Richard Sherlock

was born at Oxton in Cheshire, and originally (as ’tis said) a Student in Magd. Hall, where he obtained a part of Acad. learning. Thence he was translated to Trin. Coll. near Dublin, where he proceeded Master of Arts in 1633, entred into the sacred function, and soon after became Minister of several small Parishes in Ireland, united together, and yeilding no more than 8O l. per an. At length upon the breaking out of the rebellion in that Country, he journied into England and became Chaplain to a Regiment of his Majesties forces at Namptwich in Cheshire: But that place being taken by the Parliament forces in Jan. 1643, he retired to Oxon, where he became Chaplain to the Governour of the Garrison there, and at length, by the favour of Dr. Pink Warden of New College, he was made one of the Chaplains of that House, much about the time that P. Gunning and Is. Barrow were made Chaplains also. In 1646 he had the degree of Bach. of Div. confer’d on him, in consideration of several Sermons that he preached either at Court, or before the Parliament in Oxon, but in the year 1648, or thereabouts, being thrown out of his Chaplains place by the Visitors, he became Curat for Dr. Jasp. Mayne in an obscure Village called Cassington near Woodstock in Oxfordshire, who allowing him 16 l. per an. for his pains (for the Vicaridge there is esteemed to be worth but 50 l. yearly) he gave a good part thereof away to the poor of that place. At length leaving that Cure, upon the ejection of the Doctor, about 1652, he went into Lancashire, became Chaplain to Sir Rob. Bindlosse of Borwick hall in the Parish of Warton Bt; where, as long as he continued, he was very much troubled with the People called Quakers, against whom he wrot several things, as I shall tell you anon. After the restauration of K. Ch. 2, an. 1660, he was made Doctor of Div. of the Univ. of Dublin, and about that time by the favour of his honorable Patron Charles E. of Derby (whose Chaplain he was) Rector of Winwick in Lancashire, a place ((a))((a)) Camden in his Britannia in Lanc. among other fat benefices of England of greatest name. He was a person of a most pious life, exemplary conversation, of great charity, hospitality, and so zealous a man for the Church of England that he was accounted by precise persons popishly affected and a Papist in Masquerade. He hath written and published,

The Quakers wild questions objected against the Ministers of the Gospel, &c. briefly answered. Lond. 1654. oct. 1656. qu. Animadverted upon by a noted Quaker called Rich. Hubberthorne in a book entit. A Reply to a book set forth by the Priest of Borwick-hall in Lancashire, called Rich. Sherlock, &c. Lond. 1654. qu. and by another more noted than he, named George Fox in his book called The great mystery of the great Whore unfolded, &c. Lond. 1659. fol. p. 242.243. &c.

A discourse of the holy spirit, his workings and impressions on the souls of Men—This is also against the Quakers.

Discourse of divine revelation, mediat or immediat.

Discourse of error, heresie and schisme.—These three last pieces, are printed with The Quakers wild Questions, &c.

The principles of holy Christian Religion: or, the Catechisme of the Church of England paraphras’d, &c. Lond. 1656. oct. Written for the use of Borwick-hall. The thirteenth impression of this book came out at Lond. 1677. oct.

Sermon preached at a visitation held at Warrington in Lanc. 11. May 1669, on Acts 20.28. Lond. 1669. qu.

Mercurius Christianus. The practical Christian: A treatise explaining the duty of self-examination, &c. Lond. 1673. oct.

Confessions, Meditations and Prayers in order to the receiving of the holy Communion of the body and blood of Christ.—Printed with Merc. Christ.

The second part of the practical Christian consisting of meditations and psalmes, illustrated with notes, or paraphrased; relating to the hours of prayer, &c. Lond. 1675. oct.

The practical Christian: or the devout Penitent. A book of Devotion containing the whole duty of a Christian in all occasions and necessities, &c. in 4 parts. 1. Of self examination, confession of sins, &c. 2. Of the Communion of the holy body and blood of Christ. 3. Of the hours of Prayer and occasional meditations. 4. Of the four last things, death, judgment, hell and heaven. Lond. 1676. 77. &c.

Several short, but seasonable, discourses touching common and private prayer, relating to the publick offices of the Church. &c. Oxon. 1684. oct. &c. This book contains, 1. The irregularity of a private prayer in a publick congregation, which was first printed 1674 in 4 sh. in qu. 2. Dr. Steuarts judgment of a private prayer in publick, &c. 3. A discourse of the differences between long prayers prohibited and continuance in prayers commanded. 4. Meditations upon our going to Church, with short directions. for our demeanour in the House of God, &c. 5. Sermon preached upon the Archbishop of Yorks provincial Visitation at Warrington. At length this most holy, zealous, mortified and seraphical Dr. Sherlock having spent all his time in holy and chast celebacy, surrendred up his most pious. soul to God in sixteen hundred eighty and nine,1689. and was buried on the 25 of June within the Chancel, at the first entrance into it out of the body of the Church at Winwick before mention’d; at which time his friend and acquaintance Tho. Crane M. A. preached his funeral Sermon, which being extant you may see a full account therein of the great piety, charity, hospitality, strictness of life, &c. of him the said Dr. Sherlock. Some years before his death he caused his Grave-stone to be laid in that place where his body was afterwards buried, and ordered for his epitaph, to be engraved in brass and sixt upon his stone, this following. Exuviae Richardi Sherlock S. T. D. indignissimi hujus Ecclesiae Rectoris; Obiit 20 die Junii, anno aetatis 76. an. dom 1689. Sal infatuum conculcate. Whereupon a certain Person reflecting upon it, and much honouring his pious memory, did subjoyn and add this further inscription. En viri sanctissimi modestia! Qui Epitaphium se indignum inscribi volebat; cum vita & merita ejus laudes omnes longe superarent. In the Rectory of Winwick succeeded Thom. Benet M.A. Fellow of Univ. Coll, lately one of the Proctors of this University, now Master of the said Coll.