John Dod facts for kids
John Dod (born around 1549, died 1645) was a well-known English preacher. People often called him "Decalogue Dod" because he really focused on teaching about the Ten Commandments. He wrote many popular books and sermons that were read by lots of people. Even though he sometimes lost his job because of his Puritan beliefs, he had strong support from wealthy Puritan families throughout his long life.
Contents
Life Story
John Dod was born in Malpas, Cheshire, a small town in England. He was the youngest of 17 children! His family had a good amount of land and money. When he was about 14, they sent him to Jesus College, Cambridge, which is a famous university. He was a very smart student and later became a fellow there, which means he was a senior member of the college. He was known for being very learned, especially in Hebrew, and was also said to be witty and cheerful.
Early Career and Challenges
In 1585, John Dod became the vicar (a type of priest) in Hanwell, Oxfordshire. He also preached in a nearby town called Banbury. However, because of his strong Puritan beliefs, he was removed from his position at Hanwell in 1607. Puritans wanted to "purify" the Church of England and make it simpler, which sometimes caused problems with the official church leaders.
After leaving Hanwell, he continued his work. From 1608, he preached in places like Canons Ashby and later became the rector (another type of priest) at Fawsley. He was supported by important people like Richard Knightley, who shared his beliefs.
Preaching and Family Life
John Dod worked very hard. In Hanwell, he preached twice every Sunday and also taught people about their faith. He married Anne Bownde, and they had twelve children together. Later, after Anne passed away, he married again.
He stayed at Fawsley until he died in 1645. Even during the English Civil War, when there was a lot of fighting, he continued his work. He was buried in Fawsley on August 19, 1645.
His Powerful Sermons
People often said that John Dod's sermons were so powerful and direct that it seemed like he knew what everyone was doing wrong. When someone asked him how he knew so much about people's actions, he replied that God's word itself was "searching." He said that even if he was locked away with only a Bible and a candle, he could still preach just as powerfully.
His Writings
John Dod wrote several important books that were very popular in his time.
A Godly Form of Household Government
One of his most famous books was A Godly Form of Household Government. This book was like a guide for families, telling them how to live and behave. It was first published in 1598 with his friend Robert Cleaver and became a leading "conduct book" for many years. It taught families how to live according to Christian principles.
Celebrated Sayings and Sermon on Malt
Another popular work was the 12-page Celebrated Sayings of Old Mr Dodd. This book was full of wise and memorable Christian advice. It also included a funny but serious story called the Sermon on Malt. This sermon was supposedly given to some university students who had stopped him on the road. It used the process of making malt (used in brewing) to teach a lesson about life.
Main Works
- A Godly Form of Householde Government (published after 1598) with Robert Cleaver
- A Plaine and Familiar Exposition of the Tenne Commandements (A clear explanation of the Ten Commandments)
- Commentaries on Proverbs (Notes and explanations on the biblical book of Proverbs)
His Family
John Dod married Anne Bownde first. She was the sister of Nicholas Bownde, who was famous for his strong views on keeping Sunday as a holy day. John and Anne had twelve children. After Anne's death, he married a second time to a woman named Miss Chilton.
His grandson, John Wilkins, also became a famous person and took over John Dod's position at Fawsley in 1637. Another son, Timothy Dod, was also a minister.
