William Bull (minister)
Encyclopedia
William Bull was an English independent minister.
Bull was born in 1738 near Wellingborough
, Northamptonshire
. His father, John Bull, belonged to a puritan
family, but he fell into evil courses, and the children were taken under the roof of their grandfather. The third son of John Bull was William.
He learned to read Hebrew with no help but an old Bible with Hebrew letters heading the sections of the 119th psalm. He also possessed Whiston's ‘Mathematics,’ and made such progress in this science as to become, while yet in his teens, a contributor to Martin's ‘Mathematical Magazine.’ A disordered state of health compelled him to give up his secular occupation, and he left his grandfather's house to reside with his elder brother John, who was settled in business at Bedford
. He improved his knowledge of Latin under the direction of the Rev. Samuel Saunderson, and learned Greek with the assistance of the Rev. James Belsham, at that time pastor of the independent church at Newport Pagnell
, but residing at Bedford.
In 1759 Bull was admitted a student at the dissenters' academy at Daventry
. Some of the students at that time had a leaning to Arianism
; Bull was a decided Calvinist, and such he remained to the end of his days.
In 1764 Bull succeeded Belsham as pastor of the church at Newport, and to increase his limited income he received pupils for instruction. Among his scholars were some who afterwards obtained good positions in the world, like Sir John Leach, master of the rolls.
In 1768 Bull married a daughter of Mr. Thomas Palmer of Bedford. Soon afterwards he formed an acquaintance with the Rev. John Newton of Olney
, resulting in a lifelong intercourse and frequent correspondence. Bull occasionally preached at the great house at Olney, where Mr. Newton conducted his prayer meetings with the assistance of the poet Cowper. It was for these prayer meetings that Cowper composed some of the Olney hymns. Afterwards Bull became more intimately acquainted with Cowper, and through Bull's watchfulness several of Cowper's poems were preserved from destruction. He also induced Cowper to translate into English verse some of the poems of Madame Guyon. They were afterwards printed at Newport Pagnel with a preface by Bull. Cowper has extolled his faithful friend in both prose and verse.
At Olney vicarage Bull met Mrs. Wilberforce, aunt to the celebrated statesman, and sister to the benevolent John Thornton
. She invited Bull to visit her in London
, and there she introduced him to her brother. About this time the evangelicals projected a new academy ‘to prepare young men for the ministry.’ Mr. Newton drew up a plan, and a proposal was made for Bull to superintend the arrangements, and thus turn Bull's school into an academy. In 1783 the academy commenced with two students; it soon increased its numbers, and continued for many years. From this institution about a hundred men were sent forth into the Christian ministry. Mr. Thornton was the principal supporter, and behaved with princely generosity, supplying all Bull's needs, even to the day of his death.
His acquaintance with Mrs. Wilberforce and his intercourse with the Thorntons brought Bull into the company of Mr. Zachary Macaulay
, Mr. Thomas Babington
, and their friends Colonel Makelcan and Major Handfield, names well known in the evangelical movement as the ‘Clapham Sect
.’
Although he lived a long and busy life, Bull's health was never robust. In the opening of the year 1814 he became weaker, and died of his old complaint on 23 July in the seventy-seventh year of his age.
Besides his academical duties at home, Bull frequently preached in London; and Lady Huntingdon's chapels all made great demands on his time and talents. He was occupied three or four years in writing an ‘Exposition of the Book of Psalms.’ The only thing mentioned as printed in a separate form is ‘Seasonable Hints,’ written while on a trip to Ireland
. It was printed at Dublin, and freely distributed during the journey. It has probably disappeared.
Bull was born in 1738 near Wellingborough
Wellingborough
Wellingborough is a market town and borough in Northamptonshire, England, situated some from the county town of Northampton. The town is situated on the north side of the River Nene, most of the older town is sited on the flanks of the hills above the river's current flood plain...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. His father, John Bull, belonged to a puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
family, but he fell into evil courses, and the children were taken under the roof of their grandfather. The third son of John Bull was William.
He learned to read Hebrew with no help but an old Bible with Hebrew letters heading the sections of the 119th psalm. He also possessed Whiston's ‘Mathematics,’ and made such progress in this science as to become, while yet in his teens, a contributor to Martin's ‘Mathematical Magazine.’ A disordered state of health compelled him to give up his secular occupation, and he left his grandfather's house to reside with his elder brother John, who was settled in business at Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
. He improved his knowledge of Latin under the direction of the Rev. Samuel Saunderson, and learned Greek with the assistance of the Rev. James Belsham, at that time pastor of the independent church at Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell is a town in the Borough of Milton Keynes , England. It is separated by the M1 motorway from Milton Keynes itself, though part of the same urban area...
, but residing at Bedford.
In 1759 Bull was admitted a student at the dissenters' academy at Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
. Some of the students at that time had a leaning to Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
; Bull was a decided Calvinist, and such he remained to the end of his days.
In 1764 Bull succeeded Belsham as pastor of the church at Newport, and to increase his limited income he received pupils for instruction. Among his scholars were some who afterwards obtained good positions in the world, like Sir John Leach, master of the rolls.
In 1768 Bull married a daughter of Mr. Thomas Palmer of Bedford. Soon afterwards he formed an acquaintance with the Rev. John Newton of Olney
Olney
-Places:United Kingdom*Olney, Buckinghamshire, a town near Milton Keynes, England**The Olney Hymns, a collection of hymns written thereUnited States*Olney, Alabama*Olney, Georgia*Olney, Illinois*Olney, Kentucky*Olney, Maryland...
, resulting in a lifelong intercourse and frequent correspondence. Bull occasionally preached at the great house at Olney, where Mr. Newton conducted his prayer meetings with the assistance of the poet Cowper. It was for these prayer meetings that Cowper composed some of the Olney hymns. Afterwards Bull became more intimately acquainted with Cowper, and through Bull's watchfulness several of Cowper's poems were preserved from destruction. He also induced Cowper to translate into English verse some of the poems of Madame Guyon. They were afterwards printed at Newport Pagnel with a preface by Bull. Cowper has extolled his faithful friend in both prose and verse.
At Olney vicarage Bull met Mrs. Wilberforce, aunt to the celebrated statesman, and sister to the benevolent John Thornton
John Thornton
John Jason Thornton is a former American football defensive tackle of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia.In addition to four years in Tennsseee, Thornton also played six seasons...
. She invited Bull to visit her in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and there she introduced him to her brother. About this time the evangelicals projected a new academy ‘to prepare young men for the ministry.’ Mr. Newton drew up a plan, and a proposal was made for Bull to superintend the arrangements, and thus turn Bull's school into an academy. In 1783 the academy commenced with two students; it soon increased its numbers, and continued for many years. From this institution about a hundred men were sent forth into the Christian ministry. Mr. Thornton was the principal supporter, and behaved with princely generosity, supplying all Bull's needs, even to the day of his death.
His acquaintance with Mrs. Wilberforce and his intercourse with the Thorntons brought Bull into the company of Mr. Zachary Macaulay
Zachary Macaulay
Zachary Macaulay was a slavery abolitionist and campaigner.-Early life:Macaulay was born in Inveraray, Scotland, the son of the Rev. John Macaulay Zachary Macaulay (2 May 1768 – 13 May 1838) was a slavery abolitionist and campaigner.-Early life:Macaulay was born in Inveraray, Scotland, the son of...
, Mr. Thomas Babington
Thomas Babington
Thomas Babington was an English philanthropist and politician. He was a member of the Clapham Sect, alongside more famous abolitionists such as William Wilberforce and Hannah More...
, and their friends Colonel Makelcan and Major Handfield, names well known in the evangelical movement as the ‘Clapham Sect
Clapham Sect
The Clapham Sect or Clapham Saints were a group of influential like-minded Church of England social reformers based in Clapham, London at the beginning of the 19th century...
.’
Although he lived a long and busy life, Bull's health was never robust. In the opening of the year 1814 he became weaker, and died of his old complaint on 23 July in the seventy-seventh year of his age.
Besides his academical duties at home, Bull frequently preached in London; and Lady Huntingdon's chapels all made great demands on his time and talents. He was occupied three or four years in writing an ‘Exposition of the Book of Psalms.’ The only thing mentioned as printed in a separate form is ‘Seasonable Hints,’ written while on a trip to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was printed at Dublin, and freely distributed during the journey. It has probably disappeared.