Taylor, Jeremy

(Aug. 15, 1613-Aug. 13, 1667). Leader among the “Caroline Divines.” He was born in Cambridge, England. Taylor studied at Gonville and Gaius College, Cambridge. He was ordained in 1633. He was a fellow at All Souls' College, Oxford, and in 1638 he became rector of Uppingham. Taylor was a zealous supporter of the royal cause. During the Commonwealth period he was deprived of all his preferments. After the Restoration, he was consecrated the Bishop of Down and Connor in Ireland on Jan. 27, 1661. Taylor was one of the leading devotional writers in English history. Among his most popular writings are A Discourse of the Liberty of Prophesying (1647), Rule and Exercises of Holy Living (1650), Rule and Exercises of Holy Dying (1651), and Ductor Dubitantium or the Rule of Conscience (1660). He was a popular preacher and has been called “the Chrysostom of England.” Taylor died in Lisburn, Ireland. He is commemorated in the Episcopal calendar of the church year on Aug. 13.