John Harris

John Harris, D. D.—This learned person was the Sob of Mr. Richard Harris, rector of Hardwick in Buckinghamshire; born at that place in the year 1588, educated in grammar learning at Wickham school, near Winchester, and admitted perpetual fellow of New College, Oxford. In the year 1617 he was unanimously elected one of the proctors of the university; and two years after was chosen Greek professor, both of which offices he filled with great honour. Afterwards, he was prebendary of Winchester, rector of Meanstock in Hampshire, and, in the year 1630, he became warden of Wickham college. In the beginning of the civil wars, he took part with the parliament, and was appointed one of the assembly of divines; when he took the covenant and other oaths, and kept his wardenship to the day of his death. He died August 11, 1658, aged seventy years, and his remains were interred in the chapel belonging to Wickham college. Dr. Harris was so admirable a Grecian, and so eloquent a preacher, that Sir Henry Savile used to call him the second Chrysostom.* He published "A short View of the Life of Dr. Arthur Lake, bishop of Bath and Wells," 1629. Several of his letters to the celebrated Dr. Twisse were also published by Mr. Henry Jeanes, in 1653. Ope of these letters was "Of God's finite and infinite Decrees;" another, "Of the Object of Predestination." It does not appear, however, that he was any relation to Dr. Robert Harris, another puritan divine who lived at the same time.