remains would deserve to be numbered among his happiest productions. It is therefore hoped they have fallen into the hands of those who will not withhold them in obscurity, but consider them as deposits, the seclusion of which from general use, would be an injurious diminution of their author's fame, and retrenchment from the common stock of serious instruction.

But the integrity of his mind was not only speculatively shadowed in his writings, but substantially exemplified in his life. His prayers and his alms, like those of the good Cornelius, went up for a continual memorial; and always, from a heart deeply impressed with piety, never insensible to the calls of friendship or compassion, and prone to melt in effusions of tenderness on the slightest incitement.

When, among other articles in his Dictionary, LICHFIELD presents itself to his notice, he salutes that place of his nativity

in these words of Virgil, Salve, magna parens. Nor was the salutation adopted without reason: for well might he denominate his parent city great, who, by the celebrity of his name, hath made it so,

Salve, magna parens frugum, Staffordia tellus,
Magna virum.

VIRG. Georg. lib. ii. 1. 173.

More decisive testimonies of his affectionate sensibility are exhibited in the following work, where he bewails the successive depredations of death on his relations and friends; whose virtues, thus mournfully suggested to his recollection, he seldom omits to recite, with ardent wishes for their acquittal at the throne of mercy. praying, however, with restriction,* for these regretted tenants of the grave, he indeed conformed to a practice which, though it has been retained by other

In

* Our Author informs us, that his Prayers for deceased friends were offered up, on several occasions, as far as might be lawful for him, and once with Preface

learned members of our Church, her Liturgy no longer admits, and many, who adhere to her communion, avowedly disapprove. That such Prayers are, or may be, efficacious, they who sincerely offer them must believe. But may not a belief in their efficacy, so far as it prevails, be attended with danger to those who entertain it? May it not incline them to carelessness; and promote a neglect of repentance, by inducing a persuasion that, without it, pardon may be obtained through these

of Permission: whence it should seem that he had some doubt concerning the lawfulness of such prayers, though it does not appear that he ever discontinued the use of them. It is also observable, that in his reflections on the death of his wife, and again of Mr. Thrale, he wishes that the Almighty not may have, but may have had, mercy on them-evidently supposing their sentence to have been already past in the Divine mind. This supposition, indeed, may seem not very consistent with his recommending them to the Divine mercy afterwards. It proves, however, that he had no belief in a state of Purgatory, and consequently no reason for praying for the dead, that could impeach the sincerity of his profession as a Protestant.

vicarious intercessions? Indeed the doctrine (I speak with deference to the great names that have espoused it) seems inconsistent with some principles generally allowed among us. If, "where the tree falleth, there it shall be,"-if, as Protestants maintain, our state at the close of life is to be the measure of our final sentence, then prayers for the dead, being visibly fruitless, can be regarded only as the vain oblations of superstition. But of all superstitions, this perhaps is one of the least unamiable, and most incident to a good mind. If our sensations of kindness be intense, those whom we have revered and loved during life, death, which removes them from sight, cannot wholly seclude from our concern. The fondness, kindled by intercourse, will still glow from memory, and prompt us to wish, perhaps to pray, that the valued dead, to whose felicity our friendship can no longer minister, may

find acceptance with Him "who giveth us," and them, "richly all things to enjoy." It is true, for the reason just mentioned, such evidences of our surviving affection may be thought ill-judged but surely they are generous; and some natural tenderness is due even to a superstition, which thus originates in piety and benevolence.

:

We see our Author, in one place, purposing with seriousness to remember his brother's dream; in another, owning his embarrassment from needless stipulations; and, on many occasions, noting, with a circumstantial minuteness, the process of his religious fasts. But these peculiarities, if they betray some tincture of the propensity already observed, prove, for the most part, the pious tenour of his thoughts. They indicate a mind ardently zealous to please GOD, and anxious to evince its alacrity in His service, by a scrupulous observance of more than enjoined duties.