Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

out variety. He had an inexhaustible fund within himself. His talents being various, like those of his favourite Author, the great Lord Bacon, his studies were various too; and the instruction of his pupils in the different branches of Literature was not less entertaining to himself than edifying to them. It was often lamented by some of his friends, that he who was so fit to teach men, should have so much of his time taken up in teaching boys; but "there is a time to every purpose," and he found it." Are there not twelve hours in the day?" His engagements with pupils did not take him off from other pursuits, or from teaching men, as his numerous publications bear witness. When a person of great eminence in the Church, whose judgment might be relied on, and who knew Mr. Jones intus et in cute, was asked by a noble Lord, to whom he had been recommended, Whether he would be a proper tutor for his sons, previously to their going to the University? the answer was, “Your Lordship may think yourself happy if you can pre"vail on him to take them. He is every thing you "could wish. Besides his extensive knowledge of all "kinds, and his singular faculty of communicating to "others what he knows, he is full of observation;

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

66

nothing escapes him; the most common occur

rences of life supply him with matter for improve❝ment of the mind, and his conversation is remark"ably lively and agreeable."-And to be sure, he so far discovered the philosopher's stone, that he had beyond any man the art of converting all things into gold. "His leaf also shall not fade;" "the ordinary chit chat (says Archbishop Secker) of a good man is worth something." The connection took place, to the mutual satisfaction of all parties. Their principles being

9

7

being congenial, his Lordship was pleased with Mr. Jones, and he with his Lordship; the tutor was much delighted with his pupils, and the pupils highly respected their tutor. The acquaintance improved into friendship, and the friendship was founded on the purest motives. But, as "there is a time to every purpose under heaven," alas! "there is a time to weep." In the midst of life, we are in death, and his Lordship's fair prospects of happiness in his family are clouded by the untimely death of his eldest son; a hopeful flower cut down in the morning. "In the multitude of sorrows that he has in his heart," for the loss of such a son, so dutiful, so affectionate, so pious, may. the divine comfort refresh his soul!

The days of our age are threescore years and ten. No one, therefore, this accurate observer used to say, dies by chance after seventy. The chance is if he lives. Having now, in 1798, exceeded that period, he found his strength but labour and sorrow." "The clouds returned after the rain, and all the daughters of music were brought low." Like old Barzillai," he heard no more the voice of singing men and singing women," and the Organ, his favourite instrument, ever tuned to the praises of redeeming love, which used to solace him in all his woes, now lost its charms. In the autumn of this year, however, he was presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the sine-cure Rectory of Holingbourn in Kent, benevolently intended as a convenient addition to his income, after the discontinuance of his pupils. When he went to be inducted, he took up his residence for two or three days with his highly respected and worthy friend the Rev. William Horne, Rector of Otham, in that neighbourhood. There he received a visit from his

very old friend and Fellow Collegian the Rev. Dr. Fairfax of Leeds Castle. The interview was affecting, as they had not seen one another for many years, and both were now well stricken in age. It happened to be at the time when a communication was much talked of between the counties of Kent and Essex, by means of a tunnel under the Thames, and they amused themselves with the idea of taking advantage of it, when finished, and meeting some day at Gravesend. One of the company, nearly of the same age, observed (whether seasonably or unseasonably, I will not say, but it was not forgotten) that most probably their next meeting would be at Gravesend. And it so fell out, that these two friends" in their deaths were not (long) divided; for Dr. Fairfax survived Mr. Jones only a few months. To Mr. Jones himself it was of no consequence, but it would have been for the benefit of his family, had he been the survivor, as Dr. Fairfax was one of the lives on the estate belonging to the sine-cure Rectory of Hollingbourn, and the fine on a renewal would have been something considerable.

In this year was published A Letter to the Church of England, pointing out some popular errors of bad consequence. BY AN OLD FRIEND AND SERVANT OF THE CHURCH. The Author wished to be concealed, but it could not be; and when he complained that he was discovered, he was told by a friend, there was but one way for him to disguise himself, which he would not submit to, and that was, to write nonsense, for then nobody would take it to be his. It is executed with great vigour of mind, and shews, that though "his outward man decayed, the inward was renewed day by day." The popular errors of dan

gerous

gerous consequence alluded to in this his farewel Letter, respect, 1st. GOVERNMENT-in setting up the power of the people as supreme; when, as the Scripture and the Church expressly teach, there is no power but of God.2d. The REVOLUTION-perversely employing, what was intended to preserve the Constitution, as an engine for destroying it.-3d. SCHISMmaking too light of the offence, and danger of it, considering schism as no sin, and the being out of the ark not less a state of safety, than the being in it.→→→ 4thly. REVELATION-substituting the light of nature for it, as some do, though in the things of God, we must be all taught of God, as man was at first; or retaining both, as others do, supposing them to be consistent, which they are not ;-ploughing with an ox and an ass together was forbidden by the law, and is contrary to the gospel. "Be ye not unequally yoked."— 5thly. SPIRIT-taking away from us all the inward and vital part of religion, and leaving us nothing but the husks, as too many do, who profess themselves to be wise and to see farther than others; denying to visible signs invisible spiritual graces, though man being composed of soul and body, all true religion has a part for both.-6thly, OLD TESTAMENT-teaching that the Old Testament has not the promise of life, whereas the old is not contrary to the new, for from the beginning of the world, life was revealed to man, through Jesus Christ the promised seed, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; and our father Abraham lived as a stranger upon earth, looking for a better state, and a better life.-7thly. IDOLATRY—the abuse of heathen learning, when to that wisdom of words, which the Greeks and Romans were ever seeking after, and for which we apply to them, we take along

VOL. I.

d

with

with it their pride, their licentiousness of sentiment, their error of principle, and sometimes even the vilest of their idolatry.-8thly. HUMAN AUTHORITYUnder this head, he laments, that while the age abounds with affected declamations against human authority, there never was a time when men so meanly submitted their understandings to be led away by one another. It is an honour to submit our faculties to God, who gave them, but it is base and servile to submit to the usurpations,of man in things pertaining to God. And he asks, whether the doctrines of Mr. Locke, whom the world is gone after, will prepare any young man for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, when he was the oracle to those who began and conducted the American Rebellion, which led to the French Revolution; which will lead (unless God in his mercy interfere) to the total overthrow of Religion and Government in this kingdom, perhaps in the whole Christian world; the prime favourite and grand instrument with that mischievous infidel VOLTAIRE; who knew what he was about when he came forward to destroy Christianity as he had threatened, with Mr. Locke in his hand. This Letter was admirably well reviewed in the Anti-Jacobin Review for October and November in 1798, and it is a pleasing circumstance to think there is a periodical publication, the Editors of which are disposed to consider it as the text book of their principles, and contract the solemn engagement on all occasions to act up to the principles this faithful old friend and servant of the Church has promulged, and support them to the utmost of their power.

In the very imperfect sketch hitherto given of this truly extraordinary man, mention is made of some of

« AnteriorContinuar »