and a vigorous imagination, it was an advantage that his mind was thus early employed upon theological subjects; they tend to repress its excursive speculations, and to guard against the presumption of intellectual vanity; while the humbling truths and the every-day duties which they inculcate, contribute to render the course of our inquiries fixed and practical.

It argues a sincere attachment to the principles of the nonconformists, and a determination to be actuated solely by conscientious views and feelings, that Watts rejected the generous offers of his Southampton friends; offers flattering to a child of genius, and peculiarly tempting when the party to which his family belonged, and in whose favour he himself decided, was exposed to so much obloquy and suffering. The nation had indeed been delivered from the oppressive Stuarts, and the situation of the dissenters, so long beclouded, was beginning, by the passing of the toleration act, to assume a brighter aspect; but they were still regarded by a large majority as schismatics, and the charter of their religious liberties was rather conceded owing to the political circumstances of the times, than the offspring of a cordial and friendly feeling. The events of the succeeding reign plainly proved, that ancient jealousies continued to rankle; and that a fair opportunity was alone wanting to abridge the privileges and arrest the labours of those without the pale of the establishment. Amid such forbidding circumstances, an individual inclined only to consult temporal interests, personal ease, or the gratification of literary ambition, would have unhesitatingly acceded to the proposal made to Watts; but his mind had been better disciplined — he had learnt to refer the important affairs of life to the decisions of conscience — and, hence, the friendly patronage tendered unto him was declined.

Determined to take his lot among the dissenters, and consequently to forfeit the advantages of a university education, Watts removed to London, for the purpose of prosecuting his

studies for the ministry. This event is thus noticed by him in his memoranda: "1690. Left the grammar-school, and came to Londo. to Mr. Rowe's, to study phil." &c. He was now in his sixteenth year; "such he was," Dr. Johnson observes, "as every Christian church would rejoice to have adopted."

CHAPTER III.

1690.

DISSENTING ACADEMIES.

INSTITUTION OF ACADEMIES:-OPPOSED BY THE CLERGY.-DR. SHARP. -TILLOTSON'S POLICY.-OXFORD OATH.-NEWINGTON GREEN.-MR. CHARLES MORTON'S ACADEMY.-WICKENS, LOBB, AND GLASSCOCK.SAMUEL WESLEY ATTACKS THE ACADEMIES.-NOTICED BY DE FOE AND MR. PALMER.-MR. SOUTHEY.-CALVES-HEAD CLUB.-EXECUTION OF CHARLES I-LORD BARRINGTON DEFENDS THE DISSENTERS.THOMAS BRADBURY.—MR. WESLEY'S CONDUCT.—THEOPHILUS GALE. -LORD WHARTON-JOHN ROWE.-THOMAS ROWE.-DR. DODDRIDGE. -REMARK OF WATTS.-POEM.-MR. T. ROWE'S STUDENTS.

THE importance of academies to perpetuate the efficient ministry of the truth, was recognised under the Jewish dispensation; and the prophetic colleges which were established upon the "hill of God,"* give a precedent and sanction to the initiatory seminaries of Christian times. The institution of academies among the nonconformists, was partly forced upon them by the straitened circumstances to which their ministers were reduced, as well as by the necessity which continually occurred of supplying the places of deceased pastors. Ejected from their livings by the edicts of intolerance, and that at a period when the yearly revenue of their vicarages and rectories was nearly due, they were obliged to have recourse to private tutorship and scholastic labours to obtain support. The learning of the Bartholomew divines, panegyrized by Locke, qualified them in an eminent degree for the task of instruct

* 1 Sam. x. 5.

ing youth, and a considerable number of seminaries were soon established, which contributed no little to the advancement of theological science. Among scholars and critics, the names of Theophilus Gale, who wrote "the Court of the Gentiles"-Hill, the editor of "Schrevelius's Lexicon"Poole, the author of the "Synopsis Criticorum," with several others, will ever be distinguished; and many of these, as their only resource for subsistence, and the employment most congruous with their habits, became tutors in private families, opened schools, and read lectures on the different branches of science and theology to divinity students.

The efforts of these learned men were, however, viewed with jealousy by the high-church party; and the basest motives of conspiracy and sedition, were imputed to their blameless characters. At the instigation of the clergy, vexatious suits were frequently commenced against them in the spiritual courts; and measures were adopted to prevent the increase and check the usefulness of the institutions over which they presided. During the reign of William III. these proceedings were discountenanced by the liberality of the monarch, and owing to his interposition they were often suspended ;+ but the demon of intolerance was called forth by the court of his successor, and the government was disgraced by repeated and violent attempts to invade the retreat of the dissenting student.

* Some betook themselves to the practice of physic. In the "Art of Thriving, by Thomas Powell," a curious anecdote is related of au ejected minister, in "the happy raigne of our good Queen Elizabeth." When adjudged to lose his benefice, he impatiently exclaimed, that it would cost many a man his life. Upon which being brought again before the commissioners, and charged with having spoken treasonable words, he thus explained his meaning: "Ye have taken from me my living and profession of the ministrie. Scholarship is all my portion; and I have no other means now left for my maintenance but to turn physitian, and before I shall be absolute master of that mystery, God he knows how many men's lives it will cost. For few physitians use to try experiments upon their own bodies." Scott's Somers's Tracts, 7. 200.

+ When Richard Franklin, M. A. was excommunicated for nonappearance in the Bishop's court, where he had been cited for keeping an academy, K. William, at the intercession of Lord Wharton and Sir T. Rookby, ordered his absolution to be publicly read in the parish church of Giggleswick.

In the dedication of Lord Clarendon's history to the queen, written by one of the author's sons, probably the Earl of Rochester, the writer observes, "What can be the meaning of the several seminaries and, as it were, universities set up in divers parts of the kingdom, by more than ordinary industry, contrary to law, supported by large contributions, where the youth is bred up in principles directly contrary to monarchical and episcopal government." The subject was formally introduced into the house of lords by Dr. Sharp, archbishop of York, who said, "he apprehended danger from the increase of dissenters, and particularly from the many academies set up by them, and moved, that the judges might be consulted what laws were in force against such seminaries, and by what means they might be suppressed."*

An ingenious stratagem was recommended by Tillotson, as affording a fair pretence for proceeding against those dissenting tutors who had received a diploma from an English university. The clergy of Craven having petitioned Dr. Sharpt to suppress a seminary kept by the excellent Richard Franklin, M. A. Tillotson advised him, "as the fairest and softest way of getting rid of the business,"‡ to proceed against him on the ground of the oath which he had taken on receiving

* Upon this occasion Lord Wharton moved, "that the judges might be consulted about the means of suppressing schools and seminaries held by nonjurors, in one of which a noble lord had both his sons educated.

"The Archbishop of York supposed he was the person meant. His two sons were taught by a sober virtuous man, and a man of letters, who had qualified himself according to law. But when he refused the abjuration oath he took his sons from him." Proceedings of the Lords, ii. 158.

+Sharp, according to Burnet, was "one of the most popular preachers of the age," but one who changed with the times, and abandoned the doctrine of "divine right" when it suited his purpose. When preaching in St. Lawrence Jewry, soon after the accession of James, he observed, "As to our religion, we have the word of the king, which, with reverence be it spoken, is as sacred as my text." He soon, however, found himself mistaken; for preaching against popery, in his own church of St. Giles, the king ordered his diocesan, the warlike bishop, Dr. Compton, to suspend him. After expressing his sorrow he was dismissed with a gentle reprimand.

Birch's Life of Tillotson.