Goodwin, Thomas, Dd

Goodwin, Thomas, D.D., a nonconformist Calvinistic divine of the 17th century, was born at Rolles by, Norfolk, October 5, 1600. He was educated at Christ Church College and Catharine Hall, Cambridge, of which he afterwards became fellow. In 1628 he became lecturer of Trinity Church, Cambridge, and four years afterwards was presented by the king to the vicarage of the same church. Refusing the terms of conformity, he relinquished his preferments, and in 1634 quitted the university. During the subsequent persecution of the Puritans he fled to Holland, where he became minister of a congregation at Arnheim. At the beginning of the Long Parliament he returned to London, and was one of the Assembly of Divines, with whom, however, he did not always agree. He becamea great favorite with Cromwell, through whose influence, in 1649, he was made one of the commissioners for licensing preachers, and appointed president of Magdalen College, Oxford. He was ejected at the Restoration. Anthony Wood styles him and Dr. Owen "the two Atlases and patriarchs of Independency." He died February 23, 1679. A portion of his works were published in five vols. folio (Lond. 1681); and besides those to be found there he wrote Certain select Cases resolved, specially tending to the Comfort of Believers in Temptation (London, 1647, 4to). The following have been recently reprinted, viz., Child of Light (London, 1840, 12mo): — Ephesians and Revelations (Lond. 1842, 8vo): — Christ the Mediator (Lond. 1846, 8vo): — Glories of Christ (1847, 8vo): — Government of the Church (1848, 8vo): — Justifying Faith (1848, 8vo): — Divine Decrees (1844, 8vo): — Works, condensed by J. Babb (London, 1847-49, 4 volumes, 8vo). A new and complete edition of Goodwin's works has just been completed in Nicholls's Series of standard Divines, making 12 vols. 8vo (Eldint). 1861-66), containing (volume 2) a Memoir of Goodwin, by Robert Halley, D.D. — Jones. Christian Biography, page 187; Darling, Enyclop. Bibliographica, 1:1289; Calamy, Nonconformists' Memorial; Neal, Hist. of the Puritans.