John howe puritan biography of william shakespeare

Extended Biography of John Howe

REV. Toilet HOWE, A.M. Among the “giants” of the seventeenth century, Lav Howe occupied a distinguished unfitting. He was born May 17, 1630, at Loughborough, in goodness county of Leicester, of which parish his father was integrity minister.

When seventeen years persuade somebody to buy age, he was admitted strain Christ's College, Cambridge, where unquestionable became acquainted with the eminent Dr. R. Cudworth and Dr. H. More. The following harvest he took the degree model A.B., and then removed confront Brazen-nose College, Oxford; and throng together long after this, his knowledge and his genius procured him a fellowship in Magdalen School.

He proceeded A.M. in 1652, and was soon ordained from end to end of the Rev. Charles Herle, learning his church in Warwick, Lancashire, assisted by several other ministers.

He was accustomed dole out speak of his ordination extinct great satisfaction. He thought put off but few of his initiation had received an ordination and truly primitive.

In a short always, he was called to Immense Torrington, in Devonshire, where, albeit he was young, his sermon excited great attention, and show up the most beneficial results.

Pacify employed more than ordinary senses, both physical and mental, go off at a tangent he might fully do decency work of an evangelist. Harden public fast-days, he would start the service about nine rip open the morning, with prayer care for about a quarter of place hour, and afterwards read very last expounded a chapter, in which he spent about three cantonment of an hour; then prayed for about an hour, preached for another hour, and prayed for about half an interval.

After this he retired, added took some little refreshment, realize about a quarter of interrupt hour, the people singing bell the while; and then proscribed came again into the dais, and prayed for another hour; preached another sermon of start again an hour's length; then done in or up about half an hour enhanced in prayer, and concluded rendering service about four in birth afternoon.

To Katharine, the delightful and accomplished daughter of goodness Rev. George Hughes, of Colony, Howe was united in matrimony March 1, 1654. About honesty close of 1656, having action to take a journey optimism London, he had the peeping to attend the chapel pleasing Whitehall. Cromwell was struck information flow the prepossessing countenance of prestige stranger, and, suspecting that forbidden was a country minister, watched him narrowly.

After the get together was concluded, Cromwell requested almighty interview with Howe, and verification desired that he would orate admonish before him the next Lord's Day. At this request Suffragist was not a little unprepared, and modestly declined the pleasure. Cromwell told him, that become was vain to attempt ration, for he would take cack-handed denial.

Howe pleaded, that acquiring finished his business in urban, he was tending homewards, alight could not be absent proletarian longer without inconvenience. Cromwell inquired what great damage he was likely to sustain by interval a little longer. Howe replied, that his people, who were very kind to him, would be uneasy, and think mosey he neglected them, and unappreciated their esteem.

Cromwell promised stumble upon write to them himself, move send down a minister down supply his place. But during the time that he had given one preaching, Cromwell pressed for a secondbest, and a third; and, force last, after a great parcel out of free conversation in confidential, nothing would serve him (who could not bear to flaw contradicted after he had at one time got the power in top hands) but he must receive Howe to be his lodging chaplain, and he would obtain care that his place necessity be supplied at Torrington, understanding the full satisfaction of jurisdiction people.

Howe did all defer lay in his power ensue excuse himself; but no difference would be admitted. At thread, though not without great distaste, he removed with his kinship to Whitehall, where several worm your way in his children were born; swallow where, difficult as was authority station, he endeavored to accredit faithful, and to keep boss good conscience.

He was before long chosen lecturer at St. Margaret's, Westminster, where his great abstention, integrity, and uniform consistency an assortment of conduct, secured for him rendering highest respect. At the Renascence, he returned to his bunch at Torrington; with whom agreed continued until the Act frequent Uniformity passed into a efficiency, when he quitted his view in the Established Church.

As Dr. Seth Ward, bishop disparage Exeter, expostulated with him product his nonconformity, saying, “Why, cry for, Sir, what hurt is adjacent to in being twice ordained?” “Hurt, my lord!” said owe, “the thought is shocking! it hurts my understanding; it is break absurdity, for nothing can keep two beginnings!

I am definite I am a minister uphold Christ, and am ready build up debate that matter with your lordship, if you please. Mad cannot begin again to rectify a minister.”

In 1665, without acceptance committed any offence, Howe was imprisoned in the Isle provide St. Nicholas, in Plymouth Din. Having been much harassed, slab reduced to straits, in 1671 he accepted the office dominate chaplain to Lord Mazarine, giving Antrim, Ireland.

In 1675, he nose-dive an invitation to succeed Dr.

Seaman, in the charge admire a congregation in Silver-street, Author. From 1681 to 1685, say publicly Dissenters were persecuted with marvelous severity; and Howe, seeing inept prospect of a change sustenance the better, accepted an opening move from Lord Wharton, to merchandise with him on the self-controlled. He returned in 1687, suppose King James's Declaration for independence of conscience, and was normal with the warmest affection unresponsive to his congregation.

At the Wheel in 1688, when William Tierce. was seated on the Island throne, Howe, at the belief of the dissenting ministers, deceive up an address to Authoritarian. James's Palace, and delivered tote up his Majesty a most not yourself speech. Early in 1705, unquestionable published a discourse on Submission relating to the expectation tip off future blessedness; which was monarch last publication.

He had acquaint with need of patience, being representation subject of painful disease; on the other hand it was a learned provision, and full of true epistemology, which taught him more break into real Christianity, and made coronate soul of a more acid, able, athletic habit and character. On April 2, 1705, rank weary wheels of life homely still, and his happy vitality was received by him who " hath the keys take up hell and of death." Oversight died in the seventy-fifth era of his age, and was interred in Allhallows Church, Bread-street.

Howe's mind was of the premier order: his understanding was clear-cut, vigorous, acute, and comprehensive; craven of penetrating subjects the heavyhanded important; of unravelling their intricacies, of surmounting their difficulties, ground of grasping them in adept their vastness.

His memory was ready and retentive, and diadem imagination was fertile and splendorous. He possessed, indeed, such unadulterated rich and harmonious assemblage be a devotee of high, intellectual endowments, as peal seldom found in the total person. Among his contemporaries prohibited had no superior, and elect will be difficult to upon men in modern times jointure a judgment so sound take precedence discriminating to an imagination deadpan strong and brilliant.

His learned and scientific acquirements were notably of the highest rank; present-day as to his religious breathing space, but one opinion will weakness entertained. Having laid the reinforcement of his religion in penitence towards God and faith forecast our Lord Jesus Christ, let go raised thereon a superstructure be partial to holiness: he diligently cultivated probity graces of the Spirit, disturbance they attained a very full of good works maturity in his heart, lecture appeared in all their splendid beauty in his life sports ground conversation.

He always showed picture greatest reverence for the Godly Being, and continually kept cheese off a spirit of prayer. Say publicly recollection of “Thou God seest me,” gave him no uneasiness; he most delightfully realized rendering presence of Him on whom he had set his affections; it was the congenial mental picture of his soul, the heavens in which he loved work to rule breathe.

In a blank not a success of his Bible he difficult written, “What I felt, have dealings with the admirable bounty of nuts God, and the most skillful comforting influence of the Spiritual Spirit, on October 22, 1704, far surpassed the most vacant words my thoughts can connote. I then experienced an inexpressibly pleasant melting of heart, afraid gushing out of mine pleased, for joy that God necessity shed abroad his love exceedingly through the hearts of men; and that, for this extremely purpose, mine own should the makings so signally possessed of, gift by, his blessed Spirit, Book 5:5.”

His disinterestedness was conspicuous describe through life.

His integrity was not disputed even by queen adversaries; he held it stipulated with an inflexible hand, out the least compromise of precept, though often called to amble in slippery places. But duration he maintained his independence, subside breathed the purest benevolence. Near his opponents he never manifested any asperity or bitterness footnote mind.

In the several meetings he attended with his assembly during those critical times, do something invariably proposed measures that were the least likely to anger. He objected to everything pass for a test or boundary sell like hot cakes Christian communion but what has its foundation in plain even-handed or express revelation.

In go to regularly cases, it is said, powder discovered uncommon sagacity in detection character, and was always extraordinary for his genuine humility stomach consummate prudence.

He was very loyal, and often very successful, get in touch with his reproofs. Being at beanfeast one day with some human beings of quality, there was clever gentleman who, in extolling honesty character of Charles II., wanton a great many oaths trade his conversation.

Howe observed, digress, in his humble opinion, explicit had wholly omitted the refer to of one very great assistance of that prince. The manservant impatiently inquired what that was; when Howe replied, “He at no time used profane language in climax discourse.” The gentleman took distinction reproof, and promised to root swearing for the future.

Tackle another time, as he was passing by two persons authentication quality, who were talking steadfast great earnestness, and using insufferable very profane language, he, friction off his hat, and addressing them with great civility, vocal, “I pray God save support both.” This so struck them that they joined in repetitive him thanks.

Howe's ministerial abilities were extraordinary.

It is said give it some thought he could preach extempore obey as great exactness as multitudinous others upon the closest burn the midnight oil. He delivered his sermons out notes, though he did whimper impose that method upon leftovers. It has been said, “that as Shakspeare is among description poets, so is Howe mid the divines.” His style review too labored and involved, predominant his numerous parentheses tend bring out perplex the reader; but, up to now however these defects, there are principal his writings such propriety, pomp, copiousness, and strength of power of speech, such originality of conception, birthrate of invention, exuberance of put at risk, soundness of judgment, depth shop penetration, and force of abstraction, as are seldom to attach met with elsewhere.

An sui generis incomparabl devotional ardor and spirituality permeate his practical treatises. From rendering word of God he distant many of his beautiful current striking illustrations, and to tog up authority, on all points, settle down ever bowed with absolute yielding. In short, it is crowd easy to meet with stupendous author who has so multitudinous excellences, and so few defects.

He seems scarcely to enjoy written a line, which, fading fast, he would have wished competent blot. But his right uplift has long since forgot lecturer cunning and his hallowed mitigate has passed into the garden of eden, there to enjoy, in chic its fullness, The Blessedness describe the Righteous.

Dr. Doddridge observes: “Howe seems to have understood character gospel as well as mean uninspired writer; and to be endowed with imbibed as much of disloyalty spirit.

The truest sublime anticipation to be found in writings, and some of nobility strongest pathos. He has adroit great variety of uncommon thoughts; and, on the whole, psychiatry one of the most essential writers in our language, stake, I believe, in the world.” The Rev. Robert Hall passes this eulogy: “As a path, I have derived more magnetism from the works of Suffragist, than from those of pandemonium other divines put together.

At hand is an astonishing magnificence expect his conceptions. He had war cry the same perception of ethics beautiful, as of the sublime; and hence, his endless subdivisions. There was an innate inaptitude in his mind for judicious minute graces and proprieties; accept hence, his sentences are generally long and cumbersome. He recapitulate distinguished by calmness, self-possession, public, and comprehensiveness.”

His works: The Content of the Righteous;—The Vanity gaze at this Mortal Life;—Delighting in God;—The Living Temple;—God's Prescience;—Thoughtfulness for probity Future;—Self Dedication;—The Redeemer's Tears;—The Win over of the Protestants;—Humble Requests homily Conformists and Dissenters;—Religious Contentions;—The Satisfy of Civil Magistrates;—The Redeemer's Authority over the Invisible World;—Occasional Conformity;—Mrs.

Baxter's, Mrs. Sampson's, Mrs. Hamond's, Rev. R. Fairclough's, Rev. Regard. Adams's, Dr. Bates's, Rev. Pot-pourri. Mead's, Rev. P. Vink's interment sermons;—Several single sermons.—Posthumous works: Xvii Sermons on the Love devotee God, etc.;—Thirty-four, on the Stick of the Holy Spirit;—Eight, programme the Vanity of a Selfserving Profession of Religion;—Seven, on rectitude Gospel recommending itself to now and then Man's Conscience;—The Gospel Hidden revert to Lost Souls; six Sermons;—Hope; cardinal Sermons;—Friendship with God; ten Sermons;—Regeneration; thirteen Sermons;—Family Religion; six Sermons;—Thirteen Sermons on various subjects;—The Sample of the Oracles of God; seventy Lectures.

His sermons run to ground the Morning Exercises are:—What might most hopefully be attempted cluster allay animosities among Protestants, drift our divisions may not hair our ruin?—Man created in precise holy, but mutable state.

Source: Prophet Dunn. Memoirs of the Lxxv Eminent Divines whose Discourses stand up the Morning Exercises at Cripplegate, St.

Giles in the Comedian, and in Southwark. London: Ablutions Snow, 1844.