Titles of the Psalms, &c. London, 1692. He also published two sermons, entitled, The Necessity of Regeneration; and The Resurrection Asserted. He also wrote a Defence of the Sabbath, respecting which we find a Dissenter expressing himself to him as follows: "I have read over the first part of your Discourse upon the Christian Sabbath; and liked it so well that I was eager to get the second. In reading thereof I could not but admire the large measure of the understanding which the Lord out of his goodness has been pleased to bestow upon you above many other pious and learned men."-He also wrote 'A Defence of Infant- Baptism,' Oxford, 1697. -I have A Brief and Easy Explanation of the Shorter Catechism, which was presented by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster to both Houses of Parliament, by Dr Wallis. A small piece, the 8th edition, London, 1659. His pamphlets, letters, and books, on several subjects, are very numerous.

6

In 1697, the Curators of the press at Oxford thought it for the honour of the University, to collect all his works which had been printed separately, as well in English as in Latin, and to publish these together in Latin. They were accordingly published at Oxford, in 1699, in 3 vols. folio; and dedicated to King William.-A posthumous vol. of 13 sermons, with an ample account of Dr Wallis' life, was published at London, in 1791, in 8vo. from the author's original Mss. by his great grandson, Mr William Wallis, who had in possession some valuable Mss. and till lately a rich gold medal, which had been presented to Dr Wallis by the Elector of Brandenburgh, with an honourable inscription and a chain of gold of so great value as to produce from a refiner the sum of sixty-two pounds five shillings. In these sermons, the reader may see both the author's learning and piety; with the Calvinistic doctrines of the Reformation, and of the Holy Scriptures. They may indeed be accounted too Puritanical by some persons; but they will not be the less acceptable on that account to others. The style is plain, and the matter excellent."

a Memoirs prefixed to these Sermons, and Universal Magazine, for March 1802, vol. cx.

JOHN WARD.

SEVERAL persons of this name were eminently pious,

learned, and conscientious nonconformists, in England, about the time that our author lived. John Ward, who, in this place, comes under our consideration, was sometime Minister of the gospel, in Ipswich, the capital of Suffolk, in England. He was one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, superadded, and said to have constantly attended.

I have seen the following sermons, by this Mr Ward. God Judging Among the Gods: a sermon from Psalm lxxxii. 1, before the Commons, Fast, 26th of March, 1645. London, 1645.-The Good-Will of Him who Dwelt in the Bush; or, The Extraordinary Happiness of Living Under an Extraordinary Providence: a sermon preached from Deut. xxxiii. 16, before the Lords, in the Abbey-Church, Westminster, Thanksgiving, 22d of July, 1645. London, 1645.

JOHN WHINCOP, D. D.

JOHN WHINCOP was a member of the Assembly of

Divines at Westminster. His name is found in the ordinance of Parliament for calling an Assembly of learned and godly Divines; and he is said to be of St. Mar tin's in the Fields. In Neal's list, he is described, D. D. and as giving constant attendance during the session.

A John Whincop, D. D. said to be sometime Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and about the year 1644, or 1645 Pastor of the Church of Clothall, in Hartfordshire, has two sermons extant, which I have now before 1. God's Call to Weeping and Mourning, from Isa. xxii. 12. preached to the House of Commons, at

me.

VOL. II.

2 H

their solemn Fast, 4to. pp. 51. London, 1645.-2. Is rael's Tears for Distressed Zion, from Psalm cxxxvii. 1, to the House of Lord's, at their solemn Fast, 4to. pp 47. London, 1645. Probably, though I cannot say certainly, this was the Dr Whincop, who was a Member of the Westminster Assembly. But be that as it may, I cannot give any farther account of any person of that name.

JEREMIAH WHITAKER, A. M.

PASTOR OF STRETTON, AND OF MARY MAGDALEN BERMONDSEY, IN SOUTHWARK, AND A MEMBER OF THE VENERABLE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER.

JEREMIAH WHITAKER was born at Wakefield, in Yorkshire, in the year 1599. He was instructed in grammar-learning, at the place of his birth. His early piety was very remarkable. He appears to have been a young convert. The Lord, who hath loved his own chosen ones, with an everlasting love, seems to have drawn him with loving-kindness, in the days of his youth, Jer. xxxi. 3. As an evidence of this, while he was a boy at the school, he discovered strong and warm affec tions toward such as were religiously disposed. And Christ says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another," John xi 35. This is the livery of his family, the distinguishing character of his disciples. See 1 John iii. 14. And, he often travelled eight or ten miles, in company with religious persons, to hear an awakening, soul-refreshing, and heart-searching sermon. He also joined with such persons in prayer, and other holy exercises and duties. And being very capable to take notes of sermons, was peculiarly helpful to those private Christians, with whom he associated, in repeating what they had publicly heard. "Then they who feared the Lord spake often

a Henry, on the place.

he

one to another," Mal. iii. 16. And, here we may observe, that divine grace makes a very great change upon mankind-sinners, when they commence its subjects. Before, they are under the condemning and enslaving dominion of sin; being "by nature the children of wrath, even as others," Eph. ii. 3. The grace of God doth not find mankind religious and godly; but it makes them so. As Seneca said concerning Plato, that philosophy did not find Plato noble, but made him so." By the grace of God I am what I am," 1 Cor. xv. 10. And here we may certainly say, in the language of Juvenal, great respect is due to youth of this description; and the church of Christ ought to be deeply concerned for their welfare. Such are the hope of the church. Farther, with relation to our young Whitaker, while he was at the grammar school, there was found some good thing in him toward the Lord God of Israel, 1 Kings xiv. 13. For on several occasions, he discovered a very strong propensity unto the office of the holy ministry. His father endeavoured earnestly, with repeated solicitations, to dissuade him from that choice; but could not prevail. And, the pious subject of this Memoir was so far from repenting of his choice, that both now, and afterward, he continued to magnify that office more and more. He often said, “I had much rather be a preacher of the gospel, than an emperor." And when he was, by a special designation of Divine providence, vested with that office, he esteemed it the most signal honour of his life to be employed therein. And, as the same objects of pursuit do not please all men; but some make choice of one employment, and others of another, according to their various inclinations: So among different choices, this was his fixed and permanent choice. Accordingly, when a motion was once made to him, to be the head of a College in the University, he readily replied, "My heart doth more desire to be a constant preacher, than to be the Master of any College in the world."

a Sen. Epist. 44.

b Maxima debetur puero reverentia, Juv. 14, 47. c Horace, Ode 1.

When he was sixteen years of age, being well instruct ed in grammar-learning, he was sent to the University of Cambridge, and admitted into Sidney College, where he had a liberal education, and proceeded in arts. He was soon held in high reputation for his excellent parts, and scholarship. And his name is enrolled among the learn ed writers of that College, by Dr Fuller, in his History of the University of Cambridge. He commenced bachelor of arts, when he was twenty years of age. Afterward, he taught the free school in Okeham, the chief town in Rutlandshire, where he continued about seven years. Here he married the daughter of the Rev. and eminent William Peachy, minister at Okeham. By her he had four sons, and three daughters. He designed all his sons for the holy ministry, such was his regard for the service of Christ, his Lord and Master. And he lived to

see two of them ordained to that office.

One died while

he was a student in Cambridge. He appointed the other one to be educated for that office. Being vested with that office which he so ardently desired, he entered upon a pastoral charge at Stretton, in the county of Rutland, where he continued a careful, faithful, and diligent mi nister of the gospel, about the space of thirteen years. He was now in his own element, like a fish in the water, or a bird in the air. Beside his pastoral employment, preach. ing twice every Lord's day at Stretton, he also constantly carried on a weekly lecture at Okeham; and supported some other institutions of that kind in the neighbourhood. -He set apart days for fasting and humiliation in secret and private often; and was very ready to join in such exercises, when called thereto, either in Rutlandshire, or in the adjacent countries. He was equally attentive to family duties, and the devotion of the closet, wherein he ardent. ly sought communion with God. His ordinary course in his family was, to worship God, and to expound some part of the Holy Scriptures, twice every day. Beside, he read parts of God's word in secret; and he usually read all the epistles in the Greek Testament twice every

a Hist. page 154.