Background
His father William Cole owned property, and sent him to Westminster School, from where, in 1646, he was elected student of Christ Church, Oxford.
His father William Cole owned property, and sent him to Westminster School, from where, in 1646, he was elected student of Christ Church, Oxford.
Christ Church; Westminster School.
Cole was a native of London, born in 1628. He proceeded Bachelor of Arts in 1649, and Master of Arts 8 July 1651, and in 1656 became principal of Saint Mary Hall. As a tutor he had pupils including John Locke.
The Restoration of Charles II led to the ejection of Cole from his position at Oxford.
He then opened a dissenting academy at Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, where one of those under his charge was James Bonnell. In February 1674 Cole succeeded Philip Nye as minister of the Independent congregation at Silver Street meeting-house, London.
He was also one of the ministers of the merchants" lecture at Pinners" Hall. His church, after leaving Silver Street, met at Tallow Chandlers" Hall, Dowgate Hill, and then at Pinners" Hall, where he preached his last sermon 22 August 1697.
Cole was buried in the upper ground of Bunhill Fields, but the precise spot is not known.
Samuel Wesley attacked the character of Cole, based on reports from Bonnell. Samuel Palmer defended Cole in his Vindication of the Dissenters.