a crucified Master, was considered as affording a presumption that he was secretly inclined to popish forms and ceremonies, and had no great dislike to popery itself." The practical lesson, however, which is equally important and wholesome for all to observe, is that which St. Paul enforces upon the Roman converts: "Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not, judge him that eateth." "Who art thou, that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth."-Romans xiv. 3, 4.

In illustration of the preceding observations, the following remark, from the Journal of the devoted and accomplished missionary, Henry Martyn, may be cited: "At chapel, my soul ascended to God; and the sight of the picture at the altar, of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness, animated me exceedingly to devotedness to the life of a missionary*."

In one of Dean Tucker's tracts, intitled An humble address, and earnest appeal to the Landed Interest, 1775,-is a note, (p. 20,) to the following effect: "The late Dr. Butler, bishop of Bristol, and afterwards of Durham, had a singular notion respecting large communities and public bodies; a notion, which is not perhaps altogether inapplicable to the present case. His custom was,

* Vide Journals and Letters, &c., by the Rev. Samuel Wilberforce, p. 161.

when at Bristol, to walk for hours in his garden in the darkest night which the time of the year could afford, and I had frequently the honour to attend him. After walking some time he would stop suddenly and ask the question, 'What security is there against the insanity of individuals? The physicians know of none; and as to divines, we have no data, either from Scripture or from reason, to go upon relative to this affair.' 'True, my lord, no man has a lease of his understanding, any more than of his life; they are both in the hands of the Sovereign Disposer of all things.' He would then take another turn, and again stop short: 'Why might not whole communities and public bodies be seized with fits of insanity, as well as individuals?' 'My lord, I have never considered the case, and can give no opinion concerning it.' 'Nothing but this principle, that they are liable to insanity, equally at least with private persons, can account for the major part of those transactions of which we read in history.' I thought little," adds the dean, "of that odd conceit of the bishop at that juncture; but I own I could not avoid thinking of it a great deal since, and applying it to many cases."

Dr. Tucker, who has preserved this reminiscence of the author of the Analogy, was born in 1712, and became curate of St. Stephen's in Bristol in 1737, when he was also appointed a minor canon of the cathedral in that city. His diligence

in his parish, and his assiduity in the discharge of his various duties, attracted the favourable notice of Bishop Butler, who made him his domestic chaplain, and afterwards employed his interest to procure him a stall at Bristol. He subsequently succeeded to the rectory of St. Stephen's, and in 1758, was advanced to the deanery of Gloucester.

Amongst various pamphlets, upon political and commercial subjects, he published Thoughts upon the dispute between the Mother Country and America. In this he asserted that the colonies could not be subdued, and that, even if they could, the sacrifice which must be incurred would be greater than the benefit to be reaped from the conquest. He warned the country, therefore, against entering upon a disastrous war, in language which led him to be regarded as bordering upon insanity. He persisted, however, in reiterating his assertions, notwithstanding the scorn with which his opinions were treated, both in the houses of parliament and by the public press, until the progress of events proved the correctness of his original views.

CHAPTER V.

Butler refuses the primacy.-His nephew, John Butler's offer. -Letter to a lady, on church property.-Sermons on public occasions.-Extract from Fifth Sermon on liberty. -Extract from ditto on popery.-Resemblance of ditto to parliamentary remonstrance to James I.-Ditto to Secker's remarks on ditto.-Butler on political opposition.-On our civil constitution.-Butler loses his eldest brother.-Nominated to the see of Durham.-His conscientious scruples.-His feelings upon a change of diocese, in two letters.-Last official act at Bristol.-Address on his arrival at Durham.-The bishop's reply.

It has been already hinted, that, as the more frequent intercourse of Bishop Butler with the king, enabled the sovereign to form a just estimate of his worth, his esteem for his person and respect for his character were proportionably raised. It is not therefore surprising, that, when an opportunity arose, his Majesty should afford the strongest proof of the estimation in which he held him, by desiring to elevate him to the primacy; justly conceiving, that his mild and courteous demeanour, united with his splendid talents, would adorn and dignify the highest seat upon the episcopal bench.

Upon the decease of Archbishop Potter, therefore, in 1747, it was proposed that Butler should resign the see of Bristol, that he might become

the metropolitan of all England. The reply which he is reported to have made, to an offer so flattering to human ambition, was strongly indicative of the unfavourable view he took of the prospects which were opening before the friends of the national establishment, from the alarming temper of the times. He is said to have answered, that, "It was too late for him to try to support a falling Church *."

The apprehensions of the good prelate, however, were happily not realized. The church of England, although threatened by the combined forces of infidelity and revolutionary principles, was enabled to outride the tempest. And although, in more recent times, she has resembled a bark upon a troubled ocean, the waves have not been permitted to overwhelm her. It is said, that the British oak derives benefit from the storm which shakes but does not destroy it; because, by agitating the trunk, and loosening the soil around its base, it enables the tree to strike its roots the more deeply. And thus it may be hoped, that the adverse winds which have blown so rudely upon the church of England, and partially scattered her foliage upon the ground, by unfolding the goodly proportions of her structure, and by proving the stability of

*This anecdote of Bishop Butler is given upon the authority of the late Lady Saxton, who was connected with the family, and preserved many of his sayings. Mrs. Sarah Butler, also, has heard her father, the Rev. Joseph Butler, relate the same anecdote.