William Pemble

William Pemble, A. M.—This learned divine was the son of a minister, born at Egcrton in Kent, in the year 1591, and educated in Magdalen college, Oxford, where- Mr. Richard Capel was his tutor. From a child he was trained np in good literature, and profited in all kinds of knowledge, more than most others. From the tender years of infancy he was constantly taught in the school of Christ; so that, under the influence of divine grace, together with the sanctified use of his manifold afflictions and temptations, he attained a high degree of heavenly wisdom. Though he was young in years, he offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than many of his elder brethren.* At the university he acquired a most distinguished reputation, and became a celebrated reader of divinity in Magdalen college. According to our author, " he was a zealous Calvinist, a famous preacher, an excellent artist, a skilful linguist, a good orator, an expert mathematician, and an ornament to the society to which he belonged." Adrian Heereboord, the famous professor of philosophy at Leyden, was very profuse in the commendation of his learning and learned works.t Another writer observes, " that he thoroughly traced the circle of the arts; and attained a degree of eminence, not only in the sciences, but even in those more sublime speculations of which many are not capable."J

Magdalen college was the very nursery of puritans. Mr. Pemble was justly denominated one of them, though he did not carry his nonconformity, in certain points, quite so far as some of his brethren. He laboured openly to promote the reformation of the church, and encouraged the relaxation of subscription and other points of conformity. He was tutor to many puritans, who afterwards became distinguished ornaments for learning, piety, and usefulness. This divine, with many others, affords sufficient proof that the puritans were not all unlearned, or at all inferior in learning to those who conformed.^

Mr. Pemble going on a visit to Mr. Capel, formerly his tutor, but now minister at Eastington in Gloucestershire, was taken ill, and died at his tutor's house, in the thirtysecond year of his age. His remains were interred in the

• Pemble's Work«, Pref. Edit. 1687.
t Wood's Athens Oxon. vol. i. p. 405.
t Pemble on Justification, Pref. Edit. 1625.
S MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 705. (4.)

church-yard at that place, and over bit grave was the following plain monumental inscription:

Here lietb
the Body of
William Pemble,
Master of Arts and Preacher,
who died April 14,
1623.

He left the world in the comfortable and full persuasion of justification by faith in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.* Bishop Wilkins, in his list of the most excellent sermons in his time, includes those of Mr. Pcmble.t

His Works.—1. A Treatise of Justification by Faith, 1625.— 2. A Treatise of Providence.—3. The l!ook of Ecclcsiastes Explained, 16*28.—4. A Plea for Grace, more especially the Grace of Faith, 1629.—5. An Exposition of the first Nine Chapters of Zechariah, 1629.—6. Five godly and profitable Sermons, 1629.—7. Fruitful Sermons on 1 Cor. xv. 18, 19., 1629.—8. An Introduction to the Worthy Receiving of the lord's Supper, 1629.—9. De formarum originc, 1629.—10. De Senibus interim, 1629.—11. A Sum of Moral Philosophy, 1630.—12. The Period of the Persian Monarchy, 1631.— 13. Enchiridion Oratorium, 1633.—14. An Introduction to Geography, 1685.—The above articles in English were collected and published in one volume folio, 1635, being much esteemed and often reprinted.