to Lin

"Scene, and gone to that Retirement, "where he spent almoft a Year; but he was happily recalled by that honourable "Society (Lincolns-Inn) for whom he al

ways retain'd juft Impreffions of Grati❝tude. And tho' in the Intervals of "Terms he could have given a large Part "of the Year to his Parish, yet fo ftrict "he was to the Paftoral Care in the Point "of Refidence, that he parted with it even when his Incomes here could scarce "fupport him.

66

Chofen In the Year Sixteen Hundred and Sixty Preacher Four he was chofen Preacher to Lincolnscolns-Inn. Inn, where he continued fome Years, and was wonderfully admired and loved by that Honourable and Learned Society, for his eloquent Sermons. Whilft he was Preacher there, he is charged with giving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to those who would receive it in no Pofture, but that irreverent one of fitting. "A great "Lady (fays my Author *) of Dr. OWEN'S "Congregation, and one of his Hearers "too, would fometimes refort thither to "receive the Sacrament, because, as fhe "told a Noble Lord of my Acquaintance, fhe could receive it there fitting.

66

*Some Difcourfes upon Dr. Burnet and Dr. Tillotson, occafioned by the late Funeral Sermon of the former upon the

latter.

"And his Practice (as a devout Gentlewoman, who lived in that Neighbour❝hood, affured me) was first to walk a "bout with the Elements to thofe in the "Pews, where the Sitters were, and "give it them firft; but in the last place "to those who kneeled at the Rail, with"in which he would not go, as Decency. "would have directed another Man, but "coming behind them, he gave it to them "in the Letter of the Proverb, over the "Left Shoulder. He goes on and fays, "I could give other Inftances of this na"ture in the other Sacrament of Baptifm, "wherein the defunct Hero hath acted "without excuse against the Church's "Orders, to the great Scandal of others "who came to know it, in the violating "the prescribed Rules of Decency and "Edification. The Truth of this Story has been carefully enquired into, but there does not appear the leaft ground to believe it. There is not one living Witness of it, nor any Record (but our Author's) nor fo much as any oral Tradition for it; but by the most authentick Accounts that can be had, this worthy Perfon, during his Abode in that Learned Society, did obferve the greatest Decency in adminiftring in holy things, and was ftrictly conformable to the Rules and Orders of the Church of England. But granting the Report to be true,

C4

Chofen Le

Яturer at

rence's

true, no temperate Person can efteem it at Crime of fo deep a Dye, as the Author of it reprefents it to be; for the Posture in which the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was at first adminiftred, was no part of the Inftitution; fo that the Inftitution is not broken, in what Pofture foever it is received. Kneeling (tho' undoubtedly it is the most reverent, and most becoming this holy and venerable Ordinance) nor any other Pofture, has any Command at all for it: So that no particular Pofture is abfolutely neceffary, but all are left indifferent, and may lawfully be ufed, either as publick Authority, or in want thereof, as private Prudence and Love of Peace fhall determine us.

The fame Year he was chofen TuesdaySt. Law. Lecturer of St. Lawrence's Church in London. Here it was that he preached thofe London, incomparable Sermons concerning the Divinity and Incarnation of our Bleffed Saviour, in vindication of himself from the CaTumny of Socinianifm, with which his Enemies charged him. "When the Party (fays "the late Learned Bifhop of Sarum ||) had "given credit to a most impudent Calumny that was raised by the Papifts against "the late Primate, of his being a Soci

દ

Reflections upon a Pamphlet, entituled, Some Difoourfes upon Dr. Burnet and Dr. Tillotson, &c. «nian,

1

nian, his Book against those Errors had for fome time made even the Party

it felf afhamed to fupport that any "longer; at laft an ignorant and mali"cious Writer was found out to main"tain that Charge ftill, which had made "too great a Noife to be easily parted "with. But I am heartily glad to fee "Juftice done to the Name of fo great a "Man, by one † who has answered that "Libel in fo full and fo convincing a man66 ner. He has concealed no Part of their "Objections; and by fetting down all "thofe Parts of the Arch-Bishop's Ser66 mons, upon which these Men have ftu"died to fix their Malice, not only in "fome fhort Periods, which malicious "Men have made a Noise with, but in "all that went before and after, he gives "fo fair as well as true a Reprefentation "of that Great Prelate's Senfe, that I am "confident no ill Impreffions will stick "with any who will be fo juft as to con"fider the whole Matter, the Vindication ❝as well as the Calumnies, with fincere

and equitable Minds. The Author of the Life of Mr. THOMAS FIRMIN, who was a grand Socinian himself, has fo fully

A Book entituled, Confiderations on the Explications of the Doctrine of the Trinity.

Dr. William's Vindication of the Sermons of his Grace John Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, &c.

cleared

1

cleared the Arch-Bishop from that Imputation, and proved that he liv'd and died of a contrary Opinion, that I hope it will not be unacceptable to the Reader to infert the Place at large. "Now also he (Mr. "FIRMIN) grew into Intimacy with Dr. "WHICHCOT, Dr. WORTHINGTON, Dr. "WILKINS, Mr. TILLOTSON. Dr.WIL66 KINS was afterward Bishop of Chester, "Mr. TILLOTSON (for he was not yet "made Doctor) Arch-Bishop of Canter"bury: But in their Dignity, and to the 66 very laft, Mr. FIRMIN had the fame "place and degree in their Efteem and "Friendship, that at any time formerly he "had. While Dr. TILLOTSON preached

the Tuesday's Lecture at St. Lawrence's, "fo much frequented by all the Divines "of the Town, and by a great many Per"fons of Quality and Diftinction; when "the Dr. was obliged to be at Can"terbury, where he was Dean, or was

out of Town, either for Diversion or "Health; he generally left it to Mr. FIR"MIN to provide Preachers for his Lecture, ❝ and Mr. FIRMIN never failed to fupply "his Place with fome very eminent "Preacher; fo that there never was any "Complaint on the account of Dr. TIL"LOTSON'S Abfence. And this Mr. FIR• MIN could easily do; for now there was "hardly a Divine of Note (whether in "London,