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REV. THOS ROBINSON, M.A.

Minister of St Mary's. Livister.

Published by L.B.Seeley & Sons, 169 Fleet Street. Feb 1.1831.

CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN,

AND

Church of England Magazine.

JANUARY 1831.

THE REV. THOMAS ROBINSON, M. A.

AMONGST the number of eminent characters recorded in our pages, few individuals are more deserving of frequent contemplation, than the late Rev. Thomas Robinson, Vicar of St. Mary's, Leicester; one of the most useful parochial ministers whom modern times have produced.

Our Vol. for 1813 contains indeed a brief notice of our departed friend, and the splendid, but justly deserved encomium pronounced upon him by the Rev. Robert Hall; but we were prevented by various circumstances from inserting at that period a more detailed account; while a reluctance to interrupt the regular series of Reformers and English Divines, has subsequently retarded the narratives of this and of other exemplary characters. Our readers will not however eventually lose by this delay. The leading features of each respective character will afford instruction in every age; and the lapse of a few years may, perhaps, allow us to speak more fully on some points, which at an earlier period could scarcely have been noticed without exciting undue irritation, and somewhat of party feeling. We now therefore purpose to devote the biographical part of our Magazine for the present year, to the memoirs of distinguished modern Divines, commenceing with the present

eminent and excellent individual. JAN. 1831.

*

Thomas Robinson, the fourth son of Mr. James Robinson, a respectable hosier at Wakefield, in Yorkshire, was born Aug. 29, 1749, and was early placed under the care of the Rev. Mr. Atkinson, then Master of Wakefield Grammar School, one of those valuable institutions of which so many were, about the era of our Reformation, founded and endowed for the promotion of sound literature and true religion. Here young Robinson applied himself with such diligence and success to his studies, as to secure at once the favourable notice of his Master and the Trustees. Not merely content with learning those lessons which were enjoined, he pursued his studies with the utmost assiduity, devoting much of his leisure time to reading, and never satisfied unless at the head of his class. The beneficial result of this diligence soon appeared; when arrived at the age of fourteen, it was proposed that he should leave school, and engage in his

* This memoir is compiled from Mr. Vaughan's account; from the brief narra tive prefixed to the later editions of the Scripture Characters; and from statements made in different publications shortly after Mr. R's death. Many particulars however have been added, and some erroneous statements corrected, from the kind communications of Christian friends, and from documents in the compiler's own possession.

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father's business, but his own disinclination to the change, the rapid proficiency he had already made, and the interference of Mr. Atkinson and other friends, induced his father to allow his continuance in the school, with the hope that, by following the bent of his inclinations, an adequate provision might eventually be obtained.

Of the events of these earlier years, few memorials are preserved. On one occasion he was so seriously attacked with fever, that his life was despaired of; but at the very time his friends were surrounding his bed, and expressing to each other their apprehension of a speedy dissolution, his mind was occupied with the Psalmist's declaration, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord;" and he was in due time mercifully raised up, to testify of the "goodness of God in the land. of the living." Some mention is also made of a remarkable dream which occurred, but which, however impressive at the moment, appears scarcely deserving of record. Nor are we very accurately informed on the state of his mind. He has been represented at this period, as by no means decidedly serious, but on the contrary, attached to dancing, theatrical amuse- ́ ments, &c. There is reason, however, to believe that this representation is not in all respects correct, but that his mind was early impressed with the importance of religious truth. In a letter to his

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made to the writer of this article many years since, by one of his brothers; My Brother Thomas was always serious, even from a boy.' The two statements indeed are not entirely irreconcileable. Many a young person is impressed with the importance of religion, and desirous in the main. of conforming to its principles, who has not yet discovered the evil of some commonly prevailing amusements; and a mind deeply imbued with classic lore, and alive to the charms of dramatic poetry, will not readily admit the idea, which experience will eventually demonstrate to be cor rect, that the stage can never be so regulated, as to become the school of morality, but invariably is, and must be, unfavourable to Christian principles and virtuous conduct.

When Mr. Robinson was in his nineteenth year, and it was therefore important that he should proceed to the University, some difficulty was apprehended on the ground of expense. His father, though engaged in a respectable business, had yet a numerous family, of

which Mr. R. was the fourth son, and it was therefore doubtful, whether in justice to himself or his other children, he could engage to provide the necessary pecuniary supplies. The founder indeed of Wakefield Grammar School had provided. certain exhibitions for the support of deserving students at the University, but as each exhibition only amounted to twenty pounds a year, the difficulty still to a considerable degree remained; the high character however which Mr. R. received from the Master, and the interest felt in his favour by the Trustees, induced one of their number, a highly respectable gentleman of the name of Smith, to propose that a double exhibition should be given in his case. He was consequently admitted a Sizar of Trinity College, Cambridge, with an allow

ance from Wakefield School of forty pounds a year.

This circumstance in Mr. R's history may lead us to contemplate the pious liberality evinced by the Founders and Benefactors of our Endowed Schools, in providing not only for the instruction of youth in the rudiments of Classical Literature, but in supplying also in numerous instances to deserving scholars, the means of proceeding with their studies, and completing their education at our Universities: many eminent characters both in church and state, have by this pious liberality been enabled to emerge from a low and obscure situation, and to become eminently and extensively useful. It suggests also to the mind the importance of trustees not only administering the charity entrusted to their care with strict integrity, but endeavouring also, as in the case before us, to afford real and effectual assistance to deserving objects, and thus completely fulfilling the benevolent intention of their founders; instead of allowing, as is alas too often the case, extensive endowments to be dilapidated or become the means of aggrandizement to unworthy and improper persons. It suggests also to parents who have access to such endowed schools the duty of early introducing their children to the benefits which are their birthright, and which may eventually affect all their future prospects; and above all it suggests to the young the advantages of zealously and diligently improving their present opportunities. Had Mr. R. not been diligent as a school-boy he would never, in all human probability, have become Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Vicar of St. Mary's, Leicester. "Seest thou a man diligent in business, he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men."

Mr. Robinson commenced his residence at Cambridge in Oct.

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1768, and was soon regarded as a student of considerable promise. Before his leaving Wakefield, a person in the lower walks of life understanding that he was about to become a clergyman, expressed a hope that he would study his Bible that he might be able to feed the flock of Christ with spiritual food; at the same time offering to lend him some practical and experimental books; an offer which was thankfully accepted. About the close of his first collegiate year, he was much affected by reading Hervey's Theron and Aspasio, and began to view the things concerning his salvation in a clearer light. He was persuaded,' says Dr. Jobson, that it is not by any imperfect works of man's righteousness, but by God's mercy through Jesus Christ that he must be saved. now applied himself to the study of the Scriptures with diligence and prayer, and devoted the whole of the Lord's day to the more immediate worship of God, and to the storing of his capacious mind with divine knowledge. He became from this time a decided character, and rarely associated with any collegians but those who entertained sentiments similar to his own.'

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It was his habit,' says Mr. Vaughan, to study a portion of the Greek Testament every day, not as a critical but devotional exercise. I conclude what his custom was from the particular directions which he gave me on this subject when I first went to college. Reserve half an hour at your rising,' said he, for this purpose. Read a few verses with close practical application to your own case and conscience. What do I learn from this? How far have I observed this? How sadly I am condemned by this? What matter of thankful. ness and joy is here! When you have done with reading, pray over the passage.' I have little doubt,' adds Mr. V. that his skill and success in conducting family wor

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