, the author of an excellent illustration of the Book of Common Prayer,
, the author of an excellent
illustration of the Book of Common Prayer, was born Feb.
6, 1686, in Paternoster-rosv, London. His father was a
reputable tradesman, and his mother, whose maiden name
was White, was a lineal descendant of Ralph, brother to
sir Thomas White, founder of St. John’s college, Oxford,
where Mr. Wheatley afterwards claimed a fellowship. On
Jan. 9, 1699, he was entered at Merchant Taylors school,
where for some time he was placed under the care of Dr.
Matthew Shorting. In 1706 he was entered a commoner of
St. John’s, Oxford, and in the following year was admitted
to a fellowship as of founder’s kin. At St. John’s his
tutor was Dr. Knight, afterwards vicar of St. Sepulchre’s,
London, and of whom it was Mr. Wheatley’s pride to boast,
that “he continued his pupil to his dying day.
” He used
to add; “to this great and good man, under God, I must
heartily profess, that, if I have made any knowledge, or
have made any progress, it is owing; and, if I have not,
upon myself only be all the shame.
” This was the friend
to whom, with doctors Waterland and Berriman, he submitted his sermons on the Creeds, and from whom he acknowledged having received very useful and instructive
hints, when he came to prepare them for the press.