Robert Dingley

Son of Sir Joh. Dingley of London Knight, and Nephew by the Mother to Dr. Hen. Hammond, was born in Surrey, entred a Student in Magd. Coll. in the beginning of the year 1634 aged 15 years, took the degrees in Arts, holy Orders, and became a great observer of Church ceremonies, and a remarkable Bower to the Altar when he came into the Chappel. But soon after the Presbyterians carrying all before, he, as a vain man, sided with, them, became an enemy to those things, which he before had a zeal for, and, for the love he bore to the cause, became, by the favour of his Kinsman Coll. Robert Hammond Governour of the isle of Wight, Rector of Brightestone alias Brixton or Brison in the said Isle, where he was much frequented by the godly party for his practical way of preaching, and hated by the Royallists for his activity in ejecting such that were by some called ignorant and scandalous Ministers and Schoolmasters during the time that he was an Assistant to the Commissioners of Hampshire, an. 1654. 55. &c. He hath written,

The Spiritual tast described: or, a Glimpse of Christ discovered in two parts, grounded on Psal. 34.8. and on Malac. 4. 2. Lond. 1649. oct. Before which book, is the picture of the Author fat and jolly, in a Presb. Cloak. This book came out in 1651. with this title Divine relishes of matchless goodness, &c.

The disputation of Angells: or, the Angell-Guardian. (1) Proved by the divine light of nature, &c. (2) From many rubs and mistakes, &c. (3) Applied and improved for our information, &c. chiefly grounded on Acts 12.15. Lond. 1654. oct. As the former book was perused, and commended to the World by Tho. Goodwin Pres. of Magd. Coll. and Will. Strong, so this by Nich. Lockyer of New Inn, afterwards Provost of Eaton Coll.

Messiah’s splendor: or, the glimpsed glory of a beauteous Christian.—printed in oct.

Divine Opticks: or, a treatise of the eye, discovering the vices and virtues thereof; as also how that Organ may be tuned: chiefly grounded on Psal. 119.37. Lond. 1655. in oct.

Philosophical, Historical and Theological observations of Thunder, with a more general view of Gods wonderful works. Lond. 1658. (oct.) in which year he had a Sermon published on Job. 26.14. in oct. which I have not yet seen. But our Author Dingley having said and preached some things not pleasing to the Quakers, he was animadverted upon by George Fox in his Great mystery of the great whore unfolded, &c. Lond. 1659. fol. p. 361. &c. He died at Brightestone beforemention’d,1659/60. in sixteen hundred fifty and nine, and was buried in the Chancel of the Church there, with this inscription on his grave. Here lieth the body of Mr. Robert Dingley Minister of this place, second Son of Sir John Dingley Knight, who died in the fortieth year of his age, on the twelfth day of January 1659.