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WilliamBates

William Bates(1625-1699)

William Bates was born in London in November 1625, and was educated at Cambridge, initially at Emmanuel College and subsequently (1644) at Queens' College. In 1647 he proceeded B.A. He was a Presbyterian. His first living was St. Dunstan's-in-the-West, London, and he remained as vicar until the Act of Uniformity 1662 was passed, when he was ejected. He also took part with other evangelical clergy in carrying on a lecture series in Cripplegate church under the name of 'Morning Exercise.'

In the negotiations for the restoration of Charles II, Bates took part. Royal favour came to him, and he was appointed one of the royal chaplains. In 1660 he acted as one of the commissioners of the Savoy conference. In 1661 Cambridge conferred on him the degree of D.D. by royal mandate. At the same time he was urged to accept the deanery of Lichfield and Coventry, but like Richard Baxter, Edmund Calamy the elder, Thomas Manton, and others in their position, he declined office. Later, Bates conducted the discussion between the nonconformists and John Pearson, Peter Gunning, and Anthony Sparrow. In 1665 Bates took the oath imposed by the parliament which met at Oxford 'that he would not at any time endeavour an alteration in the government of church or state.' In this he was supported by John Howe and Matthew Poole, although Richard Baxter refused it.

In 1668 some of the more moderate churchmen endeavoured to work out a scheme of comprehension that would bring Presbyterians back into the Church of England. In this Bates, Baxter, and Manton co-operated. But no agreement could be reached. A little later he joined in the presentation of a petition to the king for 'relief of nonconformists.' His majesty received him graciously, but nothing came of it. Again in 1674, under the conduct of John Tillotson and Edward Stillingfleet, a fresh effort was made towards comprehension through Bates, but once more nothing came of it. After the accession of James II, the disabilities and sufferings of the nonconformists increased. Bates was at Baxter's side when George Jeffreys browbeat and insulted Baxter and his associates. He successfully interceded with Archbishop Tillotson in behalf of Nathaniel, Lord Crewe, bishop of Durham, who had been excepted from the act of indemnity of 1690.

On the accession of William III and Mary, Bates delivered two speeches to their majesties on behalf of the dissenters. In the last years of his life he was pastor of the presbyterian church of Hackney. He died there 14 July 1699, aged seventy-four, having outlived and preached the funeral sermons of Baxter, Manton, Thomas Jacomb, and David Clarkson. As a preacher he was held to be 'silver-tongued' and the 'politest' of all the nonconformists. John Howe's funeral sermon to Bates's memory was printed with Bates's works. [More via Wikipedia] [Short biography by James Marsh txt]

 

The (Nearly Complete) Works of William Bates:

The Whole Works of the Reverend William Bates, Volume 1. (587 pages) [pdf via Google Books]
Individual titles from this volume are listed below:

Title & Notes

Scripture

Pages

Available Formats
pdf epub txt azw web dp

Memoir of the Author. By the Rev. W. Farmer, 1815.

various

15

pdf

txt

Treatise on the Existence of God

various

55

pdf

Treatise on the Immortality of the Soul. This is a continuation of the Treatise on the Existence of God.

various

48

pdf

The Divinity of the Christian Religion. This is the final part of the Treatise on the Existence of God.

various

72

pdf

The Harmony of the Divine Attributes, in the Contrivance and Accomplishment of Man's Redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ

various

368

pdf

The Whole Works of the Reverend William Bates, Volume 2. (539 pages) [pdf via Google Books]
Individual titles from this volume are listed below:

Title & Notes

Scripture

Pages

Available Formats
pdf epub txt azw web dp

Sermons on the Forgiveness of Sins

Psalm 130:4

59

pdf

The Sure Trial of Uprightness

Psalm 18:23

73

pdf

The Great Duty of Resignation

Matthew 26:39

70

pdf

The Danger of Prosperity. Available as an e-book or in paperback from Digital Puritan Press in the bookstore.

Proverbs 1:32

81

pdf

Spiritual Perfection Unfolded and Enforced

2 Corinthians 7:1

240

pdf

The Whole Works of the Reverend William Bates, Volume 3. (531 pages) [pdf via Google Books]
Individual titles from this volume are listed below:

Title & Notes

Scripture

Pages

Available Formats
pdf epub txt azw web dp

The Everlasting Rest of the Saints

Hebrews 4:9

111

pdf

On Divine Meditation

Psalm 119:97

53

pdf

On the Fear of God

Job 28:28

63

pdf

The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell, Practically Considered and Applied in Several Discourses

Hebrews 2:15
Acts 17:31
Psalm 16:11
Mark 9:48

277

pdf

The Whole Works of the Reverend William Bates, Volume 4. (527 pages) [pdf via Google Books]
Various sermons, including funeral sermons for his friends and his own funeral sermon:

Title & Notes

Scripture

Pages

Available Formats
pdf epub txt azw web dp

God is (or, A Sermon on the Existence of God)

Hebrews 11:6

31

pdf

Sin the Most Formidable Evil (part 1)

Genesis 39:9

14

pdf

Sin the Most Formidable Evil (part 2)

Genesis 39:9

20

pdf

How Men are Said to be Sons of God

1 John 5:2

13

pdf

How to Bear Afflictions (part 1)

Hebrews 12:5

8

pdf

How to Bear Afflictions (part 2)

Hebrews 12:5

11

pdf

The Marriage Feast (part 1)

Luke 14:23

14

pdf

The Marriage Feast (part 2)

Luke 14:23

14

pdf

The Marriage Feast (part 3)

Luke 14:23

8

pdf

The Marriage Feast (part 4)

Luke 14:23

15

pdf

The Marriage Feast (part 5)

Luke 14:23

21

pdf

A Sermon upon the Death of the Queen. The funeral sermon of Queen Mary.

Psalm 102:26-27

25

pdf

Thomas Manton's Funeral Sermon

1 Thessalonians 4:17

35

pdf

Thomas Jacomb's Funeral Sermon

John 12:26

51

pdf

Richard Baxter's Funeral Sermon

Luke 23:46

50

pdf

David Clarkson's Funeral Sermon

John 14:1

45

pdf

Benjamin Ashurt's Funeral Sermon

Revelation 22:12

30

pdf

William Bates' Funeral Sermon. Preached by John Howe.

John 11:16

39

pdf

txt

Other Works:

An Account of the Life and Death of Mr. Philip Henry. (205 pages) [pdf via Google Books] - Philip Henry was Matthew Henry's father.

The Harmony of the Divine Attributes in the Contrivance and Accomplishment of Man's Redemption. (378 pages) [pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive] - Thank you Dave Bachman for finding this!

Vitae Selectorum Aliquot Virorum Qui Doctrina. (795 pages) [pdf via Google Books] - Warning: entirely in Latin!

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