n 1712, sir Jonathan Trelawny, at that time bishop of Winchester, was pleased to collate our learned divine to the rectory of Havant, near Portsmouth, as a reward for his
In 1712, sir Jonathan Trelawny, at that time bishop of Winchester, was pleased to collate our learned divine to the rectory of Havant, near Portsmouth, as a reward for his diligence which preferment, together with the sums he was daily receiving from the sale of his works, seemed i n some measure to have removed the narrowness of his circumstances, and to promise a comfortable maintenance for his numerous family; but this pleasing prospect shortly disappeared he lost almost or quite the whole of his hardly earned gains in 1720, by the bursting of the wellknown South Sea bubble. Yet such was the tranquillity of his disposition, that he continued his studies without intermission almost to the very end of his life for though but a few months elapsed between the publication of the last volume of Origines and his death, yet that short time was employed in preparing materials for other laborious works, and in making preparations for a new edition of Origiaes. With this view he inserted many manuscript observations, in a set of the Antiquities which he preserved for his own use, and which are now in the possession of the furnisher of this article. But from this and all other employments he was prevented by death. His constitution, which was by nature extremely weak and delicate, could not be otherwise than much impaired by so unremitted a course of laborious studies, in a life wholly sedentary and recluse, which brought on at an early period all the symptoms and infirmities of a very advanced age. The approach of his dissolution being clearly visible both to himself and friends, it was settled between the then bishop of Winchester, Dr. Trimnell, and himself, that he should resign Havant to enable his lordship to appoint some friend of the family to hold it, till his eldest son, then about years of age, could be collated to it. As this however was not carried into execution, it is probable that his death came on more hastily than had been expected, and prevented Dr. Trimnell from giving him what he fully intended, the first vacant prebend in Winchester.
esteemed in foreign countries, that they have all been correctly translated into Latin by Grichow, a divine of Halle in Germany, 11 vols. 4to, 1724 38, and were reprinted
Of such importance have the works of this eminent writer been esteemed in foreign countries, that they have all
been correctly translated into Latin by Grichow, a divine
of Halle in Germany, 11 vols. 4to, 1724 38, and were
reprinted in 1751—61. But he did not live to receive
this flattering mark of approbation, for he died in 1723.
Here it may not be amiss to observe how frequently it occurs that the merits of an eminent ancestor derive honour
and emolument on their posterity. It is presumed that
the character of the person whose life we have been writing, was the means of procuring the living of Havant for
his eldest son, and the late learned and excellent bishop
of London, Dr. Lowth, expressly assigns that reason for
bestowing a comfortable living on his grandson. “I venerate (says he in a letter which conveyed the presentation)
the memory of your excellent grandfather, my father’s
particular and most intimate friend. He was not rewarded
as he ought to have been I therefore give you this living
as a small recompense for his great and inestimable merits.
”
We shall conclude this article by giving the general character of this divine As a writer his learning was extensive
and acute his style zealous and persuasive, and his application uncommonly persevering. His temper, on all
common and indifferent occasions, was mild and benevolent and to these he united great zeal in the cause in
which he was engaged. Though his passions were so
wholly subject to the guidance of religion and virtue, that
no worldly losses were sufficient to discompose him, yet
whenever he believed the important interests of the church
to be in danger, he was always eager to step forth in its
defence.
, a Scotch divine, was born in the shire of Air, 1627, and educated in the university
, a Scotch divine, was born in the
shire of Air, 1627, and educated in the university of Glasgow, where he took his degrees, and in his nineteenth
year was appointed regent and professor of moral philosophy, and was among the first in Scotland that began to
reform philosophy from the barbarous terms and jargon of
the school-men. As a preacher his talents were extremely
popular, and after he had preached some time as a probationer, he was elected minister of Govan, near Glasgow.
In his ministerial conduct and character few excelled him,
and the sweetness of his temper was such, that all seemed
to know his worth but himself. At last his incessant labours brought on a consumption, which put a period to
his life at Govan, 1654, aged 29. He once had an interview with Cromwell when the latter was in Scotland, and
had appointed a meeting of the presbyterians and independents to dispute before him. Mr. Binning was present
on this occasion, and managed the cause of presbyterianism
with so much skill as to puzzle Cromwell’s independent
ministers. After the dispute, Oliver asked the name of
that “learned and bold young man,
” and being told his
name was Hugh Binning, he said, with a wretched play
on words, “He hath bound well indeed, but,
” clapping his
hand on his sword, “this will loose all again.
” His tracts,
sermons, and commentaries on the epistle to the Romans,
were published separately but they have been since collected into one volume, 4to, and printed at Edinburgh,
1735.
, an English divine of the seventeenth century, was born in 1S84, and in 1600 became
, an English divine of the seventeenth century, was born in 1S84, and in 1600 became a
student in Queen’s college, Oxford, where he took his
master’s degree, and obtained a fellowship. In 1607 he
went into holy orders, and acquired much reputation for
his preaching, and among the learned, for his acquaintance with the fathers and schoolmen. In 1616 he was admitted to the reading of the sentences, and the year following became vicar of the church of Gilling, and the
chapel of Forcet, near Richmond, in Yorkshire, where he
increased his popularity by his punctual discharge of the
pastoral office, and by his exemplary life. During the
usurpation he was not ejected from this living, and died
Sept. 1656. His principal work, which was highly valued
by Selden and other learned men, is entitled “The Protestant’s evidence, shewing that for 1500 years next after
Christ, divers guides of God’s church have in sundry
points of religion taught as the church of England now
doth,
” London, 1634, 4to, and in 1657, folio, much enlarged. Some histories ol the church, particularly that of
Milner, seem to be written on this plan.
, an English divine, probably the son or grandson of the rev. John Biscoe of New
, an English divine, probably the
son or grandson of the rev. John Biscoe of New Inn hall,
Oxford, a nonconformist, was himself educated at a dissenting academy kept by Dr. Benion at Shrewsbury, and
was ordained a dissenting minister, Dec. 19, 1716. In
1726, he conformed and received deacon’s and priest’s
orders in the church of England, and in 1727 was presented
to the living of St. Martin Outwich, in the city of London,
which he retained until his death, July 1748. He held
also a prebend of St. Paul’s, and was one of his majesty’s
chaplains in ordinary. He is now chiefly known for a
learned and elaborate work, entitled “The History of the
Acts of the Holy Apostles confirmed from other authors
and considered as full evidence of the truth of Christianity,
with a prefatory discourse upon the nature of that evidence
” being the substance of his sermons preached at
Boyle’s lecture, in 1736, 1737, 1738, and published in
2 vols. 1742, 8vo. Dr. Doddridge frequently refers to it,
as a work of great utility, and as shewing “in the most convincing manner, how incontestably the Acts of the Apostles demonstrates the truth of Christianity.
”
, an English divine, was educated at Corpus Christi college, Oxford, where he proceeded
, an English divine, was educated at
Corpus Christi college, Oxford, where he proceeded M.A.
in 1698, B. D. in 1708, and D. D. in 1712. In 1715 he
was chosen preacher at the Rolls, and in 1716, on the deprivation of John Harvey, A. M. a nonjuror, he was presented to the chancellorship of Hereford, by his brother
Dr. Philip Bisse, bishop of that diocese. He was also a
prebendary of Hereford, and rector of Crudley and Weston. He died April 22, 1731. He was a frequent and
eloquent preacher, and published several of his occasional
sermons. Those of most permanent reputation are, 1. “The
Beauty of Holiness in the Common Prayer, as set forth in
four Sermons preached at the Rolls chapel,
” Decency and order in public worship, three Sermons,
” A course of Sermons
on the Lord’s Prayer,
” Latin Poems
”
were published by him in
, an eminent English divine, was born in London, 1654, and educated at Catherine-hail, Cambridge.
, an eminent English
divine, was born in London, 1654, and educated at Catherine-hail, Cambridge. In 1690, he was inducted into
the living of South Okenden, Essex, and four years afterwards to the rectory of St. Mary Aldermary, London and
was successively chosen lecturer of St. Olave’s, and of St.
Dunstan’s in the West. He was likewise appointed chaplain to king William. He preached before the house of
commons Jan. 30, 1699, and in his sermon animadverted
on Mr. Toland for his asserting in his life of Milton, that
Charles I. was not the author of “Icon Basilike,
” and for
some insinuations against the authenticity' of the holy
scriptures which drew him into a controversy with
that author. In 1700, he preached a course of sermons at
Boyle’s lecture, in the cathedral church of St. Paul, which
were afterwards published. In 1707, he was consecrated
to the bishopric of Exeter. Burnet, having mentioned
him and sir William Dawes as raised to bishoprics, tells
us, “that these divines were in themselves men of value
and worth; but their notions were all on the other side.
They had submitted to the government but they, at least
Blackall, seemed to condemn the revolution, and all that
had been done pursuant to it.
” And it is asserted in an
anonymous pamphlet, published in 1705, that he had refused for two years to take the oath of allegiance to king
William. But what contributed most to his fame in his
life- time was a controversy he had with Mr. (afterwards bishop) Hoadly, which was occasioned by his sermon upon
Rom. xiii. 3, 4, entitled, “The Divine Institution of
Magistracy, and the gracious design of its institution,
”
preached before the queen at St. James’s on Tuesday,
March 8, 1708, being the anniversary of her majesty’s
happy accession to the throne, and published by her majesty’s special command. The next year, 1709, Mr.
Hoadly animadverted upon the bishop’s sermon, in a piece,
entitled “Some Considerations humbly offered to the right
reverend the lord bishop of Exeter, occasioned by his lordship’s sermon before her majesty, March 8, 1708.
” Upon
this the bishop published “An Answer to Mr. Hoadly’s Letter,
” dated from Bath, May the 10th, 1709. Mr. Hoadly endeavoured to vindicate himself, in “An humble Reply to the
right reverend the lord bishop of Exeter’s answer; in which
the Considerations offered to his lordship are vindicated,
and an apology is added for defending the foundation of
the present government,
” London, 1709, in 8vo. In this
controversy, bishop Blackall defends the High-church,
Tory, principles (as they usually are called), of the divine
institution of magistracy, and unlimited passive obedience
and non-resistance; which Mr. Hoadly opposes. There
were several pamphlets written on the side of the bishop
against Mr. Hoadly particularly one, entitled, “The best
Answer that ever was made, and to which no answer will
be made
” supposed to be wi'itten by Mr. Lesley, a nonjuring clergyman, and which Mr. Hoadly animadverts upon
in the postscript to his humble reply. The wits in the
Tatler engaged in this controversy on the side of Hoadly,
and with an illiberality not usual in the writers of that paper.
He died at Exeter, Nov. 29, 1716, and was interred in
the cathedral there. Archbp. Dawes, who had a long and
intimate friendship with him, declares, that in his whole
conversation he never met with a more perfect pattern of a
true Christian life, in all its parts, than in him: so much
primitive simplicity and integrity; such constant evenness of mind, and uniform conduct of behaviour; such unaffected and yet most ardent piety towards God such orthodox and steadfast faith in Christ such disinterested and
fervent charity to all mankind such profound modesty,
humility, and sobriety such an equal mixture of meekness
and courage, of cheerfulness and gravity such an exact
discharge of all relative duties and in one word, such an
indifferency to this lower world and the things of it and
such an entire affection and joyous hope and expectation
of things above. He says also, that his “manner of
preaching was so excellent, easy, clear, judicious, substantial, pious, affecting, and upon all accounts truly useful and edifying, that he universally acquired the reputation of being one of the best preachers of his time.
” Felton, in his Classics, commends him as an excellent writer.
M. de la Roche, in his memoirs of literature, tells us, that
our prelate was one of those English divines, who, when
they undertake to treat a subject, dive into the bottom of
it, and exhaust the matter. His works were published by
archbishop Dawes, in 2 vols. fol. 1723, consisting of Practical discourses on our Saviour’s Sermon on the mount, and
on the Lord’s Prayer, together with his sermons preached
at Boyle’s lecture, with several others upon particular occasions.
, a learned English divine of the last century, was born in 1683, and educated at Trinity
, a learned English divine of
the last century, was born in 1683, and educated at Trinity
college, Cambridge, where he took the degree of M. A.
Whether he had any promotion in the church is not certain; but soon after the revolution, he refused to take the
oaths, and consequently excluded himself from advancing
in the church. From that time he lived a very exemplary
and studious life, endeavouring to be useful to mankind,
both as a scholar and divine. To preserve his independence, he became corrector of the press to Bowyer, the
celebrated printer, and was one of the most accurate of
his profession. The edition of lord Bacon’s works in 1740
was superintended by him; and he was also editor of the
castrations of Holinshed’s Chronicle, and of Bale’s
“Chrouycle concernynge syr Johan Oldecastell.
” A
handsome compliment is paid him in Maittaire’s Lives of the
Paris printers, 1717; and again in his “Miscellanea aliquot 8criptorum carmina,
” Dear friend, we leave the sees open, that the gentlemen who now unjustly possess them, upon the restoration,
may, if they please, return to their duty and be continued.
We content ourselves with full episcopal power as suffragans.
” Mr, Blackbourne died Nov. 17, 1741, and his library was sold by auction in February 1742. He was
buried in Islington church-yard, with an epitaph, which
may be seen in our authority.
ecessity of a supernatural revelation,” 1728, 8vo. 15. “The accomplished Preacher; or, an essay upon divine eloquence,” 1731, 8vo. This last piece was published after the
1721, 8vo. 3. “King Alfred, in twelve books,
” History of the Conspiracy against king William the Third,
” A discourse on the
Plague, with a preparatory account of malignant fevers,
in two parts containing an explication of the nature of
those diseases, and the methods of cure,
” A treatise on the Small-pox, in two parts and a
dissertation upon the modern practice of Inoculation,
”
A treatise on Consumptions and other
distempers belonging to the breast and lungs,
” A treatise on the Spleen and Vapours, or hypochonclriacal and hysterical affections; with three discourses on
the nature and cure of the Cholic, Melancholy, and Palsy,
”
A critical dissertation upon the Spleen,
”
Discourses on the Gout, Rheumatism, and
the King’s Evil,
” Dissertations on a
Dropsy, a Tympany, the Jaundice, the Stone, and the
Diabetes,
” Just prejudices against the
Arian hypothesis,
” Modern Arians unmasked,
” Natural Theology, or moral
Duties considered apart from positive: with some observations on the desirableness and necessity of a supernatural revelation,
” The accomplished
Preacher; or, an essay upon divine eloquence,
”
, D.D. an eminent divine of the church of Scotland, was born at Edinburgh, April 7, 1718.
, D.D. an eminent divine of the church
of Scotland, was born at Edinburgh, April 7, 1718. His
father, John Blair, a respectable merchant in that city,
was a descendant of the ancient family of Blair, in Ayrshire, and grandson of the famous Mr. Robert Blair, minister of St. Andrew’s, chaplain to Charles I. and one of
the most zealous and distinguished clergymen of the peilod in which he lived. Of the two sons who survived him,
David, the eldest, was a clergyman of eminence in Edinburgh, and father to Mr. Robert Blair, minister of Athelstanford, the author of the well-known poem entitled
“The Grave.
” From his youngest son, Hugh, who engaged in business as a merchant, and had the honour to
fill a high station in the magistracy of Edinburgh, the object of the present memoir descended.
old age went to enjoy the high prize of his calling, in the year 1743. His works are “Our Saviour’s divine sermon on the mount, explained and the pi-actice of it recommended
While his thoughts were intent upon doing good in his
office, he observed with concern that the want of schools,
and proper seminaries for religion and learning, so impeded all attempts for the propagation of the gospel, that
little could be hoped for, without first removing that obstacle. He therefore formed a vast design of erecting and
endowing a college in Virginia, at Williamsburgh, the
capital of that country, for professors and students in
academical learning: in order to which, he had himself
set on foot a voluntary subscription, amounting to a great
sum and, not content with that, came over into England
in 1693, to solicit the affair at court. Queen Mary was
so well pleased with the noble design, that she espoused it
with a particular zeal and king William also very readily
concurred with her in it. Accordingly a patent passed for
erecting and endowing a college, by the name of the William and Mary college; and Mr. Blair, who had the principal
hand in laying, soliciting, and concerting the design, was appointed president of the college. He was besides rector of
Williamsburgh in Virginia, and president of the council in
that colony. He continued president of the college near fifty,
and a minister of the gospel above sixty years. He was a
faithful labourer in God’s vineyard, an ornament to his
profession, and his several offices and in a good old age
went to enjoy the high prize of his calling, in the year 1743.
His works are “Our Saviour’s divine sermon on the
mount, explained and the pi-actice of it recommended
in divers sermons and discourses,
” Lond. valuable treasure of sound divinity and practical
Christianity.
”
, a Scotch divine and poet, was the eldest son of the rev. David Blair, one of
, a Scotch divine and poet, was the
eldest son of the rev. David Blair, one of the ministers
of Edinburgh, and chaplain to the king. His grandfather
was the rev. Robert Blair, sometime minister of the gospel
at Bangor, in Ireland, and afterward at St. Andrew’s, in
Scotland. Of this gentleman, some “Memoirs,
” partly
taken from his manuscript diaries, were published at Edinburgh, in 1754. He was celebrated for his piety, and by
those of his persuasion, for his inflexible adherence to
presbyterianism, in opposition to the endeavours made in
his time to establish episcopacy in Scotland. It is recorded
also that he wrote some poems. His grandson, the object
of the present article, was born in the year 1699, and
after the usual preparatory studies, was ordained minister
of Athelstaneford, in the county of East Lothian, where
he resided until his death, Feb. 4, 1747. The late right
hon. Robert Blair, president of the court of session in.
Scotland, who died in 1811, was one of his sons, and the
late celebrated Dr. Hugh Blair, professor of rhetoric and
belles-lettres, was his cousin.
publication. He had likewise corresponded with Dr. Doddridge on the subject, and in a letter to that divine, says, that “in order to make it more generally liked, he was
“The Grave
” is said to have been first printed at Edinburgh in 1747, but this is a mistake. It was printed in
1743 at London, for M. Cooper. The author had previously submitted it to Dr. Watts, who informed him that
two booksellers had declined the risk of publication. He
had likewise corresponded with Dr. Doddridge on the subject, and in a letter to that divine, says, that “in order to
make it more generally liked, he was obliged sometimes to
go cross to his own inclination, well knowing that whatever poem is written upon a serious argument, must upon
that very account lie under peculiar disadvantages; and
therefore proper arts must be used to make such a piece go
down with a licentious age which cares for none of those
things.
” In what respect he crossed his inclination, and
by what arts he endeavoured to make his poem more acceptable to a licentious age, we know not. In defence of
the present age, it may be said with justice that the poem
owes its popularity to its subject, and that notwithstanding
its defects, it will probably be a lasting favourite with persons of a serious turn.
, an English puritan divine, was born in Staffordshire in 1597, and in 1616 was entered
, an English puritan divine, was born
in Staffordshire in 1597, and in 1616 was entered of Christ
Church, Oxford, where he took his degrees, and went
into the church. In 1648 he sided with the ruling party,
subscribed the covenant, and became pastor of St. Alcmond’s in Shrewsbury, and afterwards of Tamworth in
Staffordshire, where he was also one of the committee for
the ejection of those who were accounted “ignorant and
scandalous ministers and schoolmasters.
” He died in
June, 1657, and was buried in Tamworth church, after a
funeral sermon preached by the famous Mr. Anthony Burgess, of Sutton Colfield.
ation on Daniel), 1797,” 4to. In this dissertation on Daniel the study and criticism of this learned divine produced a translation very different from that in the common
, D. D. an eminent Hebrew critic, canon of Christ church, regius professor of Hebrew in
the university of Oxford, 1787, and rector of Polshot, was
first of Worcester college, where he proceeded M. A. 1753;
afterwards fellow of Hertford college, where he took the
degree of B. D. 1768, and of D. D. 1787 and was installed
Hebrew professor Dec. 7. of that year. He was also some
time a Whitehall preacher. He distinguished himself
greatly as a scriptural commentator and translator. He
published, 1. “A dissertation, by way of enquiry into the
true import and application of the Vision related Dan. is.
20 to the end, usually called Daniel’s Prophecy of Seventy
Weeks with occasional remarks on Michaelis’s letters to sir
John Pringle on the same subject, 1775,
” 4to. 2. “Jereiniah and Lamentations, a new translation, with notes critical, philosophical, and explanatory, 1784,
” 8vo. 3. “The
Sign given to Ahaz, a discourse on Isaiah vii. 14, 15, 16,
delivered in the church of St. John, Devizes, at the
triennial visitation of Shute, lord bishop of Sarum, July 26,
1786 with a proposed emendation of a passage in his dissertation on Daniel,
” Christ the greater
glory of the temple, a sermon, preached before the university of Oxford, at Christ church, Nov. 9, 1788,
” 4to.
J. “Zechariah, a new translation, with notes critical,
philosophical, and explanatory and an Appendix, in
reply to Dr. Eveleigh’s Sermon on Zechariah i. S 1 1 (to which is added, a new edition, with alterations, of the dissertation on Daniel), 1797,
” 4to. In this dissertation
on Daniel the study and criticism of this learned divine
produced a translation very different from that in the common English Bible, as well as from that of Michaelis. It
.
is less liable to objection, particularly as it has no recourse
to that ingenious but uncertain and unsatisfying method of
computation by lunar years; it extends also to those verses
of the chapter which Dr. Michaelis seemed to give up as
inexplicable, almost in despair of ever attaining a probable
solution of the difficulty. The translation of Jeremiah and
Lamentations is on the plan of Dr. Lowth’s Isaiah, and
does credit to its author both as a translator and a critic.
The same may be said respecting the translation of Zechariah and it may be added, that the candour and liberality which Dr. Blayney opposes, in this instance, to the intemperance and acrimony of one of his antagonists, do him
great honour. The doctor also took uncommon pains in
correcting the text of the edition of the common version of
the English Bible, which was printed at the Clarendon
press in 1769, 4to. He made a great number of additional
references in the margin, and produced the most correct
Bible in our language; but, unfortunately, a large part of
the impression was soon after burned at the Bible warehouse in Paternoster row, and it is now ranked among the
most scarce and valuable editions.
, called in Latin Blondus, or Blundus, a very eminent divine in the thirteenth century, was educated in the university of
, called in Latin Blondus, or Blundus, a very eminent divine in the thirteenth century, was educated in the university of Oxford, and went afterwards for his improvement to Paris, where he quickly distinguished himself, among many of his learned contemporaries, by the vivacity of his wit. On his return into England, he again settled himself at Oxford, and read divinity lectures there with universal applause. Wood says he was the first that lectured on Aristotle both in Paris and Oxford. The reputation of his learning obtained him also several other preferments, particularly those of prebendary andhancellor in the church of York. In 1232, the archiepiscopal see of Canterbuiy being vacant by the death of Richard Wethershed, and the rejection of two of his successors, Ralph Nevil, bishop of Chichester and chancellor of England, and John, sub-prior of Canterbury, by the pope, Dr. Blount was, by the chapter of Canterbury, elected archbishop. He did not, however, enjoy that dignity; for the pope immediately objected to him, and after a summary inquiry into the validity of his election, declared it void, for several reasons, of which our historians take notice, though very probably Bale has hit upon the true, although not the ostensible cause, namely, that his abilities rendered him obnoxious to the court of Rome, or, as Bale expresses it, that he was more learned than that court wished an archbishop to be.
nt, as he tells us, he never ceased asking, that he might know the truth. Upon this, he says, by the divine drawing and will, he was in spirit rapt into the holy sabbath,
In the mean time, being naturally of a religious turn
of mind, he was a constant frequenter of sermons from his
youth, and took all opportunities of reading books of divinity, but, not being able to satisfy himself about the differences and controversies in religion, he grew very uneasy, till, happening one day to hear from the pulpit that
speech of our Saviour, “Your heavenly Father will give
the holy spirit to them that ask it
” he was presently so
affected, that from this moment, as he tells us, he never
ceased asking, that he might know the truth. Upon this,
he says, by the divine drawing and will, he was in spirit
rapt into the holy sabbath, where he remained seven whole
days, in the highest joy; after which, coming to himself,
he laid aside all the follies of youth, and was driven by
divine zeal earnestly to reprehend impudent, scandalous,
and blasphemous speeches, and in all his actions forbore
the least appearance of evil, continuing to earn a comfortable livelihood by diligent application to his trade. la
1600, he was a second time possessed with a divine light,
and by the sight of a sudden object brought to the inward
ground or centre of the hidden nature yet somewhat
doubting, he went out hi to an open field, and there beheld
the miraculous works of the Creator in the signatures,
figures, or shapes of all created things very clearly and
manifestly laid open; whereupon he was taken with exceeding joy, yet held his peace, in silence praising God.
But ten years after, in 1610, through the overshadowing
of the holy spirit, he was a third time touched by God,
and became so enlightened, that, lest so great grace bestowed upon him should slip out of his memory ^ and he
resist his God, he began to write privately for his own use
(without the help of any books except the holy scripture),
the truths which had been thus revealed to him. In this
spirit he first published his treatise, entitled “Aurora, or
the rising of the sun,
” in
litz, called Gregory Rickter, ibid. 24. An epitome of the mysterium magnum, ibid. 25. A table of the divine manifestation, or an exposition of the threefold world, to J.
A great number of persons have been inveigled by the visions of this fanatic; among others the famous Quirinus Kahlman in Germany, who says, that he had learned more, being alone in his study, from Boehmen, than he could have learned from all the wise men of that age together: and that we may not be in the dark as to what sort of knowledge this was, he acquaints us, that amidst an infinite number of visions it happened, that being snatched out of his study, he saw thousands of thousands of lights rising round about him. But our author is better known among ou-rselves, where he has hundreds of admirers and no wonder, since, as Dr. Henry More observes, the sect of the Quakers have borrowed a great many of their doctrines from our Teutonic philosopher of whom we shall venture to say, from a perusal of some of his writings, that he possessed the grand arcanum of mysterizing plain truths by an inextricably oenigmatical expression. He has still many disciples in England and we are sorry to add, met with a warm advocate and industrious disciple in the late pious Mr. William Law, who employed many years in preparing an edition and translation of Bcehmen’s works, and which were published after his decease in 2 vols. 4to, to which two others were afterwards added. The titles of these writings will be perhaps sufficient, without entering farther into their merits, or that of their author. 1. Aurora, or the rising of the sun, 1612. 2. Of the three principles, together with an appendix of the threefold life of man, 1619. 3. Of the threefold life of man, 1620. 4. An answer to the forty questions of the soul, propounded by Dr. Walter, &c. ibid. 5. Three books; the first, of the incarnation of Jesus Christ; the second, of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ; the third, of the tree of faith, ibid. 6. Of six parts, ibid. 7. Of the heavenly and earthly mysterium, ibid. 8. Of the last times, to P. K. ibid. 9. De signatura rerum, or the signature of all things, 1621. 10. A consolatory book of the four complexions, ibid. 11. An apology to Balthazar Tilken, in two parts, ibid. 12. A consideration upon Esaias Steefel’s book, ibid. 13. Of true repentance, 1622. 14. Of true resignation, ibid. 15. Of regeneration, ibid. 16. Of predestination and election of God; at the end of which is a treatise, entitled, 17. A short compendium of repentance, 1623. 18. The mysterium magnum upon Genesis, ibid. 19. A table of the principles, or key of his writings, to G. F. and J. H. 20. Of the supersensual life, ibid. LM. Of the two testaments of Christ, viz. baptism and the supper of the Lord, ibid. 22. A dialogue between the enlightened and unenlightened soul, ibid. 23. An apology upon the book of true repentance, directed against a pasquil of the principal minister of Gorlitz, called Gregory Rickter, ibid. 24. An epitome of the mysterium magnum, ibid. 25. A table of the divine manifestation, or an exposition of the threefold world, to J. S. V. S. and A. V. F. ibid. The following are without date. 26. Of the errors of the sects of Ezekiel Meths, to A. P. A. or an apology to Esaias Steefel. 27. Of the last judgment. 28. Certain letters to diverse persons, written at diverse times, with certain keys for some hidden words. Besides these our author left unfinished, 29. A little book of divine contemplation. 30. A book of one hundred and seventy-seven theosophic questions. 3 1 The holy weeks, or the prayerbook.
ave generously replied, that the most agreeable satisfaction he could receive was, that so eminent a divine should have no more trouble on his account. In 1728, he was
His progress in physic hitherto was without any assistance from lectures, except those mentioned in anatomy,
and a few by professor Drelincourt on the theory; nor had
he yet any thoughts of declining the priesthood: amidst
mathematical, philosophical, anatomical, chemical and medical researches, he still earnestly pursued divinity. He
went to the university of Harderwick in Guelderland, and
in July 1693 was created there M. D. Upon his return to
Leyden, he still persisted in his design of engaging in the
ministry, but found an invincible obstruction to his intention. In a passage-boat where he happened to be, some
discourse was accidentally started about the doctrine of
Spinosa, as subversive of all religion and one of the passengers, who exerted himself most, opposing to this philosopher’s pretended mathematical demonstrations only the
loud invective of a blind zeal, Boerhaave asked him calmly,
“Whether he had ever read the works of the author he
decried
” The orator was at once struck dumb, and fired
with silent resentment. Another passenger whispered the
person next him, to learn Boerhaave’s name, and took it
down in his pocket-book; and as soon as he arrived at
Leyden, gave it out every where, that Boerhaave was become a Spinosist. Boerhaave, finding that such prejudices
gained ground, thought it imprudent to risque the refusal
of a licence for the pulpit, when he had so fair a prospect
of rising by physic. He now therefore applied wholly to
physic, and joined practice with reading. In 1701, he
took the office of lecturer upon the institutes of physic
and delivered an oration the 18th of May, the subject of
which was a recommendation of the study of Hippocrates:
apprehending that, either through indolence or arrogance,
this founder of physic had been shamefully neglected by
those whose authority was likely to have too great weight
with the students of medicine. He officiated as a professor,
with the title of lecturer only, till 1709, when the professorship of medicine and botany was conferred on him:
his inaugural oration was upon the simplicity of true medical science, wherein, exploding the fallacies and ostentation of alchemistical and metaphysical writers, he reinstates
medicine on the ancient foundation of observation and experiments. In a few years he enriched the physic-garden
with such a number of plants, that it was found necessary
to enlarge it to twice its original extent. In 1714, he arrived to the highest dignity in the university, the rectorship; and, at its expiration, delivered an oration on the
method of obtaining certainty in physics. Here, having
asserted our ignorance of the first principles of things, and
that all our knowledge of their qualities is derived from
experiments, he was thence led to reprehend many systems
of the philosophers, and in particular that of Des Cartes,
the idol of the times. This drew upon him the outrageous
invectives of Mr. R. Andala, a Cartesian, professor of divinity and philosophy at Franeker, who sounded the alarm,
that the church was in danger; and that the introduction
of scepticism, and even Spinosism, must be the
consequence of undermining the Cartesian system by such a
professed ignorance of the principles of things his virulence was carried to such a degree, that the governors of
the university thought themselves in honour obliged (notwithstanding Boernaave’s remonstrances to the contrary) to
insist upon his retracting his aspersions. He accordingly
made a recantation, with offers of further satisfaction to
which Boerhaave generously replied, that the most agreeable satisfaction he could receive was, that so eminent a
divine should have no more trouble on his account. In
1728, he was elected of the academy of sciences at Paris;
and, in 1730, of the royal society of London. In 1718,
he succeeded Le Mort in the professorship of chemistry
and made an oration on this subject, “That chemistry was
capable of clearing itself from its own errors.
” August
An imposthumation of
the lungs, which has daily increased for these last three
months, almost suffocates me upon the least motion if it
should continue to increase without breaking, I must sink
under it; if it should break, the event is still' dubious
happen what may, why should I be concerned since it
cannot be but according to the will of the Supreme Being,
what else should 1 desire God be praised In th mean
time, I am not wanting in the use of the most approved
remedies, in order to mitigate the disease, by promoting
maturation, but am no ways anxious about the success of
them I have lived to upwards of sixty-eight years, and
always cheerful.
” Finding also unusual pulsations of the
artery in the right side of the neck, and intermissions of
the pulse, he concluded there were polypous concretions
between the heart and lungs, with a dilatation of the vessels. Sept. 8, 1738, he wrote his case to Dr. Mortimer,
secretary of the royal society and for some days there
were flattering hopes of his recovery but they soon vanished, and he died the 23d, aged almost seventy.
of persuasion. How often have I heard him say, when he spoke of the precepts of the Gospel, that the Divine Teacher of it had much more knowledge of the human heart than
The following anecdotes respecting an important feature
in Boerhaave’s character will not be read without interest
“Fifty years are now elapsed,
” says the learned baron
Haller, “since I was the disciple of the immortal Boerhaave but his image is continually present to my mind.
I have always before my eyes the venerable simplicity of
that great man, who possessed in an eminent degree the
power of persuasion. How often have I heard him say,
when he spoke of the precepts of the Gospel, that the Divine Teacher of it had much more knowledge of the human
heart than Socrates He particularly alluded to that sentence in the New Testament, * Whosoever looketh after
a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery
with her in his heart' for, added my illustrious master,
” the first attacks of vice are always feeble reason has
then some power over the mind. It is then in the very
moment that such thoughts occur as have a tendency to
withdraw us from our duty, that, if we with diligence suppress them, and turn our attention to something else, we
may avoid the approaching danger, and not fail into the
temptations of vice."
as calculated both to enjoy and to adorn, he diligently performed the duties of an able and orthodox divine; a good writer; an excellent preacher, and an attentive parish
, a pious and useful clergyman of Leicestershire, was born at Leicester in 1679, and at the age of fifteen had made such progress in letters as to be matriculated at St. John’s college, Cambridge. Having taken the degree of B. A. in 1698, he retired to Hinckley in Leicestershire, where he engaged in teaching a small endowed school, and retained that employment until 1732, at the humble salary of 10l. per annum. At the usual age, he was admitted into holy orders to serve the curacy of Stoney Stanton near Hinckley. It appears from the parish register, that he commenced his parochial duties in May 1702; and the care of the parish was confided to him, his rector then residing on another benefice. His stipend was only 30l. a year, as the living was a small one, being then in the open-field state. Nor does it appear that he had made any saving in money from the profits of his school all the property he seems to have brought with him to his curacy was, his chamber furniture, and a library, more valuable for being select than extensive. When Mr. Bold was examined for orders, his diocesan (Dr. James Gardiner, bishop of Lincoln) was so much pleased with his proficiency in sacred learning, that he had determined to make Mr. Bold his domestic chaplain: but the good bishop’s death soon after closed his prospect of preferment as soon as it was opened in that quarter; and Mr. Bold framed his plan of life and studies upon a system of rigid ceconomy and strict attention to his professional duties, which never varied during the fifty years he passed afterwards on his curacy. Remote from polished and literary society, which he was calculated both to enjoy and to adorn, he diligently performed the duties of an able and orthodox divine; a good writer; an excellent preacher, and an attentive parish priest. He appears, from the early age of 24 years, to have formed his plan of making himself a living sacrifice for the benefit of his flock; and to have declined preferment (which was afterward offered to him) with a view of making his example and doctrine the more striking and effective, by his permanent residence and labours in one and the same place. He appears to have begun his ecclesiastical labours in a spirit of self-denial, humility, charity, and piety. He had talents that might have rendered him conspicuous any where, and an impressive and correct delivery. His life was severe (so far as respected himself); his studies incessant; his spiritual labours for the church and his flock, ever invariably the same. His salary, we have already mentioned, was only ZOl. a year, which was never increased, and of which he paid at firsts/, then J2l. and lastly 16l. a year, for his board. It needs scarcely be said that the most rigid ceconomy was requisite, and practised, to enable him to subsist; much more to save out of this pittance for beneficent purposes. Yet he continued to give away annually, 5l.; and saved 5l. more with a view to more permanent charities: upon the rest he lived. His daily fare consisted of water-gruel for his breakfast; a plate from the farmer’s table, with whom he boarded, supplied his dinner; after dinner, one half pint of ale, of his own brewing, was his only luxury; he took no tea, and his supper was upon milk-pottage. With this slender fare his frame was supported under the labour of his various parochial duties. In the winter, he read and wrote by the farmer’s fire-side; in the summer, in his own room. At Midsummer, he borrowed a horse for a day or two, to pay short visits beyond a walking distance. He visited all his parishioners, exhorting, reproving, consoling, instructing them.
, an eminent puritan divine, and one of the best scholars of his time, was born at Blackburn
, an eminent puritan divine, and
one of the best scholars of his time, was born at Blackburn
in Lancashire, in 1572, and educated in queen Elizabeth’s
free-school in that place, where he made such proficiency
as to be accounted a young man of extraordinary talents
and industry. In his eighteenth year he went to Oxford,
and entered of Lincoln college, under the tuition of Mr.
John Randal, where he went through a course of logic and
philosophy with distinguished approbation, and particularly took pains to acquire a critical knowledge of Greek,
transcribing the whole of Homer with his own hand. By
this diligence he attained a greater facility than was then
usual, writing, and even disputing, in Greek with great
correctness and fluency. From Lincoln he removed to
Brazen-nose, in hopes of a fellowship, as that society
consisted most of Lincolnshire and Cheshire men. In 1596
he took his bachelor’s degree in this college, and was
kindly supported by Dr. Brett of Lincoln, himself a good
Grecian, and who admired the proficiency Bolton had
made in that language, until 1602, when he obtained a
fellowship, and proceeded M. A. the same year. His reputation advancing rapidly, he was successively chosen
reader of the lectures on logic, and on moral and natural
philosophy in his college. In 1605, vrhen king James
came to Oxford, the vice-chancellor (Abbot, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury) appointed him to read in natural
philosophy in the public schools, and to be one of the
disputants before his majesty. Afterwards he increased
his stock of learning by metaphysics, mathematics, and
scholastic divinity. About this time, one Anderton, a
countryman and schoolfellow, and a zealous Roman catholic, endeavoured to seduce him to that religion, and a
place of private conference was fixed, but Anderton not
keeping his appointment, the affair dropped. Mr. Bolton,
with all his learning, had been almost equally noted for
immorality, but about his thirty-fourth year, reformed his
life and manners, and became distinguished for regularity
and piety. In 1609, about two years after he entered into
holy orders, which he did very late in life, he was presented to the living of Broughton in Northamptonshire, by
Mr. afterwards sir Augustine Nicolls, serjeant at law, who
sent for him to his chamber* in Serjeant’s Inn and gave
him the presentation. Dr. King, bishop of London, being
by accident there at the same time, thanked the serjeant
for what he had done for Broughton, but told him that he
had deprived the university of a singular ornament. He
then went to his living and remained on it until his death,
Dec. 17, 1631. He was, says Wood, a painful and constant preacher, a person of great zeal in his duty, charitable and bountiful, and particularly skilled in resolving
the doubts of timid Christians. Of his works, the most
popular in his time, was “A Discourse on Happiness.
”
Lond. Mr. Bolton’s last and learned work of the
Four last Things, Death, Judgment, Hell, and Heaven,
with an Assize Sermon, and Funeral Sermon for his patron
Judge Nichols,
” Loncl. 1633. Prefixed to this is the life
of Mr. Bolton, to which all his subsequent biographers
have been indebted.
t a member of that society. But, although he took his doctor’s degree in law, he was by profession a divine, and had before this preached for some years, first as a lecturer
, LL. D. was the son of Dennis Bond,
esq. of Dorchester, a violent adherent of the republican
party in the seventeenth century, and at whose death, a
little before that of the protector, the wits said Oliver
Cromwell had given the devil Bond for his appearance.
Our author was educated under John White, commonly
called the patriarch of Dorchester, and was afterwards entered, not of St. John’s college, Cambridge, as Wood reports, but of Catherine-hall, of which he was afterwards
chosen fellow, and took the degree of B. A. in 163 1, commenced M. A. in 1635, was nominated LL. D. in 1645,
and completed the year following, while he was yet a member of that society. But, although he took his doctor’s degree in law, he was by profession a divine, and had before
this preached for some years, first as a lecturer in Exeter,
and frequently afterwards before the long parliament at
Westminster. In 1643, both he and his tutor, Mr. White,
were chosen of the assembly of divines; and when Mr.
White took the rectory of Lambeth, Dr. Bond succeeded
him as minister of the Savoy, and on Dec. 11, 1645, hfc
was made master of the Savoy hospital under the great
seal. On the decease of Dr. Eden, master of Trinity-hall,
Cambridge, the fellows made choice of the celebrated
Selden, and the choice was confirmed by parliament, but
he declining the office, Dr. Bond was chosen, chiefly by
the authority or interference of parliament, March, 1646.
In 1649 he was chosen law professor of Gresham college,
and in 1654 was made assistant to the commissioners of
Middlesex and Wesminster, for the ejection of scandalous
and ignorant ministers; and in 1658 served as vice-chancellor of Cambridge. He held his mastership and law
professorship until the restoration, when he was ejected
from both for his adherence to the politics by which he
had obtained them. He then retired into Dorsetshire, and
died at Sandwich in the isle of Purbeck, July 1676.
Wood, who has committed several mistakes in his life,
corrected by Dr. Ward, gives a list of his works, which
are few: 1. “A Door of Hope,
” Lond. Holy and Loyal Activity,
” Lond.
ivance at the mass in several places, many people in his diocese being observed to withdraw from the divine service and communion, he was accused of neglect in the execution
At the time of the king’s death in 1547, Bonner was ambassador with the emperor Charles V.; and though during Henry’s reign he appeared zealous against the pope, and had concurred in all the measures taken to abrogate his supremacy, yet these steps he appears to have taken merely as the readiest way to preferment; for his principles, as far as such a man can be said to have any, were those of popery, as became evident from his subsequent conduct. On the 1st of September 1547, not many months after the accession of Edward VI. he scrupled to take an oath, to renounce and deny the bishop of Rome, and to swear obedience to the king, and entered a protestation against the king’s injunction and homilies. For this behaviour he was committed to the Fleet; but having submitted, and recanted his protestation, was released, and for sometime complied outwardly with the steps taken to advance the reformation, while he used privately all means in his power to obstruct it. After the lord Thomas Seymour’s death, he appeared so remiss in putting the court orders in execution, particularly that relating to the use of the common prayer book, that he was severely reproved by the privy council. He then affected to redouble his diligence: but still, through his remissness in preaching, and his connivance at the mass in several places, many people in his diocese being observed to withdraw from the divine service and communion, he was accused of neglect in the execution of the king’s orders. He was summoned before the privy council on the llth of August, when, after a reproof for his negligence, he was enjoined to preach the Sunday three weeks after at Paul’s cross, on certain articles delivered to him; and also to preach there once a quarter for the future, and be present at every sermon preached there, and to celebrate the communion in that church on all the principal feasts: and to abide and keep residence in his house in London, till he had licence from the council to depart elsewhere. On the day appointed for his preaching, he delivered a sermon to a crowded audience on the points assigned to him. But he entirely omitted the last article, the king’s royal power in his youth; for which contempt he was complained of to the king by John Hooper, afterwards bishop of Worcester: and archbishop Cranmer, bishop Ridley, sir William Petre, and sir Thomas Smith, secretaries of state, and William May, LL. D. and dean of St. Paul’s, were appointed commissioners to proceed against him. Appearing before them several days in September, he was, after a long trial, committed to the Marshalsea; and towards the end of October deprived of his bishopric.
, or Boquinus, a French divine, and one of the contributors to the reformation, was born in
, or Boquinus, a French divine, and one of the contributors to the reformation, was
born in Aquitaine, and educated in a monastery at Bourges,
of which he became prior, and in high estimation with his
brethren. Having, however, perused some of the writings
of Luther, Bucer, &c. he imbibed their sentiments, and
went to Wittemberg, where he became acquainted with
Luther and Melancthon, and at Basil he attended the lectures of Myconius, Carlostadt, and Sebastian Muncer.
Melancthon afterwards recommended him as a proper person to supply Calvin’s place at Strasburgh, who had gone
back to Geneva; and there he gave lectures on the epistle
to the Galatians, and soon after had for his coadjutor
Peter Martyr. Boquine being at some distance of time
invited by his brother, who was a doctor in divinity, and
not an enemy to the reformation, removed to Bourges, in.
hopes that the French churches were friendly to his doctrine, and there he publicly read and expounded the Hebrew Bible. About this time, Francis, king of France,
being dead, the queen of Navarre came to Bourges, when
Boquine presented her with a book he had written on the
necessity and use of the Holy Scriptures, which she received very graciously, allowed him a yearly stipend out
of her treasury, and appointed him to preach a public lecture in the great church of Bourges, with the consent of
the archbishop. He remained in like favour with her successor, king Henry’s sister; but the enemies of the reformation threatening his life, he was obliged to desist
from his labours, and went back to Strasburgh, where he
was appointed pastor to the French church. This office,
however, he filled only about four months, and in 1557
went into Heidelberg, at the invitation of Otho Henry,
prince elector Palatine, who was carrying on the reformation in his churches. Here he was appointed professor of
divinity, and continued in this office about twenty years,
under Otho and Frederic III. After the death of the latter in 1576, the popish party again prevailing, drove him
and the rest of the reformed clergy from the place, but
almost immediately he was invited to Lausanne, where he
remained until his death in 1582. He left various works,
the dates of which his biographers have not given, except
the following “Oratio in obitum Frederici III. Comit.
Palatini,
” Leyden, 1577, 4to; but their titles are, 1. “Defensio ad calumnias Doctoris cujusdam Avii in Evangelii
professores.
” 2. “Examen libri quern Heshusius inscripsit.de praesentia corporis Christi in coena Domini.
”
3. “Theses in ccena Domini.
” 4. “Exegesis divinsc
communicationis.
” 5. “Adsertio veteris, ac veri Christianismi adversus novum et fictum Jesuitismum.
” This
appears to have been one of his ablest works, and was
translated into English under the title, “A defence of the
old and true profession of Christianitie against the new
counterfeite sect of Jesuites, by Peter Boquine, translated
by T. G.
” London, Notatio praecipuarum causarum diuturnitatis controversial de crena Domini,
” &c.
, D. D. a pious and learned divine of the seventeenth century, and brother to sir William Boreman,
, D. D. a pious and learned divine of the seventeenth century, and brother to sir William
Boreman, clerk of the green cloth to Charles II. was fellow of Trinity college, Cambridge, S. T. P. per literas
regias, 1661, and afterwards rector of St. Giles’s in the
Fields, London. He died in November, 1675, at Greenwich, where he was buried. He published, I. “The
Churchman’s Catechism: or the Church’s plea for Tithes,
”
Lond. The Triumphs of learning over
ignorance, and of truth over falsehood; being an answer
to four queries, first, whether there be any need of universities,
” &c. ibid. A Panegyrick and
Sermon at the funeral of Dr. Comber, master of Trinity
college, and dean of Carlisle,
” Life and
death of Freeman Sonds, esq.
” and “Relation of sir
George Sonds’ narrative of the passages on the death of
his two sons,
” ibid. 4to. This Freeman Sonds was executed for the murder of his brother. 5. “Life and death
of Alice dutchess Dudley,
” ibid.
highest admiration of the power and wisdom of the Creator. He saw the necessity and advantages of a divine revelation, and was sincerely attached to the Christian religion,
Boscovich was tall in stature, of a robust constitution, but pale complexion. His countenance, which was rather long, was expressive of cheerfulness and good humour. He was open, sincere, communicative, and benevolent. We have already noticed that with all these qualities, he was too irritable, and too sensible of what he thought a neglect, which gave him unnecessary uneasiness. He was a man of strict piety, according to his views of religion. His great knowledge of the works of nature made him entertain the highest admiration of the power and wisdom of the Creator. He saw the necessity and advantages of a divine revelation, and was sincerely attached to the Christian religion, having a sovereign contempt for the presumption and foolish pride of infidels.
ith a train of priests and the lieutenant of the police, were to march thither in procession, during divine service: one of these prelates was to mount the pulpit and summon
Had the French press, however, remained open, the
controversy between the catholics and protestants might
have soon been brought to a conclusion: but other measures were to be adopted, more characteristic of the genius
of popery. Bossuet has been praised by most French
writers for his laudable attempts to promote an union between the catholic and reformed churches of France. The
basis of this union was not very promising. The reformed
were to give up every thing, the catholics nothing, and the
subsequent practice was worse than this principle. In the
“Memoirs pour servira I'histoire des Refugies Francois dans
les etats du Roi,
” or Memoirs of the French refugees in
the dominions of the king of Prussia, by Messrs. Erman
and Reclam, published at Berlin in 1782, we have a curious
developement of the plan of union, as detected by the
celebrated Claude. The reformed church of Paris, which
was a considerable edifice, was to be surrounded with
troops; the archbishop of Paris and the bishop of Meaux
(Bosquet) accompanied with a train of priests and the lieutenant of the police, were to march thither in procession,
during divine service: one of these prelates was to mount
the pulpit and summon the congregation to submit to the
mother church and re-unite; a number of Roman Catholics,
posted for the purpose in different parts of the church, as
if they belonged to it, were to answer the prelate’s summons, by crying out “re-union!
” after which the other
prelate was to give the congregation a public absolution
from the charge of heresy, and to receive the new pretended converts into the bosom of the church; and this
scandalous farce was to be imposed upon the world for an
actual re-union. This plan affords a tolerable specimen of
Bossuet as a prelate, and a man of candour; and it is worthy of notice, that his associate in this expedition, was the
libertine Harlai, archbishop of Paris, whose life and death
were so scandalous, that not a single curate could be found,
among the most unprincipled part of the Romish clergy,
who would undertake to preach his funeral sermon.
, a popular and learned Scotch divine, was born in the town of Dunse, March 17, 1676, and educated
, a popular and learned Scotch divine, was born in the town of Dunse, March 17, 1676,
and educated at the grammar school of that place, where
he was taught the elements of Latin, Greek, rhetoric, and
arithmetic. In 1692, he went to the university of Edinburgh, where he went through the usual courses for three
years, and entered on the study of divinity. In 1695, he
returned home with ample testimonials of his diligence and
good character. Next year he taught school at Glencairn
for a short time, and then was appointed tutor to a young
gentleman of family at Edinburgh, where he continued the
study of divinity, until he accompanied his pupil into the
country. In 1699, after the usual trials before the presbytery, he was licenced to preach the gospel, as a probationer
for the ministry, agreeably to the forms of the church of
Scotland, and in September of that year was ordained to the
Jiving of Simprin, one of the smallest in Scotland. In the
following year he married Katherine Brown, whom he describes as a woman possessed of many valuable qualifications. In May 1707, he exchanged the living of Simprin
for that of Etterick, on which he remained until his death.
About this time he began to improve his knowledge in the
Hebrew, having before only read the Psalter, but 1771
was, according to his own account, “the happy year
wherein he was first master (possessor) of a Hebrew Bible,
and began the study of it;
” and some day, which he forgot, in Oct Cross’s Taghmical Art.
” More than half
his cares and anxieties alter this related to the Hebrew accents. About this time, he was one of the clergy of
Scotland, who refused taking the oath of abjuration, and in
dread of the penalty, made over his little property to one of
his sons, and another person, but it does not appear that
the penalty was ever levied. Returning in 1715 to the
study of the “Taghmical Art,
” after incredible pains, he
found that he could make nothing of it; but still persevering, he became persuaded that the accents are the key
to the true version of the Hebrew text, and the intrinsic
light which illuminates it. Compared to this, as to him,
the digging in the mines of Peru was but a trifle. From
this time he began to write, as leisure permitted, a work
on the accents, accompanying his labours with constant
prayer, particularly that he might be instructed in the secrets of double accentuation, which he had not been able to
comprehend. All this zeal and industry at length produced
an “Essay on the Hebrew accentuation,
” which he exhibited
in manuscript to some learned friends, who gave him various
degrees of encouragement, but he often met with delays
and evasions which occasioned great uneasiness to the good
man. It being supposed that there were few persons in
Great Britain very much interested in the Hebrew accents,
he was advised to translate it into Latin that it might circulate among the learned on the continent. Accordingly he
began his translation, and as a help to his style, he mentions the following expedient, which perhaps others have
made use of on similar occasions. “As I went on, I read
something of Cicero, in my leisure hours, for the language, and noted in a book some terms and phraser, taken
from him and others: particularly out of Calepin’s dictionary, which Providence had in the year 1724 laid to my
hand, when 1 knew not for what use it was designed, and
to this collection 1 had frequent recourse, while I wrote
that book: and found it to be of good use to me. I had
formerly, upon occasion of appearing in print, done the
same as to the English tongue: by which means my style,
that I had been careless of before, was now somewhat refined.
” This work, which he pursued with uncommon enthusiasm, and which was to prove the antiquity and divine
authority of the Hebrew accents, was occasionally interrupted by his public services, and the publication of some
of his practical works, particularly “The Fourfold State,
”
in Thomæ Boston ecclesiæ Atricensis apud Scotos pastoris,
Tractatus Stigmologicus Hebraeo-Biblicus,
” dedicated to
sir Richard Ellys, who had been very friendly to Boston in
the prosecution of his studies on this subject. Mr. Boston
died May 20, 1732. His works in practical divinity, which
are still well known and popular in Scotland, were collected
in a large fol. volume in 1768, and since that time others,
particularly his “Body of Divinity,
” 3 vols. 8vo. 1773, have
been published from his Mss. but this last mentioned work
is eked out by extracts from other authors witnout acknowledgment, a disingenuous artifice of which the author never
would have been guilty. The most remarkable of his
posthumous pieces is the “Memoirs of his Lite, Time, and
Writings,
” written by himself, a closely printed octavo
volume, 1776. This is in the form of a diary, tedious and
minute beyond all precedent, but evincing a wonderful
simplicity of heart, ignorance of the world, and a mind
continually harrassed by conscientious scruples about the
merest trifles; much of it, however, may be interesting to
curious inquirers, as exhibiting characteristics of the manners and sentiments of the Scotch clergy of the seventeenth
and part of the eighteenth century.
his most intimate acquaintance at this period was the rev. Mr. Temple, a worthy, learned, and pious divine, whose well-written character of Gray has been adopted both
, the friend and biographer of Dr. Johnson, was the eldest son of Alexander Boswell, lord Auchinleck, one of the judges in the supreme courts of session and justiciary in Scotland. He was born at Edinburgh, Oct. 29, 1740, and received the first rudiments of education in that city. He afterwards studied civil law in the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. During his residence in these cities, he acquired by the society of the English gentlemen who were students in the Scotch colleges, that remarkable predilection for their manners, which neither the force of education, or national prejudice, could ever eradicate. But his most intimate acquaintance at this period was the rev. Mr. Temple, a worthy, learned, and pious divine, whose well-written character of Gray has been adopted both by Dr. Johnson and Mason in the life of that poet. Mr. Boswell imbibed early the ambition of distinguishing himself by his literary talents, and had the good fortune to obtain the patronage of the late lord Somerville. This pobleman treated him with the most flattering kindness; and Mr. Bosvvell ever remembered with gratitude the friendship he so long enjoyed with this worthy peer. Having always entertained an exalted idea of the felicity of London, in the year 1760 he visited that capital; in the manners and amusements of which he found so much that was congenial to his own taste and feelings, that it hecanie ever after his favourite residence, whither he always returned from his estate in Scotland, and from his various rambles in different parts of Europe, with increasing eagerness and delight; and we find him, nearly twenty years afterwards, condemning Scotland as too narrow a sphere, and wishing to make his chief residence in London, which he calls the great scene of ambition and instruction. He was, doubtless, confirmed in this attachment to the metropolis by the strong predilection entertained towards it by his friend Dr. Johnson, whose sentiments on this subject Mr. Boswell details in various parts of his life of that great man, and which are corroborated by every one in pursuit of literary and intellectual attainments.
e Analogy of Religion, &c. concerning Necessity,” 1730. 7. Answer to the first volume of Warburton’s Divine Legation of Moses.
, an English clergyman of ingenuity
and learning, was descended from an ancient family in
Staffordshire, and born at Derby in 1688. His grandfather had been a major on the parliament side in the civil
wars; his father had diminished a considerable paternal
estate by gaming; but his mother, a woman of great
prudence, contrived to give a good education to six children.
Thomas the youngest acquired his grammatical learning at
Derby; had his education among the dissenters; and was
appointed to preach to a presbyterian congregation at
Spalding in Lincolnshire. Not liking this mode of life, he
removed to London at the end of queen Anne’s reign, with
a view of preparing himself for physic; but changing his
measures again, he took orders in the church of England,
soon after the accession of George I. and was presented to
the rectory of Winburg in Norfolk. About 1725 he was
presented to the benefice of Reymerston; in 1734, to the
rectory of Spixworth; and, in 1747, to the rectory of
Edgefield; all in Norfolk. About 1750, his mental powers
began to decline; and, at Christmas 1752, he ceased to
appear in the pulpit. He died at Norwich, whither he had
removed, in 1753, with his family, Sept. 23, 1754, leaving a wife, whom he mafried in 1739; and also a son, Edmund Bott, esq. of Christ church in Hampshire, a fellow
of the Antiquarian society, who published, in 1771, A collection of cases relating to the Poor laws. Dr. Kippis,
who was his nephew by marriage, has given a prolix article
on him, and a minute character, in which, however, there
appears to have been little of the amiable, and in his religious opinions he was capricious and unsteady. His works
were, 1. “The peace and happiness of this world, the
immediate design of Christianity, on Luke ix. 56,
” a pamphlet in 8vo, The principal and peculiar notion of a
late book, entitled, The religion of nature delineated, considered, and refuted,
” Remarks upon Butler’s 6th chapter of the Analogy of Religion, &c. concerning Necessity,
”
ld be impossible to draw from them an accurate and consistent scheme of religion; for the pretended “ Divine light,” that guides people of this class, does not proceed in
We have already mentioned the crookedness of her outward form, which probably was the reason why she would
never suffer her picture to be taken: however, her constitution was so tough, that, 'in spite of all the fatigues and
troubles of her life, she seemed to be but forty years of
age, when she was above sixty: and, though she was almost continually wearing her eyesight, both by reading
and writing, yet she never made use of spectacles. She
was lucky enough to have the three most remarkable
periods of her life, as her birth, her arriving to the rank
of an author, and her death, characterised by comets; a
circumstance greatly favourable to a prophet and a teacher
of a new religion. Her writings were voluminous, but it
would be impossible to draw from them an accurate and
consistent scheme of religion; for the pretended “Divine light,
” that guides people of this class, does not proceed in a methodical way of reasoning and argument; it
discovers itself by flashes, which shed nothing but thick
darkness in the minds of those who investigate truth with
the understanding, and do not trust to the reports of fancy,
that is so often governed by sense and passion. Madame
Bourignon’s intellect was probably in a disordered state.
One of her principal followers was Peter Poiret, a man of
bold and penetrating genius, who was a great master of the
Cartesian philosophy, and who proves in his own example,
that knowledge and ignorance, reason and superstition, are
often divided by thin partitions, and that they sometimes
not only dwell together in the same person, but also, by
an unnatural and unaccountable union, afford mutual assistance, and thus engender monstrous productions.
y destined for his’ future residence. He had heard of Dr. Aspinwall soon after his arrival; and that divine having formerly belonged to the order of Jesuits, he waited
This is the narrative which, after thirty years, Mr. Bower gave the public as a genuine account. Whether owing to the inaccuracy of those who had formerly heard it, to the variations to which a tale frequently repeated is always liable, or to the neglect of veracity in the writer, it certainly differed from accounts which had been orally given by him too much not to furnish some suspicions of the author. On his arrival in England it appears to have been his first object to procure att introduction to some persons of respectability in the country destined for his’ future residence. He had heard of Dr. Aspinwall soon after his arrival; and that divine having formerly belonged to the order of Jesuits, he waited on him, and was kindly received. By this gentleman he was introduced to Dr. Clarke; and to them both he opened, as he says, his mind, without disguise, respecting his doubts relative to his faith. After several conferences with these gentlemen, and some with Berkeley, the bishop of Cloyne, then dean of Londonderry, added to his own reading and reasoning, he obtained, as he says, the fullest conviction that many of the favourite doctrines of Rome were not only evidently repugnant to scripture and reason, but wicked, blasphemous, and utterly inconsistent with the attributes of the supreme and infinite being. He therefore withdrew himself from the communion of the church without further delay, took leave of the provincial, quitted the order, and broke off all connection with those of the communion. This happened in the month of November, 1726.
He was also, under various signatures, a frequent contributor to the Gentleman’s Magazine, but as a divine he was not known to the public. He died Oct. 26, 1788.
, an ingenious scholar, who, from his
Attachment to Spanish literature, was usually called by his
friends Don Bowle, was a descendant from Dr. John Bowle,
bishop of Rochester in the early part of the seventeenth
century. He was born in 1725, and educated at Oriel
college, Oxford, where he took his master’s degree in
1750, and having entered into holy orders, was presented
to the vicarage of Idmiston, Wiltshire. In 1776 he was
elected F. S. A. He was a man of great erudition, and
muca respected for his various researches in antiquity,
and varios other lucubrations in obscure literature. He
had the honour or being one of the first detectors of Lauder’s forgeries, and according to Dr. Douglas’s account,
had the juste-st claim to be considered as the original detector o! thai unprincipled impostor. In 1765, he was
editor of “Miscellaneous pieces of ancient English Poesie,
”
containing Shakspeare’s “King John,
” and some of the satires of Marston. To a very accurate and extensive fund
of classical learning, he had added a comprehensive knowledge of most of the modern languages, particularly of the
Spanish, Italian, and French; and in the course of his
reading contracted a fondness for Cervantes’ admirable
romance, which could scarcely be said to be kept within
reasonable bounds. Don Quixote himself did not sally
forth with more enthusiasm than Mr. Bowie, when in 1777
he published “A Letter to the rev. Dr. Percy, concerning
a new and classical edition of Historia del valoroso CavaU
lero Don Quixote de la Mancha, to be illustrated by
annotations and extracts from the historians, poets, and romances of Spain and Italy, and other writers ancient and
modern, with a glossary and indexes, in which are occasionally interspersed some reflections on the learning and
genius of the author, with a map of Spain adapted to the
history, and to every translation of it,
” 4to. He gave also
an outline of the life of Cervantes in the Gent. Mag. for
1731, and circulated proposals to print the work hy subscription at three guineas each copy. It appeared accordingly in 1781, in six quarto volumes, the first four consisting of the text, the fifth of the annotations, and the sixth
is wholly occupied by the index, but the work did not
answer his expectations. The literary journals were either
silent or spoke slightingly of his labours; and the public
sentiment seemed to be that annotations on Cervantes were
not quite so necessary as on Shakspeare. He appears,
however, to have taken some pains to introduce them to
the public in a favourable light. In 1784 (Gent. Mag. LIV. p. 565) we find him lamenting certain “unfair practices respecting the admission of an account of the work
into two periodical publications to which he had some
reason to think he was entitled.
” He adds, that the perpetrators of these practices were “a false friend, and
another, whose encomium he should regard as an affront
and real slander the one as fond of the grossest flattery,
as the other ready to give it, and both alike wholesale
dealers in abuse and detraction.
” Nor was this all; in
1785 he published “Remarks on the extraordinary conduct of the Knight of the Ten Stars and his Italian Squire,
to the editor of Don Quixote. In a letter to I. S. D. D.
”
8vo. This produced an answer from the “Italian Squire,
”
Baretti, not of the most gentleman-like kind, entitled
“Tolondron. Speeches to John Bowie, about his edition of
Don Quixote,
” 8vo, Le Roman de
la Rose;
” on parish registers; and on cards. He was also,
under various signatures, a frequent contributor to the
Gentleman’s Magazine, but as a divine he was not known
to the public. He died Oct. 26, 1788.
, an eminent Scotch divine, of the same family as the preceding, being a descendant of
, an eminent Scotch divine, of the
same family as the preceding, being a descendant of Robert Boyd, earl of Arran, sometime protector of Scotland,
from whom descended James Boyd, baron of Trochrig, the
father of the subject of this article. He was born in 1578,
and educated at the university of Edinburgh, where he
took his master’s degree. In 1604, according to the custom of the times, he travelled into France, and studied for
some time under Rivet, improving himself in Greek and
Hebrew, and in French, which he spoke with great fluency.
He was afterwards invited by tt:e university of Montauban
to be professor of philosophy, and in the mean time himself studied divinity, dnd was ordained according to the
forms of the French reformed church. In 1608 he was
removed to a professorship at Saumur, which he filled until 1614, and both as a preacher and teacher was much
admired and eagerly followed. His fame reaching the ears
of his sovereign, king James, he sent him a pressing invitation to fill the divinity chair in the university oi Glasgow, in consequence of which he removed thither in 1615,
to the great sorrow of his friends at SaumiT, and the university at large. He was enabled soon, in conjunction
with some able colleagues, to raise the reputation of the
Glasgow university, the mode of study in which he reformed from the useless and disputatious modes of the
schools. His situation, however, afcerwards became embarrassed from the disputes which arose respecting the
scheme of king James to assimilate the churches of England and Scotland, which was highly unpopular in the
latter country. Boyd’s education, and especially his associations abroad, had inclined him to the presbyterian
form of church government, and finding that he could not
under such circumstances retain his situation as preacher
and professor at Glasgow, he resigned both, and went to
live privately on an estate which he possessed. Endeavours were made to fix him in Edinburgh, and afterwards
to recall him to Glasgow, but these not being successful,
he finally retired from public life to Carrick, his estate,
where he died Jan. 5, 1627. He wrote in very elegant
Latin, a commentary on the epistle to the Ephesians,
which was published under the title “Roberti Bodii Scoti
Praelectiones in Epistolam ad Ephesios,
” Lond.
nce to the protestant religion. He was first educated by his mother’s brother, Campdomerius, a noted divine and preacher of the reformed church, and then was sent to the
, a lexicographer and miscellaneous writer, was born June 13, 1667, at the city of Castres in Upper
Languedoc. His great-grandfather and grandfather were
masters of the riding-school at Nismes; his father was
president of the supreme court at Castres, and his mother
was Catherine, daughter of Campdomerius, a celebrated
physician, circumstances which have been recorded to
prove that he was of a good family. He was certainly of a
conscientious one, his relations being exiles for their adherence to the protestant religion. He was first educated
by his mother’s brother, Campdomerius, a noted divine
and preacher of the reformed church, and then was sent to
the protestant school at Puy Laurent, where he applied
assiduously, and excelled all his schoolfellows in Greek
and Latin. In 1685, when the persecution prevailed
against the protestants in France, he followed his uncle to
Holland, and pressed by want, was obliged to enter into
the military service in 1687; but soon, by the advice of
his relations, returned to his studies, and went to the university of Franeker, where he went through a regular course
of education, and added to philosophy, divinity, history,
&c. the study of the mathematics. In 1689 he came over
to England, and the hopes of being able to return to France,
which the protestants in general entertained, being disappointed, he was obliged to have recourse to his pen for a
livelihood. His first employment appears to have been to
transcribe and prepare for the press Camden’s letters from
the Cotton ian library, for Dr. Smith, who afterwards published them. In 1692, he became French and Latin tutor
to Allen Bathurst, esq. eldest son of sir Benjamin Bathurst,
who, being much in favour with the princess Anne of Denmark, afterwards queen of Great Britain, he had hopes of
some preferment at court. With this view he paid great
attention to his pupil’s education (who was afterwards lord Bathurst), and for his use composed two compendious
grammars, the one Latin, the other French; but the latter
only was printed, and to this da,y is a standard book. His
hopes of preferment, however, Appear to have been fallacious, which his biographer attributes to his siding with
a different party from the Bathurst family in the political
divisions which prevailed at that time in the nation, Boyer,
like the rest of his countrymen who had fled hither for religion, being a zealous whig. After this, having made
himself master of the English tongue, he became an author
by profession, and engaged sometimes alone, and sometimes in conjunction with the booksellers, in various compilations, and periodical works of the political kind, particularly a newspaper called the “Post-Boy;
” the “Political
State of Great Britain,
” published in volumes from History of William III.
” 3 vols. 8vo “Annals of the reign of Queen Anne,
” 11 vols. 8vo, and a
“Life of Queen Anne,
” fol. all publications now more
useful than when published, as they contain many state
papers, memorials, &c. which it would be difficult to find
elsewhere; but his name is chiefly preserved by his French
Dictionary, 1699, 4to, and a French Grammar, of both
which he lived to see several editions, and which still continue to be printed. His political principles involved him
with Swift, who often speaks contemptuously of him, and
with Pope, who has given him a place in the Dunciad. He
died Nov. 16, 1729, at a house he had built in Five Fields,
Chelsea, and was buried in Chelsea church-yard.
dicious remarks and reflections, says he, may not a little improve both a statesman, a critic, and a divine, as well as they will make the writer pass for all three.” In
In June 1686, his friend Dr. Gilbert Burnet, afterwards
bishop of Salisbury, transmitted to him from the Hague the
manuscript account of his travels, which he had dra.vn up
in the form of letters, addressed to Mr. Boyle: who, in
his answer to the doctor, dated the 14th of that month, expresses his satisfaction in “finding, that all men do not
travel, as most do, to observe buildings and gardens, and
modes, and other amusements of a superficial and almost
insignificant curiosity; for your judicious remarks and reflections, says he, may not a little improve both a statesman, a critic, and a divine, as well as they will make the
writer pass for all three.
” In 1687, Mr. Boyle published,
36. “The martyrdom of Theodora and Dydimia,
” 8vo; a
work he had drawn up in his youth. 37. “A disquisition
about the final causes of natural things; wherein it is enquired, whether, and, if at all, with what caution, a naturalist should admit them.
” With an appendix, about vitiated light,
son to admire his unwearied diligence, and his profound knowledge; to respect him as a scholar and a divine. His style, indeed, partakes of the quaintness of the age, but
If we examine his “Postils,
” or the Defence of our
Liturgy, we shall have reason to admire his unwearied diligence, and his profound knowledge; to respect him as a
scholar and a divine. His style, indeed, partakes of the
quaintness of the age, but upon the whole we think him
less blameable on this score than some of his contemporaries. His main object was opposition to popery. He accordingly attacks the pope both with unsparing ridicule.
and with elaborate argument. In a sermon preached on
the Gunpowder treason, he introduced a parody on the
Lord’s Prayer in Latin, “Papa noster qui es llomae, maledicetur nomen tuum, intereat regnum tuum, impediatur
voluntas tua, sicut in coelo sic et in terra. Potum nostrum
in ccena dominica da nobis hodie, et remitte nummos
nustros quos tibi dedimus ob indulgentias, et ne nos indticas in haeresin, sed libera nos a miseria, quoniam tuum
est infernum, pix et sulphur in saecula sseculorurn.
” Granger gives this prayer in English, as if Dr. Boys had used
it in that language, and adds, what he certainly could not
know, that “he gained great applause by turning the
Lord’s Prayer into an execration.
” The truth is, he only
quoted it, saying “I have another prayer, and forasmuch
as it is in Latin, &c.
” It occurs in a ms. of sir Henry
Fynes, who says he found it in an old book. Sir Henry
Fynes was born in 1587, and Dr. Boys’s works could not
be deemed an old book in his time.
8; but the precise time of his death is not known. He was considered as a pious, learned, and useful divine; assiduous in the exercise of his ministry, and in his conduct
a protestant dissenting minister, was
born at Leeds in Yorkshire, in January, 1659-60. After
early instruction under the care of his parents, he received
the first part of his education for the ministry at the private
academy of the rev. Mr. Frankland, near Kendal, in Westmoreland, and completed it under the tuition of the rev.
Mr. Edward Veal, who kept a private academy at Stepney,
near London. Having continued in these seminaries five
years, and availed himself of the opportunities which he
enjoyed in the latter situation of attending on the preaching
of many able divines, both conformists and non-conformists,
he entered on the exercise of his ministry about the year
1680. In 1683, finding that he could not discharge the
duties of his function in England without molestation, he
accepted an invitation to be joint pastor with Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Daniel Williams, in Dublin; and had afterwards
for his coadjutor the rev. Mr. Thomas Emlyn, so well known
for his writings and his sufferings. This connection subsisted for more than ten years with mutual friendship and
uninterrupted harmony; but it was at length dissolved in
consequence of Mr. Emlyn’s sentiments concerning the
doctrine of the Trinity. On this occasion the zeal of Mr.
Boyse for the orthodox led him to take some steps that were
thought injurious to his former colleague, and inconsistent
with the friendship that had subsisted between them;
though he disapproved the prosecution which Mr. Emlyn
suffered, and behaved towards him with a greater degree of
kindness than any of the other dissenting ministers of Dublin. The latter years of Mr. Boyse^s life were embittered
by bodily disorders and straitened circumstances. His
funeral sermon was preached in December, 1728; but the
precise time of his death is not known. He was considered
as a pious, learned, and useful divine; assiduous in the exercise of his ministry, and in his conduct generally esteemed. He had a principal concern in promoting the act
of toleration in Ireland. His works were published in 1728,
in 2 vols. fol. The first contains 71 sermons, 6 dissertations on the doctrine of justification, and a paraphrase on
those passages of the New Testament which chiefly relate to
that doctrine. One of his sermons, originally printed separately, on “the Office of a Christian Bishop,
” was ordered to be burnt by the Irish parliament in Nov. 1711.
The second volume contains several pieces, of which the
principal is a“Vindication of the true Deity of our blessed
Saviour,
” in answer to Mr. Emlyn’s “Humble inquiry into
the Scripture account of Jesus Christ, &c.
” As Mr.
Boyse’s answer was published at the time when Mr. Emlyn
was under prosecution for his sentiments, his conduct did
not escape censure from the friends of Emlyn, who did not
think it candid, liberal, or ingenuous.
earers as adhered to him in the late contest. Here he succeeded Daniel Burgess as a wit as well as a divine, and his biographer gravely informs us, that “this pulpit a
, a facetious preacher among
the dissenters, whose oddities are still traditionary, was
born in 1677, at Wakefield, in Yorkshire. His father
belonged to a dissenting meeting at Alverthorp, near that
town, of which Mr. Peter Naylor, an ejected minister, was
pastor. Under his care, and at the free-school at Leeds,
he received the first rudiments of learning. He was afterwards sent to an academy kept by Mr. Jollie, at Attercliffe. He began to preach at the early age of eighteen,
about the year 1696, when his juvenile figure procured
him some rebuffs, which he soon disregarded, and convinced his hearers that he was a boy only in appearance.
His conquest over these remarks at this time seems to have
formed an aera in his history, as he used to “bless God
that from that hour he had never known the fear of man.
”
He soon after left the academy, and was taken into the
family of Mr. Whitaker, who, according to his biographer,
checked his ardour, at least so far that he preached but
seldom. In 1697 he went to Beverley, where he continued
two years, and then became assistant to Dr. Gilpin, at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and remained there three years,
with almost unbounded popularity. He then removed to
Stepney, near London, and in 1707 was chosen pastor of
a meeting in Fetter-lane, vacant by the death of Mr. Benoni Rowe. After preaching here to a crowded congregation for twenty years, a quarrel took place; about what, his
biographer does not inform us; but Mr. Bradbury was immediately invited to succeed the noted Daniel Burgess, in
the meeting at New-court, Carey-street, and in less than
a fortnight exchanged his former for his latter pulpit,
carrying with him such of his Fetter-lane hearers as adhered to him in the late contest. Here he succeeded
Daniel Burgess as a wit as well as a divine, and his biographer gravely informs us, that “this pulpit a se*cond
time presented a phenomenon as rare as it is beneficial,
wit consecrated to the service of serious and eternal truth.
”
Of this wit, however, Mr. N. Neal, in a letter to Dr.
Doddridge, (1749,) gives a different opinion. “I have
seen Mr. Bradbury’s sermons, just published, the nonsense and buffoonery of which would make one laugh, if
his impious insults over the pious dead did not make one
tremble.
” After entertaining the public by this species
of comic preaching for thirty-two years, he died at Warwick-court, Gray’s-inn, Sept. 9, 1759, aged eighty-two.
Of his character it is said, that “had he possessed as much
judgment as quickness of wit, and as much temper as zeal,
he would have been a man of much greater consideration.
His usefulness was much abated after the Sailers’ -hall
synod, for though he was warm on the orthodox side, his
ill-conducted zeal did much mischief.
” Among his other
differences of opinion from his brethren, he made it his
business in the pulpit to lampoon and satirize the hymns
and psalms of Dr. Watts. It is said, indeed, that whentever he gave out one of the former, it was prefaced with
“Let us sing one of Watts’s whims.
” Among the numerous anecdotes of Tom Bradbury, as he was familiarly
called, we shall give only the following, which contains
some characteristic features. “Tom generally gave audience at supper-time, and the ceremony was thus conducted. On a little table lay two pocket bibles, one of
which was taken up by Bradbury, and the other by his
daughter, and each having read a portion, one of the visiting ministers was desired to pray: they then adjourned
to supper; after which, Tom entertained the company
with ‘ The roast beef of old England,’ which, it is said,
he sung better than any man in England.
” His printed
works amply justify the character usually given of him,
that with much zeal he was totally destitute of judgment,
and regardless of the dignity of his sacred calling, dwelling
perpetually on political topics, and enforcing them in a
strain of ridicule totally unfit for the place in which he
stood. These works consist of “Fifty-four Sermons,
”
te: this gentleman was his mother’s brother, a man of singular capacity and genius, and eminent as a divine, a physician, and a mathematician. In the two former capacities
It appears that thus early in life he had many friends; and it is probable that by some of them he might have risen to eminence in the church, had not his natural inclination led him to pursue other studies, in which he afterwards shone so conspicuously. He received his first rudiments of the mathematics from his uncle Dr. James Pound, who resided at his living of Wanstead in Essex, where our astronomer was some time curate: this gentleman was his mother’s brother, a man of singular capacity and genius, and eminent as a divine, a physician, and a mathematician. In the two former capacities he went to the East-Indies in the company’s service; and was one of those who had the good fortune to escape from the massacre of the factory, on the island of Pulo Condore, in Cochin China. An account of this shocking scene remains amongst Dr. Bradley’s papers, written by Dr. Pound, together with a journal kept by him on board the Rose sloop, until, after many difficulties* and distresses, they arrived at Batavia the 18th of April 1705. The public suffered much in this catastrophe, by the loss of Dr. Pound’s papers, and other valuable curiosities collected by him, which all perished in the conflagration; as he had no time to save any thing but his own life. With this relation, to whom he was dear even more than by the ties of blood, he spent all his vacations from other duties: it was whilst with him at Wanstead, that he first began the observations with the sector, which led to his future important discoveries.
, an eminent puritan divine, was born in 1571 at Market-Bosworth, in Leicestershire, of
, an eminent puritan divine,
was born in 1571 at Market-Bosworth, in Leicestershire, of
an ancient but reduced family, and was first educated at
Worcester free school, at the expense of an uncle, ou
whose death he was obliged to return to Bosworth, but afterwards found a friend in Mr. Ainsworth, schoolmaster at
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, who continued his education in that
school. In 1589, he was admitted along with Joseph Hall,
afterwards the celebrated bishop of Exeter, into Emmanuel college, Cambridge, and took in course his degree of
B. A. and M. A. but could not obtain a fellowship, according to the statutes, which allow but of one of a county at
time, and that for Leicestershire was gained by Mr.
Hall. The master of the college, however, Dr. Chaderton, who had a high respect for him, first procured him
to be tutor to the children of sir Thomas Leighton, governor of Guernsey, and afterwards to be fellow of Sidney
Sussex college, then newly founded. He then entered
into holy orders, and preached first as a lecturer at Abington, near Cambridge, and at Steeple Morton. Afterwards,
by the recommendation of Dr. Chaderton, he was in 101i
settled at Chatham, in Kent; but before he had been there
a year, he was sent for by the archbishop of Canterbury
(Whitgift) and commanded to subscribe, which he refusing,
was suspended. He therefore was obliged to remove, but
was afterwards licensed by the bishop of Litchfield and Coventry (Dr. Overton) to preach any where in his diocese,
and at length coming to London, was chosen lecturer of
Christ Church, Newgate-street. Here, however, he published a treatise against the Ceremonies, which obliged him,
to leave the city and retire to the house of his friend and
patron, Mr. Redriche, at Newhall, in Leicestershire, and he
remained here until near his death, which happened when,
on a visit at Chelsea in 1618. Bishop Hall says of him$
that he was “of a strong brain and of a free spirit, not
suffering himself for small differences of judgment to be
alienated from his friends, to whom, notwithstanding his
seeming austerity, he was very pleasing in conversation,
being full of witty and harmless urbanity. He was very
strong and eager in arguing, hearty in friendship, regardless
of the world, a despiser of compliments, a lover of reality,
full of digested and excellent notions, and a painful labourer
in God’s vineyard.
” The rev. Thomas Gataker, of Ilotherhiihe, wrote his life, a long and not uninteresting account.
tician, he endeavoured to treat theological subjects with a mathematical accuracy, and was the first divine, as far as I know, says sir Henry, who pursued that method.
, archbishop of Canterbury,
is supposed to have been born at Hortfield, in Cheshire,
about the middle of the reign of king Edward I. in the fourteenth century. He was of Merton colle'ge, Oxford, and
was one of the proctors of that university in 1325. He
excelled in mathematical knowledge, and was in general
distinguished for his accurate and solid investigations in divinity, which procured him the title of the “profound Doctor.
” He was confessor to Edward III. and attended that
monarch in his French wars, often preaching before the
army. Sir Henry Savile informs us that some writers of
that time attributed the signal victories of Edward, rather
to the virtues and holy character of his chaplain, than to>
the bravery or prudence of the monarch or of any other
person. He made it his business to calm and mitigate the
fierceness of his master’s temper when he saw him eitherimmoderately fired with warlike rage, or improperly flushed
with the advantages of victory. He also often addressed
the army, and with so much meekness and persuasive discretion, as to restrain them from those insolent excesses
which are too frequently the attendants of military success.
When the see of Canterbury became vacant, the monks
of that city chose him archbishop, but Edward, who was
fond of his company, refused to part with him. Another vacancy happen ing soon after, the monks again elected him^
and Edward yielded to their desires. The modesty and innocence of his manners, and his unquestionable piety and
integrity, seem to have been the principal causes of his advancement. He was, however, by no means adapted to
'a court, where his personal manners and character became
an object of derision, the best proof history can afford us
of their excellence. Even when he was consecrated at
Avignon, cardinal Hugh, a nephew of the pope, ridiculed
the prelate by introducing into the hall a person in a peasant’s habit, ridiog on an ass, petitioning the pope to make
him archbishop of Canterbury, but the jest was so ill relished that the pope and cardinals resented the indignity,
and frowned on the insolent contriver. Bradwardine was
consecrated in 1349; but not many weeks after his consecration, and only seven days after his return into England,
he died at Lambeth. His principal work “De Causa Dei,
”
against the Pelagian heresy, was edited from the ms. in
Merton college library by sir Henry Savile, 1618, fol. with
a biographical preface, in which he informs us that Bradwardine devoted his principal application to theology and
mathematics; and that particularly in the latter he distanced, perhaps, the most skilful of his contemporaries.
These mathematical works are, 1. “Astronomical tables,
”
in ms. in the possession of Sir Henry. 2. “Geometria
Speculativa, cum Arithmetica specuiativa,
” Paris, De proportionibus,
” Paris, De quadratura circuli,
” Paris,
, an English divine of good parts and learning, the son of Nicholas Brady, an officer
, an English divine of good
parts and learning, the son of Nicholas Brady, an officer
in the king’s army in the civil wars of 1641, was born at
Bandon, in the county of Cork, Oct. the 28th, 1659; and
continued in Ireland till he was 12 years of age. Then he
was sent over to England to Westminster-school; and from
thence elected stuJent to Christ-church in Oxford. After
continuing there about four years, he went to Dublin,
where his father resided; at which university he immediately commenced B. A. When he was of due stanuing,
his diploma for the degree of D. D. was, on account of his
uncommon merit, presented to him by that university while
he was in England; and brought over by Dr Pratt, then
senior travelling fellow, afterwards provost of that college.
His first ecclesiastical preferment was to a prebend in the
cathedral of St. Barry, at Cork; to which he was collated
by bishop Wettenhal, whose domestic chaplain he was.
He was a zealous promoter of the revolution, and in consequence of his zeal suffered for it. In 1690, when the
troubles broke out in Ireland, by his interest with king
Tatnes as general, M'Carty, he thrice prevented the burning of the town of Bandon, after three several orders given
by that prince to destroy it. The same year, having been
deputed by the people of Bandon, he went over to England, to petition the parliament for a redress of some grievances they had suffered while king James was in Ireland;
and afterwards quitting his preferments in Ireland, he settled in London; where, being celebrated for his abilities in
the pulpit, he was elected minister of St. Catherine Cree
church, and lecturer of St. Michael’s Wood-street. He
afterwards became minister of Richmond in Surry. and
Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire, and at length rector
of Clapham in Surry; which last, together with Richmond, he held till his death. His preferments amounted
to 600l. a year, but he was so little of an Œconomist as to
be obliged to keep a school at Richmond. He was also
chaplain to the duke of Ormond’s troop of horse-guards, as
he was to their majesties king William and queen Mary.
He died May 20, 1726, aged 66, leaving behind him the
character of being a person of an agreeable temper, a polite gentleman, an excellent preacher, and a good poet.
He has no high rank, however, among poets, and would
have long ere now been forgotten in that character, if his
name was not so familiar as a translator of the new version
of the “Psalms,
” in conjunction with Mr. Tate, which version was licensed 1696. He translated also the Æneids of
Virgil,“published by subscription in 1726, 4 vols. 8vo,and a tragedy, called
” The Rape, or the Innocent Impos-tors,“neither performances of much character. His prose
works consist of
” Sermons," three volumes of which were
published by himself in 1704, 1706, and 1713, and three
others by his eldest son, who was a clergyman at Tooting,
in Surry, London, 1730, 8vo.
at the eclipse happened at the precise time at which it was foretold, he considered that science 'as divine, which could thus so thoroughly understand the motions of the
, a very celebrated astronomer, descended from a noble and illustrious Danish family, was born in 1546 at Knudstorp, a small lordship near Helsingborg, in Scania. His father, Otto Brahe, having a large family, Tycho was educated under the care and at the expence of his uncle George Brahe, who, having no children, adopted him as his heir. Finding his nephew a boy of lively capacity, and though only seven years of age, strongly inclined to study, he had him instructed in the Latin tongue unknown to his father, who considered literature as inglorious, and was desirous that all his sons should follow the profession of arms. In the twelfth year of his age, Tycho was removed to the academy of Copenhagen; and his mind, which, had not yet taken any direction, was casually incited to the study of astronomy by fin eclipse of the sun, which happened on. Aug. 21? 1560. He had for some time examined the astrological diaries or almanacks, which pretended to predict future events from the inspection of the stars; but when he observed that the eclipse happened at the precise time at which it was foretold, he considered that science 'as divine, which could thus so thoroughly understand the motions of the heavenly bodies as to foretel their places and relative positions: and from that moment he devoted himself to astronomy.
pplications to the Supreme Being; recommended to his family and friends piety and resignation to the divine will; exhorted his pupils to persevere in their studies; and
In the service of Rhodolph he passed the remainder of
his days, but did not live long to enjoy his protection.
He had had a good state of health till the year previous to
his death, when his constitution, somewhat weakened by
the intenseness of his application, was still farther shattered
by the chagrin occasioned by his removal from Uranienburgh. At that period he began to experience symptoms
of complaints which announced his approaching dissolution, but which he concealed as much as possible from his
friends. He was reduced, however, to so low a state as to
be affected with the most trifling circumstances, which he
considered as prodigies, and would frequently interrupt
his sallies of wit with sudden reflections on death. The
immediate cause of his death was a strangury, occasioned
by an imprudent retention, from delicacy, while in company, which being attended with the most excruciating
torments, brought on a violent fever, and a temporary
delirium, in the midst of which he was heard repeatedly
to cry out, “Ne frustra vixisse videar.
” His delirium at
length subsiding, he became calm and composed, and
perfectly sensible. Being extremely debilitated by the
violence of his disorder, he perceived that he had not
many hours to live. Accordingly he gave orders with the
utmost coolness and resignation; even amused himself
with composing an extempore copy of verses, sung various
hymns; offered up prayers and supplications to the Supreme Being; recommended to his family and friends
piety and resignation to the divine will; exhorted his
pupils to persevere in their studies; and conversed with
Kepler on the most abstruse parts of astronomy. Thus,
amidst prayers, exhortations, and literary conversation,
he expired so peaceably, that he was neither heard nor
seen, by any of those who were present, to breathe his
last. He died in October 1601, in the fifty-fifth year of
his age.
of Oude. From authentic documents,“1807, 8vo. This was the last of Mr. Brand’s political works. As a divine, we know only of a” Fast Sermon,“published by him in 1794, and
, M. A. rector of St. George the Martyr, Southwark, and vicar of Wickham-Skeith, a political
writer, who has been sometimes mistaken for the subject
of our last article, was, however, probably of the same age,
although we have no account of his early life. He was of
Caius college, Cambridge, where he proceeded B. A. 1766,
and M. A. 1769. When he had obtained the latter degree, he wrote an ethical essay, entitled “Conscience,
”
intended for one of the Seatonian prizes; but an accidental delay which it met with on the road, occasioned its
being presented to the vice-chancellor two days after the
appointed time, and on that account it could not be admitted to the competition. Mr. Brand, however, published his poem in a quarto pamphlet in 1772, and it was
allowed to possess considerable merit, but not enough to
procure it a place among the favourite poems of the day.
From this time we find him devoting his attention to political subjects, which produced in succession; 1. “Observations on some of the probable effects of Mr. Gilbert’s bill,
with remarks deduced from Dr. Price’s account of the national debt,
” The Alteration of the Constitution of the House of Commons, and the inequality
of the Land-Tax, considered conjointly,
” A
Defence of the pamphlet ascribed to John Reeves, esq. and
entitled ‘ Thoughts on the English government,’ addressed
to the members of the loyal associations against republicans
and levellers,
” An historical essay
on the principles of Political Associations in a state; chiefly
deduced from the French, English, and Jewish Histories;
with an application of those principles, in a comparative
view of the associations of the year 1792, and that recently
instituted by the Whig Club,
” A determination of the average depression of the price of wheat
in war, below that of the preceding peace; and of its readvance in the following; according to its yearly rules,
from the Revolution to the end of the last peace; with
remarks on their greater variations in that entire period/*
1800, 8vo. 6.
” A Letter to **** ******, esq. on Bonaparte’s proposals for opening a negociation for peace; in
which the British guarantee of the crown of France to the
house of Bourbon, contained in the triple and quadruple
alliances, and renewed by the treaty of 1783, is considered;
together with the conduct of our national parties relating
to it,“1800, 8vo, an argument more ingenious than satisfactory, and unfortunately leading to an impracticable
conclusion. 7.
” A Refutation of the Charge brought
against the marquis Wellesley, on account of his conduct
to the nabob of Oude. From authentic documents,“1807,
8vo. This was the last of Mr. Brand’s political works. As
a divine, we know only of a
” Fast Sermon,“published
by him in 1794, and a
” Visitation Sermon," 1800. In
1797, he was presented by the lord chancellor (Loughborough) to the rectory of St. George’s in Southwark, vacant by the death of the rev. Joseph Pote, the value of
which Mr. Brand procured to be increased by act of parliament, in 1807, but did not live long enough to profit
by it, as he died Dec. 23, 1808, leaving a numerous
family.
Embassy, or the wild man’s measures, danced naked by twelve Satyrs,” 1621, 8vo. To these are added, Divine and moral essays, Shepherds’ tales, Odes, &c. 7. “Time’s curtain
, whom
Warton calls one of the minor pastoral poets of the reign
of James I. was the second son of Thomas Brathwaite, of
Warcop, near Appleby, in Westmoreland, descended of
a respectable family. He was born in 1588, and at the
age of sixteen became a commoner of Oriel-college, Oxford, being matriculated as a gentleman’s son, and a native
of Westmoreland. While he continued in that college,
which was at least three years, Wood informs us, that
“he avoided as much as he could the rough paths of logic
and philosophy, and traced those smooth ones of poetry
and Roman history, in which, at length, he did excel.
”
He afterwards removed to Cambridge, where he spent
some time “for the sake of dead and living authors,
”
and then going into the north, his father gave him the
estate of Barnside, where he lived many years, having a
commission in the militia, and being appointed deputylieutenant in the county of Westmoreland, and a justice
of peace. In his latter days he removed to Appleton, near
Richmond, in Yorkshire, where he died May 4, 1673,
and was buried in the parish church of Catterick, near
that place, leaving behind him, says Wood, the character
of a “well-bred gentleman, and a good neighbour.
”
Wood has enumerated as his publications: 1. “Golden
Fleece, with other poems,
” Lond. The
Poet’s Willow, or the passionate shepherd,
” ibid. The Prodigal’s Tears, or his farewell to vanity,
” The Scholar’s Medley, or an intermixt discourse upon historical and poetical relations,
&c.
” Essays upon the Five Senses,
”
Nature’s Embassy, or the
wild man’s measures, danced naked by twelve Satyrs,
”
Time’s curtain
drawn: divers poems,
” The English
Gentleman,
” The English
Gentlewoman,
” Discourse of Detraction,
” The Arcadian
Princess, or the triumph of justice,
” Survey of History, or a nursery for gentry; a discourse historical and poetical,
” A spiritual
Spicery, containing sundry sweet tractates of devotion
and piety,
” Mercurius Britannicus,
or the English intelligencer,
” a tragi-comedy, acted at
Paris, and a satire upon the republicans, 16-H, second
edit. 4to. 15. “Time’s Treasury, or Academy for the
accomplishment of the English gentry in arguments of
discourse, habit, fashion, &c.
” Congratulatory poem on his Majesty, upon his happy
arrival in our late discomposed Albion,
” Regicidium,
” a tragi-comedy, Panedone, or health from Helicon,
” The
description of a Good Wife, or a rare one among women,
”
Arcadian Princess.
” It appears to us, that in his poetry, as
in his prose, he excels’most as a painter of manners, a subject which he had studied all his life, and of which he
delivered some of the earliest precepts. His style, however, must still render his works more acceptable to the
curious, than to the common reader.
, D.D. an eminent learned and pious divine of the seventeenth century, was born at Marton in Shropshire,
, D.D. an eminent learned and pious divine
of the seventeenth century, was born at Marton in Shropshire, in 1656, where his parents were persons of good reputation. His infancy discovering promising parts, he was
early sent to the school at Oswestry, in the same county,
and his close application to school-learning, determining
his parents to dedicate him to religion and learning, he
was entered of Hart-hall, Oxford. Here he soon made a
considerable proficiency in divinity, as well as other studies
necessary for the profession for which he was intended:
but, labouring under the common disadvantages of a narrow fortune, his circumstances not permitting a longer
residence at Oxford, he left the university soon after he
had commenced bachelor of arts. Much about this time
he entered into holy orders; and the first duty he had
was that of a parish near Bridgenorth in Shropshire, his
native county, from which curacy he soon removed into
Warwickshire, officiating as chaplain in sir Thomas Price’s
family, of Park-hall, and had the donative of Lac Marsin
given him by sir Thomas, which proved very advantageous; for living now in the neighbourhood of Coieshill, his
exemplary behaviour, and distinguished diligence in his
calling, introduced him into the acquaintance of Mr.
Kettlewell, sir Charles Holt, and the lord Simon Digby.
One incident which contributed to establish his character
at this juncture, was his preaching the assize sermon at
Warwick, on which occasion Mr. Bray, though but young,
acquitted himself to the satisfaction of the whole audience,
particularly the lord Digby, who was afterwards pleased to
honour him with many proofs of his friendship and esteem,
recommending him to the worthy and honourable patronage
of his brother, the fifth lord Digby, who some time after
gave him the vicarage of Over-Whitacre in the same
county, since augmented, by his patron’s uncommon generosity, with the great tithes. In 1690, the rectory of
Sheldon being vacant, by Mr. Digby Bull’s refusing to take
the oaths at the revolution, his lordship presented Mr. Bray
to it; which preferment he held till about a quarter of a
year before his death, when he resigned it by reason of his
advanced age, and the known worth and abilities of his
appointed successor, the Rev. Mr. Carpenter. Dec. 12,
1693, he took his master of arts degree in Hart-hall, Oxford. In this parish of Sheldon he composed his “Catechetical Lectures,
” a work which met with general approbation and encouragement, and produced to him the sum of
700l. This publication, which drew him out of his rural privacy to London, determined Dr. Compton, bishop of London, to pitch upon him as a proper person to model the
infant church of Maryland, and establish it upon a solid
foundation. Accordingly, in April 1696, he proposed
to Mr. Bray to go, on the terms of having the judicial office
of commissary, valued, as was represented to him, at four
hundred pounds per annum, conferred upon him, for his
support in that service. Mr. Bray, disregarding his own
interest, and the great profit which would have arisen from
finishing his course of lectures on the plan he had formed,
soon determined, in his own mind, that there might be a
greater field for doing good in the Plantations, than by his
labours here, and no longer demurred to the proposal, than
to inquire into the state of the country, and inform himself
what was most wanting to excite good ministers to embark
in that design, as well as enable them most effectually to
promote it. With this view he laid before the bishops the
following considerations: That none but the poorer sort
of clergy could be persuaded to leave their friends, and
change their native country for one so remote; that such
persons could not be able sufficiently to supply themselveswith books; that without such a competent provision of
books, they could not answer the design of their mission;
that a library would be the best encouragement to studious and sober men to undertake the service; and that, as
the great inducement to himself to go, would be to do the
most good of which he could be capable, he therefore
purposed, that if they thought fit to encourage and assist
htm in providing parochial libraries for the ministers, he
would then accept of the commissary’s office in Maryland.
This proposal for parochial libraries being well approved
of by the bishops, and due encouragement being promised
in the prosecution of the design, both by their lordships
and others, he set himself with all possible application to
provide missionaries, and to furnish them with libraries,
intending, as soon as he should have sent both, to follow
after himself. But, upon his accepting of this employment
of commissary of Maryland, it fell to his share to solicit at
home whatever other matters related to that church, more
particularly to the settlement and establishment thereof,
which he laboured to promote with unwearied diligence,
and spared neither expence or trouble. But, above all,
it was his greatest care, to endeavour to send over to Maryland, and the other colonies, pious men, of exemplary
lives and conversations, and to furnish those whom he had
a hand in sending, with good libraries of necessary and
useful bdbks, to render them capable of answering the ends
of their mission, and instructing the people in all things
ecessary to their salvation. The sense of the clergy and
inhabitants, with respect to these'important services, was
testified by the solemn letters of thanks, returned him
from the assemblies of Maryland, from the vestries of Boston and Baintrie in New England, from Newfoundland,
Rhode Island, New York, Philadelphia, North Carolina,
Bermudas, and by the acknowledgments of the royal
African company, on account of those procured for their
factories. About the same time it was, that the secretary
of Maryland, sir Thomas Lawrence, with Mr. Bray, waited on the then princess of Denmark, in behalf of that province, humbly to request her gracious acceptance of the
governor’s and country’s dutiful respects, in having denominated the metropolis of the province, then but lately
built, from her royal highness’s name, Annapolis: and Mr.
Bray being soon after favoured with a noble benefaction
from the same royal hand, towards his libraries in America,
he dedicated the first library in those parts, fixed at Annapolis, and which had books of the choicest kind belonging to it, to the value of four hundred pounds, to her memory, by the title of the Annapolitan Library, which words
were inscribed on the several books. Another design was
also set on foot, much about the same time, by Dr. Bray,
to raise lending libraries in every deanery throughout England and Wales, out of which the neighbouring clergy
might borrow the books they had occasion for, and where
they might consult upon matters relating to their function,
and to learning. Upon this, many lending libraries were
founded in several parts of the kingdom, besides above a
hundred and fifty parochial ones in Great Britain and the
plantations, from ten to fifty pounds value, those in South
Britain being afterwards secured to posterity, by an act of
parliament passed for that purpose in 1708. Soon after,
upon the repeated instances of the governor and some of
the country, Mr. Bray was at the charge of taking the degree of doctor of divinity, which, though it might be of
some use, as procuring a certain degree of respect,
did then but ill comport with his circumstances. He
took his degrees of bachelor of divinity, and doctor, together, by accumulation, not of Hart hall where he was
entered, but of Magdalen college, Dec. 17, 1696. Soon
after, the better to promote his main design of libraries,
and to give the missionaries directions in prosecuting their
theological studies, he published two books, one entitled,
“Bibiiothee* Paroctnalis or, a Scheme of such
Theological and other heads, as seem requisite to be perused, or
occasionally consulted by the reverend Clergy, together
with a catalogue of books, which may be profitably read on
each of those points,
” &c. The other, “Apostolic Charity, its nature and excellency considered, in a discourse
upon Daniel xii. 3. preached at St. Paul’s, at the ordination of some Protestant Missionaries to be sent into the
plantations. To which is prefixed, a general view of the
English colonies in America, in order to show what provision is wanting for the propagation of Christianity in those
parts, together with proposals for the promoting the same r
to induce such of the clergy of this kingdom, as are persons of sobriety and abilities, to accept of a mission.
”
During this interval, viz. in the year The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
in foreign parts,
” was laid before the society, and read
the ninth of June following. He received no advantage all
this time from his commissary’s place in Maryland; neither
was any allowance made him at home, or preferment give
him, to support the charge of living altogether in town, to
solicit the establishment and endowment of the church of
Maryland, and to provide missionaries for that and all the
colonies on the Continent; which, excepting Virginia, lay
upon him; all the benefactions that were received being to
be laid out to raise them libraries, which also he did faster
than money came in to answer the charge. This being observed by some of his friends, they endeavoured to persuade
him to lay his design of going abroad aside, and take two
good preferments that were then offered him at home, of
as good or better value than what was proposed to him in
Maryland, viz. that of sub-almoner, and the donative of
Aldgate, in the city of London. But he declined all offers
that were inconsistent with his going to Maryland, as soon
as it should become proper for him to take that voyage.
By the year 1699, having waited upwards of two years for
the return of the act of religion from Maryland, with such
amendments as would render it without exception at the
court of England; and it being presumed by his superiors,
that it would be requisite the doctor should now hasten
over, as well to encourage the passing of that act in their
assemblies, as to promote other matters for the service of
religion there, it was signified to him from them that
they would have him take the opportunity of the first
ship; and indeed, the doctor having, by this time, tried
all ways he could think of, and done all he was able
to do here, to serve those parts, and according to
proposal having provided Maryland, as also many other
colonies, with a competent number of missionaries, and
furnished them with good libraries, to be fixed in the
places where they were sent, to remain there for ever, he
was himself eager to follow, and did so accordingly, even,
in the winter, though he had no allowance made him towards his charge of the voyage, and the service he was to
do; but was forced to dispose of his own small effects, and
raise money on credit to support him. With this poor encouragement, and thus, on his own provision, he took the
voyage, December 16, 1699, and set sail from the Downs
the twentieth of the same month; but was driven back into
Plymouth-sound on Christmas-eve, and remained in harbour almost all the holydays, where his time was not unusefully spent, in the recovery of a tolerable library there
out of dust and rubbish, which was also indebted to him for
a benefaction of books and where he left a proposal for
taking in subscriptions to make it a sea- port library, for the
use of missionaries and sea-chaplains, as well as others.
After an extremely tedious and dangerous passage, the
doctor arrived at Maryland the twelfth of March, where he
applied himself immediately to repair the breach made in
the settlement of the parochial clergy; in order to which
he consulted, in the first place, the governor, whom he
found ready to concur in all proper methods for the re-establishment of their maintenance. Before the next assembly, which was to be in May following, he sent to all
the clergy on the western shore, who only could come together in that season, to learn from them the disposition of
the people, and to advise with them what was proper to be
done, in order to dispose the members of the assembly to
re-enact their law next meeting. Soon after he had dismissed their clergy, he made his parochial visitation, as
far as it was possible for him at that season; in which, he
met with very singular respect from persons of the best
condition in the country, which the doctor turned to the
advantage of that poor church. During the sessions of the
assembly, and whilst the re-establishment of the church
was depending, he preachod very proper and seasonable
sermons, with a tendency to incline the country to the establishment of the church and clergy; all which were so
well received, that he had the thanks of the assembly, by
messages from the house. The doctor was providentially
on such good term* with the assembly, that they ordered
the attorney-general to advise with him in drawing up the
bill; and that he himself might be the better advised in
that case, he sent for the most experienced clergy within
reach, to suggest to him, what they found would be of
advantage to them and the church, to be inserted in, or
left out of it; by which means the constitution of that
church had much the advantage of any in America. It may
not be amiss to observe in this place, that as well during the
general court or assize, which preceded the assembly, and
lasted thirteen days, as during the sessions of the assembly
itself, he was under a necessity of entertaining the gentlemen of the province, who universally visited him; a charge,
however, which he thought requisite as circumstances then
were, that he might strengthen his interest in them, the
better to promote the establishment of the clergy’s maintenance. The bill being prepared, passed with a nemiilt
contradicente; but it was on all hands declared and confessed, that it was very providential that Dr. Bray came
into the country at that juncture. Soon after the assembly
was up, the commissary cited the whole clergy of the province to a general visitation at Annapolis, to be held May
22, 1700. At the close of this visitation, the clergy taking
into consideration, that the opposition of the Quakers
against the establishment of that church would in all probability continue, so as to get the law for its establishment
so lately re-enacted, annulled again at home, they entered
into debates, whether it would not be of consequence to
the preservation and final settlement of that church, that
the doctor should be requested to go home with the law,
and to solicit the royal assent. It had been before voted,
at the passing the bill in the house of burgesses, that he
should be desired to request his grace of Canterbury, and
the bishop of London, to favour that good law, by obtaining his majesty’s royal assent to it with all convenient
speed; and the members who gave him an account of passing their vote, told him withal, that it was the general opinion of the house, that he could be most serviceable by
waiting personally on their lordships, rather, than by letters, in which he conld not crowd all that might be
necessary to be represented concerning the then state of the
church, and the necessity, at that time, of their utmost patronage: and it was in debate, whether this should not be
the desire of the assembly; but it was thought too unreasonable a request from them, who were sensible of the
great danger and fatigue he had already been at in the service of that province, as they had a few days before acknowledged by a message of thanks from that house. Such
were the sentiments of the members of the assembly, as to
the necessity of his coming home to solicit the establishment of that church; and the clergy meeting at their visitation, some weeks after, represented to him, as the earnest desire of the more sensible persons throughout the
country, as well as of the assembly-men, that he should go
over with the law for England; being aware that its opponents would make the utmost efforts against the establishment of that church, by false representations at home of
the numbers and riches of their party, and by insinuating,
that to impose upon them an established maintenance for
the clergy, would be prejudicial to the interest of the province, by obliging so many wealthy traders to remove from
thence, the falsity of which, or any other suggestions, they
thought him best able to make appear, by the information
he had gained from this visitation, There were also many
other advantages to the church in those parts, which they
proposed by his coming home at that time, upon the consideration of all which he took his voyage soon after. He
was no sooner arrived in England, but he found their apprehensions in Maryland'not ill grounded; but the objections raised against the plan, Dr. Bray refuted, by a printed
memorial, representing truly the state of the church of Maryland, to the full satisfaction of all to whom it was communicated. The quakers’ opposition to the establishment
now depending, was carried by united councils and contributions; but the doctor refuted their specious objections
by unanswerable reasons, and placed the affair in such an
advantageous light, that his majesty decided, without any
appearance of hesitation, in the church’s favour, and gave
the royal assent in these remarkable words: “Have the
Quakers the benefit of a toleration? let the established
church have an established maintenance.
” This chargeable and laborious undertaking having swallowed up the doctor’s own small fortune, lord Weymouth generously presented him with a bill of 300l. for his own private use, a,
large portion of which the doctor devoted to the advancement of his farther designs. Though he was vested with
the character of commissary, yet no share of the revenue
proposed was annexed to it; and his generosity even induced him to throw in two sums of fifty pounds each, that
were presented to himself in Maryland, towards defraying
the charges of their libraries and law. After the return of
Dr. Bray from thence in 1701, he published his “Circular
Letters to the Clergy of Maryland,
” a memorial, representing the present state of religion on the continent of
North America, and the acts of his visitation held at Annapolis; for which he had the thanks of the society above
mentioned. Not only the bishop of London approved entirely of all these transactions, but also the archbishop of
Canterbury declared, that he was well satisfied with the
reasons of Dr. Bray’s return from the West Indies, and
added, that his mission thither would be of the greatest
consequence imaginable to the establishment of religion in
those parts. In 1706, he had the donative of St. Botolph
without Aldgate offered him again, which he then accepted
of, worth about 150l. per annum. In the year 1712, the
doctor printed his “Martyrology; or, Papal Usurpation,
”
in folio. That nothing might be wanting to enrich and
adorn the work, he established a correspondence with
learned foreigners of the first distinction, and called in the
assistance of the most eminent hands. This work consists
of some choice and learned treatises of celebrated authors,
which were grown very scarce, ranged and digested into as
regular an history as the nature of the subject would admit.
He proposed to compile a second volume, and had, at no
small expence and pains, furnished himself with materials
for it; but he was afterwards obliged to lay the prosecution,
of his design aside, and bequeathed by will his valuable
collection of Martyrological Memoirs, both printed and
manuscript, to Sion college. He was, indeed, so great a
master of the history of popery, that few authors could be
presumed able, with equal accuracy and learning, to trace
the origin and growth of those exorbitant claims which are
made by the see of Rome. He was happily formed by nature both for the active and for the retired life. Charity
to the souls of other men, was wrought up to the highest
pitch in his own: every reflection on the dark and forlorn
condition of the Indians and negroes, excited in his bosoin the most generous emotions of pity and concern. His
voyage to Holland, to solicit king William’s protection and
encouragement to his good designs, and the proofs he gave
of a public spirit and disinterested zeal, in such a series of
generous undertakings, obtained him the esteem of M.
d‘Allone of the Hague, a gentleman not more celebrated
for his penetration and address in state affairs, than for a
pious disposition of mind. An epistolary correspondence
commenced very early between him and the doctor upon
this subject; the result of which was, that M. d’Allone
gave in his life-time a sum to be applied to the conversion
of negroes, desiring the doctor to accept the management
and disposal of it. But that a standing provision might be
inade for this purpose, M. d'Allone bequeathed by will a
certain sum, viz. 900 pounds, out of his English estate, to
Dr. Bray and his associates, towards erecting a capital fund
or stock, for converting the negroes in the British plantations. This was in the year 1723, much about which
time Dr. Bray had an extremely dangerous fit of illness,
so that his life and recovery were despaired of. In the year
1726, he was employed in composing and printing his
“Directorium Missionarium,
” his “Primordia Bibliothecaria,
” and some other tracts of the like kind. About this
time he also wrote a short account of Mr. Rawlet, the author of “The Christian Monitor;
” and reprinted the Life of
Mr. Gilpin. Some of these were calculated for the use of
the mission; and in one he has endeavoured to shew, that
civilizing the Indians must be the first step in any successful attempt for their conversion. In his “Primordia Bibliothecaria,
” we have several schemes of parochial libraries, and a method laid down to proceed by a gradual progression, from a collection not much exceeding one pound
in value, to one of a hundred. His attention to other good
works occasioned no discontinuance of this design, the success of which was so much the object of his desires; and
accordingly benefactions came in so fast, that he had business enough upon his hands to form the libraries, desired.
As trie furnishing the parochial clergy with the means of instruction, would be an effectual method to promote Christian knowledge, so another expedient, manifestly subservient to the same end, would be, he thought, to imprint on
the minds of those who are designed for the ministry, previously to their admission, a just sense of its various duties,
and their great importance. With a view to this, he reprinted the “Ecclesiastes of Erasmus.
” In the year
, a learned English divine, the son of Robert Brett, of Whitstanton, in Somersetshire,
, a learned English divine, the son
of Robert Brett, of Whitstanton, in Somersetshire, was
born in London, in 1561, and entered a commoner of
Hart-hall, Oxford, in 1582, where he took one degree in
arts, and was then elected fellow of Lincoln-college, and
was distinguished for his progress in the learned languages.
About 1595 he was made rector of Quainton, near Aylesbury, and was admitted B. D. in 1597. In 1604 he was
appointed one of the seven Oxford divines who were to
translate the Bible by king James’s order; and was afterwards made one of the first fellows of Chelsea college, a
foundation which, we have already had occasion to remark^
was never completed. Wood represents him as a pious
and learned man, and critically skilled in Latin, Greek,
Hebrew, and the Oriental languages, a vigilant pastor,
a liberal benefactor, and a faithful friend. He died April
la, 1637, and was buried in the chancel of his church at
Quainton, under a monument with his effigies, and those
of his widow and four children kneeling. He published,
1. “Vitae Sanctorum Evangelist. Johannis et Lucae a Simeone Metaphraste concinnatae,
” Oxon, Agatharchidis et Memnonis Historicorum quae supersunt
omuia,
” ibid. Iconum sacraruni decas,
in qua e subjectis Typis compluscula sanae doctrinse capita
eruuntur,
” ibid.
an eminent English divine and controversial writer, the son of Thomas Brett, gent. of
an eminent English divine and controversial writer, the son of Thomas Brett, gent. of Spring-grove, in the parish of Wye, in Kent, by Letitia, his wife, the daughter and heir of John Boys, esq. of Bettishanger, near Sandwich, in that county, was born at the seat of the latter, 3d Sept. 1667. His father disliking the situation of the old house at Wye, where his ancestors had lived for many generations, rebuilt it in a more commodious place, near a small grove of trees and a pleasant spring of water in the same parish, from whence he gave it the name of Spring-grove. He came and settled there in 1674, and sent his son to its grammar-school; the master of which was then John Paris, A. M. but he dying about three years after, was succeeded by Samuel Pratt, under whose instruction the youth remained until 1684.
” The Independency of the Church upon the State, as to its pure spiritual powers, &c.“1717. 13.” The Divine right of Episcopacy, &c.“1718; and in the same year, 14.” Tradition
His works were: 1. “An account of Church-government and governors, wherein is shewed that the government of the church of England is most agreeable to that
of the primitive church; for the instruction of a near relation, who had been brought up among the Dissenters,
”
Lond. The beautiful Pattern,
” written by Mr. Nokes, pastor
of an independent congregation, who afterwards conformed
to the church of England. A second edition of this tract
was published in 1710, with large additions and amendments, and a chapter on “Provincial Synods,
” which was
animadverted upon in a pamphlet entitled “Presbytery
not always an authoritative part of Provincial Synods,
”
written by Mr. Lewis, of Margate, The Authority of Presbyters vindicated, in answer thereto.
” In
a letter to a friend, however, he afterwards acknowledges
he was convinced of being mistaken, for although Presbyters were often connected with, yet they had no authoritative votes in the ancient church. 3. “Two letters on
the times wherein Marriage is said to be prohibited,
”
Lond. A letter to the author of LayBaptism invalid, wherein the doctrine of Lay-Baptism,
taught in a sermon said to have been preached by the
B of S 7 Nov. 1710, is censured and condemned
by all reformed churches,
” Lond. A sermon
on Remission of Sins, Joh. xx. 21—23,
” Lond. The doctrine of Remission, &c. explained and vindicated.
”
He afterwards owned he went too far, and that Dr. Marshall, in his “Doctrine of the primitive church,
” had set
this matter right. With this sermon he also published in
1715, five others, on “The honour of the Christian priesthood. The extent of Christ’s commission to baptise.
The Christian Altar and Sacrifice. The Dangers of a Relapse. And, True Moderation.
” The “Extent of Christ’s
commission to baptise,
” with “the Letter to the author of
Lay-Baptism invalid,
” was answered by Mr. Bingham in
his “Scholastic History of Lay-Baptism,
” and being reflected upon by the bishop of Oxford in a charge, he wrote
7. an “Enquiry into the judgment and practice of the
primitive church, &c. in answer thereto,
” Lond. A farther Enquiry, &c.
” A review of the Lutheran
principles,
” shewing how they differ from the church of
England, &c.“In the same year, Mr. Lewis, in answer
to this, undertook to show their agreement, with which
Dr. Brett was very angry, and threatened him with a reply,
from which his friends dissuaded him. In a second edition, however, he nvule some transient remarks upon,
two letters to the lord viscount Townsend, by Robert
Watts, in answer thereto. 10.
” A vindication of himself
from the calumnies cast upon him in some news-papers,
falsely charging him with turning papist; in a letter to
the hon. Arch. Campbell, esq.“Lond. 1715. 11.
” Dr.
Bennet’s concessions to the Non-jurors proved destructive
to the cause he endeavours to defend,“1717. 12.
” The
Independency of the Church upon the State, as to its pure
spiritual powers, &c.“1717. 13.
” The Divine right of
Episcopacy, &c.“1718; and in the same year, 14.
” Tradition necessary to explain and interpret the Holy Scriptures,“with a postscript in answer to
” No sufficient
reason, &c.“and a preface, with remarks on
” Toland’s
Nazarenus,“and
” a further proof of the necessity of Tradition, &c.“15.
” A Vindication of the postscript in
answer to No just grounds, &c.“1720. 16.
” A discourse
concerning the necessity of discerning Christ’s body in the
Holy Communion,“Lond. 1720. 17.
” A dissertation on
the principal liturgies used by the Christian church in the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist,“1720. He is also
supposed to have written, 18.
” Some discourses on
the ever-blessed Trinity,“in the same year. 19.
” Of
degrees in the university,“a dissertation in the Biblioth.
Liter. N
”. 1. “An essay on the various English translations
of the Bible,
” N. 4. “An historical essay concerning
arithmetical figures,
” N. 8, with an appendix to it,
N. 10, 1722, 3, 4, in 4to. 20. “An instruction to a
person newly confirmed, &c.
” A Chronological essay on the Sacred History, &c.
” in defence of the
computation of the Septuagint, with an “Essay on the
confusion of languages,
” A general history of the World, &c.
” An answer to
the plain account of the Sacrament,
” in Some remarks on Dr. Waterland’s Review of the
doctrine of the Eucharist,
” &c. with an Appendix in answer to his charges,“1741. 25.
” A letter to a clergyman, shewing why the Hebrew Bibles differ from the Septuagint,“1743. 26.
” Four letters between a Gentleman
and a Clergyman, concerning the necessity of Episcopal
communion for the valid administration of Gospel ordinances,“1743. 27.
” The life of Mr. John Johnson,
A.M.“ prefixed to his posthumous tracts in 1748, with
several prefaces to the works of others, particularly a very
long one to Hart’s
” Bulwark stormed,“&c. In 1760
was published
” A dissertation on the antient versions of
the Bible,“a second edition prepared for the press by the
author, and
” now first published," 8vo.
, a learned divine of the seventeenth century, was born in the Isle of Jersey,
, a learned divine of the seventeenth century, was born in the Isle of Jersey, in the reign
of king James I. and probably educated in grammar-learning in that place. From thence he went and studied logic
and philosophy in the Protestant university of Saumur,
where he took the degree of master of arts, on September
12, 1634. Coming to Oxford, he was, October 12, 1638,
incorporated M. A. as he stood at Saumur. About this
time king Charles I. having through archbishop Laud’s
persuasion founded three fellowships in the colleges of
Pembroke, Exeter, and Jesus, for the islands of Jersey
and Guernsey, alternately, Mr. Brevint was nominated
the first fellow at Jesus-college upon this foundation, in
1638. Here he continued till he was ejected from his fellowship by the parliament- visitors, for refusing to take the
solemn league and covenant, and withdrew to his native
country, but upon the reduction of that place by the parliament’s forces, he fled into France, and became minister
of a Protestant congregation in Normandy. Not long
after, he had the honour of being made chaplain to the
viscount de Turenne, afterwards marshal of France, whose
lady was one of the most pious women of her time. Whilst
he was in that station, he was one of the persons “employed about the great design then in hand, of reconciling
the Protestant and Popish religions; which gave him an access into, and made him acquainted with every corner of that
church,
” as he says himself. At the restoration of king
Charles II. he returned to England, and was presented by
that prince (wjio had known him abroad) to the tenth prebend in the church of Durham, vacant by the promotion of
Dr. J. Cosin to that see, and was installed March 15, 1660-61.
By bishop Cosiu, who had been his fellow-sufferer, he was
also collated to a living in the diocese of Durham. On the
27th of February, 1661-62, he took his degree of D. D. at
Oxford. Having during his exile seen Popery in its native
deformity, and observed all the mean and dishonest arts
that are used to support it, he in 1672 published “Missale Romanum; or, the depth and mystery of the Roman
Mass laid open and explained, for the use of both reformed
and unreformed Christians,
” and the next year, “The
Christian Sacramenc and Sacrifice, by way of discourse,
meditation, and prayer, upon the nature, parts, and blessings of the holy communipn,
” reprinted on the recommendation of Dr. Waterland, in 1739. And in 1674,
“Saul and Samuel at Endor, or the new waies of salvation
and service, which usually tempt men to Rome, and detain them there, truly represented and refuted,
” reprinted
A brief account of R. F.
his Missale Vindicaturo, or vindication of the Roman mass,
”
being an answer to “The depth and mystery of the Roman
Mass,
” above-mentioned. The learning and other eminent
qualifications of the author having recommended him to the
esteem of the world, and to the favour of his sovereign, he
was promoted to the deanery of Lincoln, and was installed
January 3, 1681-82, and had the prebend of WeltonPayns-hall annexed thereto, January 7th following. He
died May 5, 1695, and was buried in the cathedral church
of Lincoln, behind the high altar; where, on a gravestone, is an inscription to his memory. He was a person
of extensive reading, especially in the controversy between
the Protestants and Papists; zealous for the church of
England; and for his life and learning, truly praise-worthy.
Besides the above works, he published in Latin: 1. “Ecclesiae primitives Sacramentum & Sacrificium, a pontificiis
corruptelis, & exinde natis controversiis liberum,
” written at the desire of the princesses of Turenne and Bouillon.
2. “Eucharistiae Christianse prsesentia realis, & pontificia
ficta, luculentissimis non testimoniis modo, sed etiam fundamentis, quibus fere tota S. S. Patrum Theologia nititur,
hsec explosa, ilia suffulta & asserta.
” 3. “Pro Serenissima Principe Weimariensi ad Theses Jenenses accurata
Responsio.
” 4. “Ducentue plus minus Praelectiones in
Matthaei xxv capita, et aliorum Evangelistarum locos
passim parallelos.
” He also translated into Frenck
“The judgment of the university of Oxford concerning
the solemn League and Covenant.
”
, a physician and divine of eminence of the sixteenth century, took his degree of doctor
, a physician and divine of eminence of the sixteenth century, took his degree of doctor
in medicine at Cambridge, and, as we learn from Wood,
he was made rector of Methley, in Yorkshire, in 1591.
He appears by his writings to have had a good share of
practice, and to have been well versed in the doctrines of
the early Greek writers. The work by which he is principally known is his “Treatise of Melancholy,
” containing the causes thereof, and reasons of the strange effects
it worketh in our minds, with the physical cure, and spiritual consolation for such as have thereto adjoined an
afflicted conscience,“London, 1586, 12mo. He excuses
his writing this treatise, contrary to his usual custom, ia
the English language, from its being a practical work,
and to be read-by persons out of the pale of physic. It
was also done, he observes, by the Greek and Roman
writers. He entertained, however, very lofty ideas of
the dignity of the medical character.
” No one,“he says,.
” sho'uid touch so holy a thing that hath not passed the
whole discipline of liberal sciences, and washed himself
pure and clean in the waters of wisdome and understanding.“The cure of melancholy, in his opinion, depends
on bleeding, by purges and vomits. He had before, viz.
in 1583, published
” De Dyscrasia Corporis Humani,“London, 8vo. He was also author of
” Hygieine, sen de
Sanitate tuenda, Medicinae Pars prirna,“1588, -8vo.
” Therajjeutica, hoc est de Sanitate restituenda, Medicinre pars
altera,“1589,' 8vo, which were reprinted in 1598, in ICto r
and
” An Abridgment of Fox’s Acts and Monuments," 1589,
4to. He died in 1615.
, an English divine, attached to the principles of the puritans, was born at Nottingham
, an English divine, attached
to the principles of the puritans, was born at Nottingham
in 1557, and was educated in Queen’s college, Cambridge,
and long maintained a controversy on the discipline and
ceremonies of the church, which seems to have led 'him
to write his Commentaries in Latin on the Song of Solomon
and the Revelations. This last was afterwards translated
under the title of “The Revelation of St. John illustrated,
” Brightman Redivivus, or the posthumian offspring of Thomas Brightman,
in four Sermons,
” 4to.
, a non-conformist divine, was born at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire, in 1600.
, a non-conformist divine, was born at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire, in 1600. His father was also a divine of the puritan kind, and master of the school at Ashby. The noted astrologer William Lilly, was at his school in 1613. His mother was sister to bishop Hall. After being educated by his father, he was admitted of Emanuel college, Cambridge, at the age of thirteen and a half. Having resided there three or four years, he attended his uncle Hall, then dean of Worcester, as his amanuensis, to the synod of Dort, and after his return, resumed his studies at Cambridge, and being elected schoJar of the house, resided there until he took his degrees. When ordained he preached first at Preston, near Chelmsford, then at Somerieyton in Suffolk, and lastly was called to Yarmouth, on the election of the township, but his principles being objected to by Dr. Harsnet, bishop of Norwich, he could only preach on the week days at a country village adjoining, whither the people of Yarmouth followed him, until the township applied to the king for his licence for Mr. Brinsley to preach in Yarmouth. This being granted by his majesty, he remained there until the restoration, when he was ejected with his numerous brethren, who refused the terms of conformity. Although a man of moderate sentiments, he appears to have been inflexible in the points which divided so large a tody of clergymen from the church, and is said to have refused considerable preferment to induce him to remain in it. He is praised by his biographer for piety, and extensive learning in theology. He died Jan. 22, 1665. He wrote several treatises enumerated by Calamy, none of which, we believe, are now much known. He had a son, Robert, who was ejected from the university, and afterwards studied and took his degree of M. D. at Leyden, and practised at Yarmouth.
, a divine of great eminence for his extensive knowledge in Hebrew and
, a divine of great eminence for his extensive knowledge in Hebrew and rabbinical learning, was descended from an ancient family, and born in 1549, at Oldbury, in the county of Salop. Dr. Lightfoot says, that it is uncertain in what school he was instructed in grammar, but, according to the writers of the life of Bernard Gilpin, he was brought up in the school founded by that excellent man at Houghton, and by him sent to Cambridge. Gilpin is said to have become acquainted with him by accident, when he was a poor boy travelling on the Oxford road, and finding him a good scholar, took the charge of his farther education. The biographer of Gilpin adds, apparently upon slender foundation, that Broughton acted with ingratitude to Gilpin, when the latter was old and infirm, and persuaded the bishop of Durham to give him a living intended for Gilpin.
ogether, and printed at London in 1662, under the following title: “The Works of the great Albionean divine, renowned in many nations for rare skill in Salems and Athens
His person was comely and graceful, and his countenance expressive of studiousness and gravity. His indefatigable attention to his studies, gave him an air of austerity;
and, at times, there appears to have been no inconsiderable degree of moroseness in his deportment: notwithstanding which, he is represented as behaving in a very
kind and affable manner to his friends, and as being very
pleasant in conversation with them, especially at his meals.
He would also be free and communicative to any persons
who desired to learn of him, but very angry with scholars,
if they did not readily comprehend his meaning. Open
impiety and profaneness were always opposed by him with
great zeal and courage. He was much dissatisfied, as
appears from several passages in his works, that his great
learning had not procured him more encouragement, and
he evidently thought that he had a just claim to some
considerable preferment. He was unquestionably a man
of very uncommon erudition, but -extremely deficient in
taste and judgment. He was also of a testy and choleric
temper, had a high opinion of his own learning and abilities, was extremely dogmatical, and treated those who
differed from him in opinion with much rudeness and scurrility; though some allowance must be made for the age in
which he lived, in which that mode of writing was much
more common among divines and scholars than it is at present. From the general tenor of his life and of his works,
and the opinion formed of him by those who were the best
acquainted with him, it seems equitable to conclude, that,
with all his failings, he meant well; nor do we apprehend
that there is any sufficient ground for the extreme severity
with which the late Mr. Gilpin has treated him in his “Lite
of Bernard Gilpin.
” He translated the Prophetical writings into Greek, and the Apocalypse into Hebrew. He
was desirous of translating the whole New Testament
into Hebrew, which he thought would have contributed
much to the conversion of the Jews, if he had met with
proper encouragement. And he relates, that a learned
Jew with whom he conversed, once said to him, “O that
you would set over all your New Testament into such Hebrew as you speak to me, you should turn all our nation.
”
Most of his works were collected together, and printed at
London in 1662, under the following title: “The Works
of the great Albionean divine, renowned in many nations
for rare skill in Salems and Athens tongues, and familiar
acquaintance with all Rabbinical learning, Mr. Hugh
Broughton.
” This edition o'f his works, though bound in
one large volume, folio, is divided into four tomes. Dr.
Lightfoot, who was himself a great rmister of Hebrew
and rabbinical learning, says, that in the writings of
Broughton, “the serious and impartial student of them
will find these two things. First, as much light given in
scripture, especially in the difficultest things thereof, as is
to be found in any one author whatsoever; nay, it may be,
in all authors together. And, secondly, a winning and
enticing enforcement to read the scriptures with a seriousness and searching more than ordinary. Amongst those
that have studied his books, multitudes might be named
that have thereby grown proficients so far, as that they
have attained to a most singular, and almost incredible
skill and readiness, in his way, in the understanding of
the Bible, though otherwise unlearned men. Nay, some
such, that, by the mere excitation of his books, have set
to the study of the Hebrew tongue, and come to a very
great measure of knowledge in it; nay, a woman might be
named that hath done it. This author’s writings do carry
with them, I know not what, a kind of holy and happy
fascination, that the serious reader of them is won upon,
by a sweet violence, to look in the scripture with all
possible scrulinousness, and cannot choose. Let any one
but set to read him in good earnest, and, if he find not,
that he sees much more in scripture than ever he could
see before, and that he is stirred up 'to search much more
narrowly into the scripture than ever he was before, he
misseth of that which was never missed of before by any
that took that course, if multitude of experiences may
have any credit.
” It will justly be thought in the present
age, that Dr. Lightfoot formed'too high an opinion of the
value of Broughton’s writings; but in whatever estimation
they may now be held, the celebrity of Broughton in his
own time, and his extraordinary learning, gave him a reasonable claim to some memorial in a work of this kind.
Many of his theological Mss. are preserved in the British
Museum, of which a list is given in Ayscough’s catalogue.
, a learned divine, and one of the original writers of the Biographia Britannica,
, a learned divine, and one of the original writers of the Biographia Britannica, was born at London, July 5, 1704, in the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn; of which parish his father was minister. At an early age he was sent to Eton-school, where he soon distinguished himself by the acuteness of his genius and the studiousness of his disposition. Being superannuated on this foundation, he removed, about 1722, to the university of Cambridge; and, for the sake of a scholarship, entered himself of Gonville and Caius college. Here two of the principal objects of his attention were, the acquisition of the knowledge of the modern languages, and the study of the mathematics under the famous professor Sanderson. May 28, 1727, Mr. Broughton, after taking the degree of B. A. was admitted to deacon’s orders. In the succeeding year, Sept. 22, he was ordained priest, and proceeded to the degree of M. A. At this time he removed from the university to the curacy of Offley in Hertfordshire. In 1739, he was instituted to the rectory of Stepington, otherwise Stibmgton, in the county of Huntingdon, on the presentation of John duke of Bedford, and was appointed one of that nobleman’s chaplains. Soon after, he was chosen reader to the Temple, by which means he became known to bishop Sherlock, then master of it, who conceived so high an opinion of our author’s merit, that, in 1744, this eminent prelate presented Mr. Broughton to the valuable vicarage of Bedminster, near Bristol, together with the chapels of St. Mary Redcliff, St. Thomas, and Abbot’s Leigh, annexed. Some short time after, he was collated, by the same patron, to the prebend of Bedminster and Redcliff, in the cathedral of Salisbury. Upon receiving this preferment, he removed from London to Bristol, where he married the daughter of Thomas Harris, clerk of that city, by whom he had seven children, six of whom survived him. He resided on his living till his death, which happened Dec. 21, 1774, in the 71st year of his age. He was interred in the church of St. Mary RedclifF.
was a “Letter to the rev. Dr. Lowth,” occasioned by his late letter to the right rev. author of the “ Divine Legation of Moses.” Dr. Lowth had pointed at Dr. Brown, as one
His last publication, in 1766, was a “Letter to the rev.
Dr. Lowth,
” occasioned by his late letter to the right rev.
author of the “Divine Legation of Moses.
” Dr. Lowth
had pointed at Dr. Brown, as one of the extravagant flatterers and creatures of Warburton; and Dr. Brown defended himself against the imputation, as an attack upon his
moral character. To do him justice, he had a spirit too
strong and independent, to bend to that literary subjection
which the author of the Divine Legation expected from his
followers. He insisted upon the prerogative of his own
opinion; to assent and dissent, whenever he saw cause, in
the most unreserved manner: and this was to Dr. Browiij
as it was to many others, the cause of misunderstanding
with Warburton. Besides the works mentioned, he published a poem on “Liberty,
” and some anonymous
pamphlets. At the end of his later writings, he advertised
an intention of publishing “Principles of Christian Legislation,
” but was prevented by death. He ordered, however,
by his will, that the work should be published after his decease ; but it was left too imperfect for that purpose.
The last memorable circumstance of his life was his intended expedition to Russia. While Dr. Dumaresque
resided in Russia, 1765, whither, having been chaplain to
our factory at St. Petersburg from 1747 to 1762, he had
been invited the year before by the empress, to assist in
the regulation of several schools she was about to establish; a correspondent in England suggested the idea tQ
him of communicating the affair to Dr. Brown, as a proper person to consult with, because he had puhlished some
sermons upon education. This brought on a correspondence between Dr. Dumaresque and Dr. Brown; the result
of which, being communicated to the prime minister at
St. Petersburg, was followed by an invitation from the empress to Dr. Brown also. Dr. Brown, acquainting the Russian court with his design of complying with the empress’s,
invitation, received an answer from the minister, signifying how pleased her imperial majesty was with his intention, and informing him, that she had ordered to be remitted to him, by her minister in London, 1000l. in order
to defray the expences of his journey. All the letters
which passed, the plans which were drawn by Dr. Brown,
and, in short, every thing relating to this affair, may be
seen at large under his article in the “Biographia Britannica,
” as communicated to the author of it by Dr. Dumaresque.
or which it appears he was intended. Having been prevailed on by some of his schoolfellows to attend divine service at the parish church of Dunse, he was summoned before
, M. D. author of what has been called
the Brunonian system in medicine, was born in the parish
of Buncle, in the county of Berwick, in the year 1735, of
parents in a mean situation in life, but, in common with
the children of other villagers in Scotland, he received his
education at a grammar-school. As his mind was much
above the rank he was born in, his progress in literature
was proportionably superior to the rest of his school-fellows. He there imbibed a taste for letters, so that when
he was afterwards put apprentice to a weaver, instead of
attending to Ms business, his whole mind was bent on procuring books, which he read with great eagerness. Finding this disposition could not be conquered, his father
took him from the loom, and sent him to the
grammarschool at Dunse, where, under the tuition of Mr. Cruickshanks, he made such progress that he was soon regarded
as a prodigy. He read all the Latin classics with the
greatest facility, and was oo mean proficient in the knowledge of the Greek language. “His habits,
” we are told,
“were sober, he was of a religious turn, and was so
strongly attached to the sect of Seceders, or Whigs as tlrey
are called in Scotland, in which he had been bred, that he
would have thought his salvation hazarded, if he had attended the meetings of the established church. He aspired
to be a preacher of a purer religion.
” An accident, however, disgusted him with this society, before he was of art
age to be chosen a pastor, for which it appears he was intended. Having been prevailed on by some of his schoolfellows to attend divine service at the parish church of
Dunse, he was summoned before the session of the seceding congregation to answer for this offence; but his
high spirit not brooking to make an apology, to avoid the
censures of his brethren, and the ignominy of being expelled their community, he abdicated his principles, and
professed himself a member of the established church.
As his talents for literature were well known, he was
taken, at the age of twenty, to the house of a gentleman
in the neighbourhood of Dunse, as tutor to his son. Here
he did not long reside, but went the same year, 1755, to
Edinburgh, where he applied to the study of divinity, in
which he proceeded so far as to deliver, in the public hall,
a discourse upon a prescribed portion of scripture, the
usual step preliminary to ordination. But here his theological studies appear to have ended, and he suddenly left
Edinburgh, returned to Dunse, and officiated as an usher
in the school where he had been educated. He now exhibited himself as a free-liver and free-thinker, his discourse and manners being equally licentious and irregular,
which accounts for his dereliction of the study of theology.
At Dunse he continued about a year. During this time,
a vacancy happening in one of the classes in the high
school at Edinburgh, Brown appeared as a candidate, but
was not successful. Soon after he was applied to by a
student in medicine, at Edinburgh, to put his inaugural
thesis into, Latin. This he performed in so superior a
manner, that it gained him great reputation; it opened to
him a path which he had not probably before thought of,
for turning his erudition to profit. On the strength of the
character procured him by this performance, he returned
to 'Edinburgh, and determined to apply to the study of
medicine. “He had now,
” he said, “discovered his
strength, and was ambitious of riding in his carriage as a
physician.
” At the opening of the session he addressed
Latin letters to each of the professors, who readily gave
him tickets of admission to their lectures, which he attended
diligently for several years; in the interim, teaching Latin
to such of the pupils as applied, and assisting them in,
writing their theses, or turning them into Latin. The
price, when he composed the thesis, was ten guineas;
when he translated their compositions into Latin, five. If
he had been now prudent, or had not indulged in the most
destructive excesses, he might, it is probable, in a few
years, have attained the eminence he promised himself;
but he marred all by his intemperance. In no long time
after this, his constitution, which had been hardy and robust, became debilitated, and he had the face and appearance of a worn-out debauchee. His bad habits had not,
however, prevented his getting the friendship or assistance
of Dr. Cullen, who, desirous of availing himself of his
talents, employed him as a tutor to his sons, and made
use of him as an assistant in his lectures; Brown repeating
to his pupils in the evening, the lecture they had heard in
the morning, and explaining to them such parts as were
abstruse and difficult. In 1765 he married, and took a
house, which was soon filled with boarders; but, continuing his improvident course, he became a bankrupt at the
nd of three or four years. He now became a candidate
for one of the medical chairs, but failed; and as he attributed his missing this promotion to Dr. Cullen, he very unadvisedly broke off his connection with him, and became the
declared enemy to him and his system; which he had always
before strenuously defended. This probably determined him
to form a new system of medicine, doubtless meaning to annihilate that of his former patron. As he had read but few
medical books, and was but little versed in practice, his
theory must have been rather the result of contemplation
than of experience. That in forming it, he was influenced
by his attachment to spirituous liquors, seems probable
from internal evidence, and from the effects he attributed
to them of diminishing the number as well as the severity
of the fits of the gout, under which he suffered. He always
found them more severe and frequent, he says,
he lived abstemiously. One of his pupils informed Br;
Beddoes, “that he was used, before he began to read his
lecture, to take fifty drops of laudanum in a glass of
whisky; repeating the dose four or five times during the
lecture. Between the effects of these stimulants, and
voluntary exertions, he soon waxed warm, and by degrees
his imagination was exalted into phrenzy.
” His intention
seems to have been to simplify medicine, and to render
the knowledge of it easily attainable, without the labour
of studying other authors. All general or universal diseases were therefore reduced by him to two great families
or classes, the sthenic and the asthenic; the former depending upon excess, the latter upon deficiency of exciting power. The former were to be removed by debilitating, the latter by stimulant medicines, of which the
most valuable and powerful are wine, brandy, and opium.
As asthenic diseases are more numerous y and occur much
more frequently than those from an opposite cause, his
opportunities of calling in the aid of these powerful stimuli
were proportionately numerous. “Spasmodic and convulsive disorders, and even hemorrhages,
” he says, “were
found to proceed from debility; and wine, and brandy,
which had been thought hurtful in these diseases, he found
the most powerful of all remedies in removing them.
”
When he had completed his plan, 'he published his theory
or system, under the title of “Elementa Medicinse,
” from
his preface to which the preceding quotations have been
principally taken. Though he had been eleven or twelve
years at Edinburgh, he had not taken his degree of doctor;
and as he was now at variance with all the medical professors, not thinking it prudent to offer himself there, he
went to St. Andrew’s, where he was readily admitted to
that honour. He now commenced public teacher of medicine, making his “Elementa
” his text book; and convinced, as it seems, of the soundness of his doctrine, he
exultingly demands (preface to a new edition of the translation of his “Elementa,
” by Dr. Beddoes), whether the
medical art, hitherto conjectural, incoherent, and in the
great body of its doctrines false, was not at last reduced to
a science of demonstration, which might be called the
science of life? His method in giving his lectures was, first
to translate the text book, sentence by sentence, and then
to expatiate upon the passage. The novelty of the docfeine procured him at first a pretty numerous class of pupilsj
but as he was irregular in his attendance, and his habits
of drinking increased upon him, they were soon. reduced
in number, and he became so involved in his circumstances, that it became necessary for him to quit Edinburgh; he therefore came to London in the autumn of the
year 1786. Here, for a time, he was received with favour, but his irregularities in living increasing upon him,
he came to his lodgings, in the evening of the 8th of October, in 1788, intoxicated, and taking, as it was his
custom, a large dose of laudanum, he died in the course
of the night, before he had entered on his career of lecturing, for which he was making preparations. He had
the preceding year published “Observations on the Old
Systems of Physic,
” as a prelude to the introduction of his
own; but it was little noticed. His opinions have, however, ' met with patrons in Germany and Italy, as well as
in this country, and several volumes have been Written on
the subject of them; but they are now pretty generally,
and deservedly, abandoned.
, an English divine of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth century, from
, an English divine of the sixteenth
and beginning of the seventeenth century, from whom the
sect of the Brownists derived its name, was descended of
an ancient and worshipful family, says Fuller, (one whereof founded a fair hospital in Stamford), and was nearly allied
to the lord-treasurer Cecil. He was the son of Anthony
Brown, of Tol thorp, in Rutlandshire, esq. (though born at Northampton, according to Mr. Collier), and grandson
of Francis Brown, whom king Henry VIII. in the eighteenth year of his reign, privileged by charter to wear
Jiis cap in the presence of himself, his heirs, or any of his
nobles, and not to uncover but at his own pleasure;
which charter was confirmed by act of parliament. Robert
Brown studied divinity at Cambridge, in Corpus Christi
college, and was afterwards a schoolmaster in Southwark. He was soon discovered by Dr. Still, master of
Trinity-college, to have somewhat extraordinary in him
that would prove a great disturbance to the church. Brown
soon verified what the doctor foretold, for he not only jm^
bibed Cartwright’s opinions, but resolved to refine upon
his scheme, and to produce something more perfect of his
own. Accordingly, about the year 1580, he began to inveigh openly against the discipline and ceremonies of the
church of England, and soon shewed that he intended to
go much farther than Cartwright had ever done. In his
discourses the church government was antichristian; her
sacraments clogged with superstition; the liturgy had a
mixture of Popery and Paganism in it; and the mission of
the clergy was no better than that of Baal’s priests in the
Old Testament. He first preached at Norwich, in 1581,
where the Dutch having a numerous congregation, many
of them inclined to Ahabaptism; and, therefore, being the
more disposed to entertain any new resembling opinion,
he made his first essay upon them; and having made some
progress, and raised a character for zeal and sanctity, he
then began to infect his own countrymen; for which purpose he called in the assistance of one Richard Harrison, a
country schoolmaster, and they formed churches out of
both nations, but mostly of the English. He instructed
his audience that the church of England was no true
church; that there was little of Christ’s institution in the
public ministrations, and that all good Christians were
obliged to separate from those impure assemblies; that
their only way was to join him and his disciples, among
whom all was pure and unexceptionable, evidently inspired by the Spirit of God, and refined from all alloy and
prophanation. These discourses prevailed on the audience; and his disciples, now called Brownists, formed a
society, and made a total defection from the church, refusing to join any congregation in any public office of
worship. Brown being convened before Dr. Freake, bishop
of Norwich, and other ecclesiastical commissioners, he
maintained his schism, to justify which he had also written
a book, and behaved rudely to the court, on which he was
committed to the custody of the sheriff of Norwich; but
his relation, the lord treasurer Burghley, imputing his
error and obstinacy to zeal, rather than malice, interceded
to have him charitably persuaded out of his opinions, and
released. To this end he wrote a letter to the bishop of
Norwich, which procured his enlargement. After this,
hisjordship ordered Brown up to London, and recommended him to archbishop Whitgift for his instruction and
counsel, in order to his amendment; but Brown left the
kingdom, and settled at Middleburgh in Zealand, where
he and his followers obtained leave of the states to form a
church according to their own model, which was drawn in
a book published by Brown at Middleburgh in 1582, and
called “A treatise of Reformation, without staying for any
man.
” How long he remained at Middleburgh, is not
precisely known; but he was in England in 1585, when
he was cited to appear before archbishop Whitgift, to
answer to certain matters contained in a book published by
him, but what this was, we are not informed. The archbishop, however, by force of reasoning, brought Brown
at last to a tolerable compliance with the church of England; and having dismissed him, the lord treasurer Burgh.Jey sent him to his father in the country, with a letter to
recommend him to his favour and countenance, but from
another letter of the lord treasurer’s, we learn that Brown’s
errors had sunk so deep as not to be so easily rooted out as
was imagined; and that he soon relapsed into his former opinions, and shewed himself so incorrigible, that his good old
father resolved to own him for his son no longer than his son
owned the church of England for his mother; and Brown
chusing rather to part with his aged sire than his new schism,
he was discharged the family. When gentleness was found
ineffectual, severity was next practised; and Brown, after
wandering up and down, and enduring great hardships, at
length went to live at Northampton, where, industriously
labouring to promote his sect, Lindsell, bishop of Peterborough, sent him a citation to come before him, which Brown
refused to obey; for which contempt he was excommunicated. This proved the means of his reformation; for he was
so deeply affected with the solemnity of this censure, that
he made his submission, moved for absolution, and received
it; and from that time continued in the communion of the
church, though it was not in his power to close the chasrn^
or heal the wound he had made in it. It was towards the
year 1590 that Brown renounced his principles of separation, antl was soon after preferred to the rectory of
Achurch, near Thrapston in Northamptonshire. Fuller
does not believe that Brown ever formally recanted his
opinions, either by word or writing, as to the main points
of his doctrine; but that his promise of a general compliance with the church of England, improved by the countenance of his patron and kinsman, the earl of Exeter, prevailed upon the archbishop, and procured this extraordinary favour for him. He adds, that Brown allowed a
salary for one to discharge his cure; and though he opposed his parishioners in judgment, yet agreed in taking
their tithes. He was a man of good parts and some learning, but was imperious and uncontroulable; and so far
from the Sabbatarian strictness afterwards espoused by
some of his followers, that he led an idle and dissolute life.
In a word, says Fuller, he had a wife with whom he never
lived, and a church in which he never preached, though
he received the profits thereof: and as all the other scenes
of his life were stonny and turbulent, so was his end: for
the constable of his parish requiring, somewhat roughly,
the payment of certain rates, his passion moved him to
blows, of which the constable complaining to justice St.
John, he rather inclined to pity than punish him but
Brown behaved with so much insolence, that he was sent
to Northampton gaol on a feather-bed in a cart, being
very infirm, and aged above eighty years, where he soon
after sickened and died, anno 1630, after boasting, “That
he had been committed to thirty-two prisons, in some of
which he could not see his hand at noon-day.
” He was
buried in his church of Achurch in Northamptonshire.
ct of worship, either public or private. He imagined, " that Almighty God, by a singular instance of divine power, had, in a gradual manner, annihilated in him the thinking
, an able and learned minister and
writer among the protestant dissenters, and who was remarkable for a mental disorder of a most extraordinary
kind, was born at Shepton-Mallet, in Somersetshire, about
1680. He was instructed in grammar by the rev. Mr.
Cumming, who was pastor of a congregation in that town;
from whence he was removed to Bridgewater, and finished
Jiis studies under the care of the rev. Mr. Moor. As he
possessed uncommon parts, which had been improved by
the most assiduous application, he was very early thought
qualified for the ministry; so that he began to preach some
time before he was twenty years of age. His talents soon
rendered him so conspicuous among the dissenters, that he
was chosen minister of a considerable congregation at
Portsmouth, in which situation he continued some years.
In 1706, he published a small treatise, entitled “A caveat
against evil Company.
” In 1709, he published, in one
volume, 8vo, “The true character of the real Christian.
” He
discharged the duties of the pastoral office at Portsmouth
with so much fidelity and diligence, as procured him universal esteem; but, in 1716, he removed to the great regret of his congregation, in consequence of his being invited to accept of the pastoral charge of the congregation
of protestant dissenters in the Old Jewry, London, which
was one of the most considerable in the kingdom. In
1720, he published, in one volume, 12mo, “Hymns and
Spiritual Songs, in three books.
” In Sermons,
” and about the same time a “Letter to the rev. Thomas Reynolds,
” in which he censures
that gentleman and other dissenters for requiring of their
brethren explicit declarations of their belief in the doctrine of the Trinity. At the Old Jewry he continued to
preach for about seven years with the greatest reputation,
mid was much beloved and esteemed by his congregation:
but, in 1723, a complicated domestic affliction, the loss of
his wife, and of an only son, so deeply affected him, that
he was at first in a state little different from distraction; and
the disorder which his imagination had sustained from the
shock that he had received, at length settled into a melancholy of a very extraordinary nature. He desisted from
the duties of his function, and could not be persuaded to
join in any act of worship, either public or private. He
imagined, " that Almighty God, by a singular instance of
divine power, had, in a gradual manner, annihilated in
him the thinking substance, and utterly divested him of
consciousness: that though he retained the human shape,
and the faculty of speaking, in a manner that appeared to
others rational, he had all the while no more notion of what
he said than a parrot. And, very consistently with this,
he looked upon himself as no longer a moral agent, a subject of reward or punishment. 7 ' He continued in this persuasion to the end of his life, with very little variation.
Nothing grieved him more, than that he could not persuade others to think of him as he thought of himself. He
sometimes considered this as questioning his veracity,
which affected him in the most sensible manner; and he
often took pains, by the most solemn asseverations, to remove such an imputation. At other times, and in a more
gloomy hour, he would represent the incredulity which was
manifested towards him, as a judicial effect of the same
divine power jhat had occasioned this strange alteration in
him, as if God had determined to proceed against him in
this way, and would have no application made in his behalf. Upon this account, for a long while, he was unwilling that any prayers should be made for him; which,
he would say, could be warranted by nothing but a faith
in miracles, and even refused to say grace at table, or if
urged to it, appeared in the greatest distress. At the beginning of his disorder, he was so unhappy in himself, as
to have frequent propensities to deprive himself of life;
but he afterwards grew more serene, and appeared to have
little or no terror upon his mind. He considered himself
as one who, though he had little to hope, had no more to
fear, and was therefore, for the most part, calm and composed; and when the conversation did not turn upon himself, as it was generally rational and very serious, so was
it often cheerful and pleasant. But his opinion concerning himself occasionally led him into inconsistencies; and
when these were pointed out to him, he sometimes appeared much puzzled.
cally as I could; and upon this, met with so many difficulties, utterly irreconcileable by me to the divine original, that I almost despaired of ever being able to subscribe
On a controversy for a raker in the parish where he lived
in London, carried on so warmly as to open taverns for
men, and coffee-house breakfasts for ladies, he exerted
himself greatly; wondering a man bred at two universities
should be so little regarded. (He had been expelled one, and therefore taken degrees at another.) A parishioner
answered: “he had a calf that sucked two cows, and a prodigious great one it was.
” He used to frequent the annual
ball at the ladies’ boarding-school, Queen-square, merely
as a neighbour, a good-natured man, and fond of the company of sprightly young folks. A dignitary of the church
being there one day to see his daughter dance, and finding
this upright figure stationed there, told him he believed he
was Hermippus redivivus, who lived anhelitu puellarum. At
the age of eighty, on St. Luke’s day, 1771, he came to BaU
son’s coffee-house in hisjaced coat and band, and fringed
white gloves, to shew himself to Mr. Crosby, then lord-mayor.
A gentleman present observing that he looked very well,
he replied, “he had neither wife nor debts.
” He next
published, “Fragmentum I. Hawkins completum,
” Appendix ad Opuscula;
” six Odes, A Proposal on our Coin, to remedy all present, and prevent all
future disorders. To which are prefixed, preceding proposals of sir John Barnard, and of William Shirley, esq.
on the same subject. With remarks,
” To the most revered memory of the right honourable
Arthur Onslow, speaker of the house of commons during
thirty-three years; for ability, judgement, eloquence, integrity, impartiality, never to be forgotten or excelled;
who sitting in the gallery, on a committee of the house, the
day of publishing this proposal, and seeing the author
there, sent to speak with him, by the chaplain; and, after
applauding his performance, desired a frequent correspondence, and honoured him with particular respect, all
the rest of his life, this was, with most profound veneration, inscribed.
” 10. A New-Y.ear’s Gift. A problem,
and demonstration on the XXXIX Articles,“1772, 4to.
” This problem and demonstration,“he informs us,
” though
now first published, on account of the present controversy concerning these articles, owe their birth to my
being called upon to subscribe them, at an early period of
life. For in my soph’s year, 1711, being a student at
Peter-house, in the university of Cambridge, just nineteen years of age, and having performed all my exercises
in the schools (and also a first opponency extraordinary to an ingenious pupil of his, afterwards Dr. Barnard, prebendary of Norwich) on mathematical qusestions, at the
particular request of Mr. proctor Laughton, of Clare-hall,
who drew me into it by a promise of the senior optime of
the year), I was then first informed that subscribing these
articles was a necessary step to taking my degree of B. A.
as well as all other degrees. I had considered long before at school, and on my admission in 1707, that the universal profession of religion must much more concern me
through life, to provide for rny happiness hereafter, than
the particular profession of physic, which I proposed to
pursue, to provide for my more convenient existence
here: and therefore had selected out of the library left by
my father (who had himself been a regular physician, educated under the tuition of sir J. Ellis, M. D. afterwards master of Caius college), Chiilingworth’s Religion of a
Protestant; the whole famous Protestant and Popish controversy; Commentaries on Scripture; and such other books
as suited my purpose. I particularly pitched upon three for
perpetual pocket-companions; Bleau’s Greek Testament;
Hippocratis Aphoristica, and Elzevir Horace; expecting
from the first to draw divinity, from the second physic,
and from the last good sense and vivacity. Here I cannot
forbear recollecting my partiality for St. Luke, because
he was a physician; by the particular pleasure I took in
perceiving the superior purity of his Greek, over that of
the other Evangelists. But I did not then know, what I
was afterwards taught by Dr. Freind’s learned History of
Physic, that this purity was owing to his being a physician,
and consequently conversant with our Greek fathers of
physic. Being thus fortified, I thought myself as well
prepared for an encounter with these articles, as so young
a person could reasonably be expected. I therefore determined to read them over as carefully and critically as I
could; and upon this, met with so many difficulties, utterly irreconcileable by me to the divine original, that I
almost despaired of ever being able to subscribe them.
But, not to be totally discouraged, I resolved to re-consider them with redoubled diligence; and then at last had
the pleasure to discover, in article VI. and XX. what appeared to my best private judgement and understanding
a clear solution of all the difficulties, and an absolute
defeazance of that exceptionable authority, which inconsistently with scripture they seem to assume. I subscribe
my name to whatever I offer to the public, that I may be
answerable for its being my sincere sentiment: ever open,
however, to conviction, by superior reason and argument.
, a Lutheran divine, settled in England, was born in the small island of Cadsand,
, a Lutheran divine, settled in
England, was born in the small island of Cadsand, near
the Belgic frontier, Dec. 31, 1726, and was educated
with a view to the theological profession, chiefly at the
university of Franeker, whence he passed to Leyden,
There he obtained a pastorship, and profited by the society
of Hemsterhuis, of Valkenäer, and especially of the elder
Schultens. His literary acquirements were eminent; he
read the Hebrew and the Greek; he composed correctly;
and has preached with applause in four languages, Latin,
Butch, French, and English. In 1752, Mr. Columbine,
of a French refugee family, which had contributed to
found, and habitually attended, the Walloon church at
Norwich, was intrusted by that congregation, when he was
on a journey into Holland, to seek out a fit successor to
their late pastor, Mr. Valloton, and applied, after due inquiry, to Mr. Bruckner, who accepted the invitation, and
early in 1753 settled as French preacher at Norwich, where
he officiated during fifty-one years, with undiminished approbation. About the year 1766, Mr. Bruckner succeeded
also to Dr. Van Sarn, as minister of the Dutch church, of
which the duties gradually became rather nominal than
real, in proportion as the Dutch families died oft', and as
the cultivation of their language was neglected by the
trading world for the French. The French tongue Mr.
Bruckner was assiduous to diffuse, and gave public and
private lessons of it for many years. His income was now
convenient and progressive. He kept a horse and a pointer,
for he took great pleasure in shooting. He drew occasionally, and has left a good portrait of his favourite dog.
He cultivated music, and practised much on the organ.
In 1767 was printed at Leyden his “Theorie du Systme
Animal,
” in the seventh and tenth chapters of which there
is much anticipation of the sentiments lately evolved in
the writings of Mr. Mai thus. This work was well translated into English, under the title “A Philosophical
Survey of the Animal Creation,
” published for Johnson
and Payne in Criticisms on the Diversions of Purley,
” which attracted some hostile flashes from Mr. Home Tooke, in his
subsequent quarto edition. This pamphlet displays a profound and extensive knowledge of the various Gothic dialects, and states that the same theory of prepositions and
conjunctions, so convincingly applied in the “Epea pteroenta
” to the northern languages, had also been taught
concerning the Hebrew and other dead languages by
Schultens. Mr. Wakefield’s pamphlet against Social Worship drew from Mr. Bruckner, in 1792, a learned reply.
In the preface to these “Thoughts on Public Worship,
”
hopes are given of a continuation still desiderated by the
friends of religion. Mr. Bruckner began a didactic poem
in French verse, which had for its object to popularize in
another form, the principles laid down in. his Theory of
the Aoimal System. A gradual failure rather of spirits
than of health, seems often to have suspended or delayed
the enterprise; to have brought on a restless and fastidious vigilance; and to have prepared that termination of his life, which took place on the morning of Saturday, May 12, 1804. He was buried, according to his
own desire, at Guist, near the kindred of his respected
widow. His society was courted to the last; as his conversation was always distinguished for good sense, for
argument, and for humour. He was beloved for his attentions and affability; esteemed for his probity and prudence; and admired for his understanding and learning.
intains the hypothesis of Descartes. He wrote also an apology for the Cartesian philosophy against a divine, named Vogelsang. In 1655, he married the daughter of a merchant
, professor of natural
philosophy and mathematics at Utrecht, was born at Gorcum in 1620. He went through a course of philosophy at
Leyden; and then pursued his studies at Bois-le-duc,
where he was very much esteemed by Samuel des Marets,
who taught philosophy and divinity, in that place. He
went from thence to Utrecht, where he learnt the mathematics, and then removed to Leyden, where he obtained
leave to teach them. He was afterwards made professor at
Utrecht; and because the professors had agreed among
themselves that every one might teach at home such a part
of philosophy as he should think fit, de Bruin, not contented with teaching what his public professorship required, made also dissections, and explained Grotius’s book
“De jure belli et pacis.
” He had uncommon skill in dissecting animals, and was a. great lover of experiments.
He^made also observations in astronomy. He published
dissertations “De vi altrice,
” “De corporum gravitate et
levitate,
” “De cognitione Dei naturali,
” “De iucis causa
et origine,
” &c. He had a dispute with Isaac Vossius, to
whom he wrote a letter, printed at Amsterdam in 1663;
wherein he cites Vossius’s book De natura et propnetate
Iucis, and strenuously maintains the hypothesis of Descartes. He wrote also an apology for the Cartesian philosophy against a divine, named Vogelsang. In 1655, he
married the daughter of a merchant of Utrecht, sister to
the wife of Daniel Elzevir, the famous bookseller of Amsterdam, by whom he had two children who lived but a
few days. He died in 1675, and his funeral oration was
pronounced by Graevius.
, a popish divine of some note^ was born at West Harptre, the seat of an ancient
, a popish divine of some note^
was born at West Harptre, the seat of an ancient family
of his name in Somersetshire, about 1564. In 1579, he
was admitted commoner in Magdalen college, Oxford, and
afterwards passed some years in one of the inns of court.
Having at last embraced the popish religion, he spent seven years in Doway college, and being ordained priest,
returned to England, acted as a missionary for about twenty
years, and died in 1611. He published, 1. A translation
of the “Lives of the Saints
” from Surius. 2. “A Per.
suasive against frequenting Protestant Churches,
” 12mo.
3. “Seven sparks of the enkindled flame, with four lamentations, composed in the hard times of queen Elizabeth,
”
12mo. From this book, archbishop Usher, in a sermon
preached in 1640, on Nov. 5, produced some passages
hinting at the gun-powder plot. The passages are not,
perhaps, very clearly in point, nor can we suppose any
person privy to the design fool enough at the same time to
give warning of it. This Buckland also wrote “De Persecutione Vandalica,
” a translation from the Latin of Victor, bishop of Biserte, or Utica.
, a celebrated Lutheran divine, was born June 25, 1667, at Anclam, a town in Pomerania, where
, a celebrated Lutheran divine, was born June 25, 1667, at Anclam, a town in Pomerania, where his father was a clergyman, who bestowed
great pains on his education, with a view to the same profession. Before he went to the university, he was taught
Greek and Latin, Hebrew, Chaldaic, and Syriac, and had several times read the scriptures in their original tongues. In
1685, at the age of eighteen, he was sent to Wittemberg,
where he studied history, oriental learning, and the canon
law, under the ablest professors, and with a success proportioned to the stock of knowledge he had previously accumulated. In 1687 he received the degree of M. A. and
printed on that occasion his thesis on the symbols of the
Eucharist. In 1689 he was assistant professor of philosophy; and some time after, having removed to Jena, gave
lessons to the students there with the approbation and esteem of the professors. In 1692 he was invited to Cobourg, as professor of Greek and Latin, In 1693, when
Frederick, elector of Brandenburgh, afterwards king of
Prussia, founded the university of Halle, Buddeus was
appointed professor of moral and political philosophy, and
after filling that office for about twelve years, he was recalled to Jena in 1705, to be professor of theology. The
king of Prussia parted with him very reluctantly on this
occasion, but Buddeus conceived his new office so much
better calculated for his talents and inclination, that he
retained it for the remainder of his life, refusing many
advantageous offers in other universities; and the dukes of
Saxony of the Ernestine branch, to whom the university
of Jena belongs, looking upon Buddeus as its greatest ornament, procured him every comfort, and bestowed their
confidence on him in. the case of various important affairs.
In 1714, he was made ecclesiastical counsellor to the duke
of Hildburghausen; and afterwards was appointed inspector of the students of Gotha and Altenburgh; assessor of
the Concilium arctius, which had the care of the university
of Jena; and he was several times pro-rector, the dukes
of Saxony always reserving to themselves the rectorate of
that university. Under his care the university flourished
in an uncommon degree, and being an enemy to the scholastic mode of teaching, he introduced that more rational
and philosophical system which leads to useful knowledge.
Amidst all these employments, he was a frequent and popular preacher, carried on an extensive correspondence
with the learned men of his time, and yet found leisure for
the composition of his numerous works. He died Nov. 19,
1729. A very long list of his works is given in our authority; the principal are: 1. “Elementa Philosophic prarticæ, instrumentalis ct theoreticæ,
” 3 vols. 8vo. 2.
“Institutiones Theologiæ Moralis,
” Historia Ecclesiastica Veteris Testamenti,
” Institutiones Theologicse, Dogmaticae, variis observationibus iilustratse,
” Miscellanea Sacra,
”
, an English divine, wa<s born at Woodhill, in Bedfordshire, 1582, and educated
, an English divine, wa<s born at
Woodhill, in Bedfordshire, 1582, and educated at St.
John’s college, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship.
He had an estate left to him by his father, whom he succeeded in the living of Woodhill. Here he remained for
twenty-one years, until he was silenced for non-conformity
by archbishop Laud. On this he converted his estate into
money, and went to New England in 1635, and carrying
with him some planters, they settled at a place which they
called Concord, and where they succeeded better than
Mr. Bulkley did, who sunk his property in improvements.
He died there March 9, 1658—9. His only publication
was entitled “The Gospel Covenant opened,
”
s, he put himself under the care of Mr. William Thomas, rector of Ubley, in Somersetshire, a puritan divine, in whose house he boarded, with some of his sisters, for the
He was entered a commoner of Exeter-college, in
Oxford, the 10th of July, 1648, under the tuition of Mr.
Baldwin Ackland, and though he lost much time in the
pursuit of pleasures and diversions, yet, by the help of
logic, which he mastered with little labour, and a close
way of reasoning, which was natural to. him, he soon
gained the reputation of a smart disputant, and as,
such was taken notice of and encouraged by his superiors, particularly Dr. Conant, rector of the college,
and Dr. Prideaux, bishop of Worcester, who at that time
resided in Oxford. He continued in Exeter-college till
January, 1649, at which time having refused to take the
oath to the Commonwealth of England, he retired with his
tutor, Mr. Ackland, who had set him the example, to
North-Cadbury, in Somersetshire, where he continued
under the care of that good and able man, till he was
about nineteen years of age. This retreat gave him an
opportunity of frequent converse with one of his sisters,
whose good sense, and pious admonitions, weaned him
entirely from all youthful vanities, and influenced him to
a serious prosecution of his studies. And now, by the
advice of his friends and guardians, he put himself under
the care of Mr. William Thomas, rector of Ubley, in Somersetshire, a puritan divine, in whose house he boarded,
with some of his sisters, for the space of two years. To
this gentleman’s principles, however, he had no lasting attachment, and as he advanced in reading, he beg'an to
study Hooker, Hammond, Taylor, Episcopius, &c. with
which his friend Mr. Samuel Thomas, the son of his host,
supplied him, much against the old gentleman’s will, who
told his son that he would “corrupt Mr. Bull.
” Soon
after he had left Mr. Thomas, he entertained thoughts of
entering into holy orders, and for that purpose applied
himself to Dr. Skinner, the ejected bishop of Oxford, by
whom he was ordained deacon and priest in the same day,
being at that time but twenty-one years of age, and consequently under the age prescribed by the canons, with
which, however, in times of such difficulty and distress,
it was thought fit to dispense. Not long after, he accepted
the small benefice of St. George’s, near Bristol, where,
by his constant preaching twice every Sunday, the method
he took in governing his parish, his manner of performing
divine service, his exemplary life and great charities, he
entirely gained the affections of his flock, and was very
instrumental in reforming his parish, which he found overrun with quakers and other sectarists.
inChester; Dr. Barlow, Margaret-professor of divinity at Oxford; Mr. Charles Gataker, a presbyterian divine; Mr. Joseph Truman, a non-conformist minister; Dr. Tully, principal
Whilst he remained minister of this parish, the providence of God wonderfully interposed for the preservation
of his life; for his lodgings being near a powder-mill, Mr.
Morgan, a gentleman of the parish, represented to him.
the danger of his situation, and at the same time invited
him to his own house. Mr. Bull, at first, modestly declined the offer, but after some importunity accepted it;
and, not many days after his removal to Mr. Morgan’s, the
mill was blown up, and his apartment with it. In this part
of his life he took a journey once a year to Oxford, where
he stayed about two months, to enjoy the benefit of the
public libraries. In his way to and from Oxford, he always
paid a visit to sir William Masters, of Cirencester, by
which means he contracted an intimacy with Mr. Alexander pregory, the minister of the place, and after some
time married Bridget, one of his daughters, on the 20th
of May, 1658. The same year he was presented by the
lady Pool, to the rectory of Suddington St. Mary, near
Cirencester, in Gloucestershire. The next year, 1659,
he was made privy to the design of a general insurrection in favour of king Charles II. and several gentlemen
of that neighbourhood who were in the secret, chose
his house at Suddington for one of the places of their
meeting. Upon the restoration, Mr. Bull frequently
preached for his father-in-law, Mr. Gregory, at Cirencester, where there was a large and populous congregation; and his sermons gave such general satisfaction,
that, upon a vacancy, the people were very solicitous to
have procured for him the presentation; but the largeness
of the parish, and the great duty attending it, deterred
him Trom consenting to the endeavours they were making
for that purpose. In 1662, he was presented by the lord
high-chancellor, the earl of Clarendon, to the vicarage of
Suddington St. Peter, which lay contiguous to Suddington
St. Mary, at the request of his diocesan Dr. Nicholson,
bishop of Gloucester, both livings not exceeding 100l. a
year. When Mr. Bull came first to the rectory of Suddington, he began to be more open in the use of the liturgy of the church of England, though it was not yet
restored by the return of the king; for, being desired to
marry a couple, he performed the ceremony, on a Sunday
morning, in the face of the whole congregation, according
to the form prescribed by the book of common -prayer.
He took the same method in governing these parishes, as
in that of St. George’s, and with the same success; applying himself with great diligence to the discharge of his
pastoral functions, and setting the people an admirable
example in the government and œconomy of his own
family. During his residence here, he had an opportunity of confirming two ladies of quality in the protestant
communion, who were reduced to a wavering state of mind
by the arts and subtleties of the Romish missionaries. The
only dissenters he had in his parish were quakers; whose
extravagances often gave him no small uneasiness. In
this part of his life, Mr. Bull prosecuted his studies with
great application, and composed most of his works during
the twenty-seven years that he was rector of Suddington.
Several tracts, indeed, which cost him much pains, are entirely lost, through his own neglect in preserving them;
particularly a treatise on the posture used by the ancient
Christians in receiving the Eucharist; a letter to Dr. Pearson concerning the genuineness of St. Ignatius’ s epistles; a
long one to Mr. Glanvil, formerly minister of Bath, concerning the eternity of future punishments; and another,
on the subject of popery, to a person of very great quality.
In 1669, he published his Apostolical Harmony, with a
view to settle the peace of the church, upon a point of the
utmost importance to all its members; and he dedicated it
to Dn William Nicholson, bishop of Gloucester. This
performance was greatly disliked, at first, by many of the
clergy, and others, on account of the author’s departing
therein from the private opinions of some doctors of the
church, and his manner of reconciling the two apostles St.
Paul and St. James, as to the doctrine of justification. It
was particularly opposed by Dr. Morley, bishop of
WinChester; Dr. Barlow, Margaret-professor of divinity at Oxford; Mr. Charles Gataker, a presbyterian divine; Mr. Joseph Truman, a non-conformist minister; Dr. Tully, principal of St. Edmund’s-hall; Mr. John Tombes, a famous
anabaptist preacher; Dr. Lewis Du Moulin, an independent; and by M. De Marets, a French writer, who tells
us, “that the author, though a professed priest of the
church of England, was more addicted to the papists, remonstrants, and Socinians, than to the orthodox party.
”
Towards the end of 1675, Mr. Bull published his “Examen Censuræ,
” &c. in answer to Mr. Gataker, and his
“Apologia pro Harmonia,
” &c. in reply to Dr. Tully. Mr.
Bull’s notion on this subject was “That good works, which
proceed from faith, and are conjoined with faith, are a
necessary condition required from us by God, to the end
that by the new and evangelical covenant, obtained by
and sealed in the blood of Christ the Mediator of it, we
may be justified according to his free and unmerited
grace.
” In this doctrine, and throughout the whole book,
Mr. Bull absolutely excludes all pretensions to merit on
the part of men; but the work nevertheless excited the
jealousy of many able divines both in the church and
among the dissenters, as appears from the above list.
About three years after, he was promoted by the earl of
Nottingham, then lord chancellor, to a prebend in the
church of Gloucester, in which he was installed the 9th of
October, 1678. In 1680, he finished his “Defence of
the Nicene Faith,
” of which he had given a hint five years
before in his Apology. This performance, which is levelled
against the Arians and Socinians on one hand, and the
Tritheists and Sabellians on the other, was received with
universal applause, and its fame spread into foreign countries, where it was highly esteemed by the best judges of
antiquity, though of different persuasions. Five years after
its publication, the author was presented, by Philip Sheppard, esq. to the rectory of Avening in Gloucestershire, a
very large parish, and worth two hundred pounds per annum. The people of this parish, being many of them
very dissolute and immoral, and many more disaffected to
the church of England, gave him for some time great trouble and uneasiness; but, by his prudent conduct and diligent discharge of his duty, he at last got the better of their
prejudices, and converted their dislike iuto the most cordial love and affection towards him. He had not been
long at Avening, before he was promoted, by archbishop
Sancroft, to the archdeaconry of Landaff, in which he was
installed the 20th of June, 1686. He was invited soon
after to Oxford, where the degree of doctor in divinity
was conferred upon him by that university, without the
payment of the usual fees, in consideration of the great
and eminent services he had done the church. During the
reign of James II. the doctor preached very warmly against
popery, with which the nation was then threatened. Some
time after the revolution, he was put into the commission
of the peace, and continued in it, with some little interruption, till he was made a bishop. In 1694, whilst he
continued rector of Avening, he published his “Judicium
Ecclesia? Catholicse, &c.
” in defence of the “Anathema,
”
as his former book had been of the Faith, decreed by the
first council of Nice. The last treatise which Dr. Bull
wrote, was his “Primitive Apostolical Tradition,
” &c.
against Daniel Zwicker, a Prussian. All Dr. Bull’s Latin
works, which he had published by himself at different times,
were collected together, and printed in 1703, in one volume in folio, under the care and inspection of Dr. John
Ernest Grabe, the author’s age and infirmities disabling
him from undertaking this edition. The ingenious editor
illustrated the work with many learned annotations, and
ushered it into the world with an excellent preface. Dr,
Bull was in the seventy-first year of his age, when he was
acquainted with her majesty’s gracious intention of conferring on him the bishopric of St. David’s; which promotion he at first declined, on account of his ill state of health
and advanced years; but, by the importunity of his friends,
and strong solicitations from the governors o*f the church,
he was at last prevailed upon to accept it, and was accordingly consecrated in Lambeth-chapel, the 29th of April,
1705. Two years after, he lost his eldest son, Mr. George
Bull, who died of the small-pox the 11th of May, 1707, in,
the thirty-seventh year of his age. Our prelate took his
seat in the house of lords in that memorable session, when
the bill passed for the union of the two kingdoms, and
spoke in a debate which happened upon that occasion, in
favour of the church of England. About July after his
consecration, he went into his diocese, and was received
with all imaginable demonstrations of respect by the gentry and clergy. The episcopal palace at Aberguilly being
much out of repair, he chose the town of Brecknock for
the place of his residence; but was obliged, about half a
year before his death, to remove from thence to Abermarless, for the benefit of a freer air. He resided constantly in his diocese, and carefully discharged all the episcopal functions. Though bishop Bull was a great admirer
of our ecclesiastical constitution, yet he would often lament the distressed state of the church of England, chiefly
owing to the decay of ancient discipline, and the great
number of lay-impropriations, which he considered as a
species of sacrilege, and insinuated that he had known instances of its being punished by the secret curse which
hangs over sacrilegious persons. Some time before his
last sickness, he entertained thoughts of addressing a circular letter to all his clergy; and, after his death, there was
found among his papers one drawn up to that purpose. He
had greatly impaired his health, by too intense and unseasonable an application to his studies, and, on the 27th of
September, 1709, was taken with a violent fit of coughing,
which brought on a spitting of blood. About the beginning of February following, he was seized with a distemper, supposed to be an ulcer, or what they call the inward
piles; of which he died the 17th of the same month, and
was buried, about a week after his death, at Brecknock/
leaving behind him but two children out of eleven.
physicians in London, except what we are able to collect from his works. Tanner says, that he was a divine, as well as a physician; that he wrote a book against trans
, a learned English physician
and botanist, was descended from an ancient family, and
born in the isle of Ely, about the beginning of Henry the
Eighth’s reign. He was bred up at Cambridge, as some
say, at Oxford according to others; but probably both
those nurseries of learning had a share in his education.
We know, however, but little of his personal history,
though he was famous in his profession, and a member of
the college of physicians in London, except what we are
able to collect from his works. Tanner says, that he was
a divine, as well as a physician; that he wrote a book
against transubstantiation; and that in June 1550 he was
inducted into the rectory of Blaxhall, in Suffolk, which
he resigned in November 1554. From his works we learn
that he had been a traveller over several parts of Germany,
Scotland, and especially England; and he seems to have
made it his business to acquaint himself with the natural
history of each place, and with the products of its soil.
It appears, however, that he was more permanently settled
at Durham, where he, practised physic with great reputation; and, among others of the most eminent inhabitants,
was in great favour with sir Thomas Hilton, knight, baron
of Hilton, to whom he dedicated a book in the last year
of queen Mary’s reign. In 1560, he went to London,
where, to his infinite surprise, he found himself accused
by Mr. William Hilton of Biddick, of having murdered his
brother, the baron aforesaid; who really died among his
own friends of a malignant fever. The innocent doctor
was easily cleared, yet his enemy hired some ruffians to
assassinate him, and when disappointed in this, arrested
Dr. Bulleyn in an action, and confined him in prison a
long time; where he wrote some of his medical treatises.
He was a very learned, experienced, and able physician.
He was very intimate with the works of the ancient physicians and naturalists, both Greek, Roman, and Arabian.
He was also a man of probity and piety, and though he
Jived in the times of popery, does not appear to have been
tainted with its principles. He died Jan. 7, 1576, and
was buried in the same grave with his brother Richard
Bulleyn, a divine, who died thirteen years before, in the
church of St. Giles, Cripplegate. There is an inscription
on their tomb, with some Latin verses, in which they are
celebrated as men famous for their learning and piety. Of
Dr. Bulleyn particularly it is said, that he was always as
ready to accommodate the poor as the rich, with medicines for the relief of their distempers. There is a profile
of Bulleyn, with a long beard, before his “Government
of Health,
” and a whole-length of him in wood, prefixed
to his “Bulwarke of defence.
” He was an ancestor of the
late Dr. Stukeley, who, in 1722, was at the expence of
having a small head of him engraved.
ned, and able scholar, a good disputant, a good tutor, an eminent preacher, and a sound and orthodox divine.” (See Hearne’s Langtoft, publisher’s appendix to his preface,
, a Nonconformist clergyman,
was the son of a schoolmaster at Watford, in Hertfordshire^
and educated at St. John’s college, Cambridge. He afterwards became a fellow of Emanuel college, and took
his master’s degree. He obtained the living of SuttonColfield, in Warwickshire, in 1635, by the death of the
rev. John Burgess, but no relation. He was afterwards
one of the assembly of divines, and although inclined to
conformity before the rebellion, acquired such opinions on
the subject as induced him to submit to ejectment aftet
the restoration. Dr. Racket, bishop of Lichfield and
Coventry, who had a high opinion of his learning, and
said he was fit for a professor’s chair in the university, endeavoured by every argument to retain him in the church,
but in vain, although Mr. Burgess went to the parish
church of Tamworth, where he spent the remainder of his
days, and lived in cordiality with the incumbent. At what
time he died, is not mentioned. The celebrated Dr. John
Wallis was his pupil, and says he was “a pious, learned,
and able scholar, a good disputant, a good tutor, an eminent preacher, and a sound and orthodox divine.
” (See Hearne’s Langtoft, publisher’s appendix to his preface, p. cxlviii). His principal works are: 1. “Spiritual Refinings; or a Treatise of Grace and Assurance,
” fol. 1656. 3.
” The Doctrine of Original Sin,“1659, fol. 4.
” Commentary on
the 1. and 2. of Corinthians," 1661, 2 vols. fol. with some
smaller tracts, and several sermons before the long parliament.
, a dissenting divine of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a wit himself,
, a dissenting divine of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a wit himself, and “the
cause of wit in other men,
” particularly dean Swift and
his contemporaries, was born in 1645 at Staines in Middlesex, where his father then was minister, but was afterwards, at the restoration, ejected for nonconformity from
the living of Collingbourne Ducis, in Wiltshire. Daniel
was educated at Westminster school, and in 1660 went to
Magdalen-hall, Oxford, but having some scruples of the
nonconformist stamp, he left the university without a
degree. It would appear, however, that he had taken orders, as we are told that immediately after he was invited
to be chaplain to a gentleman of Chute in Wiltshire, and
afterwards to a Mr. Smith of Tedworth, where he was
tutor to that gentleman’s son. In 1667, the earl of Orrery,
lord president of Munster, took Mr. Burgess over to Ireland, and appointed him master of a school which he had
established at Charleville for the purpose of strengthening
the protestant interest in that kingdom, and Mr. Burgess,
while here, superintended the education of the sons of
some of the Irish nobility and gentry. After leaving this
school, he was chaplain to lady Mervin, near Dublin; but
about this time, we are told, he was ordained in Dublin as
a presbyterian minister, and married a Mrs. Briscoe in that
city, by whom he had a son and two daughters.
here to be found, according to the Opinion of the late judge Burnet; with an Introduction concerning divine worship, and a caution to gospel preachers; in which are contained,
, the third and youngest son of the
bishop, had an education equally advantageous with that
of his two elder brothers. When he had acquired a sufficient preparation of grammatical learning, he was sent
to the university of Oxford, where he becam^a commoner
of Merton-college. After this, he studied two years at
Leyden, from whence he seems to have made a tour
through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Having chosen
the profession of the law, he was entered at the Temple,
where he appears to have contracted wildness of disposition,
and irregularity of conduct. To this part of his character
there are frequent allusions in the satirical publications of
the times; and particularly in Dr. Arbuthnol’s notes and
memorandums of the six days preceding the death of a
right reverend prelate. Mr. Thomas Burnet was even
suspected of being one of the Mohocks mentioned in the
Spectator, whose extravagant and cruel exploits made
much noise, and excited no small degree of terror at that
period. Swift, in one of his letters to Stella, has the following passage: “Young Davenant was telling us, how
he was set upon by the Mohocks, and how they ran his
chair through with a sword. It is not safe being in the
streets at night. The bishop of Salisbury’s son is said
to be of the gang. They are all whigs. A great lady
sent to me, to speak to her father, and to lord treasurer,
to have a care of them, and to be careful likewise of myself; for she heard they had malicious intentions against
the ministry and their friends. I know not whether there
be any thing in this, though others are of the sante opinion.
” The report concerning Mr. Burnet might be
groundless; but it is certain that his time was not wholly
spent in dissipation; for, being warmly devoted to the
cause of the whigs, he commenced political writer against
the administration of the four last years of queen Anne.
No less than seven pamphlets of this kind, though without
his name, were written by him, in 1712 and 1713. His
first was entitled “A Letter to the People, to be left for
them at the Booksellers; with a word or two of the Bandbox Plot.
” This small tract is drawn up in short paragraphs, after the manner of Mr. Asgill; but not in ridicule
of that author, who is spoken of in terms of high commendation. Another piece of Mr. Burnet’s was: “Our
Ancestors as wise as we, or ancient Precedents for modern
Facts, in answer to a Letter from a noble Lord;
” which
was followed by “The History of Ingratitude, or a second
Part of ancient Precedents for modern Facts,
” wherein
many instances are related, chiefly from the Greek and
Roman histories, of the ungrateful treatment to which the
most eminent public characters have been exposed; and
the whole is applied to the case of the duke of Marlborough. A subsequent publication, that had likewise a reference to the conduct of the ministry towards the same
great general, and which was dedicated to him, was entitled “The true Character of an honest Man, especially
with relation to public Affairs.
” Another of Mr. Burnet’s
tracts, which was called “Truth, if you can find it; or a
Character of the present Ministry and Parliament,
” was
entirely of an ironical nature, and sometimes the irony
is well supported. But our author’s principal political
pamphlet, during the period we are speaking of, was, “A
certain Information of a certain Discourse, that happened
at a certain Gentleman’s House, in a certain County:
written by a certain Person then present; to a certain
Friend now at London; from whence you may collect the
great Certainty of the Account.
” This is a dialogue in
defence of the principles and conduct of the whigs; and
it gave such offence to queen Anne’s Tory ministry, that
on account of it, Mr. Burnet was taken into custody in
January 1712—13. He wrote, also, “Some new Proofs
by which it appears that the Pretender is truly James the
Third;
” in which, from the information, we suppose, of
his father, he gives the same account, in substance, of the
Pretender’s birth, that was afterwards published in the
bishop’s History of his own Time. What Mr. Burnet endeavours to make out is, that three supposititious children
Vol. VII. C c
were introduced; and consequently, that the “Pretender
was James the Third;
” or, to put it more plainly, “the
third pretended James.
” Whilst our young author, notwithstanding his literary application and engagements, still
continued his wild courses, it is related, that his father
one day seeing him uncommonly grave, asked what he
was meditating. “A greater work,
” replied the son,
“than your lordship’s History of the Reformation.
”
“What is that, Tom?
” “My own reformation, my
lord.
” “I shall be heartily glad to see it,
” said the bishop, “but almost despair of it.
” This, however, was
happily accomplished, though, perhaps, not during the
life of the good prelate, and Mr. Burnejt became not only
one of the best lawyers of his time, but a very respectable
character. After the accession of king George the First,
he wrote a letter to the earl of Halifax, on “the Necessity
of impeaching the late Ministry,
” in which he urges the
point with great zeal and warmth, and shews the utmost
dislike of treating with any degree of lenity, a set of men
whose conduct, in his opinion, deserved the severest punishment. He insists upon it, that the makers of the treaty
of Utrecht ought to answer for their treasons with their
heads. The letter to the earl of Halifax, which appeared
with Mr. Burnet’s name, was followed by an anonymous
treatise, entitled “A second Tale of a Tub; or the
History of Robert Powel the Puppet-Showman.
” This
work, which is a satire on the earl of Oxford and his ministry, and is far from being destitute of wit and humour, hath
never had the good fortune (nor, indeed, did it deserve it,) of being read and admired like the original “Tale of
a Tub.
” The author himself, in the latter part of his life,
wished it to be forgotten; for we are well informed that
he sought much for it, and purchased such copies as he
could meet with, at a considerable price. Soon after his
father’s death, he published “A Character of the right
reverend father in God, Gilbert lord bishop of Sarum;
with a true copy of his last Will and Testament.
” In ridicule of this publication, was printed in Hudibrastic
verse, and with a very small portion of merit, “A certain
dutiful Son’s Lamentation for the Death of a certain right
reverend; with the certain Particulars of certain Sums and
Goods that are bequeathed him, which he will most certainly
part with in a ctrtain time.
” In Homerides;
” which exposed
him to the lash of Mr. Pope, and occasioned that great poet
to give him a place, though not with remarkable severity,
in the Dunciad. He was likewise concerned in a weekly
paper, called “The Grumbler.
” He was, however, soon,
taken from these literary occupations, by being appointed
his majesty’s consul at Lisbon, where he continued several years. Whilst he was in this situation, he had a
dispute with lord Tyrawley, the ambassador, in which the
merchants sided with Mr. Burnet. During the continuance
of the dispute, the consul took an odd method of affronting-'
his antagonist. Employing the same taylor, and having
learned what dress his lordship intended to wear on a birthday, Mr. Burnet provided the same dress as liveries for
his servants, and appeared himself in a plain suit. It is
said, that in consequence of this quarrel (though how truly, may, perhaps, be doubted), the ambassador and
consul were both recalled. Upon Mr. Burnet’s return to
his country, he resumed the profession of the law. In
1723, he published, with a few explanatory notes, the
first volume of his father’s “History of his own Time;
”
and, in Reflections historical and political.
” When Mr.
Burnet gave to the public, in of whom I
take this opportunity to say with pleasure, and which your
lordship, I am sure, will allow me to say with truth, that
for his knowledge of the world, and his able judgment of
things, he was equalled by few, and excelled by none of
his contemporaries.
” The following clause in our learned
judge’s will was the subject of conversation after his decease, and was inserted in the monthly collections, as
being somewhat extraordinary. “I think it proper in this
solemn act to declare, that as I have lived, so I trust I
shall die, in the true faith of Christ as taught in the
Scriptures; but not as taught or practised in any one visible church that I know of; though I think the church of
England is as little stuffed with the inventions of men as
any of them; and the church of Rome is so full of them,
as to have destroyed all that is lovely in the Christian
religion.
” This clause gave occasion to the publication
of a serious and sensible pamphlet, entitled: “The true
Church of Christ, which, and where to be found, according to the Opinion of the late judge Burnet; with
an Introduction concerning divine worship, and a caution
to gospel preachers; in which are contained, the Reasons
for that Declaration in his last Will and Testament.
” A
judgment may be formed of his abilities in his profession,
from his argument in the case of Ryal and Rowls. In
1777 were published in 4to, “Verses written on several
occasions, between the years 1712 and 1721.
” These
were the poetical productions of Mr. Burnet in his youth,
of whom it is said by the editor, that he was connected in
friendship and intimacy with those wits, which will for
ever signalise the beginning of the present century; and
that himself shone with no inconsiderable lustre amidst the
constellation of geniuses which then so illustriously adorned
the British hemisphere.
, a puritan divine, was born in 1599, and educated at Cambridge, but was obliged
, a puritan divine, was
born in 1599, and educated at Cambridge, but was obliged
to quit that university for nonconformity. He sheltered
himself for some time under the hospitable roof of the earl
of Warwick, and afterwards retired to Holland, where he
was chosen minister of an English congregation at Rotterdam. In 1642 he returned to England, and became
preacher of two of the largest and most numerous congregations in London, Stepney and Cripplegate. It was not
his object to spread sedition, but peace, for which he earnestly laboured. His “Irenicum
” was one of the last
subjects upon which he preached. He was a man of learning, candour, and modesty, and of irreproachable life. A
considerable number of his writings are in print, many of
Vhich were published after his death, which happened November 14, 1646. When the assembly of divines reformed
the church by placing that of Scotland in lieu of that of
England, Mr. Burroughes was a dissenter from their decrees, and lamented that after all the mischiefs of rebellion
and revolution, men were not allowed to have liberty of
conscience any more than before. These divisions are
said to have shortened his days. Baxter used to say that
if all presbyterians had been like Mr. Marshall, and all independents like Mr. Burroughes, their differences might
easily have been compromised. Such men, however, in
those distracted times were the “rari nantes in gurgite
vasto.
” We have before us a list of twelve quartos, and
four octavos, mostly published from his Mss. after his
death, among which is an “Exposition on Hosea,
” 3 vols.
but none of them seem, to have attained any great degree
of popularity.
Justification,” Lond. 1632, 4to. 11. “Exceptions against a passage in Dr. Jackson’s Treatise of the Divine Essence and Attributes.” 12. “The sounding of the two last Trumpets;
In April 1625, he presented a letter to king Charles,
remonstrating against Dr. Neile and Dr. Laud, his majesty’s continual attendants, as popishly affected; and for
this was forbidden the court. Soon after he was presented
to the rectory of -St, Matthew’s, in Friday-street, London.
In Dec. 1636, he was summoned to appear before Dr.
Duck, one of the commissioners for causes ecclesiastical,
who tendered to him the oaths ex officio, to answer to certain articles brought against him, for what he had advanced
in two sermons preached in his own church on the preceding 5th of November . Burton, instead of answering,
appealed to the king: but a special high-commission court,
which was called soon after at Doctors’ Commons, suspended him, in his absence, from both his office and benefice; on which he thought fit to abscond, but published his
two sermons under the title of “For God and the King;
”
together with an apology justifying his appeal. February 1,
a serjeant at arms, with other officers, by virtue of a warrant from the star-chamber, broke open his doors, seized
his papers, and took him into custody. Next day, he was,
by an order of the privy-council, committed to the Fleet
prison; from which place he dated one epistle to his majesty, another to the judges, and a third to the “truehearted nobility.
” March 1!, he was proceeded against
in the star-chamber, for writing and publishing seditious,
schismatical, and libellous books, against the hierarchy of
the church, and to the scandal of the government. To
this information he (and Bastwick and Prynne who were indicted with him) prepared answers . In the end of
May 1637, a person came to the Fleet to examine Burton
upon his answer; but hearing that the greatest part of
it had been expunged, he refused to be examined, unless his answer might be admitted as it was put in, or he
permitted to put in a new answer. June 2, it was ordered
by the court, that if he would not answer to interrogatories
framed upon his answer, he would be proceeded against
pro confesso. Accordingly, June 14, Burton, and the two
others, being brought to the bar, the information was read;
and no legal answer having been put in in time, nor filed
on record, the court began for this contempt to proceed
to sentence. The defendants cried out for justice, that
their answers might be read, and that they might not be
condemned unheard, but because their answers were not
filed on record, the court proceeded to pass sentence:
which was, that Burton, Prynne, and Bastwick pay a fine
of 50OO/. each, and that Burton in particular be deprived
of his ecclesiastical benefice, degraded from his ministerial
function and degrees in the university, be set on the pillory, have both his ears cut off there, confined to perpetual
close imprisonment in Lancaster-castle, debarred the access
of his wife or any other except his keeper, and denied the
use of pen, ink, and paper: all which, except the fine
and the solitary part of the confinement, was executed accordingly, and the cutting off his ears with circumstances
of great cruelty, they being pared so close, that the
temporal artery was cut. During his twelve weeks imprisonment in the common gaol at Lancaster, great crowds
pitying his misfortunes resorted to him, and some of his
papers being dispersed in London, he was removed, by an
order of council, to Cornet-castle in the isle of Guernsey,
October 1637, where he was shut up almost three years;
till in November 1640, the house of, commons, upon his
wife’s petition, complaining of the severity of his sentence,
ordered that he should be brought to the parliament in
safe custody. Burton, on his arrival at London, presented
a petition to the house of commons, setting forth his sufferings, and there was now a house of commons willing
enough to listen to more trifling complaints. In consequence of this, the house resolved that the sentence
against him was illegal, and ought to be reversed; that he
be freed from the fine of 5000l. and from imprisonment,
and restored to his degrees in the university, orders in the
ministry, and to his ecclesiastical benefice in Friday-street,
London; also have recompense for his imprisonment, and
for the loss of his ears, which they fixed at six thousand
pounds; but owing to the ensuing confusions in the kingdom, he never received that sum. He was, however, restored to his living of St. Matthew’s, after which he declared himself an Independent, and complied with all the
alterations that ensued; but, according to Wood, when
he saw to what extravagant lengths the parliament went,
he grew more moderate, and afterwards fell out with his
fellow-sufferers Prynne and Bastwick, and with Mr. Edmund Calamy. He died Jan. 7, 1648. Besides the tracts
mentioned above, he wrote several others, which are
thus enumerated. 1. “A Censure of Simony,
” Loud.
A Plea to an Appeal, traversed Dialoguewise,
” Lond. The baiting of the Pope’s Bull,
”
Lond. A Tryal of private Devotions, or a Dyal
for the Hours of Prayer,
” Lond. Israel’s Fast;
or, Meditations on the 7th Chapter of Joshua,
” Lond.
Seven Vials, or an Exposition on the loth and
16th Chapters of the Revelations,
” Lond. Babel no Bethel; i. e. The Church of Rome no true visible
Church of Christ, being an Answer to Hugh Cholmeley’s
Challenge, and Robert Butterfield’s Maschil.
” 8. “Truth’s
Triumph over Trent, or the great Gulph between Sion
and Babylon,
” Lond. The Law and the Gospel reconciled against the Antinomians,
” Lond. Christian’s Bulwark, or the Doctrine of Justification,
” Lond. Exceptions against a passage in Dr. Jackson’s Treatise of the Divine Essence and
Attributes.
” 12. “The sounding of the two last Trumpets; or, Meditations on the 9th, 10th, and llth Chapters
of the Revelations,
” Lond. The Protestation protested, or a short Remonstrance, shewing what
is principally required of all those that have or do take the
last Parliamentary Protestation,
” London, Relation of Mr. Chillingworth.
” 15. “A Narration
of his own Life,
” Lond. A Vindication
of Independent Churches, in answer to Mr. Prynne’s two
books of Church-Government, and of Independency,
”
Lond. Parliament’s Power for Laws in
Religion,
” Vindiciae Veritatis: Truth
vindicated against Calumny: In a brief Answer to Dr.
Bastwick’s two late books, entitled, Independency not
God’s Ordinance,
” Lond. Truth shut
out of Doors; or, A brief Narrative of the Occasion and
Manner of Proceeding of Aldermanbury Parish, in shutting their Church-Door against him,
” Lond. Conformity’s Deformity, in a Dialogue between
Conformity and Conscience,
” Lond.
, a divine of distinguished abilities, was educated in Magdalen college,
, a divine of distinguished abilities, was educated in Magdalen college, Cambridge, of
which he became a fellow, and where he was an eminent
tutor. He was ordained priest by bishop Sanderson; and,
in 1667, was appointed chaplain to lord keeper Bridgeman, by whom he was presented to a prebend of Norwich,
and to the rectory of St. George’s in Southwark. In 1668,
he was engaged, with Dr. Stiliingfleet and Dr. Tillotson,
in the treaty proposed by sir Orlando Bridgeman, and
countenanced by lord chief baron Hale, for a comprehension;vith the Dissenters. About a year before his death,
Oct. 19, 1680, Dr. Burton, by the interest of his friend
Tillotson with the Chapter of St. Paul’s, obtained the rectory of Barnes in Surry, at which place he died, of a malignant fever, in 1681. The only thing of his that appeared during his life, was the short “Alloquium ad Lectorem,
” prefixed to Dr. Cumberland’s treatise “De Legibus Naturae.
” After Dr. Burton’s decease, dean Tillotson published two volumes of his discourses, which reflect
great credit on his memory, from the piety and just sentiments they abound with on the nature and end of religion.
, a learned divine, was born in 1696 at Wemb worth in Devonshire, of which parish
, a learned divine, was born in 1696
at Wemb worth in Devonshire, of which parish his father
wag rector. The first part of his grammatical education
he received at Okehampton, and the remainder at Ely,
under the rev. Sam. Bentham, his first cousin by the mother’s side. Such were the proofs which young Burton
afforded at school of his capacity, diligence, and worthy
dispositions, that the learned Dr. Ashton, master of Jesuscollege, Cambridge, designed to have him admitted into
his own college. But in the mean time, Dr. Turner, president of Corpus-Christi college, Oxford, having made an
accidental trial of Mr. Burton’s literary improvements, procured him a scholarship in that college in 1713, when he
was 17 years of age. Here he made so distinguished a
progress, that Dr. Mather, the president, appointed him
to the important office of tutor, when he was only B. A.
Soon after, the college conferred upon him the honour of
reading the Greek lecture. During the whole course of
his studies, he recommended himself both to the affection
of his equals and the esteem of his superiors. Dr. Potter,
in particular, at that time bishop of Oxford, conceived a
great regard for him. March 24, 1720, Mr. Burton was
admitted to the degree of M. A. In the exercise of his
duty as a tutor, no one could exceed him in attention,
diligence, and a zealous concern for the improvement of
his pupils. As he was himself unacquainted with mathematics, and ignorant of the Hebrew tongue, he took effectual care that the young men under his tuition should be
well instructed in these points. With regard to those of
his pupils who were upon charitable foundations, he was
solicitous that the acquisition of knowledge should be rendered as cheap to them as possible; and was so disinterested and beneficent in the whole of his conduct, that,
after having discharged the office of a tutor almost fifteen
years, he was scarcely possessed of 50l. when he quitted
the university. In revising, correcting, and improving
the exercises of the students, Mr. Burton displayed surprising patience and indefatigable diligence; and there
are still extant his themes, declamations, orations, and
poems of every kind, which he composed for the use of
his own pupils, and even of others. His attention was
also laudably and liberally directed to the restoration of
the credit of the university press, and to enable editors to
carry on their literary undertakings with diminished expence. With this view, he often prevailed upon Dr. Mather, Dr. Holmes, and other vice-chancellors, to order
new types; and, by the assistance of some noble friends,
he was so strenuous in behalf of the learned Hutchinson,
the editor of Xenophon, that no editors since that time
have had any delay or difficulty in obtaining the exemption from the duty on paper, which has been granted by
parliament to books printed at the Clarendon press. It was
also by Mr. Burton’s persuasion, that Mr. (afterwards lord)
Rolle gave WOl. to the university, for the purpose of lending it to editors; and that Dr. Hodges, provost of Orielcollege, bequeathed 200l. to the same use. In 1725,
when our learned tutor was pro-proctor and master of the
schools, he spoke, before the determining bachelors, a
Latin oration, entitled “Heli,
” which was both written
and published with a design of enforcing the salutary exercise of academical discipline. The same subject was still
more fully considered by him in four Latin sermons,
preached before the university; which, likewise, with appendices, were afterwards given to the public. Indeed,
the labour that Mr. Burton, during two years, cheerfully
went through, as master of the schools, was immense.
July 19, 1729, Mr. Burton was admitted to the degree of
B. D.; and in 1732, when the settlement of the colony of
Georgia was in agitation, being solicitous to give his assistance in promoting that undertaking, he preached a sermon
in its recommendation; and his discourse was afterwards
published, with an appendix concerning the state of the
colony. He was likewise, through his whole life, an ardent promoter of Dr. Bray’s admirable scheme of parochial
libraries.
roine, or the Life and Adventures of Mrs. Christian Davis, commonly called Mother Ross.“29.” Youth’s Divine Pastime."
was a name placed in the titlepages of a numerous set of popular volumes printed about
the end of the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth
century, and sold by Nath. Crouch, a bookseller of that
period, who is supposed to have composed them. In the
Bodleian Catalogue, Burton is called “alias Nat Crouch,
”
of whom Dunton says, “I. think I have given you the very
soul of his character, when I have told you that his talent
lies at * Collections.' He has melted down the best of
our English histories into Twelve-penny-Books, which
are filled with Wonders, Rarities, and Curiosities, for
you must know his title-pages are a little swelling.
” Of
his brother Samuel Crouch, Dunton speaks more favourably: “He is just and punctual in all his dealings; never
speaks ill of any man; has a swinging soul of his own;
would part with all he has to serve a friend; and that’s
enough for one bookseller.
” These Burton’s books were
formerly confined to the perusal of the lowest classes of
readers, and were long called chapmen’s books, and sold
only by the petty booksellers, and at fairs, &c. But of
late years they have become a favourite object with collectors, and their price has risen accordingly; and more completely to gratify the trifling taste of the age, some of them
have been reprinted in a pompous and expensive manner.
Being, therefore, from whatever cause, the subjects of modern attention, we shall subjoin a list of them, for which
we are indebted to Mr. Malone. 1. “Historical Rarities
in London and Westminster,
” Wars in England, Scotland, and Ireland,
” Wonderful prodigies of Judgment and Mercy,
” Strange and
prodigious religious Customs and Manners of sundry Nations,
” English Empire in America,
” Surprising Miracles of Nature and Art,
” Admirable Curiosities of Nature,
”
History of Scotland,
” 1685. 9.
” Two Journies to Jerusalem,“1685.
10.
” Nine Worthies of the World,“1687. 11.
” Winter’s Evening’s Entertainments,“1687. 12.
” The English
Hero, or the Life of Sir Francis Drake,“1687. 13.
” Memorable Accidents, and unheard-of Transactions,“1693.
14.
” History of the House of Orange,“1693. 15. Martyrs in flames,
” 1695. 16. “Curiosities of England,
” History of Oliver Cromwell,
” Unparalleled Varieties,
” Unfortunate Court Favourites of England,
” History of the Lives
of English Divines,
” Ingenious Riddles.
”
22. “Unhappy Princesses, or the history of Anne Boleyn,
and Lady Jane Grey,
” Esop’s Fables in prose
and verse,
” History of Virginia,
” English acquisitions in Guinea and the East Indies,
”
1728. 27.
” General History of Earthquakes,“1736.
8.
” The English Heroine, or the Life and Adventures of
Mrs. Christian Davis, commonly called Mother Ross.“29.
” Youth’s Divine Pastime."
ission at Oxford, if it be true, as is asserted, that he sometimes assisted Mr. Edward Talbot in the divine service, at his living of Hendred near Wantage. With this gentleman,
, a prelate of the most distinguished
character and abilities, was born at Wantage in Berkshire,
in 1692. His father, Mr. Thomas Butler, who was a reputable shopkeeper in that town, observing in his son
Joseph an excellent genius and inclination for learning,
determined to educate him for the ministry, among the
protestant dissenters of the presbyterian denomination.
For this purpose, after he had gone through a proper
course of grammatical literature, at the free grammarschool of his native place, under the care of the rev. Mr.
Philip Barton, a clergyman of the church of England,
he was sent to a dissenting academy, then kept at Gloucester, but which was soon afterwards removed to Tewkesbury, the principal tutor of which was Mr. Jones, a man of
uncommon abilities and knowledge. At Tewkesbury, Mr.
Butler made an extraordinary progress in the study of divinity; of which he gave a remarkable proof in the letters
addressed by him, whilst he resided at Tewkesbury, to
Dr. Samuel Clarke, laying before him the doubts that
had arisen in his mind concerning the conclusiveness of
some arguments in the doctor’s “Demonstration of the
Being and Attributes of God.
” The first of these letters
was dated November the 4th, 1713; and the sagacity and
depth of thought displayed in it immediately excited Dr.
Clarke’s particular notice. This condescension encouraged Mr. Butler to address the doctor again upon the
same subject, which, ^likewise, was answered by him; and
the correspondence being carried on in three other letters,
the whole was annexed to the celebrated treatise before
mentioned, and the collection has been retained in all the
subsequent editions of that work. The management of
this correspondence was entrusted by Mr. Butler to his
friend and fellow-pupil Mr. Seeker, who, in order to
conceal the affair, undertook to convey the letters to the
post-office at Gloucester, and to bring back Dr. Clarke’s
answers. When Mr. Butler’s name was discovered to the
doctor, the candour, modesty, and good sense with which
he had written, immediately procured him his friendship.
Our young student was not, however, during his continuance at Tewkesbury, solely employed in metaphysical
speculations and inquiries. Another subject of his serious
consideration was, the propriety of his becoming a dissenting minister. Accordingly, he entered into an examination of the principles of non-conformity; the result of
which was, such a dissatisfaction with them, as determined
him to conform to the established church. This intention
was at first very disagreeable to his father, who endeavoured to divert him from his purpose; and with that view
called in the assistance of some eminent presbyterian divines; but finding his son’s resolution to be fixed, heat
length suffered him to be removed to Oxford, where he
was admitted a commoner of Oriel college, on the 17th of
March, 1714. At what time he took orders is uncertain,
but it must have been soon after his admission at Oxford,
if it be true, as is asserted, that he sometimes assisted Mr.
Edward Talbot in the divine service, at his living of Hendred near Wantage. With this gentleman, who was the.
second son of Dr. William Talbot, successively bishop of
Oxford, Salisbury, and Durham, Mr. Butler formed an
intimate friendship at Oriel college, which laid the foundation of all his subsequent preferments, and procured for
him a very honourable situation when he was only twentysix years of age. In 1718, at the recommendation of Mr.
Talbot and Dr. Clarke, he was appointed by sir Joseph
Jekyll to be preacher at the Rolls. This was three years
before he had taken any degree at the university, where
he did not go out bachelor of law till the 10th of June,
1721, which, however, was as soon as that degree could
statutably be conferred upon him. Mr. Butler continued
at the Rolls till 1726, in the beginning of which year he
published, in one volume 8vo, “Fifteen Sermons preached
at that Chapel.
” In the mean time, by the patronage of
Dr. Talbot, bishop of Durham, to whose notice he had
been recommended (together with Mr. Benson and Mr. Seeker) by Mr. Edward Talbot on his death-bed, our author had been presented first to the rectory of Haughton,
near Darlington, in 1722, and afterwards to that of Stanhope in the same diocese, in 1725, At Haughton there
was a necessity for rebuilding a great part of the parsonagehouse, and Mr. Butler had neither money nor talents for
that work. Mr. Seeker, therefore, who had always the
interest of his friends at heart, and had acquired a very
considerable influence with bishop Talbot, persuaded that
prelate to give Mr. Butler, in exchange for Haughton,
the rectory of Stanhope, which was not only free from any
such incumbrance, but was likewise of much superior
value, being indeed one of the richest parsonages in England. Whilst our author continued preacher at the Rolls
chapel, he divided his time between his duty in town and
country; but when he quitted the Rolls, he resided, during seven years, wholly at Stanhope, in the conscientious
discharge of every obligation appertaining to a good parish
priest. This retirement, however^ was too solitary for his
disposition, which had in it a natural cast of gloominess:
and though his recluse hours were by no means lost either
to private improvement or public utility, yet he felt at
times very painfully the want of that select society of
friends to which he had been accustomed, and which could
inspire him with the greatest chearfulness. Mr. Seeker,
therefore, who knew this, was extremely anxious to draw
him out into a more active and conspicuous scene, and
omitted no opportunity of expressing this desire to such as
he thought capable of promoting it. Having himself been,
appointed king’s chaplain in 1732, he took occasion, in a
conversation which he had the honour of holding with
queen Caroline, to mention to her his friend Mr. Butler.
The queen said she thought he had been dead. Mr.
Seeker assured her he was not. Yet her majesty afterwards asked archbishop Blackburne if he was not dead?
His answer was, “No, madam, but he is buried.
” Mr.
Seeker, continuing his purpose of endeavouring to bring
his friend out of his retirement, found means, upon Mr.
Charles Talbot' s being made lord chancellor, to have Mr.
Butler recommended to him for his chaplain. His lordship accepted and sent for him; and this promotion calling
him to town, he took Oxford in his way, and was admitted
there to the degree of doctor of law, on the 8th of December, 1733. The lord chancellor, who gave him also a
prebend in the church of Rochester, had consented that
he should reside at his parish of Stanhope one half of the
year.
and having been complimented, during his indisposition, upon account of his great resignation to the divine will, he is said to have expressed some regret, that he should
Dr. Butler being thus brought back into the world, his
merit and talents soon introduced him to particular notice,
and paved the way for his rising to those high dignities
which he afterwards enjoyed. In 1736, he was appointed
clerk of the closet to queen Caroline; and, in the same
year, he presented to her majesty a copy of his celebrated
treatise, entitled “The Analogy of Religion, natural and
revealed, to the constitution and course of Nature.
” His
attendance upon his royal mistress, by her especial command, was from seven to nine in the evening every day;
and though this was interrupted by her death in 1737, yet
he had been so effectually recommended by her, as well
as by the late lord chancellor Talbot, to his majesty’s favour, that, in the next year, he was raised to the highest
order of the church, by a nomination to the bishopric of
Bristol; to which see he was consecrated on the 3d of
December, 1738. King George II. not being satisfied with
this proof of his regard to Dr. Butler, promoted him, in
1740, to the deanry of St. Paul’s London; into which he
was installed on the 24th of May in that year, and finding
the demands of this dignity to be incompatible with his
parish duty at Stanhope, he immediately resigned that
rich benefice. Besides our prelate’s unremitted attention
to his peculiar obligations, he was called on to preach several discourses on public occasions, which were afterwards
separately printed, and have since been annexed to the
later editions of the Sermons at the Rolls chapel. In 1746,
upon the death of Dr. Egerton, bishop of Hereford, Dr. But>
ler was made clerk of the closet to the king; and in 1750, he
received another distinguished mark of his majesty’s favour,
by being translated to the see of Durham on the 16th of October in that year, upon the decease of Dr. Edward
Chandler. Our prelate, being thus appointed to preside
over a diocese with which he had long been connected,
delivered his first, and indeed his last charge to his clergy,
at his primary visitation in 1751. The principal subject
of it was, “External Religion.
” The bishop having observed, with deep concern, the great and growing neglect
of serious piety in the kingdom, insisted strongly on the
usefulness of outward forms and institutions, in fixing and
preserving a sense of devotion and duty in the minds of
men. In doing this, he was thought by several persons to
speak too favourably of pagan and popish ceremonies, and
to countenance, in a certain degree, the cause of superstition. 'Under that apprehension, an able and spirited
writer, who was understood to be a clergyman of the
church of England, published in 1752, a pamphlet, entitled “A serious inquiry into the use and importance of
External Religion: occasioned by some passages in the
right reverend the lord bishop of Durham’s Charge to the
Clergy of that diocese; humbly addressed to his lordship.
” Many persons, however, and, we believe, the greater
part of the clergy of the diocese, did not think our prelate’s
charge so exceptionable as it appeared to this author.
The charge, which was first printed at Durham, was afterwards annexed to Dr. Butler’s other works, by Dr. Halifax.
By his promotion to the see of Durham, our worthy bishop
was furnished with ample means of exerting the virtue of
charity, the exercise of which was his highest delight. But
this gratification he did not long enjoy. He had been but
a short time seated in his new bishopric, when his health
began visibly to decline; and having been complimented,
during his indisposition, upon account of his great resignation to the divine will, he is said to have expressed some
regret, that he should be taken from the present world so
soon after he had been rendered capable of becoming
much more useful in it. In his last illness, he was carried
to Bristol, to try the waters of that place; but, these proving ineffectual, he removed to Bath, where, being past
recovery, he died on the 16th of June, 1752. His corpse
was conveyed to Bristol, and interred in the cathedral
there, where a monument, with an inscription, is erected
to his memory. On the greatness of bishop Butler’s intellectual character we need not enlarge; for his profound
knowledge, and the prodigious strength of his mind, are
amply displayed in his incomparable writings. His piety
was of the most serious and fervent, and perhaps somewhat
of the ascetic kind. His benevolence was warm, generous,
and diffusive. Whilst he was bishop of Bristol, he expended, in repairing and improving the episcopal palace,
four thousand pounds, which is said to have been more
than the whole revenues of the bishopric amounted to,
during his continuance in that see. Indeed he used to say
that the deanery of St. Paul’s paid for it. Besides his
private benefactions, he was a contributor to the' Infirmary
at Bristol, and a subscriber to three of the Hospitals at
London. He was, likewise, a principal promoter, though
not the first founder, of the Infirmary at Newcastle, in
Northumberland. lu supporting the hospitality and
dignity of the rich and powerful diocese of Durham, he was
desirous of imitating the spirit of his patron, bishop Talbot. In this spirit, he set apart three clays every week for
the reception and entertainment of the principal gentry of
the country. Nor were even the clergy who had the
poorest benefices neglected by him. He not only occasionally invited them to dine with him, but condescended
to visit them at their respective parishes. By his will, he
left five hundred pounds to the society for propagating the
gospel in foreign parts, and some legacies to his friends
and domestics. His executor was his chaplain, the rev.
Dr. Nathaniel Forster, a divine of distinguished literature,
who was especially charged to destroy all his manuscript
sermons, letters, and papers. Bishop Butler was never
married. The bishop’s disposition, which had in it a natural ca’st of gloominess, was supposed to give a tincture
to his devotion. As a proof of this, and that he had even
acquired somewhat of a superstitious turn of mind, it was
alleged, that he had put a. cross in his chapel at Bristol.
The cross was a plain piece of marble inlaid. This circumstance, together with the offence which some persons had
taken at his charge delivered at Durham, might possibly
give rise to a calumny, that, almost fifteen years after his
death, was advanced concerning him, in an obscure and
anonymous pamphlet, entitled “The Root of Protestant
Errors examined.
” It was there said, that our prelate died
in the communion of the church of Rome. Of this absurd
and groundless charge, we shall take no other notice, than
to transcribe what the worthy and learned Dr. Porteus has
written concerning it, in his Life of Archbishop Seeker.
“This strange slander, founded on the weakest pretences
and most trivial circumstances that can be imagined, no
one was better qualified to confute than the archbishop;
as well from his long and intimate knowledge of bishop
Butler, as from the information given him at the time by
those who attended his lordship in his last illness, and
were with him when he died. Accordingly, by an article
in a newspaper, signed Misopseudes, his grace challenged
the author of that pamphlet to produce his authority for
what he had advanced; and in a second article defended
the bishop against him; and in a third (all with the same signature) confuted another writer, who, under the name
of ‘A real Protestant,’ still maintained that ridiculous
calumy. His antagonists were effectually subdued, and
his superiority to them was publicly acknowledged by a
sensible and candid man, who signed himself, and who
really was ‘A dissenting Minister.’ Surely, it is a very
unwise piece of policy, in those who profess themselves
enemies to popery, to take so much pains to bring the
most respectable names within its pale; and to give it the
merit of having gained over those who were the brightest
ornaments and firmest supports of the protestant cause.
”
irst of a learned family, was born at Camen, in Westphalia, in 1564, and became an eminent Calvinist divine, and professor of the Hebrew and Chaldaic languages at Basil,
, the first of a learned family, was
born at Camen, in Westphalia, in 1564, and became an
eminent Calvinist divine, and professor of the Hebrew and
Chaldaic languages at Basil, a situation which he filled
with great reputation until his death, in 1629. During
his Hebrew studies, he availed himself of the assistance
of the ablest Jews, and from them acquired a fondness for
rabbinical learning. The first of his works was his great
dictionary, entitled “Lexicon Chaldaicum, Talmudicum
et Rabbinicum,
” printed at Basil in Treasury of the Hebrew Grammar,
” 2 vols. 8vo. He
also printed a great Hebrew Bible at Basil, in 1618, 4 vols.
fol. with the Rabbins, the Chaldaic paraphrases, and the
Massora, after the manner of the great Bible of Venice;
but father Simon thinks it incorrect. To this Bible is
commonly added the Tiberias of the same author, which
is a commentary upon the Massora; where he explains at
large what the Rabbins think of it, and expounds in Latin
the terms of the Massora, which are very difficult. He
follows rabbi Elias the Levite, in his exposition of those
terms. He has also published “Synagoga Judaica,
” Bibliotheca of the Rabbins, a curious
work; but there have been since his time a great many
discoveries made in that part of learning. They who have a
mind to write Hebrew, may make use of the collection of
Hebrew letters, which he has published under the title of
” Institutio Epistolaris Hebraica,“1629, 8vo. He compiled also,
” Concordantia3 Hebraicse," published by his
son in 1632.
, a puritan divine of considerable eminence in the beginning of the seventeenth
, a puritan divine of considerable
eminence in the beginning of the seventeenth century,
was the son of Richard Byfield, minister of Stratford-uponAvon, and was born in Warwickshire about the year 1579.
He became a servitor of Exeter college, Oxford, in Lent
term 1596, and remained at the university upwards of
four years, but left it without taking a degree. He was
admitted, however, into holy orders, and was soon after
invited to be pastor of St. Peter’s church, Chester, which
he gladly accepted, and continued there for several years,
“much followed and admired,
” says Wood, “by the precise party, who esteemed his preaching profitable, and his
life pious.
” He was a strict observer of Sunday, on which
subject he preached and wrote, and this involved him in
a controversy, particularly with Edward Brerewood the
mathematician. (See Brerewood.) The observation of
the Sabbath was at this time a subject of much controversy, and many pamphlets were written on both sides,
with the warmth natural at a period of increasing religious
dissension. From Chester Mr. Byfield removed, in 1615,
to the vicarage of Isleworth, where he died in 1622,
leaving behind him an excellent character for learning,
success in his ministry, and a pious and peaceable disposition. He was the author of many popular works, which
are enumerated by Wood. Of these, his “Commentary
on the First Epistle of St. Peter,
” 1637, fol. and “on
Colossians,
” 1628, fol. are held in the highest estimation,
and confirm the character which Wood, somewhat reluctantly, gives of him. Dr. Gouge, of Blackfriars, who drew
up an account of his death, informs us that on his body
being opened, a stone was taken out of his bladder that
weighed thirty-three ounces; and was in length and
breadth about thirteen inches, and solid, like a flint. A
print of him was published by Richardson, in 1790, with
an account of this very remarkable case. The noted Adonrram Byfield, a zealous adherent to the commonwealth
revolution, was his son; and Richard Byfield, another
ejected non-conformist, was his half brother; but neither
had his meek, loyal, and submissive spirit. Adoniram
is one of the few persons who have been, by name, stigmatized by Butler in his “Hudibras.
” He was the father
of Dr. Byfield, the noted Sal volatile doctor, who in his
epitaph is said to be “Diu volatilis tandem Jfcms.
”
py Workman”——most of his Tales and Fables, and the paraphrase on the twenty-third psalm, entitled a “ Divine Pastoral.” In these there appears so much of the genuine spirit
The character of Byrom, as a poet, has been usually said
to rest on his pastoral of Colin and Phebe, which has been
universally praised for its natural simplicity; but, if we
inquire what it is that pleases in this poem, we shall probably find that it is not 4:he serious and simple expression
of a pastoral lover, but the air of delicate humour which
runs through the whole, and inclines us to think, contrary
to the received opinion, that he had no other object in
view. Much, therefore, as this piece has been praised, he
appears to have more fully established his character in
many of those poems written at a more advanced age, and
published for the first time, in two elegant volumes, at
Manchester, inl 1773, especially “The Verses spoken
extempore at the meeting of a Club
”——“The Astrologer
”
——“The Pond
”——“Contentment, or the Happy Workman
”——most of his Tales and Fables, and the paraphrase
on the twenty-third psalm, entitled a “Divine Pastoral.
”
In these there appears so much of the genuine spirit of
poetry, and so many approaches to excellence, that it would
be difficult even upon the principles of fastidious criticism,
and impossible upon those of comparison, to exclude Byrom from a collection of English poets. His muse is said
to have been so kind, that he always found it easier to express his thoughts in verse than in prose, and although this
preference appears in many cases where the gravity of
prose only ought to have been employed, yet merely as
literary curiosities, the entire works of Byrom appear to
deserve the place allotted to them in the late edition of the
English poets, 1810, 21 vols. 8vo.
, was born in 1525 at Montrichard in Touraine, of a poor family, and was at first a protestant divine, attached to Catherine of Bourbon, sister of Henry IV. but was
, was born
in 1525 at Montrichard in Touraine, of a poor family, and
was at first a protestant divine, attached to Catherine of
Bourbon, sister of Henry IV. but was deposed in a synod
on a charge of practising the arts of magic, and for having
written a book in favour of public stews. This sentence
accelerated his abjuration, which he delivered at Paris in
1595, and died in 1610, at the age of eighty-five, doctor
of Sorbonne, and professor of Hebrew in the college royal.
Caiet was of a kind and officious disposition, and was so
unfortunate as to have for his enemies all whom he had
obliged. His slovenly dress, his manner of life, and his
absurd attempts to discover the philosopher’s stone, drew
upon him no less contempt than his learning brought him
respect. Notwithstanding his humble and shabby exterior,
Henry IV. continued to admit him to court, not without
wishing, however, to avoid it, which he shewed by presenting him with a small estate in the country, a philosophical retreat sufficient to satisfy the ambition of a scholar.
The Calvinists, whom he had deserted, endeavoured to
expose his principles and conduct, and as after his abjuration he had had a conference with Du Moulin, this was a
fresh reason for their animosity. Caiet did not remain
silent, but published, in 1603, against Du Moulin, the
book emphatically entitled “The fiery Furnace, and the
reverberatory Furnace, for evaporating the pretended waters of Silofim (the title of Du Moulin’s work), and for
strengthening the fire of purgatory.
” The intimacy between the count de Soissons and the sister of Henry IV.
proceeded such lengths, that they ordered Caiet to marry
them immediately. On his refusal to do it, the prince
threatened to kill him. “Kill me then,
” replied Caiet;
“I had much rather die by the hand of a prince than by
that of the hangman.
”
Senensis tells us, that he was a most subtle logician, an admirable philosopher, and an incomparable divine. He wrote commentaries upon Aristotle’s philosophy, and upon
Sixtus Senensis tells us, that he was a most subtle logician, an admirable philosopher, and an incomparable
divine. He wrote commentaries upon Aristotle’s philosophy, and upon Thomas Aquinas’ s theology; the latter,
however, by no means calculated to give us a favourable
idea of his logic, or his perspicuity, He gave a literal
translation of all the books of the Old and New Testaments
from the originals, excepting Solomon’s Song and the Pro-'
phets, which he had begun, but did not live to proceed far
in; and the Revelations of St. John, which he designedly
omitted, saying, that to explain them, it was necessary for
a man to be endued, not with parts and learning, but with
the spirit of prophecy. Father Simon’s account of him,
as a translator of the Bible, is critical and historical: “Cardinal Cajetan,
” says he, “was very fond of translations of
the Bible purely literal; being persuaded, that the Scripture could not be translated too literally, it being the word
of God, to which it is expressly forbid either to add or
diminish any thing. This cardinal, in his preface to the
Psalms, largely explains the method he observed in his
translation of that book; and he affirms, that although heknew nothing of the Hebrew, yet he had translated part of
the Bible word for word from it. For this purpose he
made use of two persons, who understood the language
well, the one a Jew, the other a Christian, whom he desired to translate the Hebrew words exactly according to
the letter and grammar, although their translation might
appear to make no sense at all. I own, says he, that my
interpreters were often saying to me, this Hebrew diction
Is literally so; but then the sense will not be clear unless
it is changed so: to whom I, when I heard all the different
significations, constantly replied, Never trouble yourselves
about the sense, if it does not appear to you; because
is not your business to expound, but to interpret: do you
interpret it exactly as it lies, and leave to the expositors
the care of making sense of it.
” Cardinal Pullavicini, who
looked upon this as too bold, says, that Cajetan, “who
has succeeded to the admiration of the whole world in his
other works, got no reputation by what he did upon the
Bible, because he followed the prejudices of those who
stuck close to the Hebrew grammar.
” But father Simon
is of opinion that he “may in some measure be justified:
for he did not, says he, pretend to condemn the ancient
Latin translator, or the other translators of the Bible; but
would only have translations of the Bible to be made from
the original as literally as can be, because there are only
these originals, which can be called the pure word of God;
and because in translations, which are not literal, there are
always some things which do not thoroughly express the
original.
” These “Commentaries on the Holy Scriptures,
”
if they deserve the name, were published at Lyons in 5
vols. fol. 1639.
, an eminent nonconformist divine in the seventeenth century, was the sou of a citizen of London,
, an eminent nonconformist divine in the seventeenth century, was the sou of a citizen of London, and born there in February 1600. July 4, 1616, he was admitted of Pembroke-hall 5 in the university of Cambridge. In 1619, he took, the degree of bachelor of arts and in 1632, that of bachelor of divinity. He shewed himself very early no friend, to the Arminian party, which was the reason that he could not obtain a fellowship in that society, even when he seemed to be entitled to it from his standing, as well as from his learning and unblemished character. At last, however, he so far conquered all prejudices, that he was elected Tanquam Socius of that hall, which entitled him to wear the cap, and take pupils, but he had no share in the government of the house. Dr. Felton, the pious and learned bishop of Ely, had so great a regard to his diligence in study, and unaffected zeal for religion, that he made him his chaplain, and paid him, during his residence in his family, uncommon marks of respect. His lordship gave him likewise, as a farther mark of his favour, the vicarage of St. Mary’s in Swaffham- Prior, in Cambridgeshire, in which capacity he did much good, though he diid not reside on his cure by reason of its small distance from the episcopal place. But after the death of the bishop in 1626, Mr. Calamy being chosen one of- th$; lecturers of St. Edmund’s-Bury, in Suffolk, he resigned his vicarage, and applied himself wholly to the discharge of his function at Bury. He continued there ten years, and, as some writers say, was during the greatest part of that time a strict conformist. Others, and indeed himself, say the contrary. The truth seems to be, that he was unwilling to oppose ceremonies, or to create a disturbance in the church about them, so long as this might, in, his opinion, be avoided with a safe conscience; but when bishop Wren’s articles, and the reading of the book of sports, came to be insisted on, he thought himself obliged to alter his conduct, and not only avoid conforming for the future, but also to apologize publicly for his former behaviour. He caine now to be considered as an active nonconformist, and being in great favour with the earl of Essex, he presented him to the living of Rochford in Essex, a rectory of considerable value, and yet it proved a fatal present to Mr. Calamy; for, removing from one of the best and wholesomest airs in England, that of St. Edmund’sbury, into the hundreds of Essex, he contracted such an illness as broke his constitution, and left behind it a dizziness in his head, which he complained of as long as he Jived. Upon the death of Dr. Stoughton, he was chosen minister of St. Mary Aldermanbury, which brought him tip to London, 1639. The controversy concerning churchgovernment was tlu n at its greatest height, in which Mr. Calainy had a very large share. In the month of July 1639, he was incorporated of the university of Oxford, which, however, did not take him off from the party in which he was engaged. In 1640 he was concerned in writing that famous book, called Smectymnuus, which himself says, gave the first deadly blow to episcopacy, and therefore we find frequent references to it in all the defences and apologies for nonconformity which have been since published. In 1641 he was appointed by the house of lords a member of the sub-committee for religion, which consisted of very eminent divines, whose conduct, however, has been differently censured. He made a great figure in the assembly of divines, though he is not mentioned in Fuller’s catalogue, and distinguised himself both by his learning and moderation. He likewise preached several times before the house of commons, for which his memory has been very severely treated. He was at the same time one of the Cornhill lecturers, and no man had a greater interest in the city of London, in consequence of his ministerial abilities. He preached constantly in his own parish church for twenty years to a numerous audience, composed of the most eminent citizens, and even persons of great quality. He steadily and strenuously opposed the sectaries, and gave many pregnant instances of his dislike to those violences which were committed afterwards, on the king’s being brought from the Isle of Wight, He opposed the beheading of his sovereign king Charles I. with constancy ^ncl courage. Under the usurpation of Cromwell he was passive, and lived as privately as he could; yet he gave no reason to suspect that he was at all a well-wisher to that government. When the times afforded a favourable opportunity, he neglected not promoting the return of king Charles II. and actually preached before the house of commons on the day they voted that great question, which, however, has not hindered some from suggesting their suspicions of his loyally. After this step was taken, he, Mr. Ash, and other eminent divines were sent over to compliment the king in Holland, by whom they were extremely well received. When his majesty was restored, Mr. Calainy retained still a considerable share in his favour, and in June 1660, was appointed one of his chaplains in ordinary, and was offered the bishopric, of Coventry and Litchfield, which he refused. When the convocation came to be chosen, he and Mr. Baxter were elected, May 2, 1661, for London; but the bishop of that diocese having the power of chusing two out of four, or four out of six, elected within a certain circuit, Dr. Sheldon, who was then bishop, was so kind as to excuse both of them; which, perhaps, was owing to the share they had in the Savoy conference. After the miscarrying of that design, Mr. Calamy made use of all his interest to procure the passing of an act agreeable to the king’s declaration at Breda: but when this was frustrated, and the act of uniformity passed, he took a resolution of submitting to ejection, and accordingly preached his farewel sermon at Aldermanbury, August 17, 1662. He made, however, a last effort three days afterwards, by presenting a petition to his majesty to continue in the exercise of his ministerial office. This petition was signed by many of the London clergy, and Dr. Man ton and Dr. Bates assisted at the presenting it, when Mr; Calamy made a long and moving speech; but neither it nor the petition had any good effect, though the king expressed himself in favour of toleration. He remained, however, in his parish, and came constantly to church, though another was in the pulpit, which proved an occasion of much t;rouble to him for on December 28, 1662, the expected preacher not coming in time, some of the principal persons in the parish prevailed upon Mr. Calamy to supply his place, which, with some importunity, he did; but delivered himself with such freedom, that he was soon after, by the lord mayor’s warrant, committed to Newgate for his sermon. But the case itself being thought hard, and some doubt arising how far the commitment was legal, his majesty in a few days discharged him. He lived to see London in ashes, the sight of which broke his heart. He was driven through the ruins in a coach to Enfield, and was so shocked at the dismal appearance, that he could never wear off the impression, but kept his chamber ever after, and died October 29, 1666, within two naonths after this accident happened. He was, though a very learned man, yet a plain and practical preacher, and one who was not afraid to speak his sentiments freely of and to the greatest; men . He was twice married. By his first wife he had a son and daughter; and by his second seven children, some of whom we shall have occasion to mention in succeeding articles.
, an eminent divine of the church of England, was the son of Mr. Edmund Calamy,
, an eminent divine of the church
of England, was the son of Mr. Edmund Calamy, minister
of Aldermanbury before-mentioned, by a second wife, and
received the first tincture of learning at St. Paul’s school,
from whence he was sent, when very young, to the university of Cambridge, and there entered of Catherine-hall.
In 1664-5, he took the degree of bachelor of arts; in
1668, that of master of arts, and became also fellow of that
hall, and a very eminent tutor there. April 25, 1677, he
was chosen in the room of Dr. Simon Ford, minister of St.
Mary Aldermanbury; and soon after appointed one of his
majesty’s chaplains in ordinary. In 1680, he took his degree of doctor in divinity. In 1683, he preached in that
church his famous sermon, which he afterwards published
under the title of “A Discourse about a Scrupulous Conscience,
” than which no piece of its kind or size gamed
more credit to its author, or was more taken notice of by
the public. This sermon he preached a second time at
Bow church with great effect, and this excited a zealous
nonconformist, one Mr. Thomas De Laune, who had been
formerly a schoolmaster, to write against it; which he did
in such a manner as drew upon him a fatal imprisonment,
which he endeavoured by all means to ascribe to Dr. Calamy, though his complaints on this head had little or no
foundation. In 1683, Dr. Calamy was admitted to the
vicarage of St. Lawrence Jewry, with St. Mary Magdalen
Milk-street annexed, to which he was collated by the dean
and chapter of St. Paul’s, in the room of Dr. Benjamin
Whichcot. June 18, 1685, he was, on the decease of Dr.
John Wells, installed into the prebend of Harleston, in the
cathedral church of St. Paul. These preferments are
abundant proofs of his merit, and of his great interest in
the city of London, which he maintained, not by attaching
himself to any party, but by living in great intimacy with
the best men of all parties. He was particularly acquainted
with alderman Cornish, who was his parishioner, and for
whom he had so great a respect, that he gave testimony in
his favour when he was tried for high-treason, October 16,
1685, which was no ordinary mark of friendship in those
times. It is thought, that a sense of public calamities had
a great share in bringing his last illness upon our author,
who fell into a declining state in the autumn of the year
last mentioned, and died of a pleuritic fever in the month
of January 1686. He was a man equally valuable for the
abilities which he possessed, and the uses to which he
applied them. He was a sincere son of the church of England, and very intent on gaining over dissenters of all sorts
to her communion; and had an extensive charity, and a
just aversion to persecution. He was heartily loyal, but
without bitterness or passion; and his loyalty occasioned
his grief, when he saw those steps taken which could end
in nothing but public confusion. His own virtues, however, exempted him in a great measure from envy and
scandal, even in the worst of times; insomuch, that the
greatest men of all sects and all parties readily joined in
paying a just tribute of praise to his memory. Though
few in his situation were either better or more frequent
preachers, yet he left behind him very little in print. Some
sermons of his were after his decease, published by his
brother, which served only to raise a great regret in the
world, as that so many more of his excellent performances
were buried in oblivion. His sermons are still valued as
well for the beauty of their language as the excellent sentiments contained in them.
, a very eminent divine among the nonconformists, grandson to Mr. Edmund Calamy, minister
, a very eminent divine among the
nonconformists, grandson to Mr. Edmund Calamy, minister
of Aldermanbury, by his eldest son Mr. Edmund Calamy
(who was ejected out of the living of Moreton in Essex, on St. Bartholomew’s day, 1662), was born April 5, 1671.
Having made a considerable progress in grammar learning
at several private schools, and under Mr. Hartcliffe at Merchant Taylors, where he contracted a close friendship with
Mr. Dawes, afterwards sir William Dawes, and archbishop
of York, as also with Mr. Hugh Boulter, the primate of
Ireland, he went through a course of logic, natural philosophy, and metaphysics, under the tuition of Mr. Samuel
Craddock at the academy kept by him at Wickham Brook
in Suffolk. In March 1688, he went over to the university of Utrecht, where he studied philosophy under De
Vries, and civil law under Vander Muyden, and attended
Graevius’s lectures upon Sophocles and Puffendorf’s Introduction. His application to his studies at this place
was so great, that he spent one whole night every week
among his books; and his proficiency gained him -the
friendship of two of his countrymen at that university, who
rose afterwards to very high stations in church and state,
lord Charles Spencer, the famous earl of Sunderland, and
his tutor Mr. Charles Trimnell, afterwards successively
bishop of Norwich and of Winchester, with both of whom
he kept up his acquaintance as long as he and they lived.
Whilst he resided in Holland, an oiler of a professor’s chair
in the university of Edinburgh was made him by Mr. Carstairs, principal of that university, sent over on purpose to
find a person properly qualified lor such an office; which
he declined, and returned to England in 1691, bringing
with him letters from Graevius to Dr. Pocock, canon of
Christ-church, and regius professor of Hebrew, and to Dr.
Edward Bernard, Savilian professor of astronomy, who obtained leave for him to prosecute his studies in the Bodleian
library; and his resilience at Oxford procured him the acquaintance of the learned Mr. Henry Dodvvell. Having
resolved to make divinity his principal study, he entered
into an examination of the controversy between the conformists and nonconformists, and was led to join the latter.
Coming to London in 1692, he was unanimously chosen
assistant to Mr. Matthew Sylvester at Blackfriars; and oa
June 22, 1694, was ordained at Mr. Annesley’s meetinghouse in Little St. Helen’s, which was the first public transaction of the kind, after the passing of the act of uniformity, and was not undertaken without some timidity on
the part of the elder nonconformists, such as Mr. Howe
and Dr. Bates, who seemed afraid of giving offence to government. Six other young ministers were ordained at
the same time, and the ceremony lasted from ten o'clock
in the morning to six in the evening. He was soon after
invited to become assistant to Mr. Daniel Williams in
Hand-alley, Bishupsgate-street. Oct. 20, 1702, he was chosen
one of the lecturers at Salters’-lmll, and in 1703 succeeded
Mr. Vincent Alsop, as pastor of v. congregation in Westminster. He drew up the table of contents to Mr. Baxter’s
History of his life and times, which was sent to the press
in 1696, made some remarks on the work itself, and added
to it an index; and reflecting on the usefulness of the
book, he saw the expediency of continuing it, for Mr.
Baxter’s history came no lower than 1684. Accordingly
he composed an abridgment of it; with an account of many
others of those ministers who were ejected after the restoration of Charles II. their apology for themselves and their
adherents; containing the grounds of their nonconformity
and practice, as to stated and occasional communion witlx
the church of England; and a continuation of their history
till the year 1691. This work was published in 1702. The
following year Mr. Hoadly (afterwards bishop of
Winchckter) published the two parts of his “Reasonableness of
Conformity to the Church of England, &c. in answer to Mr.
Calamy’s Abridgement of Mr. Baxter’s history, &c.
” As a
reply to these treatises, Mr. Calamy published the same
year, “A Defence of moderate Nonconformity;
” and soon
after Mr. Hoadly sent abroad, “A serious admonition to
Mr Calamy,
” occasioned by the first part of his “Defence,
of moderate Nonconformity.
”
, a famous divine of the church of Scotland, and a distinguished writer in behalf
, a famous divine of the
church of Scotland, and a distinguished writer in behalf
of the presbyterians, was descended of a good family in
that kingdom, and born in 1575. Being early designed
for the ministry, he applied with great diligence to the
study of the scriptures in their original tongues, the works
of the fathers, the councils, and the best writers of church
history. He was settled, about 1604, at Crailing, not far
from Jedburgh, in the south of Scotland. James VI. of
that country, and the first of Great Britain, being desirous
of bringing the church of Scotland to a near conformity
with that of England, laboured earnestly to restore the
episcopal authority, and enlarge the powers of the bishops
in that kingdom; but this design was very warmly opposed
by many of the ministers, and particularly by David Calderwood, who, when James Law, bishop of Orkney, came
to visit the presbyteries of the Merse and Teviotdale, declined his jurisdiction, by a paper under his hand, dated
May 5, 1603. The king, however, having its success
much at heart, sent the earl of Dunbar, then high-treasurer of Scotland, Dr. Abbot, afterwards archbishop of
Canterbury, and two other divines, into that kingdom,
with instructions to employ every method to persuade both
the clergy and the laity, of his majesty’s sincere desire to
promote the good of the church, and of his zeal for the
Protestant religion, in which they succeeded. Calderwood, however, did not assist at the general assembly held at
Glasgow, June 8, 1610, in which lord Dunbar presided as
commissioner; and it appears from his writings, that he
looked upon every thing transacted in it as null and void.
Exceptions were also taken by him and his party, against
a great part of the proceedings of another general assembly >
held with much solemnity at Aberdeen, Aug. 13, 1616.
In May following, king James went to Scotland, and in
June held a parliament at Edinburgh; at the same time
the clergy met in one of the churches, to hear and advise with the bishops; which kind of assembly, it seems,
was contrived in imitation of the English convocation. Mr.
Calderwood was present at it, but declared publicly that
he did not take any such meetings to resemble a convocation; and being opposed by Dr. Whitford and Dr. Hamilton, who were friends to the bishops, he took his leave
of them in these words: “It is absurd to see men sitting
in silks and satins, and to cry poverty in the kirk, when
purity is departing.
” The parliament proceeded mean
while in the dispatch of business; and Calderwood, with
several other ministers, being informed that a bill was depending to empower the king, with advice of the archbishops, bishops, and such a number of the ministry as his
majesty should think proper, to consider and conclude, as
to matters decent for the external policy of the church,
not repugnant to the word of God; and that such conclusions should have the strength and power of ecclesiastical
laws: against this they protested for four reasons: 1. Because their church was so perfect, that, instead of needing
reformation, it might be a pattern to others. 2. General
assemblies, as now established by law, and which ought
always to continue, might by this means be overthrown.
3. Because it might be a means of creating schism, and
disturb the tranquillity of the church. 4. Because they
had received assurances, that no attempts should be made
to bring them to a conformity with the church of England.
They desired, therefore, that for these and other reasons,
all thoughts of passing any such law may be laid aside; but
in case this be not done, they protest, for themselves and
their brethren who shall adhere to them, that they can
yield no obedience to this law when it shall be enacted,
because it is destructive of the liberty of the church; and
therefore shall submit to such penalties, and think
themselves obliged to undergo such punishments, as may be
inflicted for disobeying that law. This protest was signed
by Archibald Simpson, on behalf of the members, who subscribed another separate roll, which he kept for his justification. It was delivered to Peter Hewet, who had a seat
in parliament, in order to be presented; and another copy
remained in Simpson’s hands, to be presented in case of
any accident happening to the other. The affair making
a great noise, Dr. Spotswood, archbishop of St. Andrew’s,
asked a sight of the protest from Hewet, one day at court
and, upon some dispute between them, it was torn. The
other copy was actually presented by Simpson to the
clerk register, who refused to read it before the states in
parliament. However, the protest, though not read, had
its effect; for although the bill before-mentioned, or, as
the Scottish phrase is, the article, had the consent of parliament, yet the king thought fit to cause it to be laid
aside; and not long after called a general assembly at St.
Andrew’s. Soon after, the parliament was dissolved, and
Simpson was summoned before the high commission court,
where the roll of names which he had kept for his justification, was demanded from him; and upon his declaring
that he had given it to Harrison, who had since delivered
it to Calderwood, he was sent prisoner to the castle of
Edinburgh; and Calderwood was summoned to appear before the high commission court at St. Andrew’s, on the 8th
of July following, to exhibit the said protest, and to answer for his mutinous and seditious behaviour.
, a learned divine of the sixteenth century, otherwise named Calfield, Cawfield,
, a learned divine of
the sixteenth century, otherwise named Calfield, Cawfield,
Chalfhill, or Calfed, was born in Shropshire, in 1530.
Strype, however, says he was a Scotchman, and cousin to
Toby Malhew, afterwards archbishop of York. He received his education at Eton school, and from thence was
sent, in 1545, to King’s college in Cambridge, from which
he was removed, with many Other Cambridge men, in 1548,
to Christ Church in Oxford, newly founded by king Henry
VIII. Here be shewed himself to be a person of quick
wit and great capacity; being an excellent poet and author of a tragedy, with other theatrical performances. In
1549, he took his degree of bachelor of arts; and that of
master in 1552, being junior of the act celebrated in St.
Mary’s church, July 18. He was made, in 1560, canon of
the second canonry in Christ Church cathedral, Oxon; and,
On the 12th of December 1561, took the degree of bachelor
of divinity. In 1562 he was proctor for the clergy of London and the chapter of Oxford in the convocation that
made the XXXIX Articles and on the 16th of May, the
same year, was admitted to the rectory of St. Andrew
Wardrobe, London. The 4th of October following, he
was presented by the crown to the prebend of St. Pancras,
in the cathedral church of St. Paul; and May 4, 1565, was
collated by Matthew Parker, archbishop of Canterbury, to
the rectory of Booking, in Essex; and on July 16th following, to the archdeaconry of Colchester in Essex, by
Edmund Grindal, bishop of London. The same year, December 17th, he took the degree of doctor in divinity. In
1568, he preached two sermpns in Bristol cathedral, on purpose to confute Dr. Cheney, who held that see in commendam, and who had spoken disrespectfully of certain opinions of Luther and Calvin. In 1569 he made application
to secretary Cecil, chancellor of the university of Cambridge, for the provostship of king’s college, but Dr.
Goad’s interest prevailed. Upon the translation of.Dr. Edwin Sandys from the bishopric of Worcester to that of
London in 1570, Dr. Calfhiil was nominated by queen
Elizabeth to succeed him 3 but before his consecration he
died, about the beginning of August (having a little before resigned his canonry of Christ Church, and rectory of St. Andrew Wardrobe), and was buried in the chancel of
Bocking church. His works were, 1. “Querela Oxoniensis Academise ad Cantabrigiam,
” Lond. Historia de exhumatione Catherines nuper
uxoris Pet. Martyris;
” or, The History of the digging up
the body of Catherine late wife of Peter Martyr, Lond.
1562, 8vo. The remains of this lady had been deposited
in the cathedral of Christ Church, near to the relics of St.
Frideswide, and in queen Mary’s reign were dug up and
buried in the dunghill near the stables belonging to the
dean; but on the accession of queen Elizabeth, an order
was given to replace them with suitable solemnity. This
order our author partly executed, and the remains of
Martyr’s wife were on this occasion purposely mixed with
those of St. Frideswide, that the superstitious worshippers
of the latter might never be able to distinguish or separate
them. 3. Answer to John Martiall’s “Treatise of the Cross,
gathered out of the Scriptures, Councils, and ancient Fathers of the primitive Church,
” Lond. Progne,
” a tragedy, in Latin; whichprobably was never
printed. It was acted before que^n Elizabeth at Oxford
in 1566, in Christ Church hall; but, says Wood, “it did
not take half so well as the much admired play of Palsemon
and Arcyte,
” written by Edwards. 5. “Poemata varia.
”
As to his character, we are informed, that he was in his
younger days a noted poet and comedian and in his elder,
an exact disputant, and had an excellent faculty in speaking and preaching. One who had heard him preach, gives
this account of him: “His excellent tongue, and rhetorical tale, tilled with good and wholesome doctrine, so
ravished the minds of the hearers, that they were all in
admiration of his eloquence.
” One John Calfhill, chaplain to Dr. Matthew, archbishop of York, a prebendary of
Durham, &c. who died in 1619, was probably son to our
author.
, an eminent Lutheran divine, was born at Medelbui, in Holstein, Dec. 14, 1586. His father,
, an eminent Lutheran divine, was born at Medelbui, in Holstein, Dec. 14, 1586. His father, who was also a minister, intended him for the same profession, and sent him to study at Helmstadt, Jena, and Giessen, and most of the protestant schools of Germany. He travelled also with Matthias Overbeck, a rich Lutheran, who resided in Holland, and conceiving a high opinion of Calixtus, became his liberal patron, as he had been to Herman Conringius and many others. After travelling also in France and England, Calixtus returned to Germany, and was appointed professor of theology at Helmstadt in 1614, and there he died, March 18, 1656, after a long theological warfare, both with his brethren and the Roman catholic, excited by his endeavours to effect a comprehension between the Roman and the Lutheran and Calvinist churches. According to Mosheim, Calixtus was the first person that reduced theology into a regular system, and gave it a truly scientific and philosophical form. As he had imbibed the spirit of the Aristotelian school, he arranged the substance of Christianity according to the method of the Stagirite; and divided the whole science of divinity into three parts, viz. the end, the subject, and the means. He was also the first who separated the objects of faith from the duties of morality, and exhibited the latter under the form of an independent science. These innovations rendered him the object of much censure and opposition. In his attempt to reunite the several bodies of Christians, and to comprehend " the different churches in one profession of religion, he was a principal promoter of that system which was called syncretism. The controversy which was thus occasioned, subsisted long after his death; and though he seemed, in his efforts for comprehension, to give advantage to the Romish church, no one attacked its tyranny and corruption with greater vigour. Mosheim has entered largely into his system and the consequence of it, but it appears to us to be in some parts inconsistent; and experience has shewn that all plans of comprehension are impracticable, without such sacrifices as the respective parties either cannot or will not make. His writings, which are extremely numerous, on various subjects of controversy, are enumerated by Freher, but without the necessary appendages of size, dates, &c.
the son of Jupiter/* He thus coarsely expostulated with Alexander on the absurdity of his expecting divine honours, and he became insupportable to the youthful hero.
, a Greek philosopher and historian,
was a native of Olinthus, and the disciple and relation of
Aristotle, by whose advice he accompanied Alexander in
his expeditions. Aristotle gave him to his scholar, that he
might moderate the fury of his passions; but Callisthenes
was too deficient in the arts of a courtier to render truth
sufficiently palatable to the prince. His animadversions
on him were probably conveyed in repulsive language, and
he is said to have placed his writings far above the conquests of the king of Macedon, who ought, said he, “to
look for immortality more from his books than from the
madness of being the son of Jupiter/* He thus coarsely
expostulated with Alexander on the absurdity of his expecting divine honours, and he became insupportable to
the youthful hero. Callisthenes being accused, in the
year 328 before the Christian aera, of conspiring against
the life of Alexander, the prince eagerly seized that opportunity for getting rid of his censor.
” This conqueror (says the historian Justin), irritated against the philosopher Callisthenes for boldly disapproving his resolution to make himself
adored after the manner of the kings of Persia, pretended
to believe that he had engaged in a conspiracy against
him; and made use of this pretext for cruelly causing his
lips, his nose, and his ears to be cut off. In this mutilated
condition he had him drawn in his retinue, shut up with a
dog in an iron cage, to make him an object of horror and
affright to his army. Lysimachus, a disciple of this virtuous man, moved at beholding him languish in a misery he
had brought on himself only by a laudable frankness, procured him poison, which at once delivered him from his
exquisite torments and such unmerited indignity. Alexander, being informed of it, was so transported with rage,
that he caused Lysimachus to be exposed to the fury of
a hungry lion, The brave man, on seeing the beast approach to devour him, folded his cloak round his arm,
plunged it down his throat, and, tearing out his tongue,
stretched him dead upon the spot. An exploit so courageous struck the king with an admiration that disarmed his
wrath, and made Lysimachus more dear to him than ever.“
There are, however, other accounts of his death, but all
of them sufficiently shocking. It is reported that Alexander caused these words to be engraved on the tomb of
Callisthenes:
” Gdi Sophistam Qui Sibi Non Sapit." In
the seventh volume of Memoirs of the academy of belles
lettres of Paris may be seen some curious researches on
the life and writings of this philosopher by the abbe Sevin.
The philosophers that succeeded Callisthenes thought it
their duty (says M. Hardion) to avenge their brother by
launching out into furious declamations against the memory
of Alexander, whose criminality, according to Seneca, was
never to be effaced, because he was the murderer of Callisthenes.
, a celebrated Lutheran divine, and one of the ablest opponents of the Socinians of his time,
, a celebrated Lutheran divine,
and one of the ablest opponents of the Socinians of his
time, was born Aug. 16, 1612, at Morungen in the duchy
of Brunswick, where his father was a man of some consequence. Having finished his studies, and especially distinguished himself by his knowledge in oriental languages,
he came to Rostock, where, in 1637, he took his doctor’s
degree in divinity, and some time after was made professor
of that faculty. He was very rigid in adhering to the Lutheran tenets, and the firmness he displayed in a controversy with John Bergius, a protestant divine, on the
subject of the Lord’s supper, occasioned his being appointed
visitor of the churches and schools of the circle of Samlande
in Prussia, and counsellor in the court of justice. In 1643
he was invited to Dantzic, and made rector of the college.
He carried on several controversies, especially with Martin
Statins, a Lutheran deacon, with Henry Nicolai, professor
of philosophy, and with John Cæsar, a protestant minister
of Dantzic. In 1650 he was appointed professor of divinity
at Wittemberg, and became one of the warmest opponents
of the comprehending system proposed by Calixtus (see Calixtus), and the partizans of the respective combatants
were called Calixtins and Calovians. This dispute, conducted with much intemperance on both sides, lasted until
his death, Feb. 20, 1686. His principal works, exclusive
of those he wrote against Bergius, Nicolai, and Calixtus,
were, 1. “Metaphysica divina, etaliascriptaphilosopbica.
”
2. “Criticus sacer Biblicus.
” 3. “Socinianismus profligatus.
” 4. “Systema locorum theologicorum.
” 5. “Conlideratio Arminianismi.
” 6. “Biblia iilustrata,
” a German
Bible with Luther’s notes. His “Historia Syncretistica,
”
first published in
ist in the Eucharist; that true Christians were united to the man Christ in this ordinance; and that divine grace was conferred upon them, and sealed to them, in the celebration
The character of Calvin, like that of Luther, and the other more eminent reformers, has been grossly calumniated by the adherents of popery, but the testimonies in its favour are too numerous to permit us for a moment to doubt that he was not only one of the greatest, but one of the best men of his time, and the deduction which necessarily must be made from this praise, with respect to his conduct towards Servetus and others, must at the same time in candour be referred to the age in which he lived, and in which the principles of toleration were not understood . On the other hand his uncommon talents have been acknowledged not only by the most eminent persons of his age, but by all who have studied his works, or have traced the vast and overpowering influence he possessed in every country in Europe, where the work of reformation was carrying on. Every society, every church, every district, every nation that had in any degree adopted the principles of the reformers, were glad to consult and correspond with Calvin on the steps they were to pursue. The court of England in particular, Edward VI. queen Elizabeth, archbishop Cranmer, and the leading prelates and reformers here, expressed their high respect for him, and frequently asked and followed his advice. In France perhaps he was yet more consulted, and at Geneva he was an ecclesiastical dictator, whose doctrines and discipline became the regular church establishment, and were afterwards adopted and still remain in full force in Scotland. Calvinism was also extensively propagated in Germany, the United Provinces, and England. In France it was abolished, as well as every other species of protestantism, by the revocation of the edict >f Nantz in 1685. During the reign of Edward VI. it entered much into the writings of the eminent divines of that period; in queen Elizabeth’s time, although many of her' divines were of the same sentiments, it was discouraged as far as it showed itself in a dislike of the ceremonies, habits, &c. of the church. In the early part of Charles Ts time it was yet more discouraged, Arminiamsm being the favourite system of Laud; but during the interregnum it revived in an uncommon degree, and was perhaps the persuasion of the majority of the divines of that period, all others having been silenced and thrown out of their livings by the power of parliament. How far it now exists in the church of England, in her articles and homilies, has recently been the subject of a very long and perhaps undecided controversy, into which it is not our intention to enter, nor could we, indeed, make the attempt within any moderate compass. One excellent effect of this controversy has been to inform those of the real principles of Calvinism, who have frequently used that word to express a something which they did not understand. Perhaps it would be well if the word itself were less used, and the thing signified referred to the decision of more than human authority. It may be added, however, that the distinguishing theological tenets of Calvinism, as the term is now generally applied, respect the doctrines of Predestination, or particular Election and Reprobation, original Sin, particular Redemption, effectual, or, as some have called it, irresistible Grace in Regeneration, Justification by faith, Perseverance, and the Trinity. Besides the doctrinal part of Calvin’s system, which, so far as it differs from that of other reformers of the same period, principally regarded the absolute decree of God, whereby the future and eternal condition of the human race was determined out of mere sovereign pleasure and free-will; it extended likewise to the discipline and government of the Christian church, the nature of the Eucharist, and the qualification of those who were entitled to the participation of it. Calvin considered every church as a separate and independent body, invested with the power of legislation for itself. He proposed that it should be governed by presbyteries and synods, composed of clergy and laity, without bishops, or any clerical subordination; and maintained, that the province of the civil magistrate extended only to its protec-r tion and outward accommodation. In order to facilitate an union with the Lutheran church, he acknowledged a Vol. VIII. H renl, though spiritual, presence of Christ in the Eucharist; that true Christians were united to the man Christ in this ordinance; and that divine grace was conferred upon them, and sealed to them, in the celebration of it: and he confined the privilege of communion to pious and regenerate believers. In France the Calvinists are distinguished by the name of Huguenots; and, among the common people, by that of Parpaillots. In Germany they are confounded with the Lutherans, under the general title Protestants; only sometimes distinguished by the name Reformed.
as such, that those only who saw him near, and knew how sacred he held the duty of submission to the divine will, and the selfcommand this produced, could form any idea
“This principle. of piety led him also to bear afflictions
in the most exemplary manner. Whatever trials or deprivations he experienced through life, he always met with
fortitude, and his demeanour under the losses which hft
was ordained to suffer in his own family, was such, that
those only who saw him near, and knew how sacred he
held the duty of submission to the divine will, and the
selfcommand this produced, could form any idea how poignantly they were felt.
”
, a very learned divine of the church of Scotland, and principal and professor of divinity
, a very learned divine of the church of Scotland, and principal and professor of divinity of the Marischal college, Aberdeen, was born in that city Dec. 25, 1719. His father, the rev. Colin Campbell, who was one of the ministers of Aberdeen, and a man of primitive piety and worth, died in 1728. George, the subject of this article, who was his youngest son, was educated in the grammar-school of his native city, and afterwards in Marischal college, but appears to have originally intended to follow the profession of the law, and for thatpurpose served an apprenticeship to a writer of the signet in Edinburgh. By what inducements he was made to alter his purpose we are not told; but in 1741 he began to study divinity at the university of Edinburgh, and continued the same pursuit both in King’s college and Marischal college, Aberdeen and here he delivered, with great approbation, those discourses, which are usually prescribed to students of divinity in the Scotch universities. After studying the usual number of years at the divinity hall, he was, according to the practice of the Scotch church, proposed to the Synod; and having undergone the ordinary trials before the presbytery of Aberdeen, was licensed as a probationer, or preacher of the gospel, on the llth of June, 1746. In this rank he remained two years, before he obtained a settlement in the church of Scotland, but at the end of that period was presented to the church of Banchory Ternan, about seventeen miles west from Aberdeen, and was ordained June 2, 1748.
every thing that he should do, as a reader of sacred or church history, a biblical critic, a polemic divine, a pulpit orator, a minister of a parish, and a member of the
Dr. Campbell continued for twelve years to discharge
the offices of principal of Marischal college-, and of one of
the ministers of Aberdeen. In the former capacity he was
equally esteemed by the professors and students; as he
united great learning to a conduct strictly virtuous, and to
manners equally gentle and pleasant. lit the latter office
he lived in the greatest harmony with his colleagues, over
whom he affected no superiority; and by all his hearers
was esteemed as a worthy man, a good preacher, and one
of the best lecturers they had ever heard. In lecturing,
indeed, he excelled, while he rarely composed sermons, but preached from a few, and sometimes without
any notes. Yet his discourses on particular occasions,
were such as maintained his reputation. In June 1771,
he was, on a vacancy by resignation, elected professor of
divinity in Marischal college. This appointment was attended with the resignation of his pastoral charge, as one
of the ministers of Aberdeen; but as minister of Gray
Friars, an office conjoined to the professorship, he had to
preach once every Sunday in one of the churches, and
besides this, had the offices both of principal and professor of divinity to discharge. In the latter office he increased the times of instructing his pupils, so thak they
heard nearly double the number of lectures which were
usual with his predecessors, and he so arranged his subjects, that every student who chose to attend regularly
during the shortest period prescribed by the laws of the
church, might hear a complete course of lectures on thelgy embracing, under the theoretical part, every thing
that the student of divinity should know; and under the
practical branch, every thing that he should do, as a
reader of sacred or church history, a biblical critic, a polemic divine, a pulpit orator, a minister of a parish, and a
member of the church courts on the Scotch establishment.
Some idea may be formed of the value of his labours, by
the canons of scripture criticism, and a few other
prelections on the same subject, which are included in preliminary dissertations/printed along with his “Translation of the
Gospels,
” and by the “Lectures
” published after his death.
In Philosophy of
Rhetoric,
” which established his reputation as an excellent
grammarian, an accurate and judicious critic, a scholar of
delicate imagination and taste, and a philosopher of great
acuteness and deep penetration. Our author also published a few occasional sermons, which were much admired, but not equally. That “On the Spirit of the Gospel,
”
of the Gospel, marking the extremes of superstition and enthusiasm; and both as a philosopher and a divine, declare the nature, extent, and importance of the duty of allegiance.
In his seventy-second year, he was seized with a severe
illness, from which he unexpectedly recovered, and though
his bodily strength was impaired, resumed his former occupations. Some years before his death, he made. a dis^
interested and unsolicited offer of resigning his professorship of divinity, provided that any one of three gentlemen
whom he named, and to whom he applied for their consent,
should succeed him; but this offer not being accepted by
the patrons of the professorship, he continued to hold his
office, lest an improper person should in his life-time be
chosen as his successor. But afterwards application was made
to him, and also to the patrons of the professorship, in Lehalf
of Dr. William Laurence Brown, late minister of the English
church, and professor of moral philosophy, &c. in the university of Utrecht. This gentleman had been driven from
these offices by the French invasion of Holland, on account
of his attachment to the house of Orange, and his native
country; and because, in some of his writings, he had
opposed the progress of French principles, and maintained
the cause of religion. Dr. Campbell, knowing the excellence of his character, instantly resigned the offices of
professor of divinity, and minister of Gray Friars church,
which were worth 160l. a year, and soon after his resignation, government, desirous of testifying in a public manner, the high respect so justly entertained of his abilities
and services, offered him, on condition of resigning the
principalship of Marischal college, a pension of 300l. a
year. Dr. Campbell accepted this token of his majesty’s
munificence, and was succeeded in the office of principal
also by Dr. Brown. This pension, however, he did not
long live to enjoy, though he continued writing till within
a week of his death; an event which he expected with
great tranquillity and composure. On the 31st of March,
1796, after some previous symptoms of uneasiness, he was
struck with the palsy, which deprived him of speech, and
under which he languished for a few days till he died.
He had long accustomed himself to prepare for death; and
in a former illness he had given the testimony of a dying
man in favour of religion. A funeral sermon was preached
on occasion of his death, by Dr. Brown, in which he has
given a sketch of his character as a public teacher, as the
head of a public seminary of learning, and as a private
Christian. His character is thus summed up in a few sentences by his biographer, Dr. Keith: “His imagination
was lively and fertile his understanding equally acute and
vigorous and his erudition was at once very deep and
wonderfully diversified. His piety was unfeigned his
morals unimpeached his temper chearful and his manners gentle and unassuming. His love of truth was even
more remarkable than the uncommon success with which
he sought after it. Where intuitive faculties could be of
service to any man, he saw at once if he saw at all. But
his deep perspicacity was not satisfied with a superficial
view of any thing; his piercing eye darted to the bottom
of every sul/ic < i to which discernment could be applied.
Where study aud reflection were necessary, he could
bestow as much time on patient thinking, as if he had been
possessed of no genius at all, and had acquired only a
small share of erudition. And when once he began to examine any subject, he was never satisfied till he had viewed
it in every light in which it could be seen. He always
sought for truth in the love of truth, but he could not bear
to be suspected of deviating from it for he neither courted
those who might support, nor feared those who did oppose
him. The tone of his mind was high, and he would not
let it down from the elevation of truth and of virtue. Whether engaged in conversation, or employed in study, he
could pass easily from the lightest subject to the most serious one. And the reach of his mind was so great, as to
comprehend a great variety of subjects. He could explore
the causes of that pleasure which arises in the mind from
dramatic entertainments, and lay down the rules of Scripture criticism. He could illustrate the whole theory of
evidence, or detect the false reasonings of Mr. Hume. He
could explain the spirit of the Gospel, marking the extremes of superstition and enthusiasm; and both as a philosopher and a divine, declare the nature, extent, and
importance of the duty of allegiance. While he zealously
contended for the faith, he could warn the Christian against
imbibing a persecuting spirit, and yet shew the influence
of religion upon civil society, warning his countrymen
against infidelity, before they had seen its dreadful effects.
He could with manly eloquence describe the success of the
fishermen of Galilee, while preaching the doctrine of the
cross to prejudiced Jews, learned Greeks, and ambitious
Romans; and at the same time, with well -applied erudition, he could delineate the characters of the pretended
successors of the apostles, and trace the progress of the
hierarchy through all the dark and middle ages, until the
reformation of religion. As the principal of a college, a
professor of divinity, or a minister of the Gospel, as a
true patriot, a good man, and a sincere Christian, qwndo
ullum invenies 'par tin
”
, a Spanish divine, was a native of Taranzo, in the diocese of Toledo. He was Francis
, a Spanish divine, was a native of
Taranzo, in the diocese of Toledo. He was Francis Victoria’s pupil, and succeeded him in the theological chair at
Salamanca, where he taught with reputation. Canus appeared also with great distinction at the council of Trent,
under Paul III. and was made bishop of the Canary Islands
1552. He resigned his bishopric afterwards, and was appointed provincial of the province of Castile. He died 1560,
at Toledo. His treatise “de locis Theologicis,
” published
at Padua 1727, 4to, is very elegantly written, and is justly
esteemed a master- piece. He is also supposed the author
of “Praelectiones de Penitentia.
” He appears to have
been a man of more liberality than might have been expected from his age and profession. Dr. Jortin quotes
some instances of this in his “Remarks on Ecclesiastical
History,
” vol. II. p. 316. His whole works were printed
at Venice in 1759, 4to.
ent. His literary remains were published in 1654, with the title” Daily observations or meditations; divine, moral, written by a person of honour and piety;“to which are
was the only son and heir of
sir Henry Capel, who died in the flower of his age. He
succeeded to the family estate on the death of his grandfather, sir Arthur, and following the example of his virtuous ancestors, was very eminent for his hospitality to
his neighbours, while his great charities to the poor endeared him to the hearts of the people, who chose him to
serve in parliament for the county of Hertford, in 1639
and 1640. In the following year he was made a peer by
Charles I. with the title of lord Capel, of Hadham. Upon
the breaking out of the rebellion, he raised at his own
charge some troops of horse, in defence of the royal cause,
although he hud at first sided with the parliament; and did
not attach himself particularly to the court, until he sawthat the designs of the republicans were no longer conducted with moderation or justice. He fought valiantly in
many battles and skirmishes, and continued to adhere
loyally to his king, till his majesty’s armies were dispersed,
his garrisons lost, and his“person imprisoned, when lord
Capel compounded with the parliamentarians, and retired
to his manor of Hadham. Perceiving, some time after,
the hard treatment his sovereign met with, he resolutely
ventured again, with all the force he could raise, to rescue
the king from his enemies; and joining his troops with
those of lord Goring and sir Charles Lucas, underxvent the
severest hardships in the memorable siege of Colchester,
which was at length surrendered to general Fairfax upon
articles which were immediately broke; for sir Charles
Lucas and sir George Lisle were shot, and lord Capel sent
prisoner to Windsor-castle. An act of attainder being ordered by the house of commons to be brought in against
him, the house voted, Nov. 10, 1648, that he and some
others should be banished, but that punishment not being
thought severe enough, he was removed to the Tower.
Lord Clarendon is of opinion that two or three sharp and
bitter speeches which passed between Ireton and lord
Capel, cost the latter his life. In the mean time, however, he contrived to escape out of his prison, but being
discovered and apprehended at Lambeth, on Feb. 10,
1649, he was brought before a pretended high court of
justice in Westminster- hall, to be tried for treason and
other high crimes and though he strenuously insisted that
he was a prisoner to the lord general Fairfax, that he had
conditions given him, and was to have fair quarter for his
life; yet his plea was over-ruled. In three days after he
was brought again before the court, when the counsel
moved that he should be hanged, drawn, and quartered.
This, however, was changed for beheading, and the sentence was executed March 9. He trod the fatal stage,
says lord Orford, with all the dignity of valour and conscious integrity. In these qualities all historians are agreed,
if we except Mrs. Macaulay, whose hostility to the loyalists
is rather a compliment. His literary remains were published in 1654, with the title
” Daily observations or meditations; divine, moral, written by a person of honour
and piety;“to which are added
” Certain letters written
to several persons,' 7 4to; and the whole were reprinted
afterwards in 12mo, with the title of “Excellent Contemplations, &c.
” and some account of his life. Some “Stanzas,
” by lord Capel, written when he was a prisoner in
the Tower, were inserted in the Gentleman’s Magazine
for 1757. His heart, which he had ordered to be kept,
and deposited near the remains of his royal master, was
afterwards placed in the family-vault at Hadham, as appears by a letter from the late incumbent of that parish,
Dr. Anthony Hamilton, published in the fifteenth volume
of the Archaeologia.
vo. 2. “Remains, being an useful Appendix to the former,” 1658, 8vo. His son Daniel Capel was also a divine, and, according to Walker, ejected from his living in Gloucestershjre
, son of Christopher Capel, an alderman of Gloucester, was born 1586 in that city, and
after being educated there in grammar, became a commoner of Aiban hall, Oxford, in 1601, and soon after was
elected demy of Magdalen-college. In 160.9 he was made
perpetual fellow, being then M. A. the highest degree
which he took at the university. While there, Wood says,
“his eminence was great, and he was resorted to by noted
men, especially of the Calvinist persuasion,
” and was tutor
to several young men who afterwards rose to high reputation, particularly Accepted Frewen, archbishop of York,
Will. Pemble, &c. He left college on obtaining the rectory of Eastington in Gloucestershire, and became highly
popular as a plain and practical preacher, and a man of
exemplary life and conversation. In 1633, when the Book
of Sports on the Lord’s day was ordered to be read in all
churches, he refused, and resigned his rectory. He then
obtained licence from the bishop of Gloucester to practise
physic, which he did with much success for some years,
residing at Pitchcomb, near Stroud, where he had an
estate. In the commencement of the rebellion, he was
called to be one of the assembly of divines, but did not
accept the offer. Wood thinks he was restored to his benefice at this time, or had another conferred upon him,
which we believe was Pitchcomb, where he died Sept. 21,
1656, and was buried in the church there. Clarke informs
us that for some time he attended the court of James I.
until the death of sir Thomas Overbury, who was his particular friend. His principal works are, 1. “Temptations,
their nature, danger, and cure, &c.
” Lond. Apology
” against some exceptions, Remains, being an useful Appendix to the former,
”
Tentamen medicum de variolis,
” and some other tracts.
, an eminent French protestant and learned divine, was born at Sedan, a town in Champagne, about 1579. He was
, an eminent French
protestant and learned divine, was born at Sedan, a town
in Champagne, about 1579. He was professor of divinity
and of the Oriental languages in the university of Saumur;
and so very deeply skilled in the Hebrew, that our learned
bishop Hall calls him “magnum Hebraizantium oraculurn
in Gallia,
” the great oracle of all that studied Hebrew in
France. He was the author of some very learned works;
but is now chiefly memorable for the controversy he had
with the younger Buxtorf concerning the antiquity of the
Hebrew points. Two opinions have prevailed concerning
the true date and origin of these points both of which
have been very warmly espoused. The first is, that the
points are coeval with the language, and were always in
use among the Jews: the second, that the points were not
known to the Jews before their dispersion from Jerusalem,
but invented afterwards by modern rabbis to prevent the
language, which was every day decaying, from being utterly lost; viz. that they were invented by the Masoreth
Jews of Tiberias, about 600 years after Christ . This
opinion of their late invention was taken up by Capellus,
who defended it in a very excellent and learned treatise
entitled “Arcanum punctuationis revelatum,
” &c. which
work, after being refused a licence in France and at Geneva, was printed in Holland, and caused a great clamour
among the protestants, as if it had a tendency to hurt their
cause. It is, however, certain, that Luther, Calvin, Zuinglius, and others, had espoused the same notion as well as
the Scaligers, Casaubons, Erpenius, Salmasius, Grotius,
and the Heinsii; and therefore it could not be said, that
Capellus introduced any novelty, but only more solidly
established an opinion, which had been approved of by the
most learned and judicious protestants. The true reason,
perhaps, why the German protestants in general so warmly
opposed Capellus’s opinion, was, that they had been accustomed to follow that of the two Buxtorfs, whom they
considered as oracles in Hebrew learning. Buxtorf the
father had written a little treatise in defence of the antiquity of the points; and as Buxtorfs credit was justly
great among them, they chose rather to rely upon his authority than to examine his arguments, in so abstruse an
inquiry. Buxtorf the son wrote against Capellus, and
maintained his father’s opinion. Capellus, however, has
been generally supposed to have put the matter beyond
any father dispute; on which account his scholars Bochart,
Grotius, Spanheim, Vossius, Daille, and almost all the
learned in Hebrew since, have very readily acceded to
his opinion.
ecrated at Lambeth the next day. The same year he was sent by king James T. with three other English divine*, Dr. Hail, afterwards bishop of Exeter, Dr. Davenant, afterwards
, a learned bishop in the seventeenth century, son of Guy, second son of Thomas Carleton, of Carleton-hall, in Cumberland, was born at Norham,
in Northumberland, of whose important castle his father
was then governor. By the care of the eminent Bernard
Giipin, he was educated in grammar-learning and when
tit for the university, sent by the same generous person to
Edmund-hall in Oxford, in the beginning of the year
1576, and was by him chiefly maintained in his studies.
On the 12th of February 1579-80, he took his degree of
B. A. at the completing of which, he exceeded all that
performed their exercises at that time. The same year
he was elected probationer fellow of Merton-college, and
remained in that society above five years before he proceeded in his faculty, not taking the degree of M. A. till
June the 14th, 1585. While he remained in college, he
was esteemed a great orator and poet, and in process of
time became a better disputant in divinity, than he had before been in philosophy. What preferments he had, is not
mentioned, nor does it appear that he was possessed of anv
dignity in the church till he became a bishop. After
having continued many years in the university, and taken,
the degree of B. D. May 16, 1594, and that of Doctor,
December 1, 1613, he was advanced to the bishopric of
Landaff, to which he was confirmed July 11, 1613, and
consecrated at Lambeth the next day. The same year he
was sent by king James T. with three other English divine*,
Dr. Hail, afterwards bishop of Exeter, Dr. Davenant, afterwards bishop of Salisbury, and Dr. Ward, master of
Sidney-college, Cambridge, and one from Scotland, Dr.
W T alter Balcanqual, afterwards dean of Durham, to the
synod of Dort; where he stood up in favour of episcopacy,
and behaved so well in every respect to the credit of our
nation, that after his return he was, upon the translation,
of Dr. Harsnet to Norwich, elected to succeed him in
the see of Chichester, September 8, 16 19, and confirmed
the 20th of the same month. He departed this life in May
1628, and was buried the 27th of that month in the choir
of his cathedral church at Chichester, near the altar. He
was a person uf solid judgment, and of various reading;
well versed in the fathers and schoolmen; wanting nothing
that could render him a complete divine; a bitter enemy
to the Papists, and in the point of Predestination a rigid
Calvinist. “I have loved him,
” says Mr. Camden, “for
his excellent proficiency in divinity, and other polite parts
of learning.
” Echard and Fuller also characterize him in
very high terms.
in “Bodleiomnema,” and in other books. 2. “Tithes examined, and proved to be due to the Clergy by a Divine Right,”- Lond. 1606, and '1611, 4to. 3. “Jurisdiction Regal,
He perhaps wrote upon a greater variety of subjects
than any other clergyman of his time. Among his works
are enumerated: 1. “Heroici characteres, ad illustriss.
equitem Henricum Nevillum,
” Oxon. Bodleiomnema,
” and in other books. 2. “Tithes examined, and
proved to be due to the Clergy by a Divine Right,
”- Lond.
Jurisdiction Regal, Episcopal,
Papal: Wherein is declared how the Pope hath intruded upon
the jurisdiction of Temporal Princes,and of the Church, &c.
”
Lond. Consensus Ecclesiae Catholicse contra Tridentinos, de Scripturis, Ecclesia, fide, & gratia,
”
&c. Lond. A thankful! Remembrance of
God’s Mercy. In an Historicall Collection of the great
and mercifull Deliverances of the Church and State of
England, since the Gospel began ne here to flourish, from
the beginning of queene Elizabeth,
” Loud. 1614; the
third edition came out in 1627, and the fourth in 16 Jo.
The historical part is chiefly extracted from Camden’s
Annals of queen Elizabeth; and the latter editions are
adorned at the beginning of each chapter, with figures engraved in copper, representing the most material things
contained in the ensuing description. 6. “Short Directions to know the true Church,
” Loud. Oration made at the Hague before the prince of
Orange, and the Assembly of the high and mighty lords,
the States General,
” Lond. Astrologimania or, the Madness of Astrologers or, an Examination of sir Christopher Heydon’s
book entitled ' A Defence of judicial Astrology 1
” written
about the year Examination of those things wherein the Author of the late
Appeal (Montague afterwards bishop of Chichester)
holdeth the Doctrine of Pelagians and Arminians, to be
the Doctrines of the Church of England,
” Lond. A joynt Attestation, avowing that
the Discipline of the Church of England was not impeached by the Synod of Dort,
” Lond. Vita Bernardi Gilpini, viri sanctiss. farnaque apud Anglos
aquilonares celeberrimi,
” Lond. The Life of
Bernard Gilpin, a man most holy and renowned amongthe Northerne English,
” Lond. Testimony concerning the Presbyterian discipline
in the Low-countries, and Episcopal government in England,
” printed several times in 4to and- 8vo, and at London in particular, in 1642, in one sheet. 13. Latin Letter
to Mr. Camden, containing some Notes and Observations
on his Britannia. Printed by Dr. Smith amongst “Camdeni Epistolae,
” N 80. 14-. Several Sermons. 15. He
had also a hand in the Dutch Annotations, and in the new
translation of the Bible, undertaken by order of the Synod
of Dort, but not completed and published till 1637. Two
of hU letters to sir Dudley Carleton, are in lord
Hardwicke’s publication of sir Dudley’s correspondence. By
his first wife, Anne, daughter of sir Henry Killegrew, knt.
and widow of sir Henry Neville, of Billingbere, in Berkshire, he had a son, Henry, who was chosen representative
for Arundel, in Sussex, in the short parliament which met
at Westminster on the 13th -of April 1640. Mr. Henry
Carleton embraced the cause of the house of commons in
the civil war with king Charles the First, accepted a captain’s commission in the parliamentary army, and in other
respects did no honour to his father.
f Orlamund, whom, however, at the same time he is said to have excited to arrogate to themselves the divine right of appointing their own pastor. The elector of Saxony
In 1524, when the controversy took place among the
friends of the reformation respecting the body and blood
of Christ in the eucharist, Carolostadt became the open
antagonist of Luther, and approached nearer to the sentiments held now by the majority of protestants; but his
previous intemperate conduct at Wittemberg had so lowered his reputation, that he found it expedient to retire to
Orlamund, a small town of Thuringia in the electorate of
Saxony, where, without legitimate appointment, though
with the consent of the inhabitants, he became their spiritual pastor. Here he not only soon broached his opinion
of the eucharist, but raised new disturbances by his furious
discourses concerning the abolition of images. He appears
also to have boasted of having been favoured with supernatural communications, and was represented as a partizan
of the turbulent fanatic Thomas Munzer. The university
of Wittemberg summoned him to return back, and discharge in person the ordinary duties enjoined him by the
statutes in their school and church. Carolostadt promised
to obey, provided he could ‘obtain the leave of his parishioners of Orlamund, whom, however, at the same time
he is said to have excited to arrogate to themselves the
divine right of appointing their own pastor. The elector
of Saxony was so disgusted with the insolent letters which
they wrote on this occasion, treating the academical claim
as a papistical encroachment, that he peremptorily commanded both them and their teacher to submit to the legal
authority of the university and the chapter. Luther was
also sent to Orlamund; but this appears to have only inflamed Carolostadt’ s zeal to a greater height of imprudence,
and his violent proceedings at last provoked the elector
and his brother to expel Carolostadt from their territories.
Carolostadt, after his departure, wrote letters to his
people.which were read in full congregation upon the toll of the
bell, and were suhscrihed thus, “Andreas Bodenstenius
Carolostadt, unheard, unconvicted, banished by Martin
Luther.
” Mosheim and his translator have yielded too
easily to this calumny against Luther, which appears to
have been wholly unmerited on the part of that great reformer, who about five months afterwards interceded,
although ineffectually, for him.
ity in Carolostadt’s character still remains to be noticed, namely, that he was the first protestant divine who took a wife. His works were numerous, but are now fallen
Carolostadt now wandered from place to place through the higher Germany, and at length made a pause at Rotenburgh, where, as usual, he soon raised tumults, and incited the people to pull down the statues and paintings. When the seditious faction of the peasants, with Munzer their ringleader, was effectually suppressed, he became in the greatest difficulties, and even in danger of his life from his supposed connection with these enthusiastic rebels, and he narrowly escaped, through being let down by the wall of the town in a basket. Thus reduced to the last extremities, he and his wife incessantly intreatedboth the elector and Luther that they might be allowed to return into their own country. He said, he could clear himself of having had any concern in the rebellion; and if not, he would cheerfully undergo any punishment that could be inflicted upon him. With this view he wrote a little tract, in which he takes much pains to justify himself from the charge of sedition: and he sent a letter likewise to Luther, in which he earnestly begs his assistance in the publishing of the tract, as well as in the more general design of establishing his innocence. Luther immediately published Carolostadt’s letter, and called on the magistrates and on the people to give him a fair hearing. In this he succeeded; and Carolostadt was recalled about -the autumn of 1525, and then made a public recantation of what he had advanced on the sacrament, a condescension which did not procure a complete reconciliation between him and the other reformers, and indeed affords but a sorry proof of his consistency. We find Carolostadt, after this, at Zurich and at Basil, where he was appointed pastor and professor of divinity, and where he died with the warmest effusions of piety and resignation, ijec. 25, 1541, or 1543. He was a man of considerable learning, hut his usefulness both as a reformer and writer was perpetually obstructed by the turbulence of his temper, and his misguided zeal in endeavouring to promote that by violence which the other reformers projected only through the medium of reason and argument. That he should be censured by Moreri, Bossuet, and other Roman catholic writers, is not surprising, for he afforded too much ground of accusation; but it is more inexcusable in Mosheim, Beausobre, and some other ecclesiastical historians, to throw the blame of his banishment and restless life on Luther, and highly absurd to insinuate that the latter was jealous of his fame. The comparative merits of the conduct of Luther and Carolostadt throughout their whole connection, have been examined with great candour and perspicuity by Milner. One singularity in Carolostadt’s character still remains to be noticed, namely, that he was the first protestant divine who took a wife. His works were numerous, but are now fallen into oblivion. His followers, who for some time retained the name of Carolostadtians, were also denominated Sacramentarians and agree in most things with the Zuinglians.
r completing his master’s degree, entered into holy orders, and had the reputation of a very popular divine. About 1626 he became acquainted with
, an English clergyman o great learning and parts, was born in the parsonage-house of North- Lew (not Northlegh, as Wood says), near Hatherlegh, in Devonshire, Feb. 7, 1588. His father, John Carpenter, a native of Cornwall, was at that time rector of this place, and author of some sermons enumerated by Wood. His son, after a private education, was entered of Edmund hall, Oxford; and in 1607, by the casting vote of the vice-chancellor, was elected fellow of Exeter college, to which he removed, and became distinguished as a logician, mathematician, and philosopher.- He took his degree of B. A. in 1610, of M. A. in 1613, and of B. D. in 1620, and soon after completing his master’s degree, entered into holy orders, and had the reputation of a very popular divine. About 1626 he became acquainted with
, a divine and poet of the seventeenth century, was educated at Eton college,
, a divine and poet of the seventeenth century, was educated at Eton college, and thence elected scholar of King’s college in Cambridge, in 1622. About three years after, he left England, and studied in Flanders, Artois, France, Spain, and Italy; and at length received holy orders at Rome from the hands of the pope’s substitute. Soon after, having taken upon him the order of St. Benedict, he was sent into England to make proselytes; in which employment he continued somewhat above a year, then returned to the protestant religion, and, through the archbishop of Canterbury’s interest, obtained the small vicarage of Poling by the seaside, near Arundel castle, in Sussex. Here he was exposed to the insults of the Romish party, particularly one Francis a S. Clara, living in that neighbourhood under the name of Hunt, who used to expose him to scorn before his parishioners. In the time, however, of the civil war, he quitted his living, retired to Paris, and reconciling himself to the Romish church, he made it his business to rail against the protestants. Afterwards, returning to England, he settled at Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, where he had some relations; and, being once more a protestant, he would often preach there in a very fantastical manner, to the great mirth of his auditors. He was living there in 1670; but before his death he returned a third time to popery, causing his pretended wife to embrace that persuasion; and in that faith he died. He was generally esteemed a man of an absurd character, one that changed his opinions as often as his cloaths, and, for his juggles and tricks in religion, a theological mountebank.
, confounded by Langbaine with the former, but a divine of a very different character, and prior in order of time, was
, confounded by Langbaine
with the former, but a divine of a very different character,
and prior in order of time, was a Cornish man, and became
a batler in, Exeter college in Oxford, in 1592, and four
years after fellow of that house, being then B. A. By
the advice and direction of the rector, Dr. Holland, he applied himself to theological studies, and, in a few years,
proved a learned divine and an excellent preacher. In
1611 he was admitted to the reading of the sentences; and
about that time was made rector of Slierwill, and of Loxhore adjoining, in Devonshire; and afterwards obtained
the benefice “of Ham near Sberwill. He died Dec. 18,
1627, aged fifty-two, and was bnried in the chancel of the
church of Loxbore. He published some sermons 1.
” “The
Soul’s Centinel,
” preached at the funeral of sir Arthur
Acland, knt. Jan. 9, loll, on Job xiv. 14.“Lomi. 1612, 8vo.
2.
” A Pastoral Charge, faithfully given and discharged at
the triennial visitation of W. Bishop of Exon, at Barnstaple, Sept. 7, 1616, on Acts xx. 28.“London, 1616, 8vo.
3.
” Christ’s Larum-bell of Love resounded,“&c. on John
xv. 12. Lond. 1616,8vo. 4.
” The conscionable Christian,"
&c. being three assize sermons at Tan n ton aud Chard in
Somersetshire, 162O, on Acts xxiv. 16. Lond. 1623, 4to.
council of Trent, where he composed a treatise on trie residence of bishops, which he held to be of divine right, treating the contrary opinion as diabolical. Philip II.
, a Dominican, born in
1504 at Miranda in Navarre, appeared with great distinction at the council of Trent, where he composed a treatise
on trie residence of bishops, which he held to be of divine
right, treating the contrary opinion as diabolical. Philip II.
king of Spain, having married queen Mary in 1554, took
Carranza with him into England, who laboured to restore
the Catholic religion there, and pleased Philip so much,
that he appointed him archbishop of Toledo 1557. This
illustrious prelate was, however, accused before the Inquisition, 1559, and carried as a heretic to Rome, where he
was thrown into prison, and suffered greatly during ten
years, notwithstanding the solicitations of his friend Navarre, who openly undertook his defence. At length the
Inquisition declared by a sentence passed 1576, that there
was not any certain proof that Carranza was a heretic.
They condemned him nevertheless to abjure the errors
which had been imputed to him, and confined him to la
Minerve, a monastery of his order, where he died the same
year, aged 72. His principal works are, 1. “Summary
of the Councils
” in Latin, A Treatise on the residence of Bishops,
” A Catechism
” in Spanish,
, an English divine, was the son of Thomas Carte, a clothier at Coventry, where
, an English divine, was the son of
Thomas Carte, a clothier at Coventry, where he was born.
October 21, 1652, or 1653, and in the free-school of which
place he received his grammatical education. He was afterwards removed to Magdalen college, Oxford, where he
took his degree of B. A. 1672; and M. A. 1675. After he
entered into holy orders he had several preferments, the
chief of which were, a prebend in the cathedral church of
Litchfield, the rectory of Eastwell in Leicestershire, and,
last of all, the vicarage of St. Martin’s, in the town of Leicester. It has been supposed that he resigned his preferments
at the accession of king George the First, and that at one
time he assisted the celebrated Jeremiah Collier, in preaching to a nonjuring congregation in Broad-street, London;
but this belongs to his son. It is certain that Mr. Samuel
Carte spent the latter part of his life on his living at Leicester, where he died on the 16th of April, 1740, in the eightyseventh year of his age. A high, and, we doubt not, a
just character is given of him, in an inscription to his memory in the chancel of St. Martin’s church. He published
two sermons, and “Tabula Chronologica Archiepiscopatuum
et Episcopatuum in Anglia et Wallia, Ortus, Divisiories,
TransUuiones, &c. breviter exhibens; una cum Indice alphabetioo Nominum, quibus apucl Authores insigniuntur,
”
folio, without date. Part of a letter of his on a tesselated
pavement at Leicester is in Phil. Trans. No. 331, and his
account of Leicester is in the Bib]. Top. Britannica. Those
eminent antiquaries, Dr. Willis and Mr. Stukeley, acknowledged his assistance and correspondence.
a house in Broad-street, London, and on a Sunday he used to put on his gown and cassock, and perform divine service in his own family. What particular concern he had in
In 1712 be made the tour of Europe with a nobleman,
and on his return entered into orders, and was appointed
render of the Abbey-church at Bath; where he preached
a sermon on Jan. 30, 171 J-, in which he took occasion to
vindicate Charles I. from aspersions cast upon his memory
with regard to the Irish rebellion. This drew Mr. Carte
into a controversy with Mr. (afterwards the celebrated Dr.)
Chandler, and gave rise to our historian’s first publication,
entitled “The Irish Massacre sot in a clear light,
” &c.
which is inserted in lord Sotners’s Tracts. ‘ Upon the accession of George I. Mr. Carte’s principles not permitting
him to take the oaths to the new government, he assumed a
lay-habit, and at one time assisted the celebrated Jeremiah
Collier, who preached to a non’} tiring congregation in a
house in Broad-street, London, and on a Sunday he used
to put on his gown and cassock, and perform divine service
in his own family. What particular concern he had in the
rebellion of 1715 does not appear; but that he had some
degree of guilt in this respect, or, at least, that he was
strongly suspected of it by administration, is evident, from
the king’s troops having orders to discover and apprehend
him. He had the good fortune to elude their search, by
concealing himself at Coleshili, Warwickshire, in the house
of Mr. Badger, then curate of that town. Mr. Carte himself officiated for a time as curate of the same place;
after which, he was some time secretary to bishop Atterbury. This connexion threw him into fresh difficulties:
so deeply was he thought to he engaged in the conspiracy
ascribed to that eminent prelate, that a charge of high
treason was brought against him; and a proclamation was
issued, Aug. 13, 1722, offering a reward of 1000l. for
seizing his person. He was again successful in making his
escape, and fled into France, where he resided several
years, under the borrowed name of Philips. Whilst Mr.
Carte continued in that country, he was introduced to the
principal men of learning and family, and gained access to
the most eminent libraries, public and private, by which
means he was enabled to collect large materials for illustrating an English edition of Thuanus. The collection was
in such forwardness in 1724, that he consulted Dr. Mead r
at that time the great patron of literary undertakings, on the
mode of publication. The doctor, who perceived that the
plan might he rendered more extensively useful, obtained
Mr. Carte’s materials at a very considerable price, and engaged Mr. Buckley in the noble edition completed in 17^3,
in 7 vols. fol. Mr. Carte would probably himself have
been the principal editor, if he had not been an exile
at the time the undertaking commenced, but we find that
the Latin address to Dr. Mead, prefixed to that work, and
dated from the Inner-temple, Jan. 1733, is signed Thomas
Carte. Whilst this grand work was carrying on, queen
Caroline, whose regard to men of letters is well known,
received such favourable impressions of Mr. Carte, that
she obtained permission for his returning to England in
security; which he did some time between the years 1728
and 1730. He had not long been restored to his own country
before he engaged in one of the most important of his
works, “The history of the life of James duke of Ormonde,
from his birth, in 1610, to his death, in 1688,
” 3 vols. fol.
The third volume, which was published first, came out in
1735, and the first and second volumes in 1736. From a
letter of Mr. Carte’s to Dr. Swift, dated Aug. 11, 1736, it
appears, that in writing the life of the duke of Ormonde,
he had availed himself of some instructions which he had
derived from the dean . In the same letter he mentions
his design of composing a general history of England and
finds great fault, not only with Rapin, but with Ilymer’s
Fcedera; but his accusations of that noble collection are in
several respects erroneous and groundless.
, a puritan divine of great learning and eminence, was born in Hertfordshire, about
, a puritan divine of great learning and eminence, was born in Hertfordshire, about the year 1535. Having been kept at a grammar-school till he was fit for the university, he was sent to Cambridge, where he was admitted into St. John’s college in 155O. He applied himself to his studies with uncommon assiduity; and being possessed of excellent natural parts, he made great proficiency in learning, in acquiring which, it is said, that he allowed himself no more than five hours sleep in the night, and that he adhered to this custom to the end of his life. Upon the death of Edward VI, when he had been about three years at the university, he quitted it, and became clerk to a counsellor at law: but this did not prevent him from continuing to prosecute his former studies, in which he took more delight than in the profession of the law. He remained in this situation till the beginning of the reign of queen Elizabeth; when the gentleman under whom he was placed as a clerk, having met with Dr. Pilkington, master of St. John college, Cambridge, he made him acquainted with his strong attachment to literature. In consequence of this the doctor desired to have some conversation with Mr. Cartwright; when, being convinced of his great abilities and attainments, he offered to take him back again to St. John’s, to which his master consented. He accordingly returned to the university; and in 1560 was chosen fellow of that college. About three years after he was removed to a fellowship in Trinity college; where, on account of his great merit, he was shortly after made one of the eight senior fellows. In 1564 queen Elizabeth visited the university of Cambridge, and remained there five days, viewing the several colleges, and hearing public speeches and disputations. Mr. Strype says, that the ripest and most learned men were selected for the disputants, and Mr. Cartwright being one of these, appears on this occasion to have greatly distinguished himself. In 1567 he commenced bachelor of divinity; and, three years after, was chosen to be lady Margaret’s divinity-reader. It is particularly mentioned, that he read upon the first and second chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, and performed it with such acuteness of wit, and such solidity of judgment, as excited the admiration of his hearers. He also became so famous as a preacher, that when it came to his turn to preach at St. Mary’s church, the sexton was obliged to take down the windows, on account of the multitudes that came to bear him.
, author of the well-known “Commentary on Job,” and an eminent nonconformist divine, was born in London in 1602; He was a moderate independent,
, author of the well-known “Commentary on Job,
” and an eminent nonconformist divine,
was born in London in 1602; He was a moderate independent, and Wood mentions him as a noted disputant.
He was some time a commoner at Exeter college in Oxford, and preached several years with applause before the
hon. society of Lincoln’s-inn. In 1653 he was appointed
one of the triers for the approbation of ministers, and was
sent by the parliament to attend Charles I. at Holmbyhouse: he was also one of the commissioners in the treaty
of the Isle of Wight. He and Dr. Owen were by order of
parliament sent in 1650, to attend on Cromwell in Scotland, and to officiate as ministers. Soon after his ejectment in 1662, he gathered a congregation in the neighbourhood of St. Magnus, by London-bridge, to which he
preached as the times would permit, until his death, Feb.
7, 1673. He was a man of parts, learning, and of indefatigable industry. He has left behind him a considerable
number of sermons and pious tracts, but his principal work
is his “Commentary on Job,
” first printed in 12 vols. 4to,
and afterwards in two largp folios. Of late years it has
risen very considerably in price, which we can remember
to have been once that of waste-paper. The late Dr.
Lyndford Caryl, master of Jesus college, Cambridge, was
great grand-nephew to this Mr. Caryl.
der; and they had a doctor, one Sepulveda, who undertook even to justify these outrages by human and divine laws, and by the examples of the Israelites who conquered the
, a Spaniard, and the illustrious bishop of Chiapa, was born at Seville in 1474;
and, at the age of nineteen, attended his father, who went
with Christopher Columbus to the Indies in 1493. Upon
his return he became an ecclesiastic, and a curate in the
isle of Cuba; but quitted his cure and his country -in order
to devote himself to the service of the Indians, who were
then enslaved to the most ridiculous superstitions, as well
as the most barbarous tyranny. The Spanish governors
had long since made Christianity detested by their unheardof cruelties, and the Indians trembled at the very name of
Christian. This humane and pious missionary resolved to
cross the seas, and to lay their cries and their miseries at
the feet of Charles V. The affair was discussed in council;
and the representations of Casas so sensibly affected the
emperor, that he made ordinances, as severe to the persecutors as favourable to the persecuted. But these ordinances were never executed the Spanish governors, or
rather tyrants, continued to plunder and murder; and
they had a doctor, one Sepulveda, who undertook even to
justify these outrages by human and divine laws, and by
the examples of the Israelites who conquered the people
of Canaan. This horrible book was printed at Rome, but
proscribed in Spain; and Casas, now become bishop of
Chiapa, refuted this apology for tyranny and murder. His
treatise, entitled, “The Destruction of the Indians,
” and
translated into most European languages, is full of details
which shock humanity. Soto, the emperor’s confessor,
was appointed arbiter of the difference between Casas, a
bishop worthy of the first ages of the church, and Sepulveda, a doctor and advocate for principles which would
not have been adopted by an heathen: and the result of
all this was laid before Charles V. who, however, had too
many affairs upon his hands to pay a due attention to it;
and the governors continued to tyrannize as usual. Casas
employed above fifty years in America, labouring with
incessant zeal, that the Indians might be treated with
mildness, equity, and humanity: but, instead of succeeding, he drew upon himself endless persecutions from the
Spaniards; and, though he escaped with his life, might
properly enough be called a martyr to the liberty of the
Indians. After refusing several bishoprics in America, he
was constrained to accept that of Chiapa in 1544. He reided there till 1551, when the infirm state of his health
obliged him to return to his native country; and he died
at Madrid in 156G, aged ninety-two. Besides his “Destruction of the Indians,
” and other pieces on the same
subject, there is a very curious Latin work of his upon
this question “Whether kings or princes can in conscience, by any right, or by virtue of any title, alienate
citizens and subjects from their natural allegiance, and
subject them to a new and foreign jurisdiction?
” Ail his
writings shew a solid judgment, and profound learning and
piety.
own life; and would often confess, that he thought himself obliged to do it, out of gratitude to the Divine Providence, which had preserved and delivered him from more
, son of the preceding, was born
at Geneva, August 14, 1599, and had the name of Meric
from Meric de Vicq, a great friend and benefactor to his
father. His first education he received at Sedan, but
coming to England with his father, in the year 1610, he
was instructed by a private master till 1614, when he was
sent to Christ Church, Oxford; and being put there under
a most careful tutor, Dr. Edward Meetkirk (afterwards Regius Hebrew professor), was soon after elected a student
of that house. He took the degree of bachelor of arts,
May 8, 1618, and that of master, June 14, 1621, being
even then eminent for his extensive learning; and the
same year, though he was but two and twenty, he published a book in defence of his father, against the calumnies of certain Roman catholics, entitled “Pietas contra
maledicos, &c.
” Loud. Vindicatio Patris, &c.
” Exercitations against Baronius’s Annals,
” but was diverted
by some accident. At length, when he came to maturity
of years for such a work, and had acquainted archbishop
Laud, his great friend and patron, with his design, who
was very ready to place him conveniently in Oxford or
London, according to his desire, that he might be furnished
with books necessary for such a purpose, the rebellion
broke out in England. Having now no fixed habitation, he
was forced to sell a good part of his books; and, after
about twenty years’ sufferings, became so infirm, that he
could not expect to live many years, and was obliged to
relinquish his design. Before this, however, in June
1628, he was made prebendary of Canterbury, through
the interest of bishop Laud; and when that prelate was
promoted to the archbishopric of Canterbury, he collated
him, in Oct. 1634, to the vicarage of Minster, in the Isle
of Thanet; and in the same month, he was inducted into
the vicarage of Monckton, in that island. In August 1636,
he was created doctor in divinity, by order of king
Charles I. who was entertained at the same time, with his
queen, by the university of Oxford. About the year 1644,
during the heat of the civil wars, he was deprived of his
preferments, abused, fined, and imprisoned. In 1649,
one Mr. Greaves, of Gray’s inn, an intimate acquaintance
of his, brought him a message from Oliver Cromwell, then
lieutenant-general of the parliament forces, desiring him to
come to Whitehall, on purpose to confer with him about
matters of moment; but his wife being lately dead, and
not, as he said, buried, he desired to be excused. Greaves
came again afterwards, and Dr. Casaubon being somewhat
alarmed, desired him to tell him the meaning of the matter; but Greaves refusing, went away the second time.
At length he returned again, and told him, that the lieutenant-general intended his good and advancement; and
his particular errand was, that he would make use of his
pen to write the history of the late war; desiring withal,
that nothing but matters of fact should be impartially set
down. The doctor answered, that he desired his humble
service and hearty thanks should be returned for the great
honour done unto him; but that he was uncapable in several respects for such an employment, and could not so
impartially engage in it, as to avoid such reflections as
would be ungrateful, if not injurious, to his lordship.
Notwithstanding this answer, Cromwell seemed so sensible
of his worth, that he acknowledged a great respect for him;
and, as a testimony of it, ordered, that upon the first demand there should be delivered to him three or four hundred pounds, by a bookseller in London, whose name was
Cromwell, whenever his occasions should require, without
acknowledging, at the receipt of it, who was his benefactor.
But this ofter he rejected, although almost in want. At
the same time, it was proposed by Mr. Greaves, who belonged to the library at St. James’s, that if our author
would gratify him in the foregoing request, Cromwell
would restore to him all his father’s books, which were then
in the royal library, having been purchased by king James;
and withal give him a patent for three hundred pounds a
year, to be paid to the family as long as the youngest sou
of Dr. Casaubon should live, but this also was refused.
Not long after, it was intimated to him, by the ambassador
of Christiana, queen of Sweden, that the queen wished
him to come over, and take upon him the government of
one, or inspection of all her universities; and, as an encouragement, she proposed not only an honourable salary
for himself, but offered to settle three hundred pounds a
year upon his eldest son during life: but this also he
waved, being fully determined to spend the remainder of
his days in England. At the restoration of king Charles II.
he recovered his preferments; namely, his prebend of
Canterbury in July 1660, and his vicarages of Monckton
and Minster the same year: but, two years after, he exchanged this last for the rectory of Ickham, near Canterbury, to which he was admitted Oct. 4, 1662. He had a
design, in the latter part of his days, of writing his own
life; and would often confess, that he thought himself
obliged to do it, out of gratitude to the Divine Providence,
which had preserved and delivered him from more hazardous occurrences than ever any man (as he thought) besides
himself had encountered with; particularly in his escape
from a fire in the night-time, which happened in the house
where he lived, at Geneva, while he was a boy: in his recovery from a sickness at Christ Church, in Oxford, when
he was given over for dead, by a chemical preparation administered to him by a young physician: in his wonderful
preservation from drowning, when overset in a boat on the
Thames near London, the two watermen being drowned,
and himself buoyed up by his priest’s coat: and in his
bearing several abuses, fines, imprisonments, &c. laid
upon him by the republicans in the time of his sequestration: but this he did not execute. He died July 14, 1671,
in the seventy-second year of his age, and was buried in the
south part of the first south cross aile of Canterbury cathedral. Over his grave was soon after erected a handsome
monument with an inscription. He left by will a great
number of manuscripts to the university of Oxford. His
character is thus represented. He was a general scholar,
but not of particular excellence, unless in criticism, in
which probably he was assisted by his father’s notes and
papers. According to the custom of the times he lived in,
he displays his extensive reading by an extraordinary mixture of Greek and Latin quotations and phrases. He was
wont to ascribe to Descartes’s philosophy, the little inclination people had in his time for polite learning. Sir William Temple very highly praises his work, hereafter mentioned, on “Enthusiasm;
” and unquestionably it contains
in any curious and learned remarks; buthisbeingamaintainer
of the reality of witches and apparitions, shews that he was
not more free from one species of enthusiasm than most of
his contemporaries. In his private character he was eminent for his piety, charity to the poor, and his courteous
and affable disposition towards scholars. He had several
children, but none made any figure in the learned world;
one, named John, was a surgeon at Canterbury .
“A Treatise concerning Enthusiasm, as it is an effect of Nature; but is mistaken by many for either divine inspiration, or diabolical possession,” Lond.- 1655, 8vo, 15.
His works, besides his two vindications already mentioned, are, 1. “Optati Libri vii. de Schismate Donatistarum, cum Notis & Emendationibus,
” Lond. M. Aurelius Antoninus’s Meditations concerning himself, with
notes,
” Lond. A Treatise of
Use and Custom,
” Lond. The Use of
daily public Prayers in three positions,
” Lond. 1641, 4to.
5. “Marci Antonini Imperatoris de Seipso & ad Seipsum
libri xii. Guil. Xylander Augustanus Graece &, Latine primus edidit: nunc vero, Xylandri versionem locis plurimis
etnendavit, & novam fecit in Antonini libros Notas &
Emendationes adjecit Mericus Casaubonus, Is. F. In eosdem Xylandri Annotationes,
” Lond. The original of Temporal
Evils; the opinions of the most ancient Heathens concerning it examined by the Sacred Scriptures, and referred
unto them, as unto the source and fountain, from whence
they spring,
” Lond. A discourse concerning Christ his Incarnation and Exinanition. With an
introduction concerning the principles of Christianity and
Divinity,
” Lond. De verborum usu, &
accuratse eorum cognitionis utilitate Diatriba,
” Lond. Persii Satyrse cum
notis Isaaci Casaubon,
” Lond. De quatuor Linguis Commentationis, Pars I. Quse de Lingua
Hebraica & de Lingua Saxonica. Accesserunt Gulielmi
Somneri ad verba vetera Germanica Lipsiana Notae,
”
Lond. Terentius, cum notis Thomoe Farnabii in quatuor priores Comoedias, & Merici Casauboni in Phormionem & Hecyram,
”
Lond. Some Annotations on the Psalms
and Proverbs.
” He tells us, that these observations
were extorted from him, by the importunity of printers,
when he was not very well furnished either with books or
leisure; but, worst of all, of will, when nothing could be
expected to be acceptable and welcome, but what relished
of schism and rebellion. These Annotations were inserted
in one of the latter editions of the “Assembly’s Annotations on the Bible.
” 13. “In Hieroclis commentarium de
Providentia & Fato, notae & emendationes,
” Lond. A Treatise
concerning Enthusiasm, as it is an effect of Nature; but is
mistaken by many for either divine inspiration, or diabolical possession,
” Lond.- De nupera
Homeri editione Lugduno-Batavica Hackiana, cum 'Latina
versione, & Didymi Scholiis sed & Eustathio, & locis
aliquot insignioribus ad Odysseam pertinentibus. Item
super loco Homerico dubise apud antiques interpretations,
quo Dei in hominum tarn mentes quam fortunas imperium
asseritur, binse dissertationes,
” Lond. 1659, 8vo, reprinted
in Almeloveen’s edition of Casaubon’s Letters. 16. “Epicteti Enchiridion, Graere & Latine, cum notis Merici Casauboni & Cebetis Tabula, cum notis ejusdem,
” Lond.
Lucius FJorus’s History of the Romans,
” Lond.
out about it,” Cambridge, 1669, 4to. 26. “Of Credulity and Incredulity in things natural, civil, and divine; wherein, among other things, the sadducism of these times in
1660, 4to. 21. “The Question to whom it belonged anciently to preach? And whether all priests might or did?
Discussed out of antiquity. Occasioned by the late directions concerning preachers,
” Lond. Notse & emendationes in Diogenem Laertium de
Vitis, &c. Philosophorum
” added to those of his father,
in the editions of Laertius printed at London 1664, fol.
and Amsterdam in 1692, 4to. 23. “Of the necessity of
Reformation in and before Luther’s time, and what visibly
hath most hindered the progress of it Occasioned by some
late virulent books written by papists, but especially by
that, entitled, Labyrinthus Cantuariensis,
” Lond. 1664, 4to.
This is chiefly an answer to “Labyrinthus Cantuariensis,
”
printed at Paris in Archbishop Laud’s relation of a conference with Fisher
the Jesuit.
” 24. “An answer concerning the new way of
Infallibility lately devised to uphold the Roman cause; the
ancient fathers and councils laid aside, against J. S. (the author of Sure-footing) his Letter lately published,
” Lond.
Of the necessity of Reformation,
” &c. and was printed at the end of Sarjeant’s Surefooting in Christianity. 25. “A Letter of Meric Casaubon, D.D. &c. to Peter du Moulin, I). D. &c. concerning
natural experimental philosophy, and some books lately
set out about it,
” Cambridge, Of Credulity and Incredulity in things natural, civil, and divine;
wherein, among other things, the sadducism of these
times in denying spirits, witches, and supernatural operations, by pregnant instances and evidences is fully
confuted; Epicurus his cause discussed, and the juggling and false dealing lately used to bring him and
atheism into credit, clearly discovered; the use and necessity of ancient learning against the innovating humour
all along proved and asserted^
” Lond. Of Credulity and Incredulity in things divine
and spiritual: wherein (among other things) a true and
faithful account is given of the Platonic philosophy, as it
hath reference to Christianity: as also the business of
witches and witchcraft, against a late writer, fully argued
and disputed.
” The late writer, attacked only in the two
last sheets of this book, was Mr. John Wag-staff, who published “The question of Witchcraft debated; or a discourse
against their opinion, that affirm witches,
” Lond. A treatise proving Spirits, Witches, and supernatural
operations by pregnant instances and evidences, &c.
”
London, Notse in Polybium,
” printed for the
first time in Gronovius’s edition, Amsterdam, 1670, 8vo.
28. “Epistolae, Dedicationes, Prsefationes, Prolegomena,
& Tractatus quidam rariores. Curante Theodore Janson
ab Almeloveen;
” printed at the end of Isaac Casaubon’s
Letters, Roterodami, 1709. 29. “De Jure concionandi
apud antiques.
” This seems to be the same as the treatise
mentioned above No. 22, or perhaps it was a Latin translation of it.
, an eminent nonconformist divine, the son of George Case, vicar of Boxley in Kent, was born there
, an eminent nonconformist divine, the
son of George Case, vicar of Boxley in Kent, was born
there in 1598 or 1599, and became student of Christ church,
Oxford, upon the recommendation of Toby Mathew, archbishop of York, in 1616. After taking his degrees in arts,
he went into the church, and preached for some time in
Oxfordshire and Kent, and held the living of Erpingham in
Norfolk, from which he was ejected for nonconformity. In
1641, he joined in principle and practice with the parliament, and about that time was minister of St. Mary Magdalen, Milk-street, London, in the room of a sequestered
loyalist. One of the party jour nafs of the time informs us
that in administering the sacrament, he used to say, instead
of “Ye that do truly and earnestly repent, &c.
” “Ye that
have freely and liberally contributed to the parliament,
&c.;
” but this was probably the squib of the day. Case,
with all his republican zeal, was a man of real piety but
the former certainly betrayed him into extreme violence in
his discourses, which is poorly excused by his biographer
telling us of his having been ejected from his living by
bishop Wren. When in London he wasthe institutor of
the Morning Exercise, which was kept up in the city many
years after, and produced some of the ablest sermons of
the nonconformist clergy. From the living of Milk-street
he was turned out, for refusing the engagement, and was
afterwards lecturer at Aldermanbury and St. Giles’s Cripplegate. He was imprisoned six months in the Tower,
for being implicated in Love’s plot, but Love only was
made a sacrifice, and Mr. Case and his fellow-prisoners
Mr. Jenkyn, Mr. Watson, &c. were released and restored
to their livings. He was afterwards rector of St. Giles’s in
the Fields. In 1660, he was one of the ministers deputed
to wait on the king at the Hague; and in 1661, one of the
commissioners at the fruitless Savoy conference. He appears to have retained his living in Milk-street after the
restoration, as it was from that he was finally ejected. He
died May 30, 1682, and was buried in Christ church, Newgate-street. Dr. Jacomb, who preached his funeral sermon, gives him an excellent and probably a just character:
and it is certain that he lived to repent of the intemperance
of his harangues at the commencement of the rebellion.
This led him to subscribe the two papers declaring against
the proceedings of the parliament in 1648, and the bringing king Charles to a trial. His works consist chiefly of
sermons preached on public occasions, before the parliament and at funerals, enumerated by Calamy.
, a German divine, was originally of the Netherlands, but born at Gottingen in
, a German divine, was originally of the
Netherlands, but born at Gottingen in the duchy of Brunswick, May 18, 1533, of a family that had been ruined in
the wars for religion. His father, who had embraced the
principles of the reformers, taught and preached in England, Scotland, and Spain. The son studied at various academies, and had, among his other masters, Melancthon and
Camerarius. In 1563 he was invited to the chair of philosophy and eloquence at Rostock, and in a tour to Italy
received the degree of doctor of laws in the university of
Pisa. He was afterwards professor of philosophy at Helmstadt, where he died April 9, 1613. He carried on a correspondence with most of the learned men of his time. He
was particularly conversant in the Greek fathers. Along
with Dr. Duncan Liddel and Cornelius Martin, he opposed
the opinion of Daniel Hoffman, and some others, who
maintained that philosophy was irreconcileable with theology, and that there are many things true in the latter
which are false in the former. He wrote a great many
works in verse and prose, and in Greek and Latin, principally annotations on Cebes’ Table, Epictetus, Xenophon’s
Cyropsedia, Demetrius Phalereus, Xenophon’s Memorabilia, &c. and a collection of letters, Francfort, 1687, 8vo.
Many of his letters also occur in the writings of his contemporaries. His life is in “Vitæ eruditissimorum in re
litteraria virorum,
” Leipsic,
, a German divine, who flourished in the sixteenth century, and died Aug. 1, 1607,
, a German divine, who flourished in
the sixteenth century, and died Aug. 1, 1607, aged fortyfive, was president of the college of Stade, and one of
the first of those writers who were called Scriptural philosophers. They supposed all philosophy to be derived from
divine revelation, and despairing of being able to arrive at
any true knowledge of nature, by the light of reason, had
recourse to the sacred oracles, and particularly to the
Mosaic history of the creation, and endeavoured upon this
foundation to raise a new structure of philosophy. Gasman
was also dissatisfied with the unprofitable subtleties of the
Aristotelian philosophy, and determined, in the study of nature, rather to rely upon the decision of the sacred writings,
than upon the doctrine of the ancient heathen philosophers.
Even in his explanation of scripture he refused to call in
the assistance of philosophical rules of interpretation. In
a work entitled “Cosmopceia,
” on the formation of the
world, he derives his physical doctrine from the scriptures;
ard in his “Modesta Assertio Philosophise et Christianas
et Verae,
” he professes to write Christian institutes of
grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, &c. Henry Alsted,
Dr. Dickinson, and Dr. Burnett, &c. are also ranked among
scriptural philosophers.
, a learned popish divine of conciliatory principles, was born in 1515, in the isle of
, a learned popish divine of
conciliatory principles, was born in 1515, in the isle of
Cadsand, near Bruges, whence he took his name. He was
deeply skilled in the languages, polite literature, civil law,
and divinity; and taught the belles lettres at Ghent, Bruges,
and other places with great reputation. He afterwards directed almost his sole attention to theological studies, and
retiring to Cologne, prosecuted his favourite idea of forming an union and reconciliation between the Roman catholics and protestants. With this view he published without
his name in 1562, a small work, entitled “De Officio Viri
pii, &c.
” which favouring the Roman catholic church, on
the general ground of authority, engaged him in a controversy with Calvin, who thought that it was written by Baudouin, a celebrated lawyer; and although the true author
was discovered, the controversy went on. The sentiments
of Cassander, however, appeared in so favourable a light to
the German princes, that they fixed upon him as a mediator in the religious disputes. Under this character he composed his famous piece entitled “Consultatio Cassandri,
”
in which he discusses the several articles of the Augsburg
confession, stating their difference from the doctrines of
the catholic church, and the concessions that might be
safely made with respect to them. This work, which was
written with great liberality, was much applauded by those
who were desirous of a coalition, but who were soon convinced that every attempt of this kind was nugatory. Cassander died in 1566. M. De Thou represents him as modest, void of arrogance and acrimony; and he was as ardent
in his wishes for a religious union, and made as many
concessions for the accomplishment of this object, as could be
expected from a person who continued in the catholic
communion. Others, his contemporaries, speak highly of
him, but many of his works were censured or condemned
by the council of Trent. His works were first printed separately, and afterwards collected in a folio volume, Paris,
1616. Dupin bestows a prolix, but interesting article on
Cassander.
, a divine of the seventeenth century, who deserves to be recorded as a
, a divine of the seventeenth century, who deserves to be recorded as a remarkable example
of literary generosity, joined to literary industry, was born
in 1606, at Hatley in Cambridgeshire. After going
through a course of grammatical education, he became a
member in 1621, of Emanuel college, in Cambridge, in
which he continued many years. Afterwards he removed
to St. John’s college for the convenience of the library
there, which was of great service to him in compiling his
grand work, his “Lexicon Heptaglotton.
” In due course
he took the several degrees of bachelor and master of arts,
and of bachelor and doctor in divinity; and the fame of his
learning occasioned his being chosen a member of the
royal society. His “Lexicon Heptaglotton
” cost him the
assiduous labour of eighteen years, but his unwearied diligence in this undertaking, injured his health, and impaired
his constitution. Besides this, the work was the entire
ruin of his fortune; for he spent upon it upwards of twelve
thousand pounds. The truth of the fact is positively asserted by Mr. Hearne, whose authority for it was a letter
which he had under Dr. Castell’s own hand; and Hearne
pathetically and justly complains, that our author should
meet with so very poor a reward for his incredible and indeed Herculean labours. The doctor, in 1666, having
wasted his patrimony, and incurred heavy debts, was reduced to extreme distress; when, probably in consideration of his learned labours and disinterested generosity,
he was in that year made king’s chaplain, and Arabic professor at Cambridge; and in 1668, he obtained a prebend
of Canterbury. In the next year he published his “Lexicon Heptaglotton;
” but the publication procured him no
compensation for his large expences and his indefatigable
diligence. The copies of the book lay almost entirely unsold upon his hands. He received, indeed, some additional
preferments; but they were by no means sufficient to recompense him for his great losses. The small vicarage of
Hatfield Peverell in Essex was bestowed upon him; and he
was afterwards presented to the rectory of Wodeham Walter in the same county. His last preferment, which was
towards the close of his life, was the rectory of Higharn
Gobion in Bedfordshire.
, a Spanish divine, was a native of Zamora, and of the order of St. Francis. He
, a Spanish divine, was a native of Zamora, and of the order of St. Francis. He flourished in the sixteenth century, under the reigns of the
emperor Charles V. and Philip II. and accompanied the
latter into England when his majesty married queen Mary.
De Castro after this appears to have resided in the
Netherlands, and was there promoted to the archbishopric of
Compostella; but before he could receive the necessary
documents from the pope, he died at Brussels, Feb. 13,
1558, in the sixty-third year of his age. His works were
printed at Paris in 1578, folio. The principal and most
valued was his “Treatise against Heresies,
” a work partly
historical, and partly controversial.
, a celebrated divine of the sixteenth century, was born in 1487 at Sienna, and taught
, a celebrated divine of the
sixteenth century, was born in 1487 at Sienna, and taught
law, till the age of thirty, under the name of Lancelot
Politi, but took that of Catharinus upon turning Dominican
in 1515. He then applied to the study of divinity, and became very eminent; appeared with great distinction at the
council of Trent, was made bishop of Minori 1547, and
archbishop of Conza 1551. He died 1553, aged 70, leaving several works, printed at Lyons, 1542, 8vo and at
the end of his “Enarrationes in Genesim,
” Rome, Commentaries on St. Paul’s,
”
and the other canonical epistles, Venice, Remedio alia pestilente Dottrina d'Ochino,
”
Rome,
, a very learned divine, was born at Pickwell, in Leicestershire, of which parish his
, a very learned divine, was born at
Pickwell, in Leicestershire, of which parish his father was
rector, Dec. 30, 1637. On the 9th of May, 1653, he was
admitted into St. JohnVcollege, in Cambridge, where he
took the degree of B. A. in 1656, and that of M. A. in 1660.
In August 1662, he was admitted to the vicarage of Islington, in Middlesex-, and some time after became chaplain
in ordinary to king Charles 11. He took the degree of
D. D. in 1672, and on the 16th of September, 1679, was
collated by the archbishop of Canterbury to the rectory of
Allhallows the Great, in Thames-street, London. In July
1681, he was incorporated D. D. at Oxford, and in
November 1684, he was installed canon of Windsor, upon
the death of Mr. John Rosewell; about which time, as
Mr. Wood tells us r he became rector of Hasely, in Oxfordshire; but that seems to be a mistake, as the rectory
of Hasely is annexed to the deanery of Windsor. He
resigned his rectory of Allhallows in 1689, and the vicarage of Islington in 1691; but on the 19th of November
before, namely, in 1690, he was admitted to the vicarage
of Isleworth, in Middlesex, which being a quiet and retired place, probably suited best his most studious temper.
He published: 1. “Primitive Christianity; or the Religion of the ancient Christians in the first ages of the Gospel,
” London, Tabulae Ecclesiastics,
” tables of the ecclesiastical
writers, Lond. Antiquitates Apostolicae:
or the history of the lives, acts, and martyrdoms of the
holy apostles of our Saviour, and the two evangelists, St.
Mark and St. Luke. To which is added an introductory
Discourse concerning the three great dispensations of the
church, Patriarchal, Mosaical, and Evangelical. Being a
continuation of `Antiquitates Christianas,' or the Life and
Death of Holy Jesus,
” written by Jeremy Taylor, afterward bishop of Down and Connor, Lond. 1676, fol. 4.
“Apostolici, or the History of the lives, acts, deaths, and
martyrdomsof those who were contemporaries with or
immediately succeeded the Apostles as also of the
most eminent of the primitive fathers for the first three
hundred years. To which is added, a Chronology of the
three first ages of the Church,
” Lond. A
Sermon preached before the right honourable the lordmayor, aldermen, and citizens of London, at St. Mary-leBuw, on the fifth of November, M.DC.LXXX.
” London,
1680, 4to. 6. “A Dissertation concerning the Government of the Ancient Church, by bishops, metropolitans,
and patriarchs. More particularly concerning the ancient
power and jurisdiction of the bishops of Rome, and the
encroachments of that upon other sees, especially the see
of Constantinople;
” Lond. Ecclesiastic!,
or the History of the lives, acts, deaths, and writings of
the most eminent Fathers of the Church that flourished in
the fourth century. Wherein, among other things, an
account is given of the rise, growth, and progress of
Arianism, and all other sects of that age descending from
it. Together with an Introduction, containing an historical account of the state of Paganism under the first
Christian emperor,
” Lond. 1682, fol. 8. “A Sermon
preached before the king at Whitehall, on Sunday, January 18, 1684-5, on Psalm iv. 7. Publisheo 1 by his majesties special command,
” Lond. Chartopbylax Ecclesiasticus,
” Lond. Tabulae Ecclesiastics,
” above-mentioned, and a kind of abridgment of the “Historia Literaria,
” and contams a short account of most of the ecclesiastical writers from the birth of Christ to 1517. 1O.
“Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Historia Literaria i. e. A
Literary History of Ecclesiastical Writers, in two parts,
”
fol. the first printed at Lond. A Serious Exhortation, with some important advices
relating to the late cases about Conformity, recommended
to the present dissenters from the Church of England.
” It
is the twenty-second in the “London Cases.
” This very
learned person died at Windsor, on the 4th of August,
1713, and was buried in Islington church, where a monument was erected to his memory. He was an excellent
pud universal scholar, an elegant and polite writer, and a
florid and very eloquent preacher. He was thoroughly
acquainted with the history and constitution of the Christian church. His works, particularly his Lives of the
apostles, Lives of the fathers, and Primitive Christianity,
evince his great knowledge of antiquity, and are justly esteemed the best books written upon those important subjects. Yet the “Historia Literaria
” is perhaps the work
on which his fume will now be thought principally to depend. This very useful work was reprinted at Geneva, in
1705 and 1720, but the best edition is that printed at the
Clarendon press, by subscription, in 2 vols. fol, 1740—
1743, which contains the author’s last corrections and additions, and additions by other hands. What share Mr.
Henry Wharton had in this work will be noticed in our life
of that writer. From a manuscript letter of Cave’s in our
possession, it appears that he had much reason to complain
of Wharton. During the last twelve years of his life Cave
had repeatedly revised this history, and made alterations
and additions equal to one third part of the work, all which
were carefully incorporated in the new edition. The copy
thus improved, he left in the hands of his executors, the
lord chief justice Reeve, and the rev. Dr. Jones, canon of
Windsor, but they both dying soon after the work went
to press, Dr. Daniel Waterland undertook the care of it.
The venerable Dr. Watson, bishop of Llandaff, observes,
that “Casimiri Oudini Commentarius de Scriptoribus Ecclesix, &c.
” Leipsic, Historia Literaria,
” and other works of
the same kind.
wn in Franconia, where his father was minister. His mother, Mary Zehners, was daughter of the famous divine, Joachim Zehners. He came of a family in which learning seems
, an eminent critic and geographer, was born 1638, at Smalcalde, a little town in Franconia, where his father was minister. His mother, Mary Zehners, was daughter of the famous divine, Joachim Zehners. He came of a family in which learning seems to have been hereditary. When three years old, he had the misfortune to lose his father, but his mother took care of his education. He began his studies in the college of Smalcalde, and at eighteen was removed to Jena, to finish his studies in that university. During a residence of three years in this place, he applied to classical learning under Bosius, to philosophy under Bechman, to the Oriental languages under Frischmuth, and to mathematics under Weigelius. In 1659 he quitted Jena to go to Giessen, to study divinity under Peter Haberkorn. He afterwards returned to Jena, and took a doctor’s degree there in 1666. The year following he was made professor of Hebrew and morai philosophy at Weissenfels, in which office he continued for seven years. In 1673 he was called to Weimar, to be rector of the college there, which, at the end of three years, he exchanged for a similar rank at Zeits. After two years stay here, the college of Mersbourg was offered to him, which he accepted. His learning, his abilities, and his diligence, soon rendered this college famous, and drew a great number of students; and the place was so agreeable to him, that he determined to end his days there; but Providence disposed of him otherwise. For the king of Prussia, having founded an university at Halle in 1693, prevailed upon him to be professor of eloquence and history in it, and here he composed a great part of his works. His great application shortened his days, and hastened on the infirmities of old age. He was a long time afflicted with the stone, but never could be persuaded to seek assistance from medicine. He died, 1707, in his sixty-ninth year.
ser of vulgar notions, and a believer in magical incantations; a fighter of duels, and a composer of divine sonnets; an ardent lover of truth, and a retailer of visionary
, a celebrated sculptor and engraver of Florence, was born in 1500, and intended to be
trained to music but, at fifteen years of age, bound himself, contrary to his father’s inclinations, apprentice to a
jeweller and goldsmith, under whom he made such a progress, as presently to rival the most skilful in the business.
He had also a turn for other arts: and in particular an
early taste for drawing and designing, which he afterwards
cultivated. Nor did he neglect music, but must have excelled in some degree in it; for, assisting at a concert before
Clement VII. that pope took him into his service, in the
double capacity of goldsmith and musician. He applied
himself also to seal-engraving; learned to make curious damaskeenings of steel and silver on Turkish daggers, &c. and
was very ingenious in medals and rings. But Cellini excelled in arms, as well as in arts; and Clement VII. valued him
as much for his bravery as for his skill in his profession.
When the duke of Bourbon laid siege to Rome, and the city
was taken and plundered, the pope committed the castle of
St. Angelo to Cellini; who defended it like a man bred to
arms, and did not suffer it to surrender but by c?.pitulation.
Meanwhile, Cellini was one of those great wits, wh'o
may truly be said to have bordered upon madness; he was
of a desultory, capricious, unequal humour, which involved him perpetually in adventures that often threatened to prove fatal to him. He travelled among the cities
of Italy, but chiefly resided at Rome where he was sometimes in favour with the great, and sometimes out. He
consorted with all the first artists in their several ways, with
Michael Angelo, Julio Romano, &c. Finding himself at
length upon ill terms in Italy, he formed a resolution of
going to France; and, passing from Rome through Florence, Bologna, and Venice, he arrived at Padua, where
he was most kindly received by, and made some stay with,
the famous Pietro Bembo. From Padua he travelled
through Swisserland, visited Geneva in his way to Lyons,
and, after resting a few days in this last city, arrived safe
at Paris. He met with a gracious reception from Francis I.
who would have taken him into his service; but, conceiving a dislike to France from a sudden illness he fell into
there, he returned to Italy. He was scarcely arrived,
when, being accused of having robbed the castle of St.
Angelo of a great treasure at the time that Rome was
sacked by the Spaniards, he was arrested and sent prisoner thither. When set at liberty, after many hardships
and difficulties, he entered into the service of the French
king, and set out with the cardinal of Ferrara for Paris:
where when they arrived, being highly disgusted at the
cardinal’s proposing what he thought an inconsiderable
salary, he abruptly undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
He was, however, pursued and brought back to the king,
who settled a handsome salary upon him, assigned him a
house to work in at Paris, and granted him shortly after a
naturalization. But here, getting as usual into scrapes
and quarrels, and particularly having offended madame
d'Estampes, the king’s mistress, he was exposed to endless
troubles and persecutions; with which at length being
wearied out, he obtained the king’s permission to return
to Italy, and went to Florence; where he was kindly received by Cosmo de Medici, the grand duke, and engaged
himself in his service. Here again, disgusted with some
of the duke’s servants (for he could not accommodate himself to, or agree with, any body), he took a trip to Venice,
where he was greatly caressed by Titian, Sansovino, and
other ingenious artists; but, after a short stay, returned to
Florence, and resumed his business. He died in 1570.
His life was translated into English by Dr. Nugent, and
published in 1771, 2 vols. 8vo, with this title: “The Life
of Benevenuto Cellini, a Florentine artist; containing a
variety of curious and interesting particulars relative to
painting, sculpture, and architecture, and the history of
his own time.
” The original, written in the Tuscan language, lay in manuscript above a century and a half.
Though it was read with the greatest pleasure by the
learned of Italy, no man was hardy enough, during this
long period, to introduce to the world a book, in which
the successors of St. Peter were handled so roughly;
a narrative, where artists and sovereign princes, cardinals and courtezans, ministers of state and mechanics,
are treated with equal impartiality. At length, in 1730,
an enterprising Neapolitan, encouraged by Dr. Antonio
Cocchi, one of the politest scholars in Europe, published
it in one vol. 4to, but it soon was prohibited, and became
scarce. According to his own account, Cellini was at once
a man of pleasure and a slave to superstition; a despiser
of vulgar notions, and a believer in magical incantations;
a fighter of duels, and a composer of divine sonnets; an
ardent lover of truth, and a retailer of visionary fancies;
an admirer of papal power, and a hater of popes; art
offender against the laws, with a strong reliance on divine
providence. Such heterogeneous mixtures, however, generally form an amusing book, and Cellini’s life is amusing and interesting in a very high degree. It must not,
however, be omitted, that Cellini published two treatises
on the subject of his art, “Duo trattati, uno intorno alle
oito principal! arti dell* oreficiera, Paltro in materia dell*
arte della scoltura,
” &c.
Christian religion; for an Epicurean would of course reject, without examination, all pretensions to divine communications or powers. Yet his hostility, or the great pains
, a celebrated philosopher of the Epicurean
sect, flourished in the second century under Adrian and
Antoninus Pius, and is the person to whom Lucian has
dedicated his “Pseudamantis.
” He wrote a bitter invective against the Christian religion, under the title of
“The true Word,
” which was answered by Origen with
great ability in a work consisting of eight books. His “True
Word
” is lost; but his objections against Christianity may
be known from the extracts which are preserved of it in
Origen’s answer. It is agreed on all hands, that he was a
most subtle adversary, perfectly versed in all the arts of
controversy, and as learned as he was ingenious: so that
it is no wonder if the primitive Christians thought nothing
less than such a champion as Origen a match for him.
Although he sometimes recurs to Platonic and Stoic modes
of reasoning, he is expressly ranked by Lucian, as well as
Origen, among the Epicureans; and this supposition best
accounts for the violence with which he opposed the Christian religion; for an Epicurean would of course reject,
without examination, all pretensions to divine communications or powers. Yet his hostility, or the great pains he
took to display it, affords some strong testimonies in favour
of the Christian religion, as may be seen in Lardner, and
other writers.
, an eminent protestant divine, was born in 1701, at Geneva, where he probably received the
, an eminent protestant divine, was born in 1701, at Geneva, where he probably received the first rudiments of education. The church being chosen for his profession, after passing through the usual probationary exercises, he was admitted into the order of priesthood. In the ministry his reputation as a preacher and an orator soon became so popular and extensive, that in 1728 he was elected pastor at the Hague, and his conduct in this establishment, while it contributed to his own reputation, redounded no less to the honour of those who had appointed him. Having adorned his ministry by the purity of his manners, the excellence of the discourses which he delivered from the pulpit, and his numerous writings in defence of revealed religion, he died in 1786, at the age of eighty-five, after having punctually discharged his duty as a pastor during the period of fifty-eight years. The unfortunate supported by his consolation, the youth enlightened by his instructions, and the poor succoured by his charity, lamenting the loss which they had sustained by the death of a benefactor and a friend, proved more eloquent attestations of his merit, than any panegyric which might have been pronounced by the most sublime orator. His sermons were distinguished by a perspicuous style and a pure morality. They seemed to flow not only from a man who practised what he taught, but from one who, acquainted with the inmost recesses of the human heart, could exert his eloquence to win his hearers to the interests of virtue and religion. His portrait, which is prefixed to his translation of the Holy Bible, seems to confirm the relation of his friends, who say that his countenance was interesting and attractive. In his manners he was polite and attentive; in his address mild and insinuating. His literary excellence consisted in a judicious and happy arrangement of his subjects, delivered in a plain and unaffected style. He made no pretensions to originality, but he illustrated the works of other writers, by introducing them to his countrymen in a language that was more familiar to them.
, an eminent French protestant divine, was born in Dauphiny, and was long minister at Montelimart,
, an eminent French protestant
divine, was born in Dauphiny, and was long minister at
Montelimart, in that province, from whence he removed
in 16 12 to Montaubon, to be professor of divinity; and
was killed at the siege of that place by a cannon ball in
1621. He was no less distinguished among his party as a
statesman than as a divine. No man opposed the artifices
employed by the court to distress the protestants with
more steadiness and inflexibility. Varillas says it was he
who drew up the edict of Nantz. Though politics took up
a great part of his time, he acquired a large fund of extensive learning, as appears from his writings. His treatise “De œcumenico pontifice,
” and his “Epistolæ Jesuiticæ,
” are commended by Scaliger. Hjs principal
work is his “Catholica Panstratia, or the Wars of the
Lord,
” in which the controversy between the protestants
and Roman catholics is learnedly handled. It was written
at the desire of the synod of the reformed churches in
France, to confute Bellarmine. The synod of Privas, in
1612, ordered him 2900 livres to defray the charges of the
impression of the first three volumes. Though this work
makes four large folio volumes, it is not complete: for it
wants the controversy concerning the church, intended
for a fifth volume, which the author’s death prevented
him from finishing. This body of controversy was printed
at Geneva in 1626, under the care of Turretin, professor
of divinity. An abridgment of it was published in the
same city in 1643, in one vol. folio, by Frederick Spanheim,
the father. His “Corpus Theologicum,
” and his “Epistolae Jesuiticae,
” were printed in a small folio volume, De cecumenico pontifice
” was also published in
8vo, Genev.
n the course of this lecture he preached some sermons on the confirmation which miracles gave to the divine mission of Christ, and the truth of his religion; and vindicated
While Mr. Chandler was minister of the congregation at
Peckham, some gentlemen of the several denominations
of dissenters in the city, came to a resolution to set up and
support a weekly evening lecture at the Old Jewry, for the
winter half year. The subjects to be treated in this lecture were the evidences of natural and revealed religion,
and answers to the principal objections against them. Two
of the most eminent young ministers among the dissenters
were appointed for the execution of this design, of which
Mr. Chandler was one, and Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Lardner,
who is so justly celebrated for his learned writings, was
another. But after some time this lecture was dropped,
and another of the same kind set up, to be preached by
one person only, it being judged that it might then be
conducted with more consistency of reason and uniformity
of design; and Mr. Chandler was appointed for this service. In the course of this lecture he preached some
sermons on the confirmation which miracles gave to the
divine mission of Christ, and the truth of his religion; and
vindicated the argument against the objections of Collins,
in his “Discourse of the grounds and reasons of the
Christian religion.
” These sermons, by the advice of a
friend, he enlarged, and threw into the form of a continued treatise, and published in 1725, 8vo, under the
following title: “A Vindication of the Christian Religion,
in two parts, I. A discourse on the nature and use of Miracles II. An answer to a late book,entitled a Discourse
on the grounds and reasons of the Christian religion.
”
Having presented a copy of this book to archbishop Wake,
his grace expressed his sense of the value of the favour,
in a letter, which is an honourable testimony to Mr.
Chandler’s merit. It appears from the letter, that the
archbishop did not then know that the author was any other
than a bookseller; for he says: “I cannot but own myself
to be surprised to see so much good learning and just reasoning in a person of your profession; and do think it a
pity you should not rather spend your time in writing books
than in selling them. But I am glad, since your circumstances oblige you to the latter, that you do not wholly
omit the former.
” Besides gaining the archbishop’s
approbation, Mr. Chandler’s performance considerably advanced his reputation in general, and contributed to his
receiving an invitation, about 1726, to settle as a minister
with the congregation in the Old Jewry, which was one of
the most respectable in London. Here he continued, first
as assistant, and afterwards as pastor, for the space of forty
years, and discharged the duties of the ministerial office
with great assiduity and ability, being much esteemed and
regarded by his own congregation, and acquiring a distinguished reputation, both as a preacher and a writer.
, a very learned and pious divine, bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, in Ireland, was descended,
, a very learned and pious divine,
bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, in Ireland, was descended, as he himself tells us, from parents in narrow
circumstances, and was born at Lexington, in Nottinghamshire, Dec. 10, 1512. He was sent to a grammar-school at Mansfield, in the same county; and thence, at
the age of seventeen, removed to Christ’s-college, in Cambridge; of which, after having taken his degrees of B. and
M. A. he was elected fellow in 1607. He became a very
eminent tutor, and was also remarkable for his abilities as
a disputant, concerning which the following anecdotes are
recorded. In 1624 king James visited the university of
Cambridge, lodged in Trinity-college, and was entertained with a philosophical act, and other academical performances. At these exercises Dr. Roberts of Trinity-college was respondent at St. Mary’s, where Chappel as
opponent pushed him so hard, that, finding himself unable
to keep up the dispute, he fainted. Upon this, the king,
who valued himself much upon his skill in such matters,
undertook to maintain the question, but with no better
success than the doctor; for Chappel was so much his superior at these logical weapons, that his majesty openly
professed his joy to find a man of great talents so good a
subject. Many years after this, sir William St. Leger
riding to Cork with the popish titular dean of that city,
Chappel, then dean of Cashel, and provost of Dublin, accidentally overtook them; upon which sir William, who
was then president of Munster, proposed that the two
deans should dispute, which, though Chappel was not
forward to accept, yet he did not decline. But the
popish dean, with great dexterity and address, extricated himself from this difficulty, saying, “Excuse me,
sir; I don't care to dispute with one who is wont to kill
his man.
”
ther reason but because he had enforced uniformity and strict church discipline in the college. This divine’s fate was somewhat peculiar, for although his conduct was consistent,
In 1638 his patrons, the earl of Strafford, and the archbishop of Canterbury, preferred him to the bishoprics of
Cork, Cloyne, and Ross; and he was consecrated at St.
Patrick’s, Dublin, Nov. 11, though he had done all he
could to avoid this honour. By the king’s command he
continued in his provostship till July 20, 1640; before
which time he had endeavoured to obtain a small bishopric
in England, that he might return to his native country, as
he tells us, and die in peace. But his endeavours were
fruitless; and he was left in Ireland to feel all the fury of
the storm, which he had long foreseen. He was attacked
in the house of commons with great bitterness by the puritan party, and obliged to come to Dublin from Cork,
and to put in sureties for his appearance. June 1641,
articles of impeachment were exhibited against him to the
house of peers, consisting of fourteen, though the substance
of them was reduced to two; the first, perjury, on a supposed breach of his oath as provost; the second, malice
towards the Irish, founded on discontinuing the Irish lecture during the time of his being provost. The prosecution was urged with great violence, and, as is supposed,
for no other reason but because he had enforced uniformity
and strict church discipline in the college. This divine’s
fate was somewhat peculiar, for although his conduct was
consistent, he was abused at Cambridge for being a puritan, and in Ireland for being a papist. Yet as we find the
name of archbishop Usher among his opponents in Ireland,
there seems reason to think that there was some foundation
for his unpopularity, independent of what was explicitly
stated. While, however, he laboured under these troubles,
he was exposed to still greater, by the breaking out of the
rebellion in the latter end of that year. He was under a
kind of confinement at Dublin, on account of the impeachment which was still depending; but at length obtained
leave to embark for England, for the sake of returning
thence to Cork, which, from Dublin, as things stood, he
could not safely do. He embarked Dec. 26, 1641, and
the next day landed at Milford-haven, after a double
escape, as himself phrases it, from the Irish wolves and
the Irish sea. He went from Milford-haven to Pembroke,
and thence to Tenby, where information was made of him
to the mayor, who committed him to gaol Jan. 25. After
lying there seven weeks, he was set at liberty by the interest of sir Hugh Owen, a member of parliament, upon
giving bond in 1000l. for his appearance; and March 16,
set out for Bristol. Here he learnt that the ship bound
from Cork to England, with a great part of his effects, was
lost near Minehead; and by this, among other things, he
lost his choice collection of books. After such a series of
misfortunes, and the civil confusions increasing, he withdrew to his native soil, where he spent the remainder of
his life in retirement and study; and died at Derby, where
he had some time resided, upon Whitsunday, 1649.
He published the year before his death, “Methodus
concionandi,
” that is, the method of preaching, which for
its usefulness was also translated into English. His “Use
of Holy Scripture,
” was printed afterwards in ’Tis
certain ‘The whole Duty of Man’ was written by one who
suffered by the troubles in Ireland; and some lines in this
piece give great grounds to conjecture that bishop Chappel
was the author. March 3, 1734.
” Thus we see this
prelate, as well as many other great and good persons,
comes in for part of the credit of that excellent book; yet
there is no explicit evidence of his having been the author
of it. It appears indeed to have been written before the
death of Charles I. although it was not published till 1657,
and the manner of it is agreeable enough to this prelate’s
plain and easy way of writing; but then there can be no
reason given why his name should be suppressed in the
title-page, when a posthumous work of his was actually
published with it but a few years before.
a Doctore Harvey aliisque præstitorum,” London, 1680, 4to. 19. “The harmony of natural and positive Divine Laws,” London, 1682, 8vo. 20. “Three Anatomic Lectures concerning,
, a very learned physician,
and voluminous writer, the son of the rev. Walter Charleton, M. A. some time vicar of Ilminster, and afterwards
rector of Shepton Mallet, in the county of Somerset,
was born at Shepton Mallet, February 2, 1619, and was
first educated by his father, a man of extensive capacity,
though but indifferently furnished with the goods of fortune. He was afterwards sent to Oxford, and entered of
Magdalen Hall in Lent term 1635, where he became the
pupil of the famous Dr. John Wilkins, afterwards bishop
of Chester, under whom he made great progress in logic
and philosophy, and was noted for assiduous application
and extensive capacity, which encouraged him to aim at
the accomplishments of an universal scholar. But as his
circumstances confined him to some particular profession,
he made choice of physic, and in a short time made as
great a progress in that as he had done in his former studies.
On the breaking out of the civil war, which brought the
king to Oxford, Mr. Charleton, by the favour of the king,
had the degree of doctor of physic conferred upon him in
February 1642, and was soon after made one of the physicians in ordinary to his majesty. These honours made
him be considered as a rising character, and exposed him
to that envy and resentment which he could never entirely
conquer. Upon the declension of the royal cause, he came
up to London, was admitted of the college of physicians,
acquired considerable practice, and lived in much esteem
with the ablest and most learned men of the profession;
such as sir Francis Prujean, sir George Ent, Dr. William
Harvey, and others. In the space of ten years before the
Restoration, he wrote and published several very ingenious
and learned treatises, as well on physical as other subjects,
by which he gained great reputation abroad as well as at
home; and though they are now less regarded than perhaps they deserve, yet they were then received with almost universal approbation. He became, as Wood tells
us, physician in ordinary to king Charles II. while in exile,
which honour he retained after the king’s return; and,
upon the founding of the royal society, was chosen one of
the first members. Among other patrons and friends were
William Cavendish, duke of Newcastle, whose life Dr.
Cliarleton translated into Latin in a very clear and elegant
style, and the celebrated Hobbes, but this intimacy, with:
his avowed respect for the Epicurean philosophy, drew
some suspicions upon him in regard to his religion, notwithstanding the pains he had taken to distinguish between
the religious and philosophical opinions of Epicurus in his
own writings against infidelity. Few circumstances seem
to have drawn more censure on him than his venturing to
differ in opinion from the celebrated Inigo Jones respecting
Stonehenge, which Jones attributed to the Romans, and
asserted to be a temple dedicated by them to the god Coelus, or Coelum; Dr. Charleton referred this antiquity to
later and more barbarous times, and transmitted Jones’s
book, which was not published till after its author’s death,
to Olaus Wormius, who wrote him several letters, tending
to fortify him in his own sentiment, by proving that this
work ought rather to be attributed to his countrymen the
Danes. With this assistance Dr. Charleton drew up a
treatise, offering many strong arguments to shew, that this
could not be a Roman temple, and several plausible reasons why it ought rather to be considered as a Danish monument; but his book, though learned, and enriched with
a great variety of curious observations, was but indifferently
received, and but coldly defended by his friends. Jones’s
son-in-law answered it with intemperate warmth, and many
liberties were taken by others with Dr. Charleton’s character, although sir William Dugdale and some other eminent antiquaries owned themselves to be of our author’s
opinion; but it is now supposed that both are wrong.
Notwithstanding this clamour, Dr. Charleton’s fame was
advanced by his anatomical prelections in the college
theatre, in the spring of 1683, and his satisfactory defence
of the immortal Harvey’s claim to the discovery of the
circulation of the blood, against the pretence that was set
up in favour of father Paul. In 1689 he was chosen president of the college of physicians, in which office he continued to the year 1691. A little after this, his circumstances becoming narrow, he found it necessary to seek a
retreat in the island of Jersey; but the causes of this are not
explained, nor have we been able to discover how long he
continued in Jersey, or whether he returned afterwards to
London. All that is known with certainty is, that he died
in the latter end of 1707, and in the eighty-eighth year
of his age. He appears from his writings to have been a
man of extensive learning, a lover of the constitution in
church and state, and so much a lover of his country as to
refuse a professor’s chair in the university of Padua. In
his junior years he dedicated much of his time to the study
of philosophy and polite literature, was as well read in
the Greek and Roman authors as any man of his time, and
he was taught very early by his excellent tutor, bishop
Wilkins, to digest his knowledge so as to command it readily
when occasion required. In every branch of his own
profession he has left testimonies of his diligence and his
capacity; and whoever considers the plainness and perspicuity of his language, the pains he has taken to collect
and produce the opinions of the old physicians, in order
to compare them with the moderns, the just remarks with
which these collections and comparisons are attended, the
succinctness with which all this is dispatched, and the
great accuracy of that method in which his books are
written, will readily agree that he was equal to most of his
contemporaries. As an antiquary, he had taken much pains
in perusing our ancient historians, and in observing their
excellencies as well as their defects. But, above all, he
was studious of connecting the sciences with each other,
and thereby rendering them severally more perfect; in
which, if he did not absolutely succeed himself, he had at
least the satisfaction of opening the way to others, of showing the true road to perfection, and pointing out the
means of applying and making those discoveries useful,
which have followed in succeeding times. There is also
good reason to believe, that though we have few or none
of his writings extant that were composed during the last
twenty years of his life, yet he was not idle during that
space, but committed many things to paper, as materials
at least for other works that he designed. There is now a
large collection of his ms papers and letters on subjects of
philosophy and natural history in the British Museum.
(Ayscough’s Catalogue.) His printed works are, 1 . “Spiritus
Gorgonicus vi sua saxipara exutus, sive de causis, signis,
et sanatione Lithiaseos,
” Leyden, The darkness
of Atheism discovered by the light of nature, a physicotheological treatise,
” London, The Ephesian and Cimmerian Matrons, two remarkable examples of
the power of Love and Wit/ 7 London, 1653 and 1658, 8vo.
4.
” Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charletoniana: or a
fabric of natural science erected upon the most ancient
hypothesis of atoms,“London, 1654, in fol. 5.
” The Immortality of the human Soul demonstrated by reasons natural,“London, 1657, 4to. 6.
” Oeconomia Animalis novis Anatomicorum inventis, indeque desumptis modernorum Medicorum Hypothesibus Physicis superstructa et
mechanice explicata,“London, 1658, 12mo; Amsterdam,
1659, 12mo; Leyden, 1678, 12mO; Hague, 1681, 12mo.
It is likewise added to the last edition of
” Gulielmi Cole
de secretione animali cogitata.“7.
” Natural history of
nutrition, life, and voluntary motion, containing all the
new discoveries of anatomists,“&c. London, 1658, 4to.
8.
” Exercitationes Physico-Anatomicse de Oeconomia Animali,“London, 1659, 8vo printed afterwards several
times abroad. 9.
” Exercitationes Pathologicæ, in quibus
morborum pene omnium natura, generatio, et causae ex
novis Anatomicorum inventis sedulo inquiruntur,“London,
160, and 1661, 4to. 10.
” Character of his most sacred
Majesty Charles II. King of Great Britain, France, and
Ireland,“London, 1660, one sheet, 4to. 11.
” Disquisitiones duae Anatomico-Physica? altera Anatome pueri de
ccelo tacti, altera de Proprietatibus Cerebri humani,“London, 1664, 8vo. 12.
” Chorea Gigantum, or the most
famous antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stonehenge, standing on Salisbury Plain, restored to the Danes,“London, 1663, 4to. 13.
” Onomasticon Zoicon, plerorumque animalium differentias et nomina propria pluribus
linguis exponens. Cui accedunt Mantissa Anatomice, et
quiedam de variis Fossilium generibus,“London, 1668 and
1671, 4to; Oxon. 1677, fol. 14.
” Two Philosophical
Discourses the first concerning the different wits of men
the second concerning the mystery of Vintners, or a discourse of the various sicknesses of wines, and their respective remedies at this day commonly used, &c. London, 1663, 1675, 1692, 8vo. 15. “De Scorbuto Liber
singularis. Cui accessit Epiphonema in Medicastros,
”
London, Natural
History of the Passions,
” London, Enquiries into Humane Nature, in six Anatomy-prelections in
the new theatre of the royal college of physicians in London,
” London, Oratio Anniversaria habita in Theatro inclyti Collegii Medicorum Londinensis 5to
Augusti 1680, in commemorationem Beneficiorum a
Doctore Harvey aliisque præstitorum,
” London, 1680, 4to.
19. “The harmony of natural and positive Divine Laws,
”
London, Three Anatomic Lectures concerning, l.The motion of the blood through the veins and
arteries. 2. The organic structure of the heart. 3. The
efficient cause of the heart’s pulsation. Read in the 19th,
20th, and 21st day of March 1682, in the anatomic theatre
of his majesty’s royal college of Physicians in London,
”
London, Inquisitio Physlca de causis
Catameniorum, et Uteri Rheumatismo, in quo probatur
sanguinem in animali fermentescere nunquam,
” London,
Gulielmi Ducis Novicastrensis vita,
”
London, A Ternary of Paradoxes, of the
magnetic cure of wounds, nativity of tartar in wine, and
image of God in man,
” London, The
errors of physicians concerning Defluxions called Deliramenta Catarrhi,
” London, Epicurus his Morals,
” London, The Life
of Marcellus,
” translated from Plutarch, and printed in the
second volume of “Plutarch’s Lives translated from the
Greek by several hands,
” London,
ful preacher, richly furnished and adorned with the most excellent virtues and graces both moral and divine; such as made him very remarkable and singular, and deservedly
, was born at Paris in 1541. Though
his parents were in narrow circumstances, yet discovering
their son’s capacity, they were particularly attentive to his
education. After making a considerable proficiency in
grammar-learning, he applied to logic, metaphysics, moral
and natural philosophy, and afterwards studied civil and
common law at the universities of Orleans and Bourges,
and commenced doctor in that faculty. Upon his return
to Paris, he was admitted an advocate in the court of parliament. He always declared the bar to be the best and
most improving school in the world; and accordingly attended at all the public hearings for five or six years: but
foreseeing that preferment in this way, if ever attained at
all, was like to come very slow, as he had neither private
interest, nor relations among the solicitors and proctors of
the court, he gave over that employment, and closely applied to the study of divinity. By his superior pulpit
eloquence, he soon came into high reputation with the
greatest and most learned men of his time, insomuch that
the bishops seemed to strive which of them should get him
into his diocese; making him an offer of being theological
canon or divinity lecturer in their churches, and of other
dignities and benefices, besides giving him noble presents.
He was successively theologal of Bazas, Aqcs, Lethoure,
Agen, Cahors, and Condom, canon and schoolmaster in
the church of Bourdeaux, and chanter in the church of
Condom. Queen Margaret, duchess of Bulois, entertained him for her preacher in ordinary; and the king,
though at that time a protestant, frequently did him the
honour to be one of his audience. He was also retained
by the cardinal d'Armagnac, the pope’s legate at Avignon,
who had a great value for him; yet amidst all these promotions, he never took any degree or title in divinity, but
satisfied himself with deserving and being capable of the
highest. After about eighteen years absence from Paris,
he resolved to end his days there; and being a lover of
retirement, vowed to become a Carthusian. On his arrival
at Paris, he communicated his intention to the prior of the
order, but was rejected, notwithstanding his most pressing
entreaties. They told him that he could not be received
on account of his age, then about forty-eight, and that the
order required all the vigour of youth to support its austerities. He next addressed himself to the Celestines at
Paris, but with the same success, and for the same reasons:
in this embarrassment, he was assured by three learned
casuists, that as he was no ways accessary to the non -performance of his vow, it was no longer binding; and that
he might, with a very safe conscience, continue in the
world as a secular. He preached, however, a course of
Lent sermons at Angers in 1589. Going afterwards to
Bourdeaux, he contracted a very intimate friendship with
Michael de Montagne, author of the well known Essays,
from whom he received all possible testimonies of regard;
for, among other things, Montagne ordered by his last
will, that in case he should leave no issue-male of his own,
M. Charron should, after his decease, be entitled to bear
the coat of arms plain, as they belonged to his noble
family, and Charron, in return, made Montagne’s brotherin-law his residuary legatee. He staid at Bourdeaux from
1589 to 1593; and in that interval composed his book,
entitled, “Les Trois Verge’s,
” which he published in
books of Wisdom.
” Whilst he was thus
employed, the bishop of Condom, to draw him into his
diocese, presented him with the chaptership in his church;
and the theologal chair falling vacant about the same time,
made him an offer of that too, which -Charron accepted,
and resolved to settle there. In 1601 he printed at Bourdeaux his books “of Wisdom,
” which gave him a great
reputation, and made his character generally known.
October 1603, he made a journey to Paris, to thank the
Bishop of Boulogne; who, in order to have him near himself, had oifered him the place of theologal canon. This
he was disposed to accept of; but the moisture and coldness of the air at Boulogne, and its nearness to the sea,
not only made it, he said to a friend, a melancholy and
unpleasant place, but very unwholesome too; adding, that
the sun was his visible god, as God was his invisible sun.
At Paris he began a new edition of his books “of Wisdom,
”
of which he lived to see but three or four sheets printed,
dying Nov. 16, 1603, of an apoplexy. The impression of
the new edition of his book “of Wisdom,
” with alterations
by the author, occasioned by the offence taken at some
passages in the former, was completed in 1604, by the
care of a friend; but as the Bourdeaux edition contained
some things that were either suppressed or softened in the
subsequent one, it was much sought after by the curious.
Hence the booksellers of several cities reprinted the book
after that edition; and this induced a Paris bookseller to
print an edition, to which he subjoined all the passages of
the first edition which had been struck out or corrected,
and all those which the president Jeannin, who was employed by the chancellor to examine the book, judged
necessary to be changed. This edition appeared in 1707.
There have been two translations of it into English, the
last by George Stanhope, D. D. printed in 1697. Dr.
Stanhope says, that M. Charron “was a person that feared
God, led a pious and good life, was charitably disposed,
a person of wisdom and conduct, serious and considerate;
a great philosopher, an eloquent orator, a famous and
powerful preacher, richly furnished and adorned with the
most excellent virtues and graces both moral and divine;
such as made him very remarkable and singular, and deservedly gave him the character of a good man and a good
Christian; such as preserve a great honour and esteem for
his memory among persons of worth and virtue, and will
continue to do so as long as the world shall last.
” From
this high praise considerable deductions may surely be
made. Charron’s fame has scarcely outlived his century;
his book on “Wisdom
” certainly abounds in ingenious
and original observations on moral topics, but gives a
gloomy picture of human nature and society. Neither is
it free from sentiments very hostile to revealed religion,
but so artfully disguised as to impose on so orthodox a divine as dean Stanhope.
e in 1539, and afterwards bishop of Macron. He is said never to have appeared to more advantage as a divine and a man of eloquence than when he prepared Francis I. for
Having an inclination to visit Italy, the bishop of Auxerre, who was going there in a diplomatic character, took him with him, but at Rome he found little enjoyment except in contemplating the remains of antiquity. The corruption of morals at the court of Rome appeared so atrocious in his eyes, that for many years afterwards he could not speak on the subject without indignation, and appears indeed to have conceived as bad an opinion of the court of Rome as any of the reformers, and expressed himself with as much severity. From Rome he went to Venice, and was induced to accept the office of teaching polite literature in the island of Cyprus, with a pension of two hundred crowns, and there he read lectures for two years with great success. He afterwards went into Egypt, Jerusalem, and Constantinople, and on his return home, the French ambassador at the Porte gave him letters of strong recommendation to Francis I. who appointed him his reader; and entertained him with the utmost familiarity. Chatel availed himself of this favour to procure advantages to learning and learned men; but although his sentiments were so far liberal as to admit that the church wanted reforming, he supported the catholic religion, and even assisted the inquisitors and informers. He was also averse to capital punishments for heresy, and involved himself in danger by pleading for some pretended heretics, who, it was reported, were to be put to death. He likewise appeased the king’s wrath against the Waldenses before the slaughter of Cabrioles and Merindol, and once delivered Dolet out of prison. His zeal for maintaining the rights of the Gallican church against the pretensions of the court of Rome, rendered him odious there, and the doctors of the Sorbonne were not less displeased with him for the protection he granted in 1545, to Robert Stephens, the celebrated printer. These were favourable symptoms of liberality, at least, if not of an inclination to befriend the cause of the reformation, and soften the rigours of persecution. But Chatel wanted firmness, and withdrawing his protection from Stephens, the latter was forced to retire into another country. Chatel was perhaps influenced by the favours heaped upon him by Francis T. who made him bishop of Tulle in 1539, and afterwards bishop of Macron. He is said never to have appeared to more advantage as a divine and a man of eloquence than when he prepared Francis I. for death, and delivered his funeral oration. Yet in this oration, by hinting that the soul of Francis had immediately gone to heaven, he alarmed the doctors of the Sorbonne, who complained that he was heretic enough to oppose the doctrine of purgatory. A more valid objection, perhaps, might have been his high praise of Francis I. whose character was not that of perfect purity.
, in Latin, a Capite Fontium, a learned divine, fifty-fifth general of the cordeliers, was a native of Bretany,
, in Latin, a Capite
Fontium, a learned divine, fifty-fifth general of the
cordeliers, was a native of Bretany, descended from a noble
and ancient family, and born in 1632. He was titular
archbishop of Csesarea, to exercise the episcopal office in
the diocese of Sens, in the absence of cardinal de Peleve.
He died May 26, 1595, at Rome, leaving several theological works; among them, “De necessaria Theologian
Scholasticse correctione,
” Paris, Confutation du Point d'Honneur,
” De Virgiuitate Marias et Josephi,
”
, D. D. a learned divine of the church of England, was born about 1740 in Westminster,
, D. D. a learned divine of the
church of England, was born about 1740 in Westminster,
and educated at Westminster school, on bishop Williams’ s
foundation. From that school he went to St. John’s college,
Cambridge, but did not continue long there; as Dr. Freind,
one of the canons of Christ church, gave him a studentship
in that celebrated college. Here he resided for many
years, taking his master’s degree in 1762, that of bachelor
of divinity in 1772, and that of D. D. in 1773. It has been
said he was for some time usher at Westminster school;
but this is doubtful. At Oxford he entered into orders in.
1.762, and was presented to the college curacy of Lathbury
near Newport Pagnel, and to the benefice of Badger in
Shropshire, by Isaac Hawkins Browne, esq, His other
and chief preferment, was the rectory of Droxford in
Hampshire, given him by Dr. North, bishop of Winchester,
whose chaplain he was. His learning was extensive; and
his manners, though somewhat austere, were yet amiable.
Bad health, however, created an unequal flow of spirits,
which injured the powers of his mind towards the close of
his life. He died in 1801, and was buried at Droxford.
Besides some fugitive pieces without his name, and a tew
occasional sermons, he wrote one of the ablest series of
“Remarks on Gibbon’s Roman History,
” Reply to Mr. Gibbon’s Vindication,
” Remarks
” was
the second, published in Olla
Podrida,
” and to have published an “Essay on the History
of Mezzotinto.
” As an amateur of the fine arts, he made a
valuable collection of prints and gems, especially Tassie’s
imitations, to whom he was an early and zealous patron.
, an eminent Lutheran divine, and one of the reformers in Germany, was born at Britzen, a
, an eminent Lutheran divine,
and one of the reformers in Germany, was born at Britzen,
a town in the marquisate of Brandenburg, in 1522. His
father was a poor wool-comber, who found it difficult to
give him much education, but his son’s industry supplied
the want in a great measure. After having learned the
rudiments of literature in a school near home, he went to
Magdeburg, where he made some progress in arts and languages. Then he removed to Francfort upon the Oder,
to cultivate philosophy under his relation George Sabinus;
and to Wittenburg, where he studied under Philip Melancthon. Afterwards he became a school-master in Prussia;
and, in 1552, was made librarian to the prince. He now
devoted himself wholly to the study of divinity, though he
was a considerable mathematician, and skilled particularly
in astronomy. After he had continued in the court of
Prussia three years, he returned to the university of Wittemberg, and lived in friendship with Melancthon, who
employed him in reading the com-mon-places. From thence
he removed to Brunswick, where he spent the last thirty
years of his life as pastor, and commenced D. D. at Rostock. He died April 8, 1586. His principal works are,
1. “Harmonia Evangeliorum,
” Francfort, Examen Concilii Tridentini.
”
3. “A treatise against the Jesuits,
” wherein he explained
to the Germans the doctrines and policy of those crafty
devisers, &c. His “Examination of the Council of Trent
”
has always been reckoned a very masterly performance,
and was translated and published in English, 1582, 4to.
, aprotestant divine, was born at Montchamps near Vire in Normandy, in 1507. He learned
, aprotestant divine,
was born at Montchamps near Vire in Normandy, in 1507.
He learned Hebrew under Vatablus at Paris, and having
gone to England, became of the household of the princess,
afterwards queen Elizabeth, whom he taught French. He
then went to Germany, where he married the daughter of
Tremellius, and this alliance procured him the assistance
of Tremellius in his Hebrew studies, in which he made
very distinguished progress, and became one of the first
Hebrew scholars and critics of his age. In 1559 he was
invited to Strasburgh, and thence went to Geneva, where
he taught Hebrew, and published an improved edition of
Pagninus’s Dictionary of that language. His love, however,
for his native country induced him to return to Caen, which
the civil wars soon obliged him to leave, and take refuge in
England: he again returned on the peace, but the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s day obliged him to escape to
the island of Guernsey, where he died in 1572. He
translated from the Syriac into Latin the “Targum Hierosolymitanum;
” and two years after his death, his “Rudimenta Hebraicse linguae,
” a very accurate work, was published at Wittemberg, 4to. He had designed to publish
an edition of the Bible in four languages, but did not live,
to accomplish it.
eserted the great principles of natural religion and morality; but in his present retirement he made divine revelation the more immediate object of his attention. The books
In consequence of the free mode of living in which our author had for some time indulged himself, besides the ill consequences that have been already mentioned, he at length brought on himself, as he informs us, an autumnal intermittent fever; but this he removed in a few weeks by taking the bark. He afterwards went on tolerably well for about a year, though neither so clear in his faculties, nor so gay in his temper, as he had formerly been. But the following autumn, he was suddenly seized with a vertiginous paroxysm, so alarming in its nature, as to approach nearly to a fit of an apoplexy. By degrees, his disorder turned to a constant violent head-ach, giddiness, and lowness of spirits upon which he entirely left off suppers, which he never resumed, and also confined himself at dinner to a small quantity of animal food, drinking but very little fermented liquors." The decline of his health and spirits occasioned him to be deserted by many of his more airy and jovial companions; and this circumstance contributed to the increase of his melancholy. He soon after retired into the country, into a fine air, and lived very low; and at this time he employed himself in the perusal of some of the most valuable theological writers. He bad never, even in his freer moments, deserted the great principles of natural religion and morality; but in his present retirement he made divine revelation the more immediate object of his attention. The books that he read were recommended to him by a worthy and learned clergyman of the church of England, whom he does not name, but whom he represents to be the man, that of all his numerous acquaintance, he the most wished to resemble.
earning in the university of Aberdeen, he applied to divinity under Mr. John Henderson, a celebrated divine of that time; but on the establishment of the reformation, Cheyne
, professor of philosophy, and rector
of the Scotch college at Doway in Flanders, was of the ancient family of Arnage, or Arnagie in Aberdeenshire,
where he was born in the early part of the sixteenth century. After studying classical and philosophical learning
in the university of Aberdeen, he applied to divinity under
Mr. John Henderson, a celebrated divine of that time; but
on the establishment of the reformation, Cheyne (as well as his master) went over to France, and taught philosophy for
fcome time in the college of St. Barbe at Paris. From
thence he went to Doway, where he taught philosophy for
several years, and was made rector of the Scotch college,
and canon and great penitentiary of the cathedral ofTournay.
He died in 1602, and was buried in that church under a
marble monument, with an inscription. The authors quoted
by Machenzie give him the character of one of the first
mathematicians and philosophers and most learned men of
his time. He wrote, 1. “Analysis in Philosophiam Aristot.
”
Duac. (Doway), De sphaera sen
globi ccelestis fabrica,
” ibid. De Geographia,
Kb. duo,
” ibid. Orationes duo, de perfecto Philosopho, &c.
” ibid. Analysis et
scholia in Aristot. lib. XIV.
” ibid. 1578, 8vo.
y, London, 1639. “Catches, Hounds, and Canons,” published in Hilton’s “Catch that Catch can,” 1652. “ Divine Anthems and Compositions to several Pieces of Poetry,” some
, Mus. D, was a native of Bristol,
and a disciple of Elway Bevin. In 1631, being then of
Christ-church college, Oxford, he took his degree of bachelor in music; and in 1636, was appointed one of the
organists of St. George’s chapel at Windsor, in the room
of Dr. John Munday, and soon after one of the organists
of the royal chapel at White-hall. After the restoration
he was appointed chanter of the king’s chapel, and one of
the chamber musicians to Charles II. In 1663, the university of Oxford conferred on him the degree of doctor
in music, at an act celebrated in St. Mary’s church. Dr.
Child, after having been organist of Windsor chapel sixtyfive years, died in that town 1697, at ninety years of age.
In the inscription on his grave -stone, in the same chapel,
it is recorded that he paved the body of that choir at his
own expense; he likewise gave 20l: towards building
the town -hall at Windsor, and 50l. to the corporation to
be disposed of in charitable uses, at their discretion. His
works are “Psalms for Three Voices,
” &c. with a continued base either for the organ or theorbo, composed
after the Italian way, London, 1639. “Catches, Hounds,
and Canons,
” published in Hilton’s “Catch that Catch
can,
” Divine Anthems and Compositions to several Pieces of Poetry,
” some of which were written by
Dr. Thomas Pierce, of Oxford. Some of his secular compositions likewise appeared in a book entitled “Court
Ayres,
” printed Collection of English Church
Music,
” in the British Museum.
, a divine and natural philosopher, was born in 1623, and educated at Rochester,
, a divine and natural philosopher, was born in 1623, and educated at Rochester,
whence he removed to Magdalen-college, Oxford, in
1640. and became one of the clerks of the house, but appears to have left the university on the breaking out of
the rebellion. When Oxford was surrendered to the
parliamentary forces, he returned and took his bachelor’s
degree, but two years after was expelled by the parliamentary visitors. He then subsisted by teaching school
at Feversham, in Kent, although not without interruption
from the republican party; but on the restoration, he was
made chaplain to Henry lord Herbert, was created D. D.
and had the rectory of Upway, in Dorsetshire, bestowed
upon him. Jn Jan. 1663, he was collated to the archdeaconry of Salisbury, and in June 1664 to the prebend
of Yatminster prima in the same church, by bishop Earle,
who valued him as a learned and pious divine, and a great
virtuoso. He died at Upway, Aug. 26, 1670, and was
buried in the chancel of his church. He published, 1. a
pamphlet entitled “Indago Astrologica,
” Syzygiasticon instauratum, or an Ephemerisof the places
and aspects of the Planets, &c.
” Lond. Britannia Baconica, or the natural rarities,
of England, Scotland, and Wales, historically related, ac$ording to the precepts of lord Bacon,
” &c.“Lond. 1661,
8vo. It was this work which first suggested to Dr. Plot his
” Natural History of Oxfordshire."
, a divine of the church of England, celebrated for his controversial talents,
, a divine of the church of England, celebrated for his controversial talents, was the son of William Chillingworth, citizen, afterwards mayor of Oxford, and born there October 1602. He was baptized on the last of that month, Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, but then fellow of St. John’s -college, being his godfather. After he had been educated in grammar learning at a private school in that city, he was admitted a scholar of Trinity-college, June 2, 1618, and elected fellow June 10, 1628; after having taken his degrees of B A. and M. A. in the regular way. He did not confine his studies to divinity: he applied himself with great success to mathematics; and, what shews the extent of his genius, he was also accounted a good poet. Accordingly, sir John Suckling has mentioned him in his Session of the Poets"
, a learned divine and antiquary, was born at Ey worth, in Bedfordshire, and was
, a learned divine and antiquary,
was born at Ey worth, in Bedfordshire, and was the son of
Paul Chishull, formerly bible clerk of Queen’s college,
Cambridge, and master of arts, as a member of Pembroke
college, Oxford. His son being intended for the church,
was sent to Oxford, became a scholar of Corpus Christi
college, and received the degree of master of arts in
February 1693; and he was chosen, likewise, a fellow of
his college. Previously to his commencing master of arts,
he had published in 1692, a Latin poem, inquarto, on
occasion of the famous battle of La Hogue, entitled, “Gulielmo Tertio terra manque principi invictissimo in Gallos
pugna navali nuperrime devictos, ' carmen heroic urn,
”
Oxon. When queen Mary died, on the 28th of December 1694, Mr. Chishull was one of the Oxford gentlemen
who exerted their poetical talents in deploring that melancholy event, and his tribute of loyalty is preserved in
the third volume of the Musse Anglicans, but is rather a
school exercise, than a production of genius. In 1698,
having obtained a grant of the traveller’s place, from the
society of Corpus Christi college, he sailed from England
on the 12th of September, and arrived on the 19th of November following at Smyrna. Before he set out on his
voyage, he preached a sermon to the Levant company,
which was published, and probably procured him to be
appointed chaplain to the English factory at Smyrna, in.
which station he continued till the 12th of February,
1701-2. On the 16th of June, 1705, he was admitted to
the degree of bachelor in divinity. In the next year he
engaged in a controversy, which at that time excited
considerable attention, by publishing “A charge of Heresy maintained against Mr. Dodwell’s late Epistolary Discourse concerning the Mortality of the Soul,
” London,
8vo. This was one of the principal books written in
answer to Dodwell on that subject. In 1707, Chishull
exerted his endeavours in opposing the absurdities and
enthusiasm of the French prophets, and their followers, in
a sermon, on the 23d of November, at Serjeant’s-inn
chapel, in Chancery-lane, which was published in the
beginning of 1708, and was entitled, “The great Danger
and Mistake of all new uninspired Prophecies relating to
the End of the World,
” with an appendix of historical
collections applicable to subject. On the 1st of September, in the same year, he was presented to the vicarage of
Walthamstow, in Essex; and in 1711, he had the honour
of being appointed one of the chaplains in ordinary to the
queen. About the same time, he published a visitation
and a few other occasional sermons, preached on public
occasions, all which were favourably received. But he,
soon became more distinguished for his researches in ancient literature and history.
l' s death as a public loss.” That our author sustained an excellent character, as a clergyman and a divine, cannot be doubted. Two letters, written by him to his friend
One of his, first publications in these sciences appeared in
1721, and was entitled, “Inscriptio Sigæa antiquissima
Βουστροφηδον exarata. Commentario earn HistoricoGrammatico-Critico illustravit Edmundus Chishull, S.T.B.
regiae majestati à sacris,
” folio. This was followed by
“Notarum ad inscriptionem Sigaeam appendicula; addita
a Sigaeo altera Antiochi Soteris inscriptione,
” folio, in
fifteen pages, without a date. Both these pieces were
afterwards incorporated in his “Antiquitates Asiaticae.
”
When Dr. Mead, in Dissertatio de Nummis quibusdam a Smyrnseis in Medicorum honorem percussis,
” which gave rise to a controversy very interesting to the professors of the medical art,
and amusing to the learned world in general. The question was, whether the physicians of ancient Rome were not
usually vile and despicable slaves, or whether there were
not some, at least, among them, who enjoyed the privileges
of a free condition, and the respect due to their services.
The history of this controversy will be found in the articles of
Mead and Middleton; but Mr. Chishull has not been deemed
happy in all his explanations of the Smyrnsean inscriptions.
In 1728 appeared in folio, his great work, “Antiquitates Asiaticoe Christianam Æram antecedentes ex primariis Monumentis Graecis descriptae, Latine versae, Notisque et Commentariis illustratae. Accedit Monumentum
Latinum Ancyranum.
” Dr. Mead contributed fifty-one
guineas, Dr. William Sherard twenty, and Dr. Lisle five
guineas towards this book, which was published by
subscription, at one guinea the common copy, and two o-uineas the royal paper. The work contains a collection of
inscriptions made by consul Sherard, Dr. Picenini, and
Dr. Lisle, afterwards bishop of St. Asaph, which was deposited in the earl of Oxford’s library, and is now in the
British Museum. Mr. Chislmll added to the “Antiquitates
Asiatics;
” two small pieces which he had before published,
viz. “Conjectaneade Nummo Ckhiii inscripto,
” and “her
Asite Poeticum,
” addressed to the rev. John Horn. Our
author not having succeeded in his explication of an inscription to Jupiter Ourios, afterwards cancelled it, and
substituted a different interpretation by Dr. Ashton, which
was more satisfactory; but our author did not submit in,
this case with so good a grace as might have been wished,
and was reasonably to be expected. He added also, at the
same time, another half sheet, with the head of Homer, of
which only fifty copies 'were printed. He had formed the
design of publishing a second volume, under the title of
“Antiquitates Asiatics? pars altera diversa, diversarum
Urbium inscripta Marmora complectens,
” and the printing
was begun; but the author’s death put a stop to the progress of it, and the manuscript was purchased at Dr. Askew’s sale in 1785 for the British Museum, for about 60l.
It is to be regretted that the learned Thomas Tyrwhitt declined being the editor of this second volume. Mr. ChishulPs printed books were sold by a marked catalogue by
Whiston in 1735. In 1731, Mr. Chishull was presented
to the rectory of South-church in Essex. This preferment
he did not long live to enjoy; for he departed the present
life at Walthamstow, on the 18th of May, 1733. Mr.
Clarke, of Chichester, writing to Mr. Bowyer, says, “I was
very sorry for Mr. Chishull' s death as a public loss.
” That
our author sustained an excellent character, as a clergyman and a divine, cannot be doubted. Two letters, written by him to his friend Mr. Bowyer, and which Mr.
Nichols has preserved, are evident proofs both of the piety
and benevolence “of his disposition. With respect to his
literary abilities, Dr. Taylor styles him
” Vir celeberrimus
ingenii acumine et literarum peritia, quibus excellebat
maxime;“and Dr. Mead has bestowed a high encomium
upon him, in the preface which introduces Mr. ChishulPs
Dissertation on the Smyrnxan Coins. The same eminent
physician testified his regard to the memory of his learned
friend, by publishing in 1747 our author’s
” Travels in
Turkey, and back to England," fol. They were originally
published at a guinea, in sheets, and in 1759, the remaining copies, which were numerous, were advertised by the
proprietors at fourteen shillings bound.
, whose family name was Kochhafe, or Rochhafe, was an eminent Lutheran divine, and a promoter of the reformation. He was born at Ingelsing
, whose family name was Kochhafe, or Rochhafe, was an eminent Lutheran divine, and a
promoter of the reformation. He was born at Ingelsing in
Suabia, in 1530, of parents who, discerning his capacity,
bestowed much pains on his education, and in his ninth
year sent him to Tubingen, where he was placed under the
ablest masters. Such was his proficiency that he was soon
after admitted into the university of that place, and at the
age of fifteen took his master’s degree with the greatest
credit. He then went to Wittemberg, and studied under
Melancthon, who expressed himself surprised at his having
so early attained academic honours, and received him into
his house. There also he heard some of Luther’s lectures.
After Luther’s death, and the interruption which the wars
occasioned to the university of Wittemberg, Chytreeus
went to Heidelberg, where he studied Hebrew, and to
Tubingen, where he took some lessons in mathematics;
but prince Maurice having restored the university of Wittemberg, and recalled Melancthon, Chytraeus went back
also, and completed his theological course. In 1548, having raised some money by private teaching, he visited a
considerable part of Italy, and on his return was invited to
become one of the professors of the university of Rostock,
where he acquired such reputation for learning, that various
offers were made to him by the princes of Germany, and
by the universities, all which he declined; and yet when
prince John Albert offered to increase his stipend as an
inducement for him to remain at Rostock, he refused to
accept it. He travelled, however, occasionally during his
residence here to such places as he was invited to assist the
reformation, or to give advice in founding schools and
colleges, but always returned in time for his regular courses
of lectures; and amidst his many public employments,
found leisure to write a great many works on subjects of
theology, philology, and history, which extended his
fame, he died June 25, 1600. His principal works are,
a commentary on the Revelations, and “C|ironologia historice lierodoti et Thucydidis,
” Strasburgh, Chroniconanni 1593, 1594, etinitii 1595,
” Leipsic, Vita D. Chytraei
memoriae posteritatis orationibus et carminibus consecrata,
”
Rostock, De vitaD. Chytrasi commentariorum libri quatuor, ex editis et ineditis
monumentis ita conpinnata, ut sit annalium instar et supplementorum pist_ Eccles. seculi XVI. speciatim rerum in
Lutherana ecclesia et academia Rostochiensi gestarum,
”
IJamtmrgh, 1720 1728, 4 vols. 8vo, Of so much importance was Chytncus above a century after his death, that hi$
personal history was thought a proper foundation and connecting medium, for a general history of the Lutheran
church,
, an English divine, was born in Canterbury about the year 1607, and in 1628 was
, an English divine, was born
in Canterbury about the year 1607, and in 1628 was entered
a student of Merton-college, in Oxford, where in October
1631, he took his degree of B. A. Afterwards he remoYed
to Magdalen-hall, and took his degree of M. A. in June
1634, being then generally esteemed a very able moderator in philosophy. About 1636 he became vicar of Melbourne, in Dorsetshire; and some years after was elected
preacher at St. Mary’s church, in St. Edmundsbury, Suffolk, where he was held in great veneration for his edifying
manner of preaching, and for his singular piety. He died
Sept. 12, 1663, and was buried in the chancel of St. Mary’s
Church, before mentioned. He published, “The Abuses
of God’s Grace, discovered in the kinds, causes, &c. proposed as a seasonable check to the wanton libertinism of
the present age,
” Oxon.
3. “An Answer to the Dissenters’ Objections against the Common Prayers, and some other parts of the divine service prescribed in the Liturgy of the Church of England,”
, eldest son of the preceding,
was born at St. Edmundsbury, in Suffolk, September 14,
1646, and educated in the free-school there, under the
care of Dr. Thomas Stephens, author of the notes on Statius’s Sylvse, who took very early notice of the promising
parts of his scholar. Before he was full thirteen years of
age, he was admitted a pensioner in Emanuel-college, in
Cambridge, September 5, 1659, under the tuition of Mr.
Thomas Jackson, where he took his degree of A. B. 1663,
A.M. 1667, and commenced D. D. in 1683. He was
then chosen one of the preachers of St. Edmundsbury,
which office he discharged for seven years with universal
reputation. From thence, at the instance of some considerable men of the long robe, whose business at the assizes there gave them opportunities of being acquainted
with his great worth and abilities, he was thought worthy
by the society of Gray’s-inn, to succeed the eminent Dr.
Cradock, as their preacher, which he continued to be all
the remaining part of his life, much to the satisfaction of
the society. He was also presented by the lord keeper
North (who was his wife’s kinsman) to the rectory of Farnham-royal, in Buckinghamshire, into which he was instituted May 14, 1683; but what he most valued next to his
preacher’s place at Gray’s-inn, was the lectureship of St.
Michael Bassishaw, to which he was elected by that parish
about two years before his death. He was also chaplain in
ordinary to his majesty. He was cut off, however, in the
prime of life. He was seized with the small-pox on a
Sunday evening, March the 16th, after having preached
at St. Martin in the Fields, in his Lent course there; and
died March 28, 1638. He was buried in a vault under part
of the church of St. Michael Bassishaw, in the grave
with his wife, Mrs. Thornasin North, a most virtuous and
accomplished woman, who died eighteen days after him,
of the same disease. We are assured by the testimony of
Dr. Sharp, that no man of a private condition, in the last
age, died more lamented, and his private virtuesand
public services are spoken of by all his contemporaries in
the highest terms. Bishop Burnet ranks him among those
worthy and eminent men whose lives and labours in a great
measure rescued the church from those reproaches that
the follies of others drew upon it; nor ought it to be forgotten, that he was one of those excellent divines who
made that noble stand against popery in the reign of king
James II. which will redound to their immortal honour.
The several things published by Dr. Clagett, are as follows: 1. “A Discourse concerning the Operations of the
Holy Spirit; with a confutation of some part of Dr. Owen’s
book upon that subject,
” Part I. Lond. A Reply to a pamphlet called
The Mischief of Impositions, by Mr. Alsop, which pretends to answer the dean of St. Paul’s (Dr. Stillingfleet’s)
Sermon concerning the Mischief of Separation,
” Lond.
An Answer to the Dissenters’ Objections
against the Common Prayers, and some other parts of the
divine service prescribed in the Liturgy of the Church of
England,
” Lond. The Difference of the
Case between the Separation of Protestants fromthe
Church of Rome, and the Separation of Dissenters from
the Church of England,
” Lond. The
State of the Church of Rome when the Reformation began, as it appears by the advices given to pope Paul III.
and Julius III. by creatures of their own.
” 6. “A Discourse concerning the Invocation of the Blessed Virgin
and the Saints,
” Lond. A Paraphrase,
with notes, upon the sixth Chapter of St. John, shewing
that there is neither good reason, nor sufficient authority
to suppose that the Eucharist is discoursed of in that
chapter, much less to infer the doctrine of Transubstantiation from it.
” Lond. 1686, 4to. Reprinted in 1689,
8vo, at the end of his second volume of sermons. 8. “Of
the Humanity and Chanty of Christians. A Sermon
preached at the Suffolk Feast, at St. Michael, Cornhill,
London, November 30, 1686.
” 9. “A Discourse concerning the pretended Sacrament of Extreme Unction,
&.c.
” in three parts. “With a letter to the Vindicator of
the bishop of Condom,
” Lond. A second letter to the Vindicator of the bishop of Condom,
”
Lond. Authority of Councils, and the
Rule of Faith, with an answer to the Eight Theses laid
down for the Trial of the English Reformation.
” The first
part, about Councils, by Hutchinson, esq. the rest
by Dr. Clagett, 4to. 12. “Notion of Idolatry considered
and confuted,
” Lond. Cardinal Bellarmine’s
seventh note, of the Union of the Members among themselves, and with the Head.
” 14. “His twelfth note, Of
the Light of Prophecy, examined and confuted.
” 15. “A
View of the whole Controversy between the Representer
and the Answerer; in which are laid open some of the
methods by which Protestants are misrepresented by Papists,
” Lond. An Answer to the Representer’s Reflections upon the State and View of the Controversy. With a Reply to the Vindicator’s full Answer;
shewing that the Vindicator has utterly ruined the new
design of expounding and representing Popery,
” London,
Several captious Queries concerning
the English Reformation, first in Latin, and afterwards by
T. W. in English, briefly and fully answered,
” Lond.
A Preface concerning the Testimony of
Miracles, prefixed to The School of the Eucharist established upon the miraculous respects and acknowledgements,
which Beasts, Birds, and Insects, upon several occasions,
have rendered to the Sacrament of the Altar.
” Translated
by another hand, from the original French of F. Toussain
Bridoul, a Jesuit," Lond. 1687, 4to. Besides these, after
his decease, his brother, Mr. Nicolas Clagett, published
four volumes of his sermons: the first in 1689, contained seventeen sermons; one of which was greatly admired by
queen Mary, who desired to have it read more than once
during her last illness: Text, Job ii. 10. The second
volume, printed in 1693, contained eleven sermons; a Paraphrase and Notes upon the first, second, third, fourth, fifth,
seventh, and eighth Chapters of the Gospel of St. John.
The Paraphrase, and Notes on the sixth Chapter, which had
been published before: A Discourse of Church- Unity, with
Directions now, in this divided State of Christendom, to keep
within the Unity of the Church A Discourse of Humanity
and Charity And a Letter concerning Protestants Charity
to Papists published by Dr. Clagett. The third and fourth
volumes did not come out till 1720, at so great a distance
of tune from the two former volumes, that the booksellers
would not call them the third and fourth volumes, but the
first and second volumes, as well as the former; only notice was given, that they were never before published.
Sudbtfry; and in March 1707, he was instituted to the rectory of Hitchain, in Suffolk. This eminent divine, extremely valued and respected on account of his exemplary
, younger brother to the preceding, was born in May 1654, and educated in the freeschool of Bury St. Edmund’s, under Mr. Edward Leeds,
a Greek scholar of considerable eminence. He was admitted of Ciirist’s-college, Cambridge, January 12, 1671,
under the tuition of Dr. Widdrington, and regularly took
his degrees in arts, and in 1704 commenced D. D. Upon
his brother’s removal to Gray’s- inn, he was elected in his
room, March 21, 1680, preacher at St. Mary’s, in St. Edmundsbury. In this station, which he held near forty-six
years, he was a constant preacher, and diligent in every
other part of his ministry. On the first of February, 1683,
he was instituted to the rectory of Thurlo parva. Dr. John
Moore, then bishop of Norwich, who was well acquainted
with his merit and abilities, collated him on the 14th of
June, 1693, to the archdeaconry of Sudbtfry; and in March
1707, he was instituted to the rectory of Hitchain, in Suffolk. This eminent divine, extremely valued and respected on account of his exemplary charity and other
virtues, died January 27, 1726-7, in the seventy-third
year of his age, and was buried in the chancel of the
parish church of St. Mary’s, in St. Edmundsbury. Among
other children, he had Nicolas, afterwards bishop of Si.
David’s, and of Exeter, who died Dec. 8, 1746. Dr.
Clagett published some occasional sermons, a pamphlet
entitled “A Persuasive to an ingenuous Trial of Opinions
in Religion,
” Lond. Truth defended, and Boldness in Error rebuked or,
a Vindication of those Christian Commentators who have
expounded some Prophecies of the Messias not to be meant
only of him. Being a Confutation of part of Mr. Whiston’s
book, entitled, The Accomplishment of Scripture Prophecies; wherein he pretends to disprove all duplicity of
sense in prophecy. To which is subjoined, an Examination of his hypothesis, That our Saviour ascended up into
Heaven several times after his Resurrection. And in both,
there ar,e some remarks upon other Essays of the said
author, as likewise an Appendix and a Postscript. With
a large Preface,
” Lond. 1710, 8vo.
, an English divine, who deserves to be recorded among the benefactors of mankind,
, an English divine, who deserves to be recorded among the benefactors of mankind, was the son of Alured Clarke, gent, by Ann, the fourth daughter of Charles Trimnell, rector of Abbots Riptou in Hampshire, and a sister of the bishop of Winchester of that name. He was born in 1696; and alter receiving his early education at St. Paul’s school, was admitted pensioner in Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, April 1, 1713, where after taking the degree of A. B. he was made fellow in 1718, and proceeded A.M. two years after. At this early age he became a candidate with Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Ward, for the professorship of rhetoric in Gresham college, but without success. In May 1723, he was collated to the rectory of Chilbolton in Hampshire, and installed prebendary of Winchester on the 23d of that month. He was appointed one of the chaplains in ordinary to king George I. and continued in the same dignity in the subsequent reign, when George II. on his visit to Cambridge in April 1728, honoured him with the degree of D. D. and promoted him to a prebend in the church of Westminster, in which he was installed May 8, 1731; being then one of the deputy clerks of the closet. As a farther mark of the royal favouiy his majesty advanced him to the deanery of Exeter May 12, 1740; but he did not enjoy this long, being always of an infirm and weak constitution, which was worn out before he had completed his forty-sixth year. He died May 31, 1742, and was interred without any monument in Westminster.
, a very celebrated English divine, the son of Edward Clarke, esq. alderman of Norwich, and M.
, a very celebrated English divine, the son of Edward Clarke, esq. alderman of Norwich, and M. P., was born there Oct. 11, 1675. He was instructed in classical learning at the free-school of that
town; and in 1691 removed thence to Caius college in
Cambridge, where his uncommon abilities soon began to
display themselves. Though Des Cartes was at that time
the established philosopher of the university, yet Clarke
easily mastered the new system of Newton; and in order
to his first degree of arts, performed a public exercise in
the schools upon a question taken from it; and contributed
to its establishment, by a translation of “Renault’s Physics,
” which he finished bafore he was twenty-two years of
age. It was first published 1697, 8vo. The system of
natural philosophy then generally taught in the university,
was that written by Rohault, founded altogether upon
Cartesian principles, and very badly translated into Latin.
Clarke gave a new translation, and added to it such notes
as might lead students insensibly to more sound notions.
happiness to see the occasions of good and learned men’s scruples removed out of the public forms of divine service, and the doctrines of Christianity reduced to the New
“If any one should ask,
” continues the bishop, “as it is
natural to do, how it came to pass that this great man was
never raised higher in the church? I must answer, that it
was neither for want of merit, nor interest, nor the favour
of some in whose power it was to have raised him. But he
had reasons within his own breast, which hindered him
from either seeking after, or accepting any such promotion. Of these he was the proper, and indeed the only
judge: and therefore I say no more of them.
” The truth
is, his scruples about subscription were very great; as we
are informed by Sykes, who observes, in his eulogium of
Clarke, printed at the end of Whiston’s Historical Memoirs, that "the doctor would often wish, that those things
which were suspected by many, and judged unlawful by
some, might be seriously considered, and not made terms
of communion. He thought it would be the greatest happiness to see the occasions of good and learned men’s
scruples removed out of the public forms of divine service,
and the doctrines of Christianity reduced to the New Testament only; and that it would be right to have nothing
required from the preachers of the gospel, but what was
, a learned divine and antiquary, was horn at Haghmon abbey, in Shropshire, in
, a learned divine and antiquary,
was horn at Haghmon abbey, in Shropshire, in the year
1696, and was educated at Shrewsbury school, under the
care of Mr. Lloyd, for whom he always entertained the
greatest regard. From Shrewsbury he was removed to
St. John’s college, in the university of Cambridge, where
he became a fellow, Jan. 22, 1716-17. His election at
so early a period of life was owing to a number of vacancies, occasioned by the removal of several non-juring fellows, in consequence of an act of parliament. He commenced B. A. 1715; in 1719 became M. A.; and the reputation which he acquired when young was such, that he
was chosen to be chaplain to Dr. Adam Ottley, bishop of
St. David’s: but this prelate dying in 1723, he does not
appear to have received any advantage from the appointment. He was afterwards domestic chaplain to Thomas
Holies, duke of Newcastle; in which situation he did not
continue long, as in 1724, he was presented by archbishop
Wake to the rectory of Buxted, in Sussex, without any solicitation of his own, partly on account of his extraordinary
merit, and partly from a regard to the special recommendation of the learned Dr. William Wotton, whose
daughter he married. In 1738, he was made prebendary
and residentiary of the prebend of Hova Villa in the cathedral church of Chichester, Some years before this he had
given to the public a specimen of his literary abilities, in a
preface to his father-in-law Dr. Wotton’s “Leges Walliae
Ecclesiastical,
” Discourse on the Commerce of the Romans,
” which was
highly extolled by Dr. Taylor, in his “Elements of the
Civil Law,
” came either from his hand or from that of his
friend Mr, Bowyer. It is reprinted in that gentleman’s
“Miscellaneous Tracts,
” and in “The Progress of Maritime Discovery,
” by Mr. Clarke’s grandson. But Mr.
Clarke’s chief work was “The Connexion of the Roman,
Saxon, and English Coins; deducing the antiquities,
customs, and manners of each people to modern times; particularly the origin of feudal tenures, and of parliaments:
illustrated throughout with critical and historical remarks
on various authors, both sacred and profane,
” 1767, 4to,
dedicated to the duke of Newcastle. It had been perused
in manuscript by Arthur Onslow, esq. speaker of the house
of commons, who honoured him with some useful hints
and observations: but he was chiefly indebted to Mr.
Bowyer, who superintended the publication, drew up several of the notes, wrote part of the dissertation on the
Roman sesterce, and formed an admirable index to the
whole. By this work our author acquired great reputation. Mr. Pinkerton, in his Essay on Medals, says that a
student cannot begin with a better book in this science.
, a nonconformist divine of considerable celebrity, and one of the tutors of archbishop
, a nonconformist divine of considerable celebrity, and one of the tutors of archbishop
Tiilotson, was the son of Robert Clarkson of Bradford in
Yorkshire, where he was born February 1622, and educated
at Clare-hall, Cambridge^and was some time fellow of that college. He was then tutor to Tiilotson, who succeeded him in
his fellowship in 1651. He was, according to Baxter, a divine
of extraordinary worth for solid judgment, healing moderate principles, acquaintance with the fathers, great ministerial abilities, and a godly upright life. He held for some
time the living of Mortlake in Surrey, from which he was
ejected for nonconformity in August 1662. After this he
shifted about, according to Neal, from one place of obscurity to another, until, in 1682, he was chosen co-pastor
with Dr. Owen, whom he succeeded the year following.
He died June 14, 1686. Of his works, which principally
consist of occasional Sermons, and a volume of “Sermons
”
in folio, the most remarkable were, one entitled “No evidence of Diocesan Episcopacy in the primitive times,
”
Primitive Fpiscopacy,
” Defence of Diocesan
Episcopacy.
” Tiilotson, notwithstanding Clarkson’s nonconformity, always preserved a very high respect for him.
rine of human merits, and against raising traditions to a height of credibility equal to that of the divine word. He maintains salvation by faith alone, admits the fallibility
, or, as some add, Claudius Clemens,
bishop of Turin in the ninth century, and one of the earliest reformers of popish superstitions, was a native of Spain,
and in his youth a disciple of Felix bishop of Urgel, whom
he accompanied into France, Italy, and Germany, but
whose errors he afterwards renounced, and obtained access
to the court of Lewis le Debonnaire, emperor and king of
France. Lewis admitted him among his almoners and
chaplains, and having preached before the court, a thing
very rare in those days, he was much admired as an expounder of the Scriptures, of which Fleury assures us he
had great knowledge. On this account Lewis, who perceived the ignorance of a great part of Italy, and was willing to provide the churches of Piedmont with one who
might stem the growing torrent of image worship, promoted Claudius to the see of Turin, about the year 817, in
which he fully answered his expectations, and both in his
preaching and writings successfully combated the prevailing
superstitions. His commentaries on several parts of the Old
and New Testaments are still extant in manuscript, in various French libraries; but his “Commentary on the Galatians,
” Paris, prefaces
” to the book of Leviticus
and to the Epistle to the Ephesians, which father Mabillon
published; an abridged “Chronicle
” which father Labbe
attributes to him; and a letter addressed to the emperor
Charlemagne on the two eclipses of the year 8 10, which is
in the tenth vol. of D'Acheri’s collection. In his commentary on the Galatians, he every where asserts the equality
of all the apostles with St. Peter, and owns Jesus Christ as
the proper head of the church. He inveighs against the
doctrine of human merits, and against raising traditions to
a height of credibility equal to that of the divine word.
He maintains salvation by faith alone, admits the fallibility
of the church, exposes the futility of praying for the dead,
and of the idolatrous practices then supported by the Roman see. These tenets involved him in a controversy with
a recluse named Dungal, and with Jonas, bishop of Orleans;
and created many more dangerous enemies, from whom,
however, he appears to have been protected by the French
court, and died in peace in the year 339.
gation; particularly the translator of archbishop King’s Origin of Moral Evil, and the author of the Divine Legation of Moses: to which are prefixed, some cursory thoughts
In 1732, she wrote a poem on occasion of “the Busts
set up in the Queen’s Hermitage,
” which was afterwards
printed in the Gentleman’s Magazine, for May 1737,
with some alterations, which she thought to its disadvantage. About two years after, she wrote “Remarks upon
some writers in the controversy concerning the foundation
of Moral Duty and Moral Obligation; particularly the
translator of archbishop King’s Origin of Moral Evil, and
the author of the Divine Legation of Moses: to which are
prefixed, some cursory thoughts on the controversies concerning necessary existence, the reality and infinity of
space, the extension and place of spirits, and on Dr.
Watts’s notion of substance.
” These remarks continued
in manuscript till the year 1743, when they were printed
in “The History of the Works of the Learned.
” She had
the misfortune this year to lose a daughter; and it appears
also, that she had at this time a son in Germany, in some
office connected with the army, and who was afterwards
clerk of the cheque at Chatham.
, a learned English divine, and the. founder of St. Paul’s school, was born in the parish
, a learned English divine, and the.
founder of St. Paul’s school, was born in the parish of St.
Antholin, London, in 1466, and was the eldest son of sir
Henry Colet, knt. twice lord-mayor, who had besides him
twenty-one children. In 1483 he was sent to Magdalen
college in Oxford, where he spent seven years in the study
of logic and philosophy, and took the degrees in arts. He
was perfectly acquainted with Cicero’s works, and no
stranger to Plato and Plotinus, whom he read together,
that they might illustrate each other. He could, hcfwever,
read them only in the Latin translations; for neither at
school nor university had he any opportunity of learning
the Greek, that language being then thought unnecessary,
and even discouraged. Hence the proverb, “Cave a Graecis, ne lias haereticus,
” that is, “Beware of Greek, lest
you become an heretic;
” and it is well known, that when
Linacer, Grocyn, and others, afterwards professed to teach
it at Oxford, they were opposed by a set of men who
called themselves Trojans. Colet, however, was well skilled
in mathematics; and having thus laid a good foundation of
learning at home, he travelled abroad for farther improvement first to France, and then to Italy; and seems to
have continued in those two countries from 1493 to 1497.
But before his departure, and indeed when he was of but
two years standing in the university, he was instituted to
the rectory of Denington in Suffolk, to which he was presented by a relation of his mother, and which he held to
the day of his death. This practice of taking livings, while
thus under age, generally prevailed in the church of Rome;
and Colet, being then an acolythe, which is one of their
seven orders, was qualitied for it. He was also presented
by his own father, Sept. 30, 1485, to the rectory of Thyrning in Huntingdonshire, but he resigned it about the latter end of 1493, probably before he set out on his travels.
Being arrived at Paris, he soon became^ acquainted with
the learned there, with the celebrated Budaeus in particular; and was afterwards introduced to Erasmus. In
Italy he contracted a friendship with several eminent persons, especially with his own countrymen, Grocyn, Linacer, Lilly, and Latimer; who were learning the Greek
tongue, then but little known in England, under those
great masters Demetrius, Angel us Politianus, Hermolaus
Barbarus, and Pomponius Sabinus. He took this opportunity of improving himself in this language; and having
devoted himself to divinity, he read, while abroad, the
best of the antient fathers, particularly Origen, Cyprian,
Ambrose, and Jerome, but, it is said, very much undervalued St. Augustine. He looked sometimes also into Sco^
tus and Aquinas, studied the civil and canon law, made
himself acquainted with the history and constitution of
church and state; and with a view to refinement, not very
common at that time, did not neglect to read such English
poets, and other authors of the belles lettres, as were then
extant. During his absence from England he was made a
prebendary of York, and installed by proxy upon March
5, 1494, and was also made canon of St. Martin’s Le Grand,
London, and prebendary of Good Easter, in the same
church. Upon his return in 1497 he was ordained deacon
in December, and priest in July following. He had, indeed, before he entered into orders, great temptations
from his natural disposition to lay aside study, and give
himself up to the gaiety of the court, for he was rather
luxuriously inclined; but he curbed his passions by great
temperance and circumspection, and after staying a few
months with his father and mother at London, retired to
Oxford.
, a voluminous French divine, was a native of Ternay in Vendomois, doctor of divinity, and
, a voluminous French divine, was a
native of Ternay in Vendomois, doctor of divinity, and
priest of the mission of St. Lazare. He was born Sept. 6,
1693, and died at Paris Oct. 6, 1770, at the seminary des
Bons Enfans, where he resided. M. Collet published “A
System of Moral Theology,
” Is torn, which make 17 vols.
8vo, in Latin, because torn. 1, and torn. 13, are divided
each into two, 1744 et seqq. An abridgment of this work,
5 vols. 12mo a scholastic work in 2 vols. “Tr. des Dispenses,
” 3 vols. “Tr. des Saints Mysteres,
” 3 vols.; “Tr.
des Indulgences, et du Jubile,
” 2 vols. 12moj and some
books of devotion, which are very superficial; “Sermons,
”
2 vols. 12mo, an abridgment of Pontas, 2 vols. 4to, &c.
, an eminent English divine, was born at Stow Qui in Cambridgeshire, Sept. 23, 1650. His
, an eminent English divine, was born at Stow Qui in Cambridgeshire, Sept. 23, 1650. His father Jeremy Collier was a divine and a considerable linguist; and some time master of the free-school at Ipswich, in Suffolk. He was educated under his father at Ipswich, whence he was sent to Cambridge, and admitted a poor scholar of Caius college under the tuition of John Ellys, in April 1669. He took the degree of B. A. in 1673, and that of M. A. in 1676; being ordained deacon the same year by Gunning, bishop of Ely, and priest the year after by Compton bishop of London. He officiated for some time at the countess dowager of Dorset’s at Knowle in Kent, whence he removed to a small rectory at Ampton near St. Edmund’s Bury in Suffolk, to which he was presented by James Calthorpe, esq. in 1679. After he had held this benefice six years, he resigned it, came to London in 1685, and was some little time after made lecturer of Gray’s Inn. But the revolution coming on, the public exercise of his function became impracticable.
, an eminent nonconformist divine, and a voluminous writer, was born at Boxstead, in Essex, in
, an eminent nonconformist divine,
and a voluminous writer, was born at Boxstead, in Essex,
in 1623, and educated at Emanuel college, Cambridge,
where he took his degrees, probably during the usurpation,
as we find him D. D. at the restoration. He had the living
of St. Stephen’s Norwich, from which he was ejected for
non-conformity in 1662. His epitaph says he discharged
the work of the ministry in that city for forty- four years,
which is impossible, unless he continued to preach as a
dissenter after his ejection. He was one of the commissioners at the Savoy conference in the reign of Charles II.
He particularly excelled as a textuary and critic. He was
a man of various learning, and much esteemed for his
great industry, humanity, and exemplary life. He wrote
many books of controversy and practical divinity, the most
singular of which is his “Weaver’s Pocket-book, or Weaving spiritualized,
” 8vo. This book was particularly adapted
to the place of his residence, which had been long famous
for the manufacture of silks. Granger remarks that Mr.
Boyle, in his “Occasional Reflections on several subjects,
”
published in very popular method of
conveying religious sentiments, although it is apt to degenerate into vulgar familiarity; but we know not if the
practice may not be traced to bishop Hall, who published
his
” Occasional Meditations“in 1633. Calamy has given
a very long list of Dr. Collings’s publications, to which we
refer. In Poole’s
” Annotations on the Bible" he wrote
those on the last six chapters of Isaiah, the whole of Jeremiah, Lamentations, the four Evangelists, the epistles to
the Corinthians, Galatians, Timothy and Philemon, and
the Revelations. He died at Norwich Jan. 17, 1690.
od, and thanksgiving for his merciful goodness, imploring forgiveness of sins, a continuation of his divine mercy, and his constant aid to us in the defence of our country’s
"The Almighty God, whose arm is strength, having of his great mercy been pleased to crown the exertions of his majesty’s fleet with success, in giving them a complete victory over their enemies on the 21st of this month; and that all praise and thanksgiving may be offered up to the throne of grace, for the great benefit to our country and to mankind, 1 have thought proper that a day should be appointed of general humiliation before God, and thanksgiving for his merciful goodness, imploring forgiveness of sins, a continuation of his divine mercy, and his constant aid to us in the defence of our country’s liberties and laws, and without which the utmost efforts of man are nought; and direct therefore that be appointed for this holy purpose.
In 1710 he published “A vindication of the Divine Attributes, in some remarks on the archbishop of Dublin’s (Dr.
In 1710 he published “A vindication of the Divine Attributes, in some remarks on the archbishop of Dublin’s
(Dr. King) sermon, entitled, Divine predestination and
foreknowledge consisting with the freedom of man’s will.
”
March Discourse of Freethinking, occasioned by the rise and growth of a sect called Free-thinkers;
” which was attacked by several writers,
particularly by Hoadly, afterwards bishop of Winchester,
in some “Queries recommended to the authors of the late
discourse of Free-thinking,
” printed in his collection of
tracts in Remarks upon a late Discourse of Free-thinking, in a letter to F. H. D. D.
” This Phileleutherus Lipsiensis was the
learned Bentley; and the person to whom this performance
is addressed, Hare, afterwards bishop of Chichester. The
first part of these remarks gave birth to a pamphlet said to be
written by Hare, entitled, “The clergyman’s thanks to
Phileleutherus for his remarks on the late Discourse of Freethinking: in a letter to Dr. Bentley, 1713.
” The late
Mr. Cumberland, in his “Life of himself,
” informs us, that
when Collins had fallen into decay of circumstances,
which, however, we find no where else mentioned, Dr.
Bentley, suspecting he had written him out of credit by
his “Phileleutherus Lipsiensis,
” secretly contrived to administer to the necessities of his baffled opponent in a manner that did no less credit to his delicacy than his liberality. Of all this Dr. Bentley we believe was capable,
but it is certain that Collins lived and died in opulence.
Soon after the publication of this work, Collins made a
second trip to Holland; which was ascribed to the general
alarm caused by the “Discourse of Free-thinking,
” and
himself being discovered by his printer. This is taken
notice of by Hare: who, having observed that the least appearance of danger is able to damp in a moment all the
zeal of the free-thinkers, tells us, that “a bare inquiry
after the printer of their wicked book has frightened them,
and obliged the reputed author to take a second trip into
Holland; so great is his courage to defend upon the first
appearance of an opposition. And are not these rare
champions for free-thinking? Is not their book a demonstration that we are in possession of the liberty they pretend to plead for, which otherwise they durst ne'er have
writ? And that they would have been as mute as fishes,
had they not thought they could have opened with impunity? M Hare afterwards tells us, that
” the reputed author of free-thinking is, for all he ever heard, a sober man,
thanks to his natural aversion to intemperance; and that,“he observed,
” is more than can be said of some others of
the club:“that is, the club of free-thinkers, which were
supposed to meet and plan schemes in concert, for undermining the foundations of revealed religion. The
” Discourse of Free-thinking“was reprinted at the Hague, with
some considerable additions, in 1713, 12mo, though in
the title-page it is said to be printed at London. In this
edition the translations in several places are corrected from
Bentley’s remarks; and some references are made to those
remarks, and to Hare’s
” Clergyman’s thanks."
ethlehem, with a postscript upon Virgil’s fourth eclogue, 1728, in 2 vols. 8vo. 2.” The necessity of Divine Revelation, and the truth of the Christian Revelation asserted,
In 1726 appeared his “Scheme of Literal Prophecy considered; in a view of the controversy occasioned by a late
book, entitled, A Discourse of the Grounds, &c.
” It was
printed at the Hague in 2 vols. 12mo, and reprinted at
London with corrections in 1727, 8vo. In this work he
mentions a dissertation he had written, but never published, against Whiston’s “Vindication of the Sibylline
oracles
” in which he endeavours to shew, that those
oracles were forged by the primitive Christians, who were
thence called Sibyllidts by the pagans. He also mentions
a ms discourse of his upon the miracles recorded in the
Old and New Testament. The “Scheme of Literal Prophecy 1 * had several answers made to it: the most considerable of which are, 1.
” A vindication of the defence
of Christianity, from the prophecies of the Old Testament.“By Edward Chandler, D. D.; with a letter from
the rev. Mr. Masson, concerning the religion of Macrobius,
and his testjfnony touching the slaughter of the infants at
Bethlehem, with a postscript upon Virgil’s fourth eclogue,
1728, in 2 vols. 8vo. 2.
” The necessity of Divine Revelation, and the truth of the Christian Revelation asserted,
in eight sermons. To which is prefixed a preface, with
some remarks on a late book entitled The Scheme of Literal Prophecy considered, &c. By John Rogers, D. D.“1727, 8vo. 3.
” A letter to the author of the London
Journal, April 1, 1727,“written by Dr. Arthur Ashley
Sykes. Collins replied to the two last pieces, in
” A Letter to Rogers, on occasion of his Eight Sermons, &c. to
which is added, a Letter printed in the London Journal,
April 1, 1727; with an answer to the same, 1727.“In
his
” Letter to Rogers“he observes, that the doctor had
invited him to martyrdom in these words:
” A confessor
or two would be a mighty ornament to his cause. If he
expects to convince us that he is in earnest, and believes
himself, he should not decline giving us this proof of his
sincerity. What will not abide this trial, we shall suspect
to have but a poor foundation.“These sentiments, Collins tells us, are in his opinion false, wicked, inhuman, irreligious, inconsistent with the peace pf society, and personally injurious to the author of the
” Scheme, &c.“He remarks, that it is a degree of virtue to speak what a
man thinks, though he may do it in such a way as to avoid
destruction of life and fortune, &c.
” He declares, that
the cause of liberty, which he defends, is “the cause of
virtue, learning, truth, God, religion, and Christianity;
that it is the political interest of all countries; that the
degree of it we enjoy in England is the strength, ornament, and glory of our own; that, if he can contribute to
the defence of so excellent a cause, he shall think he has
acted a good part in life: in short, it is a cause,
” says he
to Dr. Rogers, “in which, if your influence and interest
were equal to your inclination to procure martyrdom for
me, I would rather suffer, than in any cause whatsoever;
though I should be sorry that Christians should Le so weak
and inconsistent with themselves, as to be your instruments in taking my life from me.
”
, an eminent accomptant and mathematician, was the son of a nonconformist divine, and horn at Wood Eaton near Oxford in March 1624. At sixteen
, an eminent accomptant and mathematician, was the son of a nonconformist divine, and horn
at Wood Eaton near Oxford in March 1624. At sixteen
years of age he was put apprentice to a bookseller in Oxford; but soon left that trade, and was employed as clerk
under Mr. John Mar, one of the clerks of the kitchen to
prince Charles, afterwards Charles II. This Mar was eminent for his mathematical knowledge, and constructed those
excellent dials with which the gardens of Charles I. were
adorned: and under him Collins made no small progress in
the mathematics. The intestine troubles increasing, he
left that employment and went to sea, where he spent the
greatest part of seven years in an English merchantman,
which became a man of war in the Venetian service against
the Turks. Here having leisure, he applied himself to
merchants accompts, and some parts of the mathematics,
for which he had a natural turn; and on coming home, he
took to the profession of an accomptant, and composed
several useful treatises upon practical subjects. In 1652
he published a work in folio, entitled “An Introduction
to Merchants’ Accompts,
” which was reprinted in with an additional part, entitled
” Supplements to accomptantship and arithmetic.“A part of this work, relating to
interest, was reprinted in 1685, in a small 8vo volume In
1658 he published in 4to, a treatise called
” The Sector
on a Quadrant; containing the description and use of four
several quadrants, each accommodated for the making of
sun-dials, &c. with an appendix concerning reflected dialling, from a glass placed at any inclination.“In 1659,
4to, he published his
” Geometrical dialling;“and also
the same year, his
” Mariner’s plain Scale new plained.“In the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, of
which he was now become a member, he fully explained
and demonstrated the- rule given by the Jesuit De Billy,
for
” finding the number of the Julian period for any year
assigned, the cycles of the sun and moon, with the Roman
indiction for the years being given.“To this he has
added some very neatly-contrived rules for the ready finding on what day of the week any day of the month falls for
ever; and other useful and necessary kalendar rules. In
the same Transactions he has a curious dissertation concerning the resolution of equations in numbers. In No.
69 for March 1671, he has given a most elegant construction of that chorographical problem, namely:
” The distances of three objects in the same plane, and the angles
made at a fourth place in that plane, by observing each
object, being given; to find the distances of those objects
from the place of observation?“In 1680 he published a
small treatise in 4to, entitled
” A Plea for the bringing in
of Irish cattle, and keeping out the fish caught by foreigners; together with an address to the members of parliament of the counties of Cornwall and Devon, about the
advancement of tin, fishery, and divers manufactures.“In
1682 he published in 4to,
” A discourse of Salt and
Fishery;“and in the Philosophical Transactions, No. 159,
for May 1684, is published a letter of his to Dr. JohnWallis,
oh some defects in algebra. Besides these productions of his
own, he was the chief promoter of many other valuable
publications in his time. It is to him that the world is indebted for the publication of Barrow’s
” Optical and geometrical lectures;“his abridgment of
” Archimedes’s works,“and of
” Apollonius’s Conies“Branker’s translation of
” Rhonius’s Algebra, with Pell’s additions“” Kersey’s
Algebra“Wallis’s History of Algebra
” “Strode of Combinations
” and many other excellent works, which were
procured by his unwearied solicitations.
o, after Goodwin’s example, paid adoration to the fleshly heart of Jesus, as the symbolical image of divine love. He was astonished at the novelty of so ravishing a devotion,
, a famous Jesuit, born
at St. Symphorien, two leagues from Lyons, in 1641, acquired great reputation among his order by his extraordinary talents in the pulpit. He was preacher for two
years at the court of James II. of England, who listened to
his sermons with great pleasure, and, as it is said by the
Romanists, with edification; hut, falling under the suspicion, though not convicted, of being concerned in a conspiracy, he was banished England, and betook himself to
Parai, in the Charolois, where he died, Feb. 15, 1682. In
conjunction with Marie Alacoque, he recommended the
celebration of the solemnity of the heart of Jesus, and
composed an office for the occasion. The first inventor of
this rite, however, was Thomas Goodwin, president of
Magdalen college, Oxford, an Arminian, who excited great
notice in England, in the middle of the seventeenth century,
by his ascetical and theological writings. His book entitled
“Cor Christi in ccelis erga peccatores in terris,
” printed
in Moral
Reflections,
” and “Spiritual Letters.
”
absolution the errors of the church of Rome; enthusiasm and superstition restitution frequenting the divine service frequent communion the passion of our blessed Saviour.
reply, that if it pleased God to bring by bandittis or bravoes. estate of 60l. a year, clear of charges, besides lOl. for placing out the boys apprentices. In 1708 he settled his great benefaction of the hospital of St. Augustine in Bristol, consisting of a master, two ushers, and one hundred boys; for the maintenance of which boys, he gave an estate of 138l. 155. 6fd. a year. The charge of first setting up this hospital, and making it convenient for the purpose, amounted, it is said, to about 11,000l. He gave also 6l. yearly to the minister of All- Saints in Bristol, for reading prayers every Monday and Tuesday morning throughout the year, and I/, a year to the clerk and sexton: also 6l. a year for ever, for a monthly sermon and prayers to the prisoners in Newgate there; and 20l. yearly for ever to the clergy beneficed in that city, for preaching fourteen sermons in the time of Lent, on subjects appointed by himself. The subjects are these the Lent fast against atheism and infidelity the catholic church the excellence of the church of England the powers of the church baptism confirmation confession and absolution the errors of the church of Rome; enthusiasm and superstition restitution frequenting the divine service frequent communion the passion of our blessed Saviour. He bestowed, lastly, upwards of 2000l. in occasional charities and benefactions to churches and charity-schools, all within the city of Bristol. Beyond that city his benefactions were equally liberal. He gave 6000l. for the augmentation of sixty small livings, on the following terms: Any living that was entitled to queen Anne’s bounty might have this too, on condition that every parish, which did receive this, should be obliged to raise 100l. to be added to the lOOl. raised by Colston: and many livings have had the grant of this bounty. He gave to St. Bartholomew’s hospital in London 2000l. with which was purchased an estate of 100l. a year, which is settled on that hospital and he left to the same, by will, 500l. To Christ’s hospital, at several times, 1000l. and 1000l. more by will. To the hospitals of St. Thomas and Bethlehem 500l. each. To the workhouse without Bishopsgate, 2001. To the society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts, 300l. He built an almshouse for six poor people at Shene in Surry, and left very handsome legacies to Mortlake in the same county, where he died: viz. 45l. yearly, to be continued for twelve years after his death, for clothing and educating twelve boys and twelve girls in that place; and also 85l. he being so many years old, to eighty- five poor men and women there, to each 1l. to be distributed at the time of his decease. He gave lOO/. per annum, to be continued for twelve years after his death, and to be distributed by the direction of his executors: either to place out every year ten boys apprentices, or to be given towards the setting up ten young tradesmen, to each 10l. He gave likewise to eighteen charity-schools in several parts of England, and to be continued to them for twelve years after his death, to each school yearly 5l. Finally, he gave towards building a church at Manchester in Lancashire 20l. and towards the building of a church at Tiverton in Devonshire 50l.
, a Scotch divine and poet, was born near St. Andrew’s in Fifeshire, 1620, and
, a Scotch divine and poet, was
born near St. Andrew’s in Fifeshire, 1620, and educated
in the university of Edinburgh, where he took his degree
of D. D. and was settled minister at Dysart. In 1662 he
complied with the act of uniformity, and was appointed
principal of the university of Edinburgh, in the room of
Dr. Leighton, promoted to the see of Dumblane. He
wrote several controversial tracts, most of which are now
forgotten; but that which particularly recommends him to
the notice of the public, is a humorous poem entitled
“Scotch Hudibras,
” written in the manner of Butler.
This book gave great offence to the presbyterians but
still, although little known in England, is well esteemed
in Scotland. He died at Edinburgh 1676, aged 58.
Selden’s “History of Tithes,” he now published the first part of his “Historical Vindication of the Divine right of Tithes,” and in 1681, the second part. Some time in
Having long been an admirer of the church-service, ne
determined to recommend* it to the public, which at that
time was frequently interested in disputes respecting set
forms and extempore prayer; and with this view published,
about 1672, the first part of his “Companion to the Temple;
” in Companion to the Temple
” was published, and at the same
time a new edition of a very useful tract, to which he did
not put his name, entitled “Advice to the Roman Catholics,
” and his first book of “The Right of Tithes,
” &c.
against Elwood the quaker, and also without his name,
The same year appeared his “Brief Discourse on the
Offices of Baptism, Catechism, and Confirmation,
” dedicated to Tillotson. In History of Tithes,
” he now published the first part of
his “Historical Vindication of the Divine right of Tithes,
”
and in Religion and Loyalty,
”
which he informs us was intended to convince the duke of
York, that no person in succession to the throne of England
ought to embrace popery; and to persuade the people of
England not to alter the succession. As in this pamphlet
he seemed to favour the doctrine of non-resistance, he was
attacked by the popular party as an enemy to freedom;
but his biographer has defended him with success against
such charges.
, a celebrated grammarian and protestant divine, was born in Moravia in 1592. Having studied in several places,
, a celebrated grammarian
and protestant divine, was born in Moravia in 1592. Having studied in several places, and particularly at Herborn,
he returned to his own country in 1614, and was made
rector of a college there. He was ordained minister in
1616, and two years after became pastor of the church of
Fulnec: at which time he was appointed master of a school
lately erected. He then appears to have projected the
introduction of a new method for teaching the languages.
He published some essays for this purpose in 1616, and
had prepared other pieces on that subject, which were destroyed in 1621, when the Spaniards plundered his library,
after having taken the city. The ministers of Bohemia,
and Moravia being outlawed by an edict in 1624, and the
persecution increasing the year after, Comenius fled to
Lesna, a city of Poland, and taught Latin. There he
published in 1631, his book entitled “Janua linguarum reserata,
” or, “the gate of languages unlocked
” of which he
gives us an account which is universally allowed to be true
“I never could have imagined,
” says he, “that this little
book, calculated only for children, should have met with
universal applause from the learned. This has been justified by the letters I have received from a great number of
learned men of different countries, in which they highly
congratulate me on this new invention; as well as by the
versions which have been emulously made of it into several
modern tongues. For it has not only been translated into
twelve European languages, namely, Latin, Greek, Bohemian, Polish, German, Swedish, Dutch, English, French,
Spanish, Italian, Hungarian; but likewise into the Asiatic
languages, as, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and even the Mogul, which is spoken all over the East Indies.
” It was afterwards reprinted under the title of “Orbis sensualium
pictus,
” and is still, according to baron Born, used in the
schools of Bohemia, Comenius being particularly skilled
in the language of that country.
preachers of the protestant church at Charenton near Paris, and to M. Claude, another eminent French divine. Their answers are published at the end of bishop Stillingfleet’s
King Charles now caused him to be sworn one of his
privy council; and committed to his care the educating
of his two nieces, the princesses Mary and Anne, which
important trust he. discharged to the nation’s satisfaction.
They were both confirmed by him upon January 23>
1676; and it is somewhat remarkable that they were
both likewise married by him: the eldest, Mary, with
William prince of Orange, November 4, 1677; the
youngest, Anne, with George prince of Denmark, July 28,
1683. The attachment of these two princesses to the
protestant religion was owing, in a great measure, to their tutor Compton; which afterwards, when popery came to prevail at the court of England, was imputed to him as an unpardonable crime. In the mean time he indulged the
hopeless project of bringing dissenters to a sense of
the necessity of an union among protestants; to promote which, he held several conferences with his own
clergy, the substance of which he published in July 16SO.
He further hoped, that dissenters might be the more easily
reconciled to the church, if the judgment of foreign divines should be produced against their needless separation:
and for that purpose he wrote to M. le Moyne, professor
ef divinity at Leyden, to M. de PAngle, one of the
preachers of the protestant church at Charenton near Paris, and to M. Claude, another eminent French divine.
Their answers are published at the end of bishop Stillingfleet’s “Unreasonableness of Separation,
” requiring and commanding him forthwith to suspend Dr. Sharp from further
preaching in any parish church or chapel within his diocese, until he had given the king satisfaction.
” In order
to understand how Sharp had offended the king, it must
be remembered, that king James had caused the directions
concerning preachers, published in 1662, to be now reprinted; and reinforced them by a letter directed to the
archbishops of Canterbury and York, given at Whitehall,
March 5, 1686, to prohibit the preaching upon controversial points; that was, in effect, to forbid the preaching
against popery, which Sharp had done. The bishop refusing to suspend Dr. Sharp, because, as he truly alleged,
he could not do it according to law, was cited to appear,
August y, before the new ecclesiastical commission: when
he was charged with not having observed his majesty’s
command in the case of Sharp, whom he was ordered to
suspend. The bishop, after expressing some surprise,
humbly begged a copy of the commission, and a copy of
his charge; but was answered by chancellor Jefferies,
“That he should neither have a copy of, nor see, the commission neither would they give him a copy of the
charge.
” His lordship then desired time to advise with
counsel; and time was given him to the 16th, and afterwards to the 3 1st of August. Then his lordship offered his
plea to their jurisdiction: which being overruled, he protested to his right in that or any other plea that might be
made for his advantage; and observed, “that as a bishop
he had a right, by the most authentic and universal ecclesiastical laws, to be tried before his metropolitan, precedently to any other court whatsoever.
” But the ecclesiastical commissioners would not upon any account suffer
their jurisdiction to be called in question; and therefore,
in spite of all that his lordship or his counsel could allege,
he was suspended on Sept. 6 following, for his disobedience, from the function and execution of his episcopal
office, and from all episcopal and other ecclesiastical jurisdiction, during his majesty’s pleasure; and the bishops of
Durham, Rochester, and Peterborough, were appointed
commissioners to exercise ecclesiastical jurisdiction within,
the diocese of London. But the court did not think fit to
meddle with his revenues. For the lawyers had settled
that benefices were of the nature of freeholds; therefore, if
the sentence had gone to the temporalities, the bishop
would have had the matter tried over again in the king’s
bench, where he was likely to find justice.
, a learned English divine, was born Oct. 18, 1608, at Yeatenton in Devonshire. He was
, a learned English divine, was
born Oct. 18, 1608, at Yeatenton in Devonshire. He was
educated in classical learning at private schools, and, in
3626, sent to Exeter college in Oxford. He soon distinguished himself for uncommon parts and learning*; by
means of which he grew highly in favour with Dr. John
Prideaux, then rector of Exeter college, and king’s professor in divinity, who, accordingto the fashion of wit in
those times, used to say of him, “Conanti nihil est difficile.
” He took his degrees regularly; and, July
, a very celebrated Dominican divine, of the congregation of St. James Salomoni, was born about 1686
, a very celebrated Dominican divine, of the congregation of St. James Salomoni, was born
about 1686 in Friuli, on one of the estates of the signiors
Savoriani, noble Venetians. He entered the Dominican
order 1708, preached, with great applause, in the prin^
pipal towns of Italy, gained the esteem of pope Clernent XII. and Benedict XIV. and wrote incessantly against
the opinions of the relaxed casuists. He died February 21,
1756, at Venice, aged 69. His works are numerous, both
in Latin and Italian the latter are “The Lent of the
litigious ecclesiastical Courts,
” Venice, The
Church discipline respecting the fast of Lent,
” &c. Venice, Dissertations theological, moral, and
critical, on the history of probability and rigourism,
” &c.
Venice, Explanation of the four paradoxes which
are in vogue in our age,
” Lucca, The dogma of
the Roman Church respecting Usury,
” Naples, Venice,
” Treatise on revealed Religion,
against atheists, deists, materialists, and indifte rents,
” Venice, Venice, 1753, 4to. The following are written in
Latin three volumes upon Usury, 4to three others on
” Monastic discipline and poverty“” Nine letters on relaxed morality.“But the most valuable of all his works is
his
” Theologia Christiana dogmatico-moralis," Rome,
1746, 12 vols. 4to.
, D. D. a dissenting divine, was born at Wimple, in Cambridgeshire, June 3, 1714, and educated
, D. D. a dissenting divine, was born
at Wimple, in Cambridgeshire, June 3, 1714, and educated in London under Dr. Ridgley, an eminent dissenting
minister. He was ordained in 1738, and his first settlement was at Cambridge, where he had a considerable congregation for about sixteen years; but having written an
essay on the importance of the ministerial character in the
independent line, he was in 1755 placed at the head of
the academy for preparing young men for the ministry,
then situated at Mile End, but since removed to Hommertou. In 1759 he was chosen one of the preachers of the
“Merchants’ lecture
” at Pinner’s Hall, and in May
cult to dispute the fact. “He,” says Mr. Milner, who is determined not to believe Christianity to be divine, will doubtless disbelieve this miracle, from the same spirit
Such appear to be the general sentiments of modern
historians on this subject. Others, however, find it more
difficult to dispute the fact. “He,
” says Mr. Milner,
who is determined not to believe Christianity to be divine, will doubtless disbelieve this miracle, from the same
spirit which has induced him to harden his heart against
much more striking evidence. With such a one 1 would
not converse on the subject. But to those who admit the
divine origin of Christianity, if any such doubt the truth of
the miracle, I would say, that it seems to me more reasonable to admit a divine interposition in a case like this, especially considering the important consequences, than to
deny the veracity of Eusebius or of Constantine. On the
former view, God acts like himself, condescending to hear
prayer, leading the mind by temporal kindness to look to
him for spiritual blessings, and confirming the truth of his
own religion; on the latter, two men not of the best, but
surely by no means of the worst character, are unreasonably suspected of deliberate perjury or falsehood." Much
of this passage must be supposed to allude personally to
Gibbon; but on the other hand, there are certainly many
who believe Christianity to be divine, and yet cannot acquiesce in this miracle; not from a doubt that such might
have taken place in the order of providence, but from a
want of ample testimony that it really did take place.
, a learned divine and prelate of the church of England, was born at Pinhoe, near
, a learned divine and prelate of
the church of England, was born at Pinhoe, near Exeter,
on the 31st of January, 1691-2. His father was the rev.
John Conybeare, vicar of Pinhoe; and his mother, Grace
Wilcocks, was the daughter of a substantial gentleman
farmer of that place. At a proper age, he was sent to the
free-school of Exeter for grammatical education, where
Hallet and Foster, afterwards two eminent dissenting divines, were his contemporaries. On the 23d of February,
1707-8, Mr. Conybeare was admitted a battler of Exeter
college, Oxford, under the tuition of Mr. Thomas Kennel,
afterwards Dr. Kennel, many years rector of Drew’s
Teington, Pevon. Mr. Conybeare, on his coming to the
university, was, according to the language of that place,
chum with Mr. Richard Harding, who was elected fellow of
Exeter college in 1709, and died rector of Marwood in
Devonshire, in 1782, in the ninety-fifth year of his age.
How early our young student obtained the esteem of the
learned society with which he was connected, appears from
his having been chosen on the 30th of June, 1710, and
admitted on the 8th of July following, a probationary fellow of his college, upon sir William Petre’s foundation, in
the room of Mr. Daniel Osborrie. When he was proposed
as a candidate, it was only with the design of recommending him to future notice; but such was the sense entertained of his extraordinary merit, that he was made the
object of immediate election. Mr. Harding used to say, that
Mr. Conybeare had every way the advantage of him, excepting in seniority; and that he should have had no
chance in a competition with him, if they had both been
eligible at the same time. The patronage of Dr. Ilennel,
Mr. Conybeare' s worthy tutor, concurred with his own
desert, in bringing him forward thus early to academical
advantages. On the 17th of July, 1713, he was admitted
to the degree of bachelor of arts; and at the next election
of college officers, upon the 30th of June, 1714, he was
appointed praelector, or moderator, in philosophy. On
the 19th of December following, he received deacon’s
orders from the hanclaof Dr. William Talbot, bishop of
Oxford; and on the 2rikof May, 1716, he was ordained
priest by sir Jonathan Trelawny, bishop of Winchester.
On the 16th of April, 1716, he proceeded to the degree of
master of arts; soon after which he entered upon the curacy of Fetcham, in Surry, where he continued about a
year. He was advised to this change of scene for the
benefit of his health, which was always delicate, and had
been greatly impaired by the intenseness of his application.
Upon his return from Fetcham to Oxford, he became a
tutor in his own college, and was much noticed in the university as a preacher. In the beginning of the year 1722,
he published a sermon, which he had delivered before the
university, on the 24th of December preceding, from
Hebrews ii. 4, entitled “The nature, possibility, and certainty of Miracles, &c.
” This discourse was so well received, that it went through four editions. Mr. Conybeare was hence encouraged to commit to the press a second sermon, from 1 Corinthians xiii. 12, which he had
preached before the university, on the 21st of October,
1724, and the title of which was, “The Mysteries of the
Christian Religion credible.
” It is probable, that the
reputation our author gained by these discourses, recommended him to the notice of the bishop of London (Dr. Gibson), who appointed him one of his majesty’s preachers
at Whitehall, upon the first establishment of that institution. The esteem in which his abilities and character were
held, procured him, also, the favour of the lord chancellor
Macclesfield, who, in May 1724, presented him to the
rectory of St. Clement’s in Oxford; a preferment of no
great value, but which was convenient to iiim from his constant residence at that place, and from its being compatible
with his fellowship. In 1725, he was chosen senior proctor of the university, which office he served in conjunction
with Mr. Barnaby Smyth, fellow of Corpus-Christi college,
and a scholar of eminence. In the same year, Mr. Conybeare was called upon to preach a visitation sermon before
the bishop of Oxford, at whose request it was published,
under the title of “The Case of Subscription to Articles
of Religion considered,
” and obtained no small degree of
celebrity, being referred to in the controversy relating to
subscription. The position of Mr. Conybeare is, that
“every one who subscribes the articles of religion, does
thereby engage, not only not to dispute or contradict
them; but his subscription amounts to an approbation of,
and an assent to, the truth of the doctrines therein contained, in the very sense in which the compilers are supposed to have understood them.
” Mr. Conybeare’s next
publication was an assize sermon, preached at St. Mary’s,
Oxford, in 1727, from Ezra vii. 26, and entitled “The
Penal sanctions of laws considered.
” This discourse was
dedicated by him to the honourable Charles Talbot, at
that time solicitor-general, afterwards lord high chancellor
of Great Britain, who had honoured our author with the
care of his two eldest sons, Mr. Charles Talbot, celebrated
by the poet Thomson, and the late earl Talbot, steward
of his majesty’s household. On the llth of July, 1728,
Mr. Conybeare was admitted to the degree of bachelor of
divinity; and on the 24th of January following, he took
his doctor’s degree. In the year 1729, he again appeared
from the press, in a sermon that had been preached before
the lord mayor and aldermen at St. Paul’s cathedral, and
which was entitled ^The Expediency of a Divine Revelation represented.“It was accompanied with a dedication
to bishop Talbot, father of the solicitor-general. From
Dr. Conybeare’s introduction to this family, and the reputation he had acquired as a divine, it was expected that
he would soon have been promoted to some dignity in the
church. But the good bishop was taken off before he had
a proper opportunity of carrying his benevolent intentions
in our author’s favour into execution. In 1730, the headship of Exeter college becoming vacant, by the death of
Dr. Hole, Dr. Conybeare was chosen to succeed him. His
competitor, on this occasion, was the rev. Mr. Stephens,
vicar of St. Andrew’s, Plymouth, a truly worthy clergyxpan, and the author of several ingenious discourses,
Nevertheless, as he had retired early from the society, he
could not be supposed to carry such weight with him as
Dr. Conybeare, who had resided constantly in the college.
In this year Dr. Tindal’s famous deistical book had appeared, entitled
” Christianity as old as the Creation, or
the Gospel a Republication of the Law of Nature.“This
work excited the greatest attention, and drew forth the
pens of some of the ablest divines of the kingdom, both in
the church of PZngland, and among the protestant dissenters. Bishop Gibson, who had himself engaged in the
controversy in his
” Pastoral Letters,“encouraged Dr.
Conybeare to undertake the task of giving a full and particular answer to Tindal’s production. Accordingly, he
published in 1732, his
” Defence of Revealed Religion,“Londoq, 8vo, by which he gained great credit to himself,
and performed an eminent service to the cause of Christianity. In his dedication to the learned prelate now mentioned, he observes, that if he has not succeeded in his
book according to his wishes, he may plead that it was
drawn up amidst a variety of interruptions, and under a
bad state of health.
” This,“says he,
” will in some sort
excuse the author, though it may detract from the performance.“But Dr. Conybeare’s work did not stand in
need of an apology. It is distinguished by the perspicuity of its method, and the strength of its reasoning; and
is, indeed, one of the ablest vindications of revelation
which England has produced. So well was the work received, that the third edition of it was published in 1733.
Dr. Warburton justly styles it one of the best reasoned
books in the world. It is likewise recommended by the
temper and candour with which it is composed. Dr. Conybeare' s Defence will always maintain its rank, and perhaps
be thought to sustain the first place among the four capital
answers which Tindal received. The other three were,
Foster’s
” Usefulness, Truth, and Excellency of the
Christian Revelation;“Leland’s
” Answer to a late book,
entitled Christianity as old as the Creation;“and Mr. Simon Browne’s
” Defence of the Religion of Nature and
the Christian Revelation."
ry sometimes professed himself a Christian; but his writings, in many parts, render his faith in the divine mission of Christ very questionable. The noble lord left one
It remains now to notice more particularly the writings
of lord Shaftesbury, which by one class of critics, have received the most extravagant applause, and, by another,
have been the subjects of indiscriminate condemnation.
They have been examined with a critical eye, and in rather an elaborate manner, by Dr. Kippis, to whose article,
in the Biographia Britannica, we refer the reader, contenting ourselves with a brief outline. Lord Shaftesbury’s
“Letter on Enthusiasm
” was written from excellent motives it contains many admirable remarks, delivered in a
neat and lively strain but it wants precision conveys but
little information and contains some exceptionable passages. The same character may be given, with truth and
justice, of “The Essay on the Freedom of Wit and Huphour,
” designed to defend the application of ridicule to
subjects of speculative inquiry, and among others to religious opinions. His “Soliloquy, or Advice to an Author,
”
met with more general approbation. It contains a variety
of excellent matter; and what the noble lord has advanced
in recommendation of self-examination, and in defence of
critics and criticism, is particularly valuable: it is evidently the result of the author’s knowledge and refined
taste in books, in life, and manners. Lord Shaftesbury’s
“Enquiry concerning Virtue
” obtained more general applause, although in some points it is liable to objection.
It is ably and finely written, and maintains with great force
the important truth, that virtue -is the greatest happiness,
and vice the greatest misery of men. In this “Enquiry,
”
the noble author appeared in the close, the logical, and
the didactic form. But in the “Moralists,
” he is the emulator of Plato, in the boldest poetic manner of that eminent
philosopher. Bishop Hurd ranks it among the best compositions of the kind in our language. Its matter is highly
valuable and important, and presents us with a truly argumentative and eloquent defence of the doctrines of a Deity
and a Providence. The “Miscellaneous Reflections on
the preceding treatises, and other critical subjects,
” are
intended as a sort of defence and explanation of his former
works; but, although they contain a variety of just and ingenious remarks, they abound with many exceptionable
passages concerning revelation. With respect to the style
of lord Shaftesbury, we may quote the opinion of Dr.
Blair, which is at once accurate and judicious. “His language has many beauties; it is firm and supported in an
uncommon degree; it is rich and musical. No English
author has attended so much to the regular construction
of his sentences, both with respect to propriety and
with respect to cadence. All this gives so much elegance and pomp to his language, that there is no
wonder it should sometimes be highly admired. It is
greatly hurt, however, by perpetual stiffness and affectation. This is its capital fault. His lordship can express nothing with simplicity. He seems to have considered it as vulgar, and beneath the dignity of a man of
quality, to speak like other men. Hence he is ever in
buskins, full of circumlocutions and artificial elegance. In
every sentence we see the marks of labour and art; nothing
of that ease which expresses a sentiment coming natural
and warm from the heart. Of figures and ornaments o/
every kind he is exceedingly fond; sometimes happy in
them; but his fondness for them is too visible, and having
once laid hold of some metaphor or allusion that pleased,
he knows not how to part with it. What is most wonderful,
he was a professed admirer of simplicity; is always extolling it in the ancients, and censuring the moderns for
want of it, though he departs from it himself as far as any
one modern whatever. Lord Shaftesbury possessed
delicacy and refinement of taste to a degree that we may call
excessive and sickly; but he had little warmth of passion;
few strong or vigorous feelings; and the coldness of his
character led him to that artificial and stately manner which
appears in his writings. He is fonder of nothing than of
wit and raillery; but he is far from being happy in it. He
attempts it often, but always awkwardly: he is stiff even in
his pleasantry, and laughs in form like an author, and not
like a man.
” Lord Shaftesbury sometimes professed himself
a Christian; but his writings, in many parts, render his faith
in the divine mission of Christ very questionable. The noble
lord left one son, Anthony Ashley Cooper, the fourth earl,
of whom the learned Bp. Huntingford says, “there never
existed a man of more benevolence, moral worth, and true
piety.
” He was the author of the life of his father, in the
great General Dictionary, including Bayle. It may not
be improper to add in this place, that the translator of
Xenophon’s Cyropedia was the honourable Maurice Ashley
Cooper, brother to the third earl.
d notes from the sturdy antagonist of Warburton, the rev. John Jackson of Leicester, a controversial divine of considerable fame in his day. These notes were principally
In 1749 he published with his name, “The Life of Socrates, collected from all the ancient authorities.
” In this
work he received many learned notes from the sturdy antagonist of Warburton, the rev. John Jackson of Leicester,
a controversial divine of considerable fame in his day.
These notes were principally levelled at Warburton, and
in language not very respectful. Warburton, who knew
Jackson, but probably little of Cooper, retorted by a note,
in his edition of Pope’s Works, on the Essay of Criticism,
in which he accused the author of the Life of Socrates of
impudent abuse and slander, the offspring of ignorance
joined with vanity. Cooper’s vanity, it must be confessed,
is amply displayed in this work, and it is impossible to
justify his affected contempt for writers of established reputation. Warburton’s rebuke, however, was very coarse,
and appears to have alarmed him, for he was not naturally
of an abusive turn, but, on the contrary, rather prided
himself on a mind superior to personal animosities. In his
defence, therefore, he published Remarks on Warburton’s
edition of Pope, in which he professes that he had attacked him as an author, and not as a man, and did not, as
a fair antagonist, deserve to be called an impudent slanderer. He next examines a few of Warburton’s notes on
Pope, and endeavours to prove his incapacity as a commentator. He betrays, however, that the real cause of
his introducing Warburton’s name into the Life of Socrates,
was his want of veneration for Mr. Cooper’s favourite philosophers, Shaftesbury, Hutcheson, &c. The whole is
written with much acrimony, but with a very considerable
display of learning. In the former, at least, there is reason to think, he was assisted by Jackson; but the Life of
Socrates brought very little reputation to its author, and
after some years, Warburton’s angry note was omitted
from the editions of Pope.
, a nonconformist divine of considerable note, the son of a mechanic at Gloucester, was
, a nonconformist divine of considerable note, the son of a mechanic at Gloucester, was born
in that city in 1620, and after being educated at a grammar school there, became a batler of Magdalen hall, Oxford, in 1636, and in 1639 was admitted bachelor of arts.
After taking orders, he preached at Gloucester, where he
resided during the siege, of which he published an account. He then removed to Chichester, and afterwards
became rector of Bramshot, in Hampshire, from which he
was ejected in 1662. He lived privately in London and
its neighbourhood until king Charles II.'s indulgence, when
a part of his congregation invited him to Chichester, where
he preached among them, and had a conference with bishop
Gunning on the topics which occasioned his non-conformity; but Corbet was. too closely attached to the principles which prevailed during the usurpation to yield in
any point to the discipline of the church. He died Dec.
26, 1680. Baxter, who preached his funeral sermon, gives
a very high opinion of his learning, piety, and humility.
He wrote many practical tracts, one of which, entitled
“Self-employment in secret,
” was some years ago reprinted by the Rev. William Unwin, rector of Stock cum
Ramsden, in Essex. Corbet’s most curious work is his
“Historical relation of the Military Government of Gloucester, from the beginning of the Civil War to the removal
of col. Massie to the command of the western forces,
” The Interest of England in the
matter of Religion,
” Historical Collections.
”
known. Having long been accustomed to hear the most unbounded applause bestowed on the works of that divine painter, he by degrees became less desirous than afraid of seeing
Corregio’s exclamation upon viewing a picture by Raphael is well known. Having long been accustomed to
hear the most unbounded applause bestowed on the works
of that divine painter, he by degrees became less desirous
than afraid of seeing any of them. One, however, heat
last had occasion to see. He examined it attentively for
some minutes in profound silence; and then with an air
of satisfaction exclaimed, “I too am a painter.
” Julio
Romano, on seeing some of Corregio’s pictures at Parma,
declared they were superior to any thing in painting he had
yet beheld. One of these no doubt would be the famous
Virgin and Child, with Mary Magdalene and St. Jerom.
” 1723, 4to; in which he proves, that the keeping of our Sunday is immutable, as being grounded upon divine institution and apostolical tradition, which he confirms by
Dr. Cosin wrote a great number of books, from all which
he has sufficiently confuted the calumny of his being a
papist, or popishly affected. Besides his “Collection of
Private Devotions,
” mentioned above, he published “A
Scholastical History of the Canon of the Holy Scripture; or,
the certain and indubitable books thereof, as they are received in the Church of England,
” Condon, A Letter to Dr. Collins, concerning the
Sabbath,
” dated from Peterhouse, Jan. 24, 1635, printed
in the “Bibliotheca Literaria,
” A
Letter from our author to Mr. Cordel, dated Paris, Feb. 7,
165O,
” printed at the end of a pamphlet entitled “The
Judgment of the Church of England, in the case of
Laybaptism, and of Dissenters baptism,' 1 a second edition of
which was published in 1712, 8vo. 3.
” Regni Anglise
Religio Catholica, prisca, casta, defoecata: omnibus
Christianis monarchis, principibus, ordinibus, ostensa,
anno MDCLII.“i. e. A short scheme of the ancient and
pure doctrine and discipline of the Church of England.
Written at the request of sir Edward Hyde, afterwards earl
of Clarendon, and printed at the end of Smith’s Life of
bishop Cosin. 4.
” The History of Popish Transubstantiation,“&c. written in Latin by the author at Paris, for
the use of some of his countrymen, who were frequently
attacked upon that point by the papists. It was published
by Dr. Durrell, at London, 1675, 8vo, and translated into
English in 1676, by Luke de Beaulieu, 8vo. There is a
second part still in manuscript. 5.
” The differences in the
chief points of religion between the Roman Catholics and
us of the Church of England; together with the agreements which we, for our parts, profess, and are ready to
embrace, if they, for theirs, were as ready to accord with
us in the same. Written to the countess of Peterborough, “printed at the end of bishop Bull’s
” Corruptions of the
Church of Rome.“6.
” Notes on the Book of CommonPrayer.“Published by Dr. William Nicholls, at the end
of his Comment on the Book of Common-Prayer, Lond.
171O, fol. 7.
” Account of a Conference in Paris, between Cyril, archbishop of Trapezond, and Dr. John Cosin;“printed in the same book. 8.
” A Letter from Dr.
Cosin to bishop Moreton his predecessor, giving an account of his studies and employment when an exile
abroad;“and,
” A Memorial of his, against what the Romanists call the Great General Council of Lateran under
Innocent III. in 1215,“both published by Des Maizeaux
in vol. VI. of
” The Present State of the Republic of Letters,“1730. 9.
” An Apology of Dr. John Cosin,“in
answer to Fuller’s misrepresentations of him in that author’s Church History, printed at the end of the first part
of Heylin’s
” Examen Historicum.“The following pieces
were also written by bishop Cosin, but never primed:
I.
” An Answer to a Popish pamphlet pretending that
St. Cyprian was a Papist.“2.
” An Answer to four queries
of a Roman Catholic, about the Protestant Religion.“3. ti An Answer to a paper delivered by a Popish BifUop
to the lord Inchiquin. ' 4.
” Annales Ecclesiastic!,“imperfect. 5.
” An Answer to Father Robinson’s Papers
concerning the validity of the Ordinations of the Church
of England.“6.
” Historia Conciliorum,“imperfect.
7.
” Against the foraakers of the Church of England, and
their seducers in this time of her tryal.“8.
” Chronologia Sacra,“imperfect. 9.
” A Treatise concerning the
abuse of auricular confession in the Church of Rome."
Some few of Dr. Cosin’s letters are extant among Dr.
Birch’s collections in the British Museum.
on him; which, it is possible, he did; for I heard from Mr. Richard Holdesworth, a great and learned divine, that was with him in his last sickness, a little before he
“Amongst other books,
” says he, “which Mr. Richard
James lent out, one Mr. St. John, of Lincoln’s-inn, a
young studious gentleman, borrowed of him, for money,
a dangerous pamphlet that was in a written hand, by which
a course was laid down, how the kings of England might
oppress the liberties of their subjects, and for ever enslave
them and their posterities. Mr. St. John shewed the book
to the earl of Bedford, o.r a copy of it; and so it passed
from hand to hand, in the year 1629, till at last it was lent
to sir Robert Cotton himself, who set a young fellow he
then kept in his house to transcribe it; which plainly
proves, that sir Robert knew not himself that the written
tract itself had originally come out of his own library.
This untrusty fellow, imitating, it seems, the said James,
took one copy secretly for himself, when he wrote another
for sir Robert; and out of his own transcript sold away
several copies, till at last one of them came into Wentworth’s hands, of the North, now lord deputy, of Ireland.
He acquainted the lords and others of the privy-council
with it. They sent for the said young fellow, and examining him where he had the written book, he confessed sir
Robert Cotton delivered it to him. Whereupon in the
beginning of November, in the same year 1629, sir Robert was examined, and so were divers others, one after
the other as it had been delivered from hand to hand, till
at last Mr. St. John himself was apprehended, and, being
conceived to be the author of the book, was committed
close prisoner to the Tower. Being in danger to have
been questioned for his life about it, upon examination
upon oath, he made a clear, full, and punctual declaration that he had received the same manuscript pamphlet of
that wretched mercenary fellow James*, who by this means
proveed the wretched instrument of shortening the life of
sir Robert Cotton; for he was presently thereupon sued
in the star-chamber, his library locked up from his use,
and two or more of the guards set to watch his house continually. When I went several times to visit and comfort
him in the year 1630, he would tell me, ‘ they had broken
his heart, that had locked up his library from him.’ I
easily guessed the reason, because his honour and esteem
were much impaired by this fatal accident; and his house,
that was formerly frequented by great and honourable personages, as by learned men of all sorts, remained now
upon the matter desolate and empty. I understood from
himself and others, that Dr. Neile and Dr. Laud, two prelates that had been stigmatized in the first session of parliament in 1628, were his sore enemies. He was so outworn, within a few months, with anguish and grief, as his
face, which had been formerly ruddy and well coloured,
(such as the picture I have of him shews), was wholly
changed into a grim blackish paleness, near to the resemblance and hue of a dead visage. I, at one time, advised
him to look into himself, and seriously consider, why God
had sent this chastisement upon him; which, it is possible,
he did; for I heard from Mr. Richard Holdesworth, a great
and learned divine, that was with him in his last sickness,
a little before he died, that he was exceedingly penitent,
and was much confirmed in the faithful expectation of a
better life.
”
, a very learned English divine, was born at Horningsheath in Suffolk, in 1638, and educated
, a very learned English divine, was born at Horningsheath in Suffolk, in 1638, and educated in classical learning in the school of St. Edmund’s Bury. March 31, 1654, he was admitted of Christ’s college, in Cambridge; of which, after taking his degrees in arts, he was elected fellow. Some time after he went into orders, and in 1670 went as chaplain to sir Daniel Harvey, ambassador from Charles II. to the Porte; where he served, in that quality, both him and his successor, sir John Finch, for the space of seven years. Upon his return to England in 1679, he was created D. D. and the same year chosen lady Margaret’s preacher in the university of Cambridge. March 15, 1680, he had institution to the sinecure rectory of Littlebury in Essex', to which he was presented by Gunning, bishop of Ely. In 1681 he got the college living of Kegworth in Leicestershire, and was also made one of the chaplains to the Princess of Orange, afterwards queen Mary, and oil that account resided at that court, till, for some cause or other, which he never would mention to his most intimate friends, he was dismissed his attendance at three hours warning, and came over to England. On Nov. 9, 1687, he was installed into the chancellorship of York, conferred upon him by the king during the vacancy of that see. July 7, 1688, he was elected master of Christ’s college, in Cambridge, and the same year he was made vice-chancellor of the university. In October, 1689, king William being at Newmarket, came to Cambridge; and it being commonly known that Dr. Covel was in disgrace with his Majesty, it was asked his Majesty whether he would be pleased to see the vice-chancellor; to which he replied, that he knew how to distinguish Dr. Covel from the vice-chancellor of Cambridge; and it was remarked, that the royal visitor was more than usually gracious and affable with him. In 1708 he again served the office of vice-chancellor; and in 1722, just before his death, published his account of the Greek church.
, a learned divine of the church of Rome, who was long resident in England, was
, a learned divine of the
church of Rome, who was long resident in England, was
born at Vernon in “Normandy, in the year 1681, and being
educated for the church, became canon regular and librarian of the abbey of St. Genevieve, a situation extremely
favourable to the prosecution of his studies, as the library
of which he had the care is a very considerable one. Among
other theological inquiries, he engaged in one, which was
productive of very important consequences respecting his
future life. Having been employed in reading abbe Reuaudot’s
” Memoire sur la validite des Ordinations des
Anglois,“inserted in abbe Gould’s
” La veritable croyance
de T'eglise Catholique,“he was induced to enter into a farther examination of that subject. Accordingly he drew up
a memoir upon it, for his own satisfaction only, but which
grew insensibly into a treatise; and at the instance of some
friends to whom it was communicated, he was at length
prevailed with to consent to its publication. He therefore
made the usual application for permission to print it; and
obtained the approbation of Mons. Arnaudin, the royal licenser of the press. Some persons, however, afterwards
found means to prevail on the chancellor to refuse to affix
the seal to the approbation of the licenser. Terms were
proposed to father Courayer, to which he could not accede,
and he gave up all thoughts of publishing. Some of his
friends, however, being in possession of a copy, resolved
to print it; and this obliged him to acquiesce in the
publication. When he first wrote his treatise, all his materials were taken from printed authorities, and he had no
acquaintance or correspondence in England. But sundry
difficulties, which occurred to him in the course of his inquiries, suggested to him the propriety of writing to England, in order to obtain clearer information on some points;
and knowing that a correspondence had been carried on
between Dr. Wake, then archbishop of Canterbury, and
Dr. Dupin, on the project of re-uniting the churches of
England and France, he took the liberty, in 1721, although
entirely unknown to that prelate, to desire his information
respecting some particulars. The archbishop answered his
inquiries with great readiness, candour, and politeness, and
many letters passed between them on this occasion. Father
Courayer’s book was at length published in 1723, in two
volumes small 8vo, entitled,
” Dissertation sur la validite
des Ordinations des Anglois, et sur la Succession des
Evesques de l'Eglise Anglicane: avec les preuves justificatives des faits avancez dans cet ouvrage.“It was printed
at Nancy, though Brussels is placed in the title. It was
afterwards translated into English, by the rev. Mr. Daniel
Williams, and published at London in one volume 8vo,
under the title
” A Defence of the validity of the English
Ordinations, and of the Succession of the Bishops in the
Church of England: together with proofs justifying the
facts advanced in this treatise.“Father Courayer’s work
was immediately attacked by several popish writers, particularly by father le Quien and father Hardouin. But in
1726 he published, in four volumes 12mo,
” Defense de la
Dissertation sur la validite des Ordinations des Anglois,
coutre les differentes reponsesqui y out 6te faites. Avec les
preuves justiticatives des faits avancez dans cet ouvrage.
Par l'Auteur de la Dissertation.“An English translation
of this also was afterwards published at London, in two
volumes 8 vo, under the following title:
” A Defence of
the Dissertation on the validity of the English Ordinations," &c.
was instructed in all the liberal arts, that he was a grammarian, a rhetorician, and a poet; a sound divine, and a diligent preacher of God’s word. It is needless after
In 1541, Henry VIII. granted him, by patent, the office
of master of the grammar-school of Reading, with a certain tenement called “a scole-house,
” with a stipend of
ten pounds, issuing out of the manor of Cholsey, belonging to the late dissolved monastery of Reading. A few
years after he had obtained this patent, which he appears,
to have had the power of assigning during his life, he
quitted Reading, and travelled over great part of the continent, teaching the learned languages. Leland, in some
Latin verses, among his “Encomia,
” addressed to Cox,
speaks of his visiting the universities of Prague, Paris, and
Cracow, and that he was known to Melancthon, who was
Greek professor at Wittemberg. In the latter part of his
life he kept a school at Caer-leon, and is said to have
survived until the reign of Edward VI. Bale says that he was
instructed in all the liberal arts, that he was a grammarian,
a rhetorician, and a poet; a sound divine, and a diligent
preacher of God’s word. It is needless after this to add
that he was of the reformed religion. In Edward Vlth’s
time, he was one of the licensed preachers.
op’s repeated desires, forms of resignation were actually drawn up. But the court could not find any divine of note who would take that bishopric on their terms, of surrendering*
, a learned English bishop, was born at Whaddon in Buckinghamshire, of mean parentage, in the year 1499. He had probably his first education in the small priory of Snelshall, in the parish of Whaddon; but being afterwards sent to Eton-school, he was elected into a scholarship at King’s college in Cambridge, of which he became fellow in the year 1519. Having the same year taken his bachelor of arts degree, and being eminent for his piety and learning, he was invited to Oxford by cardinal Wolsey, to fill up his new foundation. He was accordingly preferred to be one of the junior canons of Cardinal college; and on the 7th of December, 1525, was incorporated bachelor of arts at Oxford, as he stood at Cambridge. Soon after, having performed his exercises, he took the degree of M. A. July 2, 1526, and at this time was reputed one of the greatest scholars of his age; and even his poetical compositions were in great esteem. His piety and virtue were not inferior to his learning, and commanded the respect of all impartial persons. But shewing himself averse to many of the popish superstitions, and declaring freely for some of Luther’s opinions, he incurred the displeasure of his superiors, who stripped him of his preferment, and threw him into prison on suspicion of heresy. When he was released from his confinement, he left Oxford; and, some time after, was chosen master of Eton-school, which flourished under his care. In 1537, he commenced doctor in divinity at Cambridge, and December 4, 1540, was made archdeacon of Ely; as he was also appointed in 1541, the first prebendary in the first stall of the same cathedral, upon its being new founded by king Henry VIII. September 10, 1541. He was likewise, June 3, 1542, presented by the same king to the prebend of Sutton with Buckingham in the church of Lincoln, and installed the llth of that month, but this he surrendered up in 1547. In the year 1543, he supplicated the university of Oxford, that he might take place among the doctors of divinity there, which was unusual, because he was not then incorporated in that degree, but this took place in June 1545. When a design was formed, of converting the collegiate church of Southwell into a bishopric, Dr. Cox was nominated bishop of it. On the 8th of January, 1543-4, he was made the second dean of the new-erected cathedral of Osney near Oxford; and in 1546, when that see was translated to Christ church, he was also made dean there. These promotions he obtained by the interest of archbishop Cranmer and bishop Goodrich, to the last of whom he had been chaplain; and, by their recommendation, he was chosen tutor to the young prince Edward, whom he instructed with great care in the true principles of religion, and formed his tender mind to an early sense of his duty, both as a Christian and a king. On that prince’s accession to the throne, he became a great favourite at court, and was made a privy-counsellor, and the king’s almoner. The 2 1st of May, 1547, he was elected chancellor of the university of Oxford; installed July 16, 1548, canon of Windsor; and the next year made dean of Westminster. About the same time he was appointed one of the commissioners to visit the university of Oxford, in which he and his brother commissioners destroyed some of the most valuable treasures in the libraries, from a notion that they encouraged popery and conjuration *. In 1550, he was ordered to go down into Sussex, and endeavour by his learned and affecting sermons, to quiet the minds of the people, who had been disturbed by the factious preaching of Day bishop of Chichester, a violent papist: and when the noble design of reforming the canon law was in agitation, he was appointed one of the commissioners. Both in this and the former reign, when an act passed for giving all chantries, colleges, &c. to the king, through Dr. Cox’s powerful intercession, the colleges in both universities were excepted out of that act. In November 1552, be resigned the office of chancellor of Oxford and soon after queen Mary’s accession to the crown, he was stripped of his preferments and on the 15th of August, 1553, committed to the Marshalsea. He was indeed soon discharged from this confinement; but foreseeing the inhuman persecution likely to ensue, he resolved to quit the realm, and withdraw to some place where he might enjoy the free exercise of his religion, according to the form established in the reign of king Edward. With this view he went first to Strasburgh in Germany, where he heard with great concern of some English exiles at Francfort having thrown aside the English Liturgy, and set up a form of their own, framed after the French and Geneva models. On the 13th of March 1555, he came to Francfort in order to oppose this innovation, and to have the Common- Prayer-Book settled among the English congregation there, which he had the satisfaction to accomplish. Then he returned to Strasburgh for the sake of conversing with Peter Martyr, with whom he had contracted an intimate friendship at Oxford, and whom he loved and honoured for his great learning and moderation. After the death of queen Mary he returned to England; and was one of those divines who were appointed to revise the Liturgy. When a disputation was to be held at Westminster between eight papists and eight of the reformed clergy, he was the chief champion on the protestants’ side. He preached often before queen Elizabeth in Lent; and, in his sermon at the opening of her first parliament, exhorted them in most affecting terms to restore religion to its primitive purity, and banish all the popish innovations and corruptions. These excellent discourses, and the great zeal he had shewn in support of the English liturgy at Francfort, so effectually recommended him to the queen’s esteem, that in June 1559, she nominated him to the bishopric of Norwich; but altering her mind, preferred him to the see of Ely in July 1559, in the room of Dr. Thirlby, who was deprived. Before his consecration (Dec. 19) he joined with Dr. Parker, elect archbishop of Canterbury, and the bishops elect of London, Chichester, and Hereford, in a petition to the queen, against an act lately passed for the alienating and exchanging the lands and revenues of the bishops; and sent her several arguments from scripture and reason against the lawfulness of it; observing withal, the many evils and inconveniencies both to church and state that would thence arise. In 1559 we find him again appointed one of the visitors of the university of Oxford, but this visitation was conducted so moderately as to obtain a letter of thanks to queen Elizabeth for the services of the commissioners. He enjoyed the episcopal dignity about twenty-one years and seven months, and was justly considered one of the chief pillars and ornaments of the church of England, having powerfully co-operated with archbishop Parker, and his successor Grindal, in restoring our church in the same beauty and good order it had enjoyed in king Edward’s reign. He indeed gave some offence to the queen by his zealous opposition to her retaining the crucifix and lights on the altar of the Chapel Royal, and his strenuous defence of the lawfulness of the marriage of the clergy, to which the queen was always an enemy. He was a liberal patron to all learned men whom he found well affected to the church; and shewed a singular esteem for Dr. Whitgift, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, made him his chaplain, and gave him the rectory of Teversham in Cambridgeshire, and a prebend of Ely. He did his utmost to get a body of ecclesiastical laws established by authority of parliament; but through the opposition of some of the chief courtiers, this design miscarried a third time. As he had, in his exile at Francfort, been the chief champion against the innovations of the puritans, he still continued, with some vigour and resolution, to oppose their attempts against the discipline and ceremonies of the established church. At first he tried to reclaim them by gentle means; but finding that they grew more audacious, and reviled both church and bishops in scurrilous libels, he wrote to archbishop Parker, to go on vigorously in reclaiming or punishing them, and not be disheartened at the frowns of those court-favourites who protected them; assuring him that he might expect the blessing of God on his pious labours to free the church from their dangerous attempts, and to establish uniformity. When the privycouncil interposed in favour of the puritans, and endeavoured to screen them from punishment, he wrote a bold letter to the lord- treasurer Burieigh in which he warmly expostulated with the council for meddling with the affairs of the church, which, as he said, ought to be left to the determination of the bishops; admonished them to keep within their own sphere; and told them he would appeal to the queen if they continued to interpose in matters not belonging to them. He is blamed by some for giving up several manors and other estates belonging to his see, while others thought he deserved commendation for his firmness in resolving to part with no more, and for being proof against the strongest solicitations and most violent attacks which he had to encounter, even from those who were most in favour at court, and who were backed by royal command and authority. In the years 1574- and 1575, sir Christopher Hatton, a noted favourite of the queen, endeavoured to wrest Ely-house in Holborn from him; and in order to preserve it to his see he was forced to have a long and chargeable suit in chancery, which was not determined in 1579. The lord North also attempted, in 1575, to oblige him to part with the manor of Somersham, in Huntingdonshire, one of the best belonging to his bishopric; and with Downham park; which he refusing to yield, that lord endeavoured to irritate the queen against him, and to have him deprived. For that purpose, North, and some others of the courtiers, examined and ransacked his whole conduct since his first coming to his see, and drew tip a large body of articles against him addressed to the privy-council. But the bishop, in his replies, so fully vindicated himself, that the queen was forced to acknowledge his innocence, though the lord North boasted he had found five prsemunires against him. Vexed, however, with the implacable malice of the lord North, and other his adversaries, he desired, in 1577, leave to resign his bishopric, which the queen refused. North, though disappointed in his former attempt, yet not discouraged, brought three actions against the poor old bishop for selling of wood, on which the bishop offered again, in 1579, to resign, provided he had a yearly pension of two hundred pounds out of his see, and Donnington (the least of five country houses belonging to Ely bishopric) for his residence during life. The lord- treasurer Burieigh, at the bishop’s earnest desire, obtained leave of the queen for him to resign; and in February 1579-80, upon the bishop’s repeated desires, forms of resignation were actually drawn up. But the court could not find any divine of note who would take that bishopric on their terms, of surrendering* up the best manors belonging to it. The first offer of it was made to Freak, bisbop of Norwich; and, on his refusal, it was proffered to several others; but the conditions still appeared so ignominious that they all rejected it; by which means bishop Cox enjoyed it till his death, which happened on the 22d of July 1581, in the eighty-second year of his arge. By his will he left several legacies, amounting in all to the sum of 945l.; and died worth, in good debts, 2,322l. He had several children. His body was interred in Ely cathedral, near bishop Goodrich’s monument, under a marble stone, with an inscription, now nearly effaced. His character is said to have been that of a man of a sound judgment and clear apprehension, and skilled in all polite and useful learning. He wanted no advantages of education, and improved them with such diligence and industry, that he soon became an excellent proficient both in divine and human literature. The holy scriptures were his chief study; and he was perfectly well versed in the original language of the New Testament. He was extremely zealous for the true interest of the reformed church, and a constant and vigorous defender of it against alj, the open, assaults of all its enemies. He is accused by some of having been a worldly and covetou’s person; and is said to have made a great havock and spoil of his woods and parks, feeding his family with powdered venison to save expences. Several complaints and long accusations were exhibited against him and his wife, in 1579, to queen Elizabeth upon these accounts, but the bishop fully vindicated himself, and shewed that all these complaints were malicious calumnies. It is likewise said, that he appears to have been of a vindictive spirit, by reason of his prosecution of, and severity to, the deprived catholics in his custody; and especially by his complaints against Dr. Feckenham, the last abbot of Westminster. But the bishop alleges in his own excuse, that these complaints were well founded; and that his endeavours to convert him were by order of the court. It must be remembered of this bishop, that he was the first who brought a wife to live in a college; and that he procured a new body of statutes for St, John’s college in Cambridge, of which, as bishop of Ely, he was, visitor.
rnet’s History of the Reformation. 7. He had a hand in the “Declaration concerning the functions and divine institution of Bishops and Priests,” and in the “Answers to
His works, chiefly published after his decease, are, 1.
“An Oration at the beginning of the Disputation of Dr.
Tresham and others with Peter Martyr.
” 2. “An Oration
at the conclusion of the same;
” both in Latin, and printed
in Resolutions of some
Questions concerning the Sacraments;
” in the collection
of records at the end of Dr. Burnet’s History of the Reformation. 7. He had a hand in the “Declaration concerning the functions and divine institution of Bishops and
Priests,
” and in the “Answers to the Queries concerning some abuses of the Mass.
” 8. Several letters, and
small pieces of his have been published by the industrious
Strype, in his Annals of the Reformation, and Lives of the
four Archbishops; and he is said to have had a hand in
Lilly’s Grammar. A letter written by him in 1569, directed to the Parson of Downham, and found in the parish
chest of that place, was some years ago published in the
Gentleman’s Magazine. It relates chiefly to the state and
condition of the poor, before the statutes of the 14th and
43d of queen Elizabeth were enacted and shews that the
bishop was animated with a very laudable zeal for engaging
persons of wealth and substance to contribute liberally,
chearfully, and charitably, to their indigent neighbours.
till he was removed to Haddington. During the time he was minister at Yester, he wrote a volume of “ Divine Poems,” which have gone through two editions, and are much esteemed.
, M. A. a Scotch clergyman, was born
at Gifford in East Lothian 1682, and educated in the university of Edinburgh, took his degrees, and was ordained
minister at Yester, where he continued some years till he
was removed to Haddington. During the time he was
minister at Yester, he wrote a volume of “Divine Poems,
”
which have gone through two editions, and are much esteemed. In 1732 he was translated to Edinburgh, and
was much followed as one of the most popular preachers in
that city. While he was at Edinburgh; he published three
volumes of “Sermons,
” in 8vo, chiefly on the principal
heads of Christianity; but they are now become scarce.
He died at Edinburgh in 1744, aged 62.
, a divine of the church of Scotland, was the son of a merchant in Glasgow,
, a divine of the church of Scotland, was the son of a merchant in Glasgow, where he was horn in February 1709; and in the seminaries of education in that city, he began and prosecuted his studies. At college he distinguished himself by his early taste and uncommon proficiency in classical learning; and received great assistance and encouragement from his kinsman the rev. Mr. Clerk, of Neilston in Renfrewshire. The moral philosophy of the ancients engaged his attention in a particular manner: and the moral writers of Greece and Rome were his favourite authors. By the attentive perusal of their works, and of the moral poets of antiquity, he had committed to his memory a great number of their most striking passages, and used to apply them occasionally, in the company of his select friends, with great ease, judgment, and ingenuity. In this he had an excellent example in the practice of his friend and instructor, the justly-celebrated Dr. Hutcheson, who was elected to the professorship of moral philosophy in the university of Glasgow about the time that Craig had nearly finished his theological and philosophical course. W T ith this amiable and eminent philosopher he was early and intimately connected. Com-mencing preacher in 1734, his philosophical monitor embraced every opportunity of hearing him; and with a frankness which shewed the opinion he entertained of the candour and abilities of his disciple, he offered such remarks on his sermons as he thought necessary. He particularly admonished him against a propensity to which young clergymen of ability are very liable, of indulging themselves in abstruse and philosophical disquisition. He advised, because he knew he was able to follow the advice, to preach to and from the heart. He did so. Habitually pious, ardently devout, and deeply interested in the welfare of those who listened to his instruction, he delivered himself with genuine and becoming earnestness. This was the spirit that directed his manner, which was solemn, yet animated; earnest, but correct; and though correct, not formal.
ich he obtained a fellowship in 1598. He was esteemed a celebrated preacher and a deep controversial divine, and was particularly admired by the puritans. When king James
, originated from a gentleman’s family at Strickland in Westmoreland, where he
was born in 1567, and in 1583 was admitted in Queen’s
college in Oxford, of which he obtained a fellowship in
1598. He was esteemed a celebrated preacher and a
deep controversial divine, and was particularly admired by
the puritans. When king James 1. sent the lord Evers ambassador to the emperor, Mr. Crakanthorpe went along with
him in 1603 as chaplain; and upon his return he was chaplain to Dr. Ravis, bishop of London, and presented to the
rectory of Black Notley, near Braintry in Essex. He had
the reputation of a general scholar, was a considerable
canonist, and perfectly acquainted with ecclesiastical antiquity and scholastic divinity. He died in 1624, at his
rectory of Black-Notley. His works are, 1. “Justinian
the emperor defended against cardinal Baronius,
” Introductio in Metaphysicam, lib. 4.
” Oxon. A Defence of Constanthie,
with a treatise of the pope’s Temporal Monarchy,
” Lond.
Pefensio ecclesiae Anglicanse contra M.
Anton, cle Dominis archiepisc. Spalatensis injurias,
” Lond.
Vigilius dormitans; or, a treatise of the 5th general council held at Constantinople, ann.
553,
” Lond. Logicae libri quinque,
” Lond.
Tractatus de providentia,
”
Camb.
, a learned protestant divine, was born at Retz in the new march of Brandenburgh, Jan. 20,
, a learned protestant divine, was
born at Retz in the new march of Brandenburgh, Jan. 20,
1568, where his father was pastor of the church, and for
some time superintended his education. In 1531 he was
sent to Lansberg, where he was educated in Greek and
Latin by J. M. Capito, and afterwards pursued his studies
at other seminaries, particularly Rostock, where he applied to philosophy and mathematics under Dr. Duncan
Liddel, a learned native of Scotland, and Gotschovius.
Under the presidentship of Dr. Liddel he defended a thesis
on the organon of Aristotle with great applause, and lectured on the ethics to some of his fellow-students. About
this time, 1590, the son of the prime minister of Denmark,
Rosenkranz, being at Rostock for his education, Cramer
was appointed his tutor, and afterwards accompanied him
to Denmark, and to the university of Whtemberg; here
he was appointed professor of logic, and superintendant of
the scholars who were exhibitioners. From hence, being
invited to Stettin, he was made first dean, and professor,
and assessor of the consistory. In 1597 he was appointed
pastor at Marienkirk, and inspector of the college. In
1598 he received the degree of doctor of divinity at Wittemberg, where Moreri, blunderingly, makes him die in
the following year: on the contrary, after refusing many
preferments, he remained here until Oct. 5, 1637, on which
day he died, in his sixty-ninth year. His works, both in
Latin and German, are very numerous. Freher has given
a complete list, in which we find several treatises on Aristotle, “Emblematum Sacrorum Decades X.
” with plates,
and Latin, German, Italian and French verses,“8vo.
”Isagoge ad libros Propheticos et Apostolicos,“8vo;
” Arbor hsereticse consanguinitatis," a history of heresies, divided into four classes, 4to; and various controversial works
in favour of the Lutheran opinions.
, of another family, a German divine and poet, doctor and professor of divinity at the university
, of another family, a German
divine and poet, doctor and professor of divinity at the
university of Kiel, was born in 1723, at Jostadt, near Aunaberg. He was educated at Leipsic, where he made
great proficiency in learning, but was soon under the necessity of employing his talents to defray the expences of
the university, which he did partly in teaching, and partly
in translating for the booksellers. He soon, however, acquired great reputation, and in 1750 was invited to Copenhagen, where he became court-chaplain. In 1765 he
was appointed professor of divinity in the university of
Copenhagen, and in 1773 was appointed to the same office
in the university of Kiel, where he died June 12, 1738.
He ranks as an orator, historian, poet, and translator, but
his countrymen distinguish him principally as an historian,
and a poet. His translation of, and additions to Bossuet’s
“Introduction to Universal History,
” bespeak the highest
talents, and his translation of the “Psalms
” is said to
breathe the true spirit of Oriental poetry. His two lyric
odes of “David
” and “Luther
” are excellent; and, though
inferior to Klopstock and Ramler in spirit, he far surpasses them in versification and ease. His principal works
are: 1. “A Translation of the Sermons of St. Chrysostom,
with an Introduction and Remarks,
” ten parts, Leipsic,
Psalms,
” in
four parts, ibid. Gospel Imitation of the
Psalms of David, and other holy songs,
” Copenhagen,
Luther,
” an ode, Melancthon,
”
an ode. He was also concerned with Klopstock in publishing the “Northern Inspector,
” one of the best periodical publications in Germany.
, a learned protestant divine, was born at Elcau, Feb. 14, 1678, and was first instructed
, a learned protestant
divine, was born at Elcau, Feb. 14, 1678, and was first
instructed in classical learning by his father, who was a
pastor of the reformed church, and who intended him for
the medical profession, but by the advice of his brother,
professor of the oriental languages at Zurich, he studied
divinity, after the death of his father, in 1693, and was
admitted into the ministry in 1699. The same year he accompanied his brother to Herborn, where the latter had
been appointed professor of divinity, and pursued his
studies in that place for two years, under the ablest professors. He then removed to Leyden, and having made
great progress in Hebrew antiquities, he published there,
in 1702, his “Seven Dissertations on the Hilcoth Biccurim.
” His brother dying at Zurich the same year, he
was unanimously chosen to succeed him as Hebrew professor, and on Sept. 18, he opened his lectures with a discourse “de philologis a reformatione in schola Tigurina
claris.
” In 1705 he was appointed to teach sacred and
profane history, and the year following succeeded to the
Hebrew professorship in the superior college. In 1725 he
succeeded John James Lavater, the elder, as professor of
theology, and after some other preferments, the duties of
which appear to have affected his health, he died July 14,
1737. His works are very numerous: 1. “Decas Thesium
Theologicarum,
” Constitutiones de primitivis R. Mosis F. Maimonis, &c. cum versione et notis
philologicis,
” Leyden, De Summa pryedicationis apostolicae, quod Jesus sit Christus,
” De genuina indole fidei Jesum ceu Christum recipientis,
” two parts, Dissertationes Theolog. VII. de benedictione Mosis in tribum
Levi enunciata,
” 1725, 1736, 4to. 6. “Positiones theolog. ex pastorali instructione sancti Pauli ad Titum data,
”
Demonstratio quibus in rebus S'erae religionis prsestantia ponenda sit,
” 172H. 8. “De nonnullis
Antichrist! characteribus,
” Meditatio sacra in verba S. Pauli,
quee beatitudinem in Domino morientium veram ac certam
demonstrat,
” Zurich,
, an English poet, was the son of the rev. William Crashaw, a divine of some note in his day, and preacher at the Temple church,
, an English poet, was the son
of the rev. William Crashaw, a divine of some note in his
day, and preacher at the Temple church, London. He
published several volumes on points controverted between
the Roman catholics and protestants, either original or
translated; and in 1608, a translation of the Life of Galeacius Caracciolo, marquis of Vico, an Italian nobleman,
who was converted by the celebrated reformer Peter
Martyr, and forsook all that rank, family, and wealth
could yield, for the quiet enjoyment of the reformed religion. Mr. Crashaw also translated a supposed poem of
St. Bernard’s, entitled “The Complaint or Dialogue between the Soule and the Bodie of a damned man,
” Manual for true Catholics, or a handfull or rather a heartfull of holy Meditations
and Prayers.
” All these show him to have been a zealous
protestant; but, like his son, somewhat tinctured with a
love of mystic poetry and personification.
o him, and Cratippus among them. Pompey complained, as Plutarch tells us, and disputed a little upon divine providence; but Cratippus gently yielded to him, giving him
, pronounced by Cicero to be by far the
greatest of all the Peripatetic philosophers he ever heard,
was of Mitylene, and taught philosophy there. He went
afterwards to Athens, where he followed the sa'riie profession; and amongst his disciples had Cicero’s son. Cicero
had an high esteem for him, and prevailed upon Ca;sar to
grant him the freedom of Rome; and afterwards engaged
the Areopagus to make a decree, by which Cratippns was
desired to continue at Athens, as an ornament to the city,
and to read lectures to the youth there. These lectures
were probably interesting, as Brutus went to hear them
when he was preparing for the war against Marc Antony.
Cratippus had the art of making himself agreeable to his
disciples, and of pleasing them by his conversation, which
was free from austerity. This appears from a letter of
young Cicero, where there is the following passage: “Know
then that Cratippus loves me not as a disciple, but as a
son; and as I am very well pleased to hear his lectures,
so I am extremely delighted with the sweetness of his temper. I prevail with him whenever I can to sup with me;
and this being now customary, he comes often to us unawares, when we are at supper; and, laying aside his
philosophic gravity, he is so kind as to laugh and joke with
us.
” There are other proofs beside this, that Cratippus
was a man who understood life as well as philosophy. After
the battle of Pharsalia, Pompey went to Mitylene, where
the inhabitants paid their respects to him, and Cratippus
among them. Pompey complained, as Plutarch tells us,
and disputed a little upon divine providence; but Cratippus gently yielded to him, giving him hopes of better
times, lest he should have tired and vexed him with answering and refuting his objections. Cratippus wrote some
pieces about divination; and is supposed to he the same
with him whom Tertullian, in his book “De Anima,
” has
ranked among the writers upon dreams.
her Simon’s opinion of him may be quoted as generic. “Crellius is a grammarian, a philosopher, and a divine throughout. He has a wonderful address in adapting St. Paul’s
, a once celebrated writer of the
Sociriian persuasion, was born in Franconia in 1590, and
after some early education received from his father, studied
at Nuremberg, and other German schools or universities.
He was brought up in the Lutheran church, but in the
course of his reading, having formed to himself a set of
opinions nearly coinciding with those of Socinus, he declined the offers of promotion in the Lutheran church,
where he probably would not have been favourably received, and determined to go to Poland, where such opinions as his were no bar to advancement. In 1612 he
went to Racow, and besides becoming a preacher, was appointed Greek professor and afterwards rector of the university. His theological works form a considerable part of
the works’ of the “Fratres Poloni,
” and he engaged in a
controversy with Grotius, who had written against Socinus,
and a correspondence, of great politeness, took place between them, which made Grotius be suspected of inclining
too much to the opinions of his antagonist. He certainly
carried his politeness very far, when he told Crellius that
“he was, grieved to see so much enmity between those,
who call themselves Christians, for such trifling matters,
”
these matters being no less than the doctrine of the Trinity, and the divinity and atonement of Jesus Christ.
Crellius, we are told, like many of his descendants, would
not be called a Socinian, but an Artemonite, after Artemon, who lived in the reign of the emperor Severus, and
denied the pre-existence and divinity of Christ. Crellius’
opinions on other subjects will not probably procure him
much respect, at least from one sex. In his “Ethics,
”
he is said to maintain that it is lawful for men upon certain
occasions to beat their wives! Crellius died at Racow, of
an epidemic fever, 1633. Father Simon’s opinion of him
may be quoted as generic. “Crellius is a grammarian, a
philosopher, and a divine throughout. He has a wonderful address in adapting St. Paul’s words to his own prejudices. He supports the doctrines of his sect with so much
subtlety, that he does not seem to say any thing of himself, but to make the scriptures speak for him, even where
they are most against him.
”