of St. John's College, Cambridge. Having been a private tutor, he, in 1711, took orders, and settled in the vicinity of Durham. He, in 1717, took a large share in the Bangorian Controversy in behalf of civil and religious liberty. He next engaged in a controversy respecting Shaftsbury's Characteristics; he, therefore, in 1726, wrote " A Letter to a Deist, concerning the beauty and excellence of moral "virtue, and the support and improvement it re"ceived from the Christian Revelation;" and, in 1728, he published "The Foundation of Moral "Goodness, or a farther Inquiry into the original "of our Idea of Virtue;" and, in 1730, appeared "Divine Rectitude, or a Line of Inquiry into the "Moral Perfections of the Deity, particularly in "Respect of Creation and Providence." Dr. Balguy maintained that rectitude, Mr. Grove that wis dom, and Mr. Bayes that benevolence, was the first spring of action in the Deity. Dr. Balguy was the author of an Essay on Redemption, wherein his idea of the Atonement coincided with that of Dr. John Taylor, of Norwich. His last publication was a volume of Sermons, and a posthumous volume was added to it, notwithstanding the author had committed 250 discourses to the flames! He died at Harrowgate, 1748, in the sixty-third year of his age. His living at Northallerton, and his prebend at Salisbury, given him by Hoadley, were all his preferments. He was the friend of Clark and Hoadley, and was associated along with these illus

trious men in maintaining the cause of national reli

gion and Christian liberty.

26.

CONYERS MIDDLETON, D. D.

DIED IN 1750.

In all controversies about religion, the chief provocation to men of sense is to see a set of rash, dogmatical divines, whose minds, prepossessed by systems, and darkened with prejudices, could never see through the mists their nurses and mothers had spread about their eyes, setting themselves up for the only guides and teachers of truth to the nation; requiring the learning and reason of mankind to submit to their arbitrary decisions, and branding with the name of sceptic and infidel all who cannot admit their manner of explaining and defining the terms of Christian faith. Such divines as these are so far from acting up to the character of physicians of the soul, by showing any care to gild the pill they prescribe, and temper their medicines to the state of the patient, that they expect to treat rational creatures as farriers do their horses, tie them up by the nose, and so make them swallow whatever they think fit to throw down! These are the men I shall ever quarrel with, as the tyrants and oppressors of reason, and consequently enemies to the peace and happiness of mankind. Controversial Tracts.

ment.

CONYERS MIDDLETON was born 1683, at York. His father, who was a clergyman, educated him very liberally, and he made distinguished improveAt the early age of seventeen he was sent to Cambridge, and became in a short time Fellow of Trinity College. Marrying a lady of large fortune he removed to a rectory, given him by his wife, in the Isle of Ely, where he laboured with success. In 1723 he was appointed Librarian of the public library, the duties of which he well performed. Having travelled into Italy, he, on his return, published his Letter against Popery, showing its alliance to Heathenism, which attracted much attention. He afterwards ably vindicated Christianity against Tindal, and also opposed Waterland's excessive orthodoxy. In 1741, he published his celebrated Life of Cicero, in three volumes, a work which has ex-> cited general admiration. But his principal theological work appeared in 1748, in which he contended, that the power of working miracles ceased with the days of the Apostles. This was much opposed by the clergy; but he defended himself with great ability. He soon after died, 1750, aged 67; peaceful and happy to the last. He was a man of great good sense, extensive learning, and uncommon liberality. His works are comprised in two volumes quarto, possessing great variety.

hevome the joy of the . Atul oghdidlig would soon lose its main,

*. Luney's Life of Sykes.

ARTHUR ASHLEY SYKES was born 1684, in Lon>n. Educated at St. Paul's school, he was, in 01, admitted of Bennet's College, Cambridge. *aving been one of the assistants in St. Paul's school, he, in 1781, became vicar of Godmorsham, Kent. He soon, however, resigned this vicarage for the rectory of Dry Drayton, in Cambridgeshire. In 1715, he published his famous book, "The Innocency of Error asserted and vindicated." The object of which was to prove that, "no heresy is so destructive to religion as a wicked life—no schism so damnable as a course of sin!" It came to a fourth edition much improved, in which state it is regarded as the most valuable of his writings. He was the associate of Clark and Hoadly, in the maintenance of civil and religious liberty against the high clergy. In 1718 he became rector of Rayleigh, Essex. In 1721 he published an excellent book against Collins, entitled " A Discourse on the Grounds of the Christian Religion." In 1736 he advocated the extension of the Toleration Act to Protestant Dissenters; and the next year wrote his celebrated tract on the Demoniacs, contending they were only afflicted with madness or epilepsy. Hoadly raised him to a prebend of Winchester. His most elaborate piece now appeared, "The Principles and Connexion of Natural and Revealed Religion;" and soon after he attacked the redoubtable Warburton with ability. Other publications came from his pen, for he was an indefatigable lover of truth, and his spirit was fraught with liberality. He