Matthew Griffith

was born of gentile Parents in London, became a Commoner of Brasn. Coll. in the beginning of May 1615, aged 16 years or more, took one degree in Arts as a member of Glouc. Hall, then holy Orders and soon after became Lecturer of St. Dunstans Church in the West, under the inspection, as ’tis ((*))((*)) In the Memoires of noble and reverend Personages, written by Dav. Lloyd—Lond. 1668. fol. p. 521. said, of Dr. John Donne, whose favourite he was. Afterwards he was made Rector of S. Mary Magd. near Old Fish-street in London by the presentation of the Dean and Chapt. of S. Paul, where shewing himself a grand Episcoparian, was in the beginning of the rebellion sequestred from his Rectory, plundered, and imprison’d in Newgate; whence being let out, he was forced to fly, but taken and afterwards imprison’d in Peter-house. At length getting loose thence, he retired to the King at Oxon, by virtue of whose letters he was actually created D. of D. in June 1643, and made one of his Chaplains. Afterwards, upon the declining of the Kings cause, he returned to London, and there by stealth read and continued prayers and other ordinances, according to the Ch. of England, to the poor Cavaliers during the Usurpation; for which he suffer’d seven violent assaults, as ’tis said, and five imprisonments, the last of which was in Newgate in the beginning of the year 1660. After the Kings return, he was restored to his Rectory, was made Preacher to the honorable Societies of the Temples and Rector of Bladon near Woodstock in Oxfordshire, but whether he was made a Prebend of a Church, or a Dean, which he much deserved, I know not. He hath written and published,

Several Sermons, as (1) Sermon on Psal. 37. ver. 1. Lond. 1633. oct. (2) Pathetical perswasion to pray for publick peace, on Psal. 122.6. Lond. 1642. qu. For several passages in which Sermon he suffered imprisonment. (3) Sermon touching the power of the King, on Eccles. 8.4. Lond. 1643. qu. His name is not set to it, but the general report then and after was, that ’twas his. (4) The fear of God and the King, pressed in a Serm. at Mercers Chappel 25. March 1660 on Prov. 24.21. Lond. 1660. qu. &c. In which Serm. shewing himself too zealous for the Royal cause, before Gen. George Monk durst own it, was, to please and blind the fanatical party, imprison’d in Newgate, but soon after released. There was an answer made to this by John Milton, entit. Brief notes upon a late Sermon titled, The fear of God, &c.—Whereupon came out a little thing called No blind guides, &c. addressed to the Author in two sheets, in Rog. Lestrange his Apologie—Lond. 1660. qu. (5) Communion Serm. preached at Serjeants inn before the Judges, on Rom. 12.4.5. Lond. 1661. qu. (6) Catholic Doctor and his spiritual Catholicon, on 1. John 1.7. Lond. 1662. qu. (8) The Kings life-guard; an anniversary Sermon preached to the honorable society of both the Temples, 30. Jan. 1664. on 1. Sam. 26.9. Lond. 1665. qu. Besides which he hath others that are extant, but such I have not yet seen, as The Samaritan revived; another called The blessed birth, &c. He hath also written,

Bethel: or, a forme for families; in which all sorts of both sexes, are so squared, and framed by the word, as they may best serve in their several places, for useful pieces in Gods building. Lond. 1654. qu.

Brief historical account of the causes of our unhappy distractions, and the only way to heal them. Lond. 1660. oct. This is added to a second edition of the Sermon called The fear of God and the King, &c. This most zealous and loyal Person departed this mortal life at Bladon before mention’d, on the 14. of Octob. in sixteen hundred sixty and five,1665. and was buried in the Chancel of the Church there. He had before broken a vein in the earnest pressing of that necessary point, study to be quiet and follow your own business. In the said Rectory of Bladon (Woodstock being a Chappel of ease to it) succeeded Henry Savage D. D. Master of Balliol Coll. of whom I shall make mention among these writers under the year 1672.