John Wall

was born of gentile Parents in the City of London, elected from Westm. School a Student of Ch. Ch. an. 1604 aged 17 years, took the degrees in Arts, holy Orders and afterwards exercised his function for several years in S. Aldates Church in Oxon. In 1614 he proceeded in Divinity, being about that time Chaplain, as I conceive, to Philip Lord Stanhop, and in 1632 he was installed Canon of his house in the place of Dr. L. Hutten deceased, which he kept to his dying day, notwithstanding the several revolutions in his time. In Nov. 1644 he was made Prebendary of Yatmister secunda in the Church of Sarum, given to him by Dr. Duppa Bishop thereof, which also keeping till his last day, was succeeded therein by Tho. Hyde of Qu. Coll. by the favour of Dr. Hyde B. of Salisbury. This Dr. Wall was a quaint Preacher in the age he lived, and Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincolne did use to give this character of him while he remained with him in his family, that he was the best read in the Fathers of any he ever knew. The truth is he was always a severe student, lived a retired life and spent his time in celebacy and books. His works are these.

Several Sermons, as (1) Sermon at Shelford in Nottinghamshire, on the death of Mr. John Stanhop Son and Heir to Philip Lord Stanhop Baron of Shelford; whose Corps was translated from Ch. Ch. in Oxon, to the sepulchers of his Fathers in the Church of Shelford, on 2. Sam. 12.23. Lond. 1623. oct. (2) Jacobs Ladder, on 1. Pet. 5.6. Oxon. 1626. oct. (3) Alae Seraphicae. The Seraphins wings to raise us unto heaven, in six sermons, partly at S. Peters in Westminster, partly at S. Aldates in Oxon. Lond. 1627. qu. The first of which is entit. The Souls Ornament, on Cantic. 8.6. (4) Christian progress, serm. at Shelford in Nott. on Matth. 21.9. Oxon. 1627. oct. (5) The Lion in the Lamb: or, strength in weakness, serm. at Shelf. in Not. on Rev. 7.10. Oxon. 1628. oct. (6) Christian reconcilement: or, God at peace with man in Christ, serm. at S. Maries in Oxon. on Rom. 5.11. Lond. 1658. oct. (7) Sermon on Rom. 10.15. Printed 1627. oct. This last I have not yet seen.

Ramus Olivae; sive concio habita ad clerum in templo B. Mariae Oxon 8. Junii pro inchoando termino, in Luc. 24.36. Oxon. 1653. in a small oct. Dedicated to Oliver Cromwell.

Solomon in solio: Christus in Ecclesia; sive concio latinè habita ad clerum in templo B. Mariae Oxon. primo Maii, in Cantic. 3.9.10. Oxon. 1660. oct. He paid his last debt to nature in his Lodgings in Peckwater quadrangle belonging to Ch. Ch. on the 20 of Octob. in sixteen hundred sixty and six,1666. and was buried in the second Isle joyning to Ch. Ch. choir on the North side. See his Epitaph in Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Oxon, lib. 2. p. 287. The Reader is now to know that this Person having got a plentiful estate in, and from, his College, did a little before his death shew himself upon some small distast so ungrateful to it, that instead of bestowing moneys thereon to carry on the publick buildings belonging thereunto, he gave a thousand and twenty pounds to the City of Oxon, to be employed for certain charitable uses, and a greater sum to two ((c))((c)) Sebast. Smith D. D. Canon of Ch. Ch. and Rich. Croke Recorder of the City of Oxon. flattering Persons that wanted it not, or were any thing of kin to, or cared a straw for, him. The picture of this Dr. Wall drawn to the life, with his doctoral habit and square cap, hangs at this day in the Council Chamber belonging to the City of Oxon, joyning on the East side to the upper Gild-hall. Besides this John Wall was another of both his names and time, Bach. of Divinity, somtimes Minister in Colchester, afterwards Preacher of Gods word at S. Michaels Cornhill in London, Author of None but Christ: or, a plain and familiar treatise of the knowledge of Christ, exciting all men to study to know Jesus Christ and him crucified; with a particular applicatory, and saving knowledge, in divers sermons on 1. Cor. 2.2. Lond. 1648, 50. 56. oct. But this John Wall who was a Presbyterian and much favoured by Sir Harbottle Grimstone, was, as it seems, educated in Cambridge.