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Pub by Longman Hurst Rees Orme & Brown July 1.1814.

and struck out a style and manner of his own, which have been justly esteemed a model for succeeding ages. Being deeply acquainted with theological subjects, and possessed of a sound judgment and a purity of taste, of which there were few examples among the preachers of that time; he soon attracted so much deserved notice, that in 1662 he was offered the parish of St. Mary, Aldermanbury, the patronage of which was vested in the parishioners. For some reasons, now unknown, he declined this benefice: but was soon presented to the rectory of Keddington, in Suffolk; in which however he was scarcely settled, before the society of Lincoln's-inn appointed him their preacher. But so strongly were even the courts of law tainted with fanaticism, and so accustomed to the cant of those times, that at first the rational piety of Tillotson was disliked, and complaints were sometimes heard against what is now allowed to constitute the principal beauty of his discourses. This however was temporary by degrees a better taste began to prevail; and our excellent divine not only overcame the prejudices of the society, but, being chosen lecturer of St. Lawrence Jewry, he was followed by a numerous audience for instruction, and by many of his own profession for improvement.

From zeal to discharge faithfully his sacred function, be determined to oppose the two growing evils of Charles the Second's reign, atheism and popery. He not only combated them in the pulpit, but from time to time published such tracts or sermons as were calculated for a more extensive effect; and his laudable and pious intentions did not lose their reward.

In 1666 he took the degree of doctor in divinity; and having married Elizabeth French, niece to Oliver Cromwell, and who was connected by afhuity with his friend Dr. John Wilkins, he was appointed to preach the consecration sermon of that prelate to the see of Chester. Though averse to solicitation himself, he found in the

zeal of his friends an antidote against neglect; for in 1670 he was made prebendary of Canterbury, and two years afterwards dean of that church, having previously ob tained a prebend in St. Paul's.

Dr. Tillotson had been seven years on the list of chaplains to Charles the Second; but the zeal which, on all occasions, he displayed against popery and irreligion, rendered him no favourite with that monarch; and he was rather advanced by the interest of friends who knew his value, than cordially loved by the court. He therefore contented himself with discharging the duty of his station, without indulging hopes of preferment; and never obtruded himself on notice, except when the interests of religion, or the welfare of the establishment, were at stake. When a declaration for liberty of conscience was published, which, under the mask of moderation, had a view to the indulgence of papists, the dignified elergy took the alarm, and the king complained to the primate Sheldon of their refractory conduct. The archbishop called some of them together, and begged their advice. Here the wisdom and firmness of Tillotson were eminently conspicuous. He suggested, that since the king professed the protestant religion, it would be a thing unprecedented to forbid the clergy to preach in defence of it. The sentiment was so just, and the argument so conclusive, that it was unanswerable; and the clergy seem to have acquiesced in his opinion, if it should have been necessary to defend their conduct. Nevertheless, Dr. Tillotson was such a friend to moderation, that early in 1668 he joined in a treaty for the admission of such protestant dissenters as could be brought within the pale of the church, by making mutual concessions; but the violence of the intemperate rendered this plan abortive.

Meanwhile his preaching and his writings equally tended to preserve the establishment from the encroach ments of popery, and his private exertions in the same

cause was remarkably successful. He had the happiness to convert the earl of Shrewsbury to the protestant faith; and he lived to see his noble proselyte raised to a dukedom, and made secretary of state to king William.

In proportion as these labours raised him in the estimation of the people, they alienated the affection of the court, which was then suspected of an inclination to popery. But Tillotson did not shrink from his duty; and the press was continually producing some work of his which had for its object the exaltation of pure religion, or the recovery of those who wandered in the delusions of vice and error.

On the discovery of the Rye-house plot, a melancholy scene was disclosed, which affected the tenderest sensibility of Tillotson. His virtuous and illustrious friend lord William Russel being deeply implicated in this charge, and afterwards brought to the block, he attended on that nobleman with the most affectionate assiduity; he armed him with the consolations of religion, and supported his afflicted family with every relief that the hopes of a better existence can bestow.

In 1685 he had another opportunity of peculiarly displaying his amiable character. The revocation of the ediet of Nantz drove thousands of the French protestants to this country; and many of them settled at Canterbury, where their posterity still continue. The king having granted briefs to collect alms for them, Tillotson was peculiarly active in promoting their success; and when Dr. Beveridge, one of the prebendaries of Canterbury, refused to read the brief, as being contrary to the rubric, he was silenced by the dean with this energetic reply: "Doctor, doctor, charity is above rubrics."

Such was the high character of dean. Tillotson, that when the settlement of the crown on king William for life was agitated in parliament, the princess Anne of Denmark, who had been advised by the Jacobites to

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