TEMPLE-J. WILKINSON. 101 the rest of the London ministers in their protestation against the king's death.. Wood denominates him " a forward preacher."+ He frequently preached before the parliament, and several of his sermons were afterwards published, one of which is entitled, " Christ's Government in and over his People, delivered before the honourable House of Commons at their Fast, October 26, 1642, on Psalm ii. 6.," 1642. But when he diedwe have not been able to learn. JOHN WILKINSON, D. D.-This venerable divine was born in the parish of Halifax in Yorkshire, and educated in the university of Oxford, where he was highly celebrated for learning4 He became fellow of Magdalen college, was tutor to Prince Henry, and afterwards made principal, of Magdalen-hall, in the same university. By his recommenda- tion, the well-known Mr. Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, was taken into the family of Lord Itardwicke, soon after created Earl of Devonshire, in the quality of tutor to his son Williani Lord Cavendish.§ Upon the commencement of the civil wars, he espoused the cause of the parliament; and Oxford being garrisoned by the royal forces, he fled to the parliament's quarters, when he was succeeded in the above office by Dr. Thomas Read. But in the year 1646, Dr. Wilkinson was restored ; and by an ordinance of parliament, dated May 1, 1647, he was appointed one of the visitors of the university of Oxford. In May, 1648, he was made president of Magdalen college, in the place of Dr. Oliver.H He did not, however, live long to occupy this public office ; for he died January 20649, and his remains were interred in the church of Great Milton in Oxfordshire. Though he was a manof great learning and piety,1t Dr. Walker is pleased to say, upon the slender authority of a scurrilous and abusive letter written against the puritans, " That he was known not to have preached above once in forty years; that he had out- lived the little learning he once possessed ; and was become the very sport of boys."** How far this account, from so base an authority, and evidently designed to reproach his memory, is worthyof credit,we will not attempt to determine; Calamy's Contin. vol. ii. p. 143. + Wood's Atheism Oxon. vol. i. p. 895. Watson's Hist. of Halifax, p. 526. Biog. Brit.. vol. iv. p. 2599. Edit. 1747. Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 126, 114.' II Neal's Puritans, vol. iii. p. 421. it. Walker's Attempt, part i. p. 127.
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