SER. XII. folely upon the Foot of Scripture. And let
me observe, with what an ill Grace mere
Smatterers in Knowledge charge the Doc-
trine of the Trinity with Abfurdities from
the abstract Nature and Reafon of the
Thing; when three Persons of distinguished
Abilities (for with three he was at once en-
gaged) were unable, though they did not
want an hearty Inclination, to make good a
Charge of that Nature.

Arguments, under his happy Direction
and Management, were Arrows (of which
his Quiver was full) in the Hands of a
mighty Man. They carried
greater Force
with them, and made deeper Impreffions,
than when they came from a Person of the
common Size: And therefore he was not a-

Shamed when he spake with his ablest Adver-
fary in fet Conferences *. His Head was
an immenfe Library, where the Treasures
of Learning were ranged in fuch exact Or-
der, that, whatever himfelf or his Friends
wanted, he could have immediate Recourse

Some Conferences were propofed and held between him and his learned Antagonist before a very great and ilJuftrious Perfon; but thofe Conferences were dropt after the Dr. declared his full Conviction of the Truth and Importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity, and his Refolution to maintain it.

to, without any Embarrasment. A prodi- SER. XII. gious Expence of Reading, without a Confufion of Ideas, is almost the peculiar Characteristic of his Writings. His Works, particularly Those upon our Saviour's Divinity, and the Importance of the Doctrine, and the Eucharift, into which he has digefted the Learning of all preceding Ages, will, we may venture to fay, be tranfmitted to, and stand the Examination of, all fucceeding ones. He has fo thoroughly exhaufted every Subject that he wrote a fet Treatife upon; that it is impoffible to hit upon any thing which is not in his Writings, or to exprefs that more justly and clearly, which is there.

Yet, whatever Expence of Time and Thought he might be at in laying in Materials, it did not coft him much Pains to commit them to Writing. The largest Volume *, which he has published, wrote with great Accuracy, he, in two Months, finished, and fent to the Prefs. But a Genius is to writing well, as what good Nature is to acting generously. It is an Aptitude to fay, as the other is to do, those great Things with Eafe, Readiness and

The fecond Defence of his Queries.

Free

SER. XII. Freedom, which thofe, who want that Ad

vantage, can scarce perform with much aukward Pains and Industry. Some Writers, who have made no inconfiderable Figure in the learned World, have been greatly indebted for it to the valuable Notices and Obfervations, with which he furnished them. But he was fo difinterested, that, provided the World was inftructed, he was very indifferent, who had the Honour of doing it. He had fo ample a Fund of Knowledge, that he could impart it liberally, without any Danger of impoverishing himself. Meaner Proficients in Literature must hufband their flender Stock more warily.

Nor was Controverfy his only Talent. His Sermons, adapted to the Level of common Capacities, yet inftructive to the higheft, were composed with that Plainnefs and Simplicity, that Perfons of a flender Share of Sense might be vain enough to think themselves capable of writing as well: But Men of Judgment know, that nothing is more difficult to write, than fuch easy Writ ing, as his was. Free from that obscure Diligence, which sometimes embarrasses the Writings of great Scholars, he ftates each Point of Duty judiciously and accurately,

explains it happily, and always goes to the SER. XII. Bottom of his Subject.

This Character may be given of his Writings in general, that whatever Beauties of Style fome few of his latest Compositions may want; they have all of them, that to recommend them, which is more valuable than all Languages befides, the Language of the Heart. In his learned Writings he afferted nothing, but what he firmly believed; and in his plain familiar Difcourses taught nothing but what he practifed. He spoke and wrote with that undiffembled Freedom and Openness, which ever accompanies an undefigning Honefty, and a thorough Conviction of the Truth. For it is the Property of Truth and Innocence to ftand forth to view, without any ftudied Difguifes, naked, but not ashamed. Whereas Falfhood is generally attended with Cowardice, the Companion of Guilt; it is afraid to speak out, and poorly fkulks behind a thousand little Artifices.

But this brings me, 2dly, to give some Account of his Life and Conversation.

His Head and Heart were conftantly at work upon Points worthy of him. And yet, if any Company came in, he would be immediately

SER. XII. mediately free and difingaged, forget the hard Student in the eafy Companion, liften to any innocent Conversation, without any feeming absence of Thought, and join in it with Life and Vivacity. I mention it, as an amazing Inftance of the Liberty and Extent of his Mind; that a Perfon generally intent (too intent with regard to his Health) upon great Things, could at once, with a quick and fudden Tranfition of Thought, enter into the minute Affairs and ordinary Occurrences of Life. The Capacities of little Minds are foon filled up, and any one Point, though of no great Importance, fo engroffes the whole Man, as not to leave Room for the Admittance of any Thing else. But great and enlarged Souls can take in Variety of Subjects, and have a greater Command over their Ideas, faying to one, Go, and it goeth; and bidding another, Come, and it cometh.

Though he would bear a Part in any innocent Difcourfe, he had an Averfion to the reigning Vices of Converfation: He was very tender of Men's Characters: He guided his Words, as well as regulated his Actions, with Difcretion; and at the fame Time, that his Sagacity enabled him to discover,

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