DR Offspring, bishop of Exeter in the beginning of the 18th century, was born at London in 1654, and educated at Catharine-Hall, Cambridge. For two years he refused to take the oath of allegiance to King William and Queen Mary, but at last submitted to the government, though he seemed to condemn the Revolution, and all that had been done pursuant to it. He was a man of great piety, had much primitive simplicity and integrity, and a constant evenness of mind. In a sermon before the house of commons, Jan. 30. 1699, he animadverted on Toland's assertion in his life of Milton, that Charles I. was not the writer of the Icon Basilike, and for some insinuations against the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures; which produced a controversy between him and that author. In 1700, he preached a course of sermons in St Paul's, at Boyle's lecture, which were afterwards published; and was consecrated bishop of Exeter in 1707. He died at Exeter in 1716, and was interred in the cathedral there.