HALL, Joseph, an eminent prelate of the church of England, was born in 1574, and educated at Cambridge. He became professor of rhetoric in that university, and was then successively made rector of Halsted in Suffolk, presented to the living of Waltham in Essex, made prebendary of Wolverhampton, dean of Worcester, bishop of Exeter, and, lastly, bishop of Norwich. His works testify his zeal against Catholicism, and are much esteemed. He lamented the divisions of the Protestants, and wrote concerning the means of putting an end to these schisms. In 1616, he accompanied the embassy of Lord Doncaster into France, and upon his return was appointed by his majesty one of the divines who should attend him into Scotland. In 1618 he was sent, with other divines, to the synod of Dort, and pitched upon to preach a Latin sermon before that assembly. But being obliged to return before the synod broke up, on account of his health, he was by the states presented with a gold medal. His works, consisting of Miscellaneous Epistles, Mundus alter et idem, a just Censure of Travellers, the Christian Seneca, Satires, a Century of Meditations, and many other productions, were published at various periods in folio, quarto, and duodecimo. They have, however, been collected in a handsome, correct, and well-arranged edition, by the Reverend Josias Pratt, in ten vols. 8vo. As a moralist, Bishop Hall has been entitled the Christian Seneca. His knowledge of the world, depth of thought, and elegance of expression, place him nearer our own times than many of his contemporaries; whilst he adorned his own age by his learning, piety, and uniform exercise of all the Christian graces.
He died on the 8th of September 1656, in the eighty-second year of his age.