Venn, Henry, a pious clergyman of the Church
of England, was born at Barnes, Surrey, March 2, 1724. He was descended from a long line of ancestry- who had been clergymen in the English Church, and was early destined by his parents to perpetuate the succes- sion. Accordingly, he was educated at Bristol and at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1745; he also obtained a Reestat fellowship in Jesus College, where he remained until 1749. He took holy orders in 1747, but was not j'et converted. Upon due medi- tation, however, he was led to see his true condition, and sought and obtained rest for his eouI. He was ever after a pious and devoted Christian. In 1760 he accepted the curacies of Friday Street, London, and West Horsley, Surrey; and in 1754 he was appointed curate of Ciajiham, which he served tive years, preach- ing the doctrines of grace for which liis labors were so famous. He became vicar of Huddersfield in 1759, and rector of yelling, Huntingdonshire, in 1770. He died at Clapham, Jinie 24, 1797. His last rectory was in an obscure country parish; but Mr. Venn had access to the students of Cambridge, and exercised a highly beneti- cial influence in infusing into their minds evangelical princiiile and holy aspirations. Such were Robinson of Leicester, Simeon of Cambridge, Prof. Farrish, and others. Among other works, he jniblished The Com- plete Duty of Man, or a System, of ])octrinal and Prac- tical Christianity (1763), a work which has obtained great popularity. His Life and Letters were published in 1834, edited by his grandson. Rev. Henry Venn. See Church of England Magazine, \,'i^Q; Christian Guar- dian, p. 401, 441; Allibone, l)ict. of Brit, and A me?: A uthors, s. V.
Venn, John, a clergyman of the Church of Eng- land, son of Ilenrj' Venn of Barnes (cj. v.), was born at Clajiham in 1759. He was educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge ; instituted to the living of Little Dunham, Norfolk, in 1783 ; became rector of Clapham in 1792. He died at Clapham, July 1, 1813. Wk Sermons, with Memoir, were published in three volumes (1814- 16). He also contributed many valuable articles to the Chi'islian Observer, and wrote some minor works. See Christian Observer, 1813, p. 479 ; Allibone, Diet, of Brit, and A mer. A uthors, s. v.
Venning, Ralph, a Nonconformist divine, was born about 1(120. and educated in Emmanuel College, Cam- briilge. He dues not seem to have had any preferment
VENTIDIUS
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in the Church, except the lectureship of St. Olavc's, Southwark, from which he was ejected for Nonconformi- ty. i\Iiich of his time was given to literary pursuits. He died March 10, 1673.
Veiitidius (fully P. Yentidius Bassus), a Piceni- an wlio had been taken captive by the Romans, and af- terwards rose tlirough manj' low employments to the rank of consul in consequence of his military aid dur- ing the wars of the triumvirate. He was sent by i\Iarc Antony as his legate into Asia (B.C. 39), and in the end took possession of nearly the entire country, defeat- ing the I'arthians, and iinally gaining a triumph at Rome, B.C. otj. These exploits are recited by Jose- phus (A lit. xiv, 15 sq.) and the Roman historians. See Smith, J>ict. of Class. Biocj. s. v.
Ventura, Gioacchino, an Italian philosopher of the scholastic type, was born at Palermo, Dec. 8, 1792. He early became a member of the Order of Theatines, of which he was soon elected superior-general, and lield a high position in the Church. He was a prominent supporter of the reforms inaugurated by Pius IX, and a warm champion of popular rights. But in philoso- phy lie maintaineil the fundamental idea of scholasti- cism, iilacing the authority of the Church above reason, human conscience, or any other sovereignty. He died at Versailles, Aug. 3, 18(il. The following are his chief works: De Methudo PhUusnphundi (1828): — De la Vraie et de la FdKsse Philosophie (1852): — La Tradition et les Semi])eliii/ieiis de la Philosophie (18o-i) : — La Raison Philosophiqiie et Catholique (1854): — La Philosophie Chretienne (18G1). See \] eherw eg, Ilistori/ of Philoso- jihi), ii, 511.
Ventuiini, Gasparo, a painter of Ferrara, flour- ished about 15',)i. He tirst studied under Domenico Mona, and tlien went to (ienoa, where he became the disciple of Bernardo Castelli. He executed some works for the churches, but wrought mostly for individuals. See Spooner, Bio(j. Hist, of the Fine Arts, s. v.
Ventui'ini, Karl, a Protestant theologian of Ger- manv and doctor of philosophy, was born at Brunswick, Jan. 30, 1771, and tlied in 1849. He is the author of, Geisf der kritischen Philosophie in Beziehung an f Moral u. Religion (Altona, 1796-97 ) : — Natibiiche Geschichte des grossen Propheten von Nazereth ( 1800-2, 3 pts. ) : — Nachtrag dazu (Copenhagen, 1802): — Geschichte des Urchristenthums im Zusammeidiang mit der nntiir- lichen Geschichte des grossen Propheten (ibid. 1807-9, 2 vols.). Under the name of Phosphor he published I'om religiusen Schwindel, wie solcher sich neuerlich in dem Streite der preussischen Regierinig mit der romischen Curie zur Schau gestellt hat (Brunswick, 1839). See Winer, Handbuch der theolog. I/deratur, i, 284, 379 ; ii, 203; 7^\xchiM,Bihl. Theolog. i\,^'db\ Theologisches Uni- versal-Lexikon, s. v*. (B. P.)
Veniilus, in ancient Italian mythology, was a La- tinian whoin Latinusfruitlessly sent to Diomede,in Arpi, to secure help against /Eneas.