Page images
PDF
EPUB

he makes it appear that feveral things which we judge to be contrary to Reafon, because above the reach of our Understanding, are not therefore to be thought unreasonable, because we cannot comprehend them, fince they may be apparently reasonable to a greater and more comprehensive Understanding. And he wrote another Treatise, to fhow the Poffibility of the Refurrection of the fame Body.

The Veneration he had for the Holy Scriptures, appears not only from his ftudying them with great Exactnefs, and exhorting others to do the fame; but more particularly from a diftin&t Treatife which he wrote, on purpose to defend the Scripture-Style, and to anfwer all the objections which Profane and Irreligious perfons have made against it. And fpeaking of Morality confider'd as a Rule of Life, he Life, fays, 'I have formerly taken P. 17. pains to perufe Books of Morality; yet fince they have only a power to perfuade, but not to command, and

p.

Sin and Death do not neceffarily attend the Difobedience of them, they have the lefs Influence; for fince we may take the liberty to question human Writers, I find that the methods they take to impofe their Writings upon us, may serve to countenance either Truth or Falfhood.

His Zeal to propagate Chriftianity in the World, appears by many and large Benefactions to that end; which are enumerated in his Funeral Sermon: "He was at the Charge of the Translation and Impreffion of Life,

[ocr errors]

P. 36.

the New Teftament into the Malayan Language, which he fent over all the East-Indies. He gave a ' noble Reward to him that tranflated "Grotius's incomparable Book of the Truth of the Chriftian Religion into Arabick, and was at the Charge of a whole Impreffion, which he took care to order to be diftributed, in all the Countries where that Language is • understood. He was refolved to. have carried on the Impreffion of the New

A 5

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

New Teftament in the Turkish Language; but the Company thought it became them to be the Doers of it, and fo fuffer'd him only to give a large fhare towards it. He was at feven hundred Pounds charge Life, ⚫ in the Edition of the Irish Bi

P. 37.

31

'ble, which he ordered to be diftributed in Ireland, and he contributed largely both to the Impreffions of the Welsh Bible, and of the Irifh Bible in Scotland. He gave during his Life three hundred Pounds to advance the defign of propagating 'the Christian Religion in America; ⚫ and as foon as he heard that the • Eaft-India Company were entertaining Propofitions for the like defign in the East, he presently sent an hun'dred Pounds for a Beginning and an Example, but intended to carry it 'much further, when it fhould be fet on foot to purpose. He had defigned, tho' fome Accidents did upon < great confiderations divert him from fettling it during his Life, but not

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

.

from

[ocr errors]

from ordering it by his Will, that a liberal Provifion fhould be made ⚫ for one, who fhould in a very few well-digefted Sermons, every Year fet forth the Truth of the Chriftian Religion, in General, without defoending to the Subdivifions amongst • Chriftians ; and who fhould be changed every third Year, that fo this noble Study and Employment might pass through many Hands, by which means many might become Mafters of the Argument.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

In his younger years, he had thoughts of entring into Holy Orders, and one reafon that determin'd him againft it, was, that he believed he might in fome refpects be more ferviceable to Religion, by continuing a Layman; His having no Interefts, with relation to Re- Life, ligion, befides those of faving his own Soul, gave him, as he thought, a more unfufpected Authority in writing or acting on that Side. He knew the Prophane Crew

P. 37.

• for

[ocr errors]

fortified themielves against all that was faid by Men of our Profeffion, with this, that it was their Trade, and that they were paid for it: 'He hoped therefore that he might have the more Influence, the lefs. he fhared in the Patrimony of the • Church.

Mr. Lock, whofe accurate Talent in reafoning is fo much celebrated even by the Scepticks and Infidels of our Times, fhow'd his Zeal for Chriftianity, firft, in his middle age, by publishing a Difcourfe on purpofe to demonftrate the Reasonablenefs of believing Jefus to be the promis'd Meffiah; and, after that, in the last years of his Life, by a very judicious Commentary upon feveral of the Epiftles of St. Paul.

He speaks of the MIRACLES wrought by our Saviour and his Apoftles, in the strongest manner, both as Facts unexceptionably true, and as

the

« PreviousContinue »