Doddridge, PHILIP

Doddridge, PHILIP, a great nonconformist divine, was born in London, 26th June 1702, the twentieth child of a well-to-do oilman of good descent. The Duchess of Bedford, to whom his uncle was steward, offered him an education at either university and provision in the church; but though dissuaded by Calamy, he determined to enter the nonconformist ministry on the advice of the famous Samuel Clarke. He was educated at a theological academy at Kibworth in Leicestershire (afterwards removed to Hinckley), presided over by John Jennings, a man not only of great intellect, but of uncommon breadth and toleration. In 1723 Doddridge became pastor of the dissenting congregation at Kibworth. After declining several invitations from congregations whose rigid ideas of orthodoxy he felt would be uncongenial to him, he settled in 1729 at Northampton as minister and president of a theological academy. Here he continued to preach and train young students for the ministry till shortly before his death, which occurred October 26, 1751, at Lisbon, whither he had gone for the benefit of his health. Doddridge was a man of the most amiable character, deep piety, and extensive accomplishments. He was at once liberal and evangelical, and with all his religious earnestness and enthusiasm had humanity enough for such 'levities' as cards and tobacco. His principal work is The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul (1745), which has been translated into Dutch, German, Danish, French, and even Syriac and Tamil. Besides this, may be mentioned The Family Expositor (6 vols. 1739-56); his Course of Lectures, delivered to the students under his charge, and published by the Rev. Samuel Clarke (1763); and a great variety of sermons on miscellaneous religious topics. His hymns have carried his name over the English-speaking religious world, perhaps the best known being 'Hark, the glad sound, the Saviour comes,' and 'O God of Bethel, by whose hand.' His works fill 10 vols. (Leeds, 1802-5). His Correspondence and Diary was edited by his great-grandson (5 vols. 1829-31). See also Stanford's Memoir (1880).