HOWE, John, English Puritan divine: b. Loughborough, Leicestershire, 17 May 1630; d. London, 2 April 1705. He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, and Magdalen Col lege, Oxford, of which latter he was a Fellow and chaplain. About 1654 he was appointed per petual curate of Great Torrington, Devonshire; in 1657 Cromwell appointed him as his domestic chaplain. As such he served until Richard Cromwell's deposition in 1659. During his ab sence from Great Torrington various substi tutes acted in his place amongst whom was Increase Mather (q.v.). He was frequently styled "The Platonic Puritan" and is ranked as the greatest of the Puritan clergymen. He was an eloquent preacher and a powerful contro versialist, but fortunately free from animosity or theological bitterness. He was a prolific writer. His works were collected and pub lished in various editions (in 2 vols., 1724; in
8 vols., 1822; in 1 vol., 1838; in 3 vols., 1848; in 6 vols., 1862-63). Amongst them have been especially valued 'A Treatise on the Blessed ness of the Righteous, etc.' (1668) ; (A Treat ise of Delighting in God, etc.) (1674) ;