In 1709, a difpute arose between these two learned combatants, concerning the doctrine of non-refiftance, occafioned by a performance of Mr. Hoadley, intituled - The Meajures of Obedience; fome pofitions in which, Dr. Atterbury endeavoured to confute in his elegant Latin fermon, preached that year before the London clergy. In this debate, Mr. Hoadley fignalized himself in fo eminent a degree, that the honourable houfe of commons gave him a particular mark of their regard, by representing, in an addrefs to the queen, the fignal fervices he had done to the cause of civil and religious liberty. the funeral of Mr. Bennet, in which Dr. Atterbury had, in the opinion of Mr. Hoadley, laid down fome dangerous propofitions. Two years after, Mr. Hoadley again entered the lifts against this formidable antagonist; and in his exceptions against a fermon published by Dr. Atterbury, intituled-"The Power of Charity to cover Sin"-he attacked the doctor with his ufual ftrength of reafoning, and difpaffionate enquiry, confuted his erroneous opinions without anger, and conquered him without triumph. This, indeed, is allowed by all to be his diftinguifhing characterstic,-that in all the controverfies which he held with his brethren (and no one, furely, held more) he even preferved an equanimity of temper the meek and candid chriftian never loft in the difputer of this world-cool, calm, and compofed, he forgets the man, whilft he is animadverting on the writer, never betrayed into any afperity of expreffion-any railing accufations, any perfonal reflections, and mifbecoming flights, or thofe fallies of paffion, which, as they give no ftrength to a bad argument, never add any grace or advantage to a good one. Happy would it be for the cause of religion and truth, if all (who engage in controverfy) would imitate this pattern, and guard against virulence of expreffion, which, as it cannot tend to elucidate, fo neither hath it any connection with, literary controverfies-leaft of all in religious difputes, when the wrath of man cannot be fuppofed to work the righteoufness of God. The reader, I hope, will pardon this fmall digreffion, which I was naturally led into, and which is in itself an interefting point. The principles, however, which he efpoufed, being repugnant to the general temper of thofe times, drew on him the virulence of a party; yet it was at this period [1710] (when, as he himself expreft it, fury feemed to be let loose upon him) that the late Mrs. Howland prefented him to the rectory of Streatham, in Surry, which (as he expreffes it in the laft debt of gratitude that he paid to her memory, May 1719) was a more diftinguishing mark of her regard, in that the prefented it to him unafked,-unapplied to,-without his either having feen her, or been feen by her: To fhew that, in her own expreffion. (fays he) the was neither afhamed nor afraid to give me that public mark of her regard, at that critical time. Soon after the acceffion of king George I. Dr. Hoadley was confecrated to the fee of Bangor; and in 1717, having broached fome opinions concerning the nature of Chrift's kingdom, &c. he again became the object of popular clamour, and was in a more particular man ner expofed to the rage of his brethren *. At this juncture he was diftinguished by another particular mark of the royal regards, by means of which the convocation was fucceffively prorogued, and it was not permitted to fit, nor do any bufinefs, till that refentment was intirely fubfided. In 1721, he was tranflated to Hereford, and from thence, in 1723, to Salisbury. Perhaps this may be looked upon by fome, rather as an over-strained mark of diffidence and humility, as the bishop might very well be fuppofed to need no other teftimony than his own works, in order to go down to pofterity, and to live in the voice and memory of men-but this mark of fingular condefcenfion must be chiefly imputed to a zeal for thofe tenets which the doctor fo warmly patronized. In 1734, bishop Hoadley was tranflated to Winchefter, (on the demife of Dr. Willis) and published his Plain Account of the Sacrament; a performance which ferved as a butt for his ad they pointed their arrows, and levelled their artillery; yet impartiality owns it to be clear, rational, and manly, wrote with great candour and judgment, and fuited to the capacity of every ferious and confiderate enquirer after, truth. His fermons (published in 1754, and 1755,) are esteemed inferior to few writings in the English language, for plainnefs and perfpecuity, energy and ftrength of reafoning, and a free and mafterly manner. When the pofthumous works of Dr. Samuel Clarke were published in 1732, this prelate prefixed fome account of the life, writings, and character of the author, and in the conclufion, expreffes himself thus:verfaries to fhoot at, against which "Having thus paid this last duty to the memory of this excellent man, which I could not but efteem a debt to fuch a benefactor to the caufe of religion and learning united, and, as these works of his must laft as long as any language remains to convey them to future times, perhaps I may flatter myself, that this faint and imperfect account of him may be tranfmitted down with them; and I hope, it will be thought a pardonable piece of ambition and felf-interestedness, if, fearful left every thing else should prove too weak to keep the remembrance of myfelf in being, I lay hold of his fame to prop and fupport my own. I am fure, as I have little reafon to expect, that any thing of mine, without fuch an affistance, can live, I fhall think myself greatly recompenfed, for the want of any other memorial, if my name may go down to pofterity, thus clofely joined to his, and I myself be thought of, and fpoke of, in ages to come, under the character of the friend of Dr. Clarke." Having now gone through the principal parts of his life and writings, I come to fpeak of his private character; and here there is one particular with regard to his lordfhip, which is worthy of obfervation, and that is he was not always happy in the objects on whom he conferred his favours; I fhall mention three inftances to confirm this remark.-Sagier-Pillonier-Fournier. The first, the bishop himself told me, proved highly unworthy of his regard. The second (whom he honoured with particular marks of * Dr. Snape and Dr. Sherlock were the chief of them. regard) regard) the bishop owns (in his let ter to Mr. Chevalier, publifhed 1758) did not act agreeable to the obligations he had received. The laft inftance is too recent to need any mention here. These ferve only the fhew the natural philanthropy of his temper and difpofition, prone to hofpitality and munificence,--that charity, which hopeth all things, and believeth all things, which, being a stranger to guilt itself, is laid open to the treachery of others. The accuracy, with which the bishop drew up an account of the behaviour of Fournier, (in that letter before-mentioned) is a ftrong proof, that in fuch an advanced age, he ftill retained the exercife of his mental powers in full vigour, and that "the natural force of his intellectual faculties was not abated." * I come now to the laft period of his life he died (April 17, 1761) fatisfied with a long life, equally full of days and honour, and with a pleafing profpect of the falvation which God hath fhewed him. His writings in favour of civil and religious liberty, will render his memory dear to this nation, as long as the love of freedom is the characteriftic of Britons; and his name will always be mentioned with honour, by every friend to religion, learning, truth, and virtue. has been in this.---And what is very remarkable, this place has enjoyed the benefit of their instruction for more than 70 years.---Here give me leave to obferve a fimilitude of circumftances between his fon and him. It pleafed God to prolong the fon's days, even beyond those of his father, to preferve to him his great understanding, and to give him leifure to review his incomparable Difcourfes, and to make them fit for the reception which the world has given them. He too has had his controverfies, and thofe carried on with warmth and spirit; but without any injury to his temper, or any interruption to his thoughts and mind. His father lived in more difficult times, had much to ftruggle with, and perhaps had more of labour in his compofition. The fon was more bright and brilliant, and carried a greater compafs of thought and genius along with him. The one wrote with great care and circumfpection, as having many adverfaries to contend with; the other with greater ease and freedom, as rifing fuperior to all oppofition.--Indeed, the fon had much the advantage of his father, in respect to the time and other circumftances of his life, not to fay, what I believe must be owned by all, that his natural abilities and talents were much greater. He was made master of the Temple very young, upon the refignation of his father, and was obliged to apply himself closely to bufinefs, and take infinite pains to qualify himself for that honourable employment; which he effectually did in the courfe of a few years, and became one of the most celebrated preachers of that time. In this ftation he continued † The Temple. many years, years, preaching conftantly, rightly dividing the word of God, and promoting the falvation of fouls. For his preaching was with power; not only in the weight of his words and arguments but in the force and energy with which it was delivered. For though his voice was not melodious, but accompanied rather with a thickness of fpeech, yet were his words uttered with fo much propriety, and with fuch ftrength and vehemence, that he never failed to take poffeffion of his whole audience, and fecure their attention. This powerful delivery of words, fo weighty and important, as his always were, made a strong impreffion upon the minds of his hearers, and was not foon forgot. And I doubt not but many of you ftill remember the excellent inftruction have heard from him to your great comfort. you About this time alfo it was, that he published his much-admired difcourses upon the Ufe and Intent of Prophecy, which did fo much fervice to the cause of Chriftianity, then openly attacked by fome daring unbelievers. Upon the acceffion of his late majesty to the throne, he was foon diftinguished; and, with another truly eminent divine, [bishop Hare] advanced to the bench, where he fat with great luftre for many years; in matters of difficulty and nice difcernment ferving his king and country, and the church over which he prefided, with uncommon zeal and prudence. Indeed fuch was his difcretion and nice judgment, that all ranks of perfons were defirous of knowing his opinion in every cafe, and by his quick and folid judgment of things he was able to do great good to many individuals, and very fignal services to his country. All this time, while he was thus taken up in the business of the ftation to which he was advanced, he yet continued to preach to his congregation during term; and in the vacation conftantly went down to vifit and to refide in his diocefe; where he spent his time in the most exemplary manner; in a decent hofpitality; in repairing his churches and houses, wherever he went; in converfing with his clergy; and in giving them, and their people proper directions, as the circumstances of things required. And thus did this great man lay himself out for the public good; always bufy, always employed, fo long as God gave him health and ftrength to go through thofe various and important offices of life, which were committed to his care. But now, though his mind and understanding remained in full vigoar, infirmities of body began to creep very faft upon him. And then it was that he declined, when offered him, the highest honours of this church, because he was fenfible, through the infirmities he felt, he fhould never be able to give that perfonal attendance, which that great office requires. And this alfo induced him afterwards to accept the charge of this diocefe wherein we live, because his bufinefs would be at home and about him, and would require no long journies, for which he found himself very unfit. And certain it is, that for the first three or four years he applied himfelf clofely to bufinefs, and made one general visitation of his diocefe in perfon: nay, he extended his care to parts abroad, and began his correfpondence there, which would have been very useful to the church, if his health had permitted him to carry it on but about that time it pleafed God to vifit him with a very dangerous illnefs, from which indeed he recovered, but with almoft the total lofs of the use of his limbs; and foon after his fpeech failing him, he was conftrained to give over the excercife of his function and office, and was even deprived of the advantages of a free converfation. But though he was thus obliged to provide for the minifterial office, yet he ftill took care himself for the dispatch of business. For the mind was yet vigorous and ftrong in this weak body, and partook of none of its infirmities. He never parted with the adminiftration of things out of his own hands, but required an exact account of every thing that was tranfacted; and where the bufinefs was of importance and confequence enough, he would dictate letters, and give directions about it himfelf. Under all his infirmities, his foul broke through like the fun from the cloud, and was vifible to every eye. There was a dignity in his afpect and countenance to the very laft. His reason fat enthroned with him, and no one could approach him without having his mind filled with that refpect and veneration that was due to fo great a character. His learning was very extenfive: God had given him a great and an understanding mind, a quick comprehenfion, and a folid judgment. These advantages of nature he improved by much induftry and application; and in the early part of his life he read and digefted well the ancient authors both Greek and Latin, the philofophers, poets, and orators; from whence he acquired that correct and elegant stile, which appears in all his compofitions. His knowledge in divinity was obtained from the study of the most rational writers of the church, both ancient and modern; and he was particularly fond of comparing fcripture with fcripture, and especially of illuftrating the epiftles and writings of the apostles, which he thought wanted to be more ftudied, and of which we have some specimens of his own difcourfes. His fkill in the civil and canon law was very confiderable; to which he added fuch a knowledge of the common law of England, as few clergymen attain to. This it was that gave him that influence in all cafes where the church was concerned, as knowing precisely what it had to claim from its constitutions and canons, and what from the common law of the land. His piety was conftant and exemplary, and breathed the true fpirit of the gospel. His zeal was warm and fervent in explaining the great doctrines and duties of Christianity, and in maintaining and establifhing it upon the most solid and fure foundations. His munificence and charity was large and diffufive; not confined to particulars, but extended in general to all that could make out any juft claim to it. The inftances of his public charities, both in his life-time and at his death, are great, and like himfelf. He hath given large fums of money to the corporation of clergymen's fons, to feveral of the hofpitals, and to the fociety for propagating the gofpel in foreign parts. And at the inftance of the faid fociety, he confented to print at his own |