John White

usually called Patriarch of Dorchester or Patriarch White, son of John White, was born in the time of Christmas at Stanton S. John near to, and in the County of, Oxon, and was baptized there, 6. Jan. 1575, educated in Grammar learning in Wykehams School near Winchester, admitted perpetual Fellow of New Coll. after he had served two years of probation, in the year 1595, took the degrees in Arts, holy Orders, and became a frequent preacher in these parts. In 1606 he left his Coll. and about that time became, as I suppose, Rector of Trinity parish in Dorchester, in the County of Dorset, where in the course of his Ministry he expounded the Scripture all over, and half over again, having had an excellent faculty in the clear and solid interpreting of it. So that his name being up in those parts, gave occasion to a neighbour ((a))((a)) Fred. Lossius Hidelbergensis Palatin. in Observationibus Medicinal. Lond. 1672. oct. lib. 1. observat. 15. p. 35. of his, (a puritanical Physician) to stile him Pastor & Minister fidelissimus, in quo praeter doctrinam insignem, ingeniique vim acrem, mirum judicium, deinde & sedulitas, pietas, atque fides incredibilis invicem certabant &c. But it must be known that these things were spoken of him after our Author White had bequeathed ((b))((b)) Reg. Fairfax in Offic. Prerog. qu. 105. to the said Physician of Dorchester one of his pieces of plate. He was for the most part of his time a moderate, not morose or peevish, puritan, and conformed to the ceremonies of the Church of England before, and when, Archb. Laud sate at the stern. But in the beginning of the Long Parliament, when the Saints raised a rebellion, he sided with them, and with his Sub-levites. ...Thompson and Will. Benne both Oxf. Students did in a miserable manner cozen the people thereabouts with strange ((c))((c)) Merc. Ant. in the 34 week, p. 468. reports, viz. “That Mass was said openly in Oxon, that none but Papists were about his Majesty, that 20000 Scots were already entred England, that they should not look on any book printed at Oxon, or published by his Majesties command. By which means they seduced almost all the Town to take the Covenant, assuring them most martyr-like that they would seal it with their blood, &c. ” But when Prince Rupert was in those parts, and the knowledge of these Proceedings were spread abroad, a party of his Horse retired to Dorchester, plunder’d the house of our Author White, and took away his library. So that he finding that place uneasie, he and his Sub-Levites fled, and White retiring to London, was made Minister of the Savoy Parish, and carried on the Cause there. So that whereas before the Rebellion broke out, he, by his wisdom, did keep the Inhabitants of Dorchester in good order and obedient to the Church, and also proved eminently useful in reforming the dissolute manners of the people thereof, it fell out that after the turn of the times, it was by his means stocked with such a factious and fanatical Crew, that all endeavours could not reform it, nor ever, as ’tis thought, will, it continuing so to this day. In 1643 he was chosen one of the Assembly of Divines, took the Covenant, and sitting often with them at Westminster, shewed himself one of the most learned and moderate among them, and soon after did by order not only succeed Dr. Featley in the Rectory of Lambeth in Surrey, (ejected thence) but had his library conferred on him to keep and enjoy it till such time Dr. Featley could get back our Authors from the Soldiers under Prince Rupert. When the broils of the Nation were over, he repaired to Dorchester, and in Nov. 1647, was designed Warden of New Coll. upon the death of Dr. Pink, by Will. Lord Say, and Nath. Fiennes his son; but, if I am not mistaken, he refused that office. He was a person of great gravity and presence, and had always influence on the puritannical Party near to, and remote from, him, who bore him more respect, than they did to their Diocesan. His works are these.

Commentary on the three first Chapters of Genesis, with large Observations on the same. Lond. 1656. 57. fol.

Directions for the profitable reading of the Scriptures.—Printed in oct.

Of the Sabbath.—Printed in qu.

Way to the tree of life, in sundry directions—Pr. 1647. oct. ’Tis the same, I think, which is called The Directory to perfection.

Several Sermons, as (1) The troubles of Jerusalems Restauration: or the Churches Reformation, Fast-sermon before the H. of Lords, 26 Nov. 1645. on Dan. 9.15. Lond. 1646. qu. with others which I have not yet seen.

Ten vowes to the Parishioners of Dorchester—Ms. written about the year 1628, answer’d by Dr. Gilb. Ironside who became Bishop of Bristow in 1660. At length having lived beyond the age of man, died suddenly on the 21 of July, 1648. in sixteen hundred forty and eight, and was inter’d in the Church porch of S. Peter in Dorchester, which is a Chappel belonging to Trinity Church before mentioned. Besides this John White, was another of both his names, a Ministers son, Doctor of Divinity, brother to Dr. Franc. White Bishop of Ely and a publisher of several books, born at S. Neots in Huntingdonshire, bred in Caies Coll. in Cambridge and afterwards became Vicar of Eccles in Lancashire. Whence, after he had continued some years, he was brought into Suffolk by Sir John Crofts, who bestowed on him the best Living that he had to give. He sent for him unknown from Eccles, where he lived in those distresses, which he was never able to look through. He furnished him with books fit for his studies, he honoured and countenanced him so much, that all the Country was satisfied he had a love and respect for him. He wrot a book called The way to the true Church, and A defence of it, against the two books that Joh. Fisher the Jesuit published, and other things as the Oxford Cat. will tell you. One T. W. P. (Priest) who had sometimes, as it seems, been of Cambridge, wrot a book against Jo. White called White died black. But John dying before he could make a reply, his brother Dr. Franc. White took up the bucklers, and forthwith published a book against the said T. W. intit. Orthodox faith and way to the Church explained, &c. Lond. 1617. qu. In the last ((d))((d)) In reg. Parker in Offic. Prerog. Qu. 17. will and test. of the said John White without date, I find these things said of himself— “Whereas for 20 years past by preaching and writing, published in two books, I engaged my self against Papistry; I profess I have done therein nothing against my Conscience, but desire all men to assure themselves, that if any error hath escaped me, it hath passed me through oversight, when I always bended my self to that work of writing, with much humility to God, and such diligence as I was able to use: And having the books always by me, I writ nothing but what I found in antiquity, and in the writings publickly receiv’d in the Church of Rome it self; and I constantly avouch, that what I have writ, is the truth, and have been the more confirmed therein by the unconscionable behaviour of my Adversaries against me, &c. ” This Will was proved 21 Feb. 1619, being two or more years after his death, at which time he was Chaplain in ordinary to the King; and his Father living, after he had spent 50 years in preaching the word of God.