Doddridge
PHILIP, an English Nonconformist clergyman and author; born in London, June 26, 1702. The Duchess of Bedford offered him an education at either university and provision in the Church; but he determined to enter the Nonconformist ministry. He was educated at a theological academy at Kibworth, in Leicestershire. In 1723 Doddridge became pastor of the dissenting congregation at Kibworth. 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 Oct. 26, 1751, in Lisbon.
Doddridge was at once liberal and evangelical. 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. 1739-1756). 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 volumes (Leeds, 1802-1805).
His "Correspondence and Diary" was edited by his great-grandson (5 vols. 1829-1831).