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Moss, Robert, D.D.

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an English divine of distinction, was born of estimable parentage at Gillingham, in Norfolk, in 1666. He was educated first at Norwich school, then at Benet College, Cambridge, in 1682; made there B.A. and fellow in 1685, and B.D. in 1690; and entering holy orders, acquired great reputation both as a disputant and preacher. He was preacher to the Society of Gray's Inn, London, in 1698, and assistant preacher to Dr. Wake at St. James's, Westminster. in 1699. He was also sworn chaplain, in three succeeding reigns, to king William, queen Anne, and George I; and being one of the chaplains in waiting when queen Anne visited the University of Cambridge, April 5, 1705, he was then created D.D. In 1708 he was invited by the parishioners of St. Lawrence Jewry, on the resignation of dean Stanhope, to accept their Tuesday lecture, which he held till 1727, and then resigned it on account of his growing infirmities. In 1712, on the death of Dr. Roderick, he was nominated by the queen to the deanery of Ely, which was the highest but not the last promotion he obtained in the Church; for in 1714 he was collated by Robinson, bishop of London, to Gliston, a small rectory on the eastern side of Hertfordshire. The gout deprived him of the use of his limbs for some of the last years of his life, and he died March 26, 1729. His character may be seen in the preface to the eight volumes of his Sermons, which has usually been attributed to Dr. Snape, and has even been ascribed to him by Mr. Masters in his History of Benet College; but the credit of it has lately been transferred to Dr. Zachary Grey, who is now definitely known to have been the editor, and to have also written a Life of the dean, which has, however, never been published. He left no works of interest to us besides his sermons, He wrote a number of poems, among which the best are, In doctissimi Sherlocci librum nuper editum de usu ac fine doni prophetici, necnon praedictionum maxime memorabilium per continuatum ab initio usque saeculorum seriem (1726): — A brief and easy Paraphrase upon the triumphal Song of Moses, Exodus, chapter 15, from Exodus 15:1 to Exodus 15:20 : — A Lenten Thought. See Gener. Biog. Dict. s.v.; Hook, Eccles. Biogr. s.v.; Nichols, Anecdotes of Bowyer, page 78; Lond. Gentleman's Magazine, 73:1138. (J.H.W.)