Benjamin Woodbridge
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Woodbridge was an English clergyman and controversialist, Harvard College
's first-ever graduate, and participant in the Savoy Conference
.
, Wiltshire
, and his wife Sarah (1593–1663), daughter of Robert Parker
. He matriculated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford, on 9 November 1638, and went in 1639 to New England
, where his elder brother, John Woodbridge
, had migrated in 1634 in company with his uncle, Thomas Parker
.
Benjamin was the first graduate of Harvard College, commencing B.A. in 1642. Returning to England, he re-entered Magdalen Hall, and proceeded M.A. on 10 November 1648. At that time he had already been doing duty as a minister in Salisbury
, and on 18 May had been appointed rector of Newbury, Berkshire
, where he had success with presbyterians. In 1652 he attempted to refute two ministers of Salisbury, Thomas Warren and William Eyre
, in a sermon on Justification by Faith, which was published and commended by Richard Baxter
. Eyre responded, Baxter upheld his own and Woodbridge's views and Woodbridge himself issued a reply.
Woodbridge was one of the assistants for the ejection of scandalous ministers in 1654. In 1657 the trustees for the maintenance of ministers granted an assistant for him at Newbury. At the Restoration
he was made one of the king's chaplains and had the canonry of Windsor offered him, but he hesitated and it was given to another. He was one of the commissioners at the Savoy conference in 1661, but was silenced by the Act of Uniformity 1662
. Subsequently he preached in private in Newbury, but was frequently disturbed and imprisoned. Eventually he consented to conform and take holy orders from John Earle
, bishop of Salisbury
, at Oxford in October 1665. But regretting his inconsistency he returned to his quiet preaching in Newbury until the indulgence of March 1675 enabled him to act with fuller publicity.
On the allegations of the Popish Plot
in 1678 he was encouraged to greater efforts, and preached a place of worship every Sunday at Highclere
in Hampshire
. In 1683 he retired to Englefield
in Berkshire, where he died 1 November 1684, and was buried in Newbury on the 4th.
. Woodbridge's book was republished in 1656 and in 1657. He also published in London 1601 a work by James Noyes (who had married his mother's sister), entitled Moses and Aaron; or the Rights of the Church and State. Woodbridge wrote some verses, inscribed on the tomb of John Cotton
of Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1652), which possibly gave Benjamin Franklin
a hint for his epitaph upon himself, based on comparison with a book and a new edition. Woodbridge, in words Franklin could have seen in Cotton Mather
's Magnalia Christi Americana
, wrote that Cotton was:
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
's first-ever graduate, and participant in the Savoy Conference
Savoy Conference
The Savoy Conference of 1661 was a significant liturgical discussion that took place, after the Restoration of Charles II, in an attempt to effect a reconciliation within the Church of England.-Proceedings:...
.
Life
He was the son of John Woodbridge (1582–1637), rector of Stanton FitzwarrenStanton Fitzwarren
Stanton Fitzwarren is a village and civil parish northeast of Swindon. It is historically in Wiltshire, but is now part of the unitary authority of Swindon.-Parish church:...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and his wife Sarah (1593–1663), daughter of Robert Parker
Robert Parker (minister)
Robert Parker English Puritan scholar and divine, who became minister of a separatist congregation in the Holland where he died while exiled for his heterodoxy. He was a descended from the Spencer family of Althorp, Northamptonshire...
. He matriculated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford, on 9 November 1638, and went in 1639 to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, where his elder brother, John Woodbridge
John Woodbridge
John Woodbridge VI was an English nonconformist, who emigrated to New England. He had positions on both sides of the Atlantic, until 1663, when he settled permanently in New England.-Life:...
, had migrated in 1634 in company with his uncle, Thomas Parker
Thomas Parker (minister)
Thomas Parker was an English nonconforming clergyman and founder of Newbury, Massachusetts.-Life:He was born probably at Stanton St. Bernard, Wiltshire, the only son of the Reverend Robert Parker, M.A. and Dorothy Stephens. He was admitted into Magdalen College, Oxford, but left when his father...
.
Benjamin was the first graduate of Harvard College, commencing B.A. in 1642. Returning to England, he re-entered Magdalen Hall, and proceeded M.A. on 10 November 1648. At that time he had already been doing duty as a minister in Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, and on 18 May had been appointed rector of Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
, where he had success with presbyterians. In 1652 he attempted to refute two ministers of Salisbury, Thomas Warren and William Eyre
William Eyre
William Eyre was an English landscape painter. He exhibited at the Croydon Art Society for 20 years but travelled extensively. From early on it the 1970s he lived in North Wales and continued to paint and exhibit. Eyre was a most accomplished artist working in both oil and watercolour. His work is...
, in a sermon on Justification by Faith, which was published and commended by Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
. Eyre responded, Baxter upheld his own and Woodbridge's views and Woodbridge himself issued a reply.
Woodbridge was one of the assistants for the ejection of scandalous ministers in 1654. In 1657 the trustees for the maintenance of ministers granted an assistant for him at Newbury. At the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
he was made one of the king's chaplains and had the canonry of Windsor offered him, but he hesitated and it was given to another. He was one of the commissioners at the Savoy conference in 1661, but was silenced by the Act of Uniformity 1662
Act of Uniformity 1662
The Act of Uniformity was an Act of the Parliament of England, 13&14 Ch.2 c. 4 ,The '16 Charles II c. 2' nomenclature is reference to the statute book of the numbered year of the reign of the named King in the stated chapter...
. Subsequently he preached in private in Newbury, but was frequently disturbed and imprisoned. Eventually he consented to conform and take holy orders from John Earle
John Earle
John Earle may refer to:*John Earle , English bishop*John Earle *John Earle , Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at the University of Oxford...
, bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
, at Oxford in October 1665. But regretting his inconsistency he returned to his quiet preaching in Newbury until the indulgence of March 1675 enabled him to act with fuller publicity.
On the allegations of the Popish Plot
Popish Plot
The Popish Plot was a fictitious conspiracy concocted by Titus Oates that gripped England, Wales and Scotland in Anti-Catholic hysteria between 1678 and 1681. Oates alleged that there existed an extensive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Charles II, accusations that led to the execution of at...
in 1678 he was encouraged to greater efforts, and preached a place of worship every Sunday at Highclere
Highclere
Highclere is a village and civil parish situated in the North Wessex Downs in the Basingstoke and Deane district of Hampshire, England. It lies in the northern part of the county, near the Berkshire border. It is most famous for being the location of Highclere Castle....
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. In 1683 he retired to Englefield
Englefield
-Geography:In England:* Englefield, a village in the county of Berkshire, England.* Englefield Green, a village in the county of Surrey, England.In Wales:* Englefield, an alternative name for the Cantref of Tegeingl in north Wales.-People:...
in Berkshire, where he died 1 November 1684, and was buried in Newbury on the 4th.
Works
Woodbridge published in 1648, under the pseudonym "Filodexter Transilvanus", Church Members set in Joynt, or a Discovery of the Unwarrantable and Disorderly Practice of Private Christians, in usurping the Peculiar Office and Work of Christ's own Pastours, namely Publick Preaching. The book was written in reply to a treatise entitled Preaching without Ordination, published the previous year by Edmund ChillendenEdmund Chillenden
Edmund Chillenden was an English soldier, known as an agitator and theological writer. At different times he was a Leveller and a Fifth Monarchist.-Life:...
. Woodbridge's book was republished in 1656 and in 1657. He also published in London 1601 a work by James Noyes (who had married his mother's sister), entitled Moses and Aaron; or the Rights of the Church and State. Woodbridge wrote some verses, inscribed on the tomb of John Cotton
John Cotton
John Cotton was an English clergyman and colonist. He was a principal figure among the New England Puritan ministers, who also included Thomas Hooker, Increase Mather , John Davenport, and Thomas Shepard and John Norton, who wrote his first biography...
of Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1652), which possibly gave Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
a hint for his epitaph upon himself, based on comparison with a book and a new edition. Woodbridge, in words Franklin could have seen in Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather, FRS was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer; he is often remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials...
's Magnalia Christi Americana
Magnalia Christi Americana
Magnalia Christi Americana is a book published in 1702 by Cotton Mather . Its title is in Latin, but its subtitle is in English: The Ecclesiastical History of New England...
, wrote that Cotton was:
- A Living Breathing Bible; Tables where
- Both Covenants, at Large, engraven were;
- Gospel and Law, in's Heart, had Each its Column;
- His Head an Index to the Sacred Volume;
- His very Name a Title-Page; and next,
- His Life a Commentary on the Text.
- O, What a Monument of Glorious Worth,
- When, in a New Edition, he comes forth,
- Without Errata’s, may we think he'l be
- In Leaves and Covers of Eternity!