GLANV ILL, JOSEPH, was born at Plymouth in 1636. He was duetted at Exeter College, Oxford, and graduated B.A. in October, 655. The following year he removed to Lincoln College, took his degree in June, 1658 ; assumed —without ordination it is said—the niestly office, and became chaplain to Rouse, the Cromwellian Provost if Eton. In 1661 he published in a small 8vo. volume his 'Vanity of dogmatising,' which, when revised and extended, appeared in 1665 in 41n volume, under the title of 'Scepsis Scientifica •' or Confessed Ignorance the way to Science.' This work he dedicated to the newly 'ounded Royal Society, who, on the presentation of a copy of it, elected 3lanvill a fellow. Tho work is directed admittiug as esta olished any mere opinions in science, in other words, against the Aristotelian philosophy, and in defence of what was termed the new,' or experimental and inductive method. It is a very striking produc tion both in matter and style, and full of original and independent thought. As Hallam says of it in his History of Literature,' " few books are more deserving of being repriuted." Soon after the restoration of Charles IL, Glanvill obtained the rectory of Wirnbush, in Essex, and in 1662 he was presented to that of Frome Selwood, in Somersetshire. lu this year he published his ' Lux Orientalis; in which he treats of the pre-existence of souls; adopting as tho basis of his reasoning tho views of Henry More. In 1666 he published ' Considerations, touching the being of Witches and Witchcraft,' as a supplement to which ho prepared a collection of cases in support of his belief, entitled, •Sadducismus Triumphant; whioh, after Glenville death, was edited by Henry More of whom Glauvill was an earnest disciple. In 1666 he was presented to the
rectory of the Abbey church, Bath. Tho following year ho published his ' Defence of the Royal Society,' and in 1668 he followed this by a further and more complete defence, entitled, 'Plus Ultra, or, the Progress and Advancement of Knowledge since the days of Aristotle.' In 1667 he entered upon a controversy with Mr. Robert Crosse, vicar of Great Chew, and Dr. Henry Stubbe, physician, at Warwick, which led to several very angry pamphlets. Glauvill was very eminent as a preacher, and was frequently called upon to preach on public occasions. In 1678, he published an 'Essay on Preaching,' to which he added 'A Seasonable Defence of Preaching, and the plain way of it.' The same year he received from the king, who had already appointed him to be ono of his chaplains in ordinary, a prebendal stall in Worcester Cathedral; and he exchanged the rectory of Frome for that of Street. Ho died Nov. 4, 1630. Besides the works already mentioned, Glanvill pub lished ' Essays on several Important Subjects in Philosophy and Religion,' and several single urinous. After his death a volume of his ' Discourses, Sermons, and Remains' appeared, edited by Dr. Henry Him-neck, who wrote a warm eulogy upon him, both as a man and au author.