Spencer. John, a learned English divine, was a native of IJoctoii-uinler-Hlean, in Kent, where he was baptized Oct. 31, 11)30. lie was educated at Canter- biiry.aiid admitted to Corpus Christi College, Candiridge, March 25,1 045. taking his A.B.in 1G48,A.M. in lC,V2,and being chosen fellow in 165.5. He became a tutor, was ap- (Miiiited a university preacher, and served the cures, first of .St. Ciles and then of St. Benedict, in Cambridge. He look the degree of B.D. in 165!), and tiiat of D.D. in lG(i5; was presented, 16ti7, by his college to the rector}' of Lainlbeach, Cambridgeshire, and Aug. 3 was elected master of the college. About a month later he was j>rcferred liv the king to the archdeaconry of Sudbury, ill 1672 to a prebend of Ely, and in 1677 to the deanery of that church, lie resigned, 1683, the rectory of Land- beach in favor of his kinsman, \Vm. .Spencer. In 1687 he purchased an estate in Ehninglon, Xorlhaniptonshire, and settled it by deed on the college. lie died May 27, 169.0. Dr. Spencer )mlilished a sermon, I'he J)'i;/hte<i)is Hitler ( 1660): — .1 Discourse cnncertiiii;/ ] ' nxlit/ies (1663) ; a second edition was published (Lond. 1665, 8vo), to which was ailded a I^tin Dissertation concerning Urim and Thtimmim (1669, 1670): — .1 Discourse conceiiiing Vulgar Prophecies (1665, 8vo) : — De Let/ibiis Hebraornm Ititualihiis el eniiiiii Riilionihiis I.ihri Tres (Camb. 1685, 2 vols, fol.) ; afterwards greatly enlarged l)y the addi- tion of a fourth book, and published by order of the university (ibid. 1727,2 vols. fol.). "This is usually regarded as the best edition, although that by Pfaff (Tl)bingeii, 1732, 2 voLs. fol.) is in some respects more desirable.as it contains a dis.s<'rtation by the editor on the life of .Spencer, the value rif his work, its errors, and the author* wholinve written against it. The work is jire- ceded by f'riil,gi,mniii, in wliicli the author shows that the .MoNiir laws were not given by (Jod arbitrarily, but were founded on reasons which it is desirable ami ])rof- itoble to M-arch into, b<i far as the ol)scurity of the sub- ject |M-rmits. The work itsttlf is divided into three (in the wcoiid ediiiciii into four) books. The (irst book treats of the gemrni reasons of the Mosaic laws, with a disM'rtation on the Thiomicy. The stM-ond considers thorn! laws to which the customs of the /abeans, or .Sa- bi-ans, gave fx:ca.sion, with a dissertation on the apos-
tolic decree, Acts xv. The third discusses the laws and institutions to which the usages of the Gentiles fur- nished the occasion, in eight dissertations: 1. Of the rites generally transferred from Gentile customs to the law; 2. Of the origin of sacrifice; 3. Of purifications; 4. Of new moons; 5. Of the ark and cherubim ; 6. Of the Temple; 7. Of the origin of Urim and Thummim; 8. Of the scape-goat. The fourth book treats of the rites and customs which the Jews borrowed from the (ientiles, without, so far as appears, any divine warrant ; with a dissertation on phylacteries. The great error of this learned and admirable work is its derivation, to an undue extent, of the rites and ceremonies of the Jew- ish law from the idolatrous nations around; hut the er- ror is one of excess, not of principle ; for much that was incorporated in Judaism had been in existence from the earliest ages." See Chalmers, AVo.r/. /ViVV. s. v. ; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generate, s. v.; Allibone, Diet, of BHt. and Avier. A nthors, s. v.
Spencer, Robert O., a minister of the Jlethodist Episcopal Church, was born in Columbia. Ohio, F"eb. 10, 1806. He began to preach at the age of seventeen, and was admitted on trial into the Ohio Conference in 1824. He lalwred actively for thirty-four years, sixteen of them as presiding elder, when he was obliged, by reason of ill-health, to retire. He died shortly after, Aug. 30, 1858. He was unaffectedly pious, diligent in study, grave and dignified in the pulpit. See Minutes of An- nual Conferences, 1858, p. 298.
Spencer, Thomas, an English Dissenting minis- ter, was born in Hertford, Jan. 21, 1791. He wejit to school at a very early age, and his religious impressions and exercises were early manifested. The special in- clination of his mind was so early disclosed that preach- ers and preaching seemed to occupy all his thoughts. His manners were exceedingly amiable and engaging. At the age of twelve his convictions became settled that to preach was his duty. Difficulties beset him on every side; he was obliged to engage in work wholly unsuited to his taste, his father not being wealthy. But at length Providence opened his way, and a kind friend had him placed in an academy for the training of young men for the ministry. He was fifteen years of age when he came under the instruction of Pev. Mr, Hoiulle; with other studies, he commenced the study of Hebrew. He drew up a statement of his views of theological truth in connection with his call to the miiv istry. In January, 1807. having passed a remarkably good examination on all his studies, he went home, and while there preached h^s first public sermon. Those who heard him were filled with astonishment and ad- miration. His fame spread in every direction, and won- dering, weeping crowds followed him everywhere, in fields, barns, school-houses, workshops, in towns and cit- ies, as well as in the metropolis, and lady Huntingdon's chapel at Brighton. On Nov. 5 he w^as appointed to preach at Cambridge in the pulpit previously occupied by the Pev. Pobert Hall. ]\Ir. Spencer was ordered to go to Liverpool, and he entered u]ion his duties June 30, IHK). His preaching afl'ectcd all hearts, and during the five Sabbaths of his stay be attracted increasing multitudes from all parts, and at the close he received a unanimous call to the pastorate. This he accepted, though he had numerous calls from other places, in- cluding London. When he entered upon his pastoral lalxirs in Liverpool he was just twenty years of age. All the circumstances were of the most auspicious char- acter, and the congregation looked forward to a long and prosperous pastorate. On June 27, 1811, he was ordained and installed pastor. The Church at once be- gan to increase its membership by conversions, and God .set his seal u|)on his ministry; but alas that the flower which had just begun to o|)en with such bloom and beauty should be suddenly blighted ! On IMonday morn- ing, Aug. 5, 1811, he left his home and started out to take a bath. He entered the water near the llercula-