I am, Sir, J. T. E. "The Unknown God." SIR, March 7, 1812. He was succeeded by the Rev. be, known to the religious world, Thomas Whitaker, jun. son to Mr. as the author of a volume of Ser. T. W. above-mentioned. With mons, published in 1804, in which this excellent man, the writer had are united, elegance of composi the honour and pleasure of being tion, serious piety, and striking for a while connected; and gladly addresses to the heart and contakes this opportunity of bearing science. testimony to a character uniformly respectable and amiable. Mr. Whitaker was pastor to the Call Lane society, more than fifty years. He was assisted for some time by his son, the Rev. William Whitaker, who died of a consumption, Jan. 7, 1770. The two last sermons he ever preached, were pub. lished after his death, by his fellow-student and friend, the Rev. Samuel Palmer, of Hackney (M. Rep. vol. vi. p. 261.); and to them is prefixed, An Address to the Reader, on the danger of delaying the concerns of the soul, in hope of a lingering death (which your correspondent, Quercus, M. R. vi. 212. so queerly describes as a preface about consumptions"). Mr. Whitaker died Aug. 4, 1778, aged 80, universally esteemed and beloved. He was a plain, serious, practical preacher; but not forward to introduce controverted points, either in his sermons or in his conversa- unknown) who might be able to tion. Whether or not "the old remove it? And does not the gentleman (as Quercus expresses Apostle's address to the Athenians himself,) was wider in his senti. take it for granted, that they were ments than the young one," no ignorant of the being, to whom one who knew him only or chiefly they had, in this instance, paid in the latter part of his life, would religious worship, and whom he venture to decide, excepting those proceeded to make known to (and there were several persons of them? this sort among his hearers at that time) who construe the omission of their favourite tenets into a denial of them. He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Bowden who had been his assistant about three Permit me, in answer to your correspondent A. Z., (p. 81.) to remind him that Dr. Whitby, in his note on Acts xvii. 23. has given a quotation from Oecumenicus, in which it is asserted, that the inscription upon the altar there mentioned, was at full length, "To the gods of Asia, Europe and Libya; and to the unknown and foreign God." Will not this circumstance decisively prove, that this altar was dedicated-not as a public acknowledgement of an allperfect, yet incomprehensible, Deity--but as the result of igno rance in regard to the author of a calamity then suffered, and as an act of homage and supplication to any and every being, (known or J. T. E. "Nolo Episcopari." Reading, March 10th, 1812. Permit me to return my thanks years; and who is, or deserves to to S. P. for the notice he has standings he could only speak in words adapted to the wild imagin ations under which they laboured." taken of my question. (p. 26, and 88.) But if I understand him rightly, he thinks the bishop elect did, formerly, use the words "Nolo This was all I could carry away, Episcopari," though they are but recollecting that in the follownow disused. I have perused a late ing part of the note there was a edition of the Pro. Dis. Catechism, reference to the Ajax ot Sophocles, and find the alteration to be as for an elucidation of the subject, S. P. states it. "The ancient I consulted that tragedy, formed custom for the bishop elect to say upon the story of the hero's frenzy Nolo Episcopari, it seems is now on his failure in the contention disused." But Mr. Christian not with Ulysses before the Grecian only calls it a vulgar error, but chiefs for the arms of Achilles. thinks it never was used in this At 1. 51, &c. is the speech of country. It is" (says he) "a Minerva to Ulysses, describing her prevailing vulgar error, that every treatment of Ajax, who in rantic bishop, before he accepts the paroxysm sought to destroy his bishoprick which is offered him, rival and the rest of the Grecian affects a maiden coyness, and an. chiefs. swers, nolo episcopari. The origin of these words and this notion, I have not been able to discover; but bishops certainly give no such refusal at present, and I am in. clined to think they never did at any time in this country." Black. Com. Vol. i. p. 380. note. Ed. 14th. Can this be ascertained? A. B. The passage is thus rendered in heart Conceiv'd, presenting to his eyes wild forms I : Of sick imagination on the herds turn'd him, and the undivided spoils By herdsmen watch'd; on these he rush'd and spread Wild slaughter, midst the horned droves aro. nd Whirling his sword; th' Atride now he ween'd Fell by his hand, and now some other chief Each after each; his mind with frenzy seiz'd, I urg'd him on, and drove him into toils dered as his rival Ulysses, and it. My friend started at this asunder that delusion gratified his sertion, and pressed me for my vengeance by frequent flagellation. authority: which having rather a This copy of the Essay, for the treacherous memory, I could not sake of the note, reached double at once produce. Now, perhaps, the usual price, and was purchased it would be useful to have this fact, by Mr. Heber, whom I have un- for so I still consider it, publicly derstood to be as liberal in ac recorded: and if any of your cor. commodating scholars with the use respondents can state upon what of his literary treasures, as he is grounds, this anecdote, relative munificent in collecting them. to Dr. Watts, rests, he would ren der, I think, an important service to the theological world; at all events he would have the thanks of, Sir, OTIOSUS. Mr. Farmer and Dr. Watts. Your humble servant, Letters to a Student. April 4, 1812. SIR, January 1st, 1812. Although I do not consider that any proof of the fallacy of any doctrine can be fairly drawn from the circumstance that a celebrated character has given it up as untenable, when he has The letters which accompany been near the close of life; yet as this were written with a particular some persons appear to consider view to a young gentleman, who this fact of importance, it may had been the pupil of the author, not be amiss to pay it a little at- above 20 years since. If you think tention. I am led to make this that they deserve attention and observation, from a Calvinistic offer important hints for the confriend having observed to me, the duct of one who is about to enter other day, that Mr. Farmer, who on a course of academical studies, wrote on the subject of the Demo- for the Christian ministry, by giv niacs, &c. had changed his opini- ing them a place in your Reposions before his death-and the in- tory in succeeding numbers of it, ference intended, as I conceived, you will meet the wishes of one, was, that the former opinions of whose heart embraces other youth Mr. F. appeared to himself ulti- destined for the sacred character, mately to be unsound and unscrip- besides him, with regard to whom tural. I replied, that I did not they were originally drawn up, know what might have been the with affection and solicitude for case with respect to Mr. F. but their future appearance in life with that I had heard as a fact, that reputation and usefulness. Dr. Watts changed his sentiments relative to several important mat. ters and that he wished to have suppressed or altered some of his hymns, but that the copyright have been cemented by mutual having been sold to a bookseller, who found them too lucrative a concern, to suffer them to be altered, the Doctor could not do NEOPHILUS. MY DEAR FRIEND, affection, cannot be dissolved with out leaving in the mind a painful and sorrowful regret: I feel it at this time, when you are just removed from my care, and the relation of a spirit almost above the restraints master and pupil must now cease of discipline and the checks of aufor ever. That relation has sub- thority. The period is dangerous, sisted too long, it has been too en- when we are too old to be treated, dearing to leave me indiff rent to as children and possess not wisyour future conduct and happi. dom and weight of character to Dess: and friendship for your be regarded as men; when ima worthy parents joins with affecti- gining ourselves too old to be unon to yourself, to awaken in my der a strict regimen, we are not breast every tender solicitude for old enough to hold and manage your welfare and prompts my the reins of government ourselves. mind to follow you into a new Youth, in your situation, often sphere, engaging in new studies feel and conceive they ought to inand exposed to the impression of dulge an independence of which new scenes, with anxious and they were not before conscious; friendly thoughts. and are apt to consider the pro . Called to lay aside the authori- vince of the tutor as limited to ty of a master, though you will reading lectures and not as invested bear me witness it was always with the authority of a governor. tempered with gentleness, I beg They are apt to consider themleave to address you as a friend, selves as their own masters, wheas a second parent. Your youth ther this jurisdiction extends to and inexperience, without im. their time or purse, their studies peaching your wisdom and good or manners. dispositions, may be supposed not Your good sense, my young to render you above receiving friend, will easily discern, that hints,sured to your new situation. these circumstances are attended And may I not flatter myself, that with hazard, and that when youth they will carry with them to your are removed from the injunctions heart a force and energy not by and restraints which suit boyish their truth and importance merely, years, they require the friendly but from affection to the superin. hint and the affectionate admonitendant of your past years. tion and your uncorrupted, ingenuous mind will admit the counse! which a longer acquaintance with life may have taught and which anxious affection dictates. : You now find yourself advanced forward in life, if not to the period of manhood, yet to a period that, generally, entertains manly thoughts and manly projects. Your friends There is one consideration of look upon you, you look upon vast moment; it is this: That yourself no longer as the boy, but much, that every thing dependeth as the young man. The transition on the manner in which you spend is too suddenly made from the your academical years; on the degree school to the academy; from the of diligence, prudence and virtue, study of grammar to that of phi- which you practice, in that peri. losophy; and from the sports of od, and on the character which childhood to the pursuits of science. you then form. It is your seedIt has often, it may be apprehend. time, and the harvest will be in ed, an unhappy effect in producing proportion to the nature and quanconceit and vanity, and inspiring tity of the seed, which you sow. Your conduct now will give the preservation of my native country complexion to your future life: from those heavy calamities and on the improvements you make distresses which to us short-sighted will your figure and usefulness in creatures have appeared impendthe world turn. It now lies with ing over it, (and wherewith at this you, whether you will answer or time our enemies threaten us) as al. disappoint the fond and laudable so to the reformation of manners, ambition of parents and friends, and the advancement of genuine who with kind solicitude wish you undissembled virtue, by means to appear wise and good. It now whereof thy gracious favour may lies with you, whether your mind be regained and public peace and shall be enriched with knowledge, happiness procured, I may always your health be preserved by pure in that case be willing, and, when and virtuous manners, and your strengthened by thy divine assisname be adorned with every amiable disposition; or whether you become a prey to folly, vice, disease and infamy. It now lies with you, whether you shall become a blessing to the world or a nuisance to society. It is a most valuable period of time, which involves in it such consequences. these thoughts with you, I would at present drop my pen. Leaving I am, &c. A Prayer of the late Lord Stan hope's. Amongst the papers of the late Dowager Countess Stanhope, a remarkable manuscript, written in her own hand, was found, which con. tains the following prayer to the Almighty, composed by her husband, the late Philip Earl Stanhope. tance, able to surrender, for those desirable ends, every blessing and comfort of life, and life itself, into thy most bountiful hands, from whom I have received them all." M. Chron. Sat, March 28. Conversation on Catholic Eman. cipation. SIR, March 9, 1812. Every real friend to religious li. berty, and especially every Protestant Dissenter, who is such upon principle, must ardently wish the Catholics success, in their firm and persevering, but peaceable efforts, to obtain exemption from the civil restrictions and disqualifications, under which they are placed for being Roman Catholics. Yet there are some men, who while they reprobate in the strongest terms every attempt to encroach on the liberty of their own party, zealously contend that the Catholics ought not to be allowed to enjoy "O Almighty and Everlasting the same rights and liberties as God, the All-wise and All-righte- their Protestant neighbours. An ous Ruler of mankind, vouchsafe instance of this kind I met with to grant the prayer of thine un. last summer, soon after Lord Sidworthy Servant, that, if, in the mouth's unsuccessful attempt acourse of thine inscrutable and gainst the Dissenters. Travelling adorable Providence, I can con- in a stage coach with two gentle. tribute, even by the sacrifice of my men, who, from their conversation life, or fortune, or character to the I found to be Calvinistic Dissent "Copy of my dear Lord's prayer, from the Original in his own hand writing. |