among the most distinguished theologians of his time. In the immense application which he displayed at this particular period of life, he resembled, and has been resembled by, a number of equally distinguished men; as well as in the natural consequence of it, a serious impairment of health.

We will not follow him through the course of all his various academical pursuits and appointments. They are much of the same description as those to which all men of eminent talent are sure to find their way in our universities ; and from which the future celebrity of the individual may be most confidently predicted.

We now come to the first occasion, on which the subject of the memoir before us, became distinguished as a divine. This was the act for his divinity degree in the year 1714. The disputation attracted great attention; and from the very conspicuous light in which it places both the intellectual attainments, and the theological learning of Dr. Waterland, we are induced to extract the passage at length, in which it is described, and which in the volume before us, occurs as a quotation from Mr. Seed.

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"His first question was Whether Arian subscription was ful?' a question worthy of him, who had the integrity to abhor, with a generous scorn, all prevarication, and the capacity to see through, and detect those evasive arts, by which some would palliate their disingenuity. When Dr. James, the Professor, had enare with deavoured to answer his thesis, and embarrass the question, the dexterity of a person long practised in all the arts of a subtle disputant; he immediately replied in an extempore discourse of above half an hour long, with such an easy glow of proper and significant words, and such an undisturbed presence of mind, as if he had been reading, what he has since printed, The case of Arian subscription considered, and the supplement to it. He unravelled the Professor's fallacies, reinforced his own reasonings, and shewed himself so perfect a master of the language, the subject, and himself, that all agreed no one ever appeared to greater advantage. There were several members of the University of Oxford present, who remember the great applauses he received and the uncommon satisfaction he gave. He was happy in a first opponent, one of the of the age, who gave full play to his abilities, and called forth all that strength of reason of which he was master."

greatest ornaments of the Church, and finest what strength

This opponent was Dr. Sherlock. It has been observed that, probably the account of this performance having reached Dr. Clarke's ears, gave occasion to his omitting, in the second edition of his Scripture doctrine of the Trinity, the passage

in the first edition, respecting subscription to the articles which had given offence.

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In November 1715, Dr. Waterland came into office as Vice Chancellor. At this eventful period in our history, political animosity was at its height, and it required no little discretion, moderation and firmness, to conduct the affairs of the university at such a crisis. Dr. Waterland however, during a year of office, which appears to have been unusually occupied with active business, and on several occasions, i which all the animosity of party feeling was involved, displayed so much temper and good sense in moderating between the contending parties, as to have added in the opinion of all to his established fame as a theologian, an equal character for prudence, and the management of public business. It is not to be supposed from what we have here said, that he in any degree, compromised his political any more than his religious principles. He was in principle a Whig, a strenuous supporter of the Hanoverian succession, which was by no means the prevailing sentiment at that time in Cambridge. On more than one occasion his measures excited the animosity of the Tories, and in no instance more so, than in the proposal of an address of congratulation to the King on the suppression of the Rebellion. Against Dr. Bentley, who took a very active part in the support of that measure, the resentment of the Jacobite party knew no bounds. But though Dr. Waterland by no means escaped a share in their dislike, yet his great moderation and good temper, protected him against much of the obloquy and ill-will, which were so strongly shewn towards Bentley and others of the same party.

It seems to have been in some measure from the attachment which in all these affairs he manifested for the constitution, as well as to his other merits, that he soon after received the appointment of Chaplain in Ordinary to the King. His enemies of course accused him of interested motives in supporting those principles which he espoused; but a candid observer would readily acknowledge from his known character and disposition, that such accusations could not be founded on any thing like a solid base.

It was undoubtedly his sincere desire to uphold the public tranquillity against those, who, with whatever purity of intention were pursuing an object utterly unattainable, without the hazard of involving the nation again in civil war, and incurring evils of which none could calculate the extent, or foresee the termination. The operation of such evils upon the interests of religion and morals he earnestly deprecated,

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and particularly as affecting the university. A passage so admirably expressive of his sentiments on this subject occurs in his thanksgiving sermon in 1716, that we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of quoting it.

"As there are none more sensible of these things than ourselves, or more likely to suffer by them; so I beg leave to intimate how becoming and proper a part of our profession and business it is to do, what in us lies to prevent the growth and increase of them. While animosities prevail, arts and sciences will gradually decay and lose ground: not only as wanting suitable encouragement, but also as being deprived of that freedom, quiet and repose, which are necessary to raise and cherish them. As divisions increase, Christian charity will decline daily, till it becomes an empty name or an idea only. Discipline will of course slacken and hang loose, and the consequence of that must be a general dissoluteness and corruption of manners. Nor will the enemy be wanting to sow tares to corrupt our faith, as well as practice, and to introduce a general latitude of opinions. Arianism, Deism, Atheism, will insensibly steal upon us, while our heads and hearts, run after politics and parties."

As the Right Rev. Author professedly designed the work as an account of the writings, as well as life of Dr. Waterland, he has, we think, very judiciously divided the main body of the narrative into separate sections, each comprising the outline of some of his works. And the direct thread of the biographical history being broken off at the end of the second section, is not resumed till towards the close of the volume. To enter into any detailed review of each of these sections, would far exceed our limits; though when we came to examine the concise and masterly analysis which each of them contains of some important publication or series of works of this eminent divine, we felt so strong an interest excited in the valuable productions thus brought under our notice, as to make it difficult to decide upon which, to chuse for the better satisfaction of our readers.

Section 3, contains an account of Waterland's various controversial writings in vindication of the doctrine of the Trinity. It is perhaps upon these, that his reputation mainly rests; and the author of the biography has done them ample justice in a very copious and masterly analysis. The train of his arguments is exhibited in an unbroken view, and his

luminous and comprehensive arrangement displayed to its full effect.

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Section 4, comprises a shorter account of the incidental controversies arising out of the former, and contains the review of several lesser publications, on points connected with the dispute against Socinians, in which the learning and zeal of Waterland are not less strikingly displayed than in bis larger works.

In section 5, we find a full account of his various produc tions against the Deists, and in defence of revelation in general.

Section 6 describes the controversies in which Dr. W. was shortly after engaged, respecting the nature of the Eucharist; and which gave rise to one of his most justly celebrated treatises.

In section 7, we are presented with copious accounts of, and extracts from his various occasional sermons and archidiaconal charges. And if, in looking over the former articles, we have to acknowledge him as the most acute, candid and irrefragable of controversialists, we have in the section now before us, the perhaps greater satisfaction of seeing him equally great in the capacity of a public preacher and superintendant of the Christian flock. The nature of the Sacraments, and the authority of the Church, are among the most prominent subjects of discussion.

Section 8, contains an account of his various posthumous publications, among which are some of acknowledged excellence.

connected view of the literary and theological laboesent a

In the 9th section, the Bishop resumes the thread of his narrative, which had been interrupted in order to present a of this distinguished man. After briefly recapitulating the principal events before recorded, we find that the great and acknow ledged merit of Dr. W. soon acquired for him extensive reputation and patronage. In 1721, soon after the publication of his sermons, at the Lady Moyer's lecture, he was presented by the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's to the rectory of St. Austin, and St. Faith, London; and became a valuable acquisition to a body of clergy, which at that time peculiarly adorned the city of London. Among them were many of considerable talents and reputation, and whose names have since shone with distinguished lustre. Hitherto we have seen Waterland making a conspicuous figure in the public affairs of the University, and in the polemical contest for the cause of truth and loyalty. We have now to view him in a different and perhaps more pleasing character; we have to follow him

from the study and the senate house, and the schools, into the retirements of pastoral labour, and to witness the same zeal, and the same talents devoted to the humbler, but not less important task, of superintending his parochial flock.. Itrise to. his diligence, in the discharge of these duties, that we owe those excellent sermons which were published after his. decease. At the same time his literary pursuits suffered no interruption; and it was during this period that several of the. important works before noticed, made their appearance.

Dr. W. did not long continue in his London benefice. Within two years he was promoted to the Chancellorship, of the diocese of York, solely, as it appears, from the high estimation in which his public services were held. The next step in his promotion was a Canonry of Windsor, in 1727, which was followed, in 1730, by his presentation to the Vicarage of Twickenham; on which occasion he resigned St. Anstin's. In the same year he was collated to the Archdeaconry of Middlesex. This was the last piece of preferment he attained; and with these different appointments, it must be admitted, that he had now before him a wide and extensive sphere of action, with full scope for the exercise of his various attainments. His residence appears to have been pretty equally divided between Windsor, Twickenham, and Cambridge; and in each situation he doubtless found ample room for the exercise of those particular endowments, and the following up those particular pursuits, which would seem peculiarly connected with them. His pastoral duties, his religious and literary labours, and his active administration of academical discipline, were thus carried on with undiminished vigour, and for the exercise of all those faculties with which he was so highly gifted, full scope was afforded in one or other of these situations. Yet in the midst of these almost incessant avocations, we are assured by his personal friends (and his letters bear testimony to the same effect) that he was not of that morose and retired disposition, which many would consider necessary conscientious disto the charge of spiritual labours; and which unfortunately is too often generated by a life of study and abstraction: but on the contrary he kept up at all times habits of free and social intercourse with those about him, and espeeially with many excellent and valued friends who had the honor of his intimacy: he cultivated and improved his acquaintance with all around him: and found leisure to assist and encourage others in every laudable undertaking. In 1784, an additional honor awaited him, and of which he could not but be deeply sensible, he was chosen to be Pro

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