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BURKITT

Volume 5 · 211 words · 1815 Edition

WILLIAM, a celebrated commentator on the New Testament, was born at Hitcham in Northamptonshire, July 25, 1650, and educated at Pembroke-hall, Cambridge. He entered young upon the ministry, being ordained by Bishop Reynolds; and the first employment which he had was at Mildenhall in Suffolk, where he continued 21 years a constant preacher, first as a curate, and afterwards as rector of that church. In the year 1692, he had a call to the vicarage of Dedham in Essex, where he continued to the time of his death, which happened in the latter end of October 1703. He was a pious and charitable man. He made great collections for the French Protestants in the years 1687, &c., and by his great care, pains, and charges, procured a worthy minister to go and settle in Carolina. Among other charities, by his last will and testament, he bequeathed the house wherein he lived, with the lands thereto belonging, to be a habitation for the lecturer that should be chosen from time to time to read the lecture at Dedham. Besides his commentary upon the New Testament, written in the same plain, practical, and affectionate manner in which he preached, he wrote a volume, entitled The poor man's help, and the rich man's guide.