years he continued to take an active part in the senate-house examinations; but for some years before his death confined himself
to the duties of college- tutor. These, indeed, were sufficiently numerous to engage his whole attention and he
displayed in them an ability which was rarely equalled,
with an integrity which never was surpassed. Being perfect master of his subjects, he always placed them in the
clearest point of view; and by his manner of treating
them he made them interesting even to those who had
otherwise no relish for mathematical inquiries. His lectures
on astronomy attracted more than usual attention, since
that branch of philosophy afforded the most ample scope
for inculcating (what, indeed, he never neglected in other branches) his favourite doctrine of final causes; for arguing from the contrivance to the contriver, from the
structure of the universe to the being and attributes of
God. And this doctrine he enforced, not merely by explaining the harmony which results from the established
Jaws of nature, but by shewing the confusion which would
have arisen from the adoption of other laws. His lectures
on the principles of fluxions were delivered with unusual
clearness; and there was so much originality in them, that
his pupils often expressed a wish that they might be printed.
But such was his modesty, that though frequently urged, he
never would consent; and when he signed his will a short
time before his death, he made the most earnest request
to Dr. Marsh, that none of his manuscripts should be
printed. But it is a consolation to know, that his lectures
in philosophy will not be buried in oblivion: all his writings
on those subjects were delivered to his successor in the
tuition, and, though less amply than by publication, will
continue to benefit mankind. The only things he ever
published were “A Sermon on Duelling,
” and “An Address to the Volunteers of Montgomeryshire.
” The former
was published as a warning to the young men of the university, soon after a fatal duel had taken place there. The
latter, which he wrote with great animation (for he was a zealous advocate of the volunteer system) was calculated to
rouse the volunteers to a vigorous defence of their country.
, or Du Jon (Francis), professor of divinity at Leyden, was descended of a noble family, and
, or Du Jon (Francis), professor of divinity at Leyden, was descended of a noble family, and born at Bourges in 1545. At the age of thirteen he began to study the law, and afterwards went to Geneva, to study the languages; but being restrained in his pursuits for want of a proper support from his family, he resolved to get his bread by teaching school, which he pursued till 1565, when he was made minister of the Walloon church at Antwerp. But as this was both a troublesome and dangerous post, on account of the tumultuous conflicts between the papists and protestants at that time, he was soon obliged to withdraw into Germany. He went first to Heidelberg, where the elector, Frederic III. received him very graciously. He then made a visit to his mother, who was still living at Bourges; after which, returning to the Palatinate, he was made minister of the church of Schoon there. This was hut a small congregation; and, while he held it, he was sent by the elector to the prince of Orange’s army, during the unsuccessful expedition of 1568. He continued chaplain to that prince till the troops returned into Germany; when he resumed his church in the Palatine, and resided upon it till 1579. This year his patron, the elector, appointed him to translate the Old Testament jointly with Tremellius, which employment brought him to Heidelberg. He afterwards read public lectures at Neustadt, till prince Casimir, administrator of the electorate, gave him the divinity-professor’s chair at Heidelberg. He returned into France with the duke de Bouillon; and paying his respects to Henry IV. that prince sent him upon some mission into Germany. Returning to give an account of his success, and passing through Holland, he was invited to be divinity-professor at Leyden; and, obtaining the permission of the French ambassador, he accepted the offer in 1592. He had passed through many scenes of life, and he wrote an account of them himself this year: after which, he filled the chair at Leyden with great reputation for the space of ten years, when he died of the plague in 1602.
, a learned professor of divinity at Leipsic, was son of John Ittigius,“professor
, a learned professor of divinity at
Leipsic, was son of John Ittigius,“professor of physic in
the same university, and born there in 1644. He received
the first part of his education at Leipsic then went to Rostoc, and lastly to Strasburg, to perfect his studies after
which he was admitted a professor in philosophy at Leipsic, and published a treatise upon burning mountains. He
then became a minister, and exercised that function in various churches in the same place. In 1680 he was made
archdeacon, and licentiate in divinity; and, in 1691, professor extraordinary in the same faculty, and ordinary professor the ensuing year. He furnished several papers
published in the Leipsic Acts: besides which we have of
his,
” Dissertatio de haeresiarchis aevi apostolici ejus proximi;“”Appendix de ha3resiarchis“”Prolegomena ad
Josephi opera“” Bibliotheca patrum apostolkorum Graeco-Latina;“” Historia synodorum nationalium in Gallia a
reformatis habitarum“” Liber de bibliothecis et catenis
patrum“” Exhortationes theologicæ“” Historic ecclesiasticæ primi et secundi seculi selecta capita." Some
part of this last did not appear till after the death of the
author, which happened April 7, 1710.
d by different persons, some with a friendly view, and some with a petulant one. Amongst others, the professor of divinity at Cambridge, Dr. Rutherforth, published, “A Letter
The importance of the work being generally acknowledged, numberless articles of information were received
from various parts of Europe, and the learned in everyquarter seemed willing to promote the success of a plan so
apparently beneficial to the interests of revelation. Some,
however, doubted the necessity, and some the usefulness
of the undertaking; and objections soon were started by
different persons, some with a friendly view, and some
with a petulant one. Amongst others, the professor of
divinity at Cambridge, Dr. Rutherforth, published, “A
Letter to the Rev. Mr. Kennicott, in which his Defence
of the Samaritan Pentateuch is examined, and his Second
Dissertation on the State of the printed Hebrew Text of
the Old Testament is shewn to be in many instances injudicious and inaccurate. With a postscript, occasioned by
his advertizing, before this Letter was printed, that he
had an Answer to it in the press,
” An Answer to a Letter from the Rev. T. Rutherforth, D. D. F. R. S.
” &c.
, a learned professor of divinity at Kiel, was born Jan. 15, 1633, at Burg, in the
, a learned professor of divinity at Kiel, was born Jan. 15, 1633, at Burg, in the isle
of Femeren, near the Baltic sea, in the country of Holstein.
He was sent first to school at Burg, whence in his sixteenth year he removed to Sleswick, where he applied to
his books two years more; and afterwards studied in the
college of Stetin, and gave public proofs of his progress
by some theses. Going to Rostoch in 1652, he assiduously
frequented the lectures of the professors, and took the degree of doctor in philosophy, in 1656. He then pursued
his studies in the university of Jena, and gained great reputation by the academical acts, and by private lectures
read on philosophy, the Eastern tongues, and divinity.
He left Jena in 1660, and after visiting the universities of
Leipsic and Wittemberg, returned to Rostoch, where he
was made Greek professor in 1662; and took a doctor of
divinity’s degree the same year. He married in 1664, and
next year was invited to be second professor of divinity in
the university just founded at Kiel. He was so zealous
for the prosperity of that new university, and so grateful
for the kindness of the duke of Holstein, his master, that
he refused all the employments, though very beneficial and
honourable, which were offered him in several places.
This prince bestowed upon him, in 1680, the professorship
of ecclesiastical antiquities; and declared him vice-chancellor of 'the university for life, 1689; and he discharged
the duty of those offices with great ability, application, and
prudence. His death, which happened March 31, 1694,
was a great loss to the university of Kiel, and to the republic of letters. His works in Latin and German are numerous, and esteemed by the learned; the principal are,
1. “Tractatus de persecutionibus Ecclesise primitive, veterumque Martyrum cruciatibus,
” the best edition of which
is, Keil, Tractatus de Calumniis Pagariorum in veteres Christianos,
” Keil, Tractatus de Religione Ethnica, Mahummedana et Judaica,
”
De Origine et Natura Christianismi ex
mente Gentilium,
” De tribus Impostoribus magnis Liber, Edwardo Herbert, Thomse Hobbes, et
Benedicto Spinosa oppositis,
” Hamburg, De rationis cum revelatione in Theologia concursu,
”
Oratio de Scholarum et Academiarum ortu
et progressu, presertim in Germania,
”
ic, 1730, 4to. He went afterwards to Vienna, as chaplain to the Danish ambassador, and was appointed professor of divinity, 1742, at Gottingen, where he died in the flower
, grandson of the preceding,
was born in 1709, at Keil, where his father, Sebastian Kortholt, was professor. He discovered an early disposition
towards the sciences, and made so rapid a progress in
them, that he was admitted at twenty to assist in the
“Journal of Leipsic,
” in which may be found some good
pieces of his till 1736, and some well chosen extracts from
works on ecclesiastical history. Kortholt visited Holland
and England, and was esteemed by the learned there.
While in England he drew up a short account of the society of Antiquaries of London, “Epistola ad Kappium de
Soc. Ant. Lond.
” Leipsic, De Ecclesiis suburbicariis
” “De Enthusiasmo Muhammedis
” and several excellent “Dissertations.
” The most
esteemed of those in German are, a “Treatise on the truth
of Christianity
” “Sermons,
” &c. He published four volumes of Latin letters by Leibnitz, a volume of his French
letters, and a collection of various pieces on philosophy,
mathematics, history, &c. by the same author.
ed a seminary, for the education of ecclesiastics^ and having a great esteem for Lami, appointed him professor of divinity. He died January 29, 1715, at Rouen. He left many
, a learned priest of the
Oratory, was born at Mans in 1640; and educated among
the religious of the congregation of the oratory at Paris,
and at Saumuc From 1661 to 1667, he taught the classics
and the belles lettres, and in the latter of these years he
was ordained priest. He taught philosophy at Sauimir and
at Angers, till 1676, when he was deprived of his professorship for being a Cartesian, and his enemies having obtained a lettre de cachet agains^t him, he was banished to
Grenoble, where cardinal le Camus had established a seminary, for the education of ecclesiastics^ and having a
great esteem for Lami, appointed him professor of divinity.
He died January 29, 1715, at Rouen. He left many valuable works: the principal are, “Les Elemens de Geometric, et de Mathematiques,
” 2 vols. 12mo; “Un Trait
de Perspective,
” Entretiens sur lea Sciences, et sur la Methode d'Etudier,
” Apparatus Biblicus,
” 4to. The abbe de Bellegarde has
translated it under the title of “Apparat de la Bible,
”
8vo, and there is an English translation, by Bundy, in
4to, with fine plates, Lond. 1723, 4to. He published
also a valuable work, the labour of thirty years, entitled,
“De Tabernaculo foederis, de Sancta Civitate Jerusalem,
et de Templo ejus,
” folio; “Demonstration, ou Preuves
eVidentes de la Vérite et Sainted de la Morale Chretienne,
”
Harmonia sive concordia Evangelii,
” &c. Lyons, A System of Rhetoric,
” Reflexions sur l'Art Poetique,
” 12mo; “Traite de
Mechanique, de PEquilibre,
”
history, but the year following he was again invited to Bremen, where he was not only made ordinary professor of divinity, but rector of the college, and pastor of the church.
, a German protestant divine, was born at Dethmold, in the county of La Lippe, in Westphalia, Feb. 19, 1683. After being taught the learned languages at Bremen, he studied at Franeker and Utrecht, and fixing on divinity as a profession, became the pupil of Campejus, Vitringa, and other eminent lecturers of that period. His theological course being completed, he officiated successively in the churches of Weezen, Tenteburgh, and Bremen. In 1709 he officiated as second pastor at the latter place, and in 1719 was appointed first pastor. In 1720 he accepted the office of theological professor at Utrecht, but was not constituted minister of the church, as the author of his funeral eloge seems to intimate. His only duty was to preach each alternate Sunday in German, and besides this he held no ecclesiastical function. In 1726 he was appointed professor of church history, but the year following he was again invited to Bremen, where he was not only made ordinary professor of divinity, but rector of the college, and pastor of the church. These honours, however, he enjoyed for no long time, being cut off by a haemorrhage, in the forty-sixth year of his age, Dec. 8, 1729, and at a time when his health, which had been injured while at Utrecht, seemed to be re-established.
n, in the duchy of $ultzbach. He was extremely well skilled in the oriental languages, and appointed professor of divinity at Altorf; but having made himself enemies there,
, an able Protestant divine, was
born March 9, 1664, at Ezelwangen, in the duchy of
$ultzbach. He was extremely well skilled in the oriental
languages, and appointed professor of divinity at Altorf;
but having made himself enemies there, quitted his office,
and settled at Prentzlow, where he died June 20, 1731.
His works most held in estimation are, “Philologia Barbaro-Grseca,
” Noribergse, Altorfii, 1705, 4to, and several
Treatises in Latin, on the Mahometan religion, and the
Koran,
” De Fabulis Mohamedicis," 1697, 4to.
d to answer for Mods, de Larroque’s good behaviour. He was afterwards chosen to be both minister and professor of divinity at Saumur. The former he accepted, but refused the
, in Latin Larroquanus, whom Bayle styles one of the most illustrious ministers the reformed ever had in France, was born at Leirac, a small city of Guienne, near Agen, in 1619. He was hardly past his youth when he lost his father and mother, who were persons of rank and character. This misfortune was soon ifol lowed by the loss of his whole patrimony, although by what means is not known; but the effect was to animate him more strongly to his studies, and to add to polite literature, which he had already learned, the knowledge of philosophy, and above all, that of divinity. He made a considerable progress in these sciences, and was admitted a minister with great applause. Two years after he had been admitted in his office he was obliged to go to Paris to answer the cavils of those who intended to ruin his church, in which, although he was not successful, he met with such circumstances as proved favourable to him. He preached sometimes at Charenton, and was so well liked by the duchess de la Tremouille, that she appointed him minister of the church of Vitre, in Britany, and gave him afterwards a great many proofs of her esteem; nor was he less respected by the prince and princess of Tarente, and the duchess of Weimar. He served that church about twenty-seven years, and studied the ancient fathers with the utmost application. He gave very soon public proofs of the progress he had made in that study, for the answer he published to the motives which an opponent had alledged for his conversion to popery, abounded with passages quoted from the fathers, and the works which he published afterwards raised his reputation greatly. There was an intimate friendship between him and Messieurs Daille, father and son, which was kept up by a constant literary correspondence; and the journey he took to Paris procured him the acquaintance of several illustrious men of letters. The church of Charenton wished to have invited him in 1669, but his enemies had so prepossessed the court against him, that his majesty sent a prohibition to that church not to think of calling him, notwithstanding the deputy general of the reformed had offered to answer for Mods, de Larroque’s good behaviour. He was afterwards chosen to be both minister and professor of divinity at Saumur. The former he accepted, but refused the professorship of divinity, as it might interfere with the study of church history, to ttfhich he was very partial. The intendant of the province, however, forbad him to go to Saumur; and although the church complained of this unjust prohibition, and petitoned very zealously for the necessary permission, which she obtained, Larroquc did not think it proper to enter upon an employment against the will of the intendant. He continued therefore still at Vitré, where he did not suffer his pen to be idle. Three of the most considerable churches of the kingdom chose him at once, the church of Moutauban, that of Bourdeaux, and thut of Roan. He accepted the invitation of Roan, and there died, Jan. 31, 1684, having gained the reputation not only of a learned man, but also of an honest man, and a faithful pastor.
r there; but being condemned to death by the duke of Savoy, took refuge in Geneva, where he was made professor of divinity, and died in 1661. He left an edition of the New
, a learned Protestant divine, was born in 1594, at Ville Seiche, in the valley of St. Martin in Piedmont. Going to Constantinople as chaplain to the ambassador from the States-general, he formed a friendship in that city with the famous Cyrillus Lucar, and obtained from him a confession of the faith of the Greek and Eastern churches. On his return to the Vallies he was appointed minister there; but being condemned to death by the duke of Savoy, took refuge in Geneva, where he was made professor of divinity, and died in 1661. He left an edition of the New Testament in the original Greek, and vulgar Greek, 2 vols. 4to. His son, Anthony Leger, born 1652, at Geneva, was a celebrated preacher, and five volumes of his sermons have been published since his death, which happened at Geneva, in 1719.
against the Socinians and other sectaries. He was one of Frederic Spanheim’s friends, and appointed professor of divinity at Utrecht, 1678. He died January 6, 1721, aged
, an eminent protestant divine, was born January 25, 1652, at Middleburg. He
acquired great skill in controversy and ecclesiastical antiquity, and wrote much against the Socinians and other sectaries. He was one of Frederic Spanheim’s friends, and
appointed professor of divinity at Utrecht, 1678. He died
January 6, 1721, aged sixty-nine. The following are the
principal among his numerous Latin works: 1. a treatise
“On the Hebrew Republic,
” Amsterdam, 17 14 and 1716, 2
vols. fol. a very valuable work for the history of Judaism.
2. “Fax veritatis,
” Ludg. Batav. A Continuation of the Ecclesiastical History began by Hornius,
”
Francfort, curious, and full of interesting inquiries. 5.
” Synopsis
controversiarum de fredere.“6. A
” Commentary in the
Heidelburg Catechism.“7. A
” Dissertation against Becker’s World bewitched.“8.
” An Analysis of Scripture,“with the
” Art of Preaching.“9. A
” History of Jansenism,“Utrecht, 1695, 8vo. What Leydecker says in this work
against the sovereignty of kings, has been refuted by P.
Quesnel, in his
” Sovereignty of Kings defended," Paris,
1704, 12mo.
ted to the living of Much-Mundeii, in Hertfordshire, void by the death of Dr. Samuel Ward, Margaret- professor of divinity in that university, before the expiration of this
Thinking himself now fixed for life, he built a study in
the garden, retired from the noise of the house; and applied himself for twelve years with indefatigable diligence
in searching the Scriptures. Thus employed, the days
passed very agreeably; and he continued quiet and unmolested till the great change which happened in the public
affairs, brought him into a share of the administration relating to the church; for he was nominated a member of
the memorable assembly of divines, for settling a new
form of ecclesiastical polity. This appointment was purely
the effect of his distinguished merit; and he accepted it
purely with a view to serve his country as far as lay in his
power; but, although he contended on some points with
many of the most able innovators in that assembly, it cannot be denied that he had a favourable opinion of the Presbyterian form of church- government. The necessity for
residing in London, in consequence of this appointment,
induced him to resign his rectory; and, having obtained
the presentation for a younger brother, he set out for
London in 1642. He had now satisfied himself in clearing
up many of the abstrusest passages in the Bible, and had
provided the chief materials, as well as formed the plan,
of his “Harmony;
” and an opportunity of inspecting it
at the press was, no doubt, an additional motive. for his
going to the capital. Here, however, he had not beert
long, before he was chosen minister of St. Bartholomew’s,
behind the Royal Exchange. He lived at this time at the
upper end of Moore-lane, whence he dedicated to his
parishioners of St. Bartholomew, his “Handful of Gleanings out of the Book of Exodus.
” The assembly of divines
meeting in lf>43, our author gave his attendance diligently
there, and made a distinguished figure in their debates;
where he used great freedom, and gave signal proofs of
his courage as well as learning, in opposing many of those
tenets which the divines were endeavouring to establish.
His learning recommended him to the parliament, whose
visitors, having ejected Dr. William Spurstow from the
mastership of Catharine-hall in Cambridge, put Lightfoot
in his room this year, 1643; and he was also presented to
the living of Much-Mundeii, in Hertfordshire, void by the
death of Dr. Samuel Ward, Margaret- professor of divinity
in that university, before the expiration of this year. In
the mean time he had taken his turn with other favourites
in preaching before the House of Commons, most of which
sermons were printed; and in them we see him warmly
pressing the speedy settlement of the church in the Presbyterian form, w^ich he cordially believed to be according
to the pattern in the Mount. His leisure hours he employed in preparing and publishing the several branches of
his “Harmony;
” all which, although decidedly proving
the usefulness of human learning to true religion, occasioned to him great difficulties and discouragements, chiefly
owing to the vulgar prejudices of the illiterate part of the
revolutionists, which threatened even the destruction of
the universities. In 1655, he entered upon the office of
vice-chancellor of Cambridge, to which he was chosen that
year, having taken the degreeof doctor of divinity in
1652. He performed all the regular exercises for his degree with great applause*, and executed the vice-chancellor’s office with exemplary diligence and fidelity; and,
particularly at the commencement, supplied the place of
professor of divinity, then undisposed of, at an act which
was kept for a doctor’s degree in that profession f. At the
same time he was engaged, with others, in completing the
celebrated Polyglott Bible, then in the press; which being
encouraged by Oliver Cromwell, he expressed his joy at
this high patronage, in his speech at the commencement.
He also took occasion to commiserate the oppressed state
of the clergy of the church of England, and to extol their
learning, zeal, and confidence, in God.
, a celebrated professor of divinity in Holland, of the Arminian persuasion, was of a
, a celebrated professor of divinity in Holland, of the Arminian persuasion, was of a good family, originally of Maestricht, and born at Amsterdam, June 19, 1633. He passed the first years of his life in his father’s house, going thence daily to school; and then, attending the public lectures, became the disciple of Gaspar Barlaeus in ethics, of Gerard John Vossius in history, and of Arnold Sanguerd in philosophy. This foundation being laid, he applied himself to divinity under Stephen Curcellseus, who succeeded Simon Episcopius in that chair, among the remonstrants. From Amsterdam he went to Utrecht, and frequented the lectures of Gilbert Voetius, and other divines of the reformed religion. In May 1654, he returned to Amsterdam, and made his first probationsermon there in Oct. following. He passed an examination in divinity in August 1655; and was admitted to preach publicly, as a probationer, which he did first at Haerlem. The same year he was invited to be stated minister of Alcmaer, but declined it, not thinking himself yet qualified for that important task. In 1657 he published a course of sermons in Dutch, by Episcopius, his greut uncle by the mother’s side, and the same year was invited to be minister of the remonstrants at Gouda, where there was a numerous congregation of that sect. He accepted this vocation, and exercised the ministerial function in that town till he was called to Amsterdam.
nce of Episcopius and the remonstrants. In 1667 he became minister at Amsterdam, where Pontanus, the professor of divinity, whose talent lay chiefly in preaching, appointed
Having inherited the papers of Episcopius, he found
Among them a great number of letters relating to the affairs
of the remonstrants; and, communicating these to Hartsoeker, minister of the remonstrants at Rotterdam, they
joined in disposing them into a proper order, and then
published them under the title of “Epistolae praestantium
et eruditorum Virorum, &c.
” at Amsterdam, in
he was accused of a calumny, in a book concerning the Xo'yog in St. John’s gospel, by Vander Waeyen, professor of divinity at Franecker, because he had said, that Francis
In 1694 a young gentlewoman at Amsterdam, of twenty-two years of age, took a fancy to learn Hebrew of a Jew;
and was by frequent conversations with her tutor, induced
to quit the Christian religion for Judaism. As soon as her
mother understood this, she employed several divines, but
in vain; because they undertook to prove Christianity from
the Old Testament, omitting the authority of the New;
to which she, returning the common answers she had
learned from the Jews, received no reply that gave her
satisfaction. While the young lady was in the midst of
this perplexity, Dr. Veen, a physician, happened to be
sent for to the house; and, hearing her mother speak,
with great concern, of the doubts which disturbed her
daughter, he mentioned Limborch’s dispute with Orobio.
She immediately applied to Limborch, in hopes that he
would be able to remove her scruples, and bring her back
to the Christian religion. Limborch accordingly used the
same train of argument which he had pursued with Orobio,
and quickly recovered her to her former faith. In 1698 he
was accused of a calumny, in a book concerning the Xo'yog
in St. John’s gospel, by Vander Waeyen, professor of divinity at Franecker, because he had said, that Francis
Burman, a divine and professor at Leyden, had, in his
“Theologia Christiana,
” merely transcribed Spinoza without any judgment. Limborch, producing passages from
both, endeavoured to prove that he had said nothing which
was not strictly true; but when this was printed at Amsterdam in 1699, the two Burmans, one professor of history
and eloquence at Utrecht, and the other minister at Amsterdam, published a book in viiulication of their father’s
memory, entitled “Burmannorum Pietas,
” “The Piety
of the Burmans;
” to which Limborch made no reply. la
udied with great perseverance, and at last, in 1729, obtained a liberal patron in Dr. Olaus Celsius, professor of divinity, who met him by chance in that academic garden,
In 1727 Linnæus was matriculated at the university of Lund, and devoted himself to the study of medicine. He lodged at the house of a physician, Dr. Stobaeus, and haying accesfs to a library and museum of natural history, was indefatigable in his application, and Stobaeus being infirm in health and spirits, Linnæus was allowed occasionally to relieve him from the labours of his profession, and soon bocame a great favourite. In the ensuing summer he passed the vacation under his paternal roof, and meeting there with his former patron Rothmann, by his advice he quitted Lund for Upsal, as a superior school of medicine and botany. But in this situation, owing to his father’s poverty, he was reduced to great necessity, and although he came well recommended, could only obtain a royal scholarship, which was so insufficient for his maintenance, that he often wanted the necessaries of life. He nevertheless studied with great perseverance, and at last, in 1729, obtained a liberal patron in Dr. Olaus Celsius, professor of divinity, who met him by chance in that academic garden, the fame of which he was destined to immortalize. Dr. Celsius discovering his merit, took him under his protection, and soon recommended him to pupils, by which measure his finances were improved.
zeal. In 1584 he was appointed preacher to the governor and deputies of the states of Friesland, and professor of divinity in the new liniversity of Franeker, which offices
, a learned protestant divine, was
born at Langoworde, in Friesland, about 1556, and studied
at Bremen, Wittemberg, and Geneva, where he diligently
attended the lectures of Beza, Casaubon, and Francis Portus. At Newstadt also he heard the lectures of the learned
Zachary Ursinus, who had so high an opinion of him as to
recommend him as his own successor in the chair of logic;
but this honour he declined. Soon after he became pastor
of a congregation at Embden, the duties of which office he
discharged with singular fidelity and zeal. In 1584 he was
appointed preacher to the governor and deputies of the
states of Friesland, and professor of divinity in the new
liniversity of Franeker, which offices he filled with reputation nearly forty years, and was in that time often employed in very important affairs. He died at Franeker,
Jan. 21, 1625, at the age of sixty-nine. He was author of
many learned pieces against Bellannin, Socinus, Arminius,
Vorstius, Grotius, and the other defenders of the cause of
the remonstrants. One of his best works is that “De Papa
Romano,
”
he divided among the Jesuits of Salamanca. He then taught philosophy five years after which, he was professor of divinity at Valladolid. The success with which he filled
, a Spanish Jesuit and cardinal, was born Nov. 28, 1583, at Madrid. His talents began to appear so early, that it is said he was able, at three years of age, to read not only printed books, but manuscripts. He maintained theses at fourteen, and was sent to study the taw, soon after, at Salamanca; where he entered into the order f the Jesuits in 1603, against his father’s wish. After finishing his course of philosophy among the Jesuits of Pampeluna, and of divinity at Salamanca, he was sent to Seville by his superiors, on his father’s death, to take possession of his patrimony, which was very considerable, and Which he divided among the Jesuits of Salamanca. He then taught philosophy five years after which, he was professor of divinity at Valladolid. The success with which he filled this chair, convinced his superiors that he was worthy of one more eminent: accordingly he received orders, in the fifth year of his professorship, to go to Rome, to teach divinity there. He set out in March 1621, and arrived at Rome in June the same year, having met with Bjanv dangers in travelling through the provinces of France. He taught divinity at Rome for twenty years, and attended wholly to that employ, without making his court to the cardinals, or visiting any ambassadors.
sity of Louvain, on some matters of importance with the papal court; and on his return was appointed professor of divinity At Louvain. Pope Clement IX. would willingly have
, a learned Roman
catholic writer, was born at Ypres, June 12, 1612, and at
the early age of fifteen, joined the society of the hermits
f St. Augustine. Having afterwards studied at Cologne,
he was sent to Louvain to teach philosophy; in which he
acquired such celebrity, as to secure the particular esteem
of the learned Fabio Chigi, then the papal nuncio in Germany, afterwards pope Alexander VII. In 1655, Lupus
was one of the deputies sent to Rome by the university of
Louvain, on some matters of importance with the papal
court; and on his return was appointed professor of divinity
At Louvain. Pope Clement IX. would willingly have made
him a bishop; and from Innocent XL and the grand duke
of Tuscany, he received repeated marks of esteem:
latter was desirotts of settling upon him a considerable pension, that he might attach him to his court. He died July
10, 16-81, at the age of seventy. Of his numerous
works the principal are, “Commentaries on the History
and Canons of the Councils,
” Treatise on Appeals to the Holy See,
” according to
the Ultramontane opinions, 4to a “Treatise on Contrition,
” 12mo; a collection of “Letters and Memorials respecting the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon,
” 2 vols.
4to; a great number of “Dissertations
” on various subjects; a “Commentary on Tertullian’s Prescriptions;
”
“The Life and Letters of St. Thomas of Canterbury,
” &c.
All the above were republished at Venice in 12 volumes,
folio, the first of which appeared in 1724.
He continued in the university of Wittemberg, where, as professor of divinity, he employed himself in the business of his calling.
He continued in the university of Wittemberg, where,
as professor of divinity, he employed himself in the business of his calling. The university, as we have observed,
had been lately founded by Frederic, elector of Saxony,
who was one of the richest and most powerful princes at
that time in Germany, as well as one of the most magnificent and bountiful; and who brought a great many
learned men thither, by large pensions and other encouragements, and amongst the rest Luther. Here then he
feegan in the most earnest manner to read lectures upon
the sacred books: he explained the epistle to the Romans,
and the Psalms, which he cleared up and illustrated in a
manner so entirely new, and so different from what had
been pursued by former commentators, that “there seemed,
after a long and dark night, a new day to arise, in the
judgment of all pious and prudent men.
” He settled the
precise difference between the law and gospel, which before had been confounded; refuted many errors, commonly
received both in "he church and the schools; and brought
many necessary truths to light, which might have bee
vainly sought in Scotus and Aquinas. The better to qualify himself for the task he had undertaken, he applied
himself attentively to the Greek and Hebrew languages;
to which, we are told, he was particularly excited by the
writings of Erasmus; who, though he always remained in
appearance a papist, or at least had nothing decided in
his character, yet contributed much to the impelling of
monkish ignorance, and overthrowing the kingdom of darkness. In the mean time, Luther, while he was active in
propagating truth and instruction by his lectures and
sermons, maintained an exemplary severity in his life and
conversation, and was a most rigid observer of that discipline
which he enjoined to others. This gained him vast credit
and authority, and made all he delivered, however new or
unusual, more readily accepted by. those who heard him.
cated to St. Anthony, in the founding of which he had been instrumental. In this college he was also professor of divinity, which office he filled afterwards in the convent
, who in his Latin works called himself Cavellus, was titular primate of Armagh, and a learned writer in defence of Duns Scotus, whose opinions were generally embraced by his countrymen. He was born in the county of Down, in Ireland, in 1571, and became a Franciscan friar. He studied at Salamanca, in Spain, and afterwards for many years governed the Irish Franciscan college at Louvain, dedicated to St. Anthony, in the founding of which he had been instrumental. In this college he was also professor of divinity, which office he filled afterwards in the convent of Ara Cceli at Rome, was definitor-general of his order, and at length advanced by the pope to the see of Armagh; but died at Rome, as he was preparing for his journey to Ireland, Sept. 22, 1626, in the fifty -fifth year of his age. He was buried in the church of St. Isidore, under a monumental stone, and inscription, placed there by the earl of Tyrone. He was reckoned a man of great learning, and one of the best schoolmen of his time. His works, which consist chiefly of commentaries on and a defence of Scotus, were in substance incorporated in Wading' s edition of Scotus’s works, printed at Lyons, 1639, in 12 vols. folio.
several pupils, afterwards men of eminence. About 1530, he removed once more to Scotland, was chosen professor of divinity at St. Andrew’s, and afterwards became provost.
, a scholastic divine and historian, was born, not at Haddington, as is usually said,
but at Gleghorn, a village near North Berwick, in 1469.
From some passages in his writings, it appears that he resided for a time both at Oxford and at Cambridge. At
the former particularly, we learn from the dedication of
one of his works to cardinal Wolsey, he resided, not three
months, as Wood says, but a year. The cardinal, whom
he styles “your majesty,
” received him “after the old
manner of Christian hospitality, and invited him with a
splendid salary to Oxford, where he had lately founded his
college, which Major did not accept, on account of the love
he bore to his mother university of Paris.
” It appears
that he went in 1493 to Paris, and studied in the college
of St. Barbe, under the famous John Boulac. Thence he
removed to the college of Montacute, where he began the
study of divinity, under the celebrated Standouk. In 1498
he was entered of the college of Navarre in 1505 he was
created D. D. returned to Scotland in 1519, and taught
theology for several years in the university of St. Andrew’s.
At length, disgusted with the quarrels of his countrymen,
he returned to Paris, and resumed his lectures in the college of Montacute, where he had several pupils, afterwards
men of eminence. About 1530, he removed once more
to Scotland, was chosen professor of divinity at St. Andrew’s, and afterwards became provost. It is usually supposed that he died in 1547, but it is certain that he was
alive in 1549; for in that year he subscribed (by proxy, on account of his great age) the national constitutions of
the church of Scotland. He died soon after, probably in
1550, which must have been in his eighty-second year.
Du Pin says, that of all the divines who had written on the
works of the Master of Sentences (Peter Lombard), Major
was the most learned and comprehensive. His History of
Scotland is written with much commendable freedom; but
in a barbarous style, and not always correct as to facts.
Hs was the instructor, but not, as some have said, the patron of the famous George Buchanan. He also had the
celebrated John Knox as one of his pupils. Baker in a
ms note on the “Athenae,
” adds to the mention of this
fact, that “a man would hardly believe he ha.d been
taught by him.
” Baker, however, was not sufficiently acquainted with Major’s character to be able to solve this
doubt. Major, according to the very acute biographer of
Knox (Dr. M‘Crie) had acquired a habit of thinking and
expressing himself on certain subjects, more liberal than
was adopted in his native country and other parts of Europe. He had imbibed the sentiments concerning ecclesiastical polity, maintained by John Gerson, Peter D’Ailly,
and others, who defended the decrees of the council of
Constance, and liberties of the Gallican church, against
those who asserted the incontroulable authority of the sovereign pontiff. He thought that a general council was
superior to the pope, might judge, rebuke, restrain, and
even depose him from his dignity; denied the temporal
supremacy of the bishop of Rome, and his right to inaugurate or dethrone princes; maintained that ecclesiastical
censures and even papal excommunications had no force,
it* pronounced on invalid or irrelevant grounds; he held
that tithes were merely of human appointment, not divine
right; censured the avarice, ambition, and secular pomp
of the court of Rome and the episcopal order; was no
warm friend of the regular clergy, and advised the reduction of monasteries and holidays. His opinions respecting
civil government were analogous to those which he held as
to ecclesiastical policy. He taught that the authority of
kings and princes was originally derived from the people
that the former are not superior to the latter, collectively
considered that if rulers become tyrannical, or employ
their power for the destruction of their subjects, they may
lawfully be controuled by them; and proving incorrigible,
may be deposed by the community as the superior power;
and that tyrants may be judicially proceeded against, even
to capital punishment. The affinity between these and
the political principles afterwards avowed by Knox, and
defended by the classic pen of Buchanan, is too striking to
require illustration. But although Major had ventured to
think for himself on these topics, in all other respects be
was completely subservient to the opinions of his age; and
with a mind deeply tinctured with superstition, defended
some of the absurdest tenets of popery by the most ridiculous and puerile arguments. We cannot, therefore, greatly
blame Buchanan, who called him in ridicule, what he affected to call himself in humility, “Joannes, solo cognomine, Major.
” His works are, 1. “Libri duo fallaciarum,
” Lugd. Opera Logicalia.
”
2. “In quatuor sententiarum commentarius,
” Paris, Commentarius in physica Aristotelis,
” Paris, In primum et secundum sententiarum commentarii,
”
Paris, Commentarius in tertium sententiarum,
” Paris, Literalis in Matthaeum expositio,
” Paris, De historia gentis Scotorum, sen historia majoris
Britanniae,
” Paris, Luculenta in 4
Evangelia expositiones,
” &c. Paris, Placita theologica.
” 10. “Catalogus episcoporum
Lucionensium.
” He also translated Caxton’s Chronicle into
Latin.
ology at Paris, and was employed on a cure near his native town till 1751, when he was invited to be professor of divinity in the college of Navarre. The more he was known,
, was one of the writers in the French Encyclopedic, and one of those whose articles are the most valuable in that work. They are chiefly on the subjects of divinity and belles lettres, and if only men as sound and judicious as the abbe Mallet had been employed, that publication would have proved as useful as it has been, found pernicious. He was born at Melun in 1713, and educated at the college of the Barnabites at Montargis. He was afterwards engaged as tutor in the family of a farmer general. In 1742 he was admitted into the faculty of theology at Paris, and was employed on a cure near his native town till 1751, when he was invited to be professor of divinity in the college of Navarre. The more he was known, the more his merits were perceived; and the charge of Jansenism, which had been circulated against him, was gradually cleared away. Boyer, then bishop of Mirepoix, as a testimony of his regard, presented him to a canonry of Verdun. He died at Paris in 1755. Besides his shara in the Encyclopedie, he wrote several works on the principles of poetry and eloquence. His style is neat, easy, and unaffected; and he has great skill in developing the merits of good writers, and illustrating his precepts by the most apposite examples from their works. He published also a history of the civil wars of France, under the reigns of Francois II. Charles IX. &c. translated from the Italian of D'Avila, and published at Amsterdam in 3 vols. 4to.
, an eminent protestant divine, was born at Sneck in Friesland, in 1655, and became professor of divinity at Franeker, and professor of divinity and ecclesiastical
, an eminent protestant divine, was born at Sneck in Friesland, in 1655,
and became professor of divinity at Franeker, and professor
of divinity and ecclesiastical history at Groningen, whence
in 1689 he was removed to the same office at Leyden, and
died there, Jan. 30, 1731. His first publication was an
inaugural dissertation in 1676, “De augmento scientiac
theologicae.
” He afterwards derived great reputation from
his “Disputationes duodecim de Sibyllinis carminibus,
”
Franeker, 1682, 8vo, written in opposition to the sentiments of Crasset. 2. “Compendium theologiae,
” Amst.
Exercitationes Biblicae,
” published at
different times, amounting to eight volumes. 4. “Exercitationes miseellaneae.
” These turn on various disputed
passages in the holy Scriptures, concerning which he combats the opinions of the Roman catholics, Socinians, &c.
A selection from his works was published at Groningen in
1748, 2 vols. 4to. In the Museum library are two of his
orations, one on the agreement between the old and new
errors of popery, Groningen, 16S3; the other on the reverence due to the sacred Scriptures, Leyden, 1689, both
in 41O.
ds. The magistrates of Berne, well informed of his abilities and learning, offered him, in 1661, the professor of divinity’s chair at Lausanne; and, in 1663, the university
, a celebrated divine of the reformed church, was born at Oisemond in Picardy, in 1599. At thirteen he was sent to Paris, where he made great advances in the belles lettres and philosophy; and three years after to Saumur, where he studied divinity under Gomarus, and Hebrew under Ludovicus Capellus. He returned to his father in 1618, and afterwards went to Geneva, to finish his course of divinity. The year following he went to Paris, and, by the advice of M. Durand, applied immediately for admission to the holy ministry, to the synod of Charenton, in March 1620, who received him, and settled him in the church of Laon. But his ministerial functions here were soon disturbed; for, the governor of La Fere’s wife having changed her religion, wrote him a letter in vindication of her conduct, and sent him a pamphlet containing the history of her conversion. His answer to this lady’s letter provoked his adversaries to such a degree, that a Jesuit was supposed to have suborned an assassin, who stabbed him deeply, but, as it happened, not mortally, with a knife into his breast. This induced Des Marets to leave Laon, and go to Falaise in 1624. He afterwards accepted a call to the church of Sedan; and soon after took the degree of doctor in divinity at Leyden, in July 1625. Having made a short visit to England, he returned to Sedan. In 1640, he had an invitation to a professorship at Franeker; and to another at Groningen, in 1642. This last he accepted; and from that time to his death, rendered such services to that university, that it was reckoned one of the most flourishing in the Netherlands. The magistrates of Berne, well informed of his abilities and learning, offered him, in 1661, the professor of divinity’s chair at Lausanne; and, in 1663, the university of Leyden invited him to a like professorship there. He accepted of this last, but died before he could take possession of it, at Groningen, May 18, the same year.
ent of Seymour the protector, and archbishop Cranmer, sent for to England by Edward VI. who made him professor of divinity at Oxford in 1549. Here he read lectures, to which
nience, he went to Lucca, where he was made superior of St. Fridian, a house of his own order; and there he lived with Tremellius and Zanchius, whom he is said to have converted. But, finding himself in more danger here, he left the city secretly, and travelled to Pisa; whence, by letters to cardinal Pole, and to the society of Lucca, he fully explained the reasons of his departure. Then coming to Florence, but making no long stay there, he set forward for Germany; and, passing the Alps, went to Zurich with Ochinus, who had been one of the most celebrated preachers of Italy, but had now forsaken his former superstitions. From Zurich he went to Basil; and thence, by Bucer’s means, was brought to Strasburg; Here he married a young nun that had left her convent, who lived with him eight years, and died at Oxford, as will be noticed hereafter. After he had spent five years at Strasburg, he was, through the management of Seymour the protector, and archbishop Cranmer, sent for to England by Edward VI. who made him professor of divinity at Oxford in 1549. Here he read lectures, to which even the popish party, from the fame of his learning, resorted: and though they could not be easily reconciled to his doctrines, yet they bore him with some patience, till he came to handle that of the Lord’s Supper. Then they began to disturb him in his lectures, to fix up malicious and scandalous libels against him, and to challenge him to disputes; uhich challenges he did not disdain to accept, but disputed, first privately in the vice-chancellor’s lodge, and afterwards in public, before his majesty’s commissioners, deputed for that purpose. His adversaries, finding no advantage could be gained by argument, stirred up the multitude so successfully, that he was obliged to retire to London till the tumult was suppressed. In 1550, the king bestowed on him a canonry of Christ church, on which he returned, and entered on the lodgings belonging to him, near the great gate of Christ church leading into Fish-street. Here being still much disturbed by the rabble, who broke his windows in the night-time, and rendered the situation very uneasy, he was obliged to exchange his lodgings for those in the cloister, where he quietly passed the remainder of his abode in the university. For the more privacy in his studies, he erected a fabric of stone in his garden, situated on the east side of his apartments, in which he partly composed his commentaries on the first epistle to the Corinthians, and his epistles to learned men. This fabric, which contained two stories, remained until 1684, when it was pulled down by Dr. Aldrich, then canon.
, a celebrated biblical critic, and professor of divinity and the oriental languages, was born at Halle, in
, a celebrated biblical critic, and professor of divinity and the oriental languages,
was born at Halle, in Lower Saxony, in 1717. His first
education was private, but in 1729 he was sent to the public school of the orphan-house, where he studied diviniiy
and philosophy, and at the same time he occasionally attended the lectures of his father, who was professor of divinity and the oriental languages. During the latter part
of his time at school, he acquired a great facility in speaking Latin, and in thinking systematically, from the practice of disputation, in which one of the masters frequently
exercised him. In 1733, he entered into the university of
Halle, where he applied himself to the study of mathematics, metaphysics, theology, and the oriental languages.
He also prepared himself for pulpit services, and preached
with great approbation at Halle and other places. In 1739
he took a degree in philosophy, and soon after was appointed assistant lecturer under his father, having shewn
how well qualified he was for that situation, by publishing
a small treatise “De Antiquitate Punctorum Vocalium.
”
In 1741 he left his own country with a view of visiting
England, and passing through Holland, became acquainted
with the celebrated Schultens, from whom he received
many marks of the most friendly attention. Upon his arrival in England, he engaged to officiate for the German,
chaplain to the court, who was at that time in an infirm
state of health, and continued to preach at the palace-chapel nearly a year and a half. During this period he visited
the university of Oxford, greatly increased his knowledge
of the oriental languages, and formed an intimacy with
some of the first literary characters of that age, particularly
with Dr. Lowth, afterwards bishop of London, on some of
whose lectures “De Sacra Poesi Hebraeorum
” he attended.
Upon his return to Halle, he resumed his labours as assistant to his father, and delivered lectures on the historical
books of the Old Testament, the Syriac and Chaldee
languages, and also upon natural history, and the Roman
classics; but seeing no prospect of a fixed establishment,
he left Halle in 1745, and went to Gottingen, in the capacity of private tutor. In the following year he was made
professor extraordinary of philosophy in the university of
Gottingen, and, in 1750, professor in ordinary in the same
faculty. In 1751 he was appointed secretary to the newly
instituted Royal Society of Gottingen, of which he afterwards became director, and about the same time was made
aulic counsellor by the court of Hanover. During 1750,
he gained the prize in the Royal Academy of Berlin, by a
memoir “On the Influence of Opinions on Language, and
Language on Opinions.
” While the seven years’ war
lasted, Michaelis met with but little interruption in his
studies, being exempted,in common with the other professors, from military employment; and when the new regulations introduced by the French in 1760, deprived them
of that privilege, by the command of marshal Broglio it
was particularly extended to M. Michaelis. Soon after
this, he obtained from Paris, by means of the marquis de
Lostange, the manuscript of Abulfeda’s geography, from,
which he afterwards edited his account of the Egyptians;
and by the influence of the same nobleman, he was chosen
correspondent of the “Academy of Inscriptions at Paris,
”
in Compendium
of dogmatic Theology,
” consisting of doctrinal lectures
which he had delivered by special licence from the government. Shortly after this, Michaelis shewed his zeal for
the interests of science and literature, by the part which
he took in the project of sending a mission of learned men
into Egypt and Arabia, for the purpose of obtaining such
information concerning the actual state of those countries,
as might serve to throw light on geography, natural history,
philology, and biblical learning. He first conceived the
idea of such a mission, which he communicated by letter
to the privy counsellor Bernstorf, who laid it before his
sovereign Frederic V. king of Denmark. That sovereign
was so well satisfied of the benefits which might result from
the undertaking, that he determined to support theexpence
of it, and he even committed to Michaelis the management
of the design, together with the nomination of proper travellers, and the care of drawing up their instructions. Upow
the death of Gesner in 1761, Michaelis succeeded in the
office of librarian to the Royal Society, which he held
about a year, and was then nominated to the place of director, with the salary for life of the post, which he then
resigned. Two years afterwards he was invited by the
king of Prussia to remove to Berlin, but his attachment to
Gottingen led him to decline the advantages which were
held out to him as resulting from the change. In 1766 he
was visited at Gottingen by sir John Pringle, whom he had
known in England, and Dr. Franklin. With the first he
afterwards corresponded on the subject of the leprosy,
spoken of in the books of Moses, and on that of Daniel’s
prophecy of the seventy weeks. The latter subject was
disscussed in the letters which passed between them during
1771, and was particularly examined by the professor.
This correspondence was printed by sir John Pringle in
1773, under the title of “Joan. Dav. Michaelis de Epistolse, &c. LXX. Hebdomadibus Danielis, ad D. Joan. Pringle, Baronettum; primo privatim missse, nunc vero utriusque consensu publice editae.
” In 1770, some differences having arisen between Michaelis and his colleagues
in the Royal Society, he resigned his directorship. In
1775 his well-established reputation had so far removed the
prejudices which had formerly been conceived against him
in Sweden, that the count Hbpkin, who some years before
had prohibited the use of his writings at Upsal, now prevailed upon the king to confer upon him the order of the
polar star. He was accordingly decorated with the ensignia of that order, on which occasion he chose as a motto
to his arms, “libera veritas.
” In 1782 his health began to
decline, which he never completely recovered; in 1786 he
was raised to the rank of privy counsellor of justice by the
court of Hanover; in the following year the academy of
inscriptions at Paris elected him a foreign member of that
body; and in 178S he received his last literary honour by
being elected a member of the Royal Society of London.
He continued his exertions almost to the very close of life,
and a few weeks before his death, he shewed a friend several sheets in ms. of annotations which he had lately written on the New Testament. He died on the 22d of August, 1791, in the seventy- fifth year of his age. He was a
man of very extensive and profound erudition, as well as
of extraordinary talents, which were not less brilliant than
solid, as is evident from the honours which were paid to
his merits, and the testimony of his acquaintance and contemporaries. His application and industry were unwearied, and his perseverance in such pursuits as he conceived
would prove useful to the world, terminated only with the
declension of his powers. His writings are distinguished
not only by various and solid learning, but by a profusion
of ideas, extent of knowledge, brilliancy of expression,
and a frequent vein of pleasantry. In the latter part of his
life he was regarded not only as a literary character, but as
a man of business, and was employed in affairs of considerable importance by the courts of England, Denmark, and
Prussia. His works are very numerous, and chiefly upon
the subjects of divinity and oriental languages. A part of
them are written in Latin, but by far the greater number
in German. Of the Conner class there are these 1.
“Commentatio de Battologia, ad Matth. vi. 7.
” Bremen,
Paralipomena contra Polygamiam,
” ibid.
Syntagma commentationum,
” Goett. Curse in versionem Syriacam Actuurn
Apostolorum,
” Goett, Compendium Theologize dogmatics?,
” ib. Commentationes
resize soc. Scientiarum Goettingerrsis, per annos 1758
1762,
” Bremen, Vol. II. Ejusdem, 1769.
”
8. “Spicilegium Geographies Hebrseorum exterae, post
Bochartum,
” Goett. Grammatica Chaldaica,
” ib. Supplementa ad
Lexicon Hebraicum,
” Grammatica Syriaca,
” Halae, Hebrew Grammar,
” Halle, Elements of Hebrew accentuation,
” ib. Treatise on the Law of Marriage, according
to Moses,
” Goett. Paraphrase and Remarks on the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians, Ephesians,
Colossians, Thessalonians, Titus, Timothy, and Philemon,
”
Bremen, Introduction to the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament,
” Bremen, Prophetical plan of the preacher Solomon,
” ib. Thoughts on the Doctrine of Scripture concerning Sin,
” Hamb. Plan of typical Divinity,
” Brem. Criticism of the means
employed to understand the Hebrew language.
” 21. “Critical Lectures on the principal Psalms which treat of
Christ,
” Frankf. Explanation of the
Epistle to the Hebrews,
” Frankf. Questions proposed to a society of learned Men, who
went to Arabia by order of the king of Denmark,
” ib. Introduction to the New Testament,' 7 a second
edition, Goett. 1788, 2 vols. 4to. 25.
” Miscellaneous
Writings,“two parts, Frankf. 1766 8, 8vo. 26.
” Programma concerning the seventy-two translators,“Goett.
1767, 8vo. 27.
” Dissertation on the Syriac language,
and its use,“Goett. 1768, 8vo. 28.
” Strictures concerning the Protestant Universities in Germany,“Frankf. 1775,
8vo. 29.
” Translation of the Old Testament,“Goett.
1769 83, 13 parts. 30.
” Fundamental Interpretation of
the Mosaic Law,“Frankf. 1770-5, 6 parts, with additions,
8vo. 31.
” Of the Seventy Weeks of Daniel,“Goett.
1772, 8vo. 32.
” Arabic Grammar and Chrestomathy,“ib. 1781, 8vo. 33.
” Oriental and exegetical Library,“Frankf. 1771—89, 24 parts, and two supplements, 8vo.
34.
” New Oriental and exegetical Library,“Goett. 1786
91, 9 parts. 35.
” Of the Taste of the Arabians in their
Writings,“ib. 1781, 8vo. 36.
” Dissertation on the Syriac
Language and its uses, together with a Chrestomathy,“ib.
1786, 8vo. 37.
” On the Duty of Men to speak Truth,“Kiel, 1773, 8vo. 38.
” Commentary on the Maccabees,“Frankfort, 1777, 4to. 39.
” History of Horses, and of the
breeding of Horses in Palestine,“&c. ib. 1776, 8vo. 40.
” Thoughts on the doctrine of Scripture concerning Sin
and Satisfaction,“Bremen, 1779, 8vo. 41.
” Illustration
of the History of the Burial and Resurrection of Christ,“Halle, 1783, 8vo. 42.
” Supplement, or the fifth Fragment of Lessing’s Collections,“Halle, 1785, 8vo. 43.
” German Dogmatic Divinity,“Goett. 1784, 8vo. 44.
” Introduction to the Writings of the Old Testament,“Hamb. 1787, 1st vol. 1st part, 4to: 45.
” Translation of
the Old Testament, without remarks,“Goett. 1789, 2 vols.
4to. 46.
” Translation of the New Testament,“ib. 1790,
2 vols. 4to 47.
” Remarks for the unlearned, relative to
his translation of the New Testament,“ib. 1790 92, 4
parts, 4to. 48.
” Additions to the third edition of the Introduction to the New Testament,“ibid. 1789, 4to. 49.
” Ethics," a posthumous work, published by C. F. Steudlin, Goett. 1792, 2 parts, 8vo.
, a learned orientalist, professor of divinity, Greek, and oriental languages, and director of
, a learned orientalist, professor of divinity, Greek, and oriental languages, and director of the divinity school of Halle, was born at Kettenburg, in Hohenstein, July 26, 1668. His father sent him
in 1683 to Brunswick, to learn trade, but a few months
after, he allowed him to be placed at the school of St. Martin in that city, where the rector, M. Msering, cultivated
his talents, and found him capable of instructing some of
the younger scholars. An illness obliging him to leave this
place, he continued his studies at Nordhausen, and in
1688 at Leipsic, where he went through courses of philosophy and divinity, and also studied the oriental languages and rabbinical Hebrew. In 1694 he quitted Leipsic for the university of Halle, where he taught the Greek,
Hebrew, and Chaldeewith great reputation. Here he published, with the assistance of professor Francke, who mentions him respectfully in his “Pietas Hallensis,
” a work
entitled “Conamina brevioris Manuductionis ad
Doctrinam de Accentibus Hebraeorum Prosaicis.
” In 1696 he
published another piece, entitled “Epicrisis philologica de
reverendi Michaelis Beckii, Ulmensis, Disquisitionibus philologicis, cum responsionibus ad Examen XIV. Dictor.
Gen.
” In 1699, he succeeded Francke in the Greek professorship at Halle, and in 1707 was made keeper of the
university library. He was afterwards nominated professor
of divinity in ordinary, and admitted to the degree of D. D.
In 1732 he was made senior of the faculty of divinity, and
inspector of the theological seminary. He died in 1738,
at about the age of seventy. He was author of many works
besides those already mentioned, the titles of which are
enumerated in our authority.
, professor of divinity at Stetin, and a very learned man, was born at Cuslin
, professor of divinity at Stetin,
and a very learned man, was born at Cuslin in Pomerania,
in 1597. He began his studies in the college of his own
country; and, in 1614, removed to Stetin, where he studied
theology under professor Cramer. In 1616, he maintained a dispute “de Deo uno & trino,
” which gained him
great reputation; and went the year after to the university
of Konintrsberg, where he disputed again “de veritate.
transcendentali.
” He received, in 1621, the degree of
master of philosophy at the university of Gripswald, after
having maintained a thesis “de meteoris;
” and, some
time after, went to Leipsic to finish his studies. He was
made professor of rhetoric in the royal college at Stetin in
1624, rector of the senate school in 1627, and rector of
the royal college, and professor of theology, in 1649. The
same year he received his doctor of divinity’s degree, in
the university of Gripswald, and which he was, we are
told, led to ask; because, in a dispute he had with John
Bergius, first preacher at the court of the elector of Brandenburg, upon the differences between the Lutherans and
Calvinists, the latter arrogantly boasted of his being an
old doctor in divinity; to which Micrelius could only answer, “that he had received the degree of master in philosophy before Bergius.
” He had obtained by his solicitations in 1642, when he was made professor of rhetoric, that
there might be also professors of law, physic, and mathematics, in the royal college; and that a certain number of
students might be maintained there at the public charge.
He made a journey to Sweden in 1653, and had the honour
to pay his respects to queen Christina, who gave him very
obliging marks of her liberality, and who had before defrayed
the charges of his doctor’s degree. He died Dec. 3, 1658.
dkl not ascribe to Middleton, but to Dr. Colbatch, a learned fellow of his college, and casuistical professor of divinity in the university. It has been said that he very
Middleton’s animosity to Bentley did not end here. The
latter having in 1720 published “Proposals for a new
edition of the Greek Testament, and Latin Version,
” Middleton, the following year, published, 5. “Remarks, Paragraph by Paragraph, upon the Proposals, &c.
” and at
setting out, “only desires his readers to believe, that they
were not drawn from him by personal spleen or envy to
the author of them, but by a serious conviction, that he
had neither talents nor materials proper for the work he had
undertaken.
” Middleton might believe himself sincere in
all this, but no such conclusion can be drawn from the
pamphlet, which carries every proof of malignant arrogance.
The very motto which he borrowed from one of Burmairs
orations, “Doctus criticus & adsuetus urere, secare, inclementer omnis generis librns tractare, apices, syllabas,
”
&c. implies the utmost personal animosity, and could have
been thought “happily chosen,
” only at a time when
Bentley’s temper was better known than his learning.
Bentley defended his “Proposals
” against these “Remarks,
” which, however, he dkl not ascribe to Middleton,
but to Dr. Colbatch, a learned fellow of his college, and
casuistical professor of divinity in the university. It has
been said that he very well knew the true author, but was
resolved to dissemble it, for the double pleasure it would
give him, of abusing Colbatch, and shewing his contempt
of Middleton. His treatment of Colbatch, however, being
as unjustifiable as that which he had received from Dr.
Middleton, provoked the vice-chancellor and heads of the
university, at a meeting in Feb. 1721, to pronounce his
book a most scandalous and malicious libel, and they resolved to inflict a proper censure upon the author, as soon
as he should be discovered: for no names had yet appeared in the controversy. Middleton then published,
with his name, an 'answer to Bentley’s Defence, entitled,
in Cranes-court, Fleet-street. Harris gives some account also of a Francis Molloy, of King’s County, professor of divinity in the college of St. Isidore at Home, who wrote
Harris, in his edition of Ware’s “Writers of Ireland,
”
mentions another Charles Molloy, a native of the King’s
County, and a lawyer pf the Inner Temple, who wrote
“De Jure Maritime et Naval i, or a Treatise of Affairs
Maritime, and of Commerce,
” first published at London in
Sacra Theologia,
” Rome,
Grammatica Latino-Hibernica compendiata,
”
ibid. Archeeologia Britannica,
” says that it
was the most complete Irish grammar then extant, although
imperfect as to syntax, &c. He says also, what is less
credible, that Molloy was not the author of it; although
the latter puts his name to it, and speaks of it in the preface as his own work. Molloy’s other work is entitled
“Lucerna Fidelium,
” Rome,
ndrew’s in Norwich, in his book entitled “Ibis ad Caesarem,” ibid. 1626, 4to. 5. Mr. Anthony Wotton, professor of. divinity in Gresham college. 6. Dr. Daniel Featly, in his
In this work many of the acknowledged doctrines of the
church of England are undoubtedly maintained with great
force of argument, but there are other points in which he
afforded just ground for the suspicions alleged against him;
and that this was the opinion of many divines of that period
appeared from the answers to his “Appeal
” published by,
It Dr. Matthew Sutcliffe, dean of Exeter. 2. Mr. Henry
Burton in his “Plea to an Appeale,
” Lond. Testis Veritatis,
” ibid. Ibis ad Caesarem,
” ibid. Pelagius Redivivus; or, Pelagius raked out of the ashes by Arminius and his scholars,
”
ibid. Examination of those
things, wherein the author of the late Appeale holdeth the
doctrines of the Pelagians and Arminians to be the doc-
”
trines of the church of England," ibid. 1626, 4to.
On the death of Dr. Randolph (father to the late bishop of London), in 1783, he was elected Margaret professor of divinity, at Oxford, and was installed prebendary of Worcester
, an English divine, was born at
Wotton, in the parish of Stanton Lacy, near Lud'low in
Shropshire, in 1694, and was educated at St. John’s college, Cambridge, where he took his degree of B. A. in
1714. He appears then to have left college, and became
schoolmaster of Spalding, and minor-canon of Peterborough, where he was a joint-founder of “The Gentleman’s
Society,
” and became its secretary. He was afterwards
prebendary of Lincoln, archdeacon of Huntingdon in 1747,
and rector of Alwalton in Huntingdonshire, where he died
Feb. 3, 1757, aged sixty-three. There is an inscription to
his memory against the West wall of the North transept,
in which he is styled D. D. In 1727, he communicated to
the Spalding Society “An Essay on the invention of
Printing and our first Printers,
” and bishop Rennet’s donation of books to Peterborough cathedral. In the first
leaf of the catalogue (3 vols. in folio, written neatly in the bishop’s own hand) is this motto “Upon the dung-hill was found a pearl. Index librorurn aliquot vetustiss.
quos in commune bonum congessit W. K. dec. Petriburg.
1712.
” These books are kept with dean Lockyer’s, in the
library of Lady-chapel, behind the high altar, in deal
presses, open to the vergers and sextons. In a late repair
of this church, which is one of the noblest monuments of
our early architecture, this benefactor’s tomb-stone was
thrust and half-covered behind the altar, and nothing marks
the place of his interment. Mr. Neve was chaplain to,
and patronised by Dr. Thomas, bishop of Lincoln, and
published one sermon, being his first visitation-sermon,
entitled “Teaching with Authority;
” the text Matth. vii.
28, 29. Dr. Neve bore an excellent character for learning
and personal worth. He married, for his second wife,
Christina, a daughter of the rev. Mr. Greene, of Drinkstone, near Bury, Suffolk, and sister to lady Davers of
Rushbrook. His son Timothy was born at Spalding, Oct.
12, 1724, and was elected scholar of Corpus Christi college, Oxford, where he proceeded M. A. 1744; and in
1747 was elected fellow. In 1753, he took his degree of
B. D. and that of D. D. in 1758, and on being presented by the college to the rectory of Geddington in Oxfordshire, resigned his fellowship in 1762. He was also
presented by Dr. Green, bishop of Lincoln, to the rectory
of Middleton Btoney, in the same county. On the death
of Dr. Randolph (father to the late bishop of London), in
1783, he was elected Margaret professor of divinity, at
Oxford, and was installed prebendary of Worcester in
April of that year. He was early a member of the Literary
Society of Spalding. He died at Oxford Jan. 1, 1798, aged
seventy-four, leaving a wife and two daughters.
mbeth articles. Dr. Nevil, and his brethren, soon after had to complain of Dr. Baro, lady Margaret’s professor of divinity, for maintaining some doctrines respecting universal
In 1595, he was concerned in the controversy, which originated at Cambridge, from the public declaration of William Barret, fellow of Caius college, against the doctrine of predestination, and falling from grace. On these points the general persuasion being then favourable to the system of Calvin, Barret was called before some of the heads, and compelled to retract his opinions. The dispute, however, which was referred by both parties to archbishop Whitgift, occasioned the well-known conference of divines at Lambeth, where they agreed on certain propositions, in conformity to Calvin’s principles, commonly called the Lambeth articles. Dr. Nevil, and his brethren, soon after had to complain of Dr. Baro, lady Margaret’s professor of divinity, for maintaining some doctrines respecting universal salvation, diametrically opposite to those of the Lambeth articles in consequence of which he was removed from his station in the university. (See Baro).
hed from Philip Nicolai, a learned divine, who died in 1608, and from Melchior Nicolai, a celebrated professor of divinity at Tubingen, who died in 1659. Both these wrote
, a learned doctor of the Sorbonne,
and Dominican, was born in 1594, at Monza, a village
in the diocese of Verdun, near Stenay. After taking a
doctor’s degree in 1632, he taught theology in tl?e house
of his order at Paris, for about twenty years. He was
elected prior in 166 1, and died May 7, 1673, aged seventyeight. He was the editor of a good edition of the “Summary
” of St. Thomas, with notes, and of all that doctor’s
works, Lyons, 1660, 19 vols. fol. He also published five
Dissertations on several points of ecclesiastical discipline,
againstM.de Launoi, 12mo; “Judicium, seu censorium
suffragium de propositions Antonii Arnaldi,
” &c. 4to,
which last he likewise published in French by the title of
“Avis deliberatif,
” &c. 4to. This relates to the much
contested proposition of M. Arnauld, that “Grace failed
in St. Peter,
” and it was answered by M. Arnauld, Nicole,
and de la Lane. He was the author of other works, in
which are some singular opinions, but which are now of
little consequence. He must, however, be distinguished
from Philip Nicolai, a learned divine, who died in 1608,
and from Melchior Nicolai, a celebrated professor of
divinity at Tubingen, who died in 1659. Both these
wrote commentaries and controversial treatises, noticed in
“Freheri Theatrum,
” and our other authorities.
f the palace of Denmark, appointed him tutor to his children; and, in 1644, he obtained the chair of professor of divinity at Copenhagen, probably by the interest of this
, an eminent Danish divine, was
born June 22, 1626, at Hoybia, in Scania; and, after acquiring some grammatical and classical knowledge at Lunden, was removed to the university of Copenhagen in
1644, and continued there till 1650; when he was made
rector of the college at Landscroon. He took the degree
of master of arts the following year; and, in 1654, for
farther improvement, made the tour of Germany, visited
several universities there, and became acquainted with the
most learned persons of that time. From Germany he
continued his route to Holland, England, and France, and
returned to Denmark in 1657. Hence, after a residence
of only three months, he went to pursue his studies at Leyden and Franeker. In 1660, the lord of Gerstorff, master
of the palace of Denmark, appointed him tutor to his
children; and, in 1644, he obtained the chair of professor
of divinity at Copenhagen, probably by the interest of this
nobleman. Noldius, entering into holy orders, was made
minister, and obtained the professor’s chair of divinity at
Copenhagen, in which city he died, Aug. 22, 1683. He
wrote several books, as “Concordantiae particularum Hebraeo-Chaldaicarum Veteris Testament!,
” an excellent
work, the best edition of which is that of Jena, Historia Iduinsea, seu de Vita et gestis Herodum Diatribse.
” “Sacrarum Historiarum et Antiquitatum Synopsis.
”
“Leges distinguendi seu de Virtute et Vitio distinctiones.
”
“Logica,
” &c.
Here he translated “St. Chrysostom’s Commentaries upon Genesis” into Latin, and was made professor of divinity and city-preacher by the council; by whose consent
Here he translated “St. Chrysostom’s Commentaries
upon Genesis
” into Latin, and was made professor of divinity and city-preacher by the council; by whose consent
he began the execution of his trust, with abolishing several
usages of the Roman church. In particular, he commanded the sacrament of baptism to be administered in the
mother-tongue, and that of the Lord’s supper to be
received in both kinds, He taught that the mass was not a
sacrifice for the living and the dead, or for those who were
in purgatory, hut that perfect satisfaction was made for all
believers by the passion and merits of Christ. He dissuaded them from the use of holy water, and other superstitious observances, and was thus employed when the dispute about the Eucharist commenced between Luther and
Zuinglius. In that controversy, he strenuously defended
the opinion of the lat.ter, in a piece entitled, “De vero
intellectu verborum Domini, Hoc est corpus meum,
”
which did him great honour. But although he agreed with
Zuinglius in the nature of the doctrine, he gave a different
sense of our Lord’s words. Zuinglius placed the figure of
these words, “This is my body,
” in the verb is, which he
held to be taken for signifies. Oecolampadius laid it upon
the noun, body, and affirmed that the bread is called, the
body, by a metonymy, which allows the name of the thing
signified to be given to the sign. Such were the arguments by which transubstantiation was combated at that
distant period. The Lutherans in Suabia and Bavaria, decried the doctrine of Oecolampadius in their sermons,
which obliged him to dedicate a treatise upon the words of
the institution of the Lord’s supper to them, printed at
Strasburg in 1525. Whether this was a different work
from the “De vero, &c.
” or only a new edition, does not
appear, as his biographers have not affixed dates to all hispublications. Erasmus, however, speaking of this book,
says, “That it was written with so much skill, such good
reasoning, and persuasive eloquence, that, if God should
not interpose, even the elect might be seduced by it.
” As
soon as it appeared, the magistrates of Basil consulted two
divines and two lawyers, to know whether the public sale
of it might be permitted. Erasmus, who was one of these
divines, says, “That, in giving his answer upon the point,
he made no invectives against Oecolampadius
” and so
the book was allowed to be sold. The matter, however,
did not rest so. The Lutherans answered our author’s book
in another, entitled “Syngrarnma;
” to which he replied
in apiece called “Antisyngramnra.
” In proceeding, he
disputed publicly with Eckius at Baden, and entered also
into another dispute afterwards at Berne.
the latter to Daniel Hasenmuller. In 1689 he took his degree of doctor, and became at the same time professor of divinity; but his reputation rests chiefly on his skill in
, a learned Lutheran divine, was
born Feb. 14, 1642, at Altenburg, in Misnia. After some
school education, he studied at Jena and Kiel, and acquired great knowledge of the Oriental languages, under
the instructions of Matthias Wasmuth. Still ambitious to
add to his stock of learning, he pursued this object at
Utrecht under Leusden, at London under Edmund Castell
and Matthew Poole, and at Oxford under Pocock. On
his return to Germany in 1671, he failed as a candidate
for the place of assessor of the faculty of philosophy at
Kiel; but was more successful the following year at Jena,
where he took his degrees in philosophy, and taught the
Oriental languages. In 1675 he was invited to Kiel to be
Greek professor, on the recommendation of Wasmuth, his
old master; whom, in 1678, he succeeded in the chair of
Oriental languages, and held with it his Greek
professorship until 1683, when he resigned the latter to Daniel
Hasenmuller. In 1689 he took his degree of doctor, and
became at the same time professor of divinity; but his reputation rests chiefly on his skill in the Oriental languages;
and this he might have enjoyed without diminution, had
he not adopted the whimsical opinion of his master Wasmuth, and maintained the relationship between the Greek
and the Oriental languages, and the connection which the
dialects of the one have with those of the other. This chimerical scheme of subjecting the Greek to the rules of the
Hebrew, he defended in a small work, entitled “Graecismus facilitati suse restitutus, methodo nova, eaque cum
praeceptis He braicis Wasmuthianis et suis Orientalibus,
quam proxime harmonica, adeoque regulis 34 succincte absolutus,
” Kiel,
such reputation, as a theologist, that, on his return home, John III. king of Portugal appointed him professor of divinity at Coimbra, Taking priest’s orders, the care of
, a learned Portuguese divine, descended from an illustrious family, was born at Lisbon in 1506. Discovering an extraordinary inclination for literature, he was sent, at thirteen, to the university of Salamanca; where having studied Greek and Latin, and law, he removed at nineteen to Paris, to be instructed in Aristotle’s philosophy, which was then the vogue. From Paris he went to Bologna, where he devoted himself to the study of the sacred Scriptures, and the Hebrew language; and he acquired such reputation, as a theologist, that, on his return home, John III. king of Portugal appointed him professor of divinity at Coimbra, Taking priest’s orders, the care of the church of Tavora was given him by Don Lewis infant of Portugal; and, soon after, the archdeaconry of Evora by cardinal Henry, archbishop of that province, and brother to king John; and at last he was nominated to the bishopric of Sylves in Algarva, by Catharine of Austria, that king’s widow, who was regent of the kingdom during the minority of her grandson Sebastian. When this prince became of age to take the administration of the kingdom into his own hands, he resolved upon an expedition against the Moors in Africa, much against the persuasions of Osorio who, to avoid being an eye-witness of the calamities he dreaded, made various pretences to go to Rome. Here pope Gregory XIII. gave him many testimonies of his esteem: but he had not been absent above a year, when the king recalled him home; and not long after, Sebastian was killed in the battle of Alcazer, against the Moors, Aug. 4, 1578. During the tumults in Portugal which succeeded this fatal event, Osorio took every means to prevent the people of his diocese from joining in them; but the miseries of his country at this juncture are said to have broke his heart, and he died of grief, Aug. 20, 1580, aged seventy-four.
, a learned professor of divinity of the university of Francfort on the Oder, was
, a learned professor of divinity of the university of Francfort on the Oder, was born at
Dantzic, Oct.7, 1671. He was descended from the ancient and
noble family of Oisel or Loisel, which made a great figure
in Norman history; and one of his ancestors having come
to England with William the Conqueror, his descendants
were not extinct in the time of queen Elizabeth. Of this
descent, however, our learned professor seldom was heard
to boast. He had more pleasure in relating that his immediate ancestors were pious protestants, who, having escaped the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s day in France,
took refuge in Flanders; and that his great grandfather,
who had lost his all on that occasion, began trade and acquired great property, of which he was again stript during
the persecution under the duke of Alva, and obliged to
fly to Leyden with three hundred families, who established
the cloth manufactory there under his direction. One of
his uncles was James Ousel or Loisel, already mentioned
(see Oisel*), the editor of an excellent edition of the “Octavius
” of Minutius Felix, with notes, printed at Leyden
in 1652, 4to and 8vo, and reprinted in 1672. His father
Michael Ousel was a merchant, who died when this his sou
was very young, leaving him to the care of a step-mother,
who paid every possible attention to his education.
ards removing to Trinity-college, was chosen fellow of that society. In 1596 he was appointed regius professor of divinity, when he took the degree of D. D. and, about the
, an English bishop, and styled by
Camden a “prodigious learned man,
” was born in 1559,
and, after a proper foundation in grammar-learning, at
Hadley school, was sent to St. John’s college, Cambridge,
and became a scholar there: but, afterwards removing to
Trinity-college, was chosen fellow of that society. In
1596 he was appointed regius professor of divinity, when
he took the degree of D. D. and, about the same time,
was elected master of Catharine-hall in the same university.
In 1601 he had the honour to succeed the celebrated Dr.
Alexander Nowell in the deanry of St. Paul’s, London, by
the recommendation of his patron sir Fulk Greville, and
queen Elizabeth; and, in the beginning of James’s reign,
he was chosen prolocutor of the lower house of convocation. In 1612 he was appointed one of the first governors
of the Charter-house hospital, then just founded by Thomas Sutton, esq. In April 1614, he was made bishop of
Litchfield and Coventry; and, in 1618, translated to Norwich, where he died May 12, 1619. He was buried in
that cathedral, where he lay unnoticed till some time after
the restoration of Charles II. when Cosin, bishop of Durham, who had been his secretary, erected a monument in
1669, with a Latin inscription, in which he is declared
to be, “Vir undequaque doctissimus, et omui enconiio
major.
”
Wood observes, that he had the character of being the
best scholastic divine in the English nation; and Cosin,
who perhaps may be thought to rival him in that branch
of learning, calls himself his scholar, and expressly declares that he derived all his knowledge from him. He is
allso celebrated by Smith, for his distinguished wisdom,
erudition, and piety. In the controversy, which in his
time divided the reformed churches, concerning predestination and grace, he held a middle opinion, inclining rather to Arminianism , and seems to have paved the way
for the reception of that doctrine in England, where it
was generally embraced a few years afterwards, chiefly by
the authority and influence of archbishop Laud. Overall
had a particular friendship with Gerard Vosius and Grotius; and was much grieved to see the love of peace, and
the projects of this last great man to obtain it, so ill requited. He laboured heartily himself to compose the differences in Holland, relative to the Quinquarticular controversy; as appears in part by his letters to the two learned
correspondents just mentioned, some of which are printed
in the “Præstantium et eruditorum virorum epistolæ
ecclesiasticæ et theologicæ,
” published by Limborch and
Hartsoeker, as an historical defence of Arminianism.
had a controversy with Jurieu on this subject. The consequence was, that Pajon, who had been elected professor of divinity at Saumur, found it necessary to resign that office
, a French Protestant divine, was born
in 1626, and studied, with great success and approbation,
at Saumur; after which he became minister of a place
called Marchenoir in the province of Dunois. He was an
able advocate against the popish party, as appears by his
best work, against father Nicole, entitled “Examen du
Livre qui porte pour titre, Prejugez legitimes centre les
Calvinistes,
” 2 vols. 1673, 12mo. Mosheim therefore very
improperly places him in the class of those who explained
the doctrines of Christianity in such a manner as to diminish the difference between the doctrines of the reformed
and papal churches; since this work shews that few men.
wrote at that time with more learning, zeal, and judgment
against popery. Pajon, however, created some disturbance
in the church, and became very unpopular, by explaining
certain doctrines, concerning the influence of the Holy
Spirit, in the Arminian way, and had a controversy with
Jurieu on this subject. The consequence was, that Pajon,
who had been elected professor of divinity at Saumur,
found it necessary to resign that office after which he
resided at Orleans, as pastor, and died there Sept. 27, 1685,
in the sixtieth year of his age. He left a great many works
in manuscript; none of which have been printed, owing
partly to his unpopularity, but, perhaps, principally to his
two sons becoming Roman Catholics. A full account of his
opinions may be seen in Mosheim, or in the first of our
authorities.
66. Soon after he was sent, with ten of his school-fellows, to Heidelberg, where Zachary Ursinus was professor of divinity, and rector of the college of Wisdom. The university
In the mean time, his master Schilling, not content with
making him change his surname, made him also change
his religious creed, that of the Lutheran church, with regard to the doctrine of the real presence, and effected the
same change of sentiment throughout his school; but this
was not at first attended with the happiest effects, as
Schilling was expelled from the college, and Pareus’s father threatened to disinherit him; and it was not without
the greatest difficulty, that he obtained his consent to go
into the Palatinaie, notwithstanding he conciliated his father’s parsimony by assuring him that he would continue
his studies there without any expence to his family.
Having thus succeeded in his request, he followed his
master Schilling, who had been invited by the elector
Frederic III. to be principal of his new college at
Amberg, and arrived there in 1566. Soon after he was
sent, with ten of his school-fellows, to Heidelberg, where
Zachary Ursinus was professor of divinity, and rector of
the college of Wisdom. The university was at that time
in a most flourishing condition, with regard to every one
of the faculties; and Pareus had consequently every advantage that could be desired, and made very great proficiency, both in the learned languages and in philosophy
and divinity. He was admitted into the ministry in 1571,
and in May that year sent to exercise his function in a village called Schlettenbach, where very violent contests
subsisted between the Protestants and Papists. The elector palatine, his patron, had asserted his claim by main
force against the bishop of Spire, who maintained, that the
right of nomination to the livings in the corporation of
Alfestad was vested in his chapter. The elector allowed
it, but with this reserve, that since he had the right of patronage, the nominators were obliged, by the peace of
Passaw, to present pastors to him whose religion he approved. By virtue of this right, he established the reformed
religion in that corporation, and sent Pareus to propagate
it in the province of Schlettenbach, where, however, he
met with many difficulties before he could exercise his
ministry in peace. Before the end of the year he was called
back to teach the third class at Heidelberg, and acquitted
himself so well, that in two years’ time he was promoted to
the second class; but he did not hold this above six months,
being made principal pastor of Hemsbach, in the diocese
of Worms. Here he met with a people more ready to
receive the doctrines of the Reformation than those of
Schlettenbach, and who cheerfully consented to destroy
the images in the church, and other remains of former
superstition. A few months after his arrival he married
the sister of John Stibelius, minister of Hippenheim; and
the nuptials being solemnized Jan. the 5th, 1574, publicly
in the church of Hemsbach, excited no little curiosity and
surprize among the people, to whom the marriage of a
clergyman was a new thing. They were, however, easily
reconciled to the practice, when they came to know what
St. Paul teaches concerning the marriage of a bishop in
his epistles to Timothy and Titus. Yet such was the unhappy state of this country, rent by continual contests
about religion, that no sooner was Popery, the common
enemy, rooted out, than new disturbances arose, between
the Lutherans and Calvinists. After the death of the
elector Frederic III. in 1577, his son Louis, a very zealous
Lutheran, established every where in his dominions ministers of that persuas.nn, to the exclusion of the Sarramentariane, or Calvinists, by which measure Pareus lost his
living at Hemsbach, and retired into the territories of
prince John of Casimir, the elector’s brother. He was
now chosen minister at Ogersheim, near Frankenthal,
where he continued three years, and then removed to Winzingen, near Neustadt, at which last place prince Casimir,
in 1578, had founded a school, and settled there all the
professors that had been driven from Heidelberg. This
rendered Winzingen much more agreeable, as well as advantageous; and, upon the death of the elector Louis, in
1583, the guardianship of his son, together with the administration of the palatinate, devolved upon prince Casimir, who restored the Calvinist ministers, and Pareus obtained the second chair in the college of Wisdom at Heideiberg, in Sept. 1584. He commenced author two years
afterwards, by printing his “Method of the Ubiijuitarian
controversy;
” “Methodus Ubiquitariae coniroversise.
” He
also printed an edition of the “German Bible,
” with notes,
at Neustadt, in
one for fourteen years, in governing the youth who were educated at the college of Wisdom. Tossanus, professor of divinity for the New Testament, dying in 1602, Pareus succeeded
In 1591, he was made first professor in his college; in
1592, counsellor to the ecclesiastical senate; and in 1593,
was admitted doctor of divinity in the most solemn manner.
He had already held several disputes against the writers of
the Augsburg Confession, but that of 1596 was the most
considerable, in which he had to defend Caivin against
the imputation of favouring Judaism, in his Commentaries
upon several parts of Scripture. In 1595, he was promoted to the chair of divinity professor lor the Old Testament in his university; by which he was eased of the great
fatigue he had undergone for fourteen years, in governing
the youth who were educated at the college of Wisdom.
Tossanus, professor of divinity for the New Testament, dying in 1602, Pareus succeeded to that chair, and a few
years after he bought a house in the suburbs of Hei(lelburg, and built in the garden an apartment for his library, which he called his “Pareanum.
” In this ru- took great delight, and the whole house went uitfrw;irds by that name, the elector having, out of respect to him, honouivd it with several privileges and immunities. At the same time, his reputation spreading itself every where, brought young students to him from the remotest parts of Hungary and Poland. In 1617 an evangelical jubilee was instituted in memory
of the church’s deliverance from popery an hundred years
before, when Luther began to preach. The solemnity
lasted three days, during which orations, disputations,
poems, and sermons, were delivered on the occasion. Pareus also published some pieces on the subject, which
drew upon him the resentment of the Jesuits of Mentz;
and a controversy took place between them. The following year, 1618, at the instance of the States General,
he was pressed to go to the synod of Dort, but excused
himself on account of age and infirmities. After this time
he enjoyed but little tranquillity. The apprehensions he
had of the ruin which his patron the elector Palatine would
bring upon himself by accepting the crown of Bohemia,
obliged him to change his habitation. He appears to have
terrified himself with a thousand petty alarms, real or
imaginary, and therefore his friends, in order to relieve
him from this timidity of disposition, advised him to take
refuge in the town of Anweil, in the dutchy of DeuxPonts, near Landau, at which he arrived in Oct. 1621. He
left that place, however, some months after, and went to
Neustadt, where his courage reviving, he determined to
return to Heidelberg, wishing to pass his last moments at
his beloved Pareanum, and be buried near the professors
of the university. His wish was accordingly fulfilled; for
he died at Pareanum June 15, 1622, and was interred with
all the funeral honours which the universities in Germany
usually bestow on their members.
, the son of George Pasor, a learned professor of divinity and Hebrew in the academy of Herborne, by Apollonia
, the son of George Pasor, a learned professor of divinity and Hebrew in the academy of Herborne, by Apollonia his wife, daughter of Peter Hendschius, senator of that place, was born there April 12, 1599. Discovering a very docile disposition, he was carefully educated in the elements of Greek and Latin in his native place, until the appearance of the plague obliged him to be removed to Marpurg in 1614; but the following year he returned to Herborne, and again applied himself closely to his studies. In 1616, he was sent to Heidelberg; and, meeting there with skilful professors, he made such improvement, that he was employed as a tutor, and taught in private both mathematics and Hebrew. He was honoured also with the degree of M. A. by the university in Feb. 1617, and then studied divinity under David Pareus, Abraham Scultetus, and Henry Alting. In April 1620, he was appointed mathematical professor; which office he retained until Heidelberg was invested by the duke of Bavaria’s troops, in September 1622, when he lost his books and Mss. and narrowly escaped with his life to Herborne, where he found a comfortable employment in the academy till 1623. Proceeding thence to Ley den, he constantly attended the lectures of the most eminent Dutch divines, particularly those of Erpenius upon the Arabic tongue, and of Snellius upon divinity.
there. He was, however, created D. D. at this university, and read public lectures. Pits says he was professor of divinity, and afterwards provincial of his order in England.
, archbishop of Canterbury in the
reign of Edward 1. was born in the county of Sussex, about
1240, and educated in the monastery at Lewes, whence
he was sent to Oxford, and became a minorite friar. Hid
name occurs in the registers of Merlon-college, which was
founded in his time, but not with sufficient precision to
enable us to say that he was educated there. He was,
however, created D. D. at this university, and read public
lectures. Pits says he was professor of divinity, and afterwards provincial of his order in England. He appears to
have been twice at Paris, where he also read lectures with
great applause. He went from Paris, after his second
visit, to Lyons, where he obtained a canonry in the cathedral, which Godwin and Cave inform us was held with
the archbishopric of Canterbury for two centuries after.
Fuller says it was a convenient half-way house between
Canterbury and Rome. He then went to Rome, where
the pope appointed him auditor or chief judge of his palace, but Leland calls the office which the pope bestowed
upon him that of Palatine lecturer or reader, “lector, ut
vocant, Palatinus.
” In 1278, this pope consecrated him
archbishop of Canterbury, on Peckham’s agreeing to pay
his holiness the sum of 4000 marks, which there is some
reason to think he did not pay; at least it is certain he
was so slow in remitting it, that the pope threatened to
excommunicate him.
ily. Anthony Perizonius, the father of the subject of this article, was rector of the school of Dam, professor of divinity and the Oriental languages, first at Ham, and afterwards
, a learned German, was of a
family originally of Teutorp, a small town in Westphalia:
their name was Voorbrock; but being changed for Perizonius (a Greek word of similar import, implying something of the nature of a girdle) by one who published an
“Epithalamium,
” with this name subscribed, it was ever
after retained by the learned part of the family. Anthony
Perizonius, the father of the subject of this article, was
rector of the school of Dam, professor of divinity and the
Oriental languages, first at Ham, and afterwards at Deventer; at which last place he died in 1672, in his fortysixth year, he published, in 1669, a learned treatise,
“De Ratione studii Theologici.
”
e New;“and other works in Latin, which are esteemed. Christopher Matthew Pfaff, one of his sons, was professor of divinity, and chancellor of the university of Tubingen, and
, an eminent Lutheran
divine, was born May 28, 165), at Pfullingen, in the
duchy of Wirtemberg. He taught theology with reputation at Tubingen, and died there February 6, 1720,“leaving
” A collection of Controversies;“” A dissertation on
the passages of the Old Testament that are quoted in the
New;“and other works in Latin, which are esteemed.
Christopher Matthew Pfaff, one of his sons, was professor
of divinity, and chancellor of the university of Tubingen,
and has also written several learned works in Latin; among
others,
” Institutiones Theologicx,“1719 and 1721, 8vo;
and
” S. Irenaei fragmenta anecdota,“8vo, Greek and Latin, with many doctrinal and critical works; hut the most
valuable of all is his
” Introductio in Historiam Theologiae
Literariam," 1724, 3 vols. 4to. This is a complete system
of theological bibliography, and particularly accurate in
what relates to English authors and English books.
wo daughters. He had a brother, Leonard, who was a prebendary of Durham, rector of Middleton, regius professor of divinity, Cambridge, in 1561, and master of St. John’s college.
He wrote a “Commentary of Aggeus (Haggai) the
Prophet,
” Burning of St.
Paul’s Church in London, in 1561,
” Commentaries on Ecclesiastes, the Epistle of St. Peter,
and of St. Paul to the Galatians,
” and “A Defence of the
English Service;
” but it seems doubtful whether these were
printed. After his death, his “Exposition on Nehemiah
”
was published Statutes for the Consistory.
” He died Jan. 23, 1575, aged
fifty-five, and was first buried at Auckland; but afterwards
removed and interred in the choir at Durham cathedral,
with an inscription, now defaced, but which Willis copied
from a ms. in the Bodleian library. Mr. Baker has a different one. His brothers, John and Leonard, were prebendaries of Durham; Leonard was D. D. master of St.
John’s college, Cambridge, and regius professor there.
Our prelate founded a school at Rivington, the seat of his
family. He had by his wife Alicia, of the family of the
Kingsmills, at Sigmanton, in Hampshire, two sons and
two daughters. He had a brother, Leonard, who was a
prebendary of Durham, rector of Middleton, regius professor of divinity, Cambridge, in 1561, and master of St.
John’s college. He died probably about 1600.
riginal sin, grace, and predestination, which, as usual, pleased neither party. He was for some time professor of divinity in the newly-established university of Herborn,
, a protestant German divine, was born at Strasburgh in 1546. In his early studies he acquired the character of an able philosopher, but was most approved as a commentator on the scriptures. He inclined at first to the Lutheran opinions, but afterwards embraced those of Calvin, and lastly endeavoured to give an Arminian modification of some of the Calvinistic opinions respecting original sin, grace, and predestination, which, as usual, pleased neither party. He was for some time professor of divinity in the newly-established university of Herborn, where he died in 1626, in the eightieth year of his age. Besides a translation of the Bible into German, he wrote commentaries, in Latin, on the Bible, first printed in 8vo, afterwards in 4 vols. fol. 1643, &c. and many controversial treatises.
Christianas 1685.” This was made the subject of the inaugural oration of the Rev. Thomas Halyburton, professor of divinity in the uniTersity of St. Andrew’s in 1710, and published
These poems, says the same critic, which have the merit of excellent Latinity, and easy and spirited numbers,
must have had a poignant relish in his own age, from the
very circumstances which render them little interesting
in ours. Lord Hailes once intended to have redeemed
them from oblivion by a commentary, a specimen of which
he gave in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review for February 1774; but, as he had no congeniality of opinion with
Pitcairne, either as to religion or politics, there would
have been a perpetual war betwixt the author and his commentator. With respect to his religion, although Dr. Webster tells us he “died a worthy and religious man,
” there
is reason to think he had not always lived with much religious impression on his mind. He wrote a comedy, called
“The Assembly,
” printed at London in personal and political, sarcastic
and prophane, and never could have been acted on any
stage.
” He was also the author of an attack on revealed
religion, entitled “Epistola Archimedis ad regem
Gelonem Albre Graccae reperta, anno aeree Christianas 1685.
”
This was made the subject of the inaugural oration of the
Rev. Thomas Halyburton, professor of divinity in the uniTersity of St. Andrew’s in 1710, and published at Edinburgh in 1714, 4to. The kte Dr. William and Dr. David
Pitcairne were related to our author, but not his immediate
descendants.
, a learned protestant minister, and celebrated professor of divinity at Saumur, was descended from a noble and ancient
, a learned protestant minister,
and celebrated professor of divinity at Saumur, was
descended from a noble and ancient family, and born in
1596. He gained great credit by his writings against the
Socinians, but held a singular opinion concerning the
imputation of Adam’s sin, which was condemned in a
French synod. He died August 7, 1655, at Saumur, aged
fifty-nine. His works were reprinted at Franeker, 1699,
and 1703, 4to, 2 tom. The first contains a treatise “On
Types;
” treatises on “The imputation of Adam’s first
Sin,
” or, “The order of the Divine Decrees, and on Freewill,
” with an “Abridgment of Theology:
” the second
volume contains his “Disputes against the Socinians,
” the
most important part of his works. He also wrote “An
Examination of the arguments for and against the Sacrifice of the Mass,
” 8vo.
In the beginning of 1708, he succeeded Dr. Jane as regius professor of divinity, and canon of Christ Church, who brought him back
In the beginning of 1708, he succeeded Dr. Jane as regius professor of divinity, and canon of Christ Church,
who brought him back to Oxford. This promotion he
owed to the interest of the celebrated duke of Marlborougb,
and to the opinion held concerning him that he was a
Whig; whereas Dr. Smalridge, whom the other party
wished to succeed in the professorship and canonry, had
distinguished himself by opposition to the whig-measures
of the court. In point of qualification these divines might
be equal, and Dr. Potter certainly, both as a scholar and
divine, was liable to no objection. It was probably to the
same interest that he owed his promotion, in April 1715, to
the see of Oxford. Just before he was made bishop he
published, what had occupied his attention a very considerable time, his splendid and elaborate edition of the
works of Clemens Alexandrinus, 2 vols. fol. Gr. and Lat.
an edition, says Harwood, “worthy of the celebrity of the
place where it was published, and the erudition of the very
learned prelate, who has so happily illustrated this miscellaneous writer.
” In this he has given an entire new version
of the “Cohortations,
” and intended to have done the
same for the “Stromata,
” but was prevented by the duties
of his professorship. In his preface he intreats the reader’s
candour as to some typographical errors, he being afflicted
during part of the printing by a complaint in his eyes,
which obliged him to trust the correction of the press to
others.
ity. In 1615, upon the advancement of Dr. Robert Abbot to the bishopric of Sarum, he was made regius professor of divinity, and consequently became canon of Christ-church,
, a learned English bishop, was born
at Stowford, in the parish of Harford, near Ivy-bridge in
Devonshire, Sept. 17, 1578, and was the fourth of seven
sons of his father, who being in mean circumstances, with
so large a family, our author, after he had learned to write
and read, having a good voice, stood candidate for the place
of parish-clerk of the church of Ugborow near Harford.
Mr. Price informs us, that “he had a competitor for the
office, who had made great interest in the parish for him*
self, and was likely to carry the place from him. The
parishioners being divided in thematter, did at length
agree in this, being unwilling to disoblige either party, that
the Lord’s-day following should be the day of trial; the
one should tune the Psalm in the forenoon, the other in
the afternoon; and he that did best please the people,
should have the place. Which accordingly was done, and
Prideaux lost it, to his very great grief and trouble. Upon,
which, after he became advanced to one of the first dignities of the church, he would frequently make this reflection, saying,
” If I could but have been clerk of Ugborow,
I had never been bishop of Worcester.“Disappointed in
this office, a lady of the parish, mother of sir Edmund
Towel, maintained him at school till he had gained some
knowledge of the Latin tongue, when he travelled to Oxford, and at first lived in a very mean station in Exetercollege, doing servile offices in the kitchen, and prosecuting his studies at his leisure hours, till at last he was taken
notice of in the college, and admitted a member of it in
act-term 1596, under the tuition of Mr. William Helme,
B. D. On January the 31st, 1599, he took the degree of
Bachelor of Arts, and in 1602 was chosen probationer fellow of his college. On May the 11th, 1603, he proceeded
Master of Arts, and soon after entered into holy orders.
On May the 6th, 1611, he took the degree of Bachelor of
Divinity; and the year following was elected rector of his
college in the room of Dr. Holland; and June the 10th,
the same year, proceeded Doctor of Divinity. In 1615,
upon the advancement of Dr. Robert Abbot to the bishopric of Sarum, he was made regius professor of divinity,
and consequently became canon of Christ-church, and
rector of Ewelme in Oxfordshire; and afterwards discharged the office of vice-chancellor of the university for
several years. In the rectorship of his college he behaved
himself in such a manner, that it flourished more than any
other in the university; more foreigners coming thither for
the benefit of his instruction than ever was known; and in his
professorship, says Wood,
” he behaved himself very plausible to the generality, especially for this reason, that in
his lectures, disputes, and moderatings (which were always frequented by many auditors), he shewed himself a
stout champion against Socinus and Arminius. Which
being disrelished by some who were then rising, and in
authority at court, a faction thereupon grew up in the
university between those called Puritans, or Calvinists, on
the one side, and the Remonstrants, commonly called Arminians, on the other: which, with other matters of the
like nature, being not only fomented in the university, but
throughout the nation, all things thereupon were brought
into confusion.“In 1641, after he had been twenty- six
years professor, he was one of those persons of unblemished reputation, whom his majesty made bishops, on the
application of the marquis of Hamilton, who had been one
of his pupils. Accordingly, in November of that year, he
was elected to the bishopric of Worcester, to which he
was consecrated December the 19th following; but the rebellion was at that time so far advanced, that he received
little or no profit from it, to his great impoverishment.
For adhering stedfastly to his majesty’s cause, and pronouncing all those of his diocese, who took up arms against
him, excommunicate, he was plundered, and reduced to
such straits, that he was obliged to sell his excellent library. Dr. Gauden said of him, that he now became literally a helluo librorum, being obliged to turn his books
>nto bread for his children. He seems to have borne this
barbarous usage with patience, and even good humour.
On -one occasion, when a friend came to see bim, and asked
him how he did? he answered,
” Never better in my life,
only I have too great a stomach, for 1 have eaten the little
plate which the sequestrators left me; I have eaten a great
library of excellent books; I have eaten a great deal of
linen, much of my brass, some of my pewter, and now am
come to eat my iron, and what will come next I know
not." So great was his poverty about this time that he
would have attended the conferences with the king at the
Isle of Wight, but could not afford the means of travelling.
Such was the treatment of this great and good man, one
of the best scholars and ablest promoters of learning in the
kingdom, at the hands of men who professed to contend for
liberty and toleration.
or Pritzius, a protestant divine, was born at Leipsic in 1662. He was chosen in 1707, at Gripswalde, professor of divinity, ecclesiastical counsellor, and minister; which
, Pritius, or Pritzius, a protestant divine, was born at Leipsic in 1662. He was chosen in 1707, at Gripswalde, professor of divinity, ecclesiastical counsellor, and minister; which offices he there
held till 1711, when he was called to preside over the ministry at Francfort on the Maine. At that place he died,
much beloved and esteemed, on the 24th of August, 1732.
Besides the works that were published by this learned author, he was, from 1687 to 1698, one of the writers of the
Leipsic Journal. He was the author of many compilations
of various kinds, and wrote, 1. “A learned Introduction to
the reading of the New Testament,
” 8vo; the best edition
is 1724. 2. “De Immortalitate Animac,
” a controversial
book, against an English writer. 3. An edition of the
works of St. Macarius. 4. An edition of the Greek Testament, with various readings, and maps. 5. An edition of
the letters of Milton and some other works.
ed with the archdeaconry of Rochester. After this he returned to Paris, where he filled the chair of professor of divinity. He was, however, recalled by his metropolitan,
, an English cardinal
who flourished in the twelfth century, was distinguished as
a zealous friend to the interests of literature. He is placed
by Fuller as a native of Oxfordshire, perhaps from his ciditnectioa with the university. In his youth he studied at
1?aris, and about 1130 returned to England, where he
found the university of Oxford ravaged and nearly ruined
by the Danes, under the reign of Harold I. and by his
indefatigable exertions contributed to itsv restoration. The
Chronicle of Osny records him as having begun in the
reign of Henry I. to read the Scriptures at Oxford, which
were grown obsolete, and it is supposed he commented on
Aristotle. Rouse, the Warwick antiquary, mentions his
reading the Holy Scriptures, probably about 1134, about
which time he had a patron in Henry I. who had built his
palace near the university. For some years he taught daily
in the schools, and was rewarded with the archdeaconry
of Rochester. After this he returned to Paris, where he
filled the chair of professor of divinity. He was, however,
recalled by his metropolitan, and the revenues of his benefice sequestered till he obeyed the summons. The archdeacon appealed to the see of Rome, and sentence was
given in his favour. The fame of his learning induced
pope Innocent II. to invite him to Rome, where he was
received with great marks of honour; and in 1144 was
created cardinal by Celestine II. and afterwards chancellor
of the Roman church, by pope Lucius II. He died in
1150. He was author of several works; but the only one
of them now extant is his “Sententiarum Liber,
” which
was published at Paris in
He left a son of the same name, who was born at Rostock in 1624, and died in 1669. He became pastor, professor of divinity, and rector of the university of that city, and
, a German Lutheran divine and
professor, was born at Rostock in 1584, and studied first at
home, and then at Berlin, and at Frankfort on the Oder.
He afterwards travelled through Holland, Brabant, and
Flanders, as tutor to the son of a patrician of Lubeck. In
1614, his learning and abilities having pointed him out as
a fit person to fill the divinity chair at Rostock, he was
created doctor of divinity, and paid a visit to the universities of Leipsic, Wirtemberg, Jena, &c. He obtained
other preferments in the church, particularly the archdeaconry of St. Mary’s at Rostock. In 1645, he was appointed pastor of the same church, and superintendant of
the churches in the district of that city. During Grotius’s
last fatal illness at Rostock he was called in as a clergyman, and from him we have the particulars of the last moments of that celebrated scholar some of which particulars, Burigny informs us, were misrepresented or misunderstood. Quistorp died May 2, 164S, at the age of sixtyfour. He was the author of “Annotationes in omnes Libros Biblicos;
” “Cornmentarius in Epistolas Sancti Pauli,
”
and several other works. He left a son of the same name,
who was born at Rostock in 1624, and died in 1669. He
became pastor, professor of divinity, and rector of the university of that city, and published some works, “Catechesis Anti-papistica,
” “Pia desideria,
” &c. Another
John Nicholas Quistorp, probably of the same family,
died in 1715, and left some works on controversial subjects.
ire, and went to Rheims, where he could have the free exercise of his adopted religion, and was made professor of divinity and Hebrew. At last he returned to Antwerp, where
His brother, William Rainolds, above mentioned, was
educated in Winchester school, and became fellow of
New college in 1562. The story of his turning Roman
Catholic in consequence of a dispute with his brother John,
seems discredited by Wood and Dodd gives farther reason
to question it, on the authority of father Parsons, who was
tokl by Rainolds himself, that his first doubts on the subject were occasioned by perusing Jewell’s Works, and examining the authors quoted by that learned prelate. It is
certain, however, that he left a benefice he had in Northamptonshire, and went to Rheims, where he could have
the free exercise of his adopted religion, and was made
professor of divinity and Hebrew. At last he returned to
Antwerp, where he died in 1594. He wrote against Whitaker, and other works in the popish controversy. Two
letters to him are printed with his brother John’s “Orationes,
” Oxon. 16 14, 1628, 4to. There was a third brother, Edmund, educated at Corpus college, Oxford, who
was ejected for popery in 1568. Dodd thinks the converting conference between the brothers was more likely
to have been held between this Edmund and John, than
between William and John. Edmund died in 1630, and
was buried at Wolvercote, near Oxford, where he had an
estate, and probably lived in privacy.
d vicarages of Perhatn and Waltham in Kent. He also shortly after recommended him to Dr. Rye, regius professor of divinity, as a person (it to act as his deputy, who appointed
, archdeacon of Oxford, and president of Corpus Christi college, the son of Herbert Randolph, esq. recorder of the city of Canterbury, was born August 30, 1701. He received his school education at the king’s school in Canterbury, then in great repute, under the rev. Mr. Jones. At the early age of fourteen, being then a good proficient in classical learning, he was elected into a county scholarship in Corpus Christi college, Oxford. There he entered upon a course of academical studies under the tuition of the rev. Mr. Smith, in which, as well in his whole conduct, he acquitted himself to the great satisfaction of those who were set over him; having in view throughout the sacred profession, td which he had been destined from his early youth. He proceeded regularly through the degree of B. A. to that of M. A. the latter in 1722. In 1724 he was ordained deacon, and in the following year priest. At the same time he entered upon the duty of his profession, and undertook a cure at such a moderate distance from the university, as that he might discharge the duties of it, and not be obliged to give up his residence, and the farther prosecution of his studies there. This course of life he continued for a few years, and then returned to a more strict residence in the university; nor was he intent on his own improvement only, but occasionally took part in the education of others, and in the government of his college, in which he succeeded to a fellowship in 1723. He took the degree of B. D. in 1730, and that of D. D. in 1735. In the mean time his reputation as an able divine introduced him to the notice of Dr. Potter, then bishop of Oxford, who soon after his translation to Canterbury, collated him to the united vicarages of Perhatn and Waltham in Kent. He also shortly after recommended him to Dr. Rye, regius professor of divinity, as a person (it to act as his deputy, who appointed him accordingly. This appointment will appear the more honourable, as the divinity disputations are esteemed a trial of the skill and learning of the senior part of the university; and Dr. Randolph acquitted himself in such a manner, that on a vacancy for the professorship in 1741, his friends thought him amply qualified to succeed but on this occasion the superior interest of Dr. Fanshaw carried the election; and Dr. Randolph retired to his living of Perham.
e year he was presented to a prebend of Salisbury; and in 1783 became canon of Christ church, regius professor of divinity, and rector of Ewelnoe. In the year 1799 he was
, the late bishop of London, was
the younger son of the preceding, and was born July 6,
1749. He became a student of Corpus Christi college,
Oxford, and took his degrees at the usual periods that of
M. A. in 1774; B. D. in 1782 D. D. by diploma, in 1783.
In 1776 he was appointed prselector of poetry, and in 1782
regius professor of Greek. In the same year he was
presented to a prebend of Salisbury; and in 1783 became
canon of Christ church, regius professor of divinity, and
rector of Ewelnoe. In the year 1799 he was elevated to
the bishopric of Oxford; translated to that of Bangor in
1807; and thence to London in 1809. He was elected
F. R. S. in 1811. He passed a great part of his life in the
university of Oxford, and it was generally believed that
when he was raised to the see of Oxford, the university
was complimented with the nomination by the crown. His
lordship was author of many single sermons, and charges
delivered on different occasions: also of “De Grsecae Linguae Studio Prselectio habita in Schola Linguarum,
” 1783,
and “Concio ad Clerum in Synodo Provinciali Cantuariensis Provincial ad D. Pauli,
” 1790. One of his last
works was a report of the progress made by the National
School Society, to which the general committee referred
in terms of gratitude, at their first meeting after his lordship’s decease. They notice his lordship as one “whose
latest employment had been to state, for the information
qf the public, the progress of a work to which he had contributed his time, his labour, and his counsels. The
committee therefore could not fail to entertain a common
sentiment of profound regret for the loss which they have
sustained, and to cherish in their minds the liveliest recollection of the service which has been so successfully fulfilled by him in this second report. They wish, therefore,
to add to this document, designed for general circulation,
their sense of what is due from the public, and themselves,
to the. memory of one who was a constant and assiduous
promoter of this salutary institution, from its first establishment to the last hour of his life. The committee trust,
that this testimony, though limited to a single object in
the large field of pastoral duty in which he was incessantly
engaged, may serve to denote the benefits which have resulted from his prompt, unwearied, and effectual exertions.
” The following is the character drawn of him by
Mr. archdeacon Jefferson, and which alludes to his zeal for
the church, of which he was an active member: “Fearless
now of being censured for mercenary adulation, or reproved by unconscious merit, a just tribute may be paid to
the character of that departed and exalted prelate, who is,
and will be, most lamented where he was best and most
entirely known. This opportunity, therefore, is willingly
embraced of offering a heartfelt condolence to the ministry
of the diocese on the affecting and important loss, which,
in these perilous times of contending sects and unsettled
opinion, has arisen to them, and to the church: To them,
in the premature privation of a diocesan, firm in his support of ecclesiastical authority, but considerate in its application; eminently versed in the letter of ecclesiastical
law, but liberal in its practical construction, reluctant in
interference, but determined in duty, slow in the profes-.
sion of service, but prompt in its execution; disinterested,
in patronage, unwavering in measures, correct in judgment, attentive in council, and kind and compassionate to
distress: To the church, in the premature privation of a
father, diligent in her rites and services, but unostentatious
in piety and devotion; sound and unrelaxing in her doctrines and faith, but discreet in zeal, and comprehensive
in charity; ever vigilant in defending her interests, ever
forward in asserting her privileges, and ever able in the
assertion and the defence.
” This high character, how-,
ever, has been thought capable of abatement. It was
perhaps unfortunate that he succeeded a prelate of the
mild and conciliating temper of Dr. Porteus, and that he
undertook the government of a diocese, which, above all
others, requires such a temper. It was, perhaps, not less
unfortunate that in his first charge to the clergy of this
diocese, he betrayed no little ignorance of the state of
religious opinions, and the creeds of those sectaries against
whom he wished to warn his clergy.
s return in 1592, he was appointed philosophical professor in ordinary, and afterwards extraordinary professor of divinity in the university of Copenhagen. In 1594, having
, a learned Danish divine, was
the son of a Lutheran clergyman, and born in Jutland, Feb.
2, 1561. After his grammatical education, he went to the
university of Copenhagen, and was afterwards made
corector of the school of Vibourg. In 1585, being appointed
tutor to the young Frederick Rosenkrantz, he travelled with
him through Germany, France, Italy, &c. for seven years,
part of which we must suppose was spent in studying at
some of the universities. On his return in 1592, he was
appointed philosophical professor in ordinary, and afterwards extraordinary professor of divinity in the university
of Copenhagen. In 1594, having been created doctor in
that faculty, he removed to the chair of ordinary professor.
In 1606, when the king, Christiern VI. paid a visit to his
relation, king James, in England, who had married his
sister, Resenius accompanied him as his chaplain. In
1615 he was appointed bishop of Roschildt in Zealand,
which he held until his death, Sept. 14, 1638, aged seventy-seven. He was a man of great liberality, and bestowed
in the course of his life 5500 crowns on schools and hospitals. Besides a translation of the Bible into the Danish
language, published in 1605 7, he published a great number of theological dissertations and sermons in the same
language; and the following works: “Parva logica,
” Latin and Danish, Institutiones geometricae,
”
Parva rhetorica,
” Scholia in arithmeticam Gemmae Frisii,
” De sancta fide in Deum,
libellus apologeticus,
” Latin and Danish,
hese filled the chair of president, particularly in that of Vitry, in 1617. In 1620 he was appointed professor of divinity at Leyden, but about the same time had the misfortune
, a celebrated French protestant divine, was born at St. Maxeut, in Poitou, Aug. I, 1572, and
after some school education near home, was sent to Rochelle in 1585, where he studied the learned languages and
philosophy. In 1590 he was removed to the college at
Beam, where he took his master’s degree, and began the
study of divinity. Having finished that course, he was in
1595 appointed minister of the church of Thoars, and chaplain to the duke of Thoars, who admitted him into his confidence, and frequently employed him in matters of importance. While in this situation he married the daughter
of a divine at Thoars. He was frequently the
representative of the protestant churches in national conventions and
synods, and in some of these filled the chair of president,
particularly in that of Vitry, in 1617. In 1620 he was appointed professor of divinity at Leyden, but about the same
time had the misfortune to lose his wife. In 1621 he visiteci England, and going to Oxford was incorporated doctor in divinity, which degree had been conferred on him at
Leyden just before. He gave, on this occasion, several
books to the Bodleian library. While in England he married, as his second wife, Maria, the sister of Peter du
Moulin, and widow of Anthony de Guyot, upon whose
death in the civil wars in France, she took refuge in England. What served to introduce him at Oxford was his
previous acquaintance wiih John Russe, or Rouse, who had
lodged some time with him at Thoars, and was now in the
situation of librarian of the Bodleian. After his return to
Leyden he resumed his professorship, and passed the rest
of his days in teaching and writing. He died in 1647, aged
seventy-five. His works, consisting of commentaries on
the scriptures, sermons, and controversial pieces, were
very numerous, but it is unnecessary to specify them separately, as they were collected in 3 vols. fol. and printed
at Rotterdam in 1651. His brother William, who was
likewise in the church, published on “Justification,
” and
on “Ecclesiastical liberty.
” We have in English,“A relation of the last hours of Dr. Andrew Rivet,
” 12mo, translated and published by Nehemiah Coxe, by which it appears that Dr. Rivet was not more a man of great learning
than of great piety.
fessor of the Oriental languages; of Mr. Simpson, professor of mathematics; and of Dr. John Simpson, professor of divinity. In the last-mentioned year, a dispute was revived,
, a very learned divine, was
born in Dublin, Oct. 16, 1705. His father was a native
of Scotland, who carried on the linen-manufacture there;
and his mother, Diana Allen, was of a very reputable family in the bishopric of Durham, and married to his father
in England. From his childhood he was of a very tender
and delicate constitution, with great weakness in his eyes
till he was twelve years of age, at which period he was
sent to school. He had his grammar-education under the
celebrated Dr. Francis Hutcheson, who then taught in
Dublin, but was afterwards professor of philosophy in the
university of Glasgow. He went from Dr. Hutcheson to
that university in 1722, where he remained till 1725, and
took the degree of M. A. He had for his tutor Mr. John
Lowdon, professor of philosophy; and attended the lectures of Mr Ross, professor of humanity; of Mr. Dunlop,
professor of Greek; of Mr. Morthland, professor of the
Oriental languages; of Mr. Simpson, professor of mathematics; and of Dr. John Simpson, professor of divinity.
In the last-mentioned year, a dispute was revived, which
had been often agitated before, between Mr. John Sterling the principal, and the students, about a right to chuse
a rector, whose office and power is somewhat like that of
the vice-chancellor of Oxford or Cambridge. Mr. Robertson took part with his fellow- students, and was appointed
by them, together with William Campbell, esq. son of
Campbell of Mamore, whose family has since succeeded
to the estates and titles of Argyle, to wait upon the principal with a petition signed by more than threescore matriculated students, praying that he would, on the 1st day
of March, according to the statutes, summon an university-meeting for the election of a rector; which petition
he rejected with contempt. On this Mr. Campbell, in his
own name and in the name of all the petitioners, protested
against the principal’s refusal, and all the petitioners went
to the house of Hugh Montgomery, esq. the unlawful rector, where Mr. Robertson read aloud the protest against
him and his- authority. Mr. Robertson, by these proceedings, became the immediate and indeed the only object of
prosecution. He was cited before the faculty, i. e. the
principal and the professors of the university, of wbotn the
principal was sure of a majority, and, after a trial which
lasted several clays, had the sentence of expulsion pronounced against him; of which sentence he demanded a
copy, and was so fully persuaded of the justice of his
cause, and the propriety of his proceedings, that he
openly and strenuously acknowledged and adhered to what
he had done. Upon this, Mr. Lowdon, his tutor, and Mr.
Dunlop, professor of Greek, wrote letters to Mr. Robertson’s father, acquainting him of what had happened, and
assuring him that his son had been expelled, not for any
crime or immorality, but for appearing very zealous in a
dispute about a matter of right between the principal and
the students. These letters Mr. Robertson sent inclosed
hi 'one from himself, relating his proceedings and suffer! ngs
in the cause of what he thought justice and right. Upon
this his father desired him to take every step he might
think proper, to assert and maintain his own and his fellowstudents claims; and accordingly Mr. Robertson went up to
London, and presented a memorial to John duke of Argyle,
containing the claims of the students of the university of
Glasgow, their proceedings in the vindication of them,
and his own particular sufferings in the cause. The duke
received him very graciously, but said, that “he was little
acquainted with things of this sort;
” and advised him “to
apply to his brother Archibald earl of Hay, who was better
versed in such matters than he.
” He then waited on lord
Hay, who, upon reading the representation of the case,
said “he would consider of it.
” And, upon consideration
of it, he was so affected, that he applied to the king for a
commission to visit the university of Glasgow, with full
power to examine into and rectify all abuses therein. In
the summer of 1726, the earl of Hay with the other visitors
repaired to Glasgow, and, upon a full examination into
the several injuries and abuses complained of, they restored to the students the right of electing their rector;
recovered the right of the university to send two gentlemen, upon plentiful exhibitions, to Baliol college in Oxford; took off the expulsion of Mr. Robertson, and ordered
that particularly to be recorded in the proceedings of the
commission; annulled the election uf the rector who had
been named by the principal; and assembled the students,
who immediately chose the master of Ross, son of lord
Ross, to be their rector, &c. These things so affected Mr*
Sterling, that he died soon after; but the university revived, and has since continued in a most flourishing condition.
preacher to Albertine, princess of Orange, and widow of William of Nassau; and in 1686, was elected professor of divinity at the university of Franeker. In June 1704 he was
, a celebrated protestant divine, and theological professor, was born in 1653
at Doelberg, in Westphalia. He received, at Unna, an
excellent education in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, and in 1670 maintained with great ability a thesis
“de studio mathematico philosophic prsemittendo.
” In
the same year he went to Utrecht, where he received lectures from the celebrated Francis Burmann on the scriptures; but on the war with France, was obliged to go to
Gottingen, where he studied under James Alting: this
place also becoming unsafe, he returned to Germany, and
studied for some time at Marpurg, and after that at Heidelberg. From thence he went to Basil and Zurich; and
in 1676 he once more visited the United Provinces, and
spent two years at the universities of Utrecht and Leyden.
No sooner had he returned to his native country than he
received an invitation to become pastor of the protcstant
church at Cologne, which he declined, owing to ill-health;
and he undertook the chaplainship to Elizabeth, abbess of
Hervorden, and daughter of Frederic, king of Bohemia;
which post he retained till the death of the princess, in
1680. After this he was appointed preacher to Albertine,
princess of Orange, and widow of William of Nassau;
and in 1686, was elected professor of divinity at the university of Franeker. In June 1704 he was appointed, on
very honourable and advantageous terms, professor of divinity at Utrecht, a post which he retained with great reputation till his death, July 12, 1718, in the 66th year of
his age. Barman says, he was without dispute a first-rate
philosopher and divine; but leaves it to his brethren to
determine whether he was not somewhat heretical in his
singular opinions on the generation of the son of God,
and on the temporal death of believers. These were expressed in his “Theses Theologicos de generatione filii,
et morte fidelium temporali,
” Francfort, 1689, 4to, and
were answered by Vitringa and others. His principal
works are, 1. “Commentarius in principinm epistolae Pauli
ad Epht’sos,
” Utrecht, Explicatio Catecheseos Heidelbergensis,
” ibid.
Exegesis in Psalmum Ixxxix.
” Duisburg, Gulichii Analysis et compendium hbrorum
propheticorum antiqui et novi fcederis,
” Amst. Oratio inauguralis de religione rationali,
” afterwards,
and often reprinted under the title of a “Dissertntio,
”
which Heumann calls a very learned and elegant work,
rsity and the college being built in 1582, they made choice of Mr. Rollock to be their principal and professor of divinity.
, the first principal of the college of Edinburgh, was the son of David Rollock, of Poohouse, or, as it is now written, Powis, in the neighbourhood of Sterling, in Scotland. He was born in 1555, and learned the rudiments of the Latin language from Mr. Thomas Buchanan, who kept, says archbishop Spotswood, a famous school at that time, at Sterling, as we learn from Melchior Adam, who appears to have copied from the Latin life of Rollock. From school he was sent to the university of St. Andrew’s, and admitted a student in St. Salvator’s college. His progress in the sciences, which were then taught, was so great and so rapid, that he had no sooner taken his master’s degree than he was chosen a professor of philosophy, and immediately began to read lectures in St. Salvator’s college. This must have been at a very early period of life, for he quitted St. Andrew’s in 1583, when, according to Mackenzie, he had taught philosophy for some time. Not long before this period, the magistrates of Edinburgh having petitioned the king to erect a university in that city, he granted them a charter under the great seal, allowing them all the privileges of a university and the college being built in 1582, they made choice of Mr. Rollock to be their principal and professor of divinity.
in 1740. Two years after he was chosen fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1745, on being appointed professor of divinity, took his doctor’s degree, and was appointed chaplain
, an ingenious philosopher
and divine, the son of the rev. Thomas Rutherforth, rector
of Papworth Everard, in the county of Cambridge, who
had made large collections for an history of that county,
was born October 13, 1712. He was entered of St. John’s
college, Cambridge, about 1725, and took his degrees of
A. B. 1729, and A.M. 1733. He was then chosen fellow,
and proceeded bachelor of divinity in 1740. Two years
after he was chosen fellow of the Royal Society, and in
1745, on being appointed professor of divinity, took his
doctor’s degree, and was appointed chaplain to his royal
highness the prince of Wales. In the church, he was promoted to be rector of Barrow in Suffolk, of Shenfield in
Essex, and of Barley in Hertfordshire, and archdeacon of
Essex. He communicated to the Gentleman’s Society at
Spalding a curious correction of Plutarch’s description of
the instrument used to renew the vestal fire, as relating to
the triangle with which the instrument was formed. It was
nothing but a concave speculum, whose principal focus
which collected the rays is not in the centre of concavity,
but at the distance of half a diameter from its surface: but
some of the ancients thought otherwise, as appears from
Prop. 31 of Euclid’s il Catoptrics;“and, though this piece
has been thought spurious, and this error a proof of it, the
sophist and Plutarch might easily know as little of mathematics. He published
” An Essay on the nature and oblirgations of Virtue,“1744, 8vo, which Mr. Maurice Johnson, of Spalding, in a letter to Dr. Birch, calls
” an useful, ingenious, and learned piece, wherein the noble author of the Characteristics, and all other authors ancient and
modern, are, as to their notions and dogmata, duly, candidly, and in a gentleman-like manner, considered, and
fully, to my satisfaction, answered as becomes a Christian
divine. If you have not yet read that amiable work, I must
(notwithstanding, as we have been told by some, whom he answers in his Xlth and last chapters, do not so much approve it) not forbear recommending it to your perusal.“”Two Sermons preached at Cambridge,“1747, 8vo.
” A
System of Natural Philosophy, Cambridge,“1748, 2 vols.
4to.
” A Letter to Dr. Middleton in defence of bishop
Sherlock on Prophecy,“1750, 8vo.
” A Discourse on
Miracles,“1751, 8vo.
” “Institutes of Natural Law,
” A Charge to the Clergy of Essex,
” Two
Letters to Dr. Kennicott,
” A Vindication of the Right of Protestant Churches to require the
Clergy to subscribe to an established Confession of Faith
and Doctrines, in a Charge delivered at a Visitation, July
1766,
” Cambridge, A Letter to Archdeacon Blackburn,
” he was no less eminent for his piety and integrity than his extensive learning; and filled every public
station in which he was placed with general approbation.
In private life, his behaviour was truly amiable. He was
esteemed, beloved, and honoured by his family and friends;
a,nd his death was sincerely lamented by all who ever heard
of his well-deserved character.
”
belles lettres in the Jesuits’ colleges at Oropesa, Madrid, and other places, and was at last chosen professor of divinity at Alcala. Here he spent thirteen years in commenting
, a learned Jesuit, was born at
Cifuentes, in New Castile, about 1553. According to the
practice of the society, with such young men as have distinguished themselves in their studies, he was appointed to
teach the learned languages and the belles lettres in the
Jesuits’ colleges at Oropesa, Madrid, and other places, and
was at last chosen professor of divinity at Alcala. Here he
spent thirteen years in commenting on the Scriptures, the
result of which he published in various volumes in folio, at
different times. Jt is perhaps no inconsiderable proof of
their merit that Poole has made frequent references to them
in his “Synopsis Criticorum.
” He died in
ed into the church, and obtained a canonry in the cathedral of St. James, and was likewise appointed professor of divinity in that city. His fame procured him admission into
, a learned Spanish ecclesiastic, was born at Vigo in Gallicia in 1740. After
the preparatory studies of divinity, &c. he entered into the
church, and obtained a canonry in the cathedral of St.
James, and was likewise appointed professor of divinity in
that city. His fame procured him admission into many
learned societies, and he became one of the most celebrated preachers of the last century, nor was he less admired for his benevolence. He obtained the honourable
title of the father of the unfortunate, among whom he spent
the whole profits of his canonry, and at his death in 1806,
left no more than was barely sufficient to defray the expences of his funeral. The leisure he could spare from his
professional duties was employed in the study of the ecclesiastical history of his country, which produced several
works that are highly esteemed in Spain. Some of them
were written in Latin, and some probably in Spanish, but
our authority does not specify which. Among them are,
1. “Summa theologize sacrse,
” Madrid, Annales sacri,
” ibid. ibid. 1784, 8vo, a work abounding in learned research. 4.
” A treatise on Toleration in
matters of Religion,“ibid. 1783, 3 vols. 4to, rather a singular subject for a Spanish divine. 5.
” An essay on the
eloquence of the pulpit in Spain,“ibid. 1778, 8vo. This
is a history of sacred oratory in that country in various ages,
with the names of those who were the best models of it.
The restoration of a true taste in this species of eloquence
he attributes to his countrymen becoming acquainted with
the works of those eminent French preachers Bossuet, Massillon, Bourdaloue, &c. 6.
” A collection of his Sermons,“ibid. 3 vols. 4to. These were much admired in Spain, and
were the same year translated into Italian, and printed at
Venice in 4 vols. 4to. 7.
” A paper read in the Patriotic
Society of Madrid in 1782, on the means of encouraging
industry in Gallicia," ibid. 1782, 8vo. This being his native country, Dr. Sanchez had long laboured to introduce
habits of industry, and had influence enough to procure a
repeal of some oppressive laws which retarded an object of
so much importance.
proved by the king: but that treaty came to nothing. The same year, his majesty appointed him regius professor of divinity at Oxford, with the canonry of Christ church annexed:
, an eminent English
bishop, was descended from an ancient family, and was
the youngest son of Robert Sanderson, of Gilthwaite-hall,
Yorkshire, by Elizabeth, one of the daughters of Richard
Carr, of Butterthwaite-hall, in the parish of Ecclesfield.
He was born at Rotherham, in Yorkshire, Sept. 19, 1587,
and educated in the grammar-school there, where he made
so uncommon a progress in the languages, that, at thirteen,
he was sent to Lincoln college in Oxford. Soon after
taking his degree of B. A. his tutor told Dr. Kilbie, the
rector, that his “pupil Sanderson had a metaphysical
brain, and a matchless memory, and that he thought he
had improved or made the last so by an art of his own invention.
” While at college, he generally spent eleven
hours a day in study, chiefly of philosophy and the classics. In 1606 he was chosen fellow, and in July 1608,
completed his degree of M. A. In November of the same
year, he was elected logic reader, and re-elected in Nov.
1609. His lectures on this subject were published in 1615,
and ran through several editions. In 1613, 1614, and
1616, he served the office of sub-rector, and in the latter
of those years, that of proctor. In 1611, he was ordained
deacon and priest by Dr. King, bishop of London, and took
the degree of bachelor of divinity in 1617. In 1618, he
was presented by his cousin sir Nicolas Sanderson, lord
viscount Castleton, to the rectory of Wybberton, near
Boston, in Lincolnshire, but resigned it the year following
on account of the unhealthiness of its situation; and about
the same time was collated to the rectory of Boothby-Paniiell, or Paynel, in the same county, which he enjoyed
above forty years. Having now quitted his fellowship, he
married Anne, the daughter of Henry Nelson, B. D. rector of Haugham in the county of Lincoln; and soon after
was made a prebendary of Southwell, as he was also of
Lincoln in 1629. He continued to attend to his parochial
duties in a very exemplary manner, and particularly laboured much to reconcile differences, and prevent law-suits
both in his parish, and in the neighbourhood. He also
often visited sick and disconsolate families, giving advice
and often pecuniary assistance, or obtaining the latter by
applications to persons of opulence. He was often called
upon to preach at assizes and visitations; but his practice
of reading his sermons, as it was then not very common,
raised some prejudice against him. Walton observes, that
notwithstanding he had an extraordinary memory, he had
such an innate bashfulness and sense of fear, as to render
it of little use in the delivery of his sermons. It was remarked, when his sermons were printed in 1632, that “the
best sermons that were ever read, were never preached.
”
At the beginning of the reign of Charles I. he was chosen
one of the clerks in convocation for the diocese of Lincoln;
and Laud, then bishop of London, having recommended
him to that king as a man excellently skilled in casuistical
learning, he was appointed chaplain to his majesty in 1631.
When he became known to the king, his majesty put many
cases of conscience to him, and received from him solutions
which gave him so great satisfaction, that at the end of his
month’s attendance, which was in November, the king told
him, that “he should long for next November; for he resolved to have more inward acquaintance with him, when
the month and he returned.
” The king indeed was never
absent from his sermons, and used to say, that “he carried
his ears to hear other preachers, but his conscience to hear
Mr. Sanderson.
” In 1633 he obtained, through the earl
of Rutland’s interest, the rectory of Muston, in Leicestershire, which he held eight years. In Aug. 1636, when the
court was entertained at Oxford, he was,‘ among others,
created D. D. In 1642, he was proposed by both Houses
of parliament to king Charles, who was then at Oxford, to
be one of their trustees for the settling of church affairs,
and approved by the king: but that treaty came to nothing. The same year, his majesty appointed him regius
professor of divinity at Oxford, with the canonry of Christ
church annexed: but the national calamities hindered him
from entering on it till 1646, and then he did not hold it
undisturbed much more than a year. In 1643, he was nominated by the parliament one of the assembly of divines,
but never sat among them neither did he take the covenant
or engagement, so that his living was sequestered but, so
great was his reputation for piety and learning, that he was
not deprived of it. He had the’ chief hand in drawing up
“The Reasons of the university of Oxford against the solemn League and Covenant, the Negative Oath, and the
Ordinances concerning Discipline and Worship:
” and,
when the parliament had sent proposals to the king for a
peace in church and state, his majesty desired, that Dr.
Sanderson, with the doctors Hammond, Sheldon, and Morley, should attend him, and advise him how far he might
with a good conscience comply with those proposals. This
request was rejected by the presbyterian party; but, it being complied with afterwards by the independents, when
his majesty was at Hampton-court, and in the isle of Wight,
in 1647 and 1648, those divines attended him there. Dr.
Sanderson often preached before him, and had many public
and private conferences with him, to his majesty’s great
satisfaction. The king also desired him, at Hampton-court,
since the parliament had proposed the abolishing of episcopal government as inconsistent with monarchy, that he
would consider of it, and declare his judgment; and what
he wrote upon that subject was afterwards printed in 1661,
8vo, under this title, “Episcopacy, as established by law
in England, not prejudicial to Regal power.
” At Sanderson’s taking leave of his majesty in this his last attendance
on him, the king requested him to apply himself to the
writing of “Cases of Conscience;
” to which his answer
was, that “he was now grown old, and unfit to write cases
of conscience.
” But the king told him plainly, “it was
the simplest thing he ever heard from him; for, no young
man was fit to be a judge, or write cases of conscience.
”
Upon this occasion, Walton relates the following anecdote:
that in one of these conferences the king told Sanderson,
or one of them that then waited with him, that “the remembrance of two errors did much afflict him, which were,
his assent to the earl of Stafford’s death, and the abolishing of episcopacy in Scotland; and that, if God ever restored him to the peaceable possession of his crown, he
would demonstrate his repentance by a public confession
and a voluntary penance, by walking barefoot from the
Tower of London, or Whitehall, to St. Paul’s church, and
would desire the people to intercede with God for his pardon.
” In De juramenti obligatione,
” published the
preceding year, with great satisfaction; and asked Barlow,
afterwards bishop of Lincoln, if he thought Sanderson
could be induced to write cases of conscience, provided he
had an honorary pension allowed, to supply him with books
and an amanuensis But Sanderson told Barlow, “that, if
any future tract of his could bring any benefit to mankind,
he would readily set about it without a pension.
” Upon
this, Boyle sent the above present by the hands of Barlow;
and Sanderson presently revised, finished, and published,
his book “De obligatione conscientiae,
” which, as well as
e he was born in 1531. Of his early years we have no account. In 1582 he was invited to Leyden to be professor of divinity, and was preacher in the French church there. Having
, of Spanish extraction, but to
be classed among English divines, was a native of Artois,
where he was born in 1531. Of his early years we have
no account. In 1582 he was invited to Leyden to be professor of divinity, and was preacher in the French church
there. Having studied the controversy respecting church
government, he inclined to that of episcopacy, and in 1587
came to England where he was well received hy some of
thie prelates and divines of that day, particularly Whitgift,
archbishop of Canterbury. He first settled at Jersey,
where he taught a school, and preached to his countrymen,
who were exiles there. He was appointed master of the
tree grammar-school at Southampton, where Nicholas
Fuller, the most renowned critic of his age, received his
education principally under him, and he also educated sir
Thomas Lake, secretary of state to James I. He was successively promoted to a prebend in the churches of Gloucester, Canterbury, and Westminster. He displayed great
learning in defence of episcopacy against Beza, when that
divine recommended the abolition of it in Scotland. He
died in 1613, at the age of eighty-two, and was interred
in Canterbury cathedral, where there is a monument to
his memory. All his works were published in 1611, one
v.oL folio. He must have acquired a very considerable
knowledge of the English language, as we find his name
in the first class of those whom king James I. employed in
the new translation of the Bible. He lived in great intimacy with his fellow labourer in the cause of episcopacy,
the celebrated Hooker. “These two persons,
” says Walton, “began a holy friendship, increasing daily to so high
and mutual affections, that their two wills seemed to be but
one and the same.
”
mself appointed minister of Venterole in 1661, of Embrun in 1662, and would have been shortly chosen professor of divinity at Die, but meeting accidentally with a priest who
, a protestant divine, was born August
28, 1639, at Usseaux, in the valley of Pragelas on the
frontiers of Daupliiny, where his father officiated as minister. He was himself appointed minister of Venterole in
1661, of Embrun in 1662, and would have been shortly
chosen professor of divinity at Die, but meeting accidentally with a priest who was carrying the host to a sick person, he would not take off his hat. This trifle, as might
be expected in a popish country, was so much resented,
that Saurin found it necessary to retire into Holland, where
he arrived in June 1664, was appointed minister of the
Walloon church at Delft the following year, and had a great
share in deposing the famous Labadie. In 1671, he was
invited to be minister of the Walloon church at Utrecht,
where he became very celebrated by his works, and had
some Tery warm disputes with Jurieu, which were the subject of much conversation; but he is said to have satisfactorily answered the charge of heresy which that author
brought against him. Saurin died unmarried at Utrecht,
April 8, 1703, aged sixty-four, leaving the following works:
an “Examination of M. Jurieu’s Theology,
” 2 vols. 8vo,
in which he treats of several important questions in divinity;
“Reflections on the Rights of Conscience,
” against Jurieu,
and Bayle’s Philosophical Commentary; a treatise on “the
Love of God,
” in which he supports the doctrine of disinterested love; and another on the “Love of our Neighbours,
” &c.
regia via Hebraizandi” “A Treatise of Hebrew Roots,” &c. He had a son John Jacob Schultens, who was professor of divinity and oriental languages at Leyden, in his room. This
, a German divine, was bora at
Groningen, where he studied till 1706, and greatly distinguished himself by taste and skill in Arabic learning. He
became a minister of Wassenar, and professor of the oriental tongues at Franeker. At length he was invited to Leyden, where he taught Hebrew and the oriental languages
with reputation till his death, which happened in 1750.
There are many works of Schultens, which shew profound
learning and just criticism as, “Commentaries upon Job
and the Proverbs
” a book, entitled “Vet us et regia via
Hebraizandi
” “A Treatise of Hebrew Roots,
” &c. He
had a son John Jacob Schultens, who was professor of divinity and oriental languages at Leyden, in his room. This
John Jacob was father to the subject of the following article.
upon and expound large portions of scripture. In the twenty-fifth year of his age, he was appointed professor of divinity in the King’s college, Aberdeen, which he at first
Having been a professor of philosophy for four years, he was at the age of twenty-three admitted into holy orders, and settled at Auchterless, a small village about twenty miles from Aberdeen. Here his zeal and ability in his great Master’s service were eminently displayed. He catechised with great plainness and affection, and used the most endearing methods to recommend religion to his hearers. He endeavoured to bring them to a close attendance on public worship, and joined with them himself at the beginning of it. He revived the use of lectures, looking upon it as very edifying to comment upon and expound large portions of scripture. In the twenty-fifth year of his age, he was appointed professor of divinity in the King’s college, Aberdeen, which he at first declined, but when induced to accept it, he applied himself with zeal and diligence to the exercise of this office. After he had guarded his pupils agajnst the common artifices of the Romish missionaries in making proselytes, he proposed two subjects for public exercise the one, of the pastoral care, the other, of casuistical divinity.
its style. He left his books to the library of his college, and five thousand marks to the office of professor of divinity. He composed a form of morning and evening service
The inward dispositions of this excellent man are best
seen in his writings, to which his pious and blameless life
was wholly conformable. His days, however, were soon
numbered: in the twenty-seventh year of his age, he fell
into a consumption, which wasted him by slow degrees:
but during the whole time of his sickness he behaved with
the utmost resignation, nor did he ever shew the least impatience. He died June 20, 1678, in the twenty-eighth
year of his age, and was buried in King’s college church,
in Old Aberdeen. His principal work is entitled “The
Life of God in the Soul of Man,
” which has undergone
many editions, and has been thought alike valuable for the
sublime spirit of piety which it breathes, and for the purity
and elegance of its style. He left his books to the library
of his college, and five thousand marks to the office of professor of divinity. He composed a form of morning and
evening service for the cathedral church of Aberdeen,
which may be seen in Orem’s “Description of the Chanonry of Old Aberdeen,
” printed in No. 3 of the “Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica.
” His treatise on the
“Life of God,
” &c. was first printed in his life-time by
bishop Burnet about Nine discourses on
important subjects,
” by the same author, and his funeral
sermon, by Dr. G. G.
is return to Heidelberg he accepted the place of courtpreacher, which he relinquished when appointed professor of divinity in 1618. He was deputed soon after to the synod
, an eminent protestant divine, was born at Grumberg in Silesia, Aug. i?4, 1556, and after having studied there till 1582, was sent to BresUw to continue his progress in the sciences He was recalled soon after, his father, who had lost all his fortune in the fire of Grunberg, being no longer able to maintain him at the college, and therefore intending to bring him up to some trade. The young man was not at all pleased with such a proposal; and looked out for the place of a tutor, which he found in the family of a burgomaster of Freistad, and this gave him an opportunity of hearing the sermons of Melancthon and of Abraham Bucholtzer. In 1584 he took a journey into Poland, and went to Gorlitz in Lusatia the year following, and resided there above two years, constantly attending the public lectures, and reading private lectures to others. He employed himself in the same manner in the university of Wittemberg in 1588 and 1589, and afterwards in that of Heidelberg till he was admitted into the church in 1594. He officiated in a village of the palatinate for some months; after which he was sent for by the elector palatine to be one of his preachers. In 1598 he was appointed pastor of the church of St. Francis at Heidelberg, and two years after was made a member of the ecclesiastical senate. He was employed several times in visiting the churches and schools of the palatinate, and among these avocations wrote some works, which required great labour. He attended the prince of Anhalt to the war at Juliers in 1610, and applied himself with great prudence and vigilance to the re-settlement of the affairs of the reformed church in those parts. He attended Frederic V. prince palatine into England in 1612, and contracted an acquaintance with the most learned men of that kingdom, but Wood speaks of his having resided some time at Oxford in 1598. He took a journey to Brandenburg in 1614, the elector John Sigismond, who was about renouncing Lutheranism, being desirous of concerting measures with him with respect to that change; and on his return to Heidelberg he accepted the place of courtpreacher, which he relinquished when appointed professor of divinity in 1618. He was deputed soon after to the synod of Dort, where he endeavoured at first to procure a reconciliation of the contending parties; but finding nothing of that kind was to be expected, he opposed vigorously the doctrines of the Arminians. He preached at Francfort the year following during the electoral diet held there, his master having appointed him preacher to the deputies whom he sent thither. He also attended that prince in his journey into Bohemia; and retiring into Silesia after the fatal battle of Prague, resolved to return to Heidelberg in order to discharge the functions of his professorship there; but the fury of the war having dispersed the students, he went to Bretten, and afterwards to Schorndorf in the country of Wirtemberg, whence he removed to Embden in August 1622. The king of Bohemia his master had consented that the city of Embden should offer Scultetus the place of preacher, but he did not enjoy it very long; for he died October the 24th, 1625.
with Peter Martyr, who had a high opinion of him, and on his death in 1563, Simler succeeded him as professor of divinity. He filled this office with great reputation until
, a learned divine of the sixteenth century, who co-operated in the reformation, was born Nov. 6, 1530, at Cappell, a village near Zurich in Swisserland. His father, Peter Simler, after having been for many years a member of, and afterwards prior of the L onastery there, embraced the reformed religion, became a preacher of it, and died in 1557. After being educated for some time in his father’s monastery, he went to Zurich in 1544, and studied for two years under the direction of the celebrated Bullinger, who was his god-father. He removed thence to Basil, where he studied rhetoric and mathematics, and afterwards to Strasburgh, where Sturmius, Martyr, Bucer, and others of the reformers resided; but as he had no thoughts at this time of divinity as a profession, he improved himself chiefly in other branches of learning. He continued here about two years, and passed three more in visiting various universities, and hearing the lectures of the most eminent professors. In 1549, he returned home, and with such visible improvement in learning, that Gesner often employed him to lecture to his scholars, both in geometry and astronomy. In 1552 he was appointed to expound in public the New Testament, which he did with so much ability as to be greatly admired by the learned of Zurich, as wt 11 as by the English who had taken refuge there from the Marian persecution. In 1557 he was made deacon; and when Bibliander, on account of his advanced age, was declared emeritus^ Simler was appointed to teach in his place, and was likewise colleague with Peter Martyr, who had a high opinion of him, and on his death in 1563, Simler succeeded him as professor of divinity. He filled this office with great reputation until his constitution became impaired by a hereditary gout, which in his latter years interrupted his studies, and shortened his useful life. He was only forty-five when he died, July 2, 1576. He is represented as a man of a meek, placid, and affectionate temper, and although never rich, always liberal, charitable, and hospitable.
ield. In 1700 he took his degree of D. D. and frequently supplied the place of Dr. Jane, then regius professor of divinity, with great approbation, in which office it being
During this time, Smalridge did not neglect classical
literature, in which he excelled, and afforded an excellent
specimen of his talent for Latin poetry in his “Auctio
Davisiana,
” first printed in Musae Anglicange.
” In July of the same year
(