he was obliged to begin with the letters, as if he had never known them before. But though he could never recollect what had happened to him before his illness, he discovered now a quick apprehension and strong memory; and the progress he made was such, that his parents, by the advice of friends, resolved to educate him for a learned profession. With this view he applied himself diligently to school learning, in which he made a rapid progress; as also to a course of philosophy, under a celebrated teacher of that time. His unwearied diligence and great proficiency in learning, were much noticed and admired by all who knew him. After this he applied himself to the study of Hebrew and Divinity, under the direction of some learned and worthy ministers, who, being thoroughly satisfied how well furnished and prepared he was, encouraged him to enter into the ministry; and he fully answered the high expectations which were formed of him: for he had not long appeared in that character before he came to be much esteemed, even by the most discerning judges; and was invited to preach statedly to the congregation of Protestant Dissenters, Thomas Street, Dublin, with a view to a further settlement. His sermons were so acceptable, and his behaviour so becoming, that in a short time he received a most affectionate and unanimous call to be jointpastor with the Rev. Nathaniel Weld, and was ordained December 13, 1716. This excellent man having deliberately contemplated the nature of the work, set himself to enquire what reason he had to think himself called to it by the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls. "God," says he, "hath inclined my heart to take upon me the sacred ministry, and that, not from worldly carnal views, but from a sincere desire to employ the talents he has given me in promoting the salvation of souls, and serving the interests of truth, piety, and righteousness in the world. Besides, if I consider the course of Divine Providence towards me, my good parents, as far as in them lay, devoted me to the ministry from my early youth; and I have been encouraged by the judgment and approbation of several learned and pious ministers, who, after a diligent course of trials, judged me to be qualified for the sacred office, and animated me to undertake it. And since I have been licenced to preach as a candidate for the holy ministry, my public labours have met with a general acceptance, and have, I trust, been really useful. Besides all which, I have had a unanimous call from a society of Christian people, many of whom are remarkable for their knowledge as well as piety, to take the pastoral oversight of them. Upon seriously viewing all these things, I cannot but think I have a clear call to the work of the ministry; and I verily believe, that if I rejected it I should sin against God, grieve many of his people, counteract the designs of Divine Providence, and alienate the talents he has given me to other purposes than those for which they were intended. I desire therefore to accept of this call, and I would do it with the deepest humility, under a sense of my own great unworthiness and insufficiency in myself; but, at the same time, with the most entire dependence upon God, to carry me through this great work, that I may be useful and successful in it. And I look up unto thee, the God of all grace, that thou wouldst make me air able minister of the New Testament; and since I am satisfied it is thy will that I should undertake this office here, Lord, I desire to do so; may it be the language of my soul, in conformity to the example of my blessed Redeemer, I delight to do thy will, O my God. Oh, that thy law may be in my heart, and thy Spirit the living reigning principle there! Give me thy strength and grace! Be thou my Leader in this glorious warfare, and I shall be more than a conqueror ! Such were the workings of his soul on this solemn occasion; and the impressions that were made upon him were deep and lasting. With such animating views he discharged the duties of his office with laborious diligence and fidelity; and by an indefatigable application to reading and study, and the great improvement he made in all useful knowledge and literature, which afterwards appeared in his writings, he attained to an high reputation, not only among his own friends and hearers, but in the learned world, and among persons of all denominations. In the year 1730, Dr. Tindal published his laboured performance, entitled “ Christianity as old as the Creation; or the Gospel, a Re-publication of the Law of Nature." As this work made a great noise, several good answers were given to it; but Dr. Leland thought that more might justly be said to expose the fallacious reasonings, the contradictions and malice of that dangerous piece:- and to shew, that instead of deserving the applause which many had given it, he was a subtle uncandid writer, and his performance full of inconsistencies and empty sophisms; specious perhaps at first view, but, when narrowly examined, very weak and trifling. This therefore engaged his pen in a cause, in the defence of which he afterwards became so eminent. Accordingly, in the year 1733, he published two large volumes, 8vo, under the title of An Answer to a late Book, entitled Christianity as old as the Creation.'" In the year 1737, Dr. Morgan published his "Moral Philosopher;" to which Dr. Leland returned an Answer in 1739; the design of which was to take a distinct view of what Dr. Morgan had offered, both against Revelation in general, and against the Holy Scriptures in particular. Dr. Morgan, who was a writer of great vivacity, did not continue long silent. He published a Defence of his former book, in what he called "The Second Volume of the Moral Philosopher." This was chiefly designed against Dr. Leland's Answer; in which he manifests the greatest effrontery, and uses very indecent language. However, Dr. Leland published a second volume of "The Divine Authority of the Old and New Testament, in Answer to the Second Volume of the Moral Philosopher, in 1740." In this reply every thing is considered that had any appearance of argument in this book; and the author's misrepresentations, unjust aspersions, and confident attempts to impose falsehoods upon his readers, are detected and exposed.* In 1742 a remarkable pamphlet appeared, entitled "Christianity not founded on Argument;"— in which the author, under the specious appearances of zeal for religion, and under the cover of devout expressions, endeavoured to shew that the Christian faith had no foundation in reason, nor had any thing to support it but a wild and senseless enthusiasm. In answer to this the Doctor wrote " Remarks on a late Pamphlet, entitled Christianity not founded on Argument,' contained in two letters; which were published in 1744.† In the year 1753 Dr. Leland published "Reflections on the late Lord Bolingbroke's Letters on the Study and Use of History; especially so far as they relate to Christianity and the Holy Scriptures +." Thus did this good man most labo * Deistical Writers, vol. I. p. 131, &c. + Ibid. vol. I. p. 151, &c. Ibid. vol. II. p. 265, &c. riously exert himself in the defence of our holy religion. And being more and more persuaded of the divine original, as well as of the great importance of Christianity to the virtue and happiness of mankind, he published answers to the several authors, who with great industry endeavoured to undermine it: and his answers are very highly and generally esteemed as among the best defences of Christianity. He was indeed a master in this controversy; and his history of it, entitled "A view of the Deistical Writers that have appeared in England in the last and present Century; with Observations upon them, and some account of the Answers which have been published to them," will do lasting honour to his name with all who have the interest of religion truly at heart. Nor did he undergo this extraordinary labour only in the prime and vigour of life; his zeal did not permit him to take rest even when advanced to old age. When he was past seventy he was seized with a violent fever; from which none expected his recovery. Though he was perfectly resigned to the divine will, yet he was not only satisfied but pleased to have life a little prolonged, that he might put his finishing hand to a work, which had cost him far more labour than any of his writings, and which he hoped would be of eminent service to the world. The work soon after appeared in two volumes 4to, under the title of "The Advantage and Necessity of the Christian Revelation, shewn from the State of Religion in the ancient Heathen World, especially with respect to the Knowledge and Worship of the one true God; a Rule of Moral Duty; and a State of Future Rewards and Punishments. To which is prefixed, a preliminary Discourse on Natural and Revealed Religion." This indeed is an amazing work, considering his age and infirmities, as he had recourse to all that great variety 1 of books, and generally in the ori ginal, which are referred to in it: nor did the reception it met with in the world disappoint his expectation. After what has been said, it need scarcely be mentioned that his many eminent services to promote the Christian cause, in an age so prone to infidelity and licentiousness, and prosecuted often in ill health, procured him a great name in the learned world, and uncommon marks of respect from persons of the highest rank in the Established Church, in England and Ireland. Two of the Universities in Scotland also presented him with testimonies of their great regard: Glasgow with his degree of Å. M. which was preparatory to their conferring on him the degree of D. D.; which, in the meantime, was sent to him in the most respectful manner by the University and King's College of Aberdeen, in 1739. But it was not only his great learning and abilities, or his ministrations as a Christian pastor, which attracted so much esteem and affection; these were accompanied by an amiable temper and a most ex-· emplary life. His natural powers must appear, from what hath been already said, to be remarkably great. He had a quick apprehension, vivacity of thought, a solid judgment, and a memory that was really amazing; so that he was often called a walking Library. A zeal to promote the glory of God in this world, seemed to be the governing principle of his life. He walked with God, and had much communion with him in sacred meditation, and the exercise of prayer and praise. His acquiescence in the will of his heavenly Father was exercised by many severe trials, which he bore with an unrepining submission and truly Christian fortitude. In private life he was regu lar and circumspect; and in dis charging the duties of social life, upright and conscientious. How per to be done; and spent his time tender and affectionate a husband, in affecting exhortations to those -how loving a brother and uncle, about him, and in adoring the love -how faithful a guardian and friend and compassion of that Almighty he was, they who stood in these Saviour who had saved him with relations to him have most cordially an everlasting salvation. He said acknowledged. the mercies he had received from his great Master were more than he could number; and though he had been exercised with various afflic tions, he trusted that, in the issue, they had proved real blessings. He discovered great humility in acknowledging his manifold infirmities and defects. "Whatever others may think of me," said he, "I, who have reason to know myself best, am sensible I have madebut a small progress in righteousness and true holiness, or even in knowledge and learning, in comparison of what I might have done." Thus lowly was this good man; and most devoutly did he celebrate the riches of divine grace. I give my dying testimony," said he with emotion, "to the truth of Christianity. The precious promises of the glorious Gospel of God my Saviour are my support and consola◄ tion;-they alone yield true satisfaction in a dying hour. I am not afraid to die. The Gospel of Christ hath raised me above the fear of death; for I know that my Re deemer liveth; and that if this earthly house of my tabernacle were dissolved, I have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." In the year 1731 Dr. Leland had married Mrs. Ann Maquay, widow of the Rev. Thomas Maquay, who had been minister of Plunket Street meeting-house for many years. Between him and the Doctor there had been the greatest intimacy, a fellowship in their studies, and a constant course of friendship for several years. In the sermon he printed on his death, he gives an interesting account of this truly excellent man. The Doctor was fully sensible of the wisdom of his choice in the matrimonial state, as his wife was a very agreeable companion, of an excellent temper, and of sincere piety; and they proved mutual helps to each other. He had several children by her, but they all died young; and as Mrs. Leland had children by her former husband, he behaved with a most tender and parental affection to them and their offspring, treating them as his own, and training them up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." A few months before his death, Dr. Leland felt symptoms which were thought the presages of a painful chronical disease. These appearances, however, by skilful advice and proper medicines, abated. He shortly after took a severe cold, which he neglected till it fixed in his breast, and occasioned an inflammation that soon overpowered his feeble frame. But his intellectual powers were unimpaired and lively to the last. He had the sentence of death in himself, and had no expectation of recovery, though his friends flattered themselves with the hope of it. With a head perfectly clear, and a mind quite easy and composed, he gave directions for what he thought pro 66 Not a cloud Such was the manner in which this eminent servant of Christ met the approach of the last enemy. Firmly fixed on the "Rock of Ages," he was calm and unruffled as his end drew near. was suffered to darken the glories of so illustrious a scene. A little before he died he was raised up, and with his own hands took some refreshment, and lay down again composed to rest; when in a few minutes, without a sigh or a groan, the "vital spark" quitted its " mortal frame," to join those who, "hav ing come out of great tribulation, and washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, were before the throne, ascribing glory, honour, praise, and power, to Him who had redeemed them by his blood, and made them kings and priests unto God." He fell asleep in Jesus, January 16th, 1766, in the 75th year of his age. His funeral sermon was preached by his intimate friend, Dr. Isaac Weld, from these words: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." "FROM Luke iii. 1, compared with verse 23," says Mr. Belsham, p. 12, "it appears that Jesus was born fifteen years before the death of Augustus; that is, at least two years after the death of Herod:a fact which completely falsifies the whole narrative contained in the preliminary chapters of Matthew and Luke." This is indeed a blow, directed with a deadly design, at the vitals of Christianity, by impeaching the credibility of the testimony which two of the evangelists have borne to one of its most wonderful and important facts. And, when we consider, as Mr. B. informs us in his preface, that the substance of his Calm Inquiry" was first delivered from the academical chair, to a number of theological students training up under his care for the Christian ministry, it surely must appear a strange instance of rash ness and indiscretion, if it did not also deserve to be branded with shameful neglect and unfaithfulness to his charge (a charge of most weighty trust and solemn responsibility) that he should, in the language above quoted, not only throw out so alarming an objection against the evangelical narrative, without furnishing his pupils with such answers to it as he must have met with in the works of Lightfoot, Lardner, and others; but that he should assume and affirm a chronological fact, in reference to the death of Herod, without producing or even hinting at the slightest grounds of proof; yea, in contradiction of that order of events which is noted by the most learned chronologists. It must also appear the more strange, that Mr. B. should hazard such an unsupported assumption in disavowal of the sacred narrative, when we consider the peculiar care which the evangelist Luke has manifested, by designating so very circumstantially the period of history concerning which he was writing, and with which the fact impugned by Mr. B. is so intimately connected. Had not the sacred historian been well assured of the truth of his narrative, as it respected the birth and age of Jesus, he certainly adopted a synchronism of events, which must have exposed him to the easiest confutation by the watchful enemies of Christianity; who also had in their possession the enrolment of Joseph and Mary, from which they could with certainty have collected the true time that immediately preceded the birth of Jesus, and by that have detected any flaw in the evangelical narrative concerning his reported age at the time of his baptism by John. The strongest presumptive evidence, therefore, in support of Luke's testimony, lies in the circumstantiality of his chronological account, undisputed by those who had the readiest means of disproving it if false, and |