Joseph Greenhill facts for kids

Joseph Greenhill (1704–1788) was an English writer who focused on religious topics. He was also a priest in the Church of England during the 18th century. He is known for his books and sermons about Christian prophecies and other religious ideas.

Early Life and Education

Joseph Greenhill was born in February 1704 in a place called Abbot's Langley in Hertfordshire, England. His father, William Greenhill, was a lawyer. Joseph was also the nephew of a famous surgeon named Thomas Greenhill.

Joseph went to Sidney Sussex College at the University of Cambridge to study. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1726 and a master's degree (M.A.) in 1731.

Career as a Priest

After finishing his studies, Joseph Greenhill became a priest. In 1727, he was appointed the rector of East Horsley. A rector is like a main pastor or priest in charge of a church and its local area. A few years later, in 1732, he also became the rector of East Clandon. Both of these church positions were in Surrey, England.

Joseph Greenhill lived in East Horsley for many years. He passed away there in March 1788.

His Writings

Joseph Greenhill wrote several books and sermons about his religious beliefs. His main work was called An Essay on the Prophecies of the New Testament. This book talked about predictions and visions found in the Christian Bible. He also wrote a sermon titled A Sermon on the Millennium, which discussed the idea of a thousand-year period of peace and holiness on Earth, as described in some religious texts. He later combined and updated these works into a larger book.

Greenhill also wrote about other topics from a religious viewpoint. For example, he published A Sermon on the Presumptuous and Sinful Practice of Inoculation in 1778. At that time, inoculation was an early way to protect people from diseases like smallpox, similar to how vaccines work today. However, some people, including Greenhill, believed it was wrong to interfere with nature in this way.