Stevens, William (1)

Stevens, William (1), a lay theologian, was born in the parish of St. Savior, Southwark, England, March 2, 1732. He was engaged in the hosiery business, but devoted much of his time to study, obtaining an intimate knowledge of the French language, and also a considerable acquaintance with the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. He was well versed in the writings of the Church fathers, and quite familiar with all the orthodox writers, of modern times. Such was the esteem in which he was held as a theologian that Dr. Douglass, bishop of Salisbury, said of him, "Here is a man who, though not a bishop, yet would have been thought worthy of that character in the first and purest ages of the Christian Church." He died in London, Feb. 6, 1807. He wrote, An Essay on the Nature and Constitution of the Christian Church, wherein are set forth the Form of its Government, the Extent of its Powers, and the Limits of our Obedience (anonymous, 1773): — Cursory Observations on an Address to the Clergy, etc., by Mr. Wollaston: — Discourse on the English Constitution (1776): — Strictures on a Sermon entitled The Principles of the Revolution Vindicated, by R. Watson (1776) : — The Revolution Vindicated, etc., an answer to the Rev. R. Watson's accession sermon (1776): — A New and Faithful Translation of Letters from M. L'Abbe de: — A Review of the Review of a New Preface to the Second

Edition of Mr. Jones's Life of Bishop Home. He edited the Works of Mr. Jones, with his life (12 vols. 8vo). The Memoirs of William Stevens, Esq., were printed for private distribution in 1812 (8vo), and in 1815 for sale.