GII.L, Joitx, DR., was born at Kettering in Northamptonshire, Nov. 23, O. S. r697. He was educated at the grammar school in his native town, and though only eleven years old when he left it, was disting-uished for his proficiency in classical learning. He acquired a knowledge cd Hebrew by the help of Buxtorf's grammar and lexicon. In i 716 he joined the Baptist Church at Kettering, and shortly after became assistant preacher. In 1719 he was chosen pastor of the church at Horsley Down, Southwark, and retained that office till his death, Oct. 14, z771. During the whole of his life he was an indefatigable stu dent. His literary reputation is founded chiefly on his Rabbinical learning, in which he had few equals. His Exposition of the New 7'estantent, in 3 vols. folio, appeared in 1746-174S ; his Exposi tion of the Prophets, with a Dissertation on the Apo cryphal Writings, in 1757-1758 ; and the Exposi tiof: from Genesis to Solomon's Song, 4 vols. folio,
1763-x766. He had previously published an ex position of Solomon's Song in 1728, with a trans lation of the Chaldec Paraphrase ; a second edition appeared in 175r, and a third in i767, with many additions, but without the Targum. His other works connected with Biblical litemture are : The Prophecies of the Ola' Testament re.specting the Mes siah, 1728, in answer to Collins ; A Dissertation concerning the antiquity of the .Hebrew Language, Letters, Vozvel-points, and Accents, 1767; A disser tation on the Baptism of 7ewish Proselytes, ap pended to his Body of Divinity, 3 vols. 4to, 1770. His miscellaneous works, including sermons and several tracts relating to infant baptism, were re published after his death in 3 vols. 4to. He fur nished Dr. Kennicott with a collection of the pas sages from the O. T. quoted in the Talmuds and the Rabboth.—J. E. R.