At the age of fourteen he entered University College, Oxford, and in 1693 he published notes on Plutarch's De audiendis poetis and Basil's Oratio ad juvenes.

Besides holding several livings he became, in 1704, chaplain to Archbishop Tenison, and shortly afterwards was made Chaplain-in-Ordinary to Queen Anne.

In 1707 he published a Discourse on Church Government, and he took a prominent part in the controversy with Benjamin Hoadly, Bishop of Bangor.

While in that seat, he continued to represent a High Church position, but he was also ineffective at restoring the Convocation.

His Theological Works, consisting of sermons, charges, divinity lectures and the Discourse on Church Government, were published in three volumes.