Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

THE NEW

CHRISTIAN'S MAGAZINE;

BEING

An Univerfal Repofitory of Divine Knowledge,

AUGUST, 1783,

MODERN CHRISTIAN BIOGRAPHY.

AUTHENTIC MEMOIRS

DEDUCED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITY,

OF THE

REV. CHARLES MOSS, D.D.

LD. BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS, CANON OF SARUM, AND F.R.S.

[With his Lordship's Portrait elegantly engraved from an original Painting in St. James's Veftry.]

IOGRAPHY, as we have already obferved, is not only a pleafing, but also an inftructive entertainment. Youth therefore, in particular, fhould have the lives of men of various characters put into their hands, before they fet out in life, that thus they may have an opportunity of discovering what

beft fuits their own turn of mind; for fuch as affume a character that nature never gave them, will fcarcely ever make a figure in life, be happy in themfelves, or ufeful to the world. It will be found true, we are inclined to think, by moft readers, that they feldom have been more pleafed, or lefs tired with any work, than when they were reading the life of a particular perfon, especially if it was the life of one whofe turn of mind was fomewhat fimilar to their own; and it is a good way to find out the leading paffion, particular ge nius, tafte, and inclination, by obferving what fort of lives please us moft, which we like beft to talk of, and which make the ftrongest impreffion on our minds. We believe the lives of illuftrious men, written by Plutarch, have formed many great statesmen, and many

great

great heroes. The trophies of Miltiades would not let Themiftocles fleep. They who difcover a greater admiration of the rapid and ungovernable bravery of Charles XII. than of the fedate and confummate conduct of the duke of Marlborough, and take more pleafure in reading the hiftory of fuch as bear a nearer refemblance to the Swede than to the English hero, will probably be found, in fact, more fit to head a defperate attack, than to conduct a rational enterprize. They who find themfelves lefs tired when reading the life of a good prelate than of a celebrated general, are, it may be prefumed, formed by nature to wear the facred or civil gown with a better grace, than they could weild the staff of a commander in chief. They who are more charmed with accounts of fuch perfons as lived in elegant retirement, far removed from the hurry of courts and business, than of thofe who fpend their lives amidst the bustle and intrigues of the world, will find themfelves improperly placed, when they entirely forfake their more private walk of life, and enter deeply into the affairs of public management. The fubject of thefe memoirs, if properly attended to, warns us of that courfe we are not to follow, and will have an influence in forming the heart to generous principles, while, at the fame time, the understanding is prefented with an excellent pattern of wife and virtuous conduct. If the portrait of the bishop of Bath and Wells is not adorned with the ftriking beauties of the fublime, or may not be a complete finished piece, yet his genius, talents, and manner of life, are worthy of esteem, and, we hope, may have fuch an effect upon our paffions, as to excite a laudable imitation.

The father and grandfather of this worthy prelate were gentlemen of good property in Norfolk,

6.6

own oxen

who with their ploughed their own eftates," living upon, and occupying their own lands. But the bishop of Bath and Wells has not been indebted chiefly to family connexions, for civil honours and ecclefiaftical preferments, which fprung from much nobler fources, learning, piety, and real merit; and to thefe we may place his lordship's attention, even at this day, when about 69 years of age, in felecting and preferring only men of worth and learning to church livings.

Our good bishop imbibed the first rudiments of his education at the public grammar school at Nor-> wich, till he was turned of fifteen years of age; at which time he received an invitation to Cambridge from his uncle Dr. Mofs, dean of Ely (who then, in the decline of life, was fettled there) and was admitted by him a ftudent of Caius college, under the protection of Dr. Gooch, his intimate friend, then mafter of the 'college, and afterwards bifhop of Ely. Having taken his degree of matter of arts, he was appointed domeftic chaplain to Dr. Sherlock (another intimate friend of the dean's) then bishop of Sarum, and afterwards of London, by whom he was preferred in a moft ample manner, fuitable to his great merit; first in the diocese of Sarum, and then in that of London: but what contributed moft to his happiness was, that his abilities and exemplary life gained him the entire confidence and friendship of that great man, with whom he lived in the ftricteft friendship till his death. It is not ufual with fuch characters like Dr. Sherlock to be indifferent as to the foundation on which they build their efteem; and that unbounded regard he bestowed upon the bishop of Bath and Wells, is the ftrongest proof we can produce of his real

worth,

worth, and Dr. Sherlock's judicious difcernment.

t

[ocr errors]

In the diocese of Sarum, the first preferment of the bishop of Bath and Wells was the prebend of Burbage; and after this he was elected by the dean and chapter a canon refidentiary. He was alfo, we find, at one time rector of St. Andrew Underfhart, London; from whence, upon the promotion of bishop Secker to the deanery of St. Paul's, he was collated to the rectory of St. James, Weftminster, in 1751, on the refignation of that bifhop. And in 1759 he was promoted to the rectory of St. George, Hanover-fquare, on the death of Dr. Trebeck. On the death of bishop Squire, in 1766, he was confecrated bishop of St. David's; from whence, in 1774 he was tranflated to the fee of Bath and Wells; the annual income of which, as rated in the king's books, is 5331. 1s. 3d. The place of his country refidence, Wells palace, Somerfetfhire, and his town houfe is in Grofvenorplace. His lordship married the eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Hales, a family long diftinguished more by their iplendid virtues than fhining honours. By that lady the bishop has had two fons and two daughters of the former, the eldeft is now a ftudent in Christ

Church, Oxford, and the other is at Eton fchool.

The worthy bishop of Bath and Wells has published feveral anonymous tracts, and fome occafional fermons, befides that juftly much admired one preached at St. James's, Westminster, on occafion of the earthquake. In the course of four years his lordship preached what are generally called Boyle's lectures, to which none but men of the firft abilities have been appointed. These difcourfes are not yet published, but as their noble plan is the defence of Chriftianity against the cavils of Jews, Mahometans, and modern unbelievers, it is our earneft requeft, in behalf of the Chriftian world, that his lordship would order them to the prefs; by which he will not only gratify the hope and ardent wishes of the public, but alfo in creafe his own fum of delight, which is continually doing good.

"In empire high, or in proud science deep, "Ye born of earth! on what can you confer,

"With half the dignity, with half the gain, "The guft, the glow of rational delight, "As on this theme, which angels praise

and fhare?

"Man's fates and favours are a theme in heaven."

YOUNG.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

father what was the fignification of fuch or fuch a paffage, The good old man ufed feemingly to reprove him for his forwardness, though inwardly rejoicing, and bleffing God at the fame time, that he had made him the father of fuch a child.

;

Having given him fuch inftruction as himself was capable of, he sent him to perfect his ftudies with Clemens, who was at that time regent of the Catechift fchool at Alexandria, under whom he made a vast progrefs in learning. From him he removed to Ammonius (called Saçcas, from his having carried facks for he was by employment a porter) under him Origen made himfelf mafter of the platonic notions, tho' not above the age of feventeen. At this time his father was imprisoned on account of his religion, and afterwards beheaded; in confequence of which his eftate was confifcated. During his confinement, his fon paffionately exhorted him to be faithful unto death; and fearing, left the deplorable condition in which his mother and brethren would be left, might have some influence on his mind: among other things he faid to him, "Take heed, father, that for our fakes you do not change." And fo great was the courage, and fo eager the defire of this tripling to fuffer martyrdom himself, that fcarce any confiderations could prevail on him to defift from offering himself thereto. His mother befought him with the utmoft tendernefs to fpare himself, if not for his own, yet for her fake and the rest of his relations. finding that all her intreaties were ineffectual, fhe in the night took away his cloaths, fhirts, &c. and this conftrained him to remain at home.

But

After the death of his father, both himself and the rest of the family were reduced to great ftraits; but the good providence of God interpofed for their relief. A rich and

[ocr errors]

honourable matron pitying his cafe, contributed liberally to his relief, as fhe did to that of many others and among them maintained one Paul, a ringleader of all the hereticks at Alexandria. To this man, on account of his eloquence, daily reforted an innumerable multitude, not only of hereticks, but of the orthodox alfo: and to fuch a degree had he obtained the favour of the lady, that the adopted him for her fon. Origen, though his livelihood (and perhaps that of his mother and brethren likewife) depended on her bounty, would never comply with this favourite, nor fo much to join in prayer with him ; a remarkable proof of the true greatnefs of his mind!

Being now about eighteen years old, and having perfected his ftudies, he opened a fchool for inftruction in the liberal arts; and notwithstanding his youth, his lectures were attended by perfons of the greatest reputation for learning: in confequence of which, many eminent hereticks were by him brought over to the true faith; for which fome of them afterwards fuffered martyrdom. And fo great was his reputation, that before the age of nineteen he was made master of the fchool at Alexandria, and had scholars in great abundance; but finding his employment too heavy, he left off teaching the arts, and confined himself entirely to Christian inftruction. This he attended to with the greatest diligence, and no leis fuccefs: For he not only established those who were already Chriftians, but also gained over a great number of Gentile philofophers to the faith; feveral of whom afterwards loft their lives for their adherence thereto.

The perfecution being renewed at Alexandria with great feverity, fcarce any one would venture to visit those who were in prifon on account of religion; but Origen boldly undertook this office, and attended

the

the martyrs to the very place of execution, embracing and encouraging them as they paffed along, which fo enraged the multitude against him, that they poured upon him whole fhowers of ftones, and many times his life was in the greateft danger. Once, having feized upon him, they fhaved his head, after the manner of the Egyptian' priefts, and fet him on the steps of Serapis's temple, commanding him to give branches of palm to those that went up to perform their rites; but instead of fo doing, he with an undaunted mind, cried out, " Come hither and take the branch of Chrift."

Much about the fame time, his great regard for chastity, joined with a literal interpretation of that paffage in St. Mathew, "There be eunuchs which have made themfelves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's fake," prompted him to a very fingular act of indifcretion. But he afterwards confeffed his miftake, and condemned this impru-. dent step.

In order to a more accurate ftudy of the holy fcriptures, he fet himself to learn the Hebrew language, which was very little understood by the Chriftians of that time; nor did this hinder his activity in his other employments, which he attended to with his ufual diligence.

His fame increafing, a meffage was fent to Demetrius the bishop, from the governor of Arabia, expreffing his defire that Origen might be difpatched with all fpeed, to impart to him the Christian doctrine. Accordingly he went into Arabia; and having performed his errand, he was afterwards honourably conducted to Antioch, at the request of Mammea, mother of the emperor Alexander Severus, who was defirous to fee and hear him, that she might know what it was for which the whole world had him in fuch veneration. Having ftaid there fome

time, and explained to her the principles of religion, he returned again to Alexandria.

Some time after this he began to write commentaries on the holy fcriptures; his induftry and diligence in which were incredible, few parts of the bible escaping his critical refearches. The knowledge he hereby acquired was fo great, that Jerome profeffes, he would be content to bear all that load of envy which was caft upon his name, if he had but his kill in the holy fcriptures.

Affairs of the church calling him into Arabia, he went through Palestine, and at Cefarea was ordain. ed prefbyter, by Alexander, bifhop of Jerufalem, and Theofiftus of Cefarea. This was highly refented by Demetrius, as an affront to his authority and as he had for fome time borne Origen a fecret grudge, on account of the great reputation which his learning and virtue had procured him, he now caufed Anathemas to be thundered out against him, charging him with all, that malice could invent, and particularly with making himself an eunuch, though he had before admired and commended him for fo doing. He procured his condeinnation in two feveral fynods; one of which decreed that he fhould be banifhed from Alexandria, and the other pronounced him degraded from the priesthood, his chief favourers fubfcribing the decree. And Jerome fays, that the greatest part of the Chriftian world confented to his condemnation; even Rome itfelf convening a fynod against him, not for any innovation or herefy, but merely out of envy, as not be. ing able to bear the glory to which his learning and eloquence had raifed him and yet for all this he ftill retained his priesthood, publickly preaching in the church, being honourably entertained by the more moderate and wife, whereever he came.

Being

« AnteriorContinuar »