The Life of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D.D.

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238316 1

DR. J O H N S O N's

LIFE of DR. WATTS,

WITH NOTES.

f PRICE TWO SHILLINGS AND SIX-PBNCE. ]

A v

v j a '.• ' ; : . -

i I. .. .... ..

Rev. ISAAC WATTS, D. D.

JlSamuel Johnson, l.l. d.

With NOTES.

CONTAINING

ANIMADVERSIONS and ADDITIONS.

TO WHICH ARE SUBJOINED,

A diftinguifhing Feature of the Doctor's Character,
omitted by his Biographers;

An authentic Account of his laft Sentiments on
the Trinity j and

A Copy of a Manuscript of his never before publifhed.

Veritatis amator Jincerus et pacificus cultor.

y LONDON:

printed for j. f. and c. rivington, in st. paul's
church-yard; and j. Auckland, in pater-noster-
row. mdcclxxxv.

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A3I0B, L'i3.\3X AND

TUDW FOUNDATIONS

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(^pHAT.a taah of Dc. Watts's cha-
,.■ Si \ i ra&e* and talerite ihedld ; b<i held
inthethigheft veneration by. the bderjr
ifif . Bifferatefs, : is not tilt aTTwbfideriur ;
foi? .alt men are, $>y a^grln&pie^d'f (Hf-
, faro,: (attached- to; thai* o#n part^, which
.n&turalty leads them to -think a#d fpeak
-highly iof fooTe who t»Utei by anf means,
^rftin^uilhed «het»f€tve$ in ierVing its
intpreiis: ..• •:. --' •' ' - ; ' : - /; -' : ' ; '■■
NoraB'dt very e&tfaordinapf , { ifcohfi-
dfijring ' ithe i many pleaiing and uffef ul
publication* of which' the Dodtbr was
*h« aiithor,and the amiable fpirit breath-
ed f lirbugh them all, that wife and good
mdn of different religious perfuafions
Should be willing to give him a eonfi-
^erable tribute of praife.

But that a writer - ©f • Dr. Johnson^

principles, in politics and religion, mould

have undertaken <ur be his biographer 1 ,

andihould have paffed fo high an en-

A 3 comiuna

R E F A C E.

comium on his character and his writ-'
ings, is a decifive evidence of the.fu-
perjor excellence of both. And k is
very remarkable, that he who is fo free
in his cenfures of others, whofe lives
he has written, fliouldiincL fo riittle to
^blameinhim. 3Fhe.Difienters.will think
that Dr.: Johnfpjvhas done hihifelfthoi-
.iipiir in tbe[;tefUmony_he_]^ fioxne-in
.favour of a man whofe fentiments, both
in ecclefiaftical /and., political .matters,
were fo ; oppofite to his own ; f at the
fame time tha^theymuft be highly ^gra-
tified .with the hoflour which, refunds
to Dr. Watts's character from the.apprd-
Jbation of fp ] diftjngntimed' a i writer J -

It is; not to ;be wondered at tl^afcthis
narrative .fliguW ibe fo. fhortj . .fihce a lif£
Jike tljat ,of t Dr.- Watts,* fo.muGh;led.in
pretirqm^nt^ »aa4 .^tended wilth cfofew
.^rJ^LoQ^,- cp,u.lcl flot fumiflitinanyihifr
torical fa&s.^ And is jwas to /be: ixpcdted
that a biographer* ; like. Dr. ^johhfoiiv
whofe Audits weje of fo different.alna-
tyre, ] would be jparjrtg jn,h;s remarks
on the Dolor's, publications, of whicli
.*•'• .- . "•■•• r . :' iv'irii t ;.;•: ... w .maft

PRE FA C E;

moft were of a theological and practical
kind, adapted to the capacities and taftes
of the bulk of chriftian readers, and fe-
veral of them on controversial fubjects ;
nor could it be thought, that he mould
enter minutely into, the writer's diftin-
guiftiing fp ntinients on doctrinal mat-
ters. ,,, Nor.: indeed ca^. any, who pof-
fcfs much; knowledge pf mankind, how
high foeyer. their veneration forthe/cha-r
rafter and, writings, of Dr. Wattjs, ;be
greatly difappointed at . any eyprelEons
dropped from the J biographer's- peft,
which have the< appearance of cefliure;
The greater wonder is, that \thefe are
fofew and inconfiderable. It might alfo
be expected, thatinfuch a life, written*
by fuch an author, fome material arti->
cles fhould be omitted or miftaken.

On thefe considerations, valuable as
this piece of biography is, it may not
be an unacceptable fervice to the ptib-r
Kc, efpeciaily to the Proteftant : pi(lenr;
ters, if at the fame time that they axe'
prefented with a detached copy of Dr.
Johnfon's Life of th^s great an4 good
A 4 man,

P K 5-F^ A* C-E. :

man, a few -Notes mould be fubjoinedj
either to fupply the writer'^ defects, to
eorre<£fe his miftakes, or to obviate his

cenfures. " ' ;

> The defign of this publication can-
not fee thought to be fuperfeded by Dr.
Gibsons^ performance,' -by mote who
eoniider ttot merely the prolixity of that
work) fjutithe circumftance of its being
written prior to that' of 'Dr. jfohnfon.
It ist nklreover a principal Objedt with
the writer of the ^prefent piece, to ex-
hibit to- the public c wnat : he' thinks an
iroportatife and very 'tfHHnguiftiing part
of, Dr. Watts s chara&er, which Doth
B*. Jdfcnfen and Dr.- Gibbons Jiave to-
tally omitted j as ; alffr to give a true re-
Bre&ntatioh of mVlaft fentirnents With
refpe& - w> fr Dedtrine which ; employ ell
his thowghfe and his- pen more th'ah any
Other, difpfeted point in theology,- arti|
which" hks % been ^jgenerally thought of
more* importance, anc! accordingly has
beehythe fnbjeel of more debate thai*
aktio&aiiy. , ohe : befldeS, viz, the Do&fine

*;'•■>»« .* A Much

P. R E F* A : C Ej

Much has been &id about p*. Watts**
jaft thoughts, on this pointy but nothing
written tha£ is fatisfc^Stpry ; periq&s of
4i^%rent parties being defirpus to have
\t ju^ar, that 4b considerable a man was
on their flde, ;. while tjiofe who hav*
fcsn the beft able tp give informatics*
on this head, haye though* |he#*felve»
bpun3, ;hy,w4 ei * ce <*;,lf**& towajh-
hc4dit» ...pr^ftbonsj m\png *B &*
n>inu^e cffpui^^ces fae ; £ias reepwied,
has, not ^ye^i ;gfanced at any tk&g pc4
^ujiar in p$. ;WW9 ifcirme? of am*
giving wi$fo ; refpie& $» tj|ig ppin*, whjck
l^e labour^! rnore than anj pthe£, no*
9$ that pa?t of his hi$©ry wltiph was

■ . » It |^ ^<^lygra|itt^,that:no jlift ar-f
$urnent fof ; or againft any reprefeotat
lion, of t^4io<%in^, pan lie, drawn' from
the fcntiinenfs £ven of a- Wafts. But
it is certainly a matf e? of innocent cm
riofitv, to know what were the conclu-
lions of fo great and good a man, upon
{uch a point after all that he had read
and thought, and written concerning it.
' 6 And

P R E F A C 4 E.

And it muft be granted that the man-
ner in which, and the temper with
which, fo able and free and candid an
enquirer purfued his inveftigations of
this much difputed article of chriitian
faith, may be of ufe to^ direct otiiers;
and young ftudents r especially, in their
enquiries concerning it. ' y f

If any thing here advanced be not
ftri&ly true, it is without- the writer's
knowledge, as he has afierted nothing
but what upon the moft Impartial ex-
amination he himfelf believecl. And if
any one is able to give the world a
more juft reprefentation of the matter^
he would be the firft to make his a6- ;
knowledgments ; as no one would be
more highly gratified than himfelf to
know what were the dying fentiments of
fo able and pious a man as' Dr. Watts,
how different foever they might appeal 1
to be. from his> own.

CON-

im^mm.

.< ": :■: a t >: o ;
C .0 '-N'"-T"- ?'.'-N.,-.:T.. S.

; r*

' i

^.. Johnjsoh's L>i*e fltF.Dpi*fWA : TT3 f Jm^z

Ncflwfe upon this work, containing among other

^ f particulars— -th^ i falfcho«d)^f{ > rcpo^i ifrje^

tioncd^ by. ,tljc author concerning Dr^Watgfr

! ' .father L . - - ^ -^ .//-' ; r ,? -r 2

Dr. Watty's refolutipfl to Uke-Jiis lot with the
Diflenters accounted for - - ..-.,.,*

Ah accourikoEmhe Independent^' f -"*' : - r ; • ib.
Remark "on his retirement previous to his enter-

Some account "of the Iat£ Mrs: Elizl Abney , C 3

- . - ■ : ' :1:f ^

A compleat.lift of Dr. T^ajtsVworks ? ik

Reprwjrk ofljllr, J^nfoii/s refle&tdns upoij* the

..-writings of-the Diflenters before iBa AEatcs's

time. ,Pr. Watts not- the firft goo4 ^vritef

8 _among them r .- v - ?> - ,-..,.. i*.

*. * The

*

CONTENTS.

The term " Teacher of a congregation" ani-
madverted upon «•■. - 1 - '*- V-- -/I J

Dr. Watts's manner of fpcaking - - 14

His aftion in preaching— and on pulpit-adtion in
general * 15

His manner of conducing public prayer 16

{Ii$ regard to Mrs. Singer— Dr. Young's jefj-
rence to it in hk Satfrea-^-His Odfe to 1 tw
Countefs of Sunderland . - . . - 17. it

An original copy! ofuvcrfes on the fard Ode 1 1 j>

Dr. Watts'i apology 1 for fome of his poeips. on
Divine Love, and Sol. Song • -•'" ib.

Aii account df ' hli 'Orthodoxy ' l and C&arity
united - " - ' " - - - 2^

Animadverfiensf wi Dr. Johnfon*s account b^ the
Jmperfe&ion of I>r f Wdtt^s and all other d<*
votional Poetry - - . .. , -> %jt

Recount of Dr. Watts'* Tfaflflation of the Ffahns,

and of .his Hyrqqs, 00 1 ( noticed by Dr,

" Johnfon - 1 '_ ' * . a6

Remarks on Mr. B. Williams*s aflertion concern-
ing the author's having altered ttotoln the
ctofe of his life - .J. - -.. : s--si» - 47

Anfccdote of a converfation between Dr. Watts
and Mr. Grove on the fubjeft - - 2%

Ccnfure

GetfftrfcoftK: joKrrfthVb^Aiy til Karrldh56ir

?.a>f Dr. Watts's Nonconformity; 4fith' d vlh<ii-

• cation' of Mi integrity "and his Imckrflan&rig

in this mdtter. - •* • - . s^-^-ja

A Supplement t6 Dr# Gibboks's Character
..,., -, . :1 . . of Dr. Watts,

Ah Ipitbmc ■df-Oi 1 . 0. y * efrtfi(&* tif ttfrih 34

SBcWii t6 he defe&ve, dr.' Watts's Lov* of*
lYirih, liis freedom, iliiigehfcc, and Humility,
in the investigation of it - - 33,

ffldto^'by'hfe^ltltfjs' 7 . - " '- 36—41*

A* Avmtttmt. -AfetteutfT 6± Dki Wxttrt

l-AST AVOWED SENTIMENTS CONCERllritftJ THE
^ TRfNIfftf, &<St : : *■- .t,*. /. <* '• <*^ 4-0^

N^rieT account "6t tfcis controversy* Dr. Watts
a Nonfubfcriber and a Moderator .-. . - 43.

Different representations of his fappofoj change
of fentiment by different pcirfons 44, 45^

Mr. Toplady'fc ftrange accotmt of his ddeftfon
and reeovery— Dr.- Gibbons's anfwer to Mr;.
Toplady defe&ive . *. - . - * 46

letter to Dfr. Gibbohs dft the riibjti5ty In- wHxth
toe is called upoii ib ptibliftv triitft W'KAMrtf
$)t ; Walttt> Jift fththftents ab6W tWeTViiritjr

. . . Dr*

C Or N, : Ti Ei N: Xj Sv

pn<3L's fiJence^Prpof fijrfftcient from Dr*^ att^s;
\$l publications : - - \ . *'■ " 53

Thfcfer how thought of by the Orthodox: and

• Heterodox — Want of Candour in both'.'* 55

Abftrad of the Do&or's Important Queftiona
concerning Jefus Chrift: frorh whence it ap-"
pears that he maintained the doctrine of the
Trinity upon the Indwellingnfcheme 57 — 79

Extrafts from his Glory of Chrift as God-man—
Defence .of the pre-exiftence of Chrift's human

* foul ' - ' - - .. j '. 82 — 90

His eqrly inclination to the abtove fcheme — Mr.

Bradbury charges him with hcrefy in 1725—

; His defence of himfelf and explanation of hi$

fentiments t/ - , . ' - - (J -, -. 92

Bis review of a fetmon preached in this youth,
and r ccnfure of his former ignorance and rafh-

l ntd •' - -•'- •"•-' \ : *- ' -' ' 9 f

Report of his having become an Anti-Trinitarian
groundless — His laft publications prove it 94/

Enquiry whether he altered his fentiments after-
wards. The contrary maintained $5'

Anfwer to a writer in the Monthly Review, who

had pofitively aflerted the Doctor's explicit re-

. carnation of his former fenttmepte* in fome~

- panufcripts faidto be fuppreffed or mutilated

^Vindication, of his executors in this matter,

r and a true account of thofe MSS. g6 — ipo

Copy

•

CONTENTS.

Copy of the Do&or's Solemn Address to God
-. on the Review of his writings in the Trinitarian
. controvei;fy - - - - ., 101

A P P E N D I X.

N°L

Containing a copy of fome manufcript Remarks
writteaby Dr. Watts on a Difcourfe of Human
Reafon ; deGgned as a fpecimen of his manner
of reading books - - - 1 1 j

N* II.

Two letters' bet ween the publisher of this work

and a friend, concerning Dr. Watts's fentiments

' refpe&ing the Trinity : : - - - 123

Lately fu&lij&ed,

CajtrsTiAN-GATHOtitcisM defended, in Aftfoer
: to a Letter -to the Rev. Mr. B* Fawc£*t.
Price x s.

Three Conferences fetween a rigidly Or-
thodox and a Mo^erAte Man, Price is.

Orthodoxy And Charity united* being a ncW
Introduction to the above. Price jd. or gr&tis
by the purchafers of the former. ;

An Appeal to a candid and orthodox Mi*
nister > concerning fome late publications on
the Importance of Union in Sentiment refpedk-
hig the Doftrine of the Trinity. Prite 6d.

Primitive Candor : or the Moderation of the
earlier Fathers towards the Unitarians, the ne-
ceflary confequence of the circumftances of the
Times. Being an attempt to eftimate the
weight of their teftimony in behalf of the
proper Divinity of Chrift. Price i s*

1 I T

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R. j4hnfoR^iitrt>4ii(^s,b^ Ufc of D$.
Ly Watts with the follq wing information :

<f njc^8am«itlstioa-kiiet;tefi J ».- tUe-%tp Col,
**fe«*«<i*», '^readers *>fj*hichi ire to inv*
««'^' f6 M^eW'pyfure or VekriJ
% fi^WiiPSX W» ;ti thppcy^al of. %clkj

pf |bme wbq,Aee4'tab^ informed * tbat the Colle&jon,
jeferfed^o *,j£fc #"** </ /A* Evglijh IPaetS) mtb Pr*c%
fiftt^ ~fii$gr4fify<fil+ vnd Critical in -. Sixty -tujo. % Vflu%es\
an^i fhflfy D{£.J<^nfim wrote thefe jP.rsfaces ? which
J¥.ere, »ftc^^4f ^grjnted by ^vemfelye^ in -Four \fc>?
lufnes 8 vo. Jfr«>in jw&ence the ToUeVing. Life of t>r;
Watts is Sxtrafted.

-.-•- B We

s LIFE OF OR. WAtT!,

Wc (hall give thti learned and mafterly
writer's account of .Watts at length, that
the reader may form the more impartial
judgment concerning it, and by way of Note
lhall offer fome aoiniadverfions on Ijich parts
of it as appear to be erroneous or exception*
Able, and futgoin various additional Anec-
dotes-

" ISAAC WATTS was born July if,
1674, at Southampton, where hi* feth«i? *f
the fame name, kept a boarding-fchocd fot
young gentlemen, though common report
makes hima flide-ttiafeirt*]. Hcapjfear*,

*[ AJ This " report" is by bo mean* " common.*
The Editor, who has often heard Mr. Watts fpokea
6f, never met wkh it before. And it is furprifing thii
author fhpidd hare introduced rt»*tle*ft wrtho*ta*|aHt
of the ftrongeft difapprobation $ finee it f videatly ap*
pears to be totally void of foundation, from. Dr. Gib*
bons*s Life of Dr. Watts, (which our author had read J
in the firft page of which he mentiow^ in a note,, fes i
well-known matter of fa&, that the Dolor's Father
** was the mafter of a ftottrifliing Boapdrttg-School at
• f Southampton* which was in fuch reputation,' that
u gentlemen's fons were feat to k from America and
" the Weft-Indies for echication." It b rrtdeed of little
consequence what any man's extraction was : but if the
fa& be well known, why Jhould any idle reports be mciU
tioned which have the appearance of a difparagctttnt I r

t - *iI.T;H N Q, T< E Si j,

Ir^m Ahe narratiye of Dr. Gibfonsi to have
been neither; indigent nor illiterate* .

^\ Ifaac, the pjdeft of nine chil4reti» was

, given to bool^s from his infancy, and began,

wg;3fe told* to learn. Latin when he was four

year § old . I fuppofq, at home.

, "He was afterwards taught Latin, Greek,

•nd Hebrew, by M%* Pinhom, a clergyman,

aa$ft*r of thf ,Fr«e4chool a£ Southampton,

to whom the gratitude of his fcholar after-

«^4?Mcribf?d ^J^atin O4o {b}c, , >

t7rt : <r Hift fHPc^«|fy /f at fcl^apA ws»s fo confpi r

-cuot# s that a fubfcription was propol&i for

&is ,&ppoft at ;the Univerfity j but he <fe-

;«l»ffid/ hi* jPf^ution to take his f }pt with tig*

•I)j^rew|fir«E [$] r Swb he was as every Chriftian

t CJn§rck weofc} T^oice to have adopted* ;

~ :,. m :. v ; :.;« ./.*■ .; -';-;... "He

- f »] XKk efegant in* truly claffical ole^Vafc written
^ *fr?£Sf °C Wenty. % Jt : is inferred 14 tlje tyrrc Poems*
^4 P^ Git>bonsba?;giv^n a copy of ir^wuh a good
^rtgjifla Tranflation, Memoirs ^ p« 7— i8l

v [c] This refolvitidn was the more, remarkable, ajs hfe
father had fuffered ta&fch foriiis Nontotiformfty. : A
£^umftaaep which, takepin. connexion with the: re-
/{*$ fiwwn to the Ton. by the members of the eftabljfhed
^tuuch, affords a ftrikJag proof that in his determina-
tion xvtfkt bis lot with the DifTeoters^ he was a^ttiau^
purely by a regard te cutfeiene*. It wa$ t therefore fc*»
/• ' * a prifir.g

\

L I F E; dF : D R^Vjt A ft S f

- " ^He therefdrtTrfegalred in 1690 toaff fcdfc-
demy taught by Mi*. Rowc, where hfc Md
for his companions and fellow*ftudet*ts Mr.

• Hug&& the poet, and Br. tlorte, afterward
Archbfchdpr of Tuam. Some Latin Eflky*,
fuppofed to have been Written as exeitffe^tt
this aea^ray, Stew a degree c# r krt6wlfcBge,
both phifolbphl^ fudh 8*

very few attain by a-fcmefc Id&^etf eourfe'itf

<c Hewa^tohe^ihfe 1 ^
a brisker : of verfes-fr^m^ fifteen id fifty, 'and
-iii his yjrtith *he appears to have paid attttK
•tibn ta EktiA poetry, - &i$ verffe^tb l Mfe
'blrothei', *' in^he glytvnhk itteafiSre;' 1 w*ft*&*
'when he was feveriteen, are^retin^Ia^'^j^
and elegant.- Some of his eifter Ata^ife
^formed by the Pindarick folly then pre-
jailing, aQd-arewmtea^lh/fod^jiegl^of
all metrical^ filler as & without mmptfc
among the^htients ; > but hi's di&iom v thc^^
perhaps qdt- always exa&ly pure* ha£ TucTk
coplou&eli^ thathp

prifmg that "*& biographer (efpetiialJy utter fbe feigk-Sfr*'
comium Whteh follows) fhou^?ivHie*iofeof tfcfrpkfc^
have fuggefted Any* thing UHe tfTrfkafort- upon 4ffift"fb*
his- Nonconformity?^ But of'tMs further tM& will
lrffekeii hereiffer; ,: ^* * : L -;-■ * - - -I

h& a v&ty Jittki ^ftanc? firom excel-
labcfc. His methc^.pfcftwiy wag to iippreft
tteccpetentt ef htf &)©& jjpo^ his memory
by abridging thete^ »n& by interleaving them
to ^aplifyone fyftwJ ^w&h fapjdi^n^nts from

. ! c With the congregation of Jhis tutor,
Mr, Rowc, who were, I fyeUeve [e], Inde-
pendents, he comrwwuegted in his nineteenth

" At

*s|jGi?*WW cuftoojafy w^th. Dr. Watte, to make re-
marks in t)ie margin of his books, arid in the blarjk;
leaves to- write an account of what was moft diftin r
guifhing in them, to infert his opinion of the whole,
to ftate his objections to what he thought exceptionable,
And to illuftrate and' infirm what appeared to him juft
.and important. ' The Writer of thefe ntftes has feen fe-
deral of the Dolor's books withYuch MSvobfervations*,
and he Ifas one now before' him, entitled jf'Trsatife* of
fJumanfoeaJoni from whence* he 1 ivill tfatifcriSe fome of
the Do#or*$ remarks to an Jppendix^ as a fpecimen of
his* manner, whi'ch he''ipprfiiehds the 'reader will not
only efteem as a cunofity,' but value for* their intrinfic

woitl?.* ■'•■•■' ■ J -' <v: " t! '"' '"•'•;•• " ' •- ••

TeI From Dr., Gibbons 1 * account this' Is indubitable.
Dr. /?^«j afterwards ringed among the Independent
giinifters: £ character which indeed more properly be-
longs, to Diilenting Miniirers in .general than any ptner ;

•.-.!*.■ .. •'? ' \ "^ " ' y.i^ m 4, \:t **, ±

for they and their churches .are^ totally independent of
each other, and in religious" matters are fubjeJS to njf^o-
^* B j reiga

6 LIFE &F DJL WATTS,

vc At the age of twenty he* left the aca-
demy, and fpent two years in ftady andp4e-
votion [f] at the houfe of his father, who
treated him with groat tendemefs j and h^d
the happinefs* indulged to few parents^ of
living to fee his fon eminent for Ijwrairare
and venerable for piety. Hfe Wafcthen 'En-
tertained by Sir John<Hartopp five years, /as
domeftic tutor to his fon ; and in that timq-
particularly devoted himfelf to the ftudy of

reign jurifdiftion whatever. A principle in itftlf highly
rational, arid moft favourable to religions Liberty, as
well as moft agreeable to the fcripture-plan ; in which'
np, traces of a national church, or ccclefiaftical autho-
rity, are to b^ found.

{f] Jn this fee di/epvered fingular wifdom, ajnd this
\t was thpt mptfly pontributed to his future greatnefs.
Happy are thqfe youpg mipifters who have opportunity
for following ? Ute courfe, and thrice happy they who
have vfifdpm to ijnproycjf. It is much to be l#tpentcd t
that Diffentipg Minifters (who ^re expefted to preach
their oyn fermons* generally Jwp in a week, and ikefe
pew compofjtions, pf mojfh greater length than is ufuaj
in the eftablilhment, as well as to pray from their owq
conception) .flipuld ejner orj {b*jf pufyje "?rk at fo
jparly a period sp they often <Jo, fome bejng npt twenty
year* of age anil iqany hut little more ? A year or two
fpent in retirement, or with an aged minifter, woultf
contribute more tp quality them for. the m;ni{ldria] func-
tion* than, all their academical ftudjes, . * • '

tt J r * H N O T E S. 7

theHoly Scriptures ; and being chofen afliftant
to Dr; Chauncy, preached the firft time on
the birth-day that compleated his twenty-
fourth year; probably confidering that as
the day of his fecond nativity, by which he
efrtered on a new period of exiftence.

4< In about three years he fueceeded Dr. '
Chauncy ; 1>ut foon after his entrance on his %
charge, he was feized by a dangerous itlneft, .
which funk him to fuch weaknefs, that the -
congregation thought an alMant neceflary,
and appointed Mr. Price [o]. His health
then returned gradually, and he performed
his duty till {iy 1 2) he was feized by a fever
of fuch violence and continuance, that, from
the feeblenefs which it brought upon him, he
never perfeftly recovered-

" This calamitous ftate made the com-
panion of his friends neceflary, and drew
upon him the attention of Sir Thomas Abney,
who received him into his hou.fej wher6 M
with a constancy of friendfliip and uniformity
of condti& not often to be found, he was:
treated, for thirty-fix years, with • all the "

f<y] A gentleman of excellent chamber and abili-
ties. He was uncle te the prefrnt Rev. Richard Price,
P.P. F.R.S.

B 4 kindncfc

ajl the gttefltie^ t&# re^ppSl^^i^^j
8jr; Thomas: <fc$ abqut ; ejg^f ^^^,3^^
W&r<4i . Jnjt.lw ep^hued Jf4ft ft^X'fl^
lip d^it^s ^J ; ip/ifo, .^;<f4fr:^I
fhe lady die^.'about % yS3r Vf #$ ^t ... A>

of: r^r(>nage ; qcii -; deper$$nc$ f ; ipere-, cvei* >
pawned by thqp^c^ptiyn jqf ^BfPc4-fcf >
fljefits^ dffejryss ;a y particular f$epi£r#i ,[r] */

<[#] 0f-*rhctar tht feft x %r^ivor; li&hPSlkaiith A** ' }
tttyy iWis. the lady. t<£ whom JDr.* GUb$m : dedicated kii>
lifc.pf Dr t #&tff.. Sfe? j*e^j at Sftfa^sui^flH, Aug* 2Q,
1782. tJer charadjje* fgr.j^ety, pri^eijop, ^ad benevo-.r
lence, . was worthy of one who fyad enjoyed the npftr-uc*
tions and example "of fiicVa man as Tir.'ff r afts % [ In her
laft'wjli (he dtfepverect a -fingtJar infrknct b? i public*
fpirit, leaving all the produce joL Itft aftattt* (after thai
payment -pf Several difcreet and benevolenf legacies) >to
be difpofe/d of for charitable purpofes, at thq difcretioa^
of her executors. \' * '* -.•*•,

£1] How honourable and happy would it be for gen?
ttempn of fortufte, an3 for their families", as "well' as for
the Glergy*themfelyev if'** GoalHfoiv> ,| '4rke 2 tM$ were 7
p^Te.freque^ t ;JBpw Janwnt^bte; is foifhatttofe vh^>
are- honoured wi;b the nw\e of Cl>aphts>s .to our gjrea* *
jnen, haye fo /eldom any other advantage frpm'fuch a
fcmn63.'\bn thaa 3 promotion tea Kviu^nuidiare iiofiir-
thecu refill. tathpit pttaww, .tjhaa ta» afluft them ift their
diver fion$, or canyafs for, thpm af aji fleftioaJ. .'; ' . *

<**! t jr.* .«* * ^ -#* * i <•

^bfe^ftf > ^Jf^e^^Q*^^ Wte^ ;wg?^ i*

writes what he knows, and wfoftjy k«o*W
Jikewife to multitudes befides. [J&j /<»#
^uoiationfroin JDri'C^bohs W^^/^«/^r3^

/ c * l£

* marfcably kihdyrovideftce 1 Wftich* brbught the Do&or
** into Sir T*hqmas AbrieyV family,' and ioiifimied him
*** there tiHhvs death,' a pefriod l ofno left thantfiirty-fi*
A yeiri; ii^the rhidft of 'rift fefcfed labours for the glory
*• of Qbd, • and 4 good of 'his feneration, he is feteeH wittf
** a moft violent and thrfcatnirig fever, ' which leaveV
** himopprefffed with great weak,nefs, and put « ftop' at
ft leaft to hispublic fervices for four years, * [

'** In this* a^ftreffing feafon, doubly fo to h\i_ aAtve
** and piouVfpirit, he is invited to [Sir Thomas Ally's
** family, nor ever removes from it till he had finifltecj
a his dayd. ' Here he enjoyed the uninterrupted demon-?
** ftratiqns of the trueft friendfliipi Here withiputaoy
*' care of his own, he had every thing which could con-
" tribute to the enjoyment of .life, and favour the unr
*' wearjetjf puriuift of ,his ; ftu/Ues, , Her,e he dwejt in jk
f< family, vhicb^ for pifty, .<f'<fcr #1 r^rmony* ancif every
^'virtue, was ^n houfe,ovGod ? wh^ r ? he had the pri*
«* vilege of ^qu^trv, /5cefo v .jhc*fa^

* ^reading lawnj, $he. flowery gaf^en^ ana 1 , bjher ailv^nj*
'* tage;s, to (opth his n pind .^^ a^ his reftonttlqn tft
^"hekftfi; to* yield him. whenever he cbofe them, moft
'*• gi^tefijl inj$rv4K , froi*rHV1at#rt5tis ftudies, and en-

..:> A »» ' «ab^

IB X I I-I'd> fr*. vat ft,

< ( If *B^uot«t»n h« app«iF«d long, let
It be cdrifktared that it comprifes an account?
of fix and thirty yearc> and thafe-the years
tftor. Watte. —

* able him to return to tMm, with redoubled rigour

* and delight.

« c Had it not been far this moft happy event, he might
•* u to outwtrd view, have feebly, it may be painfully,
c4 dragged on through many ipore years of languor, and
•* inability for public fervice, and even for profitable
" ftudy, or perhaps might have funk into his gravfe
€C under the overwhelming load of infirmities in the
" midft of his days j and thus the church; and world
** wpuld have been deprived of thofe many excellent
" fermons and works, which he drew up an,^ publiibed
" during his long refidence in this family. In a few
" years after his coming hither, Sir Thomas Abney
cc dies; but his amiable confort furvives, who (hfws
<c the Doctor the fame refpeft and friendfhip as before,
" and moft happily for him and great numbers befides ;
<c for, as her riches were great, her generality and urn-.
« nificence were in full proportion ; her thread of life
" was drawn out to a great age, even beyond that of,
** the Dolor's 5 and thus this excellent man, through
" J\cr kindnefs and that of her daughter, the prefent
« Mrs. Elisabeth Abney *, who in a like degree ef-
". teemed and honoured him, enjoyed all the benefits

* and felicities he experienced at bis firft entrance imp
" this family* till his days were numbered and finifhed^

* and, like afhocjc of corn in its fcafon, he afcended
fp into the regions of perfeft and immortal life and joy."

%c >* ? Ft(sn

/W fT'fi ' ^ O.I E S. f«

./.& Krorii -tb»i.tte. : of- hfe reception into
fUslnqwJy, his lii? was^n&otherwife divcrfi-
istd than i>y i fucceffivc. publications. The
ftriof of his wc$kB I am. not able to dfc--.
dncc [j] ; their, number :and variety, fhew:
the Intenfenefsof his induftry and the extent
of his capacity.

"He

[ j] The Do&or's Works arc colle&ed in fix volumes
Quarto. The following is a eompleat Catalogue of
thefn with the Titles abridged :

I*. Sermons on various Subje&s.— 2. A Guide to
fcrayer.— 3. The Chriftian Docirine of the Trinity. —
4. Seven Diffcrtations on Ditto. — $. Death and Heaven.
— 6. A Defence againft.tbe Temptations to Self-murder.
—7. A Caveat againft Infidelity. — 8. The Strength and
Weaknefs of human Reafon.— 9. An humble Attempt
towards the Revival of Practical Religion, — 10. Dif-
courfes on the Love of God j and the Ufe and Abufe
of the Paflions. — II. The Redeemer and San&ifier.— »
j2. The Holinefs of Times and Places.— 13. A Book
of Catechtfms, in Number 5.-^14. Prayers for Children.
■~-J5, A fhort View of the whole Scripture Hiftory.—
16. Humility reprefented in the Character of St.,Paul.
-^-17. Self-Love and Virtue reconciled by Religion,—
18. The World to come,— 19. The Ruin and Recovery
of Mankind.— to. The Harmony of all Religions which
God* ever prescribed.— 21. Orthodoxy and Charity
united,-?-*!. The Rational Foundation of a Chftftian
Church.— -23. Ufeful and Important Queftions con*
fftfting Jcfus Chxift— 24. The Glory of Chrift as God*

man'

c +«' He w*fc*nft \bf5 thfdifftrliuthocS tiu*t
Uught'tlitDiflkitecs to coiict:iat^etifnk2fa^
liie -graces rif bobgti^go.Ii Wtiitwtvttey hat
aihong them bs£omi r vSt\6disr^of \tzrmngioat
acutenrfs, lwbs cfaatmorily ohfcured an4 b\avti*>
diiyxoarfenefs/afid indq^itafrof ityfe [*}•

man. — 25. Evangelical Difcourfes. — 26. A Reformation
Sermon.— ^7. Sjp/mpn^ on the £}ea£h of George I-—
28. #> Nine. Serrooij£ r ,j(i the Bury-ftreet Colle&ion.— «*
29* Queftions for Students & Divinity.— ^Qt A ihort
Effay towards the Imgro.ven^ent of Pfalmody. — 31. Lyric
Jf*6ems.— : 'j2t ThePfalmsofPavid imitated,— 33. Hymn$
and Spiritual Sojigs^— 34. Tpivine Songs fpi; Children.
—^5. Logi£l— 3&. The v Improvement of the Mini—*
*£. A'Seconioft J*SS.*'arid 4 Difconrfe on Education.
— 38. The Knowledge of the Heavens and Earth made
eafy. — 39. PhiTofophical Eflays»— 40. The Art of readl
ipe and* writing JTnglifh.— 4^.' The IJ)o<3rine of the
Paffions.— 42/ MifcelTanebus* Thoughts in Profe and
Verfe. — 43. ftemriaiits of *Timp ifnprpved. — 44, Eflay
on the Freedom of ,Uic Will.— 45, Effay of Civil Power
in Things facred.— 46. E flay on Charity-Schools
" A late publication, entitled theDo&or's PS S. Works,
was a fhimeful Impoffufe/

'; . £#] What flfctffoflJiafUlr. Jphnfon fes thi* for^afre ?
#s what :iquodatlon,v%3 ij^re.f«rilt.ia truth J If tfcd
^>iff<m>er$ i»d ^mr.erfVUy been a$ : d*ftit*t*jofithfrgi»ce*
nit. JAd^age t as., Ue, fy^pofet;^ Axrtty they, flight hav«
Irarpt fettQtbjfcg fcon t)rc inore poMhed cqrnpofitfsroa of
4hc:*ft^Ufeedld^^ ta'tfh^fe ^fiikd tbey ^ra.jwtt
. ;n uttey

-H* (hewsd ^Jierri ItKat 2eat «fld* ptffity might
<fce fe$fefl«d and enforced by prfiflted dl&ioa.
fc***:He c*6rftihu6cl : to tht fend^of his life the
'ttachtf* [t] of ia congftigitieti; atfd no leader

€ 'i."--. \ : . : \ :-\..K j ■ ; >'; \ :•■ ^ '^f

>tter ftralngers. *~*But it does not appear that in regard

•li^eganfce ifl ft jrte &e& had to nfiuch preference, befWe

v $rr4frftfi tinier ;*• the above paragraph jtafcW* ?ir

jfRuMqlj * Divhu^f all jWties at fh^tpefi^d weqe {cjb

attentive to the graces of language than they have been

-dbncoj) vl^is oertjtirinkBtt.mrfr^ writes af the cMrthnftf

vEAgI\W /wti* Chargeable With a» *a*ch f « codrfottdfe

<<<<arviiiidk0sln*» of ftyle^ as ftegeomli$ tf.DiOtfi&f^

-aqlalforithBt foote {Kfibnti rig^iteri befool Dr. Wattfc

aimeJjpib acquired astpotiflteds di&tonbs .theft df tfi^Hr

brethren of the eftahUfluiwnt. An this vie* tbe writing*

of Dr.rA?/fi wUJ ^|r ; a ^mparifon with thqfc'Ofany'

in! his day. But ^^wrinngs^ wh^t

they riii^bt* ; at thU, period, there 1$ jio evidence tha*

ttfyey ^ftejrwa^ds owed tl^ f i^p t fpMenient.tq £/. W>t£^

Nor-i^deed doe^s it ay 0e^,that t I)r. Watts's. Ayie, aljp-

ietter defeye$ tf>e encqmi urn here pstffetf upon it. J$ k

: certaia,tbat focpe of his jCpntenjpo^rie$ j^poin* of ftyjp

^t f^ft^ujly. e^ualle'd l^iip withQujJrotfafing him. Sp

^i(jj^r. Grofvumor^ Dr., #tww> tir^F^fi^ $a4 otb^ra^

,°|t]TJ*.ufe.of this *rm c f Teiohv Itf .i cbngrep^
tk>n," which High-churcbiae* aftft to apply, to Difietoi.
ing minifters, is insidious and contemptible; .thp'-infaft
the office which it imports *fs truly honourable* "T^
teach men the knowledge of divine things, oy a conftaitt
courfe of preaching," with*. u fidelity and diligenc«J*
> do it with tucccfe, iV in reality in-

land efpecially to do it with lucccfs, is; in reality

c

i.l

finitel

r

H LIFE OF p f W'AiTKTS,

of his works can doubt' his fiddfty<#d$ti~
gence. In the pulpit, though his low ftatmt,
which very little exceeded five feet; graced
him with oo advantages. of appearance, yet
.Ifcjie gravity and propriety of his utterance,
made his difcourfes very .efficacious [m].., I
once mentioned, the reputation, which M?«
Fofter [it] had gained by his proper delivery t
to my friend Dt. Hawkefwtorth, who told

"finitely more to any man's honour than to enjoy two or
three fat benefice** or to be called right reversed jatbtts
in God, and; fit' ' among the ftnatbrs<of the land,. as *fe
the cafe, with fame who are fcareety feen in a pulpit
three times in the year, and therefore oectainly ought not
rtpibejcaUed Teachers of congr^gaiimu • -. . i

[M^ " Made his difcourfes" Ve^eftcaciotis." ' Thfc
expreffion is not i fpeeimeh of " u the graces of language w
"Which i thiswriter fpeaks of. l But ihe priricijtol objection
to it is,* tKat it is deftitute of theological propriety, aftd
unworthy an orthodox member of the church of Eng-
land. That which gites efficacy to the miriiftry of Ae
Vord, Dr. Watts would have fai*, is, not anything in
the manner of the preacher, but the influence of divine
grace. We have a yet highet authority for laying^
neither is be that plantetb nor be that watereth any things
4ut God that giveth the encreaft*

[n] Why not Do&or Fofter ? He certainly had a
JDiploma. It is much to be queftioned whether Dr.
Hawkcfworth's aflertion refpe&ing his inferiority to Dr.

Watts, asaffiaker, bejuft. * ,'

' ihc>

9 VSL J ,T X , ft T E. S. , i*

m«, t,hat in the art of his pronwiciation, h?
w^s|ar inferior r t^:D,r. Watts]., -"-".',"*

. " S.uch* was his flow of thoughts, ? 3n4
&9h..ji^ that k»

t^e latter part of 1&& life; he did not pre-
compofe his curibry fermons; But having
adjufte4 the heads, and Sketched out fame
p^c^laf V? tr ^®d ^ or fucoefe to his extent?
porary powers.

, " He did not endeavour to affift his elo-
quence by any gefticulations ; for as no cor-
poreal adtions have any correlpondehce with
theological trtith, hff did not ibe 1 how they
could, enforce it {oj.

. c< At the conclufion <^f. weighty fentencc^
he gave time, by a fhort paufp, for the proper

£o*[ It doe* not appear that £>r. Watts ifciwr aftio»
Ta the pulpit. . According, tb Br, Gibbons he uftd fa*
littlt, but it is not clear fiiat the reafon here kttt&ntd w*l
Vtrue one.* .Tho' it be acknowledged thkt u tor^oreal
*< aftiohs have no correspondence vfiih theological
<c truth^ rieverthelefs when they are iisetUliCl and un-
affecledj as they indicate the fervour of the preadhcr,
they alfo have a tendency tp engage the attention of the
hearer, and thus may have their ufe as a meins to
" enforce" hi* do&rfne. " .'

ifc Lin OJ tJft.'WAtf'g,

!fnpreitiwi r |>]. 1*4' ^t& : ^ public itii

ilruaion, he . added fatftiilter ' vilfrs /aititf {^f-
fehkl'lipptiratibn.^iid Wa$ careful tbffliprbve
the opportlinities \yhu3i : t6ti^etlat&oh-6^!re4
of diflfafing and ihtkaflngj the influence &

idigicii/-. / / "'; ; ; '. 1 ' :; ' "• -

* Bfy his natural ih&pet, he w*fe ^ftltfe- df

referitthetttrfetrt,- fey htt e^ablnlieti'aid'Kai

bitual practice, he was gentle, tftbdift, and

* ' . ! " : "indnenlive.

fp] This bfttttlfcte oonta ning J3rf ytefoy^pwAfaff
is token f (vptr\ Dr. Gibbons* who » in the./am,e* place
(p. 144) gives an account ot His manner in'^V^rwhicn
is worthy of attention^ ^tlt^k^ot ^ttt^ mb iiti

<&M&md'iUd&Kio®> eetiukimi Cbtg^gatibns,

Tb^JDivJthilftm p?^ ft&^&^ip^J^e ▼arpiB^
bably owing to his averfion to the Diffenting mode of
prayin£.*#jv^f/. ; Jf ^Hjbq^ttdife tbatmed* uni-
fH B 4^yF^?j m * , k ^ Pf>nc ; ipar objeftions agai^ift it
Would ,b%viepioyed, t It wUT'iiot be difpfeafing .tb'tlie
reader y the^ffage here alluded to be tranicrfoed.—
f c In PQWr it ; might perhaps be truly' /aid .that hee£.
<c celled rtUmJfelf. It was throughout an addrefs to
*\ Deitv, ^Iftt^in floria expremons, not lp long and ip-~

* c proper fubjeft, and at the fame time fudi a'brevity of
"~&9tt$ff\<ip<>n wch of them, that at the conclufion an
«< Nearer might find himfelf at a lofs to conceive what
44 more or lefs could have been faid. The like paufes

44 wcra

WIT H If OT E S. i"

inoflfenfive. His tenderricfe [qJ appeared in
his attention to children, and to the poor.'

To

u wereobferved by him in prayer as in preaching, If not
" rather longer. He was moft ferious in this part of
*< facred worfhip."

[qJ His tendernefs appeared not m thefe i«ftances
only ; he poffeffed all the fofter affe&iona in aiigh de-
gree. Tho* he fpent Wte days in eeiitacy he 1vas not
unfufceptible of very ttn&er impreffions from female
charms ; witnefs his regard to Mrs, Singer^ afterwards
Mrs.. Rowe> to whom, under the name of Philomela, he
infcribed a Poem, j&ftrted to Y\\ Hsr* Lyric*. To
this circumftance Dr. Toting Ikas bcea fupftofccL to refer
in fome well-known Ikies* m his 5th Sifytn : The rea-
der will here naturally recoiled Dr. Watts's Ode to the
Countefs of Sunderland* for which h& made an unnecef-
fary apology, which Dr. Gibbans has as uaneceffarily
repeated. {Memoirs, ?*• *3<*) where there is a copy
of this Ode, whicb is dated 1712. A* it was never
published in any of the Doctor's works, it will not
be unacceptable here* It was written at Tunbridge
Wills, when the Duke of Marlbortugh's three daugh-
ters were at that place, who had been celebrated by other
bards in a manner which the Doftor thought conveyed
no juft praifc.

An Ode to the Lady Sunderland, 1712.

1.

Fair nymph afcend to beauty's throne,
And rule that radiant world alone ;
Let favourites take thy lower fpherc * ;
Not monarch* are thy rivals here.

* Alluding to her fate removal from the Court of Queen: Anne.

C II. The

jA LIFE O F ; D R. WATTS,

To the. poor> while he lived in the family*
of his friend, he allowed, the, third,. part of
his annual revenue, though the whole was
not an hundred. a year j and for children, he

con-

11.

The court of beauty built fublime
Defies ail pow'r but heav'n and time>
-Envy that- clouds the hero's fliy
Aims but in vain her {hafts fo high.

III.

Not Blenheim's field, nor Ifter's flood, •'«

Nor Standards dy'd in Gallic -blood, 1

. :• Torn from the foe, add noblergracc • • r .

To CJiurcbiirs houfe.thad Spen/er>s face. / , j , j

' .IV.' .' ; " " f ;''■• ' : '} x

The warlike thunder of his arms ' • - v " ' . .so '

Is lefs commanding than her charms ; ' v

His lightning ftrikes.with lefs furprife . • l - -i

Than fudden glances from her eyes, <-

-■ ■ v . :• . • -•: i '■:■■

His captives feel their limbs confin'd • - '•'■''

•S *ln iron, me enflaves the minid*; * . .

Y We follow with a pfeafing pain, . ........

And blefs the conqueror and the chain, ...

VI.
The Mufe, that dares in numbers do .

What paint and pencil never knew,
Faints at her prefence in defpair, .
And owns th' inimitable fair,

On the fight of thefe beautiful lines a certain divine
compofed the following; in which it is difficult to fay,

Whether

~W I T H *T -O T E : S. : ^i 9

- condefcended to tiy aflde' the fbhotepj ifee
. philofopher^andthewit, to write little*£bems
of -devotion,' -and' fyftems of inftru&dh,
adapted to fhSir $ant& and capacities, • from
•the datifn* of re&fbri < through 4ts I gradations
• of advance- ih- f the mornings of $fe. Every
m3n, acquainted with the common; principles

whether he. has paid a greater compliment to the Author
or tp the Lady he had celebrated, ' " * i '\

' While, ijujii'raus. bards have fpuaded Spenfer** name, •.
Ancl maJe her beauties heirs to lading 'fame,
Her tt*em\y 3HJ1 tb-nheir unipcDliys' r ] ' ) •' U'lO : IL
'. > Stands t^fs, indebted than to, Wam's praife. -

What wond'rous charms iriuft to that fair be glv'n'
• VWio movM a mind' tfcaY dwelt to »taf io Heav'n J * 2 i;J . ~ ! ,

Whatever apology any .of the Do£ror*s grave* readers
might think TiecenVy for* the- above 'piece o£ gallantry,
he certainly more needed one for having in many of his
devotional pieces, transferred his tender expreflions and
feelings from; a.human beaiity to a divine; which he has
done in fudr a* manner, that! he thought it necelfarjf: i ji
his preface to the Lyric >Poems y p. 23. to .make. th\j -fol-
lowing declaration. " Among the Songs that are. dedi-
" cated to divine hvt 9 . 1 think I may be bold to afiert*
cc that J never compbfed one.lme, of them jyijh, a^y other
<c defign than what they are applied to here ; and If have
" endeavoured • to fecure them all from being perverted
4< and debated to wanton paffiqn^ by feveral. lilies, 'in,
€i them that can never be applied to a meaner love." In

• --'■*.. i ; till

a Note he apologizes for- thpfe in particular which »ri£
grounded on Solomons Songs. ...<»*;.„-„ ..+ 1 .[

I: L: C 2 ©f

Sfr.

c *o LIFE OF PR> ^AjTTS,

... <tf btftnart a£tif>iv will kjofc with veneration
en the writer wlw is at one tupe sombgting
Locke, and at another making a catechiftn

:i©f children in their ieurth year.

•- . " A voluntary defcwijv f«w tfee ^gaity ef
"^^^feience is perhaps the hardeft lef&ft t&a$ hy-

.milky can teach.*

" As his mind was capacious, his curiofity
excurlive, and his induftry cqntijraal, his
writings are very numerous, and his fubje&s
Various, Witfy his theological wprks [r] I
am only enough acquainted to admire his
meeknefs of oppofition, and his mlMnefs of
cenfure. . . It was not only in hk book h*t in
his mind that orthodoxy was united with
clwity [a]. Of his. philofpphical pieces, his

«■■ '- Logick

a [r] Dr. Johftfon here refers to hi£ polemical piccea in
Theology, which in number and fiae are the* kaft com*
- fideraMe. Moft of his theological pieces are of a djsvo*
tftoal and practical nafute. Thefe confided chiefiy of
Sermons, all of which fc would r have been worth xht
Jtiegrafrtfer *s while to hate read and characterized,

JsJ This book, though Written with an excellent
tpirkyzni a moft important defign, has been held in as
nt)le eftimatiojl as any of thfc Do&or'fc pieces, haying
gone through only one edition. Bigots oti all fides (for "
lucVthere are) ufually eXprefs more difguftrat what to
defined to reconcile contending parties, than at what i*
* v> - - pointed

togiek has beert reeded into Ac uniyferi
fities, and therefore wants no private recomd
mendation : if he owes part of it to Le Cferc,
it muft be confidered that rto man who tfnderi
takes metely to methocfife or Uluftr&t* i
iyftfem, pretends to be its Author.

« In his metaphyfical difquifitions k wai
bbferved by the late learned Mr. Dyer, that
he confounded the idea of ffact with that of
empty /face ; and did not confider that theiiglk
fpace might be without matter, yet mattefr
being extended, could Hot be without fpdee.

" Few bodes have been perufed by rafe
with greater pleafure than his Improvement
6f the Mind, of which the radieal principle
may indeed fee found in Locke's Conduct of
the Undefftanding, but they are fa expanded
-and ramified by Watts, as to cdrifer \ipoh
him the merit of a work in the higheft degree
ufeful and pleafing. Whoever has the care
of inftru&ing others, may be charged with

pointed with the gr^ateft feverity againft either* and are
difpofed to give ft* quarter to a man Who is of no patty
-becaafehe will not be of theirs.. Of this Dr. Watts
was fufficiently fenfible ; which occafionfed that remark
of his which Dj., Gibbons has recorded. ic A moderate
.£* man muft «xpe& a bo* on both ears." ^ { '* .,

'** C 3 defi-

%* LI F;lE iO R Jr;R. tW-A T tf-S,

defidbnce ' t in his dfttf if tjrift fe?pk iff not re-*

Commanded; -: r \ r.trrrr ; . "•

t v:* c Tdbave mentioned hi? treaties of Theo-
logyr^srdiftinft from- his other productions ;
feu$?$h£ ti^uth is^ -th$t whatever : he f took in
hand was, by his inedffent iblicitude for fouls.
Converted to Theology. As- ptety. predomi-
nated m his- *nmd r it is di#ufed: over his
}vork$ :: : under his \ dire&ion it jnay fee truly
J^y^,/ ^ hpojogiae Pliilofophi^ ajicilj^tur, phi T
Ipfpphy js ful?feryi : ent. to. evangelipal- inifruc-
tig^r> it is difficialt £o cead a, .page without
learning, qr v at . leaft .wilhing. to be, better.
*Xhe^a^nti^ ; is fought by^^ireftinflruc-
&gn 7 ^«d r he; that f^t i down 1 only? x&: reafcn i$
*on- a L ^idden compelled to pray^x]/. 1
i L" &;Was therefore [u] with great propriety
^at, 1738, ) he^re^eived ffQ^ r P4mbuTgh and
r. •* '• ;i •::;.: ;viL j i .;;. : . V ;; r : - ; . Aber-

£t] 'This is a high compliment ,paid .to Dr. Watts's
*pl^ty j ''Tbitt thbuglT It is "fouhded Tri truth, it is perhaps
rather over-ftrained. That every reader fhould be com-
pelled: tpiipray ls ; ;^wj^y ^ .by^erboUcal .^xprjeffion,
igfruery,[In cafe of 'fuch an (impulfe ;^kat FdfiM would be
atoptfe&riThe author, muftiucely have intended- exttm*
ufynary prayer ! '.-.'• :' , .-'.'.' \>j\ •' 1 ; ; * .. -/:w

fuj'Thewofd "therefore" fliduJjT liave "been omit-
ted, Jt cannot be" fuppbfed tbatVwats "axi account of
•r;u> r r ) the

,W. L T H" N. O T E -S. ,1 23

ABerdeeri an unfblicited. diploma, by which
he became a.Do&or of Divinity. Academical
honours : would have : more value, if they
were alvtfays beftowed with equal: judgment^
He. continued many* years* to ftudy and to
preach, and to do good by his inftru&ion
and example ; till at laft the infirmities of
age difabled him from the more laborious
part of his minifterial functions, and being
no longer capable of public, duty, he offered
to remit the falary appendant to it ; but his
congregation would not accept the refigna-

tion. . . . . : * .

. cc ,By degrees his weaknefs increafed, and
at laft confined hini to his chamber* and his
bed ; where he was worn gradually away :
without .pain, till he expired Nov. 25, 1748,.
in the feventy-fifth jea*c.of his age.

" Few menh^ve., left behind fuch purity,
of character* orfuchRjpnumentsof laboripus '
piety*. . He has provided inftru&i&n, for all*
ages, from* thofe? who are lifpihg their firfi
leflbns, to the. eialighitened- re^brs.qf Mai-
tranche and Locke $ he has left,neither cor-

the pious tendency of his writings that the Do&or re-
ceived- a "Biploma, tfhi£h'is*ufuaHy cohfidered as a tef-
tjojooy of a man's literary merit.

C 4 poreal

24 LIJI OF' DR. WATTS,

portal nor fpiritual nature .unexamined ; he
has taught the art of- reafoning and the.
fcience of the iters. His charter,- there-
fore, muft be formed from the multiplicity
and diverfity of his attsiamerits, rather than
from any fingle performance ; for it would
not be fefe to claim for him the higheft
rank in any fingle denomination of literary
dignity j yet perhaps there was nothing in
which he would not Iiave excelled, if he had
not divided his powers to different purfuits.

" As a poet, had he been only a poet, he
would probably have flood high among the
authors with whom he is now affociated.
For hisjudgmeftt was exa&, and he noted
beautiea and faults with very nice difcern-
mentj his imagination, as the Dacian Battle
proves, was vigorous and a&ive, and the
ftores of knowledge were large by which his
fetffcy was to be fupplied. His ear was well
tinted, and his di&ion was elegant and co~
pidlisi^-Bm his devotional poetry is, like
that of others, unfatisf^ftory.

" The* paucity of fts topics enforces per-
petual repetition, ajid the janftity of the
matter. rej«$* the ornaments of figurative.

» di&io&t

WITH WOT E f. t$

diftkn [v]. It ife fufficierit fo* Watts to
lave done better than others what no man
has done wsli [w]* His potato 09 otiidt

fubje $

[v] The above paffage relating to devotional poetry
is a very extraordinary one, and the writer's remarfc*
appear to be defWtute of any folid foundation. Wta*
are there no facred poems which art fatisfa&ory ? Wty
fo ? The reafons here affigned are fihgtitar and contrary
to fa£h It is furprifing the Writer Ihould urge *« thd
*« paucity of religious topics/* and equally fo that hfc
ihould fay; «* the fan&rty of the matter ifjea* tbe or-
** nament of figurative di^ion." There is nothing
whatever wbofe topics are fo various as thofe which re-
ligion foppties, or which are better adapted to admit of
poetical images. Religion comprehends all the perfect
tions and works of Deity— the wonders of nature and
providence — the greater wonder* of grace and redemp-
tion—the incarnation, the life, the miracles, the fuffer-
ings, the death and refurre&ion of the Son of God — thi
awful fcenes of mortality— the final refurreftion of the
dead — the folemnities of the universal judgment, ant
of an eternal ftate of exrftence— as well a$ the ftrbllmfc
virtues of piety to God, and of benevolence to mem
Thefe general fubje&s, with all their fubordinates, flip*
ply an infinite variety of topics, and they ftem to admit
of a figurative di&ion, at leaft equially with any other.
Witnefs the futlime compofures of many of the facred
writers, particularly thofe of the prophets, in which the
loftieft images arid the boJdeft figures are introduced in
*almdftevetyHne. :

fw] It feems very furprifing that the author fhould
bav« taken no notice of Dr. Watts'* Tranjlation of the

P/alm

ftfbjefls feldofn rHe higher {fiiaa might teisafc
peifted : fmiai/.thc r^ufenttrrts-riolf a ; Maz*, «£
i^ttors^^airfr:hayedifFere4t^eg«cs of Talae, 7

c s[nu: as

fy^.+f/P<w4> VfWqb Is ^ng^l^. djQjved to t>e,.Tii>
f$pi#tl prodi#k>ft-, iRj:poetrjr,^iUikwiy(cK in point of
\ffiW. npnc.flf i h^'P^pr ^pi^ce^lJ fcffur^ eprp^rifg^
*tt^W.W<&*;;cpi)$dqred as a coiwpouxiorj for the:'vfer of
i3briftian;,goci$jics, v npy juftJy be^pronounced fuperior
£0 every work of the. kind. Thettanflation of Tate and
Ifaacffi afndafaajt of Merrick^ ar& : wt>Qii the whole to be
<x>mpased with tfiis of JVatts 9 in the. ufe of which the
Di {fen ting .congregations enjoy an. advantage for ratior
a $al;an4 evangelU^l devotion in the delightful exercife,of
.p&Jmody far fuperiqr to what tbe-Church of England
£4n , yet b°#> ■, 4** Ah^few pariflaes' wjiere the • wretche^
.series of 'Sterntuld arul ffopilns. are . rejected . It & very
iufpcHlng, ,that the goi$ernors ? of the Church fhoiml not
rbfcttef confult : .tf}» .edification of .herflieflabers,;
op -BftEdes the*boye*r4flflation of the Pfitlms 9 Dr. Watts
teojppofed a Y.olunac of. Hymm^and- Spiritual Sengs, of
^fdvvDr. Jq\\t^qxir d h^s taken np-fjPtice^ which though
^ot equal to the,fofaier„ contain many fpecimens of fub-
Jime and- devptiojpal poetry, 4 Well calculated for the edi*
■fication of cforiftiaaipcieties, and which .are highly i^ r
jqommended;by .the jplayinefs of tfye compofitipn an^ t}ie
$raootthnefs of, jhf^v^fe, Jf ia.fome inflances they may
.be, thought lefs judicious tjian. the Pfafms, it ought to
: be ] admitted t a$ a/}, apology, tha ) t^t^e. l aythor wj^rveiy
young, fome of them^being compofed whfQ he wps pc-r

m$&*:fcto9) ty^r<¥?fM&^

^fo \* tt^.^uviT ^ra'v,' .V'J \o ooitca o;: u^'^i *;JI*

•WITH N 0,;T;B:S.j; - if

as they are. more pr ; left- laboured $*:&;&»
occafion wa* n*ore orjcfe/^your^jjle .to iiv:

- - . ' :;> "• 4 -\,.\.\; J::.! i'< ..••■ V^Ation.

in his mature age hi5 cofrefctyd **at it* is faid

he freely acknowledged 1 -td be faulty iirftme of thefe

compofures. 1 Some h'avd aflferted that this is what he

intended doing, and actually liad done. It maty not

fee improper 'in this place to take notice of tvhat haS'been

lately pubiiftied to the world cfri this feBje&yby- the

Rev. Mr. B< Williams, ill his preface to \\\% Collection of

Pfalms. Speaking of th$ Doctor's unconfinedcharity,

and his " wifli to avoid every word in his poetical com-

pofures, defigned for public worflirp, which was likely

to give the fmalleft offence to ferious christians of any

denomination," he relates the following anecdote*

" When he found, in the latter, part of bis-life^ that

." h? had not'been fo fudcefsful in this refpeiSfc as he had

• €( aimed to be, he wiflied for nothing more ardently

.** than fufficient health and time to rivife both ■ his *

" Pfalms and Hymns, in order to render them wholly

u unexceptionable to every sfariitian profeflbr.. , * ... This

'account he^fays, in a note, u was received from Dr.

w Watts htmfelf, a few years before his death,' by the

44 late Dr. Jmory, and by Twin, given to one of 'fa is: pu-

, 44 pils, wlpo communicated k to. the Editor." .'He then

.fays, :*' the editor has alfo good authority to add, that

44 the revifal fo fervently wilhed for was* undertaken -and

"finished, and would moft certainly have been publifh-

44 ed, had not the author's jdeath unhappily ^-prevented."

Without impeaching this writer's yeracjty, ,tbe. evidence

of the fad is by no means fatisfa&ory. What became of

the

*t "tlIpe bP fin. rAtfs,

fiStidri [x}. He writes too often without
rtgulir hic^tts,aftdtofy often in blarik verier
l&e rftymes are not always fufficiently cor-

theKropy thu»e*>fe£|*H Mr. IV **r, the DoAor** *m»*
Hutft»fi$* knows of ao tech-thing^ and nearer beard of tha
author's having fuch a dfcfign$ which indeed appears
highly ^mpfobahle* A man of Dr. Watts's knowledge
rf the world c&uld hardly expe& that be fliould be abfe t*
*mkc every; ikmg it) theft fcompofwes uftiy&rfcUy uriex-
-ceptionibfe, &$ the alteration Which Would have gratified
.«ky£ |*fty* would have equally offended: another.
. Tfe writer of this beard' Dr. ^wwry relate a coriverfa*
tloji betweofc Mr. Qrifot aad Dr. WaiU* concerning the
Book of Hymfts, which does not well agree with the
above account* It was as follows. Mr. Grcve remark-
«£ to the Do&or, that feVeral of the Hymn» laid the
firfefe of Our redemption oti the companion 6f Chrift,
rather. than on the love of God, and expcei&d his wifli
that he VroUld alter them hi this reffie&j add make them
**Unfe cotrfbrmable to the fcriptore dofirtnfc*; The Doc-
*ttff,*eptift*, that hefhouH be glad to do it, but it W*$
out of his power, fotvlie hai parted with the copy , and
: the bookfcllcr Would not ftxifer any fqch alteration.

It. is iomarkable* that fo lent was the author's expdt-
tatk** with *ega«d to. the ittccefs of this publication,
••that, it i* hviy he received 00 more than ten pentads for
the original copy.

fjIfJ-IFfciS account of the EibSor's poetry on common
ffcbje'£fs, feems to be much below the mark, and not
*erjr ctfirf&eht With vttiat had beeft Faid in fome pfeced-

^liTgpa&ge*. ' ,: ' • • -

c 1

8 refpondent.

\ W J T H N O T £ S, ty

relponctent. He is pattactriarly tethappy [r]
in coining names expreffive of chara&ers.
His lines are commonly fmooth an4 eafy, wA
his thoughts always vcUgiwfly pure* but
who is there that, to fo much piety and in-
nocehce, does not wifti for *a greater meafurt
of fprightlinefs and vigour ? He i$ at Teafc
one of the few poets j^ith vvhppi y<w& o&4
ignorance may be fafely pieafed ; and happy
will be that reader whofe mind is difpofed by
his verfes or his profe, to imitate him in all
but his non-conformity [?],, to, copy his be*
nevolence to man, and his reverence to GtxL

£y] The contrary tp thifci* what focap har^hpugttf
to be true, fo that it might aloioft be queftjoned* who-
jfcr there be not an error o£ the prcfa here* aad that the
word A*#y fbouid not be read infead of unhappy*,

[£} Is not this exception* and even die mention of
tjus. circumftanoe* a ftr&ing< proof of Dr« Jqhnfoa'i
brgotted attachment to the national eftabii&ed mode of
worfhip f *« Reverence to God?' [or rather j^r God]
and benevolence to man, a£e the two grand eflenttata of
religion. H* that pofifeffes thfefe is a true ehri&ait*
whatever be the external anode eF woribip which ho
adopts,. Neither bis Conformity nor his Nonconform
■aity wIH exclude him from the divine favour, ftor ought
k to be matter, of cenfutje to hi* feHow*creatures,' if a?
np»D,>Ur uniting. wioh afty bhriftian community, appeal*
to follow the di&ates of hi* own conference, and- to aft
SOttfbrowbJy to bis fcinciple^ hie dttora the eftcem of

all

y>t LIFE OF DR.:WAT¥S,

all parties, : aml -to objc& to -his "peculiarity of religious
proTeffion is the mark of a little mind.

That Dr. Watts was confcientious in his Noncon-
formity there can be no doubt. Dr. Johnfon acknow-
ledges that <c any denomination oFchriftians would have
<c beenrgfad to have received hitn." If he could have
conformed, to the national .church, doubtlefs J15- might
have had preferment in it equal to what feme* of his fel-
low-ftudents obtained. He neither had, nor^cbuld he
expe&, any^uch'emolumentsamoiigtheDifiOTters. On
what principle then could; he " refolve to take his. lot
with them'* but that of conscience ? If he had com-
plied with the terms of ^conformity while he thought
them unlawful, he had violated his conference, and loft
his-integrity. Was not his Nonconformity then laud-
ablei.

Confidering what the terms of minifterial conformity
are, it maybe juftly questioned, whether if all the clergy
were equally confcientious, one half of them would not
be Difleriters. To declare an "ajfent and confent to Art
and EVERy THING contained in the Thirty-nine Articles^
the book of Common-prayer^ &c. (which comprehend fuch
a'prodigious dumber of particulars 1 many of them very
lilifputable, fome of them unintelligible, and others ex^
plodedby the wifeft arid beft of men) is fuch a requifi*,
tion as it is hard to be conceived the generality of the
9lergy can bona yf^; approve. It is indeed well known
that moft of them* Stad^vea of the Bifhops themfelves,-
difb^Ueyg: fome'iof^tbed^arinal articles of . the church,
as *W^HS from the general ftrain of their preaching and
$f their citings, and .that, they, profefs tcr fubfccib^thent
only as articles of peace; : ~ If the terms of conformity
were, ,a^ declaration that; they $id ,npt believe . 4< . all and
*yepy .thing,' &c. "jit* i^d^iftbk.t^ti^^y (not to iky

the

the r^oft)t)fthQCBthalrconfdjfii might rccj (smfaAabm
«uflj pwkei'jt; ^Wbct^etr 4 ;th^cefere the^^fuhfairiptJori;tw
thspfefeiit:tom;s he'^onfifteat.with fimpiicitj* and godly*
finc^rity, it b^Rov^ tlfcav fcriodfy. to en<f tiiEe. { ^K<x*bfeB*
tfcink;J&2t Jack .-k fuhfcrltxtion: xtoirtd,/ initftmni &£*

it,.wiUmgly* (ore-jgD; the advantage* iafribdhfejrbrfjtrbot
church j they Qpgfet; MP ^«ft: v to J* ^??^:a£ tafefr
men^ And if $r. Jqhpfoi^fca&^d^;^ (grqtfnd^o*
Nonconfarq^itjr^vjrbichj^ appe^^ta jhgK* d^g^h»
might have entertained r a better 0£i|upg5fP^ith&;^j}4lpr*»
{landings of Pioteftant Diffenters /is t jpfll| <a# tfrm\if$e»
grity. But this is not the place for<'eflfflfi#gj jttfQ^a*
controverfy.

With regard to Dr. Watts, fuppofing him to be mis-
taken in his judgment of the matters in debate between
the Church of England and Diffenters, that " Reve-
rence for God," which Dr. Johnfon acknowledges he
pofleffed, was the very thing which made him a Diffen-
ter. He made the word of God the rule of his faith and
practice. He could not fubmit to human impoiitions
in matters of religion. He dared not yield to fuch
terms of communion as the Holy Scriptures have not
prefcribed. His judgment did not approve many things
which the Church of England enjoins, and his consci-
ence would not allow him to profefs to believe as true
what he thought to be falfe, or to pra&ife as right what
he apprehended to be wrong. Why then is he cenfured
for his Nonconformity ? and why is it fuggefted that it
would be unhappy for any to imitate him in it, though
they mould be a&uated by the fame noble principles i
An jpfpire^l apoftle has faid, " Happy is he that con-
demiteth not himfelf in the thing that he alloweth."
And again, « This is our rejoicing the teftimony of our

confei-

§« LIFE Or DR. WATTS,

•anfcienee* that in fimplicity and godly fmcerity, not
with Aefltly wjfdom, but by die grace of God we have
our convcrfrfcion in the world." The principal fource
dtbtfphufs is « a conscience void of offence both to-.
warifa God and towards man/* He that has this muft
be M happy/' and he ought to be refpeAed. Dr. John-
Ion therefore had much better have faid, « Happy in*
« deed is that reader who is diffcofed by his verfes or his

* profe, to imitate him in his impartial enquiry after

* truth, and in following the dilates of his own con-
•* fcience, in hi* reverence towards God and his bene*
«* volence to men, whether he be a Conformift or #
9 Nonconform!*/*

A sup*

SUPPLEMENT

T O

DR. GIBBONS's CHARACTER

OP THE

4

Rev. ISAAC WATTS, D. D.

THE Chara&er of Dr. Watts as drawn
by the Rey. and worthy Dr. Gibbons,
who perhaps had as good opportunity of
judging concerning it as any man now living*,
appears truly amiable and excellent. The
fubftance of it is as follows. " His truth
and fincerity were very confpicuoys. In him
there was nothing that could be ftyled art or
defign*-— He never difcoveredinhis behaviour

* Since this was written, this good man has been
called from off the ftage of life. See a jiift character
of him in his funeral Sermon by the Rev. Dr, Benjamin
Davies.

D «r

34 CHARACT

or convcrfation any thing likeath high opi-
nion of himfelf — nor did he ffl|bw a difpofi-
tion to traduce or depreciate the characters
or abilities of others — As to food and drinks
4je was very moderate and, Exemplary. — There
was nothing in him which belayed a penu-
rious temper, or a cjefire to lay up treafure*
on earth. He was rich, bnfcit was in good
works.— .He never difcoyered any thing like
furious zeal, or a narrow decifive fpirit, but
cordially embraced all .whom he efteemed the
genuine difciples of his Lord j and no party
names, or variety of fentiments in matters
of dorrbtful difputation and different modes
of worfhip, could feparate him in -affe&ion
firom-fuch^te he had reafon to apprehend
loved our. Lord Jefiis. Chrift in fincerity.-—
Hi&foul which glowed with gratitude |or the
favours he received from any, was alfo emir
«cat for its friendihip»— He was nobly ava-
ricious- of his- time* and ever watchful to
improve it."—*— This charatfer of Dr. Watts,
toorfe who Knew him, or are acquainted with
fits writings will be difpofod to call* in quef*
jion, Uk. eminent pie*y and devotion -to
£od, not pcofeffatty mentioned in thi*
chaptoP, ike rtadcn is to take for granted,,

and

OF DR. WATTS; * 5 j

and fufficient proof, it might be thought, had
been given elfewhere.

But there was one very diftinguifhing
feature in his character, which this bio-
grapher, as well as Dr. Johnfon has entirely
pafled over, tho* of peculiar importance in a
thriftian minifter, and that was c< His love
of truth, and his freedom, impartiality,
diligence and humility in his enquiries after
it/' Dr. Gibbons furely could not have fail-
ed to' obferve {hiking proofs of this in his
intercourfcs with him, as well as in hig
writings. This omiffion is the more for*
prifing, as fuch a man as Dr. Gibbons, Who
is the tutor of an academy, cannot but highly
approve fuch a character, and it may well be
fuppofed would recommend the imitation of
it to f»s pupils. It is indeed a chara&er
but feldom to be met with, and therefore
ought to be noticed with peculiar approba-
tion. In Dr. Watts it was confpicuous in a
Very eminent degree. There are many paf*
fages in his writings which might be pro-*
duced in proof of it, but one eXtra& fhstf
foffice from his Improvement of the Mind, \
book on which Dr. Johnfon has paflfed »
very high aad deferved encomium, tho-with-
P 2 out

36 C t H A R A C T E R

out any reference to this part of the Do&orV
character ; a circumftance not very fuiprifing
in him, who was a flave to eftablifhed modes
of faith and worfliip.

" While you are. in fearch after truth,
(fays Dr. Watts *) in queftions of a doubt-
ful nature* or fuch as you have not yet
thoroughly examined, keep up a jijft, indif-
ference for either fide of the queftion, if you
would be led honeftiy into the truth ? for a
defire or inclination leaning tp either fide*
biaffes the judgm^tftrangely; whereas by
this indifference for every thing but truth,
you-will be excited to * examine fairly inftead
of prefuming, and your affent will be fecured
from going beyond your evidence*

For 1 the moft part people are born to their
opinions, and never queftion the trjith of
what their family or their country or their
party profefs. They clothe their minds as
they do their bodies after the fafhion in vogue*
nor one of a hundred ever examines [his J
principles. It is fufpefted of Lukewarmnefa
to fuppofe examination neceflary, and it will
fee charged as a tendency to apoftafy if we
go about to examine them. Perfons areap-

* Imp. of the Mind, pi 285. 3d E4it.

plauded

d*Di WATTS, 1 59

piauded for prefumirig they are in the right, •
and as Mr ■.' * Locke faith, he that confides and
enquires into the reafon of things is counted-
a foe to orthodoxy, becaufe poffibly He may;
deviate from' feme of ^ the received do&riiies*
And thus men without any induftry or acquis-
ition of their own, lazy and idle as they are,
ifthirit local truths, i.e. the truths of that-
place where they live, -and are inured to aflent
without * evidence. This hath a long and
urth^ppy influence ; for if a man can bring
his mirid once to *be • pofitive and fierce for
propofitions whofe evidence he hath never
examined, and thatfia matters of the greateft
' concernmeht, he- wstl'maturally follow this*
fliort apd feafy way^of ; judging and believing
Ik cafes -of lefs moment; and build all his,
opinions upon infufficient grounds.

In* determining % queftion, efpecially when
it is : a matter of > difficulty and importance,
do hot take up with partial examination, but
tfirn your thoughts on all fides: to gather in
all the light you can toward the fbhition of
it. - Takettme, and ufe all &e hdpa that are
tp be ^ttwrioi before you fully determine.-^
tf i£ be 3>qqefti6« which: i» iffihftjdctcwmhtd\
fyte^mi wgbvsmu thsn^yQw extrai*

3* C H A R A C T S *

nation is partial,^when you confidefr bnljr-
the advantages of it, and the re&fons for it,
andnegled: to think of the reafctis againft *
it — when you refclve to determine it by
natural reafon only, when you wight be
aflifted by fupernatural reve&tioa* or when
you decide the point by" fame word or feo**
tence, or by fome part of revelatidn, without;
comparing it with other parts* which aright*
pve further light. It ;ir alfo a culpabtepaiK
tiality, if you examine feipedoultffelor pre*
tended vifion or revelation without the ufe'
of reafon. . • * _• .

Take heed left fome barfing notion, Ibmp
favourite hypbthefi*, fotoe beloved dodrine,
or fame -common but unexamined opinion,
be made the teft of the truth or fatfehood of.
all other proportions about the lime fubgeft.
-^Take heed of receiving any wrong turn in
your early judgment of tilings ; ,be watchfuli
as far as poffible agakift. aay fajfe bias which
may be given to tJbie underftandi^g, especially?
in younger years* ; ; '■ i :.;i '<

V Have a care of interesting your Warrtl an$
religious seal hi thofe matter* v*hid*jiJ^aot
ibffiaently .ei4(teAt in tlwitt&tves, or which
are not fully, and thoroughly etaftined iitcJ
j. ; Ah:ii ; U' proved;

-*> * $ R'. # X TV T $. "> §*

fwfoeft : for tMs seal, tf lfethe* right or wrong,
when k4s <©n<* engaged, will have a -power*
fit! influence; to eftablifh your own minds in
ibak do&fines which are' really 'doubtfuly anil
to flop tip aH the avenues «f further iigbt.
*rhis will bring up^ the fo©l afortof dacred
#wfe and dread of Herefy j with a diviiie«pii*
tern to Maintain whatever 1 opMoti ^owhsiwt
fefpouieA as diviaey. t&cfperhaps jtom have
elpouied t it- without 'ahy jaft fevkfenire, and
ought to have renoartcW it as falle and per*
nicio&s. We ought /to be zfaahnj& for the
inoft important points of our religion, and
to contend eameftiyfor the faith once dei-
Bvered to the faints j but we ought. not. 1»
employ tjiis facred fervour bf ipirit in the feii
vice ©r any article, ti!4 we have feen it made
^dut with plam- and ftrong convi&ioit that it
Vsa. heoeffary er imgorfca&t point ©f faith or
pr&&ic& ;Zeal iauft 4of flagn over thepoweiis
of our itnderftamlJflgB, but obey them.--
15vett ifie ifcoft Aibr«nfe^rid myfterious doe-
-ttines of ifevelatibn-lrfe *o% to be believe^
: wh4jduk $ jeafon for it j nOTftfojptd ot|jr piotfs
a^fedtionsbe dnga^ttiSi^e; defence o£ them,
till toejfiave plain ah^toi%cingjroof that
: ^ey atecertainly reviafed." r

4* C,«,A R A C T E &

The man who was capable of giving fijeb

advice as this for the inveftigation of truth

(and many other paffages of a Similar nature

areto be found in his writings) bee would

naturally fuppoie tohe himfelf a fineere lover

of truth, and a diligent humble impartial

enquirer after it. - And it is well known that

fcisitonduft agreed with the advice he gave.

Fewf men have been found who have more

.entirely divefted themfelye? of the ;prgudice$

of education, or who h»ve djfeoyered a greater

impartiality of enquiry and opentiefs.to con*

.viftion than Dn Watts, Tho! he was not

liafty in giving up his early opinions, and

<wras very far from affe&ing.a love of noveltj

lit his religious, featiments, it may be tnjly

•faid of him that he fought for truth f< as for

hidden treafures." He was willing- to receive

light irojtji .eyery^u^r^, and ready to enir

brac&jwhatever upon, free "enquiiy appealed

•to be,tfoe truth, how^$rce»trary r tp his,for r

x)»er fentimepts* $r |o^t^;prijvaiiing ^ppiwpns

: flf thofe in : the highef^ : iBputation fe$ $\p

f^ndnefs of their fai% to whoever ceniures

he might be expoic^ frqm bigot? ; of a$j»r r

ties 3 p£. from thd^pprfons wljon* Jie wotic

efteemed, and whofe ^oo4 opinion fye w*s

inpft felicitous to pr^ferve.

Accordingly

. . ..-*> I DR. WATTS, 4|y

Accordingly it is well known that he did
in various particulars differ in judgment from
thofe on the one hand who have clashed the
cfcara&er of Orthodox, as well as from thofe
on the other who have complimented them-
felves with the title of Rational. He thought
forhimfelf, and called * no man mater-oa*
earth. Accordingly he fhared the comrcrib*
fate of thofe who do fo, by incurring^ ytai
cenfure of fome of different parties wha ^^^
have gloried to* have had him of their om.

. . *** As a further illuftratjoh of Dr. JVattf%
candour »nd freedom of enquiry, the reader
is referred to. an Effay in 14s Mifcellaneous
Thoughts, No. XLIX..J entitled, The mifffcgf
of warm* dijbfttqs and declamations on the, con-
troverted 'points of : Qhrifiianity^ . . \ \ -

.+

_V(

-: Ji *f :

I ...•».■■■ \

Xtf

\#* DR. WA*1*V"s tArr SENtwiiKTs

'4% witf***** jtoceunt ff Dr. WATTS'*

'"'iaji aim»edfmtiments ioncernitig the Do&riMi

",oftf>ei K KWl r TY > the DEITY/

CHRIST, &£.
hit. ... . »

i ....

\ 5j?t4F all the cohiyoverfies which have been
K^A agitated in the chriftian chufch, there
is freely any one that has been diore eett*
♦ ftantly kept up, or conducted with greater
Warmth, or with a more itttetflp^rate and
tinchriftian z€iA, tfcati that of the trinity y tut
the Divinity of : jtfe &n arttf S$rit <tf Oodi
It is unneceffery to itlate ttie ( different opi-
nions which have teen . held oil thefe fu&
jefts, or to mention * the names of^ their au-
thors or principal abettors.

It is well known to moft readers how the
Trinitarian controverfy was revived in Dr.
Watts % time, both among the Clergy of th?
eftablifhed church, and the Diffenting mi*
nifters, and to what height matters w?re
carried by the contending parties. Some yet
living well remember, what it might be
^i&edTfhould for ever be forgotten, the ani-

ov TRt TRINIT.T* HI

inofities which prevailed at the meetings of
the London mmifters at Sailers Hall, cai
the bufinefs of Subfcriptioh to a Teft pro*
pofed for afcertainiag the orthodoxy $f thoft
that belonged to that body, with refpeft t*
thefe points of do&rine.

Many of thofe who had been always aft*
derftood to believe them refufed to fubftribd
any Teft whatever, and of this' number WtM
Dt f Watts, whd, tho' he was iri the main- fa
the orthodox faith, and had written m de-
fence of it; did not chufe to fet his hand tt*
any human formularies, which might be th*
otcafion of invidious diftin&ions and tan T
christian, Reparations among brethren. - *
yMn this, as well as other difputable mat*
terSi the natural mildnef^ of his temper^ Attd
fcis enlarged charity ^ which was the caAft^
quence of his impartial inv^ftigation u£ fy
difficult a 4iibj^, led hfta^ a& the part <rf
amwjwatosr. *- * : ~** : -:;-m •■ • \--v-, ?.. ;:.-,- ...;

In hr^'boofc entitled OH&o&xy akd £bmy
united, he had a view to this do&rihe atftfcttg
•&i«f$, m6 Iwftrted-ttii >Efiay «o fltew^^the
ipotn thewp&qfci- imi^ f c^arantt aftd
candour* <(•;*• % : r Vi— vrt \\v «: ot !>■• "-L?^

|4 ER* W&XTS'S ¥ LJKST SsKTiMENtS

v„ This' moderation which the Db&or pro*
fefled and maintained, led fome party-zeaferts
to fuppofe that he had departed fr.om* the
feith,' and there were thofe who fcrupled not
to ckll him an 4rim. k ' •

The truth of the mptter was, that he no
more deferred this opprobrious name than
tiiofe who ftigmatized him with it ; tho' it
muft beowijed, that his manner of conceiving
and explaining fome things relating to the
Trinitarian dpftrioe was different. from .that
of the generality of thpfe who wfere called
©rthp^QX. _ / . .-;n:;

. :iln She youngerpart of ltfe he.feein^d td
embrace the _ tto£ttine .as it . had- ioen coab
aicasdy'ftated^and had na.ofoje&ipn to the
bfo#iwpk$ of iexpreffipn , in . relation tp it.
Htofc^ asit\w» nofe ;hi* qh*ra&er r to take^arigr
thiftg npon^rtafttfihfc iindu^ed a freedom ,qf
'toqiid?y vlith jo^q^t tQ,thi§ 6*^(3: *>£ debate,
as well as every other, and the .WR&qwmcs
^I^CM/kw 8B8l<WC to altfifi His *iews sl>n-

ib^kto M*at MoBfii(|f§. *%£ totmi|ity<*«

hc^efired to know the truth, appeawdwrn
ftjftee found among his manuscripts, entitled

A Solemn

, . p.* the TBJJUT.Y. * 4$

4 Solemn Addrefs to the greit akd rver-bkftd
God, &c. which is printed in the fourth vo-
lume of his works, and of which we fhall
hereafter give a copy at length.

It has been confidently aflerted by fome
Anti-trinitarians, that the Dodtor before hi?
de^tli was come over to their party, and that
he left fome papers behind him, containing
a recantation of his former fentiments, which
his executors thought it moil prudent to
fupprefs. . A report of this kind was lately
revived, with the mention of fome remark-
able circumftances in confirmation of it, in
the Monthly Review y of which we fhall take
fome diftinft notice hereafter.

Some zealous patrons of the moft rigid
orthodoxy, unwilling to have fo eminent &
divine as Dr. Watts numbered among the
apoftates from it, have zealoufly maintained
fuch reports as the above to be mere fidtions j
others have allowed that he might have ex-
prefled himfelf unguardedly, and that he had
adopted fome modes of fpeech inconfiftent
with his former views on the fubjeit; but
have endeavoured to exculpate him by urging
the decay of his faculties, thro* age and in-?
tenfe application to ftudy. And others have

allowed

44 DR. WATTS** last rS^r* men t*

allowed that be hdd indeed for a time giveh
into Anti-trinitarian ftntimeiits, but that be-«
fore his death he was happily recovered tt>
the right faith. As a proof of the reality of
his converfion one Mr. TopIaity$ in a periodi-
ca} publication, was rafti enough to print a
Hymn of the Doctor's on the Deity of Chrift,
Isrhich he fancied bore the evident marks of
the infirmities of age. But unhappily for
this writer thefe were in reality the infirmities.
of youth : for this Hymn was actually in-
ferted in the firft Edition of the Lyric Poem>
and by the author himfelf left out of the
febfequent ones. This circumftance Dr.
Gibbons has particularly mentioned, with a
fevere and juft cenfure of Mr. Toplatfy, both
for his temerity in publifhing this hymn as
the production of the author's old age, and .
alfo for his groundless aflertions refpe&mg
the decay of his mental faculties. <

Dr. Gibbons however has taken care to
jproid faying any thing which might lead to a
difcovery with reference to any alteration of
Dr. Watts's fentiments about tho Trinity *
Which occafioned fome unknown writer to
addrefe to him a Letter in the Weftminfler
Magazine, of which it may not be amifs to

irfett acopy, which is as follows.

4 To

. " To tie Rev. !>*< GIBBONS*

" Rev, Sir,

'*< TN your * Memoirs* of the truly great
JL and excellent Dr. Watts, you certainly
did right in attempting to rectify any mifc>
takes into which the Public had been led, con-
cerning him or his writings, by any erroneous
accounts iffued from the pens of ignorant 6r
evil-defigning men. I w4s glad to find that
you had fo well refuted the idle ftories which
have been fb generally reported and credited
concerning the Do£tor*s c *~l6fs of his in-
telle&s" in the- : latter ' part of his life, &nd
" his ftrange chimeras of fkney," which k
late Biographer (you fay Mr. Toplady) hath
retailed much to his difadvantage/ I wag alf6
glad that you had expofed a palpable < triiftak^
(if not pious fraud) of the fame writer re-
fpedting a poetical* piece of the Do&or'S x on
the Sufferings and Glory of Christ/ as one
of the lateft of his compofures, p.' 313.

But I axil greatly furprif&d tor find that
you have pafled over in total filence a matter
of far greater moment* than either of thefei
which the fame writer mentions, with equ$

confidence.

"4l DR. WAfTS's xast &bvtimewt5

confidence, in the very fame paper ; and for
the fake of which alone this Poem is intro-
duced. He tells us, " that the Doftor had
fallen into erroneous notions with refpeft to
the Do&rine of the Trinity-^but that God
bad mercy upon him before he left the world,
and recovered him to the orthodox faith :'f
and as a proof of this he produces the above
Hymn, which he fays, " to the beft of his
knowledge, had never before appeared in
print, and which feeras,iram the unfiniihed
ftate in which he left it, to have been one of
the laft products of his poetical pen." Give
me leave, Sir, to fay> that ** appears to me>
and others of your readers, very extraordi-
nary that you fhould have thought it worth
your while to animadvert (and that with
fome degree of feverity) upon a chronological
error of fuch fmall importance in kfelf , and
to ufe fo many words to iatisfy us that the
Poftor wrote this piece in early Ufe, and to
account for its being omitted in the later
editions of his Poems; and yet that you
ihould not have faid c one word' refpedting
€ the grand matter of fa&' for the fupport
of which this piece is produced, and for
which only the latenefs of its date is afferted.

From

«T'. • Ttrfc the 'fRINlTY. -49

« From your total filence with regard to. tHfe faft
itfetf, your. Readers, who have feen Mr.
fTopfadys. account, are. not merely left in a
ftate of fufpenfej but, as you have, by
proving^ the early date of this Poem, removed
-his only .argument that Dr. Watts was re--
covered from his fuppofed errors before his
.death, you have left us to conclude that he
.died in them : and, moreover, by maintaining
" the foundnefs* of his intellects," you have
deprived his friends and admirers of a plea
which has often been c charitably' urged in
his favour. Thus have you left the * Sa-
bellians'.to trumph, as having the mature
judgment, the dying fentiments of the learned,
,the piqus, the impartial Watts on their fide ;
for his later publications feem mofl: to favour
the c Sabelliaa' fcheme.

It has been pretty generally reported, that
the Do&or left fome papers to be publifhed
after his death, cpntaining his laft fentiments
on that fubjedt, which had been the obje& of
his laborious and impartial enquiry through
a great part of his life j but his Executors
thought it moft prudent to fupprefs, if not
deftroy them. The Public have a right to
afk you,' Sir, what was the real matter of
E fa&?

fadfcf You juftly qbferve, that " peribnswho
attempt to communicate to the public the
memoirs of deceafed perfcm, ought to make
tfhernfelves acquainted wdth their writings,
dates," &c. And furely thofe who write the
lives of eminent Divines, fhould be acquaint-
ed with, and ready to communicate, whart
was moft remarkable- concerning their reli-
gious fentiments, and the refult of their a*-
quirids after Truth : an ebjedr, Jet me fay,
of far greater importance, and more worthy
of being ka&own> than the higheft degree of
- f poetical' merit. It would not be a niece
matter of c curiofity' to know the laft fenti-
ments of fo great and good a man as Bhf.
WaMty with regard to the Trinity ; but k
would have had a very important tendency to
aflift others in forming their judgment oft -
fuch a capital artiete of Chriftian faith. It
would likewife tend to remove the prejudices,
and abate the eenfures, of many againft
thofe who cannot aflent to the popular opi-
nions (or rather the popular < phrafeology*)
to be informed (if indeed k be fa) that even
D#. Watto hinfrfelf, who had.beef* under ftrong
and early prejudices in their favour, and had
written in defence of them) was obliged at

length

t-

ON THE rtfltflft. ff-

length to give therft up-' As, oti drer otfter^
h-Andy if it fce true (as Mr. 5^/^f affirms^
that tho' this eminent Divine hacf departed 5
from the Catholic £)b£hine for' a j tiftre, he
was reclaimed! before he died; the knowledge
of it, together with the occafioa pf Ms fell/'
and the^mdans of his recovery, might bfe in-*
ftVumental to guard others agairift, antt re-
cover them from, the fame erroneous opinions^
cc After all that you have told us concern-
ing your great intimacy with Dr. Watts> and
your mimaref acquaintance with the circum-
ftances of his death, (even to the appearance of
his cbrpfc in. the coffin) it cannot be fuppofed
that you fliould be a ftranger to this affair.
And give me leave to fay, that candour and
jtoftice call upon you to declare what you
know concerning: k. You tell us of tha
t)b^:OTwhatismucbto his* honour,, (p. i^6)[
<c fhat thofe: priimflr and radical- cotfiftifciaeKrfs
of a truly gnod' character, c Truth' aacf
« Sincerity,' were* voy confpicubtre- in him ;
and that y«M* never obferved hitn^ m any' d£
his coiwerfes, itv tl*& leaffc ddgtfc*. affb<£H to
Ctnttea* or dif^ifeaii^fentitnentaldi^peiices
ht religtort betweefc h&i&Mi ami others* > bu#>
oil the ^thep hmdy i» appearedi quite ©pert
E 2 and

$2 DR. WATTS'* last Sentiment*

and free to a declaration of them, whenever
an occafion offered." Why thfen fhould his
Biographer make any fecret of them ? c Your
c< open and free declaration" refpe&ing the
fubjedl of this Letter is eflentially neceffary
to your fupporting the character of which
you arejuftly ambitious, thedifciple and fhe
friend of Dr. Watts j which that .you may*
is the wifh of,

Rev. Sir,

Your obedient fervant,

W — M S — MS — N.
W— m-—r, Nov. 7, 1780.

*

To this letter the good Do£tor did not
think proper to give any anfwer. Nor has
he, nor ..any one elfe, refuted the affertions
above referred to. From hence many will
be inclined to give them credit.

But tho* it is undeniable that the Do&or
did not continue in the fame views of thq
fabjeft which he entertained in the early part
of his life, there is no decifive evidenpe that
he materially altered his fentiments concern-
ing the Trinitarian do&rine< within any fhort

fpace

* on the TRINITY.' 7 * 55

lpace of His death, arid it isliighly improbable
that he fhould.* He had for many years*
made this point the fubjeft of his laborious
and impartial ftudy, and within about two*
years of his diflblutibrt he publifhed the re-'
fult of his enquiries, from which it is fcarcely
credible that he fhould in fo fhort a time have
greatly deviated.

Dr. Watts died Nov. 25, 174$.* His book'
entitled Ufeful and Important ftyejtions concern-
ing J e f us Chriji the Son of God > is dated 1746.
And the fame year, (moft probably towards
the clofe of it) he printed another work, in
which he further illuftrates and defends his
opinion concerning the perfon of Chrift, en-
titled The Glory of Cbrijl as God-man dif*
played, &c.

Confidering how many years the~Do£tor
had nvade this fubje£ his ftudy, how. delibe-
rate he was in forming his feritiments, and
h6w cautious he was of publifhing them to
the world, it feems moft natural to look for
his laft fentiments on this mych disputed
point in tHefe two pieces ; and the rather as
the book which was' written againft him on
the Arian fide by Mr. Tomkins (which might
be thought moft likely to have made him a
E 3 convert,

50, DR. WATTS-* 1,^$* S*ktj*jen*s

convert, if h» had been oi>e) was printed
previous to either of riiefe *.

It ijs cqrt?w thefe pie^s 'Contain the fcft
^utJ^enlic ftccppnt.pf his fentipieats, as avowr
ed £y hiwfetf, and therjefore till fo»>p decifive
ppoof be bipij&ht of a fuhtequent reqtntatiop,
the view which thefe books giite of the matter,
might juftly be confidered as Dr. Watts'* laft
thoughts on *he fubjeftof the Trinity.

Froqo fhcfc it is abppda^tty evident that he
h^d not giyen into the Arian or Shciman
hypothesis, for he e;xpr?fles himfelf ftrongly
^gainj^.both, qfid maintain?- pofitipns inqon-
fiffcot r with either. . But it rnu# si. the feme
tiwp te a^lpw^d that he eyidqxtly appears to
have deviated frpm thf ropft counp^nly r^
ceived opinions, concerning the Son and
Spirit of pod, tha' he maintained the ti;ue
Pivinifypf: both,, which he did ypon fuch
grounds w^^thou^^eft fecured every
tfriqg effcu^al to the tdp^rine ^ nd inojlf flFa-

* * The'fitle'of this wort was A Sober Atipial tit a
Wurk o^*h Mt&tHy concerning the plain (feitferf fciupi
ture.wlltirigJliltlirTripitjr. 3tf<ig/*n AnfaerfpDqgoj
J. ^^s^j^k^^^Tjie. CJbriftian Do&rinp of
|hf Trinity* toy 'aflcpted «jnd .proved by plain eyidenge
of ftripture without the aid* or incurriorance of liumau

. : - --' £ il" tually

ex , TBE^T.RI-N-f TY» : — $f

trislly obviated* tike obje&iQ&s of its oppo* t
rents. ... ,. *' ; r . . •. r .

It is true, fome both aaupng the Orthodox
and the Heterodfox confide red him as haying
in.thefe publications given up the point ; the
* former becaufe he differed from them in his
manner of explaining it, and the latter be-
caufe he admitted the force of fome of their
ribje&ions to it, and freely gave up what he
thought untenable, and perhaps efpecially
jb^caufe he exercifed more candour towards
them than the defenders of the Trinitarian
<io6hine had ufually done. But it is exceed-
ingly ftrangfc that the friends of orthodoxy
fliould difowil a man as a brother, and con-
fider him as an apoftate and an enemy, be-
caufe he reprefents things in a manner dif-
ferent from themfelves, and maintains them
oft different grounds. And it is equally
ftrange, at leaft equally unwarrantable, that
the patrons of herefy (as it has commonly
been called) ihould infift upon it that a man
is on their fide merely becaufe he does not go
all the lengths of their opponents, or yields
to the force of fome of their objections : but
mqre especially that they ftiould draw fuch
an inference from the candour hp exercifgs to
£ 4 them:

56 DR. WATTS'* last Sentiments

them : but moft of all that they ftiould take
occafion fi;om the moderation of any one
who profefles himfelf orthodox in the main,
to infinuate any thing to, his difadvantagc
in point of fincerity. Thus it was with
refpeft to Dr. Watts, and thus it has been
with* refpedt to others of the like moderate
principles *. • ' • • • • *

r It is furprifihg that they who lay fo mudi
ftrefs upon candour," and are fo fevere againift
bigotry, fhould themfelves a 51' fo tmcandid k
part; Nothing is more common: than for
thofe who call • themfelves rational, to con*-
demn the bigotry of the oriboAito x for their
ftrenuous adherence to every- Ma in the oii
thodox fyftem, arid their want of charity for-
wards thofe who differ, which they will fay
might be exercifed confidently with the firmeft
attatchmcnt to orthodoxy ; and yet if any of
\he orthodox fhew themfelves ready to mate
fome abatements, and appear to exercife can-
dour towards .thofe of different fentimcnts,
thefe gentlemen will have it that they muft,
in their hearts, be on their fide, and Impeach

• Dr. Doddridge was in this ,predicajnent. See tH[e
notice, he takes of it in a Letter' of Which Mr. Orton
has given a copy in his Life. -

' • their

6* xkE TRINITY- i i ft

their -fincerity in not joining their party ;
which they are willing to attribute to a
fordid attachment to their fecular intereft,
or to any thing rather than to a realmoikra-
fion in principle > of which bigots oh both
fides feem to deny the exiftence.

Whether there be in reality fuch a. mode*-
ration, by which both Orthodoxy and Charity
may be maintained*, and what thatis^may
poffibly appear from; a reprefentation of :Di\
Watts* % fentiments as contained in. his two
laft publications now mentioned ; which thro*
the intemperate zeal of oppofite parties. feem
not to have met with the attentionithey.de-
ifcrved, and to be now but little known/ ^

The Preface to the firflf of* the above pieces
we fhafll here transcribe at lengths It is
.as follows. "It cannpt be of much im*-
portance for the reader to be- informed' who
J was the wriier of thefo papers : y& if it &&1
be any fatisfaftion, the author hmk&pfe-
' fumes wtky. It is one Who has fpetii* many
years of hfe life in difigeilt enquiriea4ntd'th6
facred do&rifies of th6-^df|>el 4 , fyla'^dinlkuit
and kboripus ibarch 7 qf the Holy fcriptuyes ;

* See V late able performance,' entiled ' Primitive
Candour t Uc* * . - * j

nor

f? DR. WATTS'*! *a*t Sentiments

nor is he aflaamed *o add, with cqnttritial ap*
plication to the God of all light- and grace
for the inftru&ion of his Holy Spirit, that
he might better underftand the things d&
covered in his wctfd. , H» alfo takes the free-
dom to fay thefe papers are the produ&of that
part orchis life when bis powers of mind and
'faty vxrt..in fuU rtAgttf*: ,- The authpr.jbas
fomejimes.bcen i?ei4y to fuppofe >: that fcv^rftl
of.the Qucftions heraproptofed «nay be wry
ii&ful towards the further cKplaming fome of
thofe parts of fcripture which hay?, fe&en left
ihadicd, efpecially concerning God the Father^
•and the Divine and hupfiau natures o| his *SW
y^il Cbrifiy whom t<* Jsnow* |p truft ii\,
and to love, is ateiftai U& : , an^l jie thinfcs he
can fafely appeaj *0 C&d cancer^^g the
-honefty and fincerity of his own endeavours,
to give a faithful aiifwer to all thefe enquiries,
ac^ocding to the cleareft light hs^owid ikjd
in the Holy fcriptures... ,

<c He has one. foyour to bqg of hm readers

, and that is, that they would npt examine any

of th^fe papers by the mere didates of th^r

,: * This is a fufficient J aidWdr to tfiofe whb vpild ex-
culpate the Po&or for his deviation from. the beaten
track; by urging the decay or his faculties*

♦ * own

e* «<h« TRINITY. . §§♦

«wn reafoning powers, for the fubjeft is a
*ne« raa**r of divine revelation * jior that
they would take the fentknent^ or fcljenjei of
elder or later writers, whether Schoolmen qz
Fathers, or Divines of any party, for a, per*
feft teft of truth and orthodoxy in thefe facred
fubjafts.

" Yet he freely and delightfully confute?
thefe following articles borrowed from the
rfthanq/ian Creed, viz*, " We believe and
"eppfefs tfce Lord Jefus Chrift the Soft, of
" God is both God and Man -, God of tfe?
* ftrae fubftamce with th$ Father, a Man of
" the fubftance pf his mother, horn into tbf
u world, perfect. God and p§rfe& man* <?f
" a reafonable foul, $od human Mh &fe+
i x fitting together:: Equal to the Father,^
?. .touching Jb*s Godheqd, and yet inferior £9
."the Father, as touching his roanhepdf
.«* One, not by cpnwerfipri of the Godhead
'< into theflefli* but by taking of the man*-
:*« hood into God, foas to be^me.cne ;■ pdfawf
" agent or one perfon : and as tfaf reafonaJW^
J" foul and flefti is dire man, ^{Jod and man
-.** aa one Chrift, who. fuflteitd for our fai r
-« vation," &c

V « Tto>*

- % 6d DR. WATTS's last Sent^mektIi

u Tho' I freely and fcheaffylly acknowledge
all this, yet I take no htimfcn wriffrigs for d
teft of the divinity or truth of my opinions r
AWf I could wifh all my readers would lay
afrde all other teachers, 'befides the mfcre
writers of the Holy Scriptures, in fuch en-
quiries, where the light of thefe divine truths
Wiiralfo fhine'brighteft, which are not to be
fcnown by the m*fe light of nature, but are
Entirely to be learned by ^the revelation' bf
1So4 to his Son Jefus Chrifti and to his holy
fepoftles. ■ ' ' ' ;c :r:

* < c And if this pFa&ice bfe fiftcerely purfued,
'the author hutnbly hop6s thefe papers may
find acceptance among the diligentf and hofteft
tiiquirers after truth; fo Bar at leaft as to
tfiave his unwilling iniftakes pitied and for-
<gi\fen, and hi* fincere endeavours accepted',
to make known the fcriptmes to his fellow-
thiftftians iti thofe impfcf tant articles that re-
late to God the Father arid 'his Son Jefus Chrifi
cur JLord, which arfe of fo muth importance
toward oup falvation.

f- *' Yet finally to avoid all obje&ions and
"dangers of miftake* I think it may be moper
here to take potice, that thereJiave been gene-
'rally two ways among our Proteftant Divines

allowed

on the TRINITY/ ft

allowed to explain the Filiation or Sonftiip
of our Lord Jefus Chrift, in his Divine na-r
ture; the one is, the real and fupernatural,
which is granted to be utterly, incomprehen-?
fible, relating chiefly to the nature of xk$
Father and the Son * the other is fcripturaj
and ^economical, relating chiefly to their
characters or office* in our falvation, which is
more eafy to be underftood,
; c< I muft acknowledge I incline moft to
the fecomj, becaufe this allows the moft per- 1
feci equality, even Onenefs or Samenefs in the
Godhead, whether applied to the Father or
the Son, and thus it maintains the true God-
head itfelf to be underived and felf-exiftentin
both; and upon this fuppofition I believe the
fccond of thefe writers have been ahjy^y$
efteemed perfectly found and orthodox as well
asthefirft."

In this preface, as there are, the ftriking
evidences of the greateft humility and can-
dour, as well as the moft ardent love of truth,
fo the Intelligent reader, who is at, all verfed
in the Trinitarian controverfy, will eafily per-
ceive that Dr. Watts differed from the gene-
rality of the orthodox, who maintain " that
!? Chrift as God was the Son of the Father,

" derived

6i DR. WATTS V last Sentiments

^ derived from him or be&otterrby hJfn, and
c# therefore reafly a diffinA pepfbn, or ageftf
•* from the Father, bat neverthefefs equal to
** him in all p*rfe6tibns £\ and that his idea
Of the Divinity of Chrift was, " that the
Godhead, the Deity itfelf perfonally dijfinguijhed
as' the Father, was united to the man Chrift
yefus y in confequence of which union, or in±
dwelling of the Godhead, Be became property
God *." And it is evident from the fequel
of this performance, and front a; fubfequent
publication, he conceived this union to have
fiibfiflted before the Saviour's appearance in
the flefft, # and that the human foul of Chriji
lifted with the Father from before the founda-
tion of the world; on which ground he main-
tains the real defcent of Chrift from heaven
to earth, and the whole fcene of his humili-
ation, . which he thought incompatible with
tfie common opinion concerning him.

As to the Hbfy Sprirtite £>o#of feems not
fd have held the common rtotion of his real
pertbndity, a*s cfiftinft from the Father, flip*-

+ "Qt. Dodfrbdp feems to hare held the feme featir
nrettts^ which Weca late revived ijua. ccuujrovierfy- oaea^
fione&by a publication of the late Mr, Menjamin Fawcettj
pntixle&Candid'llejlifiions, &c.

pofmg

pofmg it « td mean the divittc powtf or in-
flueftce, or Ood Mrrtfelf as? e«€«:i«g his? in-
fluence. But we have now particularly te do
with the? |terfbn ofrChrifo which is the prin-
cipal fubjedfc of the piabKieations how tmdet
^confiderafion. '

It is no part of o»r de%n to condemn or
confirm the Do&orV opinions ofe this point',
but mewlyto reprefeiit them, and Ike w wherein
they dfrfifcreri front the generality of other or-
thodox divme&, and to give-a twrief view o# the
arguments hy which he fupported the».

Ill his ImfQrtmt Quxftions concerning Jtfus
the Smof €fod> the Finft w&ich he»pyopofes
is rite s-** » » ' * What is the trae meaning of
** tfee Name -5m *f GW; given to Chrift in
** the New Teftamen* y and efpecially wher6
** the belief of if k' made neeeflary to tal-
" vatio»?"'

In §-1. hemeMiora the vari^iis fen forgiven
to this term by different wtfitws* and o&ferves,
th&t the fovih of them is patronked by .many,
viz. "" that it includes m eternal uaeoni
" cetvabte gettecation of the perfo» of the
cc * Son by the perfon of the Father; in the
" fanaenefe of die Divine feflence, confute
K ftanti»l, coequal, and* coetsrnal with tfefc
V Father."

! But

64 DR. JWATTS<s-last SentImei^Vs

c But I am perfuaded (fays he) this ca»
€ never be* the knfe of this name in thofe

* feveral texts before cited (wheire believing

* in the Son of God is faid to beneceffary to

* falyation] for* ( i ) If this be never fo true,
€ ytt it is confefled to be unconceivable:

* and I do not think the gracious God would
€ put fuch a difficult teft upon the faith of
c young difciples,, poor illiterate men and
c women .—( 2 ) Nor is this clearly enough re-
c vealed for us to make it^a fundamental
c article in any age, and to damn all who do
c not receive it*— (3) There have been fome ;

* pious and learned men in feveral ages, who
? have acknowledged Chrift's true Godhead,
c and yet have fuppofed that the Sonfhip of

* Chrift referred rather to his human nature^
1 or to his office of Meffiab, than to fuch an
c eternal generation. — There are fome fuch
c in our age. and I will never pronounce an
€ anathema upon them/

After having mentioned feveral other fenfes
in which the term Son of God is ufcd in fcrip-
tbre, he fpeaks of this laft, as what he be-
lieves to be its moft common acceptation,
(p. 16,) efpecially where the Jjelief of it is
niacle neceflary t* felvation. Having in § *,

. urged

<iw ThEr TRINITY, . ." « 5

uirged feVirai arguments to confirm this &nfe,
hie ftates fame obje&ians § 3, and produces
various paflagefe from fcripture in which

* Chri&is.talted the Son nf God, ahd God is
t:3AjdLtojbe his.Father, wherein wfi cannot
*;fuppofethfc Godhead <SF Ghrift h dr caa bd
c defigned, v. g. /

* ydbn v. 18, 19. When the Jews had
\ made a ftratige inference, and chained Chiift
\ frith making himfelf equal to God, be-
€ c&ufe he called God his Father, he aniwer^
c ed, 73W£ wr*7y //Jiry unto you> the Son can

* -do nothing of himfelf> but what he feeth the
€ Father do, &c. This is not an ex^reffiort
c . which represents the Son as the true and

* eternal God, or that grants their inference j
c for It is plfcin that this expreffion rejJrefents
c him uhdsr a *degre6 of impotence arid, de-*
c ftendence.5 that he could do nothing of km*
€ felf* Nay this canttedi&s their inference;

* aftd denies his equality with God> rathef

* thancdnfinfts or allows it. Thefesfeofthii
c «*preffioii may be learned from John viii. 38 i
« Tho' there are fome expreffions in that
*■ paragraph to (ver. 30.) whkh feemfuperkrf
c to the chara&er of any irare creature, ahd
! whkh would hardly have keen applied to

F < Chrift

€t DR. WATTS'i tisr Sentiments

c -Chrift the man, if not united to Godhead j
1 yet Chrift confidered: as the Son of God is
*' throughout repre&ntedds dependent on the
' Father for all, s^nd receiving, ail frtim the
€ Father, which is* hardly confifteritooritfa thS
c idea of fupreme Godhead* if that were in-*
c eluded in Sonfhip. . / ,i * \ ; • '

r c fohn v. 30. / <:## /jf^mjfelfrtfa'mfyhg.-
€ Ijethnot. mine imn will. • (vi* 3 &.)- -liam*
c down from heaven not to M mine attmiaiU but
9 the mil of him that feht me. This does

* not found like the language of Godhead,
c which is fupreme > and independent, and

* can do all things of itfelf, and. by its own

* will. Ch. xiv. 28. My Father is greater
4 than- 1. Ver. 3 1 . As the Father gave ntecofn-
c mandmenteven fo I da, > -Ch. xvii. 5. Father
' glorify jne % &c. -Mark^m. 32. Oftb&tday
< and hourknoweth-^not* the Sm> hut 'the Fa^
f tber y &c. &c. AH 'this^ implies inferiority
€ and dependence. 1 Cor. xv. 38. 'Tbenjhalt
€ the *Son alfo bimfelf he JubjeSl to inm y that
1 God may be all in all. This if .a character
c of too much inferiority for Godheads The
' argument ftands thus : If the Son of God
J be true God, confident as a Son, then he

* is originally and neceffarily Lord of ally and
:. . iw • - i it

OK.thB TRINITY. .,v 67

c it muftbe faid it is by his own voluntary
c condefcdnfion that he is fo far depreffed dnd

* humbled by the cecoilomy as to become the
/C Father's deputy and vicegerent, and wheii

c that ceconomy ceafes, he is of courfe exalted

c to his equality with the Father, and to his-

'* effefltial and natural Lordfhip overall. * But

-* the reprefentation of St. Paul is >juftthe

< contrary. In many parts of his writings,

'* particularly Phil, ii. he fhews that' the Son

r< of God is not depreffed but exalted by the

^ oecon^my to the kingdom. And he -tells

c us iAithis text that when the Son. gives- up

c this (Economical kingdom, he comes, again

c into fobjedion : then jhall the Son bimfelf

€ be fubjeSl- to the Father $ which plainly fhews

c that, coniidtered as a Son, he is naturally

* fubjeft* to the Father, and that at the end
1 of this ^economical. exaltation he fhall re-
€ turn to his natural fubjeftion and fhall be
c fo for ever, when God appears all in. all.

' € This text will not prove that Chrift is

* notGod, for he is fo by personal union
€ to the -divine nature : he is God manifejl in

> thejlefh. He is God and man in one com-

4 plex perfon* But this text, I thinks does

5 prove that his Son/hip doth not include

- 1 F 2 'Gddbead.

€B DR. TOATTS'i "list Sentiment*.

f Godhead* in this and nlany other tgxts

c hiij 'Sonfhip may he better referred to his

/ inferior nature, or to his offices. And this

* will' free us from thofe embarraffments to
f which we have been driven* to keep up the
c fublinac idea of Gtidhead ip thefc fqriptvtres

* which call him a Son, and at the feme
€ time carry fo much of 'dependence ar*i >n-
/ ferijority in them/

The Doctor's 72*ri/ djueftion, (which leads
to the difcovery of hi? opinion eorioecning the
pre-exiftence of thue hifcmaa fo*d of -£&*&:) is
thisy '* Could the Son of God piroftedy enter
" into a Covenant with his Father, to do and
" foffer what was neceflary to ? qui: re-
" demption, without a human faut Y*

4 It is granted (fays he) that the generality
• * of our chriftiaa writers believe that it was

* only the divine nature or Godhead of Chrift
~* which had an exiftence before' he was con-

1 ceived of the Virgin Mary, and became in-
€ carnate; yet when fcever they wouj&repre-
< fent the exceeding great lbve ot the Fathfcr

* in fending his Son into our worlds tiiat he
€ might fuffbr and die for us, and delfcribe
c die ttanfcendent love of Christ, in coming

/ into the wortdand fobmitting to death for
. . * our

cv the. TRINITY* * • 69

i V our fakes, they ufually reprefent it in fiich
c language as can never agijee with his Divine

* nature^ in any propriety of fpeech, but
c only to the pfe-exiftent human -foul of

* Chrift, with its defcent intofleflvand tlood,

* and the fufferings of this human foul for
c us. And it is evident that the fcripture

* itfelf leads them plainly to fuch a repre-

* fentation of things — fo that they are led by

* the force of truth into fuch expreffionsas

* are hardly confiftent with their own pro-

* fefied opinions/ /He here quotes fame
paffages from Mr. Fhvel and others, which
fpeak of the abafement of Chrift-, and the
humiliating change which he paffed thro',
which are totally inapplicable to Godhead.

' Now if we fappofe (fays he) the human

* foul of Chrift to have a pre-exiftent ftate
1 of joy and glory with the Father before the

* world was created, thefe expreffions are
€ great and noble, are juft and true, and
c have a happy propriety in them to fet forth

* the tranfeendent love of the Father in fend-
< Irig his Son, and of the Son of God in

* coming from heaven and leaving the joys

* and glories of his Father's immediate pre-
l fence, to take on him ftefh and blood, and

¥ Z ' 1 foflw

i\.

70 ' DR. WATTS's tAST, Sentiments

€ fuf&rfhame, forrow, pain, anguifh of flefli
1 and fpirit, fharp agonies and the pangs of

* death. And this love is exceedingly en-

* hanced while we confider that this human
c foul of Chrift was perfonally united to the
€ divine nature, fa that hereby Goo himfelf
c becomes manifefted.in the fle(h.

c But on the other hand, if we fuppofe

* nothing but the pure divine nature of Chrift
€ to exift before his incarnation , then all thefe

* expreflions feem to have very little juftice
c or propriety in them : for the divine nature

* of Chrift (how diftinft foever it is fuppofcd
1 to be from God the Father) yet can never
c leave the Father's bofom, can never diveft
c itfelf of any one joy or felicity that it was

* everpofleffedof j nor could God the Father
c ever difmifs the divine nature of his Son
c from his bofom. Godhead muft have eternal
c and compleat beatitude and glory, and can
' never be difpoffefled of it. Godhead can
c fuftain no real forrow or fufFerings . — Neither

* could the human nature leave the bofom of
' the Father if it had no prior exiftence. —
c But now if we conceive the foul of Chrift
1 in its pre-exiftent ftate, as thefrft born of

* every creature, to come forth from the Father

c and

on the TRINITY. ' 7*

€ and come into the world (John xvi. 28.) to

* part with the glories and joys it poffeffed,

* to dwell in a feeble manfion of flefh, of

c pain and forrow, and fuftain the pangs of '
c a curfed death, &c. this is amazing love in- '
' deed ; this has a furprifingand fenfible rea-
c lity in it, and fhould awaken all the powers

* of our fouls to admire and adore both God *
c the Father for fending him, and his Soil

* : for confenting to fuch abafement.

c There is another and a very remarkable
c inftance, wherein our Proteftant divines, '
c in a very juft and affe&ing manner repre*-

* fent the Covenant of Redemption, ber-
' tween the Father and the Son, according
c ' to Scripture, upon the fuppofition of the
c - pre-exiftence of Chrift's human foul : But
c according to the common or fcholaftic ex-
c - plication of the do&rine of Perfons in the
c Trinity, we can have no ideas under all
f their glorious and affe&ionate reprefenta-
< tions of this tranfa&ion.

c The common or fcholaftic explication of

* the Trinity, which has been long and uni-

* verfally received and been called orthodox,
4 is; That God is but one (imple, infinite
« and eternal fpirit: Hence it follows, that

F 4 1 the

^1

72 DR. WiyFTS's tAu Sentiments

€ the divine effence, powers, ai>deffential pro-
c pertie? of the. Father, the Son, an$ the £pi~
c rit iji the Godfeeadf are numerically the very
c feme. That it is the fam? numerical eon-
c fcioufnefe, underfta«ding, will and power,
c which belongs to the Father, that belongs -
c alfo to the Son, and tQ the Holy Spirit ' :
c and that the facred three are diftingtjiihed a
c only by the fuperadd^d relative properties *
c of paternity* filiation and precQ$on; \ti\t>
c iheir thoughts, ideas, volitions and agen-
c .cies, according to. this hypothec miift be ■
c the very fame numerical thoqghts, fcc. in
« all the three/

The Dr. then proceeds to give an extract
from a ferroon of Mr, Bltmh which he highly
approves, relating to the Covenant of Re*
demption, in which he reprefents " the per-
" fona tranfefting with each other s the bu-
<c fineis tranfa&ed ; the quality of the tf^nf-
<c action 9$ £«<tol > the Father pfomifi^g to
" fupport and reward the S»n> the §o»,pro-
u mifingto obey the Father'? call t@ fuffer,
<c &c. and the. article* %<? which they ,ag#§e,
" &c, &c. M He farther Qbjfev§$, that the
awthor.rcprefeats this trajafa/ftion h* a way
of Diakgue* and the» rejnaiks tfam : c In

€ read-

*v the TRINITY. n

* reading foeh accounts of ftipulations and
c contraft between the Father and the Son,

< before the foundation of the world, what

* proper conceptions can we frame, or wlratf

* clear ideaa can we poffihly have, while we
€ fuppofe nothing hut Ghrift's divine nature
€ tran&fting this affair with, the Father, and
« while we believe the divine eflence, perfec-

* tions, and powers, the underftanding, will;

* thought, and confeioufnefs of the Father

* and the Son, to be numerically one and the

< fame? fmce in the Godhead they are but
« one and the fame infinite fpirit ? The mere

* personalities, paternity, and filiation, can-
c not confuk and tran&ft in a way of con-
« tra&, propofel and confent : [which caii
c only be done by] two diftkift eonfeiou£

* nefies and wills. -

c Further, one of thefe beings or perfons

* covenanting, fcems to be inferior to the

* other, and to be capable of receiving orders,

< coHHniffion, fupport and recompence from

* the other : But if only the Deity of Chrift
« exifted, and his Deity and the Father's have

< but one numerical confeioufnefs and voli-

* tion, one power and glory, what need of

* orders apd commiffions, or o£ promifes of

* fupport

*H DR. WATTS'* .'last Sentiments

*. fcpport and recompence i How can pure
€ rGodhead be fupported or recompenfed ?-*-'

* What poffible difference can we conceive
f between the love of the Father in fendiqg

* the Son, and the love of. the Son in con-

< fcnting? — And how doth this abate our
€ grand ideas of the diftindt and condefcend-
c ing love of our blefled Saviour, in his con-

* lent to this covenant, fince that part of

* him which really fuffered, L je. ;hi$ inferior

* nature, had then no exiftence ?

' But on the other hand, if we give our-

* felves leave to conceive of the human foul
f of Chrift in its pre-exiftent ftate, as the
f srp^]oToicog y the Jirji form of every creature^
y (Cpl.i. 15. Rev. iii. 14.) and intimately
5 united to the eternal Gpd> then here sre pro-

* per fubje&s for thefe foederal tranfa£lio«sj

< and a mo# glorious and diving , covenant it
I was, betweep the Father qncj the Son, for
c the falvation of poor ruined .man. — Thus
; ^£;hrift, when he cam? forth from the Father
lyfifid came into the war fa really laid afide

* that glory -which, he, had with /the Father
i .before the' world was,' and: : though he
l;SQas rich, yet fop; our fakfs beef me paor,T—
iJ&SVf ^ing -fipiricides admirably well ia
Jw'ji :. ' ! this

- to»: the TtRINITY. 7$

* this fcheme, and aniwers the various ex* *
' preffions of Scripture on this fubjeft, with-

t c out ftraining the words by needlefe trope*
t and figures: It becomes fo plain : that bt
c that runs may read, and every private ChriA

* tian may underftand thefe early grounds
c and foundations of his hope/ . ' . *
: The Fourth Queftion which the Do&or-pro-*
poles is this : " Is the Godhead of ChriftJ
" and the Godhead of the Father, one and
* c the fame*?"

He anfwers in the affirmative, and proved
it by the following arguments. c ( i .) If thd

* divine nature of Chrift be another diftinft

* principle of felf-confciqufnefs and volition^
c another diftinft fpiritual being, or another
c fpirit, this approaches fo near the dpffrin^
c of another God, that it is very hard to Slfe

* tinguifh it. For fo far as our ideas of

* arithmetic and reafon can reach, this feeins^
c to be a plain truth,— -If one infinite- fpirit

c be one God, two or three infinite fpiritS
€ muft be two or three Gods. (2.) The God

* of Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob, the Godjof

* Or, in other words, is the Deity of Chrift, or the^
being to whom the humanity of Chrift is united,' God
the Father? - %

5 Ifrael,

}$ DR. WATTS** LAst Sj:ntjment£

4 Jftaci, the Almighty, jehovah^ is tbclpro-

* per ftyle and title, by which God thfc Fa^

* ther was known under the Old Teftament,
€ and under thefe lie often appeared to the

* Patriarchs ; yet it is agreed by all Trinita-

* riam, that it was Jeius Chrift that appear-

* ed to them and aflbmed thefe titles. (3/)

* Several pafiages of the Old Teftament cited
by the writers of the New Teftaanent, and
applied to Chrift, do evidently refer to the
great one God> the God of Ifrael, whom aH
before the days of Chrift muft fuppofe to
mean GW- tbc Fatbtr cf alL — Thefe texts
arc properly applied to Chrift, if we fop-
pofe the Godhead of the Father and of
Gfairift to be the famt> and that thb
Masi Christ Jesus was thu.SHEKI*
NAH or Habitation of thb grbat
GOI>, intimately and perfonally united to
him* In thk fcnk Chrift w?s Emmanuel,
Or GOI> with &r.— But the application of
thsie twta to Chrift - will fear«;e]y prove the
Qodhead. of Chrift;, untefs it be the fame
,wi*h that of $m Fa&e?. (4.). Wbea Chrift
expreffes his own Godhead, it is by declar-
ing his onenefi with t&$ FATHER, I an4
the FATHER are one. Be that bath Jem

* m

, OF the TRINITY, jy

me hath 'jieu the FAJH^R. / am in the
FATHER jmd the FATTHER ik me. Vbt
FATHER m ME ihtB the nark. It is
not reafoittlbl* to foppofe-hc would have
always nfcd thefe modes of fpeaking, if ht ,
hixrdfelf had another Godhead [or if he a$
man had been united to afecond peiibnia Jhft
Godheadand not to ibc FATHER]- {$.)
On thi&ifappofttion I do Hot fee how tflift
Ttiaitferians can folve the difficulties which
arife from thsofe fcriptttres Where Gmi thfe
Pathdr is represented as thfc - otdy*tr&£$&o£
afid umfer/that idea diftit^i^hed from Je^
fas Ghrift John xviL 3- 1 Cfov v2i< 61
J5^&, iv. 5^6, Ifmakx&v^. 6, 8. xivJ ar, 2^.
(6.) Whe& our Saviour foretold that hifc
difcipfes ftioiidd kave him alone, he adds*,
{Jobvxyi. 32.) And yet I am not cOmr? $/-
caufe.THE FATHER iinmib $*.V If ;hfc
Godhead had* been difttaft irbta thai: <ixf thb
Father, he needed ftot, the prefericc of thfe
Father for hb &pport;,&j own :GodlfcaU
would have have been- fi*fikient«
' On the whole, whatever unknown difi-
tin&ions there may tem thedivimTnalrard,
to lay a foundation fcff God!s difcoveryrdf
hieafelf under three perfonal chara&ers, as

* the

}8 DR. WATTfi's LAst Sentiments

« the Father, the Word, and the Holy 6htfft;
€ yet the Godhead of the Father feems to bd
•.the firne one infinite and .eternal Spirit;
«, which. under fome peculiar diftin&ion or
* /relation, is united to the Man Chrift Je-
4 ~fus;« "and hereby Jefus becomes* one with
f Gael, &c. fiy this means the" great and
4 fundamental article of all -religion, the
? UNITY of the' true God is- maintained
c inviolable, and thus we moft effe<ftually

* preclude all the obje&ions and cavils o&the

• Ariwrzx\& Socman writers againftthe
V trine of the bkffed Trinity, and' the

* of. Chrift, as though this doftrine intror
. c duced more Gods, than one. For if we fup-*
. c pofeihe Man Jefus Chrift, in "his foul and
, c body,.: to be both an intelle&ualTfihd cor-

• poreal SHEKINAH, or habitation of the
,* one God, the God of Ifrael, we may juftly
€ call Jefus Chrift GOD manifeft in the flefh ;
c a inan in whom dwells all the fulnefs of the
f .Godhead bodily ; a man of the feed of David,
€ and yet GOD over all blejfed for ever. Nor
c is there fo much as the fhadow of our own-
€ ing two or three Gods, which has£>een
€ too often, with fome appearance of reaftff*

c charged

W;s\

<i : charged upbhfome oth£r rhbdfes of explain-
: * irig 'this fadred doftrine. ?j " • ' ' :

From thefe extra&s from Dr. Watts* own
^rMngs, L it -is -plain to-fevery intelligent rea-
der,! whar~hi$KSentkiients adeeming -thfc
iDeity of Chiift were- It is evident that hk
-did- not gm into Artmifm^ Which Inakefc
thrift to benihother' attd : inf error God; &if-
*ini£i: from she fupreme,- noeinto S&cinianiftri,
wHich denies the pre-exift&ice of the S&n oF
<Ood- - At- th£ fame time it is equally evident*,
<ihic he,ha^(^a«ed'fr&rn : vv4ikt are generdll^
«tdfcd Ihenarfhodox fentiment's ; Or ratftb*
^perhaps it iliould be faid, from the commbit
$^ner of explaining them , by which how-
ever, he himfelf at leaft thought he maintain-
ed genuine orthodoxy to the beft advantage.
-:• This firft publication clofes with An Es^
say on. the Importance of any* human Schemed
to explain the faered Doffrine <f the Trinity,
Ihewing, c f. That no fuch fcheme of expli-
-* cation is nteCeffary to falvation. II. That
•^ it may yet be of great ufe to the Chriftian
'Church; III. -But all fuch explications
* ought to be propofed with modefty to the «,
? world, and never impofed on the Corifci-
* : c ence/ ■ \ -

At

8o DR. WATT£'s *ast ^ektiments

At tlit end of this effay are the following
remarks, which are fubmitted to the reader'*
impartial reflexions.

« Thefe accidental incofivenka^ifls

c [arifing from religious cofltroverfies] afe
f not a fuffieisnt itafon Cor mt fiipine a6d
c perpetual coDtfehtttK?nt with eonf u&d fertr
€ tinjfents and unintelligible fpeeches about
'■ the 'modus of facred truths, if clearer ideas
"* are any Way attainable. Thefe art jtifl:
€ and ftrong motives that tfiay excite lis tfe
f ieftjrch into the deep things of God, awl to
c propofe our improvements in kne^iedgtf t*
? the world and the ehurdi, tho* there orp
c n& reafbns iufficient to iiripfel us to impojfe
f our improved notions on others, dr to raife
c contentions and quarrels on the account of
. c them. All our illuftratioris or clearer <tfn-
c ception of this fublirae do&rifte, which
y God may have . favoured us with, fheiuld
* be propofed with great raodefty, with *
c humble fenfe of our fallible natures,-~and
c with a zealous care to maintain all thofe
c practical regards to the Holy Trinity, which
, c are of fo much greater importance. And if
.' it be unreasonable to dictate to our fellow
f chriftians on thefe myfterious points, how
i c much

:»n TrfE TRINITY, U

* much more culpable is it to eftablifli any
c fpecial form of human explication of this
c facred dodhine, as a Teji of Orthodoxy and
€< Chrijiianity ! and to forbid any the blef-
€ fings of fpecial comnjunion in the gofpeL
c unlefs they teftify their aflent to fuch a
c particular hypothefis, or fcheme of expli-
c cation, which the impofers confefs to, be

* human, and yet impofe it in their own
e prefcribed form of words. .

1 The perfons who are guilty of .this uh-
€ ' charitable pra&ice, may confecrate their
c impositions and excommunications with
\ holy names, and .call them pure Zeal for
€ the Divinity of Clhr\iji > but I fufpeft it will
4 be found in the great day to deferve no

* better a chara&er than a miftaken zeal for
c the honour of Chrift, mingled perhaps with
c zeal for the Divinity of .their own notions,
4 which they had incorporated with the plain
c and exprefs revelations of the Godhead of
€ Jefus Chrift our Lord. He that makes a
1 private and particular explication of any
4 do£hine which is dark and doubtful in it-

* felf, and not clearly revealed in" fcriptute^
*. as heceffary as the'dodlrine itfelf, which is
f plain and clearly revealed, puts the matter

G * of

8* DR. WATTS's £a4> Se.nt.i*ent*

^ oi faith and opinim oh the feme foot, and
1 intrudes too much upon the authbrity and*
!! kmgdom of our Lord Jefus in his churcL*

IT Vvas intended to have fubjoined in
abftraft df t)r. W*atts y i fubfequeitit Work on
the fame fubjedt, which appears iq Have been
the laft of his publicatibris, tho* the different
parts of' it were drawn up at different times*
and moft of it many years before it came
Abroad. But as it was feared this would fwell
thcprefent publication io ah inconvenient
fize, this/d'efign is laidafide, arid it fhall
Suffice to give a brief account of the contents,
with a few extracts.

: It is entitled. The Gtoty of Chrift as G O D-
M A N dijplayed in ^bree Difcourfes. The
Preface contains a very modeft account of
the author's defign> and befpeaks the candour
and impartiality of the reader. The Contents
are as follows.

* Disc. I. A Survey of the vifible Ap-
• pearances of Chrift as COD before his
•• Incarnation*

* '- 1 / Disc.

* Disc. It; An Enquiry into theextenfive
*' Powers of the' human Nature of Chrifiin

* its prefeht glorified ftate. §. r» The- fa-
**trodu^iori. " §.'2.' Scriptural Pr^ofs/df the

* Exaltation "of the humanNature of €hrift ?

* and thVextenfive Capacities and Powers of

* his SoUi in his glorified State. §/ 3 .' 'A'Ka-

* tional Account how the Man Jefus Cfirift,

* united to Cod, may be -vetted with fuch

* exfenfive Powers. §.4.. Teftifflonies ffem

* other .Writers.

.* Disc, III. An Argument tracing the-early

* exiftence of the human Soul of Chrift be-
1 fore the foundation of the world . § . J . In-

* trodu&ion. §.2. Some Propofitions lead-

* ing to the Proof of the Do&rine /propofed.

* .§.3. Arguments for the pre-exiftertce of

* Chrift's human Soul drawn from various

* Confiderations of fome Things inferior to
' Godhead, which are afciibed to him in

1 * Scripture, before and at his Incarnation.
x §. 4. Mifcellaneous Arguments to prove

* the fame Doclxine. §. 5. A Confirmation

* of it by Arguments drawn from the happy
1 Confequences thereof, and the various Ad-

* vantages of it to the Chriftian Religion.

* J§. 6. Objections anfwered— The modern

G 2 * Authors

$jL DR. WATTS'* last Sentim**?*

* Authors who have profeffed and defended
€ it, viz. Dr. H. More, Dr. Edward Fowler,

* Bp. of Gloucefter. A Defence of his Dif-

* -courfe .by a Prefbyter of the Church of
*- England. Mr. Robert Flemming. Ano T

* nymous.- Mr. Jofeph Hufey. Dr. Francis
V Gajlrell, Bifhop of Gtyfcr* . Mr. NeIfon\
*- learned Friend againft Dr. Clarke. Dr.
c Thomas Bennet. Dr. 7j&0. Burnet of the

* Charter-houfe. Dr. T. Burnet of #^~

* ktngton. Dr. Knight. Dr. Thomas Goodwin.

v - * .Appendix. An Abridgment of a Difc*

* of Dr. 5T. Goodwin, on the Glorias and
c Royalties that belong to Jefus Chrift, con-

* fxdered as God-man/ e

As the Pre-exiftence of Chrift's fpirit was
the .grand point which the Do&or laboured
to eftablifh, in order to avoid the difficulties
pf. the common feheme, which either makes
Deity tofuffer, or makes the fuffering Sa-
viour a mere man,znd. thus coincides with
Socinianifm, we fhall here prefent the rea-
der with a view of the Do&or's manner of
arguing, to prove this point.

Disc. III. §. 3. He firft argues from va*>
rious conjiderations of fome thing inferior to
Godhead afcribed to Jefus Chrijl before and at
.,-...» -bis

OK THE TtffNl*?. ^^ «J

o

A/i incarnation, e. g. I, c Chrift is repr^
€ fented as his Father's * meiTenger^ fninift^r

* or angel, that was a diftirict being from
V * his Father, fent by him to perform fuch

c anions and fervices for his people; long

" 4 before his incarnation, fome of which

f feem too low for the. dignity of pure God-

€ head/ .!'' *

IL * Chrift when he came into this wftrld,

* is faid to empty and diveft himfelf of fome

* glory which he had before his incarnation.

* Now if nothing but his divine nature ex-
< ifted before this time, this could not pro-

* perly empty or diveft itfelf of any glory ;

* therefore it muft be his inferior nature,

* or his human foul which did then exift/
Under this head the Doftor ionfiders that
miich difputed paffage, Phil.Ti. 5—7. which
he interprets thus. ' Here the apoftleYde-

* fign is to fet Chrift Jforth as a pattern of

* humility; and this he doth by aggrandizing
c his former circumftances, and reprefenU

* irig how he emptied himfelf of them,
' and appeared on earth in a very mean and
c low eftate. Who being in the form of God,
€ thought it no robbery to be equal with God 9

* h e. his human foul, being in union with

G3 •his

^6 DR. WATTS"* I.AST Sentiments

* his Godhead, was inverted with a god-Uke

* jform and glory in all former ages ; thus*

* he oftentimes appealed to the Patriarchs
'* as the Angel of the Lord* and as God,

€ or Jehovah, clothed with the divine She-

* Uriahs and fpake and a&ed Uke God hinv
"\ felf. This feems to be the .form of God

* which the apoftle fpeaks of, Noc did he
? think it any robbery or prefurription {b to
'« do, /. e. to appear a^d a& A5. God, fines
c he ;r was ,pn}ted to the. divine petite, and

* wgs in,, that fenfe ot^ with God. Yet &
€ . emptied bwftlf i.e. he diverted himfelf of
« this god-like form or appsaranss, %h\$ di*
u yiije. ^hekinghy and coming into the flefh
> he cqpfented tQ he niade ?> the Ijkenefs of

c other men 5 nay, he toak upon ,hyn *&*

* form of a ervayu mftead oitpffonm of
"> Gol' '''"' ' ' . . ',■'.'•

III. c That vejyjbeing r-yhikh Qafne d.oww
c frojm heaven, jind w^s fent. of G<?d,.jntQ

* the world, }s reprefented as capable, «f kav-
c ing a^will $fferieni from the will #f God
Vthe Father, and therefore it mwft.he bfe T
J ripr to godhead: now this coiiW be nQ

* othef hut the ^ill of his human foul /

p.^

IV , *-Chi4ft fepfefehtsrhis pwn <Jomihg'
c into the world, ^nd being teat hitberby*
c the Father, in fuch f a manner as n&tundiy *
* ¥ leads fene to fuppofe he hada real arid ptt>-*
c per dwelling m another -place, /and in aa~

* other manner, befdrfe W eattife j int6 the*
c woFldj and that he then changed his place

* and company, and manner of life ; all

* which feem more agreeable to a fyiman

* Ipirit than to a divine perfon/ ''~ :

The Doftor then, § 4, mentions various
mtfceUnneoui arguments to prove tfie fatte the*
trine, e. g. ', -

I. 'It feems needful that the foul of
€ Chrift ihould be pre~exiftent, that ittoight

* have opportunity to give its prevk>$k fie-
€ tual confent to the great and painful un-

* dertakingof atonement for our -fins.' And

* indeed this voluntary content of his to be-*

* come incarnate and to fuffer is plainly re-
€ prefented in feveral places of Scripture/
Pf. xl. 6, 7. Heb. x. 5, &c.

II. c The Covenant between God the Fa*
1 ther and his Son Jefufr Chrift, for the re*

* demption of mankind, is reprefented in

* Scripture as being made from or before the
i foundation of the world. [Muft we not

G 4 I then

$& DR. W.ATTS'S L.AST -&EKTXl4J»N*$

* thm fopppfe] that . both parties fhould be
4 {Jrcfehti] and that this flxpukl not be tranf-
c .a£ted. merely within tl?£ divine efience by
c fuch perfonalities as h#ve no diftin<9t mind
4 and; will ^ The eflence of God is generally
*; ; dgreed to bg btft one . eonfeioqg jnind or
c fpirit, Now can prie jingle \inderftanding
'.' and will wake fuch a covenant ?'

.-■ III. : l thrift's coming intathe world is $1-

* ways expreffed in fom£ corporeal language, *
>c Ajjfch/aSi denotes his taking or* him, animal

* nature, or b<?dy, or flefh, withpyt the
f leaft mention of taking a foul/ . . 4 .
\ V IV. ' Jt is certain, th^t among the-learn-.
f ed of ths J^jyifh; nation, there wa$ a.tra-»
1 4iti^n of the pfpngxjftejic? of the foul of
' tJieM^Kah,'. — ; ?■

V. ', Since it pl&afed the Father to prepare
c a body f^r pur Lprd' Jefus, fyy the over-.
c jfhadowing of the Holy Ghoft, and by. a
' peculiar njanner of conception, that he
c might be the §on. of Qod in a fuperioj:
c fenfe, with regard to his jlefo, fo it is not
f pni^afpnabje to fqppofe that the faul of
?'Qhrift;.qlib, yirhich was to be united to
f ppdhe§d^ fhould h^ve this peculiar prero*
...... ,..'-...:. / ' ptiye,

ok th* TRINITY.. ' S9

f gative, to be derived immediately from
"* God, before any creature was made/

§ 5. Contains a confirmation of this doc-
trine by arguments drawn from the various ad-
vantages of if. After a full illuftration of
thefc, he fums them up thus : c There are
' many dark and difficult texts of fcripture
1 which have puzzled interpreters in fevera!
4 >ages, and which have hung heavy upon
' the various; fchemes that fupport the doc-
■* trine of the- Deity of Chiift. Now fup-

* pofe there could be one fingle clue fotind

* out, which leads us into, fuch a folutiott
' of all '.thefc difficulties, ^and fuch an. inter-
/^ pretation of thefe fcriptures, which has thfe
^following advantages attending it, viz.-±

* Which gives t^e mofl: natural and obvious

* 3nd literal fenfe, fo that every common
< reader that -had" no pre-conceived notions

J or fchemes of thought, would readily ruft

* intp fit the very hearing of it -.—Which
' puts leafned men to no trouble of figures
1 and metaphors, fuch as Prolepfes, i. e.
c fpeaking of things before they are done;

* or Cat achrefes, i.e. calling the eternal God,
€ without aftual union to human nature, a
f man, or an angel, &e.— *Which> is moft

5 con-

g& DR. WA!TnH f « VA»r StNYtMENTs

f confident with arid 1110ft agreeable to 9II
f other parts of the word of God, both -in
*>&e Oid and New Teftaraea*, renders Jthe
l ^xpofitkm of naajiy other texts eafier and
^>p4aiocr -than .before, and fets \the fevera!
5;parts of fcriptirre in a beautalul harmoi*
6 • ny^-rrtWhkbinterferes with no particular
h fcheme of ^div^nity, -and 4hos does not:
f widen -the common differences of the fel
i j^bral jpaitti^ >©f Ghriftisms/ but freely al-
^clQwaeatli o£tfabmthe|rowni€ntiment^
f, And- yet wljich sfiifts us toanfwer the 4b*
A le&ans of oIif opponents againft the di-
iiMooflty ^af our Wefted Saviour, and atfoal-
Glutei lihemtQ. embrace the truth >^>Whjch
•^^grarwJi^esthe pi^fonal gloriies pf our Lord
£ § efite Gbrift, and rai&s ius xo^defeenfion
* : *nd love to moft amazing degrees -j«-Which
f .^picead&a new;iuftre ouer the whole gofpd
•£.jof Ghrift, and /the various Si-anfa&ions re*-
j*. corded in the word qf God; — I would
<? ihvjHafeiy alfc whether [fuch a fcheme] does
A not bid fair f6r the tru*h of tlie Gofpel,
; c ' and the veiy meaning of -the &ored wri-
^ters? Such is the do&rine of the pre-ex~
if iffcenee-of the human Soul of Chrift/
"• : Vl & " ' ' Frbn»

.~j

op THE TRIUfJY. £T

From the foi^gping $*tra&sij: is fijfficiwitly
«vi(Jeflt what Dr. Watts's ^ntinwnts - wejrf
jwithin a ye*r pr tw<9 of hit death. Thf re*r
•4w, however, is not to Ajppofe, A th»fc i&efe
^blic^rions were the eff?& of any fwfclen
or recent change in his views of thefe 4<h>
trkies; for it is well known, that he -hud
many years before publicly avowed fopje pe-
culiarity in his manner of conceiving and
of expreffing himfelf with rcfpe& to th?m,
^oas to expofe himfelf to, the cenfures of the
.more rigid Trinitarians as favouring hsrefy*
In his Cbrijiian DoSrim of the Trinity*
printed fo early as the year 1722, hedifco^
vered his inclination to the Indwelling Scheme*
x>n account x>£ which Mr. 5T. Bradbury, in>a
letter dated 1725, changed him with mafc.
ing " the Divinity of CJirjift to evaporate
" into a mere attribute," and after jeering
at bis profeflfed love of truth, writes to him
tfyus : cc It is pity after you have been more
" than thirty years a teacher of others, you
f c are y$t to learn the £rft principles of the
V omslesof <*od. W& Dr. Owens ih&teh
.?* to be taught another Jefus? that the Sqijl
** and Spirit were only two powers in t&9
'• imj&.M&t&r ': . . ..j

The

9* DR. WATTS"'* last SentIments

V The Do£tor replied with equal gentlenefs
and firmnefs, telling Mr. Bradbury, among
•other things, " That though the Doftrine
%% of the Trinity be a firft principle, he never
41 knevfr that the particular mode of explain-
" ing it was fuch a firft' principle alfo,"
With refpe& to the charge of deftroying a triw
irity of per/oni, the Do&or anfwers thus. cc I
€t have often freely declared, and ftill de-
« c clare, that I allow the greateftdiftin&ioii
-" poflxbk between the facred three in the
" divine nature, which does not arife to
•" three diftindfc confcious minds or fpiiitSv
** Make it as great as you will fhort of this,
41 and I acquiefce. But then fince three di£-
** tin£t confcious minds is the -true idea of
* c three proper literal perfons, whatever falls
* c fhort of this can be but an anological
*« perfonality ; yet if any man will call this.
" a proper divifie-perfonality, though it is
** but firnilar to human perfonality, I wilt
* r hot contend about words and names."
' The Doftor, unmoved by the injurious
reflexions andfjdrce oppofition of fuch of
his brethren who were flaves to human fyA
terns, refblutely porfued his enquiries, and
the refult was, that he few further reafon td

be

on THi TRINITY. 9 £ *?

be diffatisfied with the common modes o£
explaining the Trinity, and he honeftly de-
clared his different apprehenfions refpedting
it. In the year 1721, he published his Sermons ,
on various SubjeBs y in which there is one en-*
titled, The Scale of Bleffednefs , or blejfed Saints,
blejfed Saviour, and blejfed Trinity. On the.
review of this difcourfe in the year 1729, he
faw occafion to infert the following Note*
(Edition 6th, voL i. p. 260.)

" This Difcourfe was delivered above
" twenty years ago j and the reader will oh-
" ferve fome warmer efforts of imagination
€C than riper years would indulge on a theme
" fo fublime and abftrufe. Since I have
4t fearched more ftudioufly into this myf-
« tery of late, I have learned more of m^
" own ignorance ; fo that when I fpeak, of
u thefe uhfearcbables, I abate much of my
cc younger affurance; nor do my later
" thoughts venture fo far into the particu-
" lar modes of explaining this facred dif-
" tinftion in the Godhead. There appears,
" to me good reafon to doubt, whether there
*' can be three diftinft and different princi-
cc pies of confcioufnefs, and three diftin£t
" and different wills in the One God, the

" one

& DR. WATTS'* iast SfiKfiksirrl

a ; ofte infinite Spirit. 1 was afraid to affert
** it in this fermon heretofore, and I am
^ more afraid to aflert it now. Reafon and

* &ripttjrfc join to teach me> that there can
* i: fctf!«it one God, attd this God is a Spirit;

* What diftinctions there may bfe in this

* pnS Spirit, I- know not." Yet fince I artr
« fiilly eftablifhed In the belief of the Deity

* of 'the bleffed ^fhtie; (though! know nqt
* c the manner of explication) I darfe let this
rt .difcourfe appear now in the world, as be*
ft 'xng agreeable fo far to my prefent fenti*
" ments on this fubje&. A larger and more
^particular account of my moft mature
tc thoughts on the doftririe of the Hbljr
" Trinity, may be feeri in the laft fermon
f* of my third volume." ' *

From the above note it is plain, that Dr.
Watts had in fofne refpe£ts altered his view9
oi the fubjeft'. But ibrnfe have taken occa-
lion from thence to propagate an idea, that
Be had entirely given up the Orthodox faith j
MiereaS nothing tnore can be juftly inferred
frofn it, than that he had fomewhat altered
his jiidgHiferit with refpedt to the manner of
exploiting and maintaining it.. Nor does it
kppeiar that he materially charged* his fenti-

ments

ments aftetwawfe. The ittohf he efi<f&i*e<i
into the matter, the" tfi©r# he -Was *6Bfifra*i4
, in his opM&a 'tfM reflect: te the mott per-
fe$ fimpMty of She diViri* nature, dr dhe^
fiefs of the-t&dfeeadi attdthe pre-exiftfehce
©f= the derived na*u*fc of Chiift, and ai? dif-
ferent times he wrote various Eflays oil tftefe
fabjefts, whkh he & lengthy in the twolaft
years of his life-, revifed and put together!
itt the tvw> publications of which we 1 have
givfen an account. From fchefe, as tt js
plain he was «dt an Athaftafian, it iseriffally
fo that he was $iot either aft Arian or a So-
cman . It is poffible hdwever, ' tho' jiot pro~
table* that he might change Ms fentimehts
after the publication of -rh£ above pieces.!
That this was actually the cafe has lately-
been confidently afferted by a writer in 'the
Monthly Rm^eip, Who mentions fome rdpecT:-
able perfons as having been well acquainted
with the fe£fc. -Vtfe- mall therefore produce
the whole paflage, and fubjoin fbme remarks
Upon it.

This writer, in the review of Mr. WittiainJs
Gdlefthn of Pfolms, having quoted a p'affage
in the preface to that work), before -referred

to,

96 DR. WATTS** Iast S«nt*ment4

to, Tefpe&irig Dr; Watts, goes, on to relate
the following anecdotes *. r / : r

_■ " That the Do&or had altered his opinion
** r with refpe£t to fome points of whatr.-fe
€ * called Orthodoxy is undeniable. . This is- a
a fubjeft that Jbmz of his encqmiafts fhrink
** from with concealed mortification, and
** would if pbflible configato oblivion, as it
5* cannot b& remembered without bringing
* K fome reflexion either on the Do&or hira-
?* felf, or their own darling caufe. But it
f * : would be in vain to deny a fa& known to
* c .many who were interefted in making it pub-
*' lie .It was well known to Dr. Lardrier*
€C and by him- communicated to the late ex-
" cellent Mr. Merrivalof Exeter , from whofe
<c mouth the writer of the prefent article
c * immediately received it. Dr. Watts's papers
u (many of which contained the moft ex-
c< plicit renunciation of fome of his former
" fentiments with refpeft to the do&rine of
<c the Trinity) were mutilated, and publiih*
'« ed in a very imperfeft manner. Somg
«< were wholly fuppreffed, and it was with dif-
* € ficulty thatDx. Doddridge could refcue from

. * Month. Rev. Feb. 1782. Vol. LXVI. p. 170.

" deftruc-

* deftfucVion a certaift ctftiQvrs paper refpecV*
£:ing tlie.l^rinkariafri'Coiltro^Fiy^ publtfhed
♦Mkmong the poftfctorftotte'Woi'kS) "emitted
WASvUton Aidrefi* ft 'tie' Deity &o'. The-
"rctopduft of lbtne "<rf ^C;W^^ friend*
'.' in this dale \«as & diftfeg&doiis, that it'
u caliwi forth very loud complaints from
'* thoiVv4b"ow5re acqute^«i«lFthe>#fcfet-i
^.ahd.it was but a iiwct time before Dr.
{ V DocUridge. embarked fish Lifbon^fcaV h<j-
" complained to Mr. Merrival of .uqfair con-
". duct \>4%yM:W^&'to i$r* Ka^aod

" witfc- the. -kte ©Pi 'iDsfrid: Jennings hi*
". paperstofeifc eiftrafted for puMcation;*"

There is no reafon to queftioritne veracity'
of the wrjtter.pt, the above .article, ;nfar,ft£jtke.
authorities .therein mentioned, .. but. it <%. ciiy •
tt> fuppofethat reports made' at fo 'great sr
diftaftce bf ' time, and whicn had j>afled thro! '
feveral hapds, might undergo iiwie ma tqiiai
alterations. That Dr. Watts left fome MS S.
behifirfhlmuo bepiiblifhed ^by> Dr. poMtidfr
and DY. Jennings is hot [denied/ '^me' of
tjxefe accordingly they published, viz. . ST^e.
fefltnd jwrt of the Improvement of the Mind,-
A Treatife on Educdtion y - and -Remnants of
' "' H time

i^p r^Utipn, tp aay points of orthftinfy; and
lfcfii#fofe r»ot&isg io theft cup bt'fiijfiafiwito
Ije; «« m.u|iJa^4 *;" Swfcthpft **r«utbe wtote

«*; tte$okm#A*tei& to &*Tk*$'\ Hthuih i*
ibmt 4mkd:W* jtatate^ enti«e...S&rfic;o£
l»i&ftf$<5«t:r«Wtt ttikai ^ fitppecfldd'v whiclt
rekte<i -itfb the, <b£tai«fc of She Trinityy: but
tfet <tagQ;o£ /*: *fc»$a*iity" iathbiBattei-

. * Probably, fiwae articjfcs afnwg. the pieces 'entitle^*
te7^^ofTi7heempliyei y ferftg& Ke fupprefcd. But if

i% t >ha|cHii(fite|t feia*tftilijft& crflfiiemj ty Ai AU
lowing ^y ff ti^'^ yhufc ftp* , W9 %f4 v to ( to&cbj*
the lautbor hiaifclf.. . ,,...,,,.:. V.*

** *TH<efe papers were writtep at feyeral deafens am) iR**
*«earWlsW : leifore, and *fc Varfois iciafltms ariflng
«\tte^hlbcig^t^p3^o6myJife/ kfia^GtftfU***

n Jwen&h W for fomc reaft)^ •* <rtft r * nqfc wpft^
« v preie^ii©like^ were lyid by *t t^at'tupe! ^hethet,
^ l^fc^^e^pnWi^th^n Jkn6m^1ioi; thtftglt *tfth*>
^gs&ier^ai:! d£ them; hare itood kmg^rrca** «noo^
H ^£muu*fcri?ts * nor df> I ftftPPfen^By^t^i^,
H ferior ta thofe ElTay $ aqd Remarks of this kitw^wbfch^
" nave before appeared ia the wprid s with fo**c accept^
•^••aitcti.^ If ttoey are not puWtOrediniray lrfe^tim*, my
",i*uMty &fen|jp, whtt kma the cite of \f*jr jpapws*

4v £r©ttBdl<sr tacaftfertito BboW thactfrfi ri*
md»nsffcnj?inorf ^^ifaid*»att<?0ibl^li\tkoir,
iwtltft.'k tttthekofBhiwlifrritMinkrrfT /,V
V/BlrafwiMitowatf-'faiwif^ Abfecrt*

if; tkar iKwiig japprdgfad ,thc& psSjaei^ ftfct
feji nctoMitteWtiii jtdtysw'tbj'&fy
whialii -Wwiiftojfcxed: ttfthtagW'tilflPltMl
* tidr-}tHlgMI'lmfa«flbf> fi^^^iiblfJIiEf ^ •tliyrit.''
tFhw&'*i«>*<pfc6©Y .;tH«f "Hlef '> e&Waii^ <*
« renunciation of his- fitter fthtirtWitS',^
» geHtlemflft of iteftuAtf Hvk^ Ife&lfeaf ttiem
6ffut*J>th* Writer- of tfefs,< l#ftt thef ^feairei
te-4um to \GOittaii>npthmg>'ne^, fteln| $nijr *
further illuftration of-hWftntirfMftts' e6a*.
cerning the Trinity which hehad before pub-
liflied to the world, and Therefore it might
well be thought by his executors " uimecef-
** fary to publifh" any thing more upon the
fubjecl. That this was the real matter of
fad appears to be highly credible,, and indeed
undeniable, from the piece already referred
to, which it is faid " Dr. Doddridge with
great difficulty refcued from deftru&ion."
This piece is evidently of the fame com-
plexion with what the Doftor had before
publiftied, and therefore moll un4oubtedly
H 2 that

570078B

,«*> DR. WATTS'iI tA.$T^f^trrmzvrt f &c.

4ha^ vvks Ithe cafe' with /A^r §tber papers ntibicb
mrA\fupprrffi -

We ihall hctctrim^Tribciit^ kngth, as
the Jitfe anfwer to the dhovc aflef toons of the
Jkfonthly Rtvirwts, arid *t' the farwotirac as the
jjfcft ckfcifive pAWtwhat the. Do£for/& laft
i^i^tmettt^ wer^on this muchdifputed point
of Divinity, as w«}l ^s &, pleating evidence of
jhi$,%Mj^% huipiUty and iqipartiality in
hi|tl^1^ 4 after tt«A.;.i; ;,.'... ■ •

n;?lfc is. pwblifhed ^ • the Quarts Edition of
©?« ^ptfee works )( ,v£l. iv. p. 640—643* ,{$

iftyfrbijim as fpljQjfrs. N ; :

*• V. ; " ?;

: /.vrlf t-:L

*l:W.-;si >>

?:~;,;:^X3 '«•

r ?J : = ,<•»; :,

ci r>

I., :■:■■: \

.:rt;8 ci:-:

iiWi ■-:."

\ ' T ' ' * *

M ;nrl .,•..:".

1 ."i i -■

-..•nr> •_>..: .

:r;jl •.:

..'..»/ ,

.' . ~\i

:..!^j

-

'lir'Y' ?

« > % O.

r't

i>r: .

7ir

£ *. a >T (I CWL V^IL 2iOC r I II tot

, \r *. ' r .' i - : ' r .- ^

7& Authors Solemn ifadrefs to, Ae.great

and eyer^bMJed: Goo^ <* ^ Rpukfy if

_ nQbat^ be bad written, iff. (be Trinitarian

f ' ' ■ Confroverfyi prefixed fy bim to fomt pieces

on tbat JubjeSfl wbich it pas' not~ judged

'''■ necejfafy to pubhJK _• 1 ' ^ 7;, v ' \. !

talk with thee Concerning thy judgmgntSy
Permit pie O God and Father/ to plead with
thee concerning; the Revelations of thy .nature
and thy gtace;. which ate r made m thy gpfpel :
And let ttie'do it Wirfi 4II' that hiimble feve4
rence^ dnd that hlbljr awe of &y J m%#yi
which becomes a creaturie in the presence "or

haft thou 4iot tranfacW^liy divine aria. Im£
portaiit "affairs' arnbhg' rnisn by thjr'Sofi 7g/»i
thrift, ^xA by thy hofy'§j>irit| AncT^aA thou
hot ordairted that men' mould tranifa&'their
higheft'arid moft momentous concerns with'
thee 1 , by thy So ; ti aHd'by^Spfotf Hatf
- ' H 3 thou

! -1

i*a HIS SO*.EM^ &DDRBSS

thou not, by the mouth of thy £on Jefus

^d-i^^oYi^d^^rfei^libft^? [ te\t not
my -duty ttieri,. to. on«[ui-r«, wKo or Vvkat are

MuftLn^t. know ,$**£» the only. tpue^God,
arifl y<p/»j G&r^ thy Spn ? whom.,|]tiou haft
fent, that I may fulfil aft m/refpe&ive duties

pealed tb'-tnee jn his lait prkyerj, .that- eternal
me dedfenas itponlnis knowledge) And ftnee
tnou naff .made fo r m\}ch,uie, of thy.bok

" Haft thou not afenbed divine inames^

or ^u>.^^o^ead fa ^m ? And..yet ;art
Sot': tfeu^., ap^.jhp^. a^Qne,r.the- trufr
l.V *: ■"• \ h God?

God¥ HBV'fflPg ^otfWeak Mai fe :

,^ .' ■- ')Z-y.: >•! ;0 sriifil ni •■

derftanding i

flfiMlfe c *itt afl % fton", '^ati&vfer thotf

I bete* ftUee td^beottf true tiot'W
Ityrem* d? .beii^s, m^ifib^ Ibr-tofitf
own exnta-e, and for *H % infihiite affairs 1
sm'dtMifa&ions among CTeatores. I believe 1
thy dtfl*3bn Jefits Qiri} to be ail^fdfficitnf
foV &e'giSfio\is Wotk '<& me&ation fietweW
God ari5 ? nia,rt,. ^vkrfl'tb^haiiajp^ittt-
ed hint. 1 1 fcelieve tfi ts a matt, -iij^w&onV
d^eti's all 'the! ' Ailtidsf of the godnead bodlty:
I Relieve ne is pnewitH God; he is God'
mahifefted in the fleflij and that the" matf
Jf/iti is To cloiely apd injeparatdy united wiff*
£he 'true ah4 jeterhaT Godhead, as' to becomi
<>ne/perfonV £v«h as ine ibid 'and body make
one.manV I believe thaVftis ill'uftHdcft pe^-.
Mi $ tere'^uofieM of 'divine dightty; flifc
ficl^ tV njale : ful^ a J tpHe J njent • for the iinS
of men; fey ; ni$ ful&r^%S Ji and 'deain^ W&i
ffro' they be accounted an infinite evil; and
H 4 that

io4 H I S S ,0 L E iB£ N^ A B J> 1^5 S

that fc b^al^ijfigop gower ;*<\.f$f tyftt-)
ieif.-ffjgofq the 4 e ^4^if con 4. t ?}^ft a y% ^ -.

world in thine appointed time. < -o ft ;; ;f ... ^ r>
7u--£ ^^tfe^^^le^d^^^ath

tJHftWf ch^^e n yie f r^ts, ; of ^eft.Kwo-{
HMf^? f*fii:& J^ja 6 ^, <^nd; t&ckry om
^, work of iUunyn^tv?ij, ianftiiScationj arid,
cqnfolatwn op ,the fpu.ls <jf . alt jhy^ihtenj, , .
^d;t;^Jpring ; theni ; fafeto t^c ^ keaiYggiyr^rkk
iyi4(J : myfeif up jpyfaily.and^nKiHil^r to*
this- method of thy.faivatipru as. it ;s,revealed
in, thy gqfpeL ,But I a^Q.owlejJge my^darlj,-
neiSr. ilill- X,w?^tj r to have tjii?^ wond^rfuj
doftnne of the a^-fo^
Spirit, for. thefe divmV works made , a" /little

hi

in thy deity ? Js.it 3 vain and finful cunofity
tp^eure to have pis .article fet in futh a
light, as may not dimimm the etprnaj' glory'
pf the unity of the true Pcxi x nor. qf th«
f»grema$v of. Thee thsi father oif'ajl., ' '

| ;; '. ' ••'." ' ""■■""..T-\. '. ' '. J/ >^tf *#.

te fe *>y #!&<* of £*> .-*w»d/ to^Mi

d^^e dp^ioe is not to-be unde^ojad^bjjr
i^eja, an4 -yet they wej^e ,re^uired. to ^;l^v«
j^ X,WQ\Ufl $$$£, fub4\^*ll;<»y; curiofity,^
faitli, apd:/ulwittedi ; ji»y v ?yai¥ie?ilj$ ;a&4
^btful imaginations,, jas ^ar. as it vmpcfi
fibk, jo, the Holy:an<fciwJifldfe%w:twnatibnE:<tf
t h X. wQf^. 5r «8u| Jkifinwfc&ids^iou haft any
jsrhere f<tfj^4 ^ Jpun^wft^lit crto inato*
$iefe, enquiries. { .iMy -> e^nf^»<we r is ; 'tJ»'«jb«ft
natural : light , thou baft^ppfc^fithin *fte, -a«d
fincejtiiou. haft given nag tte-fcii^r^i in?
Wn:cq^cr£ebi<k nwiearjch the foiptwss;
jo find o^ut .truth apd 4*ernallife.- r ; It* t>id« roe.

iRFi^.f^JWPv^ ^ d rMt^^cb; i|
gpod,. 4.^ ^ly.xxwnr^ofdt^y the fani* ,6X7
iff? AJPW& ^wourag^s, tj^j4qly< Jia&ice. ~. J
/fe> 1 fewJ > ^:^ e f n kn& r %cbin#in$>jhj$

feyW^yith^nderftand^ gSurelxi^u^

father, the Son,, a^^bpty jSoirit, ;U fc ftfc
yc'/^W^blfiffedCpd, fcidfrthpnfeeen
pleafcd; in : anj ; one ..pi^ki ', fmptwm tl &tihf&f

informed

fmorfiifct! Mb vfhlbh ot 1 thtt'ailRrail ftpituons

ftfcHAHStt 6Fchrtffian£fca4 b^%tie;ftiotf
te«Mt With vftr ^ttteh^iaf,' fatokaMi

tttjty Hit i^i^Mldtrt \vt3'6lk i h^ v o^

IMn«d!F-id0l*l©nfl&r - i^^

fcteriSwfci^hierf, Mtitti of <&ihe i ab&ii 1 i$

tSRr^tttf 1 tH3r Wdrd^i fofiir to* W$; #o*fibi£
• fbr^to^afe&^tHferfi, 1 as^fe'dhiy raft

i&tayifo&J '.bfrnm ffi6A j Waff $kaAd &

to e»^^nd : lhtl«(!fet!i&prt^61Stit^ lb ttik

^y^d.ai^araB' Htm '&kmtj"mm&

*&**<*, «l'^2W!hi^Mlty eii*pfe}fei 2ft
ls^!ikfoMnM r ^te : ^<H MFMiStfM

b-*T;jhi times

thtietof Ith^gi^eJ, wiuhrier the kingdom
and eafy pfifh^ ib ftetthe way^ringinani

tefeihv "J&d*htfilfelt fcalte^'tkejx^r'aiiA
th© igtofofr, -the' mfcan-atf#FdMai!t tffifcgs it
this Wtffid} Jto ^knWiea^^ti^ft*%«L
teir;«bfl, n aM' r tkil|fit tTteMWrMlWIffl.
fiaWaktf ofi«!»^(avatioft%KA thdii-feftf^is.
irtdod.' vjfltt-alwwf .cm 4bcfe >fteak £?eatttfsi
ever take in £o ftrange, fo difficulty <flnd ; fi$
•bftruie «>dfl(ftrifie &' tftfc'j 3tt the explica-
tion aniciidEfenceM^iyreof^iuJtHriides of rfietfi
^iuim n^n:lofildamM^ abdf ^ety, ha\ie< loft
fhemfelroi in -itrfoute ; fubtilH^s of difpuce,
and ernfifefs-mitgetpof <krith$Hf > r And can this
ftrhnge .and' perjikxing rtcrtwri of drtetrcst
pjrfoa3:gbiaig.'to;«iaJkc up btteiCpue^od, bft
& anidoeffihy and fd impfMUMCt^ pan'tff <t>hat
ehriftian;idi>&rih£ '.fffcfc&iltatcte oM ^dfta-J
Jiletot arid^the *#*;'• is ItpPe'ft&t&i as & £kirt
4fld"*b <eafy, -e^n itf the* rfieaftei? tn&tt*
ftandings'?^ • '-'-.- " ' ■■two hnr. . /nt JU»!<j

- : .«*to thou- f^arc^er c^;ftgarf^ Whb Aweft
all *litog*i 'PappeaT t6 %ee : tbri ; ce , fritri£ %it>
JGncerity ^my-ertqfeffieV l i < i 1 rto''.thei^ xtark

l ." t: haft

f<* Uli 3-Q&KMN A*»*tSS

haft, feci! nie, ,ahd haft ,tried my^heart to*
iwtfdsjtheet Iftttfre be any lurking hypocxify
ja.:tny heart, any;. feeret bias towards any
*t»ng,.W 1tri;thi ) [iiii<;c?vftr t Jitp Father of
fUgr4% andjtfcjiife frfroiinrmy. foul lor e«?f>
ff -t^ine, eye diftoyers the kaft ipajlc. of crtf
jj^W:|>reju<&&. ; in / ., any : corner .o{},my. fojufc
EKfcnguifh it utterly, that I,may not be -let)
a&ray from the truth, in matters of fuel}
importance, by the leaft glan<e jof • error or
ittiftake, ;• <" {■.'. .j

. «* Thou art wittjefe, O my!,God, with
what diligence, with what conftancy and
care, I have read and fearched thy holy wordv
|»w early and: late, by ni$rtiand by day, 1
have, been making.thefe enquiaes. Howfer-*
yently I have been feeking fbee on my bended
knees, and dimming my humble addreflestq
thee, x to enK^iten. my darfcneft , and to flievit
n« tbe*aeaning.of fhy woroVthat Ji mayi leariv
wfeil( fcmuft bfiUeve, andwhst; I myft praftife
w^7.fegard. : ^[ this do&rine, in. order: to
pleafe thee, and obtain eternal life .! ■>

j y.'.-Gfreat God,- who ieeft ail' things, thou
l^a£ i>eheld what bufy temptation? have; been
o^tpi buttering about my hear^, to caH it off
frpjn; thefc^a^ojjjOM^.and di|&p^t, / mq»jrie&
. ,, and.

r*TO n ."t HiadllTf. •• jo*

fed to gi»e<up thy word and thy gpfpei as aa
unintelligible book, and bctafecmyfelfto thq
Kght of nature and reafan : But thou haft
been pkaied by thy divine .power to (caitec
thefe temptations, and fix my heart and njy
hope again. upon that Saviourand that eternal
life, which thou haft revealed in thy ward*
and. propafed .therein, to.our knowledge : an4
aocej>tan«.u; Bkffed: bfotlteniWBe of my Qp4*
that has.jjett differed toe; tp:?abaknd<j«; tj?#
$ofpeJ ©i his cSjon :^&* I and bkffed: Wtb#.
holy Spirit that kept me attentive, to t&e trutfe
dgliyfiWfi -Jftilh^.-go^eWrflndii inclined me ,tp
wait longer in .myl/oHffch ,of thefc diving
truths «ndWr!t^J)o!p|.<>f thy :graciow| illu-
mination..: , 7 : - -;....., • .;. . /.. :-.:::.. ^
. .v I hjqmbjy : c^l thfce. $ft . wifne& &, $Xf d
God, what a holy jealbufy. I evt r wear; ata$|
py heart,. left ;I .{hduld dp the %hteft$gt
honour, tp thy fu|>renv.Majeity; in ahy.ojf
ijty: enquiries or determinationa. r Thouie^ft
-what a religious fear, and what a teade* foliri
<itude I maintain on my foul, leftlfljould
think or fpeajc any thing to diminifh th<
grandeurs and honours of; thy Son jky&vmyt
dear Mediator., to whom I owe my eyerlafting*
hope^ : Thou know eft how. miKh, lam. afraid

"* .of

of lpeakan^one wad which ute $&© eOTidrocii
tntoa* negled ofithylfldfed %rii*!8jjafc; whom
llidpe I am jdaiiy.receiviog ha^ipy: influence!
of' light? • and ftcengtfc* .« Qoard afi . the mw
ticms>of my. miiad,/0 almighty! (3t>d, agaiaft
i«e»y J thing that bcaidcrs npon^^eis.d^ngepau
For bki my thoughts to, indiiige, and. foetid
foypejitb write one -word, ihafc fequid itafe
thofe grand idea* which belong to.fbjiftti- «f»
thy Son, or thy holy Spirit.' jForbid.it,. O
my God, that eveir I fhoiiJd be ft* tfo&aj>p]|
as to angterify my Father, *df- Safari. q&
*ny Saiiaifiep, itv any*'-** my. fe*%iri**tt- ©*
expreffiom coneei^Mrtgth^m. ■ ' '-;••'- ■ '
-» Bkfl^ aril* fei^^<5c(d r ha^ thou no€
promifed that the meek thou wilt- 'guide 1 &*
j\jdgment, the m«ek^ou wilt tea<?fe-^yHvay ?
HaHthottnw told 'i* By Jfafak th^ptfopfeet}
tltat thwa, wilt bring the blind! by aiw4y whipfc
ti*ey l&ew not, aiVd wilt; 4fcad;tfeet#irt patfaaf
which they hawe-notknos^n ? Haft th««nx©fl
mformedosJ by t^iy proph«t .H^aj that i/ wtf
follow- oivto know xh* Lord;, tten v\*e-ftwtl>
know hiffi ;•! " -Hathrnot thySoft, ojar Saviour,'
aflfriaduls; ^atourheavmly Father will>
jjrte his hofy Spirit-m tlwmnvbtf :aik hitn-h
A^iaf hciabtaypointbd to guirieiiis into-jill!
■t-j truth?

truth * «arv^ I aotf^if^t r th<>' gracious
guidance of \ftiy ! gc^ BpfriT Gorttinvfefly *
Am IrtMftnOly fti^feftr ^^<S|i^ daifeii&
and ^«eaitn^,'-ffly '«feingt«J«i5- >Pgu^ied9 oti
wery tffafe, iottkwiydittep iwfcdfitferiey ft* jtty
«w» #«wkifif^'^WJh thoa teawe 'Arab :»'{*&-
foeafttte $eodkfcred among-^PPfeeuf^- pei^
^*4<feii = ■Hhlt^^e -i^dC 1 ^ the .va&*tf
ttf&ijfekrt'ittid eontf*ra^W^e» toefcf^
tJi^diMii^tttafii?'' * < : *-i'-' '.•''»•' ; - • «''-': u P>
[-.id xpfeljyitt^ heaverify PaAw, foi> P'tiifr
qrike<*kpd ^ad- wtapf o£ ihetit tatftatitos
pramio^;fa^aiiiw3t«ttiUiiUJettbin, <W»i*
wilt thou explain it to me thyfelf, O my
God, by die fecret and certain dictates of
thy Spirit, according to the intimations of
thy word ? nor let any pride of reaibn, nor
any affefration of novelty, nor any criminal
bias whatsoever, turn my heart afide front
hearkening to tbefe divine dilates of thy
word and thy Spirit. Suffer not any of my
native corruptions, nor the vanity of my
imagination to caft a mift over my eyes, while
I am fearching after the knowledge of thy
mind and will, for my eternal ialvation.

*• I intreat, O moft merciful Father,, that

tbo^wjl^npt fuffer the remnant of my (hot*

'V life

I1fet9.be wafted 4rt filch c«dIefe/iM*idtring , jj
in queft of thee and tfq^pnr^Sffp as a great
jiart of my paft days JWve; bctfisi ibut let -my
jtneere endeavoujrstp -knowiitbec, in ail .the
ways whereby; thou. haittlifooMensd ,tayfetf : io
thy wQrdr Ik ax^ned>ith,ilidxfotccfr, thai
my - fou) .b^ ;; eftahli{hed in .eye/y na*lM
truth by thy ^>ly ^it i; I,rajiy r fpend jfcy #,
manning life apeqrding jto : the .jste. ojfjtyi
gofpel, and may with all the holyrand hftppjl
creation afcribe glory and honour, wititom
and power to .thee* who ,fitteft upon tbe>
throne, and tqlhelamb for ever and ever."

** * *

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AP.PEtf-

A P P E N D IX.

( N°I. )

Containing a fpecimen of Dr. Watts's, manner
of reading, referred to p. 5, of bis Life,
Note [0], being Remarks on a Book en-
titled A Treatife of Humane Reafon, printed
1675* Small iamo.

In the Title the DoStor has inferted the author's
nam*) Ma. Clippo^d, Efq. In the blank
leaf at the beginning be puts bis own name >
with the date 1705, and writes as follows .*

HlS^book when firft published, did
perhaps mollify the fpirits of fome
men that were fet upon perfecution of the
Diffenters. It has many ufeful notions in it,
but it exalts Reafon as the Rule of religion
as well as the guide to a degree very dangerous :
which occafibned fome writings Pro and Con
at that time.

A book called Plain Dealing, by a fcholar
at Cambridge, was publifhedin oppofitioh to
it, whofe defign feems tending toward peF-
fecutioUt

ii 4 APPEND*! X.

An Anfwer thereto came out by one AU
berms Wqrren, callfd An Apology for the Dif-
courfe of Humane Reafon, &c. I2mp. p. 144,
This apologizer is a perfect Hobbifl:; w iiis
ftile pretty fmooth, buf his fenfe exceeding
thin-fet, his thoughts trivial and common,
chiefly . againft perfection j nor is there any
tiling iri it wbrfh the heading fo mttefr as 'the
charter of Mr. Clifford, [This chancer
being ^ lingular one we will transcribe it.]

<€ As to his perfoh, 'twas little, kis face
father flat than ov^k && eye ferjcms, coun-
tenance leonine, lm ecmAitut^n dehoferick,
^ngujne, tin^ured With ifietanchofy £ of a
facetious'converfation, yet a great humorift :
iof qfeadfc' parts, ft> ^f^ibdiek r pafB§fc*; and
vetiireisl, whence teiy&'Xte WQ&hfcffifd, wry
xriticalr poiitive and prpi*d> gmfe/ footed to
t be rich} -he ha4 a wiji tcf be jv$>, .would
ttbrifjSk ior.txcbfjs fom*twnQ$.._ His r$i§iqri:Yf#s
that of -lw country j he was al^ Joyal tf>
his' Ju&g*;4nd a v^y goocjt poet, Hf 4$4
'twixt jo and 60, at Sutton's ho^ii^wh^
-maftsi* fe^ f hgn was > no^ tntich lam^if e^ by
the -jKUfioQer*.' Fetf kijew him we& c r jHje
-W tm^ilrang%c@?»pQfed > /tk<prtftio**
ed whether his virtues or his vices wftcS fftoft.

rr^ 4 7 " I in-;

1 A * *. g it . ft 1 & 4%s

MndhWt$«h&<la(H jM 'ft€«#ejjarted pe&e-
' able and pkiafly." : -In.- ■ ■ ■' ■

■ Andtter Bd&kcdletS OifervutioHs upcs, kd.
lamo: p. jirg>, ( whereiA (Mir autiior i& charged
witlh coafufion, and-ibrii^ ilicoiiliftefifeie* airi
proved upd>A him. riBm :what was tnilyvflU
luabk iii itkff'cbntrottrrfy was not ffiuth.-: I
have [here] inferted all that was- worth iiotki*
by .-way ofc marifinai vetnadtfi with an *-?*'Jin<f
thty arripnvf^Df^bti^m;atfytttim andfikiid

- . ?htDȣfa?s*e&n ftwapkPdre diftingatfhiB.
^km^r^ri^u^md(^<^fy^efl^Whkn

v. Titers r be&g foi ftlanyf M8ift» caft before mi
*? ; ty jte'tfrta : ; ttM'H&e&ib: 6f flfl&tt, <HHit
k ' 6h«- had : g«*at n&* of :* better* eyiflgfcfc
"<" thaivl* left tibby tllfefa^df otirfiHt fofe*
« father," .the Dodo* -hehi^rfcS, *** TO*
fenfen<iey !&«*<& frotji *h« author's pen by
th£ Biere^owe^ of titothy 'overthrows tiiari^
tkihgfc irt his following difccrapfe, an4 fli<xild
havk at leaft taught Mtfi *» rtjentkm i^^OT?
'&t%yer"is tStod for . fkfe dir65fibn as a <k»B|>a*
ttiotY to'thiS great gtoMe Jfceafon hv queft : of
JUUgion..

•• •; • ■ . I a — - #-34»

446 A f P & N D I %.

P* 34- " I caaaot fee hpw-any but God
" himfelf can certainly know that any man
" is an Heretic." %* Ofy. But furely He*
frefy niuft be knowable by men, elfe hcwj can
Heretics be rejected ? Tit* iii. 10. But then
this rejection is riot with fire and fword, but
only a cafting them out of fuchan Ecclefiaf-
tkal Society.

\ P. 38, cc He who gave rules whkh admit
V of fo many interpretations, is weU content*
" ed that they fhall be interpreted feveral-
*<1)^v * 4 * Gjod vwho left. his word ob-
fcure in fome tirfctfmfta**tials of religion,
foreknew and de%tfedjtoperrriit various in-
terpretations th^c#>, m?t that aH caA be
4rni€, but to try whether iHf^eirtall this doubts
^uli|e^ v in lefler gi^tersjbey would all hold
thejeflfejjtials s'landramderrthi? .difference of
cphrions pra^ii^rC^arity., 4 ; t . .; < v ..
r jP^ 66*' "'4fe &<ikypu fearch,--rthere is
ff s thereforei ip *nan a natural ability of fearch-
l'?W$ Ritual truths, -and that can be not
ff^^^fe^^#^^ftanding. ,, : %*jt
i%|ff»ted that ipaftfraa a power of fearchipg'
fgintual truths necefl^ry to falvatibn, if he
ufe all the helps God has propofed,. viz. adr
.viee.qf the learned and pious, fcripture, and

earneft

A P P E N P I X. 117

carneft prayer, &C. But then It is hot Rea-
fon that difcovers all thefe fpiritual truths tec
him, but only (hews where they may be
found, and reads and receives them there;

P. 6 j. " We lay the blasphemous accufa-
cc tion of injuftice upon God, if he piinifh
" us for alienor Which we could not avoid/*
%* No man fhall be Condemned but for the
fins of the Will : either Heathens a&ing con-
trary to the light of nature, or thofe who
are born in chriftian countries, for neglect-
ing the helps to knowledge, or bribing their
underftandings, &C;

P. 69. " In this cafe [error in judgment]
* € we cannot know our fault, and therefore
€l have no means of repenting of it J 9
*** Therefore we grant, the condemning
fentence ihall not be pronounced on any for
mere invincible ignorance.

P. 87; " Reafon is to be accounted that
" Rule and that Guide we look for, Sec"
%* If this author would be content to
exalt Reafon only as a Guide to us in the
fearch after the Ruse of Religion, perhaps
he might be defended: bqt to make it the
Rifle and Guide too attributes more to it
than a Christian d?ires afjfent to, Tfofoffow*

1 J 3 **£

/% gutfatipp f$^,Jfapo£far mate, with 4^

? c tiM« matter Rsafqn # tfje Eye, tr#? Rjeli-
cc 099.' **.-?!# Obj^; aU <^hj&r;^lp$^ di-
\ . yine^d hqrftai}, ;a^fS/the %ht r as fppc-
:\t9Ptf$£:$fc :'^fo».-it:K iippbffibl? to fee
"with #ny i&Hg, J^-por aw#>yq, i..e.
< c puf I^eafqn. ¥#-*. c|ear Light is alio ne~
5<:$§i£tiF£i withp^ whjtch our $ye <$n n Qt &?
5! $£ :qb}e&, nop jo^r^aiQn fmd : pyt.th^

• $t the end of the £oqfe tbt &*&or. t ffpri%f tfa
following Remarks on the while.

,Tphis Difco\irfe qf tyggtyup reafon c^tans
p##y val^jble find bpJ4 truths <$£ the ijeceft
$$y a$4 ufefukip&; of ^eapching for happinef$
jby its sondu& $ ^h^ch if referred to our
fcar?h .afer $ Ryje, or fggerior Guide, via.
Revelation, may h? &fely adjnittpd.; (efpe T
fially if hf. had joined ^ar^ejLi Prayer to Go4,
{herewith.) But th? \#n% and ftrain of his
$fcqvirfe fcems to bid us depend 911 human
Rcafcn aloas in ths |b»r§h of happinefs ipfclft
pr heatvei) and falvatipii -j and his method? of
mfooiog we fuch a? y?o#ld lead the ign©t
jpnt ajpd £»*&?# in|o^ comphte- and #>te
depemtefcce Qn. &6$fen. $4y $$£ <#i thi$

; fubjeffc

fubje& i$ contained; 5a ifiefe Remarks; which
efpeci»l}y refer to the lalfc part of this * book
-from p. 80. to the e**d. ' ". >

It mu# be granted, that men of fenfc and '
learning and enquiry, are led byRcafoh to
-the acknowledgment of the divinity of Scrip-
ture 1. 4ed,tf^ing tjhis c»*^lu#o*x froip a hun-
dred n*oral arguments and probabilities,
which united amount to a certainty and de-
aionftration. Thus. bjr.Reafon we find out
the Rule of Religion; whicb is infallible-;
biit then o*jr Reafon muft fubjc&'itfeif to
be guided by that Rule, which is divine and
ipf^lible, ••.."-•

Qfy\ pj i86. <c But this Rule To found
" muft be interpreted: by Reaibh." l Anf. lx\
things which are. plainly and exprefsiy af-
ferted by this Rule of Scripture, and that In
a fenk which cmitradi&s not other parts of
fcripture, or natufalUight, oiir reafpn muft
fubmit; and believe the thdttg, though it cart~
not find the modus- or rmniraar 6f its being ;
So in the JDo&rines of the Trinityand Irr-
cartfationi which are above the isacb of Qifr
feafoa in this prefent ftate, But w^ cartnot,
tior.mttft we be ltd totafce ^^irisof
ftriptijre in fueh a feafe as cxprefsly and

J 4 evidently

*** A P P JE N D I X.

evidently contradi&s all fenfe and reafon j
as Tranfubftantiation : for the two great
Lights of God, Reafon and Revelation ne-r
ver eontradift each other, though one be fu-
perior to the other.

Therefpre Reafon ha? a great deal to do
in Religion, viz. to find out the Rule, to
compare the parts of this Rule with one
another, to explain the one by the other, to
give the grammatical and logical fenfe of ths
expreflions, and to exclude felf-contradi&
tory interpretations, as well as interpretar
tions contrary to Reafon. But it is not to
Jet itfelf up as a Judge of thofe truths ex-
preflfed therein which are aflerted by a fupe-
rior and infallible diftator God himfelf -, but
Reafon requires and commands even the
fubjeftion of all its own powers to a truth
* thus divinely attefted, for it is as poflible
-and as proper that Gqd /hould propofe Doc-?
trines tq our underftanding which it cannQt
comprehend, as> Duties to our praftice which
we cannot fee the reafon of y for he is equally
fuperior to our Underftanding and Will,
and he puts the obedience of Both to 3 trial.
Yet after all it muft be acknowledged,
{iiat the greater part of mankind, as well as

~" "" * ' tf

APPEND I X. **i

of chriftians, have their Reafon fo exceed-
ingly weak, their prejudices fo ftrangely
ftrong, their incapacity to fearch and to dif-
finguifh truth fo great, that there feems to
be a neceffity of the Spirit of God by pow-
erful and fecret influence to lead thofe whom
he defigns to fave, both to the belief of the
Scriptures as the Rule, and to the interpre-
tation of thofe parts of the Rule which are
abfolutely rieceffary to falvation. And we
find that the bell account that moft Chrif-
tians can give why they believe Scripture to
be the word of God, and why they believe
this or that to be the ferife of Scripture is,
becaufe they have found fuch influences pro*
ceeding from it on their hearts, to change
their wills from finful to holy, and tutu
their fouls from fin and the creature and
this prefent world of vanity to God and Re-
ligion, and eternal things. And this is moft
properly called theteftimony of the Spirit;
which the l*roteftants oppofe to the Popifti
teftimony of the Church ; this laft being ex-
ternal and rational only, and built upon a
hundred probable citeumftances which are
ftnowable only to #ie learned, but the firft

being

.in A P ; P E K D I. .%.

being inward and common tQ all true Chris-
tians, and by which all muft be faved.

And it may be remarked here, that tl*e
reafon why rational and learned men exalt
Reafon fo high, and make it to be their fole
guide and judge in things of xeligion is, be-
caufe they find their own Reafon able to
prove the truth and divinity, of Scripture
and the Chriftian Religion, . and to fecurc
them from the follies and abfurdities of
Atheifm, Judaifm, Paganifm, and Maho-
jnetifm. But they cannot condefcend to
fympathize with the vulgar, and think how
exceeding feeble and variable and deceivable
are the minds and roafoning powers of th?
generality of mankind, who all have fouls
to favej towards whofe direftion into the
truth, and fecurity and establishment therein
unto falvation, it is very evident fomething
more is needful than the infirm and unfteady
faculties of nature ; and as this author him-
jfelf by the very force of truth thoughtlefsly
afierts, p. 2. " One had great need of a bet-
4C ter eye-fight than is left x\s by the fall of
" our firft fore-father."

N a

A- P T E N D 1 & %$^

( N° II. )

Two Letters between the yullifher of this mor\
and a friend^ concerning Dr, W attsV Sentiments
r^peSing the Tvimty. \

L E T T E R L

£)ear Sib,

I HAVE read with' attention the view which
you have given of Dr. Watts's laft fentiments
concerning the Do&rine of the Trinity, and'think
you have undeniably proved tha.t the common re-
ports of certain perfons, refpeSing his renuncia-
tion of the orthodox faith, ar^wthout-foundation.
But I muft take the liberty to. fay, that in the ex-
tra6is which yoii 1iave given from his two laft pub-
lications, you have led your readers to entertain
an idea that he Vas entirely in what has been
called of late the Indwelling 7 fcbtme ; that he did
pot maintain a diftin£iion of perfons in the God-
Kfead, but conceived of God, as being only one
jf>erfon^ who is called the Father, and that it wafc
this one perfon who dwelt in the man Chrift Jefus,
in confequenee of which union Chrift is God.
Whereas I think voumuft have found, in examin^
ing his writings, that he did hot deny a three-fold
fjiftfnftion in Deity, and that Chrift had an ex^-
Jftence as God, previous to the union of the human
nature to the Godhead, For my own part, tho*
I would by no means condemn you and others;
who are in the Indwejling-fcheme, as heretics,
Jince you mean to fupport the Deity of Chrift;
and I think your fentiments widely different from
Arianifm or Socinianifm ; yet I muft confefs to
you that I do not believe thia to be the fcripture

reprefenWticm

4*4 A' P P ti\ N D : t X,

reprefentation of the do&rine. And, tho J I am
clearly of opinion that our orthodox writers are
pot to be juftified, who fpeak of the Father, Son,
and Spirit as three perfons To diftinft from each
other as to be* three beings > (which I cannot vin-
dicate from the charge of Tritbeijm ;) yet I do
apprehend that there is a three -fold djftinftion in
Deity, which juftifies the term three perfons, and
that to each of thefe the effential attributes of
Deity belong. Herein I cannot but think Dn
Watts's opinion coincided with my -own, fo that
he was more orthodox than your view of his fen-
timents would lead your readers to fuppofe.

I aim, with fincere refpeft, &Ct

L E T T E J fe; II.
Anfwer to the foregoing.

My dear and worthy friend,

I THANK you for the freedom of your re~
.marks, and fqr the opportunity which you have
afforded me of expreffing my ideas about Dr.
Watts's fentiments, and propofing fom$ queries
to you concerning your own.

I firmly believe that Dr. Watts ^as, in the latter
.part of his life at leaft, in the fentiments which,
upon the moft deliberate and impartial enquiry, I
have embraced, refpeftingthe Deity of Chrift, &c.
called the Indweliing-Jcbeme. His idea feeFas
clearly to me to have been*this : That God is one
infinite being, poffeffed of all perfeftions : Thaf
this one God is he. who is often characterized as,
the Father. That Jefus Chrift is another being,
or perfoh, in hiiflfelf inferior to the Father anci
derived from him ; as you and all the orthodox

APPENDIX. tx$

will allow theftaan Chrift to be *: But that he
exifted with the Father before all worlds ; (which
you, with the Socinians, deny :) And that the
one God, the Being called the Father, (with re-
ference to Chrift the Son) was fo united to him, .
and fo dwelt in him, that he became one with God,
and in confequence of this union he is properly
God, fo that at his incarnation God was manifefted
in theflejh.

It is true, he does fometimes allude to the idea
of fome unknown diftin&ions in Deity ; but at molt,
I conceive, he only means to fay, he does not
know what diftinQions the incomprehenfible na-
ture of Godhead may admit: of; nor do I.
(See p. jy.) But I. cannot find that . it was any
article of his faith tfiat there' are fuch diJHnSions
in the Godhead as you (J)eakof ; on the contrary
he maintains that ttoe perfon, or being, united to
the man Chrift Jefus, was not apart of Deity (for
fo I muft conceive of it if it was not the whole
Godhead) or aft exiftence feparatefrom the. Father*
but that k was the Father, him/elf See p. 76, 77.
$0 that I cannot think that I have given a partial
reprefentation of his fentiments;

And now, my good friend, as I am writing to
you on this fubjeft, I will embrace the opportu-
nity which you have afforded me for enquiring^
What is meant by that three-fold diftinftion in Deity
which you maintain ? I have put this queftion to
many who ufe this phrafeology> but could never
get a fatisfa&orjrarifwer. When I have propofed

* Dr. Watts, in his fermons printed 1721, has thefe.
expreffions : " The Son of God is fooken of in. the New
/* Teftament as a very glorious perfon, who was fome way
" begotten of the Father, i. e: derived from God the Father,
*« Vol. II. p. 452, He is lonftitmsd near to God by an qn-
* ff fpeakable Union. What joys-, what unknown delights
" poflefs the holy ibul of theonan Jefiis ! for he is the neareit
" cloture to the buffed God ; for he is one with Godhead."
Vol. 1. p. x$o.

my

:i*6 .A P P H N n I X*

my difficulties; I hdvc been tx>Jd " Ike fuftjeSt h
ft mytterious, and I muft not pry too ttKjuffittveljr
t° into;. the deep things of God.'v .Now I am
viMihg to remain ignorant of .what God has not
< ihoiigfot fit to reveal. But furely revealed truth,
may beunderftoodv and it cannot be pfefiihiptuous
to feared into the meaning of it. However,. the
enquiry in the prelentt cafe is not about the
divine nature itfelf, but about a mere human forifc
of fpeech in refpeft to it. * And is there any pre-
iumption in afking a fellow -cteatttre, when he ufes
language concerning God, whkh 1 do not undef-
ftand, What he means 'by it ? of in ftating the
obje&ions I have ta it? With as, much propriety
bright I charge him witb. prefumption in obje&ing
to any .phrafeology/^f.'wi^y ot «Jefiririg> of roe
*n explication of it. D<» you*, expeft or wifti
me, good 7 Sir, to adopt aey mddss of fpeech,
without having idcaa torthem ? Is tbis a fufficieht
teft oifca pfcrfon's being orthodox *, I haVe always
thought orthodbxy to fignify; not /pricing but
thinking right. For any thing that appears, I think
the fame of Gad as jrou do. You feem to main-
tain the Unity of God in as abfolttte a fenfe as myi-
felf, inafmucbas you deny Cod to« be, three beings.
Wherein then do. wediffer ? Were you to tell m/c?
freely what ideas you hav6 whep youtalkof three
diftihftions in Godhead, poffibly it might appear
that you believe no more than I do, or I might
readily fall into your fentiment*. But till you tell
me your meaning* (wttich furdly ypu can do if you
have any), I amr incapable of making a companion
between your fentiments and my own. At pre*-
fent, the mode 6f exprefBon which you adopt
appears tome highly exceptionable. _ t [

Lean form no idea*>f a thr^e-fold diftin&ion in
Deity but that of three Beings, or three compo-
nent parts* which i$ equally inconfiftent wit{* the

• ; ~ unity,

A : P 1 f E N D I X, itj

ttmty, and w6ii\tt imply divifibiltty; which I am
fiirc you wouia f> p.i i ot'6ft , againft.' : 1 can eaftry , con-*
cdve bf a diftfnftron betweentR^ attributes drGodl
But d# you make the Son and Spirited &e ciifily
iKftirrft attributes? If fa/ with what propriety
Cati : they be represented, and addrelfed, vsperfons ?
br hofr can they fuftain different offices, and per*
form different Works? or indeed any "at ,l all f
Bfefides, if' the attributes of God be allowed to
be perfonified, it will fbrfow that there areas many
berfons in God as there are attributes. If thfe
Wifdom 6f God be Called one perfon, arid hi*
fcrwisr another, his Holinefi may fee as juffly ftfted
a third, his Goodriefs a fourth, &c. THe attributes
of Deity are qnty the propertied of his nature.
Neither of ihefe can be properly called 6W, or
be Ipoken.of as equal to God, who is the being; to
^hom they all fcJelong. Motefevei* God hiteTelf
you friuft allow tt> be a teing, and T 'Cod the Father
yoii will admit is a perfon, in the pfoper Fenfe of
"tfrat r term,- i. -e. an irtf ettfgent bemg : ; but if the .
Son and Spirit are only attributes of God, then
they are riot equal <to : him, ; and corifequeritly thk
*i6tion is ebntraVyto the orthcklbi faith. If ybtt
irrean that 'the brie God fuftains three Characters
or. Relatrofisythh is intelligible enough, but then
it is* not orthbao'X'i it is pure Sabefliani/m. Befides
God fuftains more characters' and relations than
HhYee % confecjiiently, according to this fcfeeme,
there arc more diftinfiions or peribns *."

* If Chrift as God be a diftindi perfon from the Father, does
it not followahai; there are /iw perfons \in : j&fas Chrift ? for he
was a perfon as man. This I know fome Trinitarians deny,
but it is only to ferve a turn. Mull it hot be a perfon who
thinks, fpeaks-i a^ls., fuflersj and dies ? Are not the perfonal
pronotins cohflaritly applied to Chrift as man ? Do not you
often fpea.k ofhim as a&ing and fuffering as man? To me no-
thing can be plainer than that Chrift as man was a perfon ;
confequentty, unlefs he be two perfons, he is not as God a
perfon diftindt from the Fathers

• lcaa

ill A fi P E N D I X*

I can think -of no .other fenfe in; which the termi
can be ufed. Perhaps you will fay, that <f fince
«' the nature of God is to us incomprehenfible,
* there may, for ought we can tell, bp fuch dif-
u tin&ions in jt as have been fuppofed." I anfwer,
There may be various things in God of which we
poor worms of the ekrth have no conceptions, and
it does not become us to deny any thing concern*
ing him, however* myfterious, which does not
evidently imply an imperfe&ion. But let me fay #
it is equally-prefumptuous in us to affirm any thing
concerning God which he himfelf has not clearly
revealed. And it is no juft argument that there if
this or that property or diftinQion in the divine
nature, merely that the contrary cannot be clearly
proved. 1 befeech you to think whither this
would lead us.

Our faith, with refpeft to what God is, muft be
founded, not on what may- be fuppofed poffible,
and cannot be proved faJ/e, but on what divine
Revelation clearly afferts to be true. And to be-
lieve any thing concerning the Deity of which wc
can give no rational account, or to ufe language
refpe&ing him without ideas, is fo far from giving
him glory, that it is doing him difhonour. At beft
it is to darken counfel by words without, knowledge.

If you can give me a rational and fcriptural ex-
planation of the above terms, by which the Deity
of the Father, Son, and Spirit can be maintained
to greater advantage than upon Dr. Watts* plan,
(which for want of a better I at prefent adopt)
you will confer a great obligation upon,

Dear Sir,

. Your friend and fefvant, . - '

F I N I S.

FEB 2 1 1956

BIITDING

I

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