, nephew to the preceding, was born also within the barony of Kendal in Westmorland, about
, nephew to the preceding,
was born also within the barony of Kendal in Westmorland,
about 1591, and became clerk of Queen’s college, Oxford,
in the beginning of 1606. On April 30, 1610, he took the
degree of B.A.and July 8, 1613, that of M.A.; and the same
year was chosen chaplain of the college, and afterwards fellow
of it. He was then a great admirer of Dr. Henry Airay, provost of that college, some of whose works he published, and
who was a zealous puritan, and a lecturer at Abingdon in
Berks, where he was much resorted to for his preaching.
'On March the 9th, 1620, he took the degree of bachelor of
divinity, and February 17, 1626-7, that of doctor, having
succeeded his uncle Dr. Barnabas Potter in the provostship
of his college on the 17th of June, 1626. “Soon after,
”
says Mr. Wood, “when Dr. Laud became a rising favourite at court, he, after a great deal of seeking, was made his
creature, and therefore by the precise party he was esteemed an Arminian.
” On March the 15th, 1628, he
preached a Sermon on John xxi. 17. at the consecration of
his uncle to the bishopric of Carlisle at Ely House in Hoiborn which was printed at London, 1629, in 8vo, and involved him in a short controversy with Mr. Vicars, a friend
of his, who blamed him for a leaning towards Arminianism.
In 1633 he published his “Answer to a late Popish Pamphlet, entitled, Charity mistaken.
” The cause was this
A Jesuit who went by the name of Edward Knott, but whose
true name was Matthias Wilson, had published in 1630, a
little book in 8vo, called “Charity mistaken, with the
want whereof Catholicks are unjustly charged, for affirming,
as they do with grief, that Protestancy un repented destroies
Salvation.
” Dr. Potter published an answer to this at Oxford, 1633, in 8vo, with this title: “Want of Charitie
justly charged on all such Romanists as dare (without truth or modesty) affirme, that Protestancie destroy eth Salvation;
or, an Answer to a late Popish pamphlet, intituled, Charity mistaken, &c.
” The second edition revised and enlarged, was printed at London, 1634, in 8vo. Prynne observes, that bishop Laud, having perused the first edition,
caused some things to be omitted in the second. It is dedicated to King Charles I. and in the dedication Dr. Potter
observes, that it was “undertaken in obedience to his majesty’s particular commandment.
”