BEVERIDGE, WILLIAN1, was born at Barrow in Leicestershire, A.D. 1638, and was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, where he distinguish. ed himself, by his uncommon attainments in the learn ed languages, by his early piety and seriousness of mind, and by his exemplary sobriety and integrity of life. He took the degree of master of arts in 1660 ; and was ordained priest the following He was soon after collated to the vicarage of Yealing in Middlesex ; and in 1672, was chosen rector of St Peter's, Cornhill, London. He was successively pro moted to the prebend of Chiswick, the archdeaconry of Colchester, the prebend of Canterbury, and the bishopric,of St Asaph. He enjoyed the episcopal dignity little more than three years ; and died in the 71st year of his age, A. D. 1708. Bishop Beveridge published, during his life, the following works : De Liiiguarum Orientalium, 8rc. prestantia et usu, 1658. Institutionum Chronologicarum libri duo, &c. 1669. zVYZOCOY sive pandectw Canonum, S. S. &c. 1672. Codex Canonum, &c. vindicatus, 1679. The Church Catechism explained, &c. 170•. And after his death were published ; Private Thoughts upon Religion, &c. Private Thoughts upon a Christian Life, &c. The great Advantage and Necessity of Public Prayer and Communion, &c. One hundred and fifty Ser mons and Discourses, &c. 12 vols. 8vo. Thesaurus Theologicus, or a Complete System of Divinity, &c. 4 vols. 8vo. A Defence of the Book of Psalms, col lected into English Metre, by Thomas Sternhold, &c. Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles.. In 1711, there was published in London, a very severe attack upon the bishop's works, in a pamphlet entitled, A Short View of Dr Beveridge's Writings, &c. in which .
he is charged with a strong tendency to jingle and quib bling in his style, with inaccurate reasoning, and with defective arrangement in many of his discourses; but the writer seems to have been chiefly, influenced by a dislike of his Calvinistic sentiments. Whatever di versity of opinion may be entertained on these points, it cannot easily be denied, that Bishop Beveridge was possessed of very extensive learning, and a great r, variety of useful knowledge; that lie was remarkable • for his intimate acquaintance with sacred scripture, a readiness in producing, and a felicity in explaining, the most suitable passages on all occasions ; that his writings are distinguished by a truly primitive and apostolical character, and by a rare unity of gravity and simplicity ; that he was remarkably diligent, re gular, and earnest in every part of his pastoral duties ; and that, the higher his preferments, the more watch ful and exemplary he became in the whole of his conduct, the more laborious and zealous in advancing the honour and interests of religion. He was an able and active opposer of the principles of popery, and one of the framers of the English liturgy. He be queathed the greater part of his property to cha ritable purposes in his native village ; and to the so cieties for propagating the gospel, and for promoting Christian knowledge. See Biog. Britannica. Biog. Dictionary. Noble's Continuation of Granger, Guardian, vol. i. N° 74. Felton's Dissertation on reading the Classics, &c. p. 190. Nelson's Life of Bp. Bull, p. 75. (q) • •