William Harris (Presbyterian minister)
William Harris, D.D. (c.1675 – 25 May 1740) was an English Presbyterian minister.
Life
William Harris was born in about 1675, probably in Southwark, where his mother was living as a widow in 1692. Walter Wilson, following Josiah Thompson, thinks he was educated at Timothy Jollie's Attercliffe Academy, near Sheffield (opened in 1689). Records of the presbyterian board show that in 1692–1696 he studied successively in the academies of John Southwell at Newbury, Berkshire, and James Waters at Uxbridge, Middlesex.
He began early to preach, and was some time assistant (unordained) to Henry Read at
On 12 April 1727 he succeeded
Death and legacy
Harris died, following a short illness, on 25 May 1740, and was buried (in 30 May) in Daniel Williams's vault at
Works
Harris published much, and, according to Walter Wilson, ranked as "the greatest master of the English tongue among the dissenters". Among his works are:
- Exposition of the Epistles to Philippians and Colossians, in the continuation of Matthew Henry's "Exposition", 1710
- Practical Discourses on … Representations of the Messiah, throughout the Old Testament, 1724; intended as a reply to Anthony Collins
- Memoirs of … Thomas Manton, D.D., 1725
- Funeral Discourses, 1736
- Four Discourses upon … the Lord's Supper, 1737
Besides other writings, Wilson gives a list of 38 individual sermons, the earliest in 1702, including 11 funeral and three ordination sermons.
References
- Newspapers.com.
- . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Harris, William (1675?-1740)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
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