Thomas Vincent (May 1634 – October 15, 1678) was a Puritan minister and author. Both his father and brother were prominent ministers. He was educated at Christ’s College, Oxford, graduating with a B. A. He was a young non-conformist preacher who entered into the ministry very early. It was said of him that he had memorized the entire New Testament as well as the Psalms. He was rector of St. Mary Magdalen in Milk-Street, London, until he was ejected in 1662 by the Bartholomew Act, listing him as one of the “ejected” or “silenced” ministers by the Act of Uniformity. Out of his pulpit, he gave himself to the education of youth. When the Great Plague of London of 1665 came, however, Vincent became the friend of the afflicted, offering comfort and assistance to the diseased and dying. Sixty-eight thousand died of the plague in London alone that year, seven in his own household. The following year was the Great Fire of London and as an eyewitness, he recorded the details of the event in his writings.
“And if Monday night was dreadful, Tuesday night was more dreadful, when far the greatest part of the city was consumed: many thousands who on Saturday had houses convenient in the city, both for themselves, and to entertain others, now have not where to lay their head; and the fields are the only receptacle which they can find for themselves and their goods; most of the late inhabitants of London lie all night in the open air, with no other canopy over them but that of the heavens: the fire is still making towards them, and threatened the suburbs; it was amazing to see how it had spread itself several times in compass; and, amongst other things that night, the sight of Guildhall was a fearful spectacle, which stood the whole body of it together in view, for several hours together, after the fire had taken it, without flames, (I suppose because the timber was such solid oak,) in a bright shining coal as if it had been a palace of gold, or a great building of burnished brass.”
He retired to Hoxton, where he preached privately, and at the same time assisted Thomas Doolittle in his school at Bunhill Fields. During 1665, the year of the Great Plague of London, he preached constantly in parish churches.
He was among the signers of the 1673 Puritan Preface to the Scots Metrical Psalter. He did not escape imprisonment for his nonconformity. He died on 15 October 1678 and was buried in the churchyard of St. Giles-without-Cripplegate. His funeral sermon was preached by Samuel Slater.
The Digital Puritan
