GROVE (Henry), a learned and ingenious Presbyterian divine, was born at Taunton in Somersetshire, in 1683. Having obtained a sufficient stock of classical literature, he went through a course of academical learning, under the reverend Mr Warren of Taunton, who had a flourishing academy. He then removed to London, and studied some time under the Reverend Mr Rowe, to whom he was nearly related. Here he contracted a friendship with several persons of merit, and particularly with Dr Watts, which continued till his death, though they were of different opinions in several points warmly controverted among divines. After two years spent under Mr Rowe, he returned into the country, and began to preach with great reputation; when an exact judgment, a lively imagination, and a rational and amiable representation of Christianity, delivered in a sweet and well-governed voice, rendered him generally admired; and the spirit of devotion, which prevailed in his sermons, procured him the esteem and friendship of Mrs Singer, afterwards Mrs Rowe, which she expressed in a fine ode on death, addressed to Mr Grove. Soon after his beginning to preach, he married; and on the death of Mr Warren,
was chosen to succeed him in the academy at Taunton. This obliging him to reside there, he preached for eighteen years to two small congregations in the neighbourhood; and though his salary from both was less than twenty pounds a-year, and he had a growing family, he went through it cheerfully. In 1708, he published a piece, intitled The regulation of diversions, drawn up for the use of his pupils. About the same time, he entered into a private dispute by letter with Dr Samuel Clarke: but they not being able to convince each other, the debate was dropped with expressions of great mutual esteem. He next wrote several papers printed in the Spectator, viz. Numb. 588. 601. 626. 635. The last was republished, by the direction of Dr Gibson bishop of London, in the Evidences of the Christian Religion, by Joseph Addison, Esq. In 1725, Mr James, his partner in the academy, dying, he succeeded him in his pastoral charge at Fulwood, near Taunton, and engaged his nephew to undertake the other parts of Mr James's work as tutor; and in this situation Mr Grove continued till his death, which happened in 1738. His great concern with his pupils, was to inspire and cherish in them a prevailing love of truth, virtue, liberty, and genuine religion, without violent attachments or prejudices in favour of any party of Christians. He represented truth and virtue in a most engaging light; and though his income, both as a tutor and a minister, was insufficient to support his family, without breaking into his paternal estate, he knew not how to refuse the call of charity. Besides the above pieces, he wrote, 1. An essay towards a demonstration of the soul's immortality. 2. An essay on the terms of Christian communion. 3. The evidence of our Saviour's resurrection considered. 4. Some thoughts concerning the proof of a future state from reason. 5. A discourse concerning the nature and design of the Lord's supper. 6. Wisdom the first spring of action in the Deity. 7. A discourse on saving faith. 8. Miscellanies in prose and verse. 9. Many sermons, &c. After his decease, his posthumous works were published by subscription, in four volumes octavo, with the names of near 700 subscribers, among whom were some of the best judges of merit in the established church.