not only as to a few plain fundamental articles, but as to many particulars neither necessarily required nor clearly revealed. The consequence of which is, that there must be almost as many sects in the world as there are men. And this in effect hath for many ages most miserably distracted the church of Christ; hath divided it against itself, and again subdivided every part of it into new factions and schisms: it hath been the cause of seditions, slaughters, massacres; of the peculiar cruelties and barbarities that are always the effects of zeal; to the reproach of the Christian name, and even to the disgrace of human nature. It is not to be wondered, that Christianity hath made no greater progress: while, instead of being exhibited to the world in its native beauty, as the most amiable religion that ever was, it hath been exposed in such a horrible disguise, as the cause of the greatest mischiefs; as the parent of strife, and confusion, and every evil work. But thanks be to God! we seem at present to have a better prospect before us; whatever other reasons we may have to complain of our own age, yet it must be allowed that a spirit of true christian charity hath of late prevailed among us, beyond the example of former times. A more liberal and generous way of thinking and acting, with regard to those who differ from us, is every day gaining ground, and hath already and visibly had effects, in allaying former animosities and jealousies, and seems making way for reconcilement and unity. The different sects of Protestants seem to have lost much of that bitterness and

distaste, which hath so long most unreasonably reigned between them, and to be every day drawing nearer to one another, Even those of the Church of Rome, though they do not give up their horrid principle of persecution, yet begin at least to be ashamed of it; and while they have no power or opportunity of acting to the contrary, can say, "If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets." If this happy temper of meekness, forbearance, and charity, should continue to increase, and should diffuse itself more widely through the Christian church; one great offence will be removed, which hath ever hindered the progress of the gospel: the gainsayer and unbeliever, when they shall observe the true spirit of Christianity to prevail among Christians, will be more easily induced to glorify God, and " to confess that God is in us of a truth." The prophet Isaiah seems to represent the increase of universal charity and religious knowledge in the Christian church, as the preparation and prelude of the conversion of the Gentiles, and of the restoration of the Jews; in that remarkable prophecy, which certainly hath not yet been fully accomplished: The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea! *

Sermon at the visitation of the Bishop of Durham,

ROBERT LOWTтH was born, 1710, at Winchester; his father, the Rev. William Lowth, being Prebend of Winchester, and making a figure in the republic of letters. The son, educated at Winchester College, was elected Professor of Hebrew Poetry at Oxford. In 1736, he entered on the living of Overton, Hampshire. He made the tour of Europe, with the Marquis of Hartington, son of the Duke of Devonshire; and Hoadly, in 1750, gave him the Archdeaconry of Winchester. In 1755, he was made Bishop of Limerick; in 1766, of St. David's and Oxford; and, 1777, of London. On the death of Cornwallis, he declined the Archbishopric of Canterbury. After losing many children, he died, 1787, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. Mary, his last daughter, of whom he was passionately fond, died 1768; and, in 1783, his second daughter, Frances, died as she was presiding at the teatable. "Take this," said she to the Bishop of Bristol-immediately the cup and her hand fell together upon the salver, and she instantly expired! He bore the infliction of these domestic calamities with exemplary resignation. Dr. Lowth was a man of very superior talents and acquirements, which appear in all his writings. In 1758, he published his Life of William of Wykeham, the founder of Winchester College; and, in 1778, his Translation of Isaiah, an elegant and beautiful version of the evangelical prophet, which is alone sufficient to transmit his name to posterity. But his Latin Lectures on Hebrew Poetry, translated by Dr. George

M

Gregory, in two octavo volumes, is a work of transcendent merit, highly instructive to all young men educating for the Christian ministry. He was distinguished for his erudition, and truly Christian liberality.

43.

JOHN WESLEY, A.M.

FELLOW OF LINCOLN COLLEGE, OXFORD. DIED 1791.

A Catholic spirit is not an indifference to all opinions, nor an indifference as to public worship, nor an indifference to all congregations. But a man of a truly catholic spirit, while he is steadily fixed in his religious principles, in what he believes to be the ́ truth, as it is in Jesus: while he firmly adheres to that worship of God which he judges to be most acceptable in his sight, and while he is united by the tenderest and closest ties to one particular congregation, his heart is enlarged towards all mankind, those he knows and those he does not: he embraces with strong and cordial affection, neighbours and strangers, friends and enemies. This is catholic, or universal love! And he that hath this, is of a catholic spirit. For love alone gives the title to this cha. racter. Catholic love is a catholic spirit. But if we take this word in the strictest sense, a man of a catholic spirit is one who, in the manner above mentioned, gives his hand to all whose hearts are right

6

FELLOW OF LINCOLN COLLEGE, OXFORD. 123

with his heart-One who knows how to value and praise God for all the advantages he enjoys, with regard to the knowledge of the things of God; the true scriptural manner of worshipping him; and, above all, his union with a congregation fearing God and working righteousness-One, who retaining these blessings with the strictest care, keeping them as the apple of his eye, at the same time loves his friends as brethren in the Lord, as members of Christ, and children of God; as joint partakers now of the present kingdom of God, and fellow-heirs of his eternal kingdom; all, of whatever opinion or worship, or congregation, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; who love God and man; who rejoicing to please, and fearing to offend God, are careful to abstain from evil, and are zealous of good works. Sermon on a Catholic Spirit.

JOHN WESLEY was born, 1703, at Epworth, in Lincolnshire. His father was a clergyman of the church of England; he was admitted at the Charter-house, and, at the age of seventeen, was removed to Christ Church, Oxford. Ordained in 1725, he became Fellow of Lincoln College. He and his brother, Charles Wesley, on account of their great zeal, were denominated Methodists at Oxford, having for their associates James Hervey and George Whitfield. In 1735, after his father's death, he visited Georgia. In 1740, Whitfield and Wesley separated, the former being the founder of the Calvinist, and the latter of the Arminian metho