Page images
PDF
EPUB

426

don. This book forms a part only of a larger design, under the title of Tractatus de Claris et Obscuris in Doctrina Christianâ. Then follows-Pars Prima, in qua agitur de iis quæ spectant ad Vitam Hodiernam, sive de Fide et Officiis Christianorum. This work contains a compendious system of Christian doctrine and duty. It has been translated into English.

4. De Statu Mortuorum et Resurgentium was likewise a posthumous work. The second edition of it was published in 8vo, 1739, Lond. with an appendix, De Futura Judæorum Restauratione. In this treatise he has expressly denied the eternity of hell torments-a doctrine which, in his days, was commonly considered as essential to the system of Christianity and has asserted the final salvation of the whole human race. But apprehending bad consequences from the promulgation of these unusual opinions, he strongly protested, in a note, against the translation of his book. It has, however, been since translated by Dennis, together with the note at the bottom of the page,

[ocr errors]

The opinions of Dr. Thomas Burnet on various subjects of theology, were considered as so heterodoxical in those days, that, notwith

standing he had the countenance of king William, and the patronage of Tillotson, archbishop of Canterbury, a conspiracy of the priesthood against him prevented any high degree of ecclesiastical preferment. As to the works of Burnet, though they are all stamped with marks of genius, they are not perhaps likely in future to be much read; since in his theological writings, he combats opinions, about which we no longer require conviction; and in philosophy we look for truth, rather than force and grandeur of imagination,

SHERLOCK.

WILLIAM SHERLOCK, an eminent divine, was born in 1641, in Gravel-lane, Southwark. His father, being a tradesman of competent fortune, sent his son to Eton school, whence, in 1650, at the age of fifteen, he was removed to Peter-house, Cambridge. He took his degree of bachelor in the year of the restoration, and that of master in 1663. In 1669, he was preferred to the rectory of St. George's, Botolphlane, London; and, in 1681, was collated to the prebend of St. Pancras, in the cathedral of St. Paul. In 1685 he was made master of the Temple; but refusing, at the revolution, to take the oath of allegiance to king William and queen Mary, he was suspended, in 1689, from all his preferments; though on his compliance, a short time after, he was reinstated. On the promotion of Tillotson to the see of Canterbury, Sherlock succeeded him in the

deanery of St. Paul's, by his grace's recommendation. The last ecclesiastical benefice he obtained was the rectory of Therford, in Hertfordshire, some time before his death, which took place in 1707.

The principal writings of Sherlock consist of controversial theology. He entered warmly into dispute with the most busy sectaries of the time, the Solifidians and Antinomians, who appeared in the reign of Elizabeth; with the Catholics and Non-conformists, the latter of whom he was very anxious to bring back to the esta blished church, His tracts on such subjects are very numerous. His " Practical Discourse concerning Death" is well known; it was published during his suspension, in 1690. Moreover, two volumes of his sermons, Svo. were collected and published after his death.

The treatise of Sherlock, however, which made the greatest stir in the theologic world, was his "Vindication of the Doctrine of the holy and ever blessed Trinity," published in 1691; and which contains a new method of explaining that mystery. It excited the sarcastic antagonism of Dr. South, in a tract entitled " Animadversions," &c. and which called forth a defence from Sherlock; followed again

with a charge on him of Tritheism, from South. His opinions, too, were condemned by the university of Oxford. In short, the dispute at length waxed so hot, that his majesty, at the instance of the bishops, thought proper to interpose; and, to preserve unity in the church, it was ordained, "that all preachers should carefully avoid all new terms, and confine themselves to such ways of explication as have been commonly used in the church."

His sermons were published in five volumes

octavo, 1755.

The following extract is taken from the sixth discourse, vol. 1. on the immortality of the. soul, and is marked by good sense, and a per-. spicuous style:

Had it not been for philosophy, there had remained perhaps no footsteps of any unbelievers in this great. article; for the sense of nature would have directed all right; but philosophy misguided many. For those who denied immortality, did not deny the common sense of nature, which they felt as well as others; but they rejected the notice, and thought it false, because they could not find physical causes to support the belief, or thought that they found physical causes

« PreviousContinue »