Page images
PDF
EPUB

underneath; after the reading of which he is to return to the text, and resume it where he left off. By that means he will have a clearer and fuller notion of the whole, than if he should read either the text or the remarks separately.

I must here acknowledge the favour of those gentlemen who have been pleased to communicate to me some letters of Mr. Chillingworth, which were never before printed. They lead us into a particular knowledge of his sentiments, and therefore cannot but be very acceptable to the reader.

This being a critical as well as an historical account, I found myself obliged to act the part both of a critic and of an historian. But, the criticisms relating only to matter of fact, or the vindication of Mr. Chillingworth, I hope those eminent persons, whose mistakes I have taken the liberty to observe, will not be offended with my freedom, since no man is exempt from error, and the assertions of great men are apt to be taken upon trust, and received as authorities.

LONDON, July 15th, 1725.

CONTENTS

[ocr errors]

Page.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

XIII. The flattering Reception of Chillingworth's Work. Answers

of the Romanists: Knott's (Wilson's) "Christianity

maintained:" Floyd's "Church Conquerant over Human

Wit," and "Total Sum :" and Lacy's "Judgment of an

University-Man:" with Quotations from each of them... 221

XIV. Account of Knott's "Infidelity Unmasked," with

numerous Extracts

XV. Chillingworth's Subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles.

He is promoted to the Chancellorship of Sarum, and

deputed by the Chapter, as their Proctor, to the Convoca-

tion on Church Affairs. Disturbed State of the Kingdom.

Cheynell's Accusation against Chillingworth and other

eminent Persons. The Siege of Gloucester, in which

Chillingworth applies his classical and mathematical

Knowledge to the Construction of Military Engines. He

preaches before the King at Oxford. Account of that

Sermon, and of other eight subsequently published......... 265

XVI. The Scotch join the English Republicans; and justify

the Act of bearing Arms against their Sovereign by various

Pamphlets, to which Chillingworth writes Replies. The

Justification of his Conduct. List of his unpublished

Works. Publication of his "Apostolical Institution of

Episcopacy." Correction of Dr. Walker's Mistake con-

cerning another Person of the Name of Chillingworth,

a Member of the House of Commons

XVII. Continuance of the Civil War. Chillingworth taken

Prisoner in Arundel-Castle; and, in consequence of severe

Illness, removed to Chichester. Extracts from Cheynell's

Pamphlet, "Chillingworthi Novissima," containing some

Account of Chillingworth's Sickness, and of Cheynell's

Intercourse with him

THE LIFE

OF

MR. WILLIAM CHILLINGWORTH.

I. CHILLINGWORTH'S BIRTH, EDUCATION, AND

CONVERSION TO POPERY.

WILLIAM CHILLINGWORTH, a divine of the church of England, celebrated for the excellency of his parts, for his moderation, and masterly way of defending the cause of the protestants against the papists, was "son of William Chillingworth, citizen (afterwards mayor) of Oxford, was born in St. Martin's parish there, in a little house on the north side of the conduit at Quartervois, in October, 1602; and on the last of that month received baptism there."* William Laud, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, and then Fellow of St. John's College, and Master of Arts,† was his godfather.‡

"After he had been educated in grammarlearning under Edward Sylvester, a noted Latinist and Grecian, (who taught privately in All-saints' parish,) or in the Free-school joining to Magdalen

* ANTHONY A WOOD, Athena Oxonienses, &c., vol. ii. col. 20 of the first edition. "The Diary of the Life of Archbishop Laud," published by Mr. Wharton, pp. 1, 2. WOOD, ubi supra, c. 21.

B

College, or in both, he became scholar of Trinity College, under the tuition of Mr. Robert Skinner, on June 2d, 1618, being then [of] about two years’ standing in the University; and going through with ease the classes of logic and philosophy, was admitted Master of Arts in the latter end of 1623, and Fellow of the said College June 10th, 1628. He was then observed," says Mr. Wood, "to be no drudge at his study; but, being a man of great parts, would do much in a little time when he settled to it. He would often walk in the College-grove and contemplate; but when he met with any scholar there, he would enter into discourse and dispute with him, purposely to facilitate and make the way of wrangling common with him; which was a fashion used in those days, especially among the disputing theologists, or among those that set themselves apart purposely for divinity." *

Mr. Chillingworth did not confine his studies to divinity. He applied himself, with great success, to mathematics; and, what shows the extent of his genius, he was also accounted a good poet. (1.)† His intimate friends were, sir Lucius Cary, afterwards viscount Falkland; Mr. John Hales, of Eton, &c.; but more particularly Mr. Gilbert Sheldon, who, in the year 1663, succeeded Dr. Juxon in the see of Canterbury.

The study and conversation of the Universityscholars, in his time, turned chiefly upon the controversies between the church of England and the church of Rome. The occasion was this:

WOOD, ubi supra, col. 20. the end of this section, p. 7.

† See Remark 1. at

« PreviousContinue »