Payne, William

Payne, William D.D., F.R.S., an excellent and learned English divine, flourished in the second half of the 17th century. He was rector of St. Mary's, Whitechapel, in 1681, and prebendary of Westminster in 1694. In 1681 he was admitted Fellow of the Royal Society; and died in 1696. His publications are, Learning and Knowledge recommended to the Scholars of Brentwood School, at their First Feast: a sermon on Pr 1:7 (Lond. 1682, 4to): — A Discourse concerning the Adoration of the Host, in Answer to T. G. and Mr. Boileau (Gibson's Preservative, 10:116; originally published 1685): — A Discourse concerning Communion in One Kind, in Answer to the Archbishop of Meaux (Gibson's Preservative, 8:320, and 9:1; originally published anonymously, 1687, 4to): — A Discourse on the Sacrifice of the Mass (Lond. 1688, 4to also in Gibson's Preservative, 6:215): — The Texts examined which Papists cite out of the Bible to prove their Doctrine concerning the Celibacy of Priests and Vows of Continence: in two parts (ibid. 2:382; originally published 1688): — Bellarmine examined, 6th Note: Agreement in Doctrine with the Primitive Church (ibid. 3:292; originally published 1688): — Family Religion, or the Duty of taking Care of Religion in Fatmilies, and the Means of doing it: a sermon on Jos 24:15 (Lond. 1691, 4to): — A Practical Discourse of Repentance, rectifying the Mistakes about it, especially such as lead to Despair or Presumrption, persuading and directing to the true Practice of it, and demonstrating the invalidity of a Death-bed Repentance (ibid. 1693, 8vo): — Discourses upon several Practical Subjects: with a Preface, giving some Account of his Life, Writings, and Death (ibid. 1698, sm. 8vo). See Stoughton, Eccles. Hist. of England (Church of the Restoration), 2:70; Darling, Cyclop. Bibliogr. vol. ii, S. V.