CHILLINGWORTH, WILLIAM ( 1602-44 ). An eminent English theologian. lie was born in Oxford in 1602. educated at Trinity College, Oxford, and elected fellow- in 1628. The argu ments of a .Jesuit named Fisher induced him to become a Boman Catholic, and in 1630 he with drew to Douai; but his godfather, William Laud. then Bishop of London. persuaded him to reexamine the whole controversy between Homan Catholics and Protestants. the result of whieh was that in 1631 lie left Douai, and in 1634 re turned to the bosom of the Anglican Church. Four years later (1638), in Oxford. lie published a work entitled The Religion of Protestants u Safe Iloy to Salration. It was exceedingly keen, ingenious, and conclusive in point of argument. Chillingworth was perhaps the ablest disputant of his age; and had there not been a certain fickleness and want of solidity about his intel lect, and a nervous suspicion that all human reasoning might be vitiated by undiscovered lie might have produced a really great work. The Religion of Protestants acquired a
wide poliularity. Chillingworth was offered Church preferment. which he at first refused—having Cer tain scruples in regard to the subscription to the Thirty nine Articles-1ml afterwards accept ed. He became Chancellor of Salisbury. Preben dary of Brixworth. in Northamptonshire (1638), and ISlaster of IN'igton's Hospital in Leicester shire. He was a strong Royalist, and on the breaking out of the Civil War (1643) accom panied the King's forces. Ile died, a prisoner of war, at Chichester, January 30, 1d44. The best edition of The Religion of Protestants, along with his other works, appeared in 3 vols. (1838). For his Life, consult T. Birch (London. 1742).