Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

placing at our disposal, with reference to the object of this Commission, her interest in a portion of the tithes of the parish of Wendron, in Cornwall.

All which we humbly submit to your Majesty's consideration.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Death of the Lord Bishop of DURHAM.-It is with deep regret that we have to record the death of the Bishop of Durham (William Van Mildert, D.D), which melancholy event took place on Sunday, 21st February, at nine o'clock, A.M.

Dr. William Van Mildert was born in London in the year 1765. He received his education in Merchant Tailors' School, and at Queen's College, Oxford. After taking his degree he was, in Trinity Term, 1788, ordained Deacon on the Curacy of Sherbourn and Lewknor, in Oxfordshire. He afterwards became Curate of Witham, in Essex, and during his residence at that place he married Miss Jane Douglas, who survives him.

[ocr errors]

For a short time he held the small living of Bradden, in Northamptonshire, from which he was removed, in the year 1796, to the Rectory of St. Mary-le-Row, in the city of London. This living he retained till he was placed on the Episcopal Bench.

Between the years 1802 and 1805 he preached the Lecture founded by the Right Hon. R. Boyle, and discharged that duty with such eminent ability as to attract the general attention of learned men. He soon received a token of public approbation, in the Vicarage of Farningham, which was conferred upon him in the most flattering manner by Archbishop Sutton. His character, as a preacher and divine, was now fully established; and in April, 1812, he was elected by a large majority of the Benchers to the Preachership of Lincoln's Inn. In Sept. 1813, he was appointed by Lord Liverpool Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford. Nothing could be more acceptable to the University than the Premier's choice. The station is one of great difficulty and of unspeakable importance to the whole Church; and among the distinguished persons who have filled it, none perhaps have possessed more solid qualifications for the office, or have discharged its duties in a more efficient manner. In Lent and Easter Terms, 1814, Dr. Van Mildert preached the Bampton Lecture, to which he had been appointed by the Heads of Houses before he became Professor. In March, 1819, he was made Bishop of Llandaff; and Dean of St. Paul's in the following year. He then resigned his station at Oxford, and divided his time between London and Llandaff. In March, 1826, on the death of Dr. Shute Barrington, he was placed in the Episcopal Chair of Durham.

As a theological writer, the late Bishop of Durham stands in the first class. His Boyle's Lectures are an excellent performance. They contain an historical view of the rise and progress of infidelity, with a refutation of its principles and reasonings. In this work the Bishop has displayed a vast extent of reading, and a singular judgment in the combination, arrangement, and application of his materials. It would be difficult to find a book of so learned a character, which is at the same time so well adapted for general use. The style is lively, perspicuous, and correct; and the whole work adapted in an eminent degree to "the defence and confirmation of the gospel."

His Bampton Lectures, as might be expected, are more of a professional cast. The subject of them is an inquiry into the general principles of Scripture interpretation. This book ought to be in the hands of every one whose duty it is to expound the word of God.

His Life of Waterland is a model for compositions of that kind. Perhaps it might not be easy to find a work precisely of the same character. It is remarkable that it was reserved for an Oxford Professor to collect and arrange the works of that most eminent Cambridge divine. Dr. Waterland died in the year 1740, and for eighty years after his death no attempt was made to publish a complete edition of his works. At length in the year 1823 Bishop Van Mildert supplied this defect. He put forth an edition of Waterland, in teu volumes, from the Oxford press, and he rendered his labour complete by prefixing a masterly "Review of the Life and Writings of the Author.' To the student in theology this book is indispensable. It fills up a chasm in the history of the Church of England. It shows the progress of the Trinitarian controversy from the death of Bishop Bull in 1709, to the period of Waterland's death; and it will be found to guide the student with safety and delight through some of the most intricate departments of theological inquiry. It is indeed the production of a master; solid, luminous, and comprehensive, of equal value to the ecclesiastical historian and to the divine.

The two volumes of Sermons preached at Lincoln's Inn, and published in 1831, are perhaps more generally known in his own diocese than the rest of the Bishop's works. It can hardly be necessary to point out their excellence. The first six Discourses; the 10th, 11th, and 12th of the same volume; and the 11th, 12th, and 13th of the second volume, are as fine specimens of Sermons for a learned audience, as the English language can supply. There is also a single sermon, not included in these volumes, which is a composition of the highest order, both in point of argument and style. It was preached at Bow Church, in the year 1822, before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. There is also another short, but beautiful discourse, which was preached in Durham Cathedral at the Summer Assizes of 1834

As a speaker in Parliament too, the late Bishop deserves attention. Abstaining entirely from general politics, he was always ready for debate when the credit or interests of the Church of England was at stake. In these efforts he was remarkably successful. He thoroughly understood the character and feeling of the House of Lords; and the unaffected refinement of his mind and manners was exactly suited to their taste. The consequence was, that every word he uttered was received with deference and attention. Those who most strenuously opposed his arguments, revered his integrity and talent. All parties treated him with respect. On one occasion, when his voice was accidentally more feeble than usual, the leading members of the House crowded round him, while he warned them, solemnly and firmly, against disturbing those bulwarks which he deemed essential to the preservation of the Church.

His style, whether in speaking or writing, was, like his character, remarkable for its simplicity. There was no laboured ornament; no rhetorical display; nothing which carried with it the air of affectation or pretence. His taste was classical; his conceptions clear; and all his propositions were stated in language which it was scarcely possible to misapprehend.

To his unbounded charity, public and private, every corner of his diocese will bear its testimony. The university established in Durham could hardly have been formed without his munificent support. His private charities were supplied with promptitude and delicacy. What he gave, he gave quickly; and his right hand knew not what his left hand did. Even those who were most in his confidence were continually surprised by discovering some fresh act of his beneficence; and many of those acts, we believe, will not be known till they receive their final "recompense at the resurrection of the just."

On the whole, it is very difficult to speak justly of this eminent person, without seeming to incur the charge of flattery. The difficulty, too, is increased because the Clergy and inhabitants of bis diocese have seen the Bishop only in his declining years, and consequently have not had so fair an opportunity of estimating his real character. Those who did know him, really and intimately, will concur in the truth of all that has been here advanced. Not a word of flattery will they detect in this public tribute of affection. The departed Bishop was a man of no ordinary mould. His understanding was vigorous and comprehensive; his learning accurate and deep; his apprehension quick; his temper highly sensitive, but generous, kind, and forgiving in the last degree. Perhaps no man ever lived who could dismiss an angry emotion more readily from his mind. To forgive injuries, was the habit of his life; to resent them he was never known.

In conversation he was lively and instructive, and not unfrequently playful ; but whenever grave matters were introduced, his mind always rose in proportion to the subject, and he poured forth his store of knowledge, and his manly sentiments with dignity and animation.

The Bishop enjoyed at different periods of his life the confidence and esteem of some of the most distinguished persons of his time, especially in the clerical and legal professions. He had a laudable ambition to acquire the good opinion of good men, and he succeeded. But of popularity, in the common meaning of the word, he was totally regardless. No hope of reward, no fear of censure, could ever induce him to deviate from that course, which he conceived it his duty to maintain.

But after all, the grand element of this fine character was a deep, habitual, and pervading sense of religion. This was the foundation stone of the whole fabric; on no other principle, indeed, could such a character have been formed. The labour of his life and the faculties of his mind were steadily directed to the maintenance and vindication of Christian truth. "This way he drew all his cares and studies." Thither all his aspirations tended. He has now" finished his course." It may be added, we hope without presumption," he has kept the faith. Henceforth," as we devoutly believe," there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give him at the last day."

THE RIGHT REV. CHRISTOPHER BUTSON.-At Bath, in his 87th year, the Right Rev. Christopher Butson, D.D. Lord Bishop of Killaloe. His Lordship was educated at Winchester, originally matriculated at Oxford as a Commoner of Trinity College, January 22, 1767, being then seventeen years old. In 1768 he succeeded

[blocks in formation]

to a Scholarship at New College; in 1771 he obtained the Chancellor's Prize for English Verse, on "The Love of our Country." April 3, 1772, he proceeded to the degree of B.A., and in 1774 vacated his Fellowship at New College by marriage, and shortly after was preferred to the Deanery of Waterford, whence in 1804 he was promoted to a seat on the Irish bench, being appointed to the Bishopricks of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh, which have lately merged in the Sees of Killaloe and Kilfenora.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

ΑΡΡΟΙΝΤΜΕENTS.

Appointment.

Archdeacon of Calcutta.

Chaplain to the Bedford General Infirmary.

Evening Preacher at the Magdalen Hospital.

Head Master of the Royal Free Grammar School, Shrewsbury. Curate of Ennis, to be Principal of the School for Education of the Sons of the Clergy at Edgeworthstown.

Head Master of Stevenhage Grammar School.

Chaplain to the Bradford Union Poor Establishment.

Chaplain to the Cavalry and Infantry Barracks at Brighton.

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

Curate of St. Leonard's Chapel, Bilston.

Curate of the Parish of Gravesend.

[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »