Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rogers, Richard (1550?-1618)
ROGERS, RICHARD (1550?–1618), puritan divine, born in 1550 or 1551, was son or grandson of Richard Rogers, steward to the earls of Warwick. He must be distinguished from Richard Rogers (1532?–1597) [q. v.], dean of Canterbury. He matriculated as a sizar of Christ's College, Cambridge, in November 1565, and graduated B.A. 1570–1, M.A. 1574. He was appointed lecturer at Wethersfield, Essex, about 1577. In 1583 he, with twenty-six others, petitioned the privy council against Whitgift's three articles, and against Bishop Aylmer's proceedings on them at his visitation ('Second part of a Register,' manuscript at Dr. Williams's Library, p. 330; Brook, Puritans, ii. 275; David, Nonconformity in Essex,, p. 78). Whitgift suspended all the petitioners. After a suspension of eight months Rogers resumed his preaching, and was restored to his ministry through the intervention of Sir Robert Wroth. Rogers espoused the presbyterian movement under Cartwright, and signed the Book of Discipline (Neale, Puritans, i. 387). He is mentioned by Bancroft as one of a classis about the Braintree side, together with Culverwell, Gifford, and others (Bancroft, Dangerous Positions, p. 84). In 1598 and 1603 he was accordingly again in trouble; on the former occasion before the ecclesiastical commission, and on the latter for refusing the oath ex officio (Baker MSS. xi. 344; Brook, Puritans, ii. 232). He owed his restoration to the influence of William, lord Knollys, and acknowledged his protection in several passages of his diary (quoted in David, u.s.) Under the episcopate of Richard Vaughan [q. v.], bishop of London between 1604 and 1607, he enjoyed much liberty; but under Vaughan's successor, Thomas Ravis [q. v.], he was again persecuted. Rogers died at Wethersfield on 21 April 1618, and was buried on the right side of the path in. Wethersfield churchyard leading to the nave of the church (see his epitaph in Congregational Mag. new ser. April 1826). Rogers was the father of Daniel (1573-1652) and Ezekiel Rogers, both of whom are separately noticed, and the immediate predecessor at Wethersfield of Stephen Marshall [q. v.]
Rogers wrote:
- 'Seaven treatises containing such directions as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures,' 1603; 2nd edit. London, 1605, dedicated to King James; 4th edit. 1627, 8vo, 2 parts; 5th edit. 1630, 4to. An abbreviated version, called 'The Practice of Christianity,' is dated 1618, and was often reissued.
- 'A garden of spirituall flowers, planted by R[ichard] R[ogers], W[ill] P[erkins], R[ichard] G[reenham], M. M., and G[eorge] W[ebbe], London, 1612 8vo, 1622 16mo, 1632 12mo, 1643 12mo (2 parts), 1687 12mo(2parts).
- 'Certaine Sermons, directly tending to these three ends, First, to bring any bad person (that hath not committed the same that is unpardonable) to true conversion; secondly, to establish and settle all such as are converted in faith and repentance; thirdly, to leade them forward (that are so settled) in the Christian life … whereunto are annexed divers … sermons of Samuel Wright, B.D.,' London, 1612, 8vo.
- 'A Commentary upon the whole book of Judges, preached first and delivered in sundrie lectures,' London, 1615, dedicated to Sir Edward Coke.
- 'Samuel's encounter with Saul, 1 Sam. chap. xv. … preached and penned by that worthy servant of God, Mr. Richard Rogers,' London. 1620.
[David's Nonconformity in Essex, p. 108 ; Chester's John Rogers, pp. 238, 243; State Papers. Dom.; Granger's Biogr. Hist.; Firmin's Real Christian, p. 67, 1670 edit.; Kennett's Chronicle, p. 593; Rogers's Works in the British Museum.]