THE LIVES OF THE PURITANS. JOHN Don, A.M.-This celebrated divine was born at Shotwich in Cheshire, about the year 1549, was the youngest of seventeen children, and educated in Jesus college, Cambridge; where he continued nearly sixteen years, and was chosen fellow of the house. During his abode in the university, he became thoroughly convinced of his sins, betook himself to deep humiliation, and earnestly sought the blessings of pardon and peace through Jesus Christ; which, to his unspeakable comfort, he at last obtained. While at Cambridge ' he was particularly intimate with. Drs. Fulke, Chadderton, Whitaker, and others, who held their weekly meetings for prayer and expounding the scriptures. In the year 1615, a divine of the same name, and no doubt the same person, was elected proctor of the university.. Having received an invitation to become pastor at Hanwell in Oxfordshire, he left the university; and entered upon the stated exercises of the christian ministry. In this situation he preached frequently, catechized the youth, and united with others in wweekly lecture at Banbury. His labours at Hanwell were numerous, and most extensively useful. It is observed, that hundreds of souls were at this place converted under his ministry.+ He was about thirty years old when he' first settled at Hanwell, and remained there about twenty years, where he had twelve children by his first wife, the daughter of Dr. Nicholas Bound. After her death he took a second wife, and was married by his old friend Dr. William Gouge. Mr. Dod's great popularity and usefulness in 'the above situation, roused the envy of several neighbouring ministers, who, though they seldom preached themselves, would not Fuller's itist. of Camb. p. 139. + Clark's Lives annexed to his Martyrologie, p. 168, 169. VOL. 111.
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