Theophilus Gale

son of Theoph. Gale D. D. and sometimes Prebend. of Exeter, was born in Devonshire, became a Commoner of Magd. Hall after the surrender of the Garrison of Oxon, made Demy of Magd. Coll. by the Visitors appointed by Parliament an. 1648, and afterwards Fellow. In the year 1652 he proceeded in Arts, became a frequent Preacher in the University and a great resorter to the Presbyterian and Indep. meetings, especially that of Tho. Googwin in the Presidents Lodgings of his College. At the Kings return he lost all the right he had to his Fellowship, to make room for the true owner, and being then wholly addicted to nonconformity, travelled beyond the seas as a Tutor to the sons of Philip Lord Wharton. After his return he lived in London, was for some time an Assistant to Joh. Rowe in carrying on the work of preaching in his private congregation in Holbourne, and published these books following, which shew him to have been a person of great reading, an exact Philologist, and Philosopher.

The court of the Gentiles. Or a discourse touching the original of humane literature both of Philology and Philosophy from the Scriptures and Jewish Church, &c. part 1. of Philology. Oxon. 1669, and there again 1672, both in qu. The second part which is Of Philosophy, was printed at Oxon. 1671, and at Lond. 1676, both in qu. Of these two parts there is a laudable account in the Philosophical Transactions, num. 74. p. 2231. an. 1671. The third part Of the vanity of Pagan Philosophy, was pr. at Lond. 1677, and the fourth Of Reformed Philosophy, was pr. there the same year, and both in qu. These four books or parts shew the Author to have been well read in, and conversant with, the Writings of the Fathers, the old Philosophers, and those that have given any account of them or their works: As also to have been a good Metaphysician and School-Divine.

The true Idea of Jansenisme, both historick and dogmatick. Lond. 1669. oct. The large preface to it was written by Dr. Joh. Owen.

Theophilie: or a discourse of the Saints amity with God in Christ, &c. Lond: 1671. oct.

The Anatomie of Infidelity: or an explication of the nature, causes, aggravations and punishment of unbelief. Lond. 1672. oct.

Discourse of Christs coming, and the influence with the expectation thereof, &c. Lond. 1673. oct.

Idea Theologiae, tam contemplativae quam activae ad formam S. Scripturae delineata. Lond. 1673. in tw.

Wherein the love of the World is inconsistent with the love of God, Sermon on 1 Jo. 2.15. Lond. 1674. and 76 in The Supplement to the morning exercise at Cripplegate.

Philosophia generalis in duas partes disterminata, una de ortu & progressu philosophiae, &c. Altera 1. De minorum gentium philosophia. 2. De novem habitibus intellectualibus. 3. De philosophiae objecto, &c. Lond. 1676. oct.

Ars sciendi; sive Logica novâ methodo disposita, & novis praeceptis aucta. Lond. 1682. oct. This is Joh. Clauberg’s Logick, and Ars cogitandi (called the Jansenists Logick) digested into one volume, with some alterations and enlargments.

A summary of the two Covenants.—This is set before a book by him published, intit. A discourse of the two Covenants, &c. Lond. 1678. fol. Written by Will. Strong sometimes Preacher in the Abbey Church at Westminster. This learned and industrious person Mr. Gale did design to have published other matters, but was cut off in the prime of his years (aged 49 or thereabouts) at Newington Green near London in Middlesex, where then his habitation was, in the latter end of Feb. or beginning of March in sixteen hundred seventy and seven, and was buried in the burial place of Dissenters joyning to the New Artillery Garden and Bunhill Fields in Cripplegate Parish near London. 1677/8. He left all his real and personal estate for the education and benefit of poor Presbyterian and Independent Scholars, to be managed by certain Nonconformists for their use. All his Library also he gave to the Coll. in New England, except such philosophical books which are needful for Students of his opinion in Old England.