WILLIAM, a learned English divine in the 17th century, was born in 1641, and educated at Eton school, where he distinguished himself by the vigour of his genius and his application to study. Thence he was removed to Cambridge, where he took his de- grees. In 1669 he became rector of the parish of St George, Botolph-lane, in London; and in 1681 was col- lated to the prebend of Pancras, in the cathedral of St Paul's. He was likewise chosen master of the Temple, and had the rectory of Therfield in Hertfordshire. Af- ter the Revolution he was suspended from his preferment, for refusing the oaths to King William and Queen Ma- ry; but at last he took them, and publicly justified what he had done. In 1691 he was installed dean of St Paul's. His Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity engaged him in a warm controversy with Dr South and others. Bishop Burnet tells us, he was "a clear, a po- lite, and a strong writer; but apt to affume too much to himself, and to treat his adversaries with contempt." He died in 1707. His works are very numerous; a- mong these are, 1. A Discourse concerning the Know- ledge of Jesus Christ, against Dr Owen. 2. Several pieces against the Papists, the Socinians, and Diffracters. 3. A practical Treatise on Death, which is much ad- mired. 4. A practical Discourse on Providence. 5. A practical Discourse on the Future Judgment; and many other works.

Dr Thomas, bishop of London, was the son of the preceding Dr William Sherlock, and was born in 1678. He was educated in Catharine hall, Cambridge, where he took his degrees, and of which he became master: he was made master of the Temple very young, on the resignation of his father; and it is remarkable, that this mastership was held by father and son successively for more than 70 years. He was at the head of the opposition against Dr Hoadley bishop of Bangor; during which contest he published a great number of pieces. He attacked the famous Collins's "Grounds and Reasons of the Christian Religion," in a course of six sermons, preached at the Temple church, which he intitled "The Use and Intent of Prophecy in the several Ages of the World." In 1728, Dr Sherlock was promoted to the bishopric of Bangor; and was transplanted to Salisbury in 1734. In 1747 he refused the archbishopric of Canterbury, on account of his ill state of health; but recovering in a good degree, ac- cepted the see of London the following year. On oc- casion of the earthquakes in 1750, he published an ex- cellent Pastoral Letter to the clergy and inhabitants of London and Westminster: of which it is said there were printed in 40,000; in 8vo, 20,000; and in 12mo, about 30,000; before pirated editions, of which not less than 50,000 were supposed to have been sold. Under the weak state of body in which he lay for several years, he revised and published 4 vols of Sermons in 8vo, which are particularly admired for their ingenuity and elegance. He died in 1762, and by report worth £50,000. "His learning," says Dr Nicholls, "was very extensive: God had given him a great and an un- derstanding mind, a quick comprehension, and a solid judgment. These advantages of nature he improved by much industry and application. His skill in the civil and canon law was very considerable; to which he had added such a knowledge of the common law of England as few clergymen attain to. This it was that gave him that influence in all causes where the church was con- cerned; as knowing precisely what it had to claim from its constitutions and canons, and what from the com- mon law of the land." Dr Nicholls then mentions his constant and exemplary piety, his warm and fervent zeal in preaching the duties and maintaining the doctrines of Christianity, and his large and diffusive munificence and charity; particularly by his having given large sums of money to the corporation of clergymen's sons, to several of the hospitals, and to the society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts: also his bequeathing to Catha- rine-hall in Cambridge, the place of his education, his valuable library of books, and his donations for the founding a librarian's place and a scholarship, to the a- mount of several thousand pounds.