LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SH A KP. 31 



the year aforesaid, March 28, 1679,) where there 

 was, not so much a concourse of people as a 

 convention of divines, especially those of the 

 city, who had customarily attended those lec- 

 tures, from the time that Dr. Tillotson, who was 

 the Tuesday lecturer, had so successfully led 

 the way in reforming the method and stile of 

 composures for the pulpit. Mr. Sharp, whether 

 he thought himself too young for this service, 

 and unequal to it, or whether he imagined it 

 would encroach too much upon his time, and 

 necessary attendance on his parish, or what- 

 ever was his reason, was very unwilling to 

 undertake it ; but at the earnest request of Dr. 

 Ben. Whichcot, (who was Vicar of St. Law- 

 rence's) he was at length prevailed upon to hold 

 the lecture as long as that doctor lived, but he 

 would hold it no longer; and, accordingly, when 

 Dr. Whichcot dropt, he quitted it. 



Being this same year of doctor's standing in 

 the University, he thought the taking his degree 

 was a debt that he owed to his character and 

 preferments in the church ; being a dignitary, 

 as well as minister, of one of the largest parishes 

 in town. Whereupon he went down to Cam- 

 bridge, and was admitted by Dr. Turner, the 

 Vice Chancellor ; and in July, was created Doc- 

 tor in Divinity by proxy, " Domino Doctore 

 Beveridgio stante in Comitiis in ejus Vice." 



