Philip Doddridge The Temper and Conduct of Primitive Ministers of the Gospel

Philip Doddridge was born in London, England on June 26, 1702, the youngest of twenty children. His health was so poor when he was born he was not expected to live, and Philip continued to be plagued by ill health all of his life. His parents died when he was a boy, but he was cared for by friends of the family. Recognizing Doddridge's intellectual abilities, one benefactress offered to pay Philip's studies at Cambridge. Philip rejected the offer, however, because he could not accept the tenets of the Anglican church. He went to a non-conforming seminary instead and became an evangelical, independent church leader.

At twenty-seven Doddridge began to pastor the Castle Hill congregational chapel in Northampton, England. He was to continue there for the next twenty-two years. While in Northampton Doddridge offered a theological training school to prepare young men for ministry in independent churches. Over the years Doddridge taught about 200 men, conducting classes in Hebrew, Greek, math, philosophy, Bible, and theology. Because of his many accomplishments, the University of Aberdeen conferred a Doctor of Divinity degree upon Doddridge in 1736.

Doddridge was a prolific writer. His The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul was translated into seven languages. Reading this book led William Wilberforce, foe of slavery, to become a Christian. Besides a New Testament commentary and other theological works, Doddridge also wrote over 400 hymns. Most of the