letter to the church of Hampton is preserved. When he returned to America is not mentioned; but he lived to be the oldest minister in New England. He died in 1680, leaving children who were highly respectable for their character and stations. His son, grandson, and great grandson were counsellors of Massachusetts.

WIGGLESWORTH EDWARD, D. D. Hollis professor of divinity at Harvard College, was the son of Michael Wigglesworth, pastor of the church at Malden, who was graduated in 1651, and was also a fellow of the corporation. He died June 10, 1705, aged 74. Among his publications was a poem, called the "Day of Doom," which has been celebrated by good people in New England. It is a curious and scarce book. His son Edward was graduated in 1710, and deserves a place in the highest class of his contemporaries. To an extensive knowledge in his profession, he added the ornaments of classical literature. He was also as remarkable for his piety as his learning. As a minister of a particular church he might not have shone among the popular preachers; but he was completely accomplished for the chair of divinity professor. As soon as the benev. olent and pious Mr. Hollis of London laid a found dation for such a professorship in New England, the eyes of the clergy were turned towards Mr. Wigglesworth. Dr. Colman, in a letter to Mr. Hollis, speaks of him, "as a man of known and exemplary piety, literature, modesty, meekness, and other christian ornaments." He was publickly inducted into his office, in the college hall, Oct. 24, 1722, and in 1724, elected a member of the corporation. The university of Edinburgh presented him with a diploma of doctor in divinity in the year 1730. Не was elected rector of Yale College, but declined on account of his deafness which also unfitted him to shine in conversation, for which he had fine talents. On this account, however, he paid more attention to his studies, and his lectures were filled with arguments, excellent thoughts, liberal views of the christian doctrines, and just discrimination of the contested points. His polemical pieces gave him a high reputation abroad, as well as in New England. The Whitefieldian controversy employed the pens of several divinės, some of whom exposed his vanity and enthusiasm, which he had enough of when he was a young man, as he afterwards confessed; none wrote in such an engaging and interesting manner as professor Wigglesworth. He wrote in an animated and nervous style, and mingled the glow of resentment with a delicate, satirical mode of reproving a man who had endeavoured to blast the reputation of an institution, which he knew nothing about. Dr. Wigglesworth wrote his answer to Mr. Whitefield's reply to the college testimony, in 1745. In 1754, he preached two lectures upon "the distinguishing characters of the ordinary and extraordinary ministers of Christ." These were occa. sioned by Mr. Whitefield's preaching at Cambridge, and were printed at the request of the students.

The latter years of Dr. Wigglesworth's life were years of infirmity and pain. He was patient and submissive, an example to those who highly estimated his character. He died, January 19, 1765, in the 73d year of his age.

WIGGLESWORTH EDWARD, D. D. son of the first Hollis professor of divinity, was graduated at Harvard College, 1749; was tutor when his father died, and chosen to succeed him in the professorship. He was a learned man, and very much attached to the interests of the college. Upon the death of Dr. Winthrop, in 1779, he was elected fellow of the corporation. When the society in Scotland for propagating the gospel among the Indians

in North America, established a corresponding board in Boston, he was chosen secretary. He received a diploma of doctor of divinity from the university of Harvard in the year 1786.

Dr. Wigglesworth was one of the original mem. bers of the American academy of arts and sciences. Being unable to attend his professional duties by reason of paralytical affections, which greatly debil. itated his mind and body, he resigned his professor. ship in 1791. But the legislature of the college continued him as professor emeritus till his death, in 1794.

He published, in the year 1775, "calculations on American population, with a table for estimating the annual increase," &c. He printed two sermons, one "upon the death of Dr. Winthrop;" the other was the Dudleian lecture " against the errors of the church of Rome," 1786.

WILLARD SAMUEL, pastor of the Old South church in Boston, and vice president of Harvard College, was one of the most celebrated divines of Massachusetts. His descent was honourable. His father was a member of the council, and at the head of the militia.* He sent his son to Harvard College, that he might receive a liberal education. His genius was uncommon, and he made such progress in his studies, as gave lively hopes of future usefulness. He was settled in the first place at Groton, an obscure situation for a man of such great abilities, who was not only a profound scholar, but an eloquent speaker, possessing every qualification necessary to give a great man a splendid reputation. The place where he dwelt being destroyed by the Indians, and the flock of which he was pastor scattered in the wilderness, he was invited to fix his station in the metropolis, where he became a great blessing to the churches, and of eminent service to the college. "The providence that occasioned his removal to this place," says his eulogist, " was an awful judgment upon the whole land; yet was eventually a mercy in this respect, that it made way for the translation of this bright star to a more conspicuous orb, where his influence was more extensive and beneficial; and in this it was a great blessing to this congregation, to this town, and to all New England. His common sermons might have been pronounced with applause, before an assembly of the greatest divines."* But as a writer he has been more known to the succeeding generations. He was fond of publishing his works, and was called upon on all great occasions to deliver his sentiments from the pulpit. No divine, except Dr. Cotton Mather, in this country prepared more works for the press; and they were all calculated to do honour to the author, and edify pious people. He died in the 68th year of his age, Sept. 12, 1707, having been minister of the third church in Boston from April 10, 1678.†

• Pemberton's discourses, page 137.

† His works are numerous. In 1673, he published three sermons, containing useful instruction for a professing people; the artillery election sermon, 1676; a funeral sermon on gov. Leverett, 1679; animadversions upon the Baptists, 1681. From this time to 1690, about 20 sermons, or tracts. In 1682, miscellaneous observations on witchcraft, in a dialogue between S. and B.; in 1693, the covenant of redemption, and rules for discerning the times; in 1694, the election sermon; and artillery election sermon in 1699. The same year, a course of sermons upon spiritual devotions; in 1700, a volume of sermons on the blessed man,

WILLARD JOSIAH, secretary of the province of Massachusetts bay, son of that famous divine, Mr. Samuel Willard, was born in Boston. He was graduated at Harvard College, 1698. The next year he was chosen tutor, and continued in that office till he entered on his travels. Having visited several parts of the West Indies, and Europe, he returned to his own country, improved in mind and manners. His piety gave a lustre to his moral character, and he appeared with the dignity, grace and politeness of the gentleman in his private walk, and in every publick station. In 1717 he was appointed secretary of the province; in 1731, judge of probate; in 1734 he was elected one of his majesty's council. He resigned most of his publick offices as he grew into the vale of years; but continued to do his duty as secretary till his death. He departed this life, Dec. 6, 1756, in the 76th year of his age. Dr. Sewall, and Mr. Prince, each printed a funeral sermon upon the occasion, in which his character is fully delineated. These gen. tlemen were intimately acquainted with him; Mr. Prince had been his pupil.

WILLIAMS ROGER, minister of the gospel, and governour of the Providence plantations, was born in Wales, and educated at the university of Oxford. He was a minister of the church of England before he came to Boston, but disliking the form and government of the episcopal church, he left his native country, and came into this American wilderness. Here he expected to enjoy liberty of thinking, and and a number of single sermons on particular texts of scripture, for particular occasions; in 1701, a number of sermons upon Satan's temptations; two upon brotherly love, &c.; in 1703, a brief reply to George Keith; in 1704, a sermon, Romans viii. 31; in 1706, the just man's prerogative, a sermon, Prov. xii, 21.

His posthumous works are, a thanksgiving sermon upon the return of a young gentleman from his travels, 1709; sacramental meditations, a volume, 1711; in 1726, the body of divinity, being 250 lectures upon the assembly's shorter catechism, which is a very complete view of the doctrine of the New England