Obadiah Grew

was born at Atherston in the Parish of Manceter in Warwickshire, in Nov. 1607, partly educated in Grammaticals under Mr. Joh. Denison his Uncle, admitted a Student in Ball. Coll. under the tuition of Mr. Rich. Trimnell, an. 1624, took the degrees in Arts, holy Orders at 28 years of age from the hands of Dr. Rob. Wright Bishop of Cov. and Lichfield, and had some cure I presume bestowed on him in his own Country. In the beginning of the Civil War, he sided with the Presbyterians, took the Covenant, and about that time became, upon the desire of the Mayor, Aldermen and principal Citizens of Coventry, Minister of the great Parish of S. Michael in that City: In which place The soundness of his doctrine, (as those of his perswasion have told me) the sanctity and prudence of his conversation, the vigilancy and tenderness of his care, were of that constant tenor; that he seemed to do all that, which S. Gregory wrot a whole book (De cura Pastorali) to tell us it should be done. By which means he ever obtained the love and respects of the City of Coventry, and his ends for their good, amongst the Citizens thereof. Of his integrity and courage also, they farther add this instance, viz. “In the year 1648 when Oliv. Cromwell, then Lieut. Gen. of the forces in England, was at Coventry, upon his March towards London, the said Ob. Grew took his opportunity to represent to him the wickedness of the design then more visibly on foot, for taking off the King, and the sad consequences thereof, should it take effect; earnestly pressing him, to use his endeavours to prevent it; and had his promise for it: And afterwards when the design was too apparent, he wrot a letter to him to the same purpose, and to mind him of his promise. Which letter was conveyed by an honest Gent. (since Mayor and Alderman of Coventry, now, or lately, living) to a Messenger then waiting at Whitehall, and by him delivered into Cromwells own hand, &c.” In 1651 he accumulated the degrees in Divinity, and in the next year he compleated that of Doctor by standing in the Act; much about which time he preached the Concio ad clerum with applause. In 1654 he was appointed one of the Assistants to the Commissioners of Warwickshire for the ejection of such whom they then called scandalous, ignorant and insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters, and continued after, till his Majesties restauration, in good repute among the Precisians. He hath written,

A Sinners justification by Christ: or, the Lord Jesus Christ our righteousness. Delivered in several Sermons on Jer. 23.6. Lond. 1670. oct.

Meditations upon our Saviours parable of the prodigal son, being several sermons on the 15 Chapter of S. Lukes Gospel. Lond. 1678. quart. Both written and published at the request, and for the common benefit, of some of his quondam Parishioners of S. Michael in Coventry. What other things he hath written, that are fit for the Press, I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he died on the 22 of Octob. in sixteen hundred eighty and nine,1689. and that his body was buried in the Chancel of the said Church of S. Michael. This Divine was the Father of Dr. Nehemiah Grew a Physitian of good note and practice in London, whose publish’d works are so well known and valued, that divers of them have been translated into Latin and French, by learned forraigners; and many eminent persons both at home and abroad, have returned him their thanks with great respect: and it is believed that he hath still much under his consideration relating both to Philosophy and the practice of Physick. Among several things that he hath written and published are (1) Musaeum Regalis Societatis. Or, a description of the natural and artificial Rarities belonging to the Royal Societie and preserved at Gresham Coll. Lond. 1681. fol. (2) The Anatomy of the History of Plants and Vegetables. Lond. 1683. fol. &c.