Edward Wells
Encyclopedia
Edward Wells was an English mathematician, geographer, and controversial theologian.
, Wiltshire
. He was admitted to Westminster School
in 1680, and elected to a scholarship at Christ Church, Oxford
, in 1686. He graduated B.A. in 1690 and M.A. in 1693.
He was inducted to the rectory of Cotesbach
, Leicestershire
, on 2 January 1702, and he was awarded the degrees of B.D. and D.D. on 5 April 1704. On 28 March 1716 he was instituted to the rectory of Bletchley, Buckinghamshire
, on the presentation of his former pupil, Browne Willis
. From the pulpit he attacked his benefactor; Browne Willis then published Reflecting Sermons considered; occasioned by several Discourses delivered in the Parish Church of Bletchley.
Wells died, holding both his livings, on 11 July 1727, and was buried at Cotesbach.
Life
He was the son of Edward Wells, vicar of CorshamCorsham
Corsham is a historic market town and civil parish in north west Wiltshire, England. It is at the south western extreme of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 which was formerly the main turnpike road from London to Bristol, between Bath and Chippenham ....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. He was admitted to Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
in 1680, and elected to a scholarship at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, in 1686. He graduated B.A. in 1690 and M.A. in 1693.
He was inducted to the rectory of Cotesbach
Cotesbach
Cotesbach is a village and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. The nearest town is Lutterworth, about to the north. The parish had a population of 212 according to the 2001 census.-External links:...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, on 2 January 1702, and he was awarded the degrees of B.D. and D.D. on 5 April 1704. On 28 March 1716 he was instituted to the rectory of Bletchley, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, on the presentation of his former pupil, Browne Willis
Browne Willis
Browne Willis was an antiquary, author, numismatist and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1705 to 1708.-Early life:...
. From the pulpit he attacked his benefactor; Browne Willis then published Reflecting Sermons considered; occasioned by several Discourses delivered in the Parish Church of Bletchley.
Wells died, holding both his livings, on 11 July 1727, and was buried at Cotesbach.
Works
Among his works are:- An edition of XenophonXenophonXenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
's ‘Memorabilia’ and ‘Defence of Socrates,’ Greek and Latin, Oxford, 1690. - ‘Elementa Arithmeticæ numerosæ et speciosæ,’ Oxford, 1698.
- ‘A Treatise of antient and present Geography, together with a sett of maps in folio,’ Oxford, 1701; 4th edit. London, 1726; 5th edit. 1738.
- ‘Tῆς πάλαι και τῆς νῦν Oἰκουμένης Περιήγησις, sive Dionysii Geographia emendata et locupletata, additione scilicet Geographiæ hodiernæ Græco Carmine pariter donatæ. Cum XVI Tabulis geographicis,’ Oxford, 1704, 1709; London, 1718, 1726, 1738, 1761.
- ‘Some Testimonies of the most eminent English Dissenters, as also of foreign reformed Churches and Divines, concerning the lawfulness of the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England, and the Unlawfulness of separating from it’ (anon.), Oxford, 1706.
- ‘The Invalidity of Presbyterian Ordination proved from the Presbyterians' own Doctrine of the Twofold Order; or a summary View of what has passed in controversy between Dr. Wells and Mr. Pierce … concerning the Invalidity of Presbyterian Ordination,’ Oxford, 1707. Concerned with James PeirceJames PeirceJames Peirce was an English dissenting minister, the catalyst for the Salter's Hall controversy.-Early life:The son of John Peirce, he was born at Wapping about 1674. His parents, who were in easy circumstances, were members of the congregational church at Stepney, under Matthew Mead...
. - ‘Treatises, designed for the use and benefit of his parishioners, dissenting as well as conforming,’ Oxford, 1707, 8vo. These are six separately published tracts, with a collective title-page.
- ‘Epistola ad Authorem anonymum Libelli non ita pridem editi, cui Titulus ‘Stricturæ breves in Epistolas D.D. Genevensium et Oxoniensium,’ Oxford, 1608 [mistake for 1708].
- ‘An historical Geography of the New Testament … adorned with maps; in two parts,’ London, 1708; 2nd edit. 1712; 3rd edit. 1718; new edit. published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1835.
- ‘An historical Geography of the Old Testament,’ London, 1711–12, 3 vols.
- This, with the ‘Geography of the New Testament,’ was reprinted at Oxford in two volumes, 1801, and again in 1809.
- ‘The Young Gentleman's Course of Mathematicks,’ London, 1712–14, 3 vols.; vol. i. was reissued as ‘The Young Gentleman's Arithmetick and Geometry,’ 2nd edit. 2 parts, London, 1723; vol. ii. was reissued as ‘The Young Gentleman's Astronomy, Chronology, and Dialling,’ 3rd edit., with additions, London, 1725; 4th edit. 1736.
- ‘Remarks on Dr. Clarke's Introduction to his Scripture-doctrine of the Trinity,’ Oxford, 1713.
- ‘A Paraphrase, with Annotations, on the New Testament; and the Book of Daniel,’ London, 1714–19, 2 vols.
- ‘The Rich Man's great and indispensable Duty to contribute liberally to the building, rebuilding, repairing, beautifying, and adorning of Churches,’ 2nd edit. London, 1717; reprinted at Oxford, 1840, with an introduction by John Henry Newman.
- ‘Dialogue betwixt a Protestant Minister and a Romish Priest; wherein is shewed that the Church of Rome is not the only true Church; and that the Church of England is a sound part of the Catholick Church of Christ,’ 3rd edit. London, 1723.
- ‘An Help for the more easy and clear understanding of the Holy Scriptures,’ being a Paraphrase, with Annotations, on the Old Testament, Oxford, 1724–7, 4 vols. This and the ‘Paraphrase on the New Testament’ contain, besides the paraphrase and annotations, discourses on subjects connected with the Scriptures. A detailed description of these discourses is given in Dr. Henry CottonHenry Cotton (divine)Henry Cotton was an Anglo-Irish churchman, ecclesiastical historian and author.-Life:He was a native of Buckinghamshire. Beginning in 1803, he spent four years at Westminster School and then in 1807 he entered Christ Church, Oxford. He obtained a B.A. in classics in 1811 and a M.A. in 1813...
's list of editions of the Bible.