JOSEPH, a learned English divine, was born at Berden in Essex in October 1586. While attending school at Wetherfield in his native county, he taught himself Hebrew from a copy of Bellarmine's Grammar, which he had picked up during a visit to London. He entered Christ's College, Cambridge, at the age of sixteen, and took his degree of M.A. in 1610. At this time his accomplishments and his devotion to study might have set him on a fair road to church preferment; but passionately fond of academic retirement, he settled down contentedly in a fellowship which he obtained through the interest of Bishop Andrews. Soon after this he was appointed reader of the Greek lectures of Sir Walter Mildmay's foundation, an office which he occupied till his death. The time not occupied with these duties was spent in the study of history, both sacred and profane, and in applying his acquisitions in that branch of knowledge to the elucidation of Holy Writ. In 1618 he took the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, and modesty alone prevented him from taking that of Doctor. In 1627 Archbishop Usher paid a tribute to his learning and worth by recommending him to the provostship of Trinity College, Dublin; but this appointment Mede declined, nor had he altered his mind when the offer was repeated in 1630. Not less remarkable for piety than for learning, he was a strenuous promoter of the design for the universal pacification among Protestants; and he regularly devoted a tithe of his income to charitable and pious purposes. He died in October 1638.

Mede's principal work is his Clavis Apocalypticæ, published in 1627, and translated into English in 1643. According to Bishop Hurd, it was the first rational attempt to interpret the Apocalypse. A collection of Mede's works was published, with a Life by Dr Worthington, in 1 vol. folio, London, 1672.