John Smith

was born in Warwickshire, elected Scholar of S. Johns coll. into a Coventry place, an. 1577. aged 14. and at length was made Fellow, and highly valued in the University for piety and parts, especially by those that excelled in both. Soon after he grew to that note, that he was chosen (being then Bach. of Div.) to be Lecturer in S. Pauls Cathedral in London, in the place of that great Man Dr. Lauc. Andrews, which he discharged not only to the satisfaction, but applause of most judicious and learned hearers, witnessed by their frequency and attention. Not long after he was removed to a Pastoral Charge at Clavering in Essex, where being fix’d, he shined as a Star in its proper sphere, and was much reverenced for his Religion, learning, humility, and holiness of Life. He was skilful in the original Languages, an excellent Text-man, well read in writers that were of note in several ages of the Church, which may partly appear from these things following, that he wrote, viz.

The Substance and Pith of Prayer: or, a brief, holy, and heavenly Exposition on the Lord’s Prayer, being the Summ and Marrow of divers Sermons, &c. on Matth. 6. 9. Lond. 1629. qu.

The Essex Dove presenting the World with a few of her Olive branches, &c. delivered in three several Treatises, viz. 1. The Grounds of Religion. 2. An Expoon the Lord’s Prayer. 3. A Treatise of Repentance. Lond. 1629. qu.

The poor Penitent: or, the Doctrine of Repentance, Preached in divers Sermons, &c. Lond. 1629. qu. in 14 Lectures, published by John Hart.

Exposition on the Creed. Lond. 1632. fol.

Explanation of the Articles of our Christian Faith.—Which two last books were delivered in 73 Sermons. He concluded his last day in the month of Nov. in sixteen hundred and sixteen, 1616 and was buried in the Church of Clavering before-mentioned, leaving then, by his Will, several books to St. Johns coll. Library. I have mentioned several John Smiths in this work, that were Divines. See under the year 1596. and elsewhere.