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Potter, Christopher, D.D.

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a learned English Arminian divine, nephew of the preceding, was born in Westmoreland about 1591. He was admitted to Queen's College, Oxford, in 1606, where he took, ill due time, both the degrees in arts and divinity. He was first made fellow, and in 1626 succeeded his uncle in the provostship of his college. Though a zealous puritanical preacher, he became at length an adherent of Laud. In 1628 he preached a sermon at Ely House upon the consecration of his uncle, who, "though a thoroughpaced Calvinist," says Wood (Athen. Oxon.), was made bishop of Carlisle by the endeavors of Laud. In 1633 Christopher Potter published, An Answer to a late Popish Pamphlet entitled "Charity Mistaken," which he wrote by the special order of Charles I, whose chaplain he was. In 1635 he was promoted to the deanery of Worcester, and in 1640 became vice- chancellor of Oxford, in the execution of which office he met with some trouble from the members of the Long Parliament. Upon the breaking-out of the civil wars he sent all his plate to the king, and declared that he would rather, like Diogenes, drink out of the hollow of his hand than that his majesty should want; and he afterwards suffered much for the royal cause. He was nominated to the deanery of Durham January, 1646; but was prevented from being installed by his death, which happened at his college in the March following. He was learned, and of exemplary life and conversation. He published, Father Paul's Hist. of the Quarrels of Pope Paul V with the State of Venice (Lond. 1626 4to): — Sermons (1629,8vo): — Want of Charitie (Oxf. 1633, 12mo); to this publication reference was made above: — Vindication of Myself touching the Doctrine of Predestination (1651, 12mo, and often since). See Hook, Eccles. Biog. 8:135; Fuller, Worthies of Westmoreland; Allibone, Dict. of B it. and Amer. Authors, s.v. (J. H.W.)