Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rogers, John (1572?-1636)
ROGERS, JOHN (1572?–1636), puritan divine, a native of Essex, was born about 1572. He was a near relative of Richard Rogers (1550?–1618) [q. v.] who provided for his education at Cambridge. Twice did 1 the ungrateful lad sell his books and waste the proceeds. His kinsman would have discarded him but for his wife's intercession. On at third trial Rogers finished his university career with credit. In 1592 he became vicar of Honingham, Norfolk, and in 1603 he succeeded Lawrence Fairclough, father of Samuel Fairclough [q. v.], as vicar of Haverhill, Suffolk.
In 1605 he became vicar of Dedham, Essex, where for over thirty years he had the repute of being 'one of the most awakening preachers of the age.' On his lecture days his church overflowed. Cotton Mather reports a saying of Ralph Brownrig [q. v.] that Rogers would 'do more good with his wild notes than we with our set music.' His lecture was suppressed from 1629 till 1631, on the ground of his nonconformity. His subsequent compliance was not strict. Giles Firmin [q. v.], one of his converts, 'never saw him wear a surplice,' and he only occasionally used the prayer-book, and then repeated portions of it from memory. He died on 18 Oct. 1636, and was buried in the churchyard at Dedham. There is a tombstone to his memory, and also a mural monument in the church. His funeral sermon was preached by John Knowles (1600?–1685) [q. v.] His engraved portrait exhibits a worn face, and depicts him in nightcap, ruff, and full beard. Matthew Newcomen [q. v.] succeeded him at Dedham. Nathaniel Rogers [q. v.] was his second son.
He published: 1. 'The Doctrine of Faith,' &c., 1627, 12mo; 6th edit. 1634, 12mo. 2. 'A Treatise of Love,' &c., 1629, 12mo; 3rd edit. 1637, 12mo. Posthumous was 3. 'A Godly and Fruitful Exposition upon . . . the First Epistle of Peter,' &c., 1650, fol. Brook assigns to him, without date, 'Sixty Memorials of a Godly Life.' He prefaced 'Gods Treasurie displayed,' &c., 1630, 12mo, by F. B. (Francis Bunny?)
[Brook's Lives of the Puritans, 1813, ii. 421 sq.; Cotton Mather's Magnalia, 1702, iii. 19; Calamy's Account, 1713, p. 298; Granger's Biogr. Hist, of England, 1779, ii. 191 sq.; Davids's Annals of Evang. Nonconf. in Essex, 1863, pp. 146 sq.; Browne's Hist. Congr. Norfolk and Suffolk, 1877, p. 503.]