Henry Wilkinson

Senior, commonly called Long Harry, son of Hen. Wilk. mentioned before under the year 1647, was born at Waddesdon in Bucks, became a Com. of Magd. Hall in Lent term 1622. aged 13. years, where making great proficiency in his studies, took the degrees in Arts, became a noted Tutor, Master of the Schools and Divinity Reader in his House. In the year 1638 he was admitted Bach. of Div, preached frequently in and near Oxon, yet not without girds against the actions, and certain men, of the times. On the 6. of Sept. 1640. he preached in his turn in S. Maries Ch. in Oxon, on Rev. 3.16. So then because thou art luke-warm, &c. Which Sermon being very bitter against some ceremonies of the Church, very base also and factious, and intended meerly to make a party for the Scots, was summon’d the same day to make his recantation in a form then prescrib’d for him. But he obstinatly refusing to do it, was suspended from all execution of his Priestly Function within the University and Precincts thereof according to the Statute, till he should make his Palinody. Soon after when that unhappy Parliament, called the Long Parl, began, he complained to the Members about the latter end of Nov. of the usage he had received from the Vicechancellour. Whereupon according to the command of the Committee of Religion in the H. of Com. the Vicehanc. sent up a copy of his sermon with his exceptions against it: which being received from the hands of Dr. Rich. Baylie Dec. 9. was by them perused, but they finding nothing, as they said, that might make him guilty of punishment, they released him from his suspension and gave order that his sermon should be printed, which accordingly was done. Upon this our author Wilkinson grew very bold, preach’d and discours’d what he pleas’d, setled afterwards in London to carry on the Cause, was made Minister of S. Faith, under Paules, one of the Ass. of Divines, became a frequent Preacher before the Members of Parliament, and Rector of S. Dunstans in the West about 1645. At which time being esteemed a grand zealot for promoting the designs then on foot, he was constituted by the said Members one of the six Ministers to go to Oxon in 1646, (after the surrender of the Garrison there) to draw off by their preaching the Scholars from their Orthodox Principles to the Presbyterian persuasion, and soon after one of the Visitors to break open, turn out, and take possession: For which service he was not only rewarded with a senior Fellowship of Madg. Coll. (which he kept till he took to wife a holy woman call’d the Lady Carr) but also with a Canonry of Ch. Church, a Doctorship of Divinity, and after Cheynells departure with the Margaret professorship of the University. After his Majesty was restored he was ejected, and thereupon went to London, continued a Non-conformist, lived and had his meetings at Clapham in Surrey near London, especially when the Kings toleration was published in the latter end of 1671, whereby he gained from the Brethren a considerable maintenance. He was a good Scholar, always a close Student, an excellent Preacher, (tho his voice was shrill and whining) yet his Sermons were commonly full of dire and confusion, especially while the rebellion continued. Under his name were these things following published, viz.

Several Sermons as (1) Sermon against Lukewarmness in religion, on Rev. 3.16. Lond. 1641. qu. (2) Babylons ruin, Jerusalem’s rising, Fast serm. before the House of Com. 25 Oct. 1643. on Zech. 1.18.19.20.21. Lond. 1643. qu. (3) The gainfull cost, Fast Serm. before the H. of Lords 27. Nov. 1644. on 1. Chron. 21.24. Lond. 1644. qu. (4) Miranda, Stupenda. Or the wonderful and astonishing mercies which the Lord hath wrought for England in subduing and captivating the pride, power and policy of his Enemies, Thanks-giving Serm. before the H. of Com. for the surrender of Oxon, preached 21. Jul. 1646 on Numb. 23.23. Lond. 1646. qu. In his Epist. ded. to the H. of Com. he doth seriously exhort them to think of a sudden reformation of that University: and perhaps he had thoughts then of being a Visitor and to get what might be obtained while the Sun shined. (5) Serm. on Luk. 17.27.28.—Published in The morning exercise at Cripplegate, Lond. 1661. qu. (6) Serm. on 2. Thes. 2. from ver. 3. to 10.—Published in The morning exercise against popery, preached in Southwark—Lond. 1675. qu. (7) How we must do all in the name of Christ, on Col. 3.17.—Publ. in The Supplement to the morning exercise at Cripplegate. Lond. 1674. 76. qu. What other things are published under his name I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he dying at Clapham before mention’d, in the beginning of June in sixteen hundred seventy and five,1675. his body was thereupon conveyed to Drapers Hall in Lond, and thence conducted with solemnity by hundreds of the Brethren to the Church of S. Dunstan in Fleetstreet before mention’d, where it was in [•] e [•] ’d. I shall make mention of another Henry Wilkinson under the year 1690, who for distinction sake, was commonly called Deane Harry.