the will of God. It was a great happiness for me, that I fell into such hands; with whom, I entered into a close and particular friendship. They both set me right, and kept me right.

CHARACTERS

OF

EMINENT CLERGYMEN.

THE conduct of many of the clergy was, at this* time, such, that, if a new set of men had not appeared, of another stamp, the church had quite lost her esteem over the nation. †

These latter were generally of Cambridge, formed under some eminent divines; the chief of whom were Doctors Whitchcot, Cudworth, Wilkins, More, and Worthington.

WHITCHCOT

was a man of a rare temper, very He had great credit, with

mild and obliging.

A.D. 1661.

+ To omit the mention of several of the old clergy, distinguished by their erudition, as well as their loyalty, who, among the successors of the Caroline bishops, equalled in munificence, Sheldon, Cosin, Morley, and Warner; or surpassed in piety and learning, Sanderson, Pearson, and Fell?'.. Dr. Routh.

Benjamin Whichcote, D.D., (not Whitchcot as Burnet spells it) was descended from an ancient family, in the county of Salop: he was the sixth son of Christopher Whichcote, of Whichcote-hall, Esq.; where he was born, March 11. 1609.. 10. His degrees, preferments, &c. are amply stated, in several biographical works: to these, the reader is referred. I shall content myself, by extracting Archbishop Tillotson's character, of this father and founder of the Latitudinarians: ..

'I shall not insist upon his exemplary piety, and devotion towards God; of which, his whole life was one continued testimony. Nor will I praise his profound learning; for which, he was justly had, in so great reputation. The moral improvements of his mind, a god-like temper and disposition,' (as he was wont to call it) he chiefly valued, and aspired after; that universal charity and goodness, which he did continually preach and practise.

some that had been eminent in the late times; but made all the use he could of it, to protect good

His conversation was exceeding kind and affable, grave and winning, prudent and profitable. He was slow to declare his judgment, and modest in delivering it. Never passionate, never peremptory: so far from imposing upon others, that he was rather apt to yield. And, though he had a most profound and well-poized judgment, yet, he was, of all men I ever knew, the most patient to hear others differ from him; and the most easy to be convinced, when good reason was offered: and, which is seldom seen, more apt to be favourable to another man's reason, than to his own.

Studious and inquisitive men, commonly, at such an age, (at forty, or fifty at the utmost) have fixed and settled their judgments in most points; and, as it were, made their last understanding: supposing, that they have thought, or read, or heard, what can be said, on all sides, of all things. And, after that, they grow positive, and impatient of contradiction; thinking it a disparagement to them, to alter their judgment. But he was so wise, as to be willing to learn to the last; knowing, that no man can grow wiser, without some change of his mind; without gaining some knowledge which he had not, or correcting some error which he had before.

He had attained so perfect a mastery of his passions, that, for the latter and greater part of his life, he was scarcely ever seen to be transported with anger: and, as he was extremely careful not to provoke any man, so, not to be provoked by any, using to say, If I provoke a man, he is the worse for my company; and if I suffer myself to be provoked by him, I shall be the worse for his.'

He, very seldom, reproved any person in company, otherwise than by silence, or some sign of uneasiness, or some very soft and gentle word: which, yet, from the respect men generally bore to him, did often prove effectual. For he understood human nature very well; and how to apply himself to it, in the most easy and effectual way.

He was a great encourager, and kind director, of young divines: and one of the most candid hearers of sermons, I think, that ever was. So that, though all men did mightily reverence his judgment, yet, no man had reason to fear his censure.

He never spake of himself, nor ill of others; making good that saying of Pansa in Tully: Neminem alterius, qui suæ confideret virtuti, invidere,' . . that no man is apt to envy the worth and virtues of another, that hath any of his own to trust to.

In a word, he had all those virtues, and in a high degree, which an excellent temper, great condescension, long care and watchfulness over himself, toge

* Γηράσκων αει τι διδασκόμενος.

men, of all persuasions. He was much for liberty of conscience and, being disgusted with the dry, systematical way of those times, he studied to raise those who conversed with him, to a nobler set of thoughts, and to consider religion as a seed of a deiform nature, (to use one of his own phrases.) In order to this, he set young students much, on reading the ancient philosophers, chiefly Plato, Tully, and Plotin; and on considering the Christian religion, as a doctrine sent from God, both to elevate, and sweeten human nature; in which, he was a great example, as well as a wise and kind instructor.

CUDWORTH✶ carried this on, with a great strength of genius, and a vast compass of learning. He

ther with the assistance of God's grace, (which he continually implored, and mightily relied upon,) are apt to produce. Particularly, he excelled in the virtues of conversation; humanity, and gentleness, and humility, a prudent, and peaceable, and reconciling temper.'

The best edition of Dr. Whichcote's sermons, was published, under the care of Drs. Campbell and Gerard, at Aberdeen, 1751., in 4 vols. sm. 8vo. And of his Moral and Religious Aphorisms,' Dr. Jeffery edited an enlarged, and much improved edition, London, 1753. Both books are eminently instructive.

* Ralph Cudworth, D. D. born, 1617., at Alter, in Somersetshire, of which place, his father was rector; died at Christ's College, Cambridge, June 26. 1688. Of his genius, and learning, and especially of his stupendous work, the Intellectual System, it were here impracticable to speak, as they should be spoken of. He wrote, as it has been well said, 'when reading was an employment, not merely a recreation; when books were composed in the study, that they might be read in the study.'

'The Intellectual System,' says Mr. Dugald Stewart, (first Prel. Diss. Encycl. Britt.) is so ill suited to the taste of the present age, that, since the time of Mr. Harris and Dr. Price, I scarcely recollect the slightest reference to it, in the writings of our British metaphysicians.' Quere: Is this a healthful symptom?

His two celebrated Sermons, were republished, by the present editor, in 1830., together with the chief works of Scougal, and Charles How, in one vol. 8vo.

was a man of great conduct and prudence: upon which, his enemies did, very falsely, accuse him of craft and dissimulation.

*

WILKINS was of Oxford, but removed to Cambridge. His first rise, was in the elector palatine's family, when he was in England. Afterwards, he married Cromwell's sister: but made no other use of that alliance, but to do good offices, and to cover the University, from the sourness of Owen and Goodwin. At Cambridge, he joined with those, who studied to propagate better thoughts; to take men off from being in parties, or from narrow notions, from superstitious conceits, and a fierceness about opinions. He was also a great observer and a promoter of experimental philosophy, which was then a new thing, and much looked after. He was naturally ambitious; but was the wisest clergyman I ever knew. He was a lover of mankind, and had a delight in doing good.

MORE† was an open-hearted, and sincere Christian philosopher; who studied to establish men

* John Wilkins, D. D. was born at Fawsley, near Daventry, in Northamptonshire, 1614. In the year 1648., he was made warden of Wadham College, Oxford; and in 1659., advanced to the mastership of Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1668., he was appointed bishop of Chester; and died, in London, 1672. 'He was,' says Wood, no partial estimator, in this case, a person endowed with rare gifts; he was a noted theologist and preacher, a curious critic in several matters, an excellent mathematician and experimentist, and one, as well seen, in mechanisms and new philosophy, of which he was a great promoter, as any man of his time.' But he is now, and perhaps not unreasonably, antiquated.

+ Henry More, D.D., was born at Grantham, in Lincolnshire, 1614. In