ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, κ. τ. λ. in which exercise Bentley argued against the genuineness of the text; and it is said that Waterland, who was present, being asked whether he was convinced, answered, "No, for I "was convinced before." The correctness of this anecdote, to which much importance has been attached by those who relate it, appears to be somewhat questionable. It is asserted with great confidence, and with some degree of triumph, by Whiston, in his memoirs of Dr. Clarke; and probably has been repeated after him by others, without further inquiry. Few authorities, however, on a matter like this, are less to be depended upon than that of Whiston; who readily caught up any current story which might furnish a ground of sarcasm on those who opposed his own opinions. Waterland has not, in any of his writings, disputed the genuineness of this text. On the contrary, in his Sermon on the Doctrine of the Trinity, published many years afterwards, he says, "that though a disputed text, it is "yet not without very many and very considerable appearances of being truly genuine "." And in one of his letters to Mr. Loveday, now first printed, he takes notice of this anecdote related by Whiston, and treats it as a weak device or misrepresentation, for the purpose of charging him with inconsistency o. But even if the statement were correct, it can be of little weight, unless the occasion and circumstances were more distinctly known. It might be, that the arguments used by Bentley were such as Waterland was already well acquainted with, and brought no more conviction to his mind than what he had re。 Vol. ix. p. 411.

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n See vol. viii. p. 439.

ceived before and it might also be, that Bentley himself went no farther than to state the considerations which rendered the matter questionable, without inferring a positive conclusion that the text was spurious; to all which Waterland might accede, and yet deem the evidence insufficient to warrant its omission. And this is the more probable, since it appears that Bentley himself, in his proposal for a new edition of the Greek Testament, about four years afterwards, considered the point as still open to discussion.

In the latter part of this same year, the King visited the University of Cambridge; and, in the presence of his Majesty, Waterland had the degree of D.D. conferred upon him. This circumstance is stated in the Biographia Britannica as a special mark of favour; and it is said, that the King" honoured him "with this degree without application." But, however deserving he might be of this, or of any other honour, it seems to have occurred only in the ordinary course of proceeding. There were thirty-two Doctors of Divinity created at the same time, regiis comitiis, by order of the King. The three at the head of the list were those Heads of Houses who had not already attained to that degree; namely, Grigg, Master of Clare Hall, and Vice-Chancellor; Davies, President of Queen's; and Waterland, Master of Magdalene. These were the only persons who were created Doctors in Divinity on that day, in the royal presence; and they were presented by Dr. Bentley, who made the speech on the occasion. The day being Sunday, there was not time for conferring the other degrees; and the remainder were postponed. There

is no proof, therefore, that Waterland had any higher compliment paid to him, in this instance, than that which the two other Heads of colleges received at the same time".

This was the memorable occasion which gave rise to the most vehement attacks upon Dr. Bentley, and brought him, for a time, into public disgrace. His extraordinary claim of a large additional fee from each of the twenty-nine remaining Doctors in Divinity, brought on a controversy which continued for nearly a year; when Bentley was first suspended by the Vice-Chancellor, and then actually degraded by a vote of the Senate. In these proceedings Waterland seems to have avoided, as much as possible, taking any active part. Perhaps, he was absent

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- P It is stated also in the Biographia Britannica, that soon after he had received his degree of D.D. at Cambridge," he was incorporated in the same degree at Oxford; being presented, with a large encomium, by Dr. Delaune, President of St. John's College in that University." In this, again, there seems to be some mistake; Dr. Waterland's name not being found in the list of Oxford Graduates; where it would hardly have been omitted, if he had become an incorporated member. Probably, he was admitted only ad eundem; an honorary admission, not carrying with it the privileges of an incorporated member. Dr. Delaune was at that time the Margaret Professor of Divinity; and might, perhaps, officiate in the absence of the Regius Professor, whose duty it is to present to Degrees in that faculty; and he would, no doubt, gladly avail himself of such an opportunity to do justice to Waterland's merits. Dr. Delaune is eulogized by Waterland's biographer, as "a Divine of distinguished learning "and eloquence, and author of an excellent Sermon on Original "Sin." This Sermon was first published singly, and afterwards in a volume of discourses by the same Author, in 1728; and it well deserves the commendation bestowed upon it.

during a part of the time when they were carrying on; or, if present, might be unwilling to join those who were eager to lower the pretensions of one whom they regarded with envy or with dread; while a conviction of some impropriety, at least, in the part which his friend had acted, would not suffer him to come forward in his vindication. It was scarcely possible, however, to observe a strict neutrality between parties whose impetuosity was so little under the restraint of personal decorum. Bentley hastily, and unjustly, attacked Dr. Colbatch, as the supposed author of an anonymous tract against him, which was soon avowed to be the production of Conyers Middleton. Dr. Colbatch's friends, and Dr. Waterland among the rest, united to rescue him from so unworthy an imputation. The paper to which Dr. Waterland's signature was affixed, contained a strong declaration against Bentley's treatment of Colbatch, and was issued by the Heads of colleges, upon a formal complaint having been made to them by the party aggrieved. Yet it by no means follows, from his concurrence in this single measure, that Waterland approved of the persecuting spirit which marked the other proceedings of Bentley's adversaries.

This contest, which was carried on, with more or less vehemence, from the latter end of the year 1717, to the early part of 1724, ended at last in Bentley's restoration. Waterland was one of a Syndicate appointed, in the long vacation of 1723, (when the issue in favour of Bentley was, perhaps, anticipated,) to take such measures as might be deemed best for the interests of the whole body. The Grace for the appointment of the Syndicate runs thus:-" Sept.

26, 1723. Whereas the cause between you and the "Master of Trinity college is drawing near to a de"termination, and there may be occasion for resolu❝tions to be taken, without sufficient time to consult "the University, may it please you that the Vice"Chancellor, Dr. Sherlock, Dean of Chichester, (who “has taken a great deal of useful pains in the cause,) "Dr. Gooch, Dr. Waterland, Dr. Colbatch, Mr. Ar"cher, Mr. Green, and Mr. Heald, or any three of "them, (whereof the Vice-Chancellor to be one,) may "have the power to do any act or acts that may be necessary or convenient, in carrying on, prosecut

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ing, and finishing the said cause, in such way or "manner as they in their judgment shall think most "for the benefit of the University :—and that what "they may do therein may be confirmed, ratified, and "held good, as the act or acts of this University.' Dr. Bentley was restored on the 26th of March following.

Upon reviewing these circumstances, it is still difficult to determine how far Waterland really favoured Bentley's cause. When the violent and bitter Remarks upon Bentley's proposals for a new edition of the Greek Testament were published, anonymously, in the year 1721, it is said that the public voice in the University fixed, at first, upon Waterland as the author: and some loose papers have been found in Dr. Colbatch's hand-writing, intimating that Bentley himself was of that opinion, and that he thought there was no other of his opponents capable of such a performance. It is said also, that when Middleton, within a few days, avowed himself to be the author, Bentley affected not to believe him. Perhaps, the real state