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behind him one son and two daughters, to lament the loss of a good father. His remains were interred in St. Mary's Church, Oxford, where a handsome monument has been erected to his memory.

Dr. Wallis did not apply to the science of mathematics until he had passed his fortieth year; and yet it is agreed, that he was second to no man in this department but Sir Isaac Newton. One accidental testimony of his great skill remains in his "Commercium Epistolicum," occasioned by a challenge given by Mr. Fermate, a Frenchman, to English, Dutch, and French mathematicians-Paris excepted-to answer a numerical question. Dr. Wallis accomplished it with great ease, and obtained high applause. In a letter addressed to Sir Kenelm Digby, it is said, "Now must Holland yield to England, and Paris to Oxford."

He possessed a vigorous constitution, a strong mind, calm, serene, and not easily thrown off its balance. He was reckoned the ornament of his country, and the glory of the University in which he was professor.

Memoirs of Dr. Wallis, with a fine portrait, were published in the "Universal Magazine," for March,

1802.

Dr. Wallis's published writings are,

1. Truth Tried, or, Animadversions on Lord Brooks' Treatise, called, The Nature of Truth.

2. Animadversions of R. Baxter's Aphorisms of Justification, and of the Covenant.

3. Tractus de loquela Grammatica, Physicus; or, Grammatica Linguæ Anglicana Cum Tractatu de loquela, seu sonorum formatione.

This is a very curious disquisition, in which the author attempts to explain all sounds used in articulate speech, and the organ by which they are uttered, with nine distinctions of the various sounds of the same letter. Upon this theory, he was led to the opinion, that mutes might be taught to speak.

4. Grammar of the English Tongue for the Use of Foreigners, written in Latin.

5. Elenchus Geometria Hobbianæ, a computation of Hobbe's Work, "De Corpore Philosophico."

6. Due Correction for Mr. Hobbes. An answer to his Six Lessons to the Professors of Mathematics, at Oxford.

7. Hobbiani Puncti Dispunctio, in answer to Hobbe's "Stigmai."

8. Hobbius Heautontimoruminos, in answer to Hobbe's "Examinatio, &c."

9. Mathesis Universalis, in two volumes.
10. Commercium Epistolicum.

11. Archimedes' Avenarius, et dimensio Circuli.
12. Claudii Ptolomæi, Opus Harmonicum.

13. Theological Discourses, containing eight Letters and eight Sermons on the Trinity.

14. Two Sermons.

the Resurrection.

1. On Regeneration. 2. On

15. A Defence of the Sabbath.

16. A Defence of Infant Baptism.

17. An Explanation of the Shorter Catechism.
18. His Letters, Pamphlets, &c.

In 1697, the curators of the press at Oxford, gave orders to have all Dr. Wallis's works collected and published together. They were, accordingly, published in 1699, in three volumes, folio, and dedicated to king William. A posthumous volume, containing thirteen sermons, was published in 1791, from the author's original MSS., by his great grandson, Mr. William Wallis. The doctrine of these sermons is strictly Calvinistic, the style plain, and the composition good. To these sermons, memoirs of the learned author are prefixed.

WARD, JOHN, a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, was for some time minister of Ipswich, in Suffolk, England. He preached before the House of Commons, a sermon entitled, "God Judging among the Gods," from Psalm lxxxii. 1, on a fast, March 26, 1645. And another before the Lords, in the Abbey Church, from Deuteronomy xxxiii. 16, on a thanksgiving, July 22, 1645, entitled, "The Good Will of Him who Dwelt in the Bush; or the Extra

ordinary Happiness of living under an Extraordinary Providence.'

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WHINCOP, JOHN, D. D., a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, is described in the ordinance of Parliament, calling the Assembly, as of St. Martins, in the Fields; and by Neal, as constant in his attendance. There are extant two sermons by a Doctor Whincop, preached before Parliament, which probably belong to the person here named.

WHITAKER, JEREMIAH, A. M., was born at Wakefield, in Yorkshire, in 1599. He received the elements of his education in the place of his birth. He seems to have become pious at an early age, for when a mere youth he often travelled eight or ten miles to hear an awakening and soul-refreshing sermon. also frequently joined serious persons in prayer, and other religious exercises.

He

At sixteen years of age, Mr. Whitaker was admitted into Sidney College, Cambridge, where he received a liberal education, and took his degrees in the arts. He commenced Bachelor of Arts when only twenty years of age. After leaving the University, he taught the free school, in Okeham, about seven years, and while resident here he married the daughter of the Rev. William Peachy, minister of the place; a man eminent in his day. Having entered the sacred office, he settled as a pastor at Stretton, in the county of Rutland, where he continued for about thirteen years, diligently performing the duties of his office. And he was not only constant and faithful in the public duties which devolved upon him, but also in the duties of the family and closet. To his own family he expounded a portion of Scripture twice every day; and he was so diligent in reading the sacred Scriptures, that it was a rule with him to read over all the epistles in the Greek Testament, every fortnight. By this means he became mighty in the Scriptures. The same course he recommended to his eldest son as an excellent method to make him

both a ready and a profitable preacher. He refused to read the Book of Sports, by which, and some other things, he was in danger of losing his living.

In the year 1643, Mr. Whitaker was nominated one of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, on account of his eminent piety and learning; and he was esteemed a very useful member of that venerable Synod. Upon coming up to London, he was called to the pastoral charge of Mary Magdalen Bermondsey, a rectory in Southwark. It was his custom to preach three or four sermons every week; two in his own charge, one in Westminster, and one at Christ Church, London. Beside, he was engaged in two lectures quarterly, and preached monthly at the "Morning Exercises;" add to this, that he was often called upon for occasional discourses, with which calls he was always ready to comply. And though he preached so often, his sermons were not mean nor empty, but solid and edifying.

Mr. Whitaker was in principle a Presbyterian. Dr. Fuller reckons him among the pillars of the Presbyterians in the Assembly; and Neal says, that no man was more beloved by the Presbyterians of London.

Mr. Calamy, in speaking of him, testifies, "that he was a burning and a shining light, in this our Israel; a messenger, and an interpreter; one among a thousand; a Bezaleel in God's Tabernacle; a true Nathaniel, who, by his integrity, humility, constancy, charity, publicness, and peaceableness of spirit, and by his diligence and faithfulness in preaching the gospel, made his life both amiable and desirable. I will say of him as it was said of Athanasius, that he was an adamant and a loadstone. To all who conversed with him he was a loadstone, to draw their hearts to love him; but in the cause of God, and in reference to the truths of Christianity, he was an unconquerable adamant." Dr. Fuller says, "He was a solid divine; a man made up of piety to God, pity to poor men, and patience in himself. His liberality knew no bottom but an empty purse; so bountiful was he to all

men." And Leigh, in his treatise of religious and learned men, says, "Jeremiah Whitaker, my worthy friend, a learned and pious Divine of the Assembly, who was a man mighty in the Scriptures, of an humble, melting spirit, laborious in his ministerial function, zealous for God's glory, and wonderfully patient in all the time of his heavy affliction." During the greater part of his life he was subject to painful diseases, by which he suffered much. He was attacked by both gout and stone at the same time. But while he was able to get to his pulpit, even on crutches, he was found there; and while engaged in preaching the gospel, he seemed to forget all his weaknesses and diseases. But at length he was confined to his bed, and endured extreme pain, which he bore with exemplary patience. While suffering under disease, a deep interest was taken in his case among the pious in and about London, and several days of prayer and fasting were observed on his account. Mr. Ashe says, "I never heard of any man so much prayed for, both in public and private. There was no particular case so frequently and so affectionately spread before God in most of the congregations about London, as his." During his affliction, he had the experience of very sweet manifestations of Divine love, and enjoyed much assurance of God's fatherly love in Christ.

When the time of his dissolution drew near, his pains became more violent; but the grace of God, which hitherto had supported him, did not forsake him. His faith and patience held out to the end of this painful conflict. His soul was buoyed up with the assured hope of soon being released from all his troubles, and being admitted into the society of the blessed. His pains were so excruciating, and the paroxysms so frequent, that his strength was exhausted, and his end evidently drew near; and no stranger ever more desired to be at home, than did this good man to be released from the body. The desired event, after long endurance of great pain, at length arrived. On the first day of June, 1654, he breathed

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