Minister in London, and one of the assembly of divines at Westminster
Francis Woodcock was born in the city of Chester, the capital of Cheshire, in England, in the year 1614. He received his education in brazen-nose college, Oxford, where he took one degree in arts. He entered into the holy ministry while he was at the University, and was episcopally ordained, soon after which he removed from that seat of learning, and had a charge of souls bestowed upon him. Wood says, that "he was always puritanically affected;" which some persons will account no bad character. Accordingly, upon the commencement of the differences between the King and the Parliament, he readily espoused the cause of the latter, and was afterward chosen one of the assembly of divines at Westminster; and it is said, that he assiduously attended during the whole session. Being brought up to London, he was chosen lecturer of Lawrence-Jewry, and frequently preached at Olaves in Southwark, to which he was afterward appointed Minister by an Ordinance of Parliament, which was dated July 10, 1646. He took the covenant with the rest of his brethren, and was chosen Proctor to the University of Cambridge. He preached several times before the house of commons; and some of his sermons which he preached to that learned and respectable auditory have been published, and are still extant. He died in the midst of his days and of his usefulness. Wood says, that he died in 1651, or thereabout; but Mr Brook says, that he died in the year 1649, aged 35 years. His remains were interred in Olaves' Church, Southwark. He was esteemed a good scholar, and an excellent preacher. -- Mr Woodcock died young: but hooker said of that famous prints, Edward VI, King of England, "that though he died young he lived long, for life is in action." And the courtiers of Henry fourth, King of France, one day complimenting him up on the strength of his constitution, and telling him that he might live to be eighty years of age; he replied, "the number of our days is reckoned. I have often prayed to God for Grace, but never for a long life. A man who has lived well, has always lived long enough, however early he may die."
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