177 Memoir of Dr. Isaac Watts. tion, and a wider circulation of his fame. His character and talents attracted the notice of the Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen; and these seminaries, in an honourable rivalship, apparently contending with each other, which should first confer on him the title which he so justly merited, both honoured him in the same year, 1728, with the degree of Doctor in Divinity. 178 and devotional spirit which they breathe, a refined censure on those party zealots, whose vanity leads them to identify their local creeds and dogmas with the amiable principles of Christianity. His printed works, together with the MSS. which he consigned to the revision of Dr. Jennings and Dr. Doddridge, were published collectively, by Dr. Gibbons, in six quarto volumes, in 1754, since which But notwithstanding the kind at- period they have appeared in several tentions of his friends, his health con-editions, and in a variety of forms. tinued, during his latter years, in a very precarious state. This compelled bim to relinquish his ministerial situation; but so strongly were his congregation attached to him, that they declined accepting his offer to give up his salary. With a mind tranquil and serene, he was enabled to contemplate for some time the presages of his approaching dissolution; but his confidence in God, was too strong to be shaken by the king of terrors. He knew in whom he had believed, and felt a calm resignation to the divine will. In this state of holy submission, he continued gradually to decline, until Nov. 25th, 1748, when he breathed his last, in the 75th year of his age, thus terminating a life of usefulness and honour with a death of Christian triumph. So free was Dr. Watts from religious bigotry, that it is not easy to extract even from his controversial pieces, the precise amount of his peculiar views. Dr. Johnson has said, that " to whatever class he belongs, he must always be regarded as one of those whose heart was devoted to the promotion of the best interests of mankind, and whose life would have done honour to any system ofopinions." He has generally been thought to lean mildly towards the Calvinistic hypothesis; and towards the close of life he has been suspected by some, to have entertained views of the Trinity, not counted orthodox. This latter, however, is a point by no means clear; and the means of bringing the question to a satisfactory issue, are not placed within our reach. Dr. Watts was a man of fine feel- The remains of this great man ings, of a lively imagination, and a vi- were deposited in Bunhill-fields burial gorous and comprehensive understand-ground, London; and as a kind memoing. Few men have ever been distinguished by such a versatility of talents. He could dispute with Locke, or walk with children "Abroad in the meadows to see the young rial of his affection and liberal spirit, his pall was supported by six ministers, two of the Presbyterian, two of the Congregational, and two of the Antipædo-baptist denomination. Dr. Samuel Chandler delivered a funeral oration at his grave, and Dr. Jennings preached his funeral sermon to the congregation of which Dr. Watts had been the minister. Several other eminent men gave similar testimonies of respect to his memory. But while his various excellencies procured him those tokens of respect, he in his life-time had taken precautions to prevent any undue honours being paid to his memory after death. He therefore had given orders that an only stone, bearing the following inscription, should be erected over the place of his interment. "Isaac Watts, D. D. a pastor of a church of Christ in London, Successor to the Rev. Joseph Caryl, Dr. John Owen, Mr. David Clarkson, and Dr. 179 Profitable Labour.-Review: A Help in Time of Need. 180 Isaac Chauncy; after fifty years of feeble labour in the gospel, interrupted by four years' tiresome sickness, was at last dismissed to his rest. "In uno Jesu omnia." although they never knew his person. But what surpasses all other considerations is, his name will stand recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life, and remain engraven for ever in the "2 Cor. v. 8.-Absent from the body, and register of eternal felicity. present with the Lord." "Col. iii. 4.-When Christ who is my life shall appear, then shall I also appear with him in glory." A handsome tomb, bearing the above inscription, with the time of his death, was accordingly erected, at the joint expense of Sir John Hartopp, his former pupil, and lady Abney, in whose house he so long resided. But although the friends of Dr. Watts were ready to comply with his wishes, in erecting the stone, with the preceding inscription, agreeably to his direction, they were not so willing to obey his injunction in thus terminating all regard to his memory. A monument, of which we have given an engraving, was afterwards erected in Westminster Abbey, to remind posterity of his virtues, and to perpetuate his name. Happily however for him, his name and character are engraven | on more durable materials than the marble can boast. This monument, like many others, has sustained some serious injury, either through accident, or the wanton follies of the thoughtless and the sacrilegious, who occasionally visit this hallowed spot. Profitable Labour. MR. EDITOR, SIR,-The following may, perhaps, be acceptable to some of your readers, and may tend to effect an important object-creating more labour for our industrious Poor. I am, &c. 11th October, 1820. BENJAMIN WILLS. A FIELD of seven acres, situated in the county of Surrey, in the last year was prepared for Barley by the spade. The labourers employed, earned in the winter at the rate of fifteen shillings per week, two-pence per rod being given for digging; and the proprietor considers, that it would have cost him double the expense, if he had had it ploughed. REVIEW.-A Help in Time of Need; consisting of sixteen plain and practical Sermons, intended for the use of Families and Country Congregations. By John Bryant. pp. 200. BlanSeveral monuments, it is well known, shard, London, price 2s. 6d. 1820. were seriously mutilated by the fana- SUCH is the moral and intellectual ticism of Cromwell's followers, and condition of the world, that no period the remaining parts continue to re- can be assigned in the history of man, mind us of their infamous conduct. in which plain and practical discourses With the exception of such as are of are not of essential service. Theomodern erection, scarcely one has logical literature, it is true, abounds escaped the hand of devastation. The with publications of this description, corrosions of time will effectually pre-exhibiting at once the force of arguvent monuments from becoming immortal; but when to these we add the exploits of wantonness, the fury of mobs, the thoughtlessness of boys, and the fanatical brutality of an enthusiastic soldiery, both steel and alabaster must prove unfaithful to their charge. Secure from the depredations committed on his bust, Dr. Watts will stand immortailized in his works, when his grave in Bunhill-fields shall be forgotten, and Westminster Abbey shall cease to record his name. He will also be remembered by thousands who have obtained an acquaintance with his spirit, through his writings, ment, the power of persuasion, and the authority of scripture. But such is the constitution of the human mind, that the charm of novelty, or the hope of finding something original, furnishes a recommendation to every new production that issues from the press. The subjects of which this little volume treats, are at once practical, important, and interesting. They carry us into the common concerns of life, enforce the observance of duties which are incumbent on us to discharge, and direct us to that state of existence, in which their bearings and influence will be found in all their magnitude and awful consequences. 181 Review-Cases of Tic Doloureaux. 182 It too frequently happens, that inculated to be highly beneficial, to a works of this description, their authors class of readers, who have not much impregnate them, with what may be learning, nor many books; and especalled the slang of party, thus furnish- cially because the important subjects ing occasions of suspicion, that the pro- are placed within the reach of their motion of sectarian interest predomi- comprehension. nates over practical utility. From these charges the volume before us is happily exempt. The style in which it is written is simple and perspicuous, and the truths of the gospel are recommended on scriptural grounds. The pages are closely printed; but though the type is rather small, the paragraphs, which are numerous, furnish relief to the reader, and facilitate his progress through the work. From the author's third sermon, we give the following passage as a specimen. "He (Christ) teaches a lesson of humility. Pride keeps man out of his proper place, and separates between him and happiness; and it arises from false views of ourselves, and of our performances. On the other hand, a proper and just view of our imperfections, and failings, and transgressions, is calculated to humble us to the dust, and to bring us to the feet of our heavenly Father. And such view of ourselves, the teaching of Christ abundantly affords. Who does not know that the blessed Jesus had to REVIEW.-Cases of Tic Doloureaux, the ALMOST the whole period of our life is occupied in the pursuit of pleasure, or in the evasion of pain. The former is but a fleeting enjoyment, while the latter is the common and constant attendant on humanity, from cradle to the grave. The nerves, those silk-like cords, which convey sensation to the brain, and volition from that organ to the muscles, and other parts of the animal machine, evince no cognizable change or motion, in the performance of these two opposite functions. They may also be thrilled with exquisite pleasure, or tortured with excruciating pain, and still expreach among persons who made the whole of hibit no visible indication of either in religion to consist of outward service, and In this state of our who looked only to the mere letter of the law? their structure. and who among us has not read his excellent physiological and pathological darkand heart-searching sermon, recorded in the 5th ness, then, respecting this wonderful and 6th and 7th chapters of St. Matthew's gos- and complex nervous system, we must pel? and who that reads these chapters can fail to observe how extensive and spiritual he de- explore our way by the aid of such clares the law of God to be; that it condemns not facts, as our experience and practice only wicked works and evil words, but that it shall ascertain, for we have but few, reaches even to the thoughts and intents of the if any, general principles, to guide us heart? He who came to bear witness to the through this labyrinth of uncertainty. truth, has declared a lustful desire to be adulPain is, perhaps, an evil of greater tery; and has said Whosoever shall be angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of magnitude even than death itself; conjudgment. Now, my dear friends, who of us can sequently, he who frees a human being bear this touch-stone? If we are to be judged from extraordinary suffering, is much by such rules as these, instead of being proud more entitled to the applause and of our excellence, we must appear to be alto- thanks of his fellow-creatures, than gether as an unclean thing. Nor is this all the he who merely saves from accidental humbling truth which the Saviour teaches; for he represents the children of Adam as so dis- death the life of a citizen. ordered that they cannot heal themselves, and therefore need a Heavenly Physician; and he declares positively, that the state of their souls is so bad as to require a change equal to a new birth; such a change as the Spirit of God only can produce. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. For except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Before honour is humility and the soul that, looking unto Jesus as its teacher, humbly admits this doctrine, is prepared to receive a lesson of thankfulness; in that glorious display which is made of the kindness and mercy of God, in the plan of Gospel salvation.-pp. 32, 33. We cannot but consider this work to be valuable, because it seems cal Mr. Hutchinson, the highly respectable author of the pamphlet before us, appears fully entitled to these encomiums. He presents himself before the public, in a garb of ability and modesty, which cannot fail to make a favourable impression on every man, whose approbation it is desirable to obtain. He comes for ward with" neither a new remedy, nor a new theory," but merely "with a few observations which he has made in the successful administration of a mineral substance, well known, but too much neglected, or inaccurately, 183 Reviews.-A Sermon-Geographical Exercise Book. or inefficiently employed." He attributes his success in the management of this hitherto most obstinate disease, to the activity with which he has employed the carbonate of iron, a remedy formerly used in doses far too small to produce the desired effects, in this and many other disorders. After giving an ample history of the nature, seat, cause, symptoms, and the usual methods of treating the Tic Doloureaux, Mr. Hutchinson proceeds to state, that the complete failure of the means usually employed to subdue the torments of this disease, induced him to try the different preparations of iron; and his investigations appear to have been attended with the most happy results. The particular preparation of iron, preferred by Mr. Hutchinson, is the Terri Carbonas, of the London Pharmacopoeia, and this he recommends in very unusually large doses, even to the extent of four scruples, three times a day. Mr. Hutchinson has selected from his Case Book, six highly satisfactory and well-described cases, which we sincerely wish we had room to transcribe. They cannot but be considered a sufficient evidence of the hitherto unknown powers of a gigantic agent, as a remedy in this cruel disease: and we must be allowed to say, that in our opinion, Mr. Hutchinson is fully entitled to the very respectful consideration of his professional brethren, for this valuable contribution to our scanty stock of therapeutical knowledge, as well as for the liberality and disinterestedness with which he has communicated to the world, a remedy, which, in the hands of greedy empiricism, might have proved a productive and very fertile source of considerable pecuniary emolument. REVIEW.-The best Provision for the Poor. A Sermon preached at the opening of St. Matthew's chapel, Manchester Poor-house, on Sunday Afternoon, Dec. 5th, 1819. By the Rev. Robert Bradley, Chaplain. pp. 24. London, Westley, 1820. THIS discourse derives its principal importance from the charity which it advocates and recommends. We rejoice to find that the parochial clergy, and those who have the management of poor-houses are beginning to see 184 the necessity of providing for the spiritual instruction of their infirm and aged inhabitants. Many of these, from a variety of causes, have not an opportunity of attending places of public worship; and it is painful to reflect, that in this enlightened age, out of about 10,000 parishes, not more than ten enjoy any spiritual provision from the Establishment. Hitherto a considerable portion of this labour, has devolved on the Methodists and Dissenters; and we cannot but congratulate Mr. Bradley and the parish officers of Manchester, in showing to the country an example so worthy of universal imitation. The sermon contains many useful observations. REVIEW.-A Geographical Exercise The design of this work is to furnish the pupil with a kind of geographical ciphering book, on the pages of which he may enter the result of his various experiments, and the solutions of his problems, just as the young arithmetician enters his various sums, when he is, fully assured of their correctness. This method Mr. Robertson conceives will tend to stihas a journal which records his promulate the learner, knowing that he gress, while at the same time it will enable his friends to watch the advan ces he is making in his geographical learning. The Problems laid down, and the Rules given for their solution,are in substance much the same that we find in every treatise on the use of the globes, with this advantage, that both Problem and Rule are very concise, without being deficient in perspicuity. From those data, distinct questions |