Payne was born at Hutton, Essex, was educated at Brentwood free school, and went on to Magdalene College, Cambridge, in May 1665, graduating B.A.
[2] In June 1681, Payne received the rectory of Whitechapel, and speedily won a reputation among the London clergy as a preacher.
at Cambridge, was appointed to the lectureship of the Poultry Church in the City of London, and received the post of royal chaplain in ordinary.
[2] Payne took an active part in the agitation of the alleged Popish plot, writing many anti-Catholic tracts.
[2] Payne strongly supported the comprehension scheme, brought forward in 1689 for facilitating the inclusion of English Dissenters in the established church.
[2] During the last two years of his life Payne preached a series of sermons on behalf of William Sherlock, who was then defending the dogma of the Trinity against Robert South.